Treestand Users-BEWARE!

[KSdan]

The friction thing is the weak link. Maybe a good rope and knot is the answer.  Ratchets may work on the stand but that still does not deal with the sticks. I am going to research climber's equipment.

Tying in at the bottom is just not feasible or safe in most of the trees I hunt.  I would rather be in shape and hang on until I reach the 8-10' mark- then tie in my climber's seat harness for the final few feet and stand set.  Fiddling with ropes means you are not hanging on. . . I would rather keep three-point contact.

Thanks for all the input
Dan

[NDTerminator]

Man alive, did you soil your camo?

[far rider]

Boy that's good info there. Thanks for sharing, but thank you God it didn't turn out any worse, be careful bud! Glad your OK>  

[joevan125]

I have had a ole man tree stand for 10 yrs and every time i climb a tree i get to thinking, i wonder if one of those bolts might be rusted bad enough for it to break.

You cant tell because it is inside the stand.

[Lone archer]

I actually had something similar happen to me. My LW Alpha was hanging in the same tree since last season. At the beginning of this season I checked everything out before climbing into it the first hunt. Actually I repositioned it alittle. I hunted at least twenty times out of the stand with no problems. After the first snow/freezing rain we had I was standing on stand with a nice buck out about fifty yards. When I positioned for the shot the stand just pitched forward about two inches. I was belted in with the old style waist belt and another around the tree so I did not fall forward but was pulled back towards the tree which I believe caused the stand to reset. If I was wearing my body harness I think I would have over reacted and feel out of the stand. I jumped on the stand at the end of the hunt and nothing happened. Some how the strap managed to slip thru the buckle every so slightly due to the fact the belt was frozen.

[reddogge]

I use two lineman's belts and I'll hook one above the limb before unhooking the one below the limb.  I don't care how slow it is at least I know I'm not taking a fall with one slip up.  Use a prussik or slip knot so you can adjust the belt length to hang safely while you hook and unhook.  I'll be 66 soon so climbing isn't as easy as it used to be but falling is too easy now.

[NightHawk]

I'm a professional climber and there's no way, I will use LW products, they just don't seem safe, to me.
I work as a lineman for a local power utility so I have some experience climbing things. Something that people don't realize is; if there's ice on the tree, you want to climb with your stand on the icy side and, if you use climbing sticks, always put them on the icy side
 Having two lineman belts in the same d-ring is a hazzard. Do not do that, you will fall, it's only a matter of time. It's also an osha rule not to have 2 belts in the same ring

[Morning Star]

I'm gonna find a different strap system for next year. Getting to be to many "coincidences". It shouldn't be to hard to come up with something safer and just as easy to use.  The stand itself is a terrific design.

I use utility constrictor ropes on my LW sticks.  If ya want to get rid of the straps on them, that's a decent way to go.

[joe ashton]

how scary.

[KSdan]

Mike- after your posts you have me thinking as well.  I really thought it was the debris; and I am sure that was the main culprit, but after your and others posts, this has me thinking about the cold.

I want something I can do with one hand, as I never let go of the tree (3 pts contact).  I am curious about the constrictor ropes- but if I understand them correctly it takes two hands.

I am checking into rope and climbing knots of some sort. For the sticks I am thinking half hitches on a cleat like used on a boat.

[lpcjon2]

First thing I do on all my stands is put a brand new ratchet strap and throw away the manufacturers.and a safety rope does help.
KSdan I did a lot of rock climbing and there is no one hand knot that you can use unless you have a prussic and a safety rope.all you need is a climbing strap and a carabiner ( or one 6' rope with a loop and a carabiner) and do it like the loggers,put it around you and the tree before you go up and keep moving until you get to the set point and you can lean back on it and free up your hands.

[limbow]

Check out this website.         www.gomuddy.com/shopping/Departments/Climbing-Sticks.aspx                               I really like the way the sticks work. It is similar to climbing gear. I would think it is possible to convert a stand to this type of set up safely. I still prefer the good old fashion chain set up on my stands.

[Bahrzoo]

Thanks for the heads up.

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

Anything mechanical can and will fail. It's not a matter of "If" it's a matter of "When" Just like anything else proper care and maintenance will keep everyone safe, warm and fuzzy feeling.

Muddy?  http://www.gomuddy.com/images/documents/061520094914583.pdf

8 pages of instructions.. 6 pages in warnings and special instructions.. I'll stick with my standard issue buckles and keep an eye on them.

A bigger problem to me is the strap getting twisted, and getting the "Twist" pulled into the buckle,, but that's just me..

[KSdan]

Lots of good thoughts/discussion here. . .

I rarely hunt telephone pole trees.  There would be no way to use a "linemans" line in most trees I hunt. And I rarely get in a tree larger than 18" dia.

I also hang everything one handed.  So, whether attaching a strap or tying half hitches- I can do that.

I always have three points of contact. I like hanging on.  I don't step on the third stick or hang the stand until my climber's seat has me attached to the tree (again all one handed).

I suppose staying in shape and having arms like a monkey (6' 4"- 36" arms) helps a bunch too.

[KSdan]

I checked Muddy sticks. . . pretty cool.  Again depending on friction though.  Not so sure about icy/wet ropes??

[30coupe]

I add an extra ratchet strap to mine so I have three straps: one with the hook, one on the top button, and the ratchet strap on the bottom button. I don't want anything moving when I step on the stand.

[Brian Krebs]

I really like replacing the strap systems with a chain. Not a dog chain; but a good strong link chain. It might mean a bit more work setting it up; but its not going to come apart - and I have gotten out of a tree to find that the strap had been chewed on by something. That is not a good feeling..always take a second and check your stand before climbing in.

[Morning Star]

Mike- after your posts you have me thinking as well. I really thought it was the debris; and I am sure that was the main culprit, but after your and others posts, this has me thinking about the cold.

I want something I can do with one hand, as I never let go of the tree (3 pts contact). I am curious about the constrictor ropes- but if I understand them correctly it takes two hands.

Yes, somewhat depending on the size of the tree, but it's usually two hands for UCR's.  

I use the linemans rope on my Muddy Harness when setting sticks and stands.  After you get a good feel for using a lineman's rope, you can lean into it and two hands is no big deal.....very safe.  When climbing, the rope gives you that 3rd contact point.

Using the rope also helps you be able to use both hands for securing your tag line prior to climbing into your stand.   And that's the step that's gonna save a guys butt!

[ziggy]

Dan, Glad to here you are OK!!!!

Here are my 2 cents (as usual):
- using the linemans belt/strap/rope with two sets is a good idea even if you always use three points of contact.  Do I do this?  Not yet but it is on my list of things to get done before next season.  It sure beats spending the rest of your life in a wheel chair.
- I use a different type of sticks than you and can put them on the tree with one hand.  They tie on.  I try to replace the ropes every couple of years.  Again, another task on my list for this summer.
- The wife got me a chippewa wedge loc (Chief model) for Chirstmas.  I was hoping I wouldn't like it and could return it due to the expense.  I've used it twice and now you will need to take it from me by force (not that big of deal for most of you, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to put up a fight).  Setup is a dream and it is quiet and light.