Here we go again.

[Captcurt]

Another season is upon us and I was reminded today that safety pays. I have taught Hunter's Education of the AGFC for several years until last year, but today they sent me a report of all accidents reported last year. It was a little above average with 28 incidents reported but what really brings light to the report is the number of injuries from falls. Treestand accidents accounted for 16 of the 28 reported and you know that there had to be several that were not serious enough to report. All victims were not wearing a safety harness. Ages ran from 29 to 85. The 85 year old fell 30 feet and died.

I can't stress it enough. If you are hunting from an elevated treestand check your straps, chains and cables that secure your stand and climbing sticks, and above all else, please purchase and use a good, quality safety harness.

 

[entropy]

Good reminder of sage advice!

 

[BigBore44]

An 85 year old climbed 30 feet!? I'm 35 and not comfortable at that height. Even big trees sway 30' up.

 

[Captcurt]

An 85 year old climbed 30 feet!? I'm 35 and not comfortable at that height. Even big trees sway 30' up.

One man fell 6 ft and broke and dislocated his shoulder and two others broke their legs after getting their leg hung in a cable or ladder rung while falling. One was hanging upside down and couldn't get loose. Luckily he had cell phone signal and could call for help. You don't have to hit the ground to get hurt.

 

[Milt1]

Great reminder to be careful! Many times the danger in the woods are what we create ourselves! Let's take as much enjoyment out of being careful as we do in having a successful hunt.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Treestand accidents accounted for 16 of the 28 reported and you know that there had to be several that were not serious enough to report.

It's the same in Maryland....guys falling out of tree stands.

Dave don't do no tree stand... can't fall out of one ifin I don't get into one. OH and I don't walk under them either because Murphy's Law, I'd get hurt by breaking some guy's fall as he fell out...

LD

 

[MCgunner]

If God had meant us to sit in trees, he'd have given us wings.....or.....something like that.

I do have a ladder stand for bow hunting. Sit in my nice, comfy high backed office chair in my box blind during gun season. I don't wear a safety harness in the tree stand and I probably should. I've climbed all over pipe racks and columns and such at work for 30 years and never had my harness hooked up. Can't climb with it hooked up. It was more a hendrence than it was worth most of the time unless I had to sit down and work for a while splitting a flange or something. THEN, I'd hook it up. But, while getting up there, I was always afraid I'd trip over the danged thing and fall.

Now, as I get older, I might just decide I ain't nimble enough to go climbing into trees anymore. Haven't reached that point, yet, though. I don't use a climbing stand, either. There aren't any really straight trees around here, post oaks mostly.

The tree I have my ladder stand against is not optimal. I can't lean back in it without bumping my head on the limb over me. But, that's probably a good thing so I don't get too comfortable and fall asleep. I need to save THAT for the chair in the box blind.

 

[Flintknapper]

Now, as I get older, I might just decide I ain't nimble enough to go climbing into trees anymore. Haven't reached that point, yet, though.

I'm in my 60's and still go up trees, but I am extremely careful when doing so. 30 years ago....I could probably have jumped down from my stand and suffered no injury. But these days the thought of falling even 10'-12' is a scary proposition.

I am so 'brittle' now that a fall would leave me all 'Humpty Dumptied'. They never would get me 'together again'.

 

[Captcurt]

I'm in my 60's and still go up trees, but I am extremely careful when doing so. 30 years ago....I could probably have jumped down from my stand and suffered no injury. But these days the thought of falling even 10'-12' is a scary proposition.

I am so 'brittle' now that a fall would leave me all 'Humpty Dumptied'. They never would get me 'together again'.

I'm 66 and just got out of a tree. Last year I deer hunted over 40 days. Most of my days were in a ladder stand but I do use 3 climbers. Walking 2 or 3 miles a day helps.

 

[SoonerMedic]

In with my tree stand and my harness were both straps to attach to once into the stand. That, however, was not enough. I decided to buy a hunter's safety system lifeline and quick connect tree strap. The lifeline is my favorite part though! I don't have to use my lineman's rope each time to climb my sticks. Such a pain int he butt having to move my rope up, take a step, move the rope, take a step etc etc...With the lifeline, I slide the knot up as high as I can reach, climb several steps, reach down and slide the knot up over my head and repeat. Much better than the alternative!

 

[buck460XVR]

Stupid is what stupid does. Has a good friend fall 30 feet and crush both ankles on impact with the ground. This was before the advent of cell phones. If his young son wouldn't been there to run and get help right away, he would have bled to death alone in the woods. Our state's regs pamphlet always has a big warning about the use of treestands and the fact they are the leading cause of death and injury while hunting. Still folks fall and die every year.