The yearly "WARNING" for us all!

[SlowBowke]

A 40 year old friend of mine is "out of commission" for bowhunting this year.

Our season starts Oct 1st and Mike went out yesterday to put up a stand.

It's a stand he was well familiar with and he got her up, chained on and while holding onto some screw in steps above him he stomped on it several times to "settle it in".

All went well till he let go of the steps and sat down to see what trimmming he might need to do.

Next thing he knew he was on the way to the ground and got bounced off several limbs and must have hit a step or two as well.

On the ground he had his left eyebrow torn loose and hanging over his eye and he knew he was in serious trouble from the pain he was enduring.

Fortunately he had his cell phone with him and didn't loose consciousness for long and was able to call his wife who called another buddy of ours because she had no clue where to go.

That friend wasn't in the area so he called someone else (he wasnt able to get ahold of me, dang cell phones) and they went out to find Mike crawling towards the truck.

Numerous stitches in is face, a broken left shoulder and broken hip, he will be hospitalized for some time but his working and hunting for this year is done.

It's times like this that should make us think. (If we weren't doing so before)

Even though we've "done this a hundred times" it only takes one OOPS to do serious damage and could even take our life.

Take someone with you if at all possible and even then have at least one cell phone on hand.

When going out to hunt, let SOMEONE know where you are EXACTLY and when you are coming back, EVEN IF you have a cell phone.

Mike thinks he was "out" for awhile but no clue how long.

Bad as it was, it could have been a lot worse!

This is ALL "OLD NEWS" but.... with this happening here I thought it well worth repeating.

I know when I was still hanging stands to hunt from I ignored all these suggestions and was lucky.

It is just something that is worth a little forethought and planning for "what if".

I hope each and every one has a great and SAFE season!

God Bless!

[2Blade]

Great reminder sorry to hear about your friend but it could have worse glad to hear hes still alive. Be safe out there guys.

ttt for a serious and sometimes over looked topic.

[Jerry Jeffer]

That's why I hunt the ground.

[2Blade]

Originally posted by Jerry Jeffer:
That's why I hunt the ground.

Funny you say that. Ive found myself making more blinds this year then putting up stands.

[Keefer]

I hope he get's well soon and Thanks for the reminder..I've been doing more and more hunting on the ground but things can go wrong quickly...God Bless, Keefer's <")))><

[BowHuntingFool]

I'm glad you buddy is alive, he will hear! I always say when in a stand, hanging it, trimming branches or whatever.... AWAYS, ALWAYS wear a harness!

[Three Arrows]

Just keep in mind that whether we hunt from an elevated stand or on the ground, the danger is created by us.  A small twig can cause an arrow to stick you anywhere.  A loose hold on a step can cause one to jam under your armpit.  A broken chain, a loose strap, anything.  I even had an arrow come off a bow quiver during a stalk through some brush and go through my jacket.

[twotimer]

sorry to hear of your friends misfortune,prayers and well wish's for him and all of us.thanks for posting,its a terrible reminder,but one we all need.as the years go by so fast,i go by so slow,and try to visualize each step,movement,and whatifs,for me,it all boils down to,don't panic,or get excited.it's gotten that i don't care how high up a tree i go,as long as i can keep one foot on the ground.take care all.robert  :(    

[30coupe]

I might also add: if you are in a tree, whether hanging stands or hunting from one, wear a fall restraint of some sort! When your friend "tested" his stand, he should have also been testing his safety gear! It only takes a few minutes to put it on, and it sure beats crawling to the truck with a broken hip.

[Bowhunter57]

Sorry to hear about your friend taking such a hard fall. My prayers go out to him.

Safety harnesses are like motorcycle helments. Unless it's law that you have to wear one, everybody thinks that..."it's not going to happen to me" and it does.  

There are 2 types of motorcyclists. Those that have wrecked and those that will wreck. Simularly with bowhunters...those that have fallen and those that will fall.  :rolleyes:  The difference is what you wear!  

Good hunting, Bowhunter57

[FOXXNTROUT]

Originally posted by Jerry Jeffer:
That's why I hunt the ground.

ditto.

Hope for a healthy recovery for your buddy. Keep some jerky set aside for him to lift his spirits this fall.

[George D. Stout]

It happens every year, and will continue as long as we think we are personally invulnerable.  It's like the "turn around, don't drown" phrase that they announce every day on the weather channel, but people always drive into deep, running water.

I'm glad your friend is going to be okay....it's a hard lesson; I have friends who have gone through similar falls and have been lucky enough to survive.
No stands for this old bow....gave them up a decade ago.

[CDR]

Prayers for a speedy recovery!

[John3]

Hope your buddy heals well and soon...

The past five years I have hunted 98% from natural ground blinds... They are deadly on deer, you cannot fall out of them and built properly no one will ever know you are hunting there...


John III

[Wary Buck]

I've got a friend who fell from a stand with bad consequences.  I will still hunt from a tree, but over the years have gravitated away from tree steps and toward ladder sticks and ladder stands.  And am always going to be buckled in.  

I also will not climb any higher than about 12-15 feet in 98% of my stands, and the only ones higher (and only by a couple feet) are in cedars.  Most of my stands are 8-12' tall and I do quite alright.  I know you can and will get hurt falling that far too, but those guys going up 20-30 feet, there's just no way I would do that.

I personally think the act of hanging stands may well be the most dangerous part of this whole airborne business.  During that time, there is often a vulnerable few minutes as guys force the issue without help and/or without a fall-restraint device.

[30coupe]

Originally posted by Wary Buck:


I personally think the act of hanging stands may well be the most dangerous part of this whole airborne business.  During that time, there is often a vulnerable few minutes as guys force the issue without help and/or without a fall-restraint device.

I have started wearing a Hunter Safety System with a lineman's belt when I hang stands. I also install a safety rope and clip onto it both climbing and descending. It takes longer and is kind of a pain in the butt, but the older I get the longer it seems to take to heal. I've decided that taking my time and being careful is better than trying to heal. I'm not ready to give up climbing yet. I just love the view from a tree stand!

[SteveB]

Originally posted by 30coupe:
 

Originally posted by Wary Buck:


I personally think the act of hanging stands may well be the most dangerous part of this whole airborne business.  During that time, there is often a vulnerable few minutes as guys force the issue without help and/or without a fall-restraint device.

I have started wearing a Hunter Safety System with a lineman's belt when I hang stands. I also install a safety rope and clip onto it both climbing and descending. It takes longer and is kind of a pain in the butt, but the older I get the longer it seems to take to heal. I've decided that taking my time and being careful is better than trying to heal. I'm not ready to give up climbing yet. I just love the view from a tree stand! [/b]

I am doing the same. I love being in the trees - have 15 stands out, but still hunt from the ground where it makes sense. May not make me as "proficient" as Quint, but works for me.

Steve

[Doug in MN]

My neighbor died from a fall 3 years ago. They figure he got turned upside down in the fall and came down head first.

[Sticks2117]

Im glad your friend will be ok for next year!! I hope he and all of us will remember how important you safety harness is.

[BRONZ]

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