Another senseless treestand death

[Chuck Milam]

I used to use climbers and ladders, and last year a buddy put a tripod in our back field. I was in it and had a relatively easy "chip shot" on a doe at about 130 yards. As I leaned in to get into shooting position, the chair/platform shifted forward just a little bit, with a noticeable "clink" sound of metal-on-metal...just enough for me to miss my shot and get scared enough to slowly climb down that ladder and never get back up in it again. I'm staying on the ground from now on, unless maybe I put in one of those permanent platforms made of good solid wood posts.

 

[muddhunter]

I always use a harness with a fixed or climbing stand but admit I never do in my ladder stands. I feel it’s not needed with how you get in and out and secured while in it.

The only stand I’ve ever slipped and fallen out of was a ladder stand. I was only about ten feet up and climbing when I slipped, lost my balance and fell straight backwards onto the ground. I stay tethered from ground to seat now no matter what I’m doing.

 

[ribsplitter]

It's a wonder I'm still alive using that thing.

Death traps.... I took a ride one evening, with bow in hand, felt like 40'. I was only about 18-20 feet up the tree, didn't even know what a harness was lol.

 

[1wildcatfan]

How many of you remember the old Baker stands (I think that's what they were called) where you hugged the tree to climb up and climb down? Dang, I'm getting old.

I had the Baker Magnum, uncle said it looked like i had a piano on my back. Walking through the woods was brutal catching limbs. I had the hand, then seat climber attachment. After loosing all the skin on both forearms sliding down a tree, had to do something different. And they were just a little noisy going up a tree.

 

[cedar creek]

I quit hunting from tree stands few years back, 280 lbs with Chinese cables holding my big ass almost got myself once, hunted out of climbing stands a lot growing up, liked the old chain style

 

[carnivore]

I quit hunting from tree stands few years back, 280 lbs with Chinese cables holding my big ass almost got myself once, hunted out of climbing stands a lot growing up, liked the old chain style

After shearing the head off a new 3/4”X 8” bolt with a small ratchet (while installing wheel weights on a lawn tractor) its hard for me to trust today’s steel with my life.

 

[Huntin' Fool]

You wonder how there weren’t more accidents years ago. Or maybe there were and we just didn’t hear about them? Don’t ever remember dad or any of his friends talk of wearing a harness and all they sat in were those chain on things with screw in steps. Or a wood platform in a tree with wood steps. I mentioned on here before, my dad actually designed an aluminum climber back in the day. Everyone and their mother came and borrowed that thing. I know no one ever strapped in.

Yup. I'm 35 and grew up hunting wooden stands in trees that split at the top. Also, dad and his buddies had climbers made out of angle iron.

Watching all the hunting shows with sectional steps and hang ons actually got me in the habit of using life lines and lineman belts. It can be very hard to pull a hang on up a tree and attach it, especially the heavier ones.

Stay safe my friends!!

 

[muddhunter]

Safety harnesses

I have for sale 4 Muddy Magnum tree stand safety harnesses. These are brand new, never opened. If you hunt from a tree stand, you really, really need to wear a good harness. Your life and safety is too important to risk an accident. $30 each, face-to-face in the Bardstown-Elizabethtown area...

www.kentuckyhunting.net

As good a place as any to link this.