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Post by whiteoak on Dec 7, 2006 22:06:00 GMT -5
Anybody owe their life or at least some broken bones to a safety harness. I know a guy that was using a climber that had left it on his four wheeler outside overnight. We had freezing rain that night. The next morning while he was about 20' up his feet slipped out from under him because of the ice on his stand. He laid there for several hours with a broken back, but recovered. I have been lucky and never needed my harness, but its always on in case. If you are smart and use one, use it right. There was a hunter recently died from not using one right.
After what happened to my buddy and the ice situation, I now take some flat black paint and throw a handful of sand into it and mix it up and paint all the floors of my stands with it, it does help with traction on those frosty mornings
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Post by dec on Dec 8, 2006 7:28:55 GMT -5
I DO!
I fell in 2005 out of my climber. Freak accident. My Summit S.O.P. literally saved my butt.
WEAR A SAFETY HARNESS .... TRUST ME!
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Post by DEERTRACKS on Dec 8, 2006 12:10:46 GMT -5
Yup! I have had a few near-miss incidents due to ice.
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Post by Sleazy E on Dec 8, 2006 12:40:26 GMT -5
The only experience I had with a safety harness was not a good one.... I got it with my first climbing stand and the harness was junk.... (as was the stand) once I got all set up int he tree my platform slipped and I leaned back on the rail in front and fell out backwards.... the belt holding the harness to the tree (which know was locked because I always checked twice) held me just long enough to flip me upside down... then the belt slipped through and I fell landing flat on my belly... lucky for me I was still afraid of height and was only about 10 feet in the air so all I got was a litle bruised up and the heck scared out of me. Ever since I have decided that I will take my chances with hitting the ground running. Although I have looked at the safety vest a number of times it looks much safer then the strap contraption I was using.
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 8, 2006 13:34:16 GMT -5
It sounds like you had the old chest harness style or safety "belt"...
No way can I get flipped upside down with my Seat of the Pants full body harness..
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Post by indianagooseman on Dec 8, 2006 17:19:12 GMT -5
I never used one till I had kids, now mine is on before I even leave the house. Luckily I've never had to test it but you can bet It'll be on when I need it.
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Post by jajwrigh on Dec 8, 2006 19:46:53 GMT -5
My seat-o-the-pants have likely saved my life twice! It worked perfectly...
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 8, 2006 20:27:29 GMT -5
My seat-o-the-pants have likely saved my life twice! It worked perfectly... You might want to contact Seat of the Pants/Summit Treestands as they recommend that if anyone falls with one of their harnesses on that it be replaced and not used again. The stitching in the harness could have been compromised by the fall. DEC on here has more information on that as he had his replaced by Seat of the Pants last year.... . |
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Post by dec on Dec 13, 2006 11:14:15 GMT -5
Sorry, I kind of forgot about this thread, but the guy in KY that fell and died reminded me of this.
YES. A harness is only good for one fall. If you fall, please call the manufacture, for two reasons. First to thank them for designing a product that saved your life (trust me they love to hear this information) and secondly to ask what should be done with your existing harness.
Now, I won't speak for any other manufacturer then Summit because that is what I own and all I'll own. But when I fell Summit was the absolute coolest about the situation. They first took the time to express how genuinely concerned they were that I was OK. Then they explained their "warranty" to me. As they explained it to me, once you buy one of their harnesses, you have bought it for life even if you fall and it is no fault of theirs. I was instructed to throw my harness in the trash and to expect a brand new harness in the mail. Two days later on my doorstep was a box with a brand new S.O.P. harness at no expense to me.
There are several good manufacturers out there of harnesses. Each has their pro's and con's. I don't care who's you wear, just please wear one. A full body one, not an upper body one or a belt! I highly recommend spending the money to upgrade from the free bee ones provided with most stands, but if you have nothing else, wear one of these. Any treestand with the TMA (Treestand Manufactures' Association) approval on it will have a TMA approved full body harness included.
I've heard all the arguments about harnesses being uncomfortable, cumbersome, unsafe, etc. HOGWASH! It is no different then wearing a seat belt in a car. When you first started many years ago it did feel odd, but many years later you feel naked without putting the car in gear and no belt on. Same with a harness.
I can't make anyone wear a harness, but my story has convinced many others to wear one and to tie off from the time you leave the ground (if you need more info on that let me know). So, I beg you, if you don't want to wear one for yourself, then do it for someone who loves you. 5 days after I fell, I was supposed to be on a plane to Disney World with my two daughters and my wife. Can you imagine the heart break to my daughters if Daddy could not have gone because he was in a hospital bed, or on crutches, or ... they were at my funeral? See what I mean? Wear one for those you love.
If anyone ever has any questions on treestand harnesses or safety lines please send me a PM or post up the question direct in these forums or any forum that I'm a member of. I will gladly take time to talk to anyone about treestand safety.
Please be safe out there!
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 13, 2006 11:22:23 GMT -5
What DEC said...
Guys and Gals,
You life and limb can be in danger if you don't wear one.
You owe it to your families....
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