You've just fallen from a treestand and are suspended in the air. Would you believe your life is still in Danger? Learn how to recover from a treestand fall.
New to the climber world and put it to use this hunting season. ru-vid.comUgkxlQ7TDIrnnSXXbRgFFaxqwullRJJIuYAs I felt safe while climbing up and down a tree. It did take some time getting used to climbing and descending the tree. Once I figured it out I was comfortable going in climbing a tree knowing I was going to be up a tree quickly and most importantly quite not scaring every deer out of my area. I am 6’2” and 240 lbs, fit and comfort were great. I bow hunt and found no issues hunting from it. It is a little bulky to carry in and out of the woods vs some of the smaller open front climbers but I thought it was worth the bulk/weight due to ease of climbing (using the rail to sit on) and comfort for long sits.
I've had extensive harness training over the years. I can confirm this is extremely important! I've seen pictures of bad things... Most people don't tighten their leg straps as tight as they should either.
Good information...but most falls involving climbers that i have heard of are due to dropping the platform down the tree. Instructing people on what to do when there is no platform to step back up on would have been a good addition.
Best safety video I ever seen. Tou have guts to perform this video bc the dvd I get with every stand he dont fall out up in the air like you did. Also he never explains the screw in foot step idea. Which is a great idea. Thanks for the great video.
Depending on Your harness/tether. You should climb immediately down upon regaining the stand. The break away feature is spent and is no longer safe for use.
Thanks, the suspension release strap is a great idea. However, you should have had the top and bottom of the two part climbing tree stand tethered together.
With all the attention to safety these days I've had to reflect on the use of tree stands over my now 50 year hunting experiences. For many reasons I love tree stands, but I also like other methods of hunting. I don't bow hunt any more and stick to rifle hunting in fairly thick and mountainous areas of Virginia. I've evolved in recent years to still hunting and using natural ground stands and hides like blending in with brush piles. This is a lot easier and actually gives me more flexibility as the day's hunt progresses, and it has really paid off in results or I would go back to tree stands. In my opinion too many guys are too invested in the idea that the ONLY way to hunt is out of a tree stand and they fail to consider what else might work, probably as a safer option as well.
I'm 52 from Michigan and I can relate to what your saying. Tethers are safe but a saddle can kill a person if relied on for extended periods. I can't trust something to keep me safe if when I need it, it can kill me by shutting off blood flow to the legs. Nope not using that. I made my own saddle that pulls from the top of the 5 hole and uses a chest strap. One continuous 20 ft piece of 2 inch strap of nylon webbing around both legs, butt and waist, I use a steel buckle to hold it together and sewed some fabric to the webbing to keep it organized and has pockets like a tool belt, so no restricted blood flow anywhere and no pulling on my hips and I reach plume against the tree, so I can sit straight down comfortably. The price of saddles is just ridiculous. I don't use a linesman's belt ether, I tether in from the ground up, till I get back down.
It's hard to believe you made this so long ago and I have just now found it. Thank you!!! Lots of bow hunting coming this year on different stands. Thanks again!
Hey guys actually this is the same kind of harness we use for construction he is brave even doing a controlled fall. In a real life fall I have seen guys get the jewels busted open ripped off the body completely and big cuts into the legs from strap as well amd you only got 5 minutes before you cut off to much blood in legs artery this is very dangerous that's why the life strap should always be on the harness they also sell for steps in safety construction stores that go in your harness strap and your shoulder supports your weight on the life step
I don’t as debating on buying a tree stand for this very reason there is no signal where i hunt and if i was to get stuck in tree i’d probably die thanks for showing me you can recover from falling.
I carry those screw in steps. Every time. Yall be safe out there. Be smart. Let someone know where you're at. What time you're going in and what time you're coming out. If it's an area where it's hard to get a phone signal, let them know your general plans before you go in. The stories of people falling and being out there by themselves for hours/a day, before someone comes to look for them, is unimagineable. Yet, it happens. No hunt is more important than you safely returning home.
They should be tethered together. Anyone who doesn’t has never had the bottom fall or break. I have and luckily shinnied down the tree. It wasn’t easy.....
I used to do this but I am getting better at judging stand at bottom..Problem is sometimes you have to tilt the stand at lot to go up tree..New Summits have a clip you push down which makes it harder to do this most likely they do not want you doing it..If you do it make sure you have top/bottom tied together so you do not lose bottom...Also use your safety harness ..Some stands are now made with adjustment features like Timbertall stands...You turn knob and floor will level ..
very good advice but what would you do if something happend to the stand like if the strap broke and the stand fell to the ground? or the platform cables fail?
