Safety harness in tree stand?

[Doublelunger]

I was just curious who uses a safety harness. I've never used one , they're kind of a hassle.

[wayner]

I use the hunters safety system vest. Very comfortable and easy to use. Plus I have been known to fall asleep in the stand 

[h20hunter]

So is not being able to walk. Think about that.

[Ridgeratt]

Maybe be awkward but I still can get home.
My hunting buddy fell out a stand only damage was the stock on his #1 ruger and the scope. Both repairable.

Couple of years ago I went in to a tree stand of mine and had the neighbor kid sitting in it.He tried to convice me it was his,except he couldn't unlock it. 

I had him get down saddled him up in my safety harness and told him to drop it on the back porch that evening.

[Stickerbush]

I dont have one so I dont use one. I know its bad but I felt safe without it.

I am planning on getting one though, I dont hunt from a stand too often 

[turkeyfeather]

I use the hunters safety system vest. Very comfortable and easy to use. Plus I have been known to fall asleep in the stand 

I use the same one and purposely set the strap so I can lean forward just a bit and take a nap, but won't go any farther.

[huntnnw]

the biggest issue is not being in the stand..80% of falls occur climbing into and out of the stand and sadly thats when most people are not hooked to the tree. I built a lifeline this year for $25 with climbing rope and a simple Prusik knot with a carabiner and I stay attached to it when in the tree

[PolarBear]

I use a pretty big climber so I am fairly secure.  I don't use a harness.  My buddy's platform from his climber fell out from underneath him and to the ground this year.  He dropped about 15 feet.  Luckily it just knocked the wind out of him.  I have always tied a line from my platform to my seat frame so if the platform did drop it wouldn't go far and I still had it tethered and could pull it up.  I have been telling my buddy for years to tether his platform but he didn't listen.  It would have saved him from the  drop.  Well, that and the fact the the idiot climbed up a cottonwood in a rain storm and it was slick as snot.   

[dkecoleman]

If your thinking about it, take a look at the Muddy line, they are fairly comfortable and not too bulky

[Duffer]

I'm pretty much a Freedom guy. Wanna ride your motorcycle without a helmet? cool. Wanna drive without a seatbelt? Fine. Wanna use your treestand without a harness? sure.

.... but don't convince yourself that the 15 - 20' fall won't hurt you that much. Last Fall @ the RMEF banquet I chatted with a young gent who fell about that same distance. He skipped the harness. He's now paralyzed from the waist down and damaged from the neck down. Now, family members bathe him and he'll never again get to use the 'family jewels'. Consider that is all I suggest.

Also, if you are someone who "would wear one but just don't have one or can't afford one"? PM me and I'll send you one FOR FREE!

I bought a vest. I wear it. I don't want someone else wiping my azz yet. I'm not THAT OLD! 

[RadSav]

I'm pretty much a Freedom guy. Wanna ride your motorcycle without a helmet? cool. Wanna drive without a seatbelt? Fine. Wanna use your treestand without a harness? sure.

.... but don't convince yourself that the 15 - 20' fall won't hurt you that much. Last Fall @ the RMEF banquet I chatted with a young gent who fell about that same distance. He skipped the harness. He's now paralyzed from the waist down and damaged from the neck down. Now, family members bathe him and he'll never again get to use the 'family jewels'. Consider that is all I suggest.

Also, if you are someone who "would wear one but just don't have one or can't afford one"? PM me and I'll send you one FOR FREE!

I bought a vest. I wear it. I don't want someone else wiping my azz yet. I'm not THAT OLD! 

Could not agree with you more.

Most common of all hunting accidents!  Hard to find someone in the Eastern states that hunt and doesn't know someone who was killed or paralyzed from falling from a treestand.  I know plenty from each category.  I would never ever allow myself, family, friends or clients into a tree stand without a controlled descend harness system.

[MikeWalking]

Several years back I got to talking with a friend that worked in the same building  I did.   A neighbor had asked him to weld up his broken stand, an aluminum one.  He said No, didn't think he was good enough to do it well.

The owner found someone else to do it.  A few nights later my friend is outside doing some yard work and the other guys kid comes screaming into his yard, yelling to call 911.

His Dads welded stand snapped while he was sitting in it in the backyard , no harness.  Broke his neck.  What does it cost, vs?

[jaymark6655]

YES!
1. I am afraid of heights (mostly that range because there is a good chance fall wont kill you immediately and you will lay there and suffer).
2. Have heard of severl guys having the chains or straps (it was one of those 2000 lb yellow ratchet straps) holding their stand in the tree snap just last week. 

