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Safety harnesses and other safety

Wow! I started reading this post, then started to scroll down when I looked at the slide bar on the side. :unsure: It was extremely small, which indicates the page is extremely long....then I read the posting date. :ROFLMAO: 2018.

I'll say this.... I'm all about safety harnesses, climbing safety, etc. One of the main reasons why I like tree saddle hunting is that I'm always secured to the tree in some way, shape or form....and sometimes by more than one method at a time. (y)

I've only fallen out of a tree 2x. :sneaky:
The first time was back in '77, when after working a night shift, driving 8 hours to the Manistee National Forest (west of Cadillac, Mi.) and attempting to bow hunt that same evening. (After all, I'd only been awake for 36 hours.) After climbing into a tree and finding a branch to stand on, I hoisted up my bow with a piece of twine tied to my belt loop and locked my knees to wait for a passing deer. :sleep: I thought to myself, that the breeze was nice. Suddenly something hit me in the back, knocking the wind out of me. I attempted to sit up and catch my breath, only to realize that I was laying flat on the ground at the base of the tree that I had been in a few seconds ago. Apparently, I did a 3/4 flip and landed flat on my back. Damn lucky I didn't land on my head and snapped my neck. o_O I went back to camp and got some sleep. :ROFLMAO:

The second time, I was in a brand new Baker Mighty-Mite climbing tree stand. No hand climber, just hug the tree and raise your legs, that were tied to the platform with a bungee cord. :unsure: After getting to about 18 feet, I turned around, hoisted up my bow and settled in for the hunt. I must have shifted my weight or something, because that's when the "eject" feature kicked in and it started ratcheting down the tree, clanking as it went. At about the 8 foot mark I reluctantly gave my bow a toss and decide to jump at 5 feet. o_O I did a hit and roll and was fine. Quickly got up to check my bow and it was fine too. The Baker was left in the woods. :mad: My uncle was 150 yards away and he came over to see if I was okay. He said he thought I was pissed at the tree stand and was beating on it with a hammer or a rock. :ROFLMAO:

That's all I have to say about that. - Forest Gump :cool:
 
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"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
56,745
274
North Carolina
Wow! I started reading this post, then started to scroll down when I looked at the slide bar on the side. :unsure: It was extremely small, which indicates the page is extremely long....then I read the posting date. :ROFLMAO: 2018.

I'll say this.... I'm all about safety harnesses, climbing safety, etc. One of the main reasons why I like tree saddle hunting is that I'm always secured to the tree in some way, shape or form....and sometimes by more than one method at a time. (y)

I've only fallen out of a tree 2x. :sneaky:
The first time was back in '77, when after working a night shift, driving 8 hours to the Manistee National Forest (west of Cadillac, Mi.) and attempting to bow hunt that same evening. (After all, I'd only been awake for 36 hours.) After climbing into a tree and finding a branch to stand on, I hoisted up my bow with a piece of twine tied to my belt loop and locked my knees to wait for a passing deer. :sleep: I thought to myself, that the breeze was nice. Suddenly something hit me in the back, knocking the wind out of me. I attempted to sit up and catch my breath, only to realize that I was laying flat on the ground at the base of the tree that I had been in a few seconds ago. Apparently, I did a 3/4 flip and landed flat on my back. Damn lucky I didn't land on my head and snapped my neck. o_O I went back to camp and got some sleep. :ROFLMAO:

The second time, I was in a brand new Baker Mighty-Mite climbing tree stand. No hand climber, just hug the tree and raise your legs, that were tied to the platform with a bungee cord. :unsure: After getting to about 18 feet, I turned around, hoisted up my bow and settled in for the hunt. I must have shifted my weight or something, because that's when the "eject" feature kicked in and it started ratcheting down the tree, clanking as it went. At about the 8 foot mark I reluctantly gave my bow a toss and decide to jump at 5 feet. o_O I did a hit and roll and was fine. Quickly got up to check my bow and it was fine too. The Baker was left in the woods. :mad: My uncle was 150 yards away and he came over to see if I was okay. He said he thought I was pissed at the tree stand and was beating on it with a hammer or a rock. :ROFLMAO:

That's all I have to say about that. - Forest Gump :cool:
I had a TSS climber that was the exact same as the baker. Strap broke shimming up a tree and it dropped and locked back in a few feet below me. Slid back down slowly and made contact hoping it would stay put. Luckily it did. No harnesses back then.
Glad I’m still around to talk about it….
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Wow! I started reading this post, then started to scroll down when I looked at the slide bar on the side. :unsure: It was extremely small, which indicates the page is extremely long....then I read the posting date. :ROFLMAO: 2018.

