I don't go up without it anymore. Too old and scared. I use a climber all the time. It is part of my equipment.

Yes,I do want to encourage all of you who never wear a harness to get one now.I have been bowhunting for 25 years and this is my first fall.Thank God that I had my harness on.It worked just like it is supposed to.I looked at it carefully and feel confident that it could easily withstand another fall.

I never wore a harness my first few years of bowhunting until a coworker went to sleep in his stand and fell.He is now in a wheelchair.It is serious business.I am still in disbelief over the whole episode.It almost seems like a dream.I actually fell from my stand.That is just insane to me.I hunt fairly high too.I was 23' up with five Lone Wolf climbing sticks and a Lone Wolf Assault stand.I use a linemans belt when hanging the sticks and stand.I do un hookj though to climb up to hang the next stick and when getting into my stand.I guess I need to get a line to connect above me when I unhook the linemans belt and when climbing into the stand.I was a half mile in the woods after a mile or so boat ride so if I would have hit the ground,it probably would have been bad.

Glad you were not seriously hurt. I have never fallen but have come close a couple of times. I really believe in using the safety harness.

It's nice to hear the good stories once in a while!  I'm glad this one worked out because you took the precaution to wear your harness.

Like I always tell my students who are opposed to wearing a harness when they hunt, no one ever PLANNED on falling out of a tree; in fact, I'm pretty certain EVERYONE plans on NOT falling out!

good lord. glad youre ok man!

Many years ago before good harnesses, I fell asleep and woke up in the air. I managed to grab the front of my stand just before it was out of reach. I have hunted the ground since then.  I work the midnight shift, it is much better for napping on the ground. Some times I wake up with deer around me.  

wow glad you are ok! safety is always a huge part of hunting and im glad you take that seriously. i had a family member who thought he had taken all the steps with his young son however when climbing down they had unhooked and did not have a tie off for climbing up and down and his son fell during a misscomunication on who was decending the two man first..thank god his son only had the wind knocked out of him and was uninjured....

Glad your ok. People should learn from your story. My son fell two times when he was younger but I had him in a safety system. Never go out with out it!

Glad you are well.... It seems that for many years I knew too many folks getting hurt, it becomes less each year, but so are the number of friends and the amount of hrs they hunt....
I keep worrying if I am next....

But as a husband and father of 3 children who count on me... I can slow down and try to stack the odds in my favor as much as I can...

I use lone wolf sticks as well as an Assault stand....

I did however buy a summit rope with Prussia knot to tie into as I unhook from the line mans belt before climbing in the stand....

I work a rotating schedule and hunt alone most of the time...
I must say the good Lord looks after fools and small children... And What hair I have left seems to be turning grader by the day....

But know if it ever happens it will be a bad day...

The fact I haven't fallen out of a stand is that if I know I am that tired.... I mostly hunt from the ground....and sleep to my hearts content

Good post .. we all need the reminder to be safe

Glad you are ok.  I too am a statistic for falling.  About 12 years ago I was hunting out of a gametamer stand but had a single pole type ladder for access.  Wearing rubber boots in the rain, I stepped from the ladder onto the stand but being wet, my foot slipped and down I went.  15 feet of free-fall to the ground flat on my back with a back quiver full of arrows and broadheads, while banging off the ladder as I decended.  I can only give thanks to God for sparing me significant injury (except my pride), as the only thing was a minor sprain to my ankle.  I immediately climbed back up and into the stand but much more aware of the slick boots.

Since I only hunt private land now, I have gone to a ladder type stand and enter my gametamer from a more secure platform.

Stay safe out there.

Good for you for wearing that harness!

Glad for the harness, and that you're OK.  Despite the advantages, I rarely hunt from tree stands anymore.

You are supposed to buy a new one if you fall, I believe.  They are rated for 1 fall.  Glad you had it on!

I'm a certified hunter ed instructor and not only preach wearing a 4- point harness, but also using a climbing system with  a prussic knot. 75% of falls occur while climbing, not when on the platform or seat. So tying off once you're up is not enough protection.
The new safety concept is suspension trauma. Harnesses now are being made with suspension relief straps.  Y'all should Google this one.
Not trying to hijack your thread. ... Just wanted to chime in on this VERY important topic.

I'm a certified hunter ed instructor and not only preach wearing a 4- point harness, but also using a climbing system with  a prussic knot. 75% of falls occur while climbing, not when on the platform or seat. So tying off once you're up is not enough protection.
The new safety concept is suspension trauma. Harnesses now are being made with suspension relief straps.  Y'all should Google this one.
Not trying to hijack your thread. ... Just wanted to chime in on this VERY important topic.