Tree stand safety

[Paula]

A friends son fell from a tree stand start if bow season. Head injury, he is having problems with minor motor skills. I am still not understanding all the details and do not want to be nosey on details of if he was alone or if he was strapped in how did he fall.

Because if this and other stories I have heard I bought a Safety System vest harness. No guarantees but I feel a bit better having it.

I went to tree stand and tested it out with a short fall.

How many of you test your harness?

[Lawdwaz]

No way will I "test" a harness, don't see a need to stress the stitching.

 

Paula........what type of tree stand are you using?

 

You really MUST, MUST, MUST use a safety line if you aren't. 

[growalot]

Because I have so many stands I don't have the life lines on all...what I did do is buy a very large climbing carabiner and attached it to my harness back strap...I wrapped it in tape to help with sound and as I climb I hook it over rungs above me...I have a second attached to the fronleg loops for climbing so I am always attached...it doesnt take much more time to hook and unhook the 2

Edited October 28, 2014 by growalot

[Paula]

I do have a safety line. I have a ladder stand with a platform

[SteveB]

Keep the tether as tight as possible so if you do fall, it is a short one.

[Hock3y24]

Don't test it, there one time use, I have an extra standard one of anyone needs one.

[First-light]

I have to figure out the life line. Going up and down worries me. I'm going to make it mandatory next year for all stands. 

[Nomad]

Oh course one should test it in some way,and it matters depending upon the vest one has on how. This does not mean jumping off from height . For what its worth Im NYS certified in intermediate rope rescue.

Here's what I'd do. Every stand has a rope tied off above head height when I'm standing on it,this rope goes down to almost the ground and is tied off tight. This allows the Prusik knot to slide up and down easier. I clip in on the ground and slide the knot up/down as I climb .

Most falls happen getting in or out of stand,clipping in once you get on stand is not smart.

As for testing, I let go on each set up 4 or 5 feet off the ground to make sure everything holds,and see what happens.

Here's is what happened ,on one harness I found I did not thread the leg straps correct and the slowly came undone ,on another I found that the chest strap went all the way up to my neck, the body really drops down in that harness when weight is hanging in it.

The way the harness slides up also makes reaching into some pockets harder ,sure you can now reach your phone?

I found it was hard to reach the screw in steps and pull my self up ,even though,prior to my shoulder issues I could do 100 chin ups in a work out ! I learned that by pushing away from the tree with a foot it made it easier to step on a step with the other foot. Some of this was due to being so close to the tree and some due to the way the harness rides up and restricts movement.

Buy good rope,use a smaller diameter rope for your closed loop that'll become your Prusik, buy a harness that fits well and adjust it properly ,be clipped in all the time you'er off the ground.

Learn to tie knots. Here's a really good link.http://www.animatedknots.com/prusik/index.php?Categ=climbing

Carry a relief strap or another closed loop,with two Prusik one can climb up and down the rope inchworm style again if one chooses to do this the time to learn is not when one falls.....

Thoughts and prayers to the one who fell.

Edited October 28, 2014 by Larry302

[First-light]

Larry,

When you are in your stand do you switch your tether to a permanent one around the tree?

Good info-thanks

Edited October 28, 2014 by First-light

[Nomad]

Larry,

When you are in your stand do you switch your tether to a permanent one around the tree?

Good info-thanks

Yes. I've done both,some have straps around them,as I can adjust that to just the right height ,the ropes often just get tied off as fast as I can and are not aways at the height I like to be clipped into while on stand.

Of late though I mostly stay clipped to rope.

I'm also lucky in that my Dept. Switched over our bail out system,and we got to keep our old bail out ropes,I got ropes from a bunch of guys.

Good rope is expensive,but cheaper then a wheel chair van I guess.

It's something I've gotten serious about the last few years,age and knowing more and more who fell .

If I fall at work I'm / my family is covered. If I fall in the woods I'm out of work,not that I want to fall,but it's a factor.

I've also taken to strap on ladders and Sticks over screw in steps. The screw ins I find harder to find with my foot and I often seem to have a spacing problem. Since most falls happen climbing in and out I find my Muddy strap on ladder sections make that much safer.

[Paula]

Larry,

When you are in your stand do you switch your tether to a permanent one around the tree?

Good info-thanks

I plan on it

[growalot]

also make sure you have a pressure release strap...(one that hooks to your safety vest and is adjustable to your leg length with a good sized loop closure at the end) this way you can step into it and take the pressure off your legsso you do not die hanging there