[luckyman]

I won't climb in a stand that isn't very secure. Once I mount the stand as it was designed I place a lag bolt underneath so there is something solid for the stand to sit on, than place a racket strap around the tree and stand.

Once it feel secure I climb in but never use a harness. If I'm tired I come down and hunt from the ground.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

I owe it to my wife and kids to wear one....and I really enjoy life...so I always wear one... and generally I have a homemade prusik system on my stands so I don't leave the ground without a safety (except when  initially set up.. but I need to get into the habit of using a safety then too)

[denali]

I use a rock/alpine climbing harness,  less bulk, no problem walking with one on.

[Special T]

I'm not afraid of heights, have rock climbed and used a stand with out a harness. I went bow hunting in Arkansas with a buddy  and fell asleep in the tree stand before light, and nearly fell 30 ft. THAT was a wake up call for me! I was using a climber with a wrap around bar so i thought i was safely confined. WRONG! Why didn't i wear a harness? Because the free one that came with the stand was a cheep POS. Invested in a nice Hunter Safety System vest that was comfortable and easy to put on and take off. A $130 is worth my life... I can tell you they are very important for an open climber OR a hang on stand since there is NO cage around you... Even a wrap around stand like a Summit Viper can be deceiving... Some climbers are safer than others, BUT a fall will make an investment in good gear seem stupid cheep. 

[Jingles]

When stationed back east (NC) used tree stand all the time and Never wore harness. Now don't use one (tree stand) to much and still wouldn't use a harness.. Can't see reverting to a  pansy

[clindsayrun]

It's not hard to believe there are people out there who won't wear a harness... can't seem to convince some people that seat belts save lives either... I wouldn't care about someone's personal choice, if weren't for the fact that we all end up being on the hook for so many unpaid emergency response and medical bills... I feel that most people who complain that harnesses are inhibitive or uncomforable simply don't have the experience to know how to wear them correctly in the first place. 

In addition to a safety harness I run a vertical fixed line up the tree. Since most falls happen on the way up or down I tie in with a prussick knot and run that up and down the tree. I'm never not tied in...

A little common sense, high angle climbing experience, witnessing a couple industrial accidents... I guess I don't want to end up being the subject in one of those terrible tree stand fall stories we read every year.

[huntnnw]

I owe it to my wife and kids to wear one....and I really enjoy life...so I always wear one... and generally I have a homemade prusik system on my stands so I don't leave the ground without a safety (except when  initially set up.. but I need to get into the habit of using a safety then too)

 

[Todd_ID]

Also, if you are someone who "would wear one but just don't have one or can't afford one"? PM me and I'll send you one FOR FREE!

I bought a vest. I wear it.

I've got 6 or 8 of them laying around also that I would send to anyone who wants one.  I bought the lightweight suspender style, and I've still got the ones that come with every stand you buy.  I've woke up leaned against the harness a couple times, and it is darn scary looking at that 20' of nothingness that would have made my kids fatherless.

[PolarBear]

I really should get one and actually wear it.  I think that I have a false sense of security being that I am in a larger climber and after many years of hunting out of it, have yet to have a close call other than the platform dropping on me.  I am leaving in a couple of hours to hunt until the rest of the week out of my climber.  when i get back I'm going shopping for a harness for a big guy.  After some thought I need to make sure that I am around to see my daughter get her second, third..fifteenth deer.  i have a couple of spots where a ground blind is a better option.  I'm going to try them out first.

[MAVsled]

100% of the time!
and even attached when I climb up or down in my Lone Wolf climber or my LW Alpha fixed stand w/ladder sticks.

I use a modified rock climbing harness but this 20'up company is fantastic stuff, just pricey. I have their Quick Climb strap system attached to my LW climber stand. Fast and easy climbing.
for those unfamiliar with rock climbing gear, check out their website for treestand safety.

http://www.20feetup.com/
great videos to learn from too!

the safety vests do the job. I've used these from Hunter Safety System but for me these are heavy, cumbersome. If I fell (which I havent, knock on wood), I prefer to hang from my waist in front of my body versus from the back of my neck behind and up my body.

[clindsayrun]

I really should get one and actually wear it.  I think that I have a false sense of security being that I am in a larger climber and after many years of hunting out of it, have yet to have a close call other than the platform dropping on me.

I know two hunters who have had falls in climbers. One just had the wind knocked out of him when it slipped on him. The other slipped, came down funny and broke an ankle.

[Skyvalhunter]

I always wear mine when I use my climber.

