Good friend of mine hurt in tree stand fall

[DaveShooter]

Please all take care and hope no one else takes the fall that my friend took a few weeks ago. As I was in the Dick's sporting goods this past Sunday a good friend I have known for years comes over to me in a cast from his knee down to his foot. The worst part was he was also in an upper body cast or brace. I asked him what happened he told me his tree stand came apart on him while he was 17 feet up in the air. He messed up his leg and back in 2 places in that fall. He is lucky to be alive. That's why I gave up tree stands years ago as I would rather be on good old Mother Earth. So you tree stand hunters for the love of God be careful!!!!

[Bigtime]

I'm sorry to hear about your friend. If you prefer to hunt from a tree stand PLEASE wear a full body safety harness!!!!

[vixenmaster]

Sorry to hear of his injuries. He caused them, the stand came apart at 17'. Lack of maintenance, failure to ck equipement out prior to use ?

[wabi]

I think a fall from a tree stand is a lot like a dry-fire (on a crossbow without ADF), not so much a matter if IF but more of WHEN.
The older I get the more I like ground blinds.

[vixenmaster]

All of mine are metal stands of diff designs. I ck them durin each time i use it. Have my harness hooked up when i get into the stand. I spect at bein 63, i will stop usin Hang-Ons when i get 70.

[Lake shooter]

My climbing/safety harness is the first thing that goes around the tree (even before my stand) and I hook my body harness tether to it as soon as I crawl up on the climber, before I get going. Don't unhook it until my platform is again at the base of the tree.

Hope he heals up okay and uses such tactics from now on.

I'll be 59 tomorrow and don't see backing off anytime soon, with care, common sense and a little luck!

[ko4nrbs]

I never climb in my treestand without my safety harness and Downsafe attached.
http://www.downsafe.com/

My wife requires the Downsafe while I am in the tree stand. She made a good point about how in the world I would get down from the tree if I did fall and couldn't get back in the tree stand!!
Bill

[DaveShooter]

What is so strange is He works at Dicks sporting goods for years. And is really an good sportsman about his equip or gear. Just a freak of an accident is all I can say at least one good thing he is up right and not horizonal thank god.

[DaveShooter]

I learned my lesson early on in my hunting days, I was in an old Warren & Sweat climbing tree stand about 18' up. Back in them days they only had the waist straps that you attached to the tree. Anyway, it was a rainy day, and bow season was in. I had seen deer in the early morning, but had no good shot, the rain begin to get heavy around 10:30 am so I decided to climb down. We had to untie ourselves back then, and tying the two sections together was still not part of the instructions!
I lost my foot climbing section, and sure enough it made it just about all the way down. No cell phone, I'm hunting by myself, all the weekend warriors are gone, and I'm still about 17' up the tree sitting in the little seat portion! I had to bear hug the tree and wiggle the seat down, this took about 30 minutes to complete, and about two shimmies had my shirt, and jacket pulled up under my neck. By the time I realized this, I was on the ground, and all bloody from the tree ripping my chest open. I did not use that stand again for three years! By that time the safety features had changed, and I was a bit wiser.

Looking back, it could have been worse.
Sorry to hear about your buddy, anytime you leave the ground, you better make sure you're coming down slowly, and safely! Know your gear, check your gear, practice with it, and never take safety lightly!

I too remember those stands and having to untie the safety line. I had a Baker mighty might stand too that didn't give to much of a plat forum to stand or sit on. Another friend use to go up 35 feet yrs ago in one of those stands-Not me no way. I would watch the tree sway him back an forth on a windy day-We were sure young and crazy and we were hunting with stick bows on top of that!!!!

[DaveShooter]

I think a fall from a tree stand is a lot like a dry-fire (on a crossbow without ADF), not so much a matter if IF but more of WHEN.
The older I get the more I like ground blinds.

I'm with ya all the way on that one for sure Mike

[DaveShooter]

My climbing/safety harness is the first thing that goes around the tree (even before my stand) and I hook my body harness tether to it as soon as I crawl up on the climber, before I get going. Don't unhook it until my platform is again at the base of the tree.

Hope he heals up okay and uses such tactics from now on.

I'll be 59 tomorrow and don't see backing off anytime soon, with care, common sense and a little luck!

A Happy B-day to ya and many more to ya too

[bigbuckonly1]

Never would have happened if he had been wearing a safety harness, NO ONE should leave the ground without one.

[Hester0305]

Sorry to here about your friend I'm glad he's alive to tell the story. I switched last year to Lifelines on all my lock ons and also use a full body harness.

[Lake shooter]

My climbing/safety harness is the first thing that goes around the tree (even before my stand) and I hook my body harness tether to it as soon as I crawl up on the climber, before I get going. Don't unhook it until my platform is again at the base of the tree.

Hope he heals up okay and uses such tactics from now on.

I'll be 59 tomorrow and don't see backing off anytime soon, with care, common sense and a little luck!

A Happy B-day to ya and many more to ya too

Thanks!!!! wish I could go hunting tomorrow to celebrate but I'm self employed (sailmaker/sailing specialist) and I have a sail to get started on tomorrow while it's supposed to be warm, 70ish! The day after will be getting freaking cold and the next day is supposed to be bone chilling for around here: highs in the freezing range and low around 18!!! My loft still isn't heated and cooled....... This time of year I have to wear my hunting boots and cloths just to work!!!! That's okay though, At least I HAVE work!

[Deerstalker]

I was very lucky to be able to walk away from a 16' tree stand fall. I now have life lines and use the HSS vest when ever I start to climb. It is NOT IF but WHEN you will fall from a stand. Please wear you safety gear at ALL times that you are off the ground. I always thought that it could NOT happen to me but found out the hard way. This is how my shoulder/back looked after the fall.