I rushed to the farm from work and while walking in I could hear deer in the woods, changed a camera card and started up the tree to see a nice size deer get up from bedding and run away so without thinking I attached to my HSS lifeline and started up the tree. I needed to get 30ft to clear some branched and stay hidden so I purchased a rivers edge quick stick to go above my 20ft muddy sticks. I put my millennium stand on the tree and stepped onto the rivers edge stick and they gave way beneath me. My lifeline caught me for the most part and I climbed down, back up and got the quick stick down and my best guess is the loop on the strap slipped off the ram horn it slides on.
After about 20min of screwing around I climbed into the stand and began shaking very badly, seeing funny and was afraid to stand up. I climbed down and it appears when weight is put down on the stick and it cams to the tree the loop slips closer to the edge of the ram horn or when I put the stand in the tree and strapped it in the stand pushed on the cam buckle. I ended up going home and still a nervous wreck! I will be putting a ratchet strap on it tomorrow.
Please guys I know harnesses are expensive but how much is your life worth? I have had guys tell me I cant afford it! you cant put $100 on a credit card for a month or two to save your life? I will always wear my harness no matter what! I'm very glad I got a lifeline because if I didn't have good reflexes to grab a limb and sticks I would have went right back onto the ground!
After about 20min of screwing around I climbed into the stand and began shaking very badly, seeing funny and was afraid to stand up. I climbed down and it appears when weight is put down on the stick and it cams to the tree the loop slips closer to the edge of the ram horn or when I put the stand in the tree and strapped it in the stand pushed on the cam buckle. I ended up going home and still a nervous wreck! I will be putting a ratchet strap on it tomorrow.
Please guys I know harnesses are expensive but how much is your life worth? I have had guys tell me I cant afford it! you cant put $100 on a credit card for a month or two to save your life? I will always wear my harness no matter what! I'm very glad I got a lifeline because if I didn't have good reflexes to grab a limb and sticks I would have went right back onto the ground!