Question about safety harness and climbing treestand

[SBEROB]

I just recently got a safety harness. A decision I made last year, that I should have made a couple years ago. I didn't get to use it last year and today was the first time I used it. I had a problem with my gun getting tangled in the strap that would keep you hanging if you was to fall. When using a climbing treestand, I usually have my gun on me while I'm climbing. Do most of you have a rope or something to pull up your gun or am I just doing something wrong.

 

[Polar Kraft]

Always use a pull rope.

 

[ImThere]

Always use a pull rope to pull a unloaded gun up once you are strapped in settled in and ready. Imo


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Sit drag, Ernie's outdoors linesman belt,
At 20' up

 

[Apple1982]

Pull rope!!!!!! Much easier bubba. Safer also

 

[Tennessee Lead]

Pull up rope for sure
I'm currently using the gun hoist from thirdhandarchery and I really like it.
The muzzle slides into a sleeve and there is a buckle that fastens around the stock. The gun is always pulled up stock first and the barrel stays free of debris.


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[TRIGGER]

I have climbed before with the gun laying across the climber in front of my legs but it's a real headache. Pull rope is the way to go. I tie the rope to the top section then walk the rope all the way out laying it on the ground away from sticks saplings or anything else that it could snag on.
As a matter of fact my pull rope getting snagged is the reason I found this site. Climbed up and got situated then went to pull my bow up and the rope got caught on something I had two choices either climb back down or give it a good tug. I opted for a good tug. When the rope broke the dead branch it was caught on and the bow swung around I heard something in front of me. The buck I was hunting stood up from his bed looked at the bow swinging and took off. I was so upset I had to find someone to vent to while I was setting in my stand being depressed lol I found tndeer and been here every since.

 

[REM7]

pull rope , para cord and small carabiner works great

 

[arctic_cat]

If I carry my backpack in with me I usually put it on the pull rope so I can pull it up if I need it and I climb with the gun across the stand. If I do not carry a pack in I use the pull rope for the gun. I also don't strap in until I get to the top of where Im climbing. Not the safest thing to do but its a pain trying to raise your strap up the tree as you climb.

 

[Mike Belt]

I have quite a few stands although I'm only allowed to use just two of them on our club. I have a 30' pull rope on every one of them. A couple of them have extra lengths added to them in case I go higher than that and I carry extra cord in my pack. Two things you need to make sure of. Have the ground around the base of your tree cleared enough so that the rope doesn't get tangled in a root, stub, vine, etc while trying to pull it up. Also make sure you tie your weapon on. You really feel like a dummy once you get up your tree and get situated and start pulling up your weapon only to find you forgot to attach it.

 

[dburt]

I have quite a few stands although I'm only allowed to use just two of them on our club. I have a 30' pull rope on every one of them. A couple of them have extra lengths added to them in case I go higher than that and I carry extra cord in my pack. Two things you need to make sure of. Have the ground around the base of your tree cleared enough so that the rope doesn't get tangled in a root, stub, vine, etc while trying to pull it up. Also make sure you tie your weapon on. You really feel like a dummy once you get up your tree and get situated and start pulling up your weapon only to find you forgot to attach it.

Haha, this made me laugh this morning. I haven't done this yet, but I turned 40 this year...it'll happen soon I'm sure. :lol:

And yes, I use a pull rope, too. I'm gonna let you guys give it to me, though...I don't use my safety harness in my summit viper cause the bar goes all the way around so even if I fell asleep I'm not falling out. Is there anyone else who doesn't use a harness in that type of a climber or am I the only dumb one out there. Not at all trying to promote this, but I have always felt extremely safe - I'm definitely open to input or experience though.

 

[Mike Belt]

dburt... No offense but you're not the only dumb one out there not using a safety harness but dumb none the less. I'm betting that a very small percentage of fall accidents happen because the hunter fell asleep and fell out of his stand. Most happen during the climb up or down or possibly a break or malfunction in his stand. So keep doing what you're doing and maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones. It doesn't take but once though.

 

[Winchester]

Pull rope always, and simply slide the tree strap up as you go with a climber and your always strapped in from ground up.

 

[Urban_Hunter]

dburt... No offense but you're not the only dumb one out there not using a safety harness but dumb none the less. I'm betting that a very small percentage of fall accidents happen because the hunter fell asleep and fell out of his stand. Most happen during the climb up or down or possibly a break or malfunction in his stand. So keep doing what you're doing and maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones. It doesn't take but once though.

X2

The closest I ever came to falling out of a climber was out of an old steel viper. I stood up near the end of a hunt to stretch and when I did the top section slipped and fell down onto the platform. The seat hit the back of my calves and knocked me off balance... that's all it takes.

 

[Mr_TTT2]

I fell twice. Bottom summit part (V -teeth area that goes in tree) due to user error by having cable very low while standing and V part folding in, fell a few feet but saved by extra luggage straps tied between top/bottom. Second time, climbing during rain and undoing safety strap that came with climber, accidentally swung top portion to left and lost balance, fell butt on bottom climber.

My lesson learned:
Two luggage straps on both front corners. Helped connect top/bottom and only fall a foot if bottom fails. Also, helps with side movements of stand after reaching top.
Use rock climbing rope as my part of my safety system and pull rope for gun, bow. Use repelling device tied to climbing webbing as my safety harness. This way, if I fall, I can get down myself. Climbing webbing grips allot better and faster to loose/tighten going up the tree.