This information should be with the sale of every stand. Very valuable, please share with your friends. Always have cell phone on your body, not in the pack. Whistle is a great safety tool. Practice these tasks with your friends, it can save your life.
You better have some sort of tension release strap or better yet a treespider livewire. Because you don't have long to get back in the stand or down on the ground. Treespider lowers you safely to the ground slowly one time.
The bottom platform should be attached to the top one so that it won't fall down the tree. In fact, if you didn't have it attached and dropped it, how would you get down?
As a young hunter after school, I would grab my bow and head down into my stand. I fell asleep in my stand and fell out. Completely disoriented and half asleep, I was able to pull my self back in. I wasn't really scared because I really didn't know what had happened. My Dad always insisted on wearing a belt because he fell out of a stand, broke 3 ribs and had to crawl home. His hard lesson saved me from his bad accident. Belts are a must.
I know some one that dies fell out of a stand and he was hunter for 20 years stay on the ground if you can. Stands are a pain in the ass on public lands to use
Great video, however if you are caught in PA with screw in steps you are in big trouble, perhaps there should be new law for PA hunting regulations which can cover the addition of a few emergency screw in steps. Otherwise great video! I am not sure if other states have similar laws, a note of caution to check local laws.
I am sure they are illegal on public land. Can't imagine they are on private. If I were hanging from a tree I would not care any less about any law pertaining to screw in steps.
patty109109 Exactly, who cares if you get a ticket, it's a lot better than dying. And really, what's your chances of getting a ticket? I don't live in PA, but it's been 20 years since I talked to DNR in the field. I literally never see DNR when I'm hunting. Even on public land.
I know that making this video was some hard work. Thanks for your time and don't listen to the drunk people acting like fools. They are here for our entertainment . “If you want to get a sensual thunderbolt then you have got to be cocked, locked and ready to rock, doc. I find that whole milk and lots of Vitamin D help.” - My uncle Ted.
I had been sitting in my lock on style stand for a bout 30 minutes. I decided to take a practice draw with my bow to insure it cleared my camera arm. I was placing bow back on hook when the strap to my stand snapped without warning. my safety vest worked perfectly. after calming myself I was able to get my body turned and get back on my climbing stick. I had never heard of a suspension strap, but I can see were they would help with blood flow to the legs. Where do you get them?
I know you asked two years ago, but a lot of harnesses come with them. It's just a strap in a pouch right on the safety harness. It's very smart because constricted legs can indeed put you out fast.
Hmm, I never heard of a tension relief strap. I got my stand about 10-15 years ago and it didn't come with one. My main fear with a stand isn't falling like that -- it would be pretty hard with the one I have, but rather losing the bottom portion. Even with a rope attaching the two together, it could jam on the tree. I had this happen one time, but fortunately it didn't jam. But that happened because I decided to do something pretty stupid -- I tried to move the bottom piece up closer to the top piece after I had already seated myself in the stand (so feet were not in the holders on the bottom piece). Big mistake! Don't ever try this!
Suspension release strap (not -tension- ) designed to allow the feet and legs to support the weight of your body; rather than being supported by the leg wrap straps that will dangerously restrict blood flow after a short time period. The suspension release strap also provides a "step" to lift yourself up back into your stand
Not, "tension relief strap" but Suspension Trauma release strap. Your full body safety harness will only temporarily save your life from a fall. If you hang for even a short time, your full body safety harness will kill you because your blood will get trapped in your legs and you will faint while your organs die.
Place a phone call to someone you know..? Where exactly are you hunting..? When I go hunting in my neck of the woods I am an hour away from cellular service.
The one time I did this was the only time I forgot my screw in step. It's the first thing I check that I have with me now. BTW, I'm a public land hunter mostly, if it comes to the point I need to use a screw in step, I'll pay the fine if every questioned.
The question that must never be asked 'What then?!' Treestand mfgs stay away from this one bekez to date, a couple or three decades later they still don't have THE answer. In Alabama we have had recent years when the only hunting deaths were caused by treestand accidents. Personally I'm investigating using an extra rope hooked to my tree tie. If I fall I'll use a special 'figure 8' carabiner to hook onto that rope to let myself down. It's what saddle hunters use. Whatever you do i would urge you to take the initiative and come up with your own backup and practice practice practice. If you don't then in the event of a fail you'll die hanging around, or you'll die when you hit the ground after giving up and cutting loose at altitude. Don't be that statistic. Go the extra step and then you can use your treestand with confidence.