I'll say this.... I'm all about safety harnesses, climbing safety, etc. One of the main reasons why I like tree saddle hunting is that I'm always secured to the tree in some way, shape or form....and sometimes by more than one method at a time. (y)

I've only fallen out of a tree 2x. :sneaky:
The first time was back in '77, when after working a night shift, driving 8 hours to the Manistee National Forest (west of Cadillac, Mi.) and attempting to bow hunt that same evening. (After all, I'd only been awake for 36 hours.) After climbing into a tree and finding a branch to stand on, I hoisted up my bow with a piece of twine tied to my belt loop and locked my knees to wait for a passing deer. :sleep: I thought to myself, that the breeze was nice. Suddenly something hit me in the back, knocking the wind out of me. I attempted to sit up and catch my breath, only to realize that I was laying flat on the ground at the base of the tree that I had been in a few seconds ago. Apparently, I did a 3/4 flip and landed flat on my back. Damn lucky I didn't land on my head and snapped my neck. o_O I went back to camp and got some sleep. :ROFLMAO:

The second time, I was in a brand new Baker Mighty-Mite climbing tree stand. No hand climber, just hug the tree and raise your legs, that were tied to the platform with a bungee cord. :unsure: After getting to about 18 feet, I turned around, hoisted up my bow and settled in for the hunt. I must have shifted my weight or something, because that's when the "eject" feature kicked in and it started ratcheting down the tree, clanking as it went. At about the 8 foot mark I reluctantly gave my bow a toss and decide to jump at 5 feet. o_O I did a hit and roll and was fine. Quickly got up to check my bow and it was fine too. The Baker was left in the woods. :mad: My uncle was 150 yards away and he came over to see if I was okay. He said he thought I was pissed at the tree stand and was beating on it with a hammer or a rock. :ROFLMAO:

That's all I have to say about that. - Forest Gump :cool:
You've got time. Read away and add what you can. Some good stuff in here.
 
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Mike

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
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Up Nort
Here's a great deal on Muddy life lines. If you want three, add three single lines to your cart and not the three pack. It's cheaper to buy them individually. I spent $99 to get free shipping.
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,060
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Ohio
Here's a great deal on Muddy life lines. If you want three, add three single lines to your cart and not the three pack. It's cheaper to buy them individually. I spent $99 to get free shipping.
That is a great deal. For anyone who still hasn’t implemented lifelines on their fixed stand setups, I highly encourage you to do so. I added them to all my stands last year and I wish I’d have done it much sooner. They’re so quick, easy, and convenient… and of course improve the level of safety going up and down the tree big time. Do it! You won’t regret it.
 
Don’t really know the right answer either but I’ve got some up that have been out over 5 years now. Those are on ladder stands if that matters at all. Any that have shown any kind of wear or chewing have gotten replaced. Climbing sticks I try to use the newer ropes on and transition them over to the ladder stands after a couple years.
 

Tipmoose

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
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85
Grove City
Question 1.. How do you hook up a lifeline without a lifeline? I've never seen one of these contraptions installed on a tree. How do you secure it?

Question 2.. There are lots of threads on here about the importance of safety harnesses and life lines. We have threads every year about people dying from falls. What I haven't seen are stories from people who have been saved from falls by their harnesses. Does anyone here have stories about being saved by their safety gear?
 
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OO2

Well-Known Member
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111
In the Uplands
Question 1.. How do you hook up a lifeline without a lifeline? I've never seen one of these contraptions installed on a tree. How do you secure it?

Question 2.. There are lots of threads on here about the importance of safety harnesses and life lines. We have threads every year about people dying from falls. What I haven't seen are stories from people who have been saved from falls by their harnesses. Does anyone here have stories about being saved by their safety gear?
You hang your steps with a line man’s belt around the tree that is attached to your waist to allow you to be hands free.

Then a shorter lifeline is attached to the tree that is moved vertical as you go vertical.
IMG_3375.jpeg

I admittedly have only used the line man’s belt to hang my stands in the past. Will have to try the shorter lifeline in the future.
 

Jamie

Senior Member
5,691
177
Ohio
You use a Linemans belt to hang the stand and the install the ascension line while you are standing on the tree stand. I have installed over one hundred hang-on type tree stands doing this, and since I have never fallen in over 40 years of hunting from tree stands, I cannot report ever being saved by any safety equipment even climbing in and out of them in the dark dozens of times every season for as long as I can remember. At my age, and considering the Law of Averages, I use my safety lines religiously. I'm due, but I'm always attached, so I'm not going to fall to my death. I may choose to cut myself free and fall to my death to avoid suspension trauma, but I'll worry about that when I get there.