Treestand Accident

JimB · May 31, 2014, 03:48:00 PM

Guys,I just cut the plastic off one of my Gorilla cables that I just recently took off.My assumption was right.It had sweat under that plastic and the cable is badly corroded.I felt it and it was actually wet!I mean like you had just dipped it in water.I'm going to replace every cable on every treestand with 316 stainless cable and will never use plastic coated again.Be careful guys.

dragonheart · May 31, 2014, 04:03:00 PM

First off sending you prayers for a speedy recovery. Talk about an eyeopener. This is a motivator to hunt on the ground for me.

Bill Carlsen · May 31, 2014, 04:08:00 PM

Last year I replaced the cables on all my tree stands with 3/16" cable. I had to buy some tools and the cable but the $100 investment gives me stands with 800# of weight bearing and a lot of peace of mind. I did it because one day as I was getting into one stand I noticed corrosion on one of the cables. I called Gorilla and they said the cables needed to be changed at least every 3 years. Hope your recovery is quick and without complications.

varmint101 · May 31, 2014, 04:09:00 PM

Thank God you made it out okay in the end!

1kwikstik · May 31, 2014, 04:18:00 PM

Sorry about your fall. I'm with finkm1. Ive gone to ladder stands wherever i can use them. I know you can fall from ladders too but I just feel safer. At my age you just don't bounce anymore.

jkm97 · May 31, 2014, 04:21:00 PM

Even at 34 it's rough.

Charlie Lamb · May 31, 2014, 04:28:00 PM

Well buddy I'm glad you aren't worse off than you are. I had the same thing happen to me last year.

At 66 yrs. old the 12 feet I fell felt like 24 feet. Messed up my pelvis and I'm still experiencing pain from it. I'm getting my care from the VA and they are a little slow as you might have heard.

It was the cables on my Gorilla stand that let me down. Close as I can tell they both let go almost simultaneously. I have always checked my stands each year but only nuts, bolts and connections.

I had mine set up with safety line and all, but after hanging the stand midday I went back to camp for lunch. On returning to the stand that PM I realized I had forgotten my harness.

Since I didn't want to lose the time it would have taken to return to camp and get the rig I weighed the odds and went up without it... here's your sign!

Maybe by writing our experience down we'll save somebody else from the same experience or worse.

Hope your recovery is quick and complete.

Gator1 · May 31, 2014, 04:32:00 PM

I'm very thankful you are for all intent and purposes o.k.

The moral of this is, tree stands don't last forever. Ladder Stands, Hang On Stands, Climbers.

I've been hanging tree stands since I was 13-14, and honestly, can't believe I never had a fall, No harness, nothing.

Ladder stands with the nylon ratchets fail, especially if left out in sun. I'm down to hunting out of my Summit Climber, harnessed all the way up and all way till my feet hit the ground.

Good idea as JimB did to inspect the cables. They really aren't all that thick on most hang on stands.

I may hunt out of my ladder again after quite a long lay off. But I do know this, I'll replace the ratchet straps yearly, and for safety sake, I'm also going to put a Rubber Coated Chain up top, with a small turnbuckle.

If the Ratchet should fail, the Chain will at least keep me from crashing to the ground. I'm also going to employ the Rope to the top of the stand to harness up and down with a prussic knot.

GET WELL
SOON....

**** These posts are very good reminders for all of us here*************

olddogrib · May 31, 2014, 04:58:00 PM

Glad it wasn't worse. I got suspicious of plastic coated cable-supported platforms when my truck tailgate broke under minimal loading. Upon closer inspection the strands were completely corroded. I think the coating mainly traps moisture that wicks in from the open ends and then can't evaporate. If it's black it's doubly bad to hide the rust. I can't say that clear would make it any more visible. I still prefer the old style Loc-ons with the pivoting metal supports. I'll live with a couple extra pounds, but what's still a light weight compared to a climber.

nineworlds9 · May 31, 2014, 05:03:00 PM

I'm so effing glad I sold the Gorilla I used to own and now hunt exclusively on the ground. Man oh man!!

Get well soon. Don't beat yourself up over what happened. It was an accident.

kawika b · May 31, 2014, 05:09:00 PM

Godspeed on a full recovery... truly glad it wasn't worse.

LV2HUNT · May 31, 2014, 06:16:00 PM

Hope for a speedy recovery!

KSdan · May 31, 2014, 06:23:00 PM

Oh my. . .

Another reason I never leave a stand in the woods, all cables are replaced with high-strength braided poly rope (never need worry about failure), and I tie in before stepping onto stand.

Best recovery. . . perhaps good time to reflect why Someone spared your life.

Dan in KS

May 31, 2014, 06:42:00 PM

glad it wasn't worse , man.
hope you heel up pretty quickly.

where can a guy get steel cables to replace old ones anyways?

Homey88 · May 31, 2014, 06:46:00 PM

Get well soon!

Homey88 · May 31, 2014, 06:47:00 PM

Get well soon!

South MS Bowhunter · May 31, 2014, 06:56:00 PM

Wow Kyle the Good Lord is a Merciful God! Glad he had his hand on you.

Every year that goes by and each story I read or hear about tree stands accidents just moves me closer to ground hunting full time.

My ratio has been about 50/50 but with about as many deer sighting either way, its just tougher to get the shot off when on the ground and within 20 yards or under.

BOWMARKS · May 31, 2014, 07:04:00 PM

Hears to a quick and full recovery.

gringol · May 31, 2014, 07:48:00 PM

Wow. Glad you are ok, more or less. That could have ended much worse.

BUFF · May 31, 2014, 08:08:00 PM

Get well soon