Had a scare this morning....

[passthrough76]

First time in 15 years of hunting this has ever happened, and I have used the same kind of stand for 10 of those years. I was on my way down from a good hunt this morning, and I was trying to get over a knob in the tree with the bottom part of my stand when the clip that holds the cable came undone. I went to put the bottom part of the stand on the tree when it slipped off. Luckily, I caught myself with my forearms on the top part of my stand and did not fall immediately. Now I had the weight of the bottom part pulling me down as I held on to the top part, and I was at 15 ft when this happened.. I was able to sling the bottom part off my feet and then lower myself down to about 10 ft when I had to let go. I am very blessed to come out of this with only a little bruise and a hurt ego. The picture below is when I tried to get the top part off by pulling myself up with my arms, but the tree was to wide. I had to go all the way home and get another stand to help get the top part down. Be careful everyone, you just never know.

 

[morgancountry]

Not to preach... but wear the safety belt going up and down too. I know its a pain, just started making myself do it this year, but it really doesn't take that much longer.

 

[morgancountry]

Oh and glad you're ok!

 

[Beekeeper]

Remember to tie a 3' to 4' cord between the two pieces. if you can get in a sitting position on the climber you should be able to pull the bottom back up and fix the problem. This has happened to me before and it is not any fun.

Glad you are OK.

 

[pseshooter300]

Ya i tie a cord also and wear my harness glad you are ok

 

[Crosshairy]

I had a scare similar to that once when I was trying to climb an ironwood tree due to a lack of good tree choices. I should have just given up on the spot.

The bark was so smooth that the bottom fell a good bit. My story ended differently, however, because my Summit stand came with a connecting rope between the two parts. Good thing, too, because i wouldn't have thought to put one on.

Glad you are OK and learned a thing or two from the incident!

I've done so many dumb things in my lifetime that turned into "learning experiences". Although I don't get myself into dangerous situations much any more, my forgetfulness keeps me from getting too complacent :).

 

[Pursuit Hunter]

Ya i tie a cord also and wear my harness glad you are ok

X2

 

[BigD_625]

Glad you're ok.

 

[Pursuit Hunter]

Couple questions...

Is that a summit?

Did the cable come undone? If so, how did the clip that holds it in place get pulled down and the cable pushed out? Hopefully, your experience will help others to avoid a similar situation.

A thought...

I'da taken my limb saw and cut a small sapling long enough to nudge the top part loose instead of going home for another stand.

 

[passthrough76]

Yes, the clip got knocked loose somehow when I was working the bottom part around the knob. The entire bottom part came off the tree. Using a cord to connect the two parts is a good idea, however, in this case it would not have helped because the entire bottom part came loose from the tree and was dead weight.

Good thinking PH, I did have one in my car but was a little dazed and didn't even come to mind.

 

[Pursuit Hunter]

Yes, the clip got knocked loose somehow when I was working the bottom part around the knob. The entire bottom part came off the tree.

Any idea how? Was the locking clip damaged or bent?

 

[passthrough76]

I inspected it afterwards and it didn't look damaged, but it must be bent slightly because it was sliding on and off easily. Just enough for it to pop off when I was working it around that knob.

 

[Knothead]

Glad you are OK. That coulda been disastrous!
Wear your harness and strap in any time your feet are not touching the ground!!
And...............you need to order some of these........

http://thirdhandarchery.com/product.asp?PRODID=13

 

[Tomahawk]

Glad you're ok.

x2

 

[dr]

Glad you weren't hurt. That's why I never use climbing stands, too dangerous IMO. A friend had one slip with him, and he ended up hanging by his safety harness for about 30 minutes. He nearly passed out, but luckily a hunter heard him yell and was able to cut him loose.

 

[Bottom Hunter]

when i did use a climber, I always had the two sections tied together. I thought everyone did that....Glad you are ok.

That's one reason I stopped using climbers.......just never liked them at all and only used them on quota refuge hunts or when I needed a quick way to hunt a spot for one day...

I do not own one any longer...I can put up a hangon with 20 feet of climbing sticks in about 30 minutes....or less.

 

[DOC1187]

Glad you're ok.

x2

 

[Pursuit Hunter]

when i did use a climber, I always had the two sections tied together. I thought everyone did that....Glad you are ok.

That's one reason I stopped using climbers.......just never liked them at all and only used them on quota refuge hunts or when I needed a quick way to hunt a spot for one day...

I do not own one any longer...I can put up a hangon with 20 feet of climbing sticks in about 30 minutes....or less.

I don't have the statistics, but I believe lock-ons are the most dangerous stands, based on accident statistics. I guess its what you are used to, but I feel ten times safer in my climber than in a lock-on. I hate making that transition from the ladder/steps to the stand without a safety harness and haven't figured out how to do it with one. In my climber, I have a safety harness on any time my feet are off the ground.

 

[rem270]

when i did use a climber, I always had the two sections tied together. I thought everyone did that....Glad you are ok.

That's one reason I stopped using climbers.......just never liked them at all and only used them on quota refuge hunts or when I needed a quick way to hunt a spot for one day...