[whack em]

100% of the time!
and even attached when I climb up or down in my Lone Wolf climber or my LW Alpha fixed stand w/ladder sticks.

I use a modified rock climbing harness but this 20'up company is fantastic stuff, just pricey. I have their Quick Climb strap system attached to my LW climber stand. Fast and easy climbing.
for those unfamiliar with rock climbing gear, check out their website for treestand safety.

http://www.20feetup.com/
great videos to learn from too!

the safety vests do the job. I've used these from Hunter Safety System but for me these are heavy, cumbersome. If I fell (which I havent, knock on wood), I prefer to hang from my waist in front of my body versus from the back of my neck behind and up my body.

I just checked out their website.  All I can say is brilliant!!!  It's a new addition to my xmas list!

[KFhunter]

glad I found this thread 

I don't know anyone who's fallen from a stand, and I've never fallen either and I don't wear a harness 
I've got 3 stands, 2 hang on stands and a ladder stand for two persons.  The ladder stand hasn't been used yet it's still in the box.
My two hang on stands haven't seen much use.

I normally hunt from a ground blind, with kids.


I do want a climber as I'm going back to bow hunting, this'll probably be my last year of rifle. 
I put down the bow quite a few years ago when I started hunting with kids, now those kids are old enough for a bow 

Now I think on it, I wonder if a climber will fit under the tree this year 





SO having said all that,  what do you all suggest for those two person ladder stands??

[BULLBLASTER]

the biggest issue is not being in the stand..80% of falls occur climbing into and out of the stand and sadly thats when most people are not hooked to the tree. I built a lifeline this year for $25 with climbing rope and a simple Prusik knot with a carabiner and I stay attached to it when in the tree

can you post up some pics of it?
i need to make me one too.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

glad I found this thread 

I don't know anyone who's fallen from a stand, and I've never fallen either and I don't wear a harness 
I've got 3 stands, 2 hang on stands and a ladder stand for two persons.  The ladder stand hasn't been used yet it's still in the box.
My two hang on stands haven't seen much use.

I normally hunt from a ground blind, with kids.


I do want a climber as I'm going back to bow hunting, this'll probably be my last year of rifle. 
I put down the bow quite a few years ago when I started hunting with kids, now those kids are old enough for a bow 

Now I think on it, I wonder if a climber will fit under the tree this year 





SO having said all that,  what do you all suggest for those two person ladder stands??

I know three people that have fallen from tree stands. One landed on his feet like a cat and snapped both of his legs (compound fractures)....drug himself a quarter mile back to his truck, One broke his back and one died.

[Todd_ID]

glad I found this thread 


SO having said all that,  what do you all suggest for those two person ladder stands??

Any stand you buy now comes with the harnesses in them.  I just bought 5 of the 2 man ladder stands for myself and buddies, and they all had 2 complete harnesses in them.  The ones that come with stands are not the easiest or most comfortable, but they also aren't that bad; they will fit (one size fits all) and will arrest your fall.  The aftermarket ones are the same basic concept just better designed to be more user friendly and comfortable.

If you plan on hunting from stands once in a blue moon, then use the one that comes with the stand.  If you plan on being in a stand more than 3 or 4 times a year, then invest in either a vest or suspender style. 

[Wild Bill]

glad I found this thread 

I don't know anyone who's fallen from a stand, and I've never fallen either and I don't wear a harness 
I've got 3 stands, 2 hang on stands and a ladder stand for two persons.  The ladder stand hasn't been used yet it's still in the box.
My two hang on stands haven't seen much use.

I normally hunt from a ground blind, with kids.


I do want a climber as I'm going back to bow hunting, this'll probably be my last year of rifle. 
I put down the bow quite a few years ago when I started hunting with kids, now those kids are old enough for a bow 

Now I think on it, I wonder if a climber will fit under the tree this year 





SO having said all that,  what do you all suggest for those two person ladder stands??

I know three people that have fallen from tree stands. One landed on his feet like a cat and snapped both of his legs (compound fractures)....drug himself a quarter mile back to his truck, One broke his back and one died.

Fosters old stubborn ass?
WB

[trophyhunt]

I don't use one and I have fell when my lower platform slipped and fell about 8' down the tree. I tried to lower myself down to hang from the top part then drop down to the platform but when I started lowering myself from the top piece it tipped and I fell down to the bottom half with my legs slipping through. Hurt like a sun of a beeeouch. Now I keep the two pieces tied together and make sure the pieces are set into the tree before I move up or down, slow methodical movements.