For OP, tried doing the gun on the lap trick, more noise getting into climber, slower going up, and almost dropped gun being tired in morning. Tried slinging gun method, big pain getting into climber and noise. Have slung getting down, but never up.

 

[dburt]

dburt... No offense but you're not the only dumb one out there not using a safety harness but dumb none the less. I'm betting that a very small percentage of fall accidents happen because the hunter fell asleep and fell out of his stand. Most happen during the climb up or down or possibly a break or malfunction in his stand. So keep doing what you're doing and maybe you'll be one of the lucky ones. It doesn't take but once though.

None taken, Mike, I figured I'd get lectured with that question but was sincerely wondering if others had heard of any falls with a wrap around bar climber like that. Guess there have been! Makes sense that accidents generally happen during the climb/descent. I have a harness already and there's no good reason not to use it - I'll be hooking it up next time. My wife would kill me all over again if I left her alone with 3 kids. :D Thanks for the input.

 

[krazykarl_13]

Hunter's specialty makes a harness rope that is pretty easy to slide up the tree as you climb. Some people make their own setup with a prusik knot


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[callemquacktn]

http://www.emsworld.com/article/10321762/role-reversal

This is the story to my fall. Happen 10 yrs ago. I will sit on the ground before I ever think of climbing a tree again without one.

 

[dburt]

Quick question - does the tree rope attached to your harness go around the tree above the top piece of the climber or in between?

 

[Widowmaker]

Quick question - does the tree rope attached to your harness go around the tree above the top piece of the climber or in between?

Always above. I try to put mine as high as possible. If you fall, you won't fall as far and should still be able to get back in the stand. Personally, I set mine to where i have just enough room to lean forward while sitting.

 

[jard]

I have a 20' rope attached to my summit climber with a scent drag on the end and a carabiner that never comes off my stand. I just dip in and drag it in and then attached it to my gear. I usually climb bare minimum, I will pull up my backpack, gun, and usually jacket. Safety harness on and just move it up the tree as you go. Most falls do not happen due to sleep. I've had the bottom fall down before after losing its grip, thats why i added a small string that tie the top and bottom piece together to keep anything from falling too far. Or the top part swinging to one side or the other while you lean. Too much to risk for a stupid deer.

 

[Life at 20']

I use the tandem safety rope from Hunters Safety System. It has 2 carabiners with rubber hoods on them which eliminates noise. I use the top one to hook my safety harness too while climbing and the other i use the attach my bow too. Works great..

 

[fairchaser]

http://www.emsworld.com/article/10321762/role-reversal

This is the story to my fall. Happen 10 yrs ago. I will sit on the ground before I ever think of climbing a tree again without one.

I read your story. Pretty lucky to be alive and make a full recovery. I fell from a tree due to a faulty safety belt ( before harnesses). I only broke an arm. I feel very lucky too. Thank God we are both still able to hunt. It only takes an instant.

 

[catman529]

Pull up rope, when you climb back down just wrap the rope around the base of the climber and tie it off with a slip knot


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[Tennessee Lead]

http://www.emsworld.com/article/10321762/role-reversal

This is the story to my fall. Happen 10 yrs ago. I will sit on the ground before I ever think of climbing a tree again without one.

Wow!
Praise the Lord you're still here


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[Snake]

Always use a pull rope.

This ^^^

 

[SBEROB]

I used a pull rope yesterday. And it was a ton easier! Thanks for the advice everyone!

 

[brass magnet]

I got one ,used it ,will never not use it again!!

 

[Mag]

Pull rope the way to go.....just don't get into a hurry, get set up nice and comfy in the stand, reach over to pull up the rope only to realize you never tied it off to your weapon! just sayin...

 

[wyatt]

Haha, this made me laugh this morning. I haven't done this yet, but I turned 40 this year...it'll happen soon I'm sure.
And yes, I use a pull rope, too. I'm gonna let you guys give it to me, though...I don't use my safety harness in my summit viper cause the bar goes all the way around so even if I fell asleep I'm not falling out. Is there anyone else who doesn't use a harness in that type of a climber or am I the only dumb one out there. Not at all trying to promote this, but I have always felt extremely safe - I'm definitely open to input or experience though.[/quote]

I too had the same opinion as you until I realized how quick something could go wrong. I am terrified of heights, but always felt super safe in my viper (as long as I didn't look down). One day I knew a really big buck was using the area so I decided to climb really high. I was in a hurry so I made the decision to hook my harness up when I got to my height. My connector rope that connects the 2 sections of the stand was brand new. In a chain of events that I am unable to explain, approx 30 ft up the tree the cord holding my feet broke and the bottom slid off my feet. The new connector rope also broke in a way I have never seen a rope break before. My bottom part of the stand slid to the bottom of the tree. I was perched 30ft up in the tree, sitting on the bar and without safety harness hooked to the tree. Luckily I had stopped to get gas that morning, which I never do on my way to hunt. There was a bungee cord in the bed that I had forgot to put back in the tool box. I stuck that bungee cord in my side pocket, until I finished pumping gas. I forgot to put the bungee cord up when I finished, and it stayed in my pocket As I was sitting on the bar wondering what in the world I was going to do, and already thinking of all the scenarios that did not have a good ending, I remembered that small bungee cord. All I can say was that the Good Lord was trying to get my attention, and was in control of the whole situation. I was able to retrieve the bottom part of my stand using my pull rope and that tiny bungee cord. The Good Lord got my attention that day, please let him get your attention through the advice given you in this thread.