I do not own one any longer...I can put up a hangon with 20 feet of climbing sticks in about 30 minutes....or less.

I don't have the statistics, but I believe lock-ons are the most dangerous stands, based on accident statistics. I guess its what you are used to, but I feel ten times safer in my climber than in a lock-on. I hate making that transition from the ladder/steps to the stand without a safety harness and haven't figured out how to do it with one. In my climber, I have a safety harness on any time my feet are off the ground.

I can put my tree strap around the tree when im still on the sticks, attach my harness, then get in the stand. then i will loosen the tree strap up enough to slide the buckle part where it needs to be for in my stand

 

[plinker22]

Glad you are OK. That had to be some experience.

 

[passthrough76]

Thanks guys, now I have to get back out there and learn from my mistakes. I agree with PH, I have always felt safer in the type of climbing stand that I use. Now, I will use some of the tips mentioned, but still stick with my climber.

 

[Hill Country Hunter]

So glad you are okay.

Still, that is a real knuckleheaded thing to do, climbing without a harness attached. The SOP harness that comes with the Summit stands is a breeze to use going up and down. There is no excuse for not using it.

Likewise, if that is a Summit, it came with a rope to tie the two sections together. It might not have made a difference this time, but it will save you a lot of trouble if the platform slips down the trunk. In 10 years of using them, that has happened to me once with a Summit and once with a Hunters View, but the rope saved my bacon both times.

Be safe!

 

[Kingston]

Glad you are ok!

 

[Hill Country Hunter]

when i did use a climber, I always had the two sections tied together. I thought everyone did that....Glad you are ok.

That's one reason I stopped using climbers.......just never liked them at all and only used them on quota refuge hunts or when I needed a quick way to hunt a spot for one day...

I do not own one any longer...I can put up a hangon with 20 feet of climbing sticks in about 30 minutes....or less.

I don't have the statistics, but I believe lock-ons are the most dangerous stands, based on accident statistics. I guess its what you are used to, but I feel ten times safer in my climber than in a lock-on. I hate making that transition from the ladder/steps to the stand without a safety harness and haven't figured out how to do it with one. In my climber, I have a safety harness on any time my feet are off the ground.

When hanging a lock on, I wear my harness in a lineman's configuration so I am tied in as I set the sticks/steps. As soon as I get to the top, I tie a safety line (climbing rope) above the stand height and attach to it using a prussic knot. After hanging the stand, I pull the safety line taught and tie it to the base of the tree. From then on, I just use a locking-gate carabiner to clip ino the prussic before I climb, sliding the knot with me as I ascend and descend. I don't have to unclip until my feet are on the ground again. It makes climbing so simple and much safer, as long as you use man-rated rope and climbing knots.

 

[missalot]

glad your ok

 

[Pursuit Hunter]

when i did use a climber, I always had the two sections tied together. I thought everyone did that....Glad you are ok.

That's one reason I stopped using climbers.......just never liked them at all and only used them on quota refuge hunts or when I needed a quick way to hunt a spot for one day...

I do not own one any longer...I can put up a hangon with 20 feet of climbing sticks in about 30 minutes....or less.

I don't have the statistics, but I believe lock-ons are the most dangerous stands, based on accident statistics. I guess its what you are used to, but I feel ten times safer in my climber than in a lock-on. I hate making that transition from the ladder/steps to the stand without a safety harness and haven't figured out how to do it with one. In my climber, I have a safety harness on any time my feet are off the ground.

When hanging a lock on, I wear my harness in a lineman's configuration so I am tied in as I set the sticks/steps. As soon as I get to the top, I tie a safety line (climbing rope) above the stand height and attach to it using a prussic knot. After hanging the stand, I pull the safety line taught and tie it to the base of the tree. From then on, I just use a locking-gate carabiner to clip ino the prussic before I climb, sliding the knot with me as I ascend and descend. I don't have to unclip until my feet are on the ground again. It makes climbing so simple and much safer, as long as you use man-rated rope and climbing knots.

good approach.

 

[7mmshooter]

glad your ok. this happened to me last year but luckely i had a harness on!

 

[Andy S.]

Glad you are ok. Stay safe.

 

[BuckHunter511]

Glad your are safe, get a harness, well worth it.

 

[Winchester]

when i did use a climber, I always had the two sections tied together. I thought everyone did that....Glad you are ok.

That's one reason I stopped using climbers.......just never liked them at all and only used them on quota refuge hunts or when I needed a quick way to hunt a spot for one day...

I do not own one any longer...I can put up a hangon with 20 feet of climbing sticks in about 30 minutes....or less.

I don't have the statistics, but I believe lock-ons are the most dangerous stands, based on accident statistics. I guess its what you are used to, but I feel ten times safer in my climber than in a lock-on. I hate making that transition from the ladder/steps to the stand without a safety harness and haven't figured out how to do it with one. In my climber, I have a safety harness on any time my feet are off the ground.

PH, when using a linemans belt to hang my Loc ons the first time, I go ahead and put a tree strap above the stand for future use, especially for my Boys and my Dad. This way once they reach the top of the sticks, they simply clip their tether on their harness to the tree strap before transferring from sticks to stand!