Don't be stupid!

[Tim]

Tom.....I set my harness up so I have to have it with me to hunt.  I zip tie my license to the back and I sew on a pair of pruning sheers to the right side of the belt.   Both of these items I need when I hunt, plus the harness holds back my clothing from my bow string.  

I found in the past that if your in a rush or running late you won't put it on that night and it only takes one night without to fall.   Set it up so you can't leave home without it!

[TxAg]

I have that model. Hunted with it last year.

The best part was attaching your safety strap in such a way that you could "lean" out from the tree to get different shot angles.

[Shortlongbow]

All good advice here. Please remember that many falls happen while climbing up and down and while stepping onto and off of your stand platform. It's a little slower and more hassle, but tie off all the way up and down. It might save your life.

[Bear Heart]

Another thing to remember is a harness is not good forever.  If you take a fall in it mount it on the trophy wall and get a new one.  Many have an expiration date.
Don't trust your equipment until you inspect it.

[JamesV]

My wife was climbing down with her climbing stand when the platform came loose from the foot strap and fell about 5 feet down the tree she was about 15 feet up and she fell off the seat. Luckily she landed on the platform and was able to keep her balance and not fall to the ground. She came away with only a sprained ankle. She has a saftey harness now (State Reg) but hunts mostly from the ground

[KentuckyTJ]

Originally posted by LimBender:
I like how that one doesn't have a waist belt - looks less restrictive than the vests.  Do you feel it on the draw?

Will, I actually ordered it yesterday. I'll have it in a few days. I'll gear up and take a few practice shots with it on and let you know in a pm.

Great stuff guys. Yeah I heard a statistic the other day that 84% of falls happen climbing in and out of the stand. I am going to try to keep mine tethered while doing so.

[KentuckyTJ]

Originally posted by A.S.:
Great reminder TJ. I think you know the story of my fall 6 years ago. The most frightening thing was wondering if I would be around to watch my kids grow up, just after I hit the ground!

Please be careful out there!

Yeah Allen, I am mainly doing it for my wife and daughter. If it weren't for them I'm sure I wouldn't even think about it.

[Pete McMiller]

Except for the first couple of times years ago I ALWAYS wore a safety belt.  Maybe not perfect but it was better than nothing.  Then one fall my buddy told me to hunt out of his stand as he had filled his tag already.  Long story short, I stepped off the stand after dark and onto a stub of a dead branch that he had used as the last/first step.  Of course it broke and luckily I had a death grip on the stand..............as I swung from the bottom of that stand by one hand.  I now much prefer to fall 5'10" when I trip on a root and hunt primarily from the ground.

[gringol]

good point, Bear Heart.  Harnesses are typically only good for about 5 years from the date of MANUFACTURE, so pay attention to those expiration dates.  Also, inspect it before your use it for frayed edges etc, and treat it like your bow, don't throw it in the dirt or walk on it!  Hopefully you never have to test your harness out, but if you do you need it to work.

[tippit]

Now if you add the Petzel GriGri 2 self belaying devise to the tether, you can lower yourself to the ground rather than just hang in the tree...tippit

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=110494

[KentuckyTJ]

Please explain how they go bad. I'm not grasping that one.

[Eugene Slagle]

I've never fallen out of a tree stand & God willing I never will.
I always wear my Seat-o-Pants safety harness when I intend to hunt in a tree, I even once forgot my harness at home & got to my spot hung the stand but when I realized I didn't have it I left the stand there & hunted on the ground.

Anyone who has harnesses that are a few years old should test their abilities to hold you at a low distance from the ground to be sure that the harness is in good shape.

That harness looks like a sweet one & if the $$$ is in the budget I may get a new harness this year.

[kbetts]

Started with the harness last year.  I added some pouches from Wally World and very seldom need a pack now.

Too many people depend on me to come home...

[buckeye_hunter]

Originally posted by Shortlongbow:
It's a little slower and more hassle, but tie off all the way up and down. It might save your life.

That's how I fell. I was in the middle of strapping on a set of climbing sticks when I lost my grip and went straight back. While I was only 6 feet up at the time, that was enough to knock the wind outta me when I hit the ground flat on my back. Be smart....

[toddster]

Yes I am sorry about your friend, but like work "near Miss" reports, keep this unfortunate thing in front of us.  I have had some falls and was extremly lucky, one was had harness on but wasnt using it to get up tree, duh.  Lets learn and remember we do this for passion and enjoyment, no animal is worth your life or vast money in surgery and pain.  By the way, Illinois just past a law this year, that if you hunt out of a treestand you must have a harness on.

[sledge]

[sledge]

[sledge]

[dragon rider]

I agree completely.  I don't fly worth a damn and while I know something's going to get me someday, I'm really working on it not being my own stupidity.

BTW, any of you guys have a view on the "best" tree stand harness?  I have an HSS, I have a friend who swears by Tree Spider and know some other guys who like Gorilla.  Any advice?

[Rustic]

Yep...had a close call 2 yrs ago while climbing down a tree. Good thing I had my HSS Harness on. I was very lucky. I never climbed trees with out one.