WStreblo Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Got a text while on stand tonight that a friend of mine fell out of his treestand last night and had to be choppers to a Pittsburgh PA hospital. What I was told was he was in surgery for 6 hours and is still in bad shape. I've never known him to be careless and not wear his harness... I know I have been guilty of checking my harness prior to season and checking my stand after I hung it and not checkin them again. Do yourselves a favor and take the extra 5 min for a safety check. When I know more I will post it. Everyone is kinda tight lipped at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwesthunter815 Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Prayers sent for you and your buddy. Hate hearing that kind of news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Yup, easy to get careless, I forgot to clip in this eve getting in...was in my tree lounge, so not such a big deal, except for getting in and out...that's where a life line will prevent a fall...need to get more of those Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Prayes sent. I've known people to fall and not away. I've been careless way to many times kn a hurry. You gotta be lucky everytime if yoi don't wear it and falling only has to be once. Hope he recovers and is well. Will keep him in thoughts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smha6784 Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Wear a harness when in the tree Man, I hope he recovers quickly! Hunting accidents are hard on the ears. Because we've all been guilty of taking short cuts, or rushing and being careless. Be careful boys!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowhunter97 Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 (edited) Wear a harness when in the tree Prayers sent from FL. I normally wear mine last weekend i had mine on and as soon as i sat down a guy walked right under me on the way to a tree he was going to set in. I flashed my light a few times and he noticed i was there and just continued walking. About 8:30 that morning i reached in my pack for something and felt my strap. I hadnt strapped myself in from climbing. I guess not being in the stand 30 seconds and having that guy walk up threw me out of the loop. Im lucky i didnt fall. Nothing would have caught me or my muzzeloader. Edited October 23, 2013 by bowhunter97 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 not sure how that can even happen any more. it's like having seat belts and not wearing them. yet, sometimes we just get careless. i hope your buddy comes out of this o.k. and recovers fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Lots of variables like transitioning onto and off of the stand, not wearing a harness when in ladder stands (false sense of security), not using a lifeline climbing up and down, etc. I have personally been involved multiple times in extricating a hunter out of the woods after falling from a treestand. A neighboring department airlifted a bowhunter after a fall only a couple weeks ago here. It weighs heavily on my mind afterward but my love of bowhunting always overcomes it. Complacency is our worst enemy. Leaving the ground will always be dangerous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Remember also this applies to setting up you stands as well. As I posted last September, a kid I watched grow up fell while setting up a ladder stand. Never told anyone where he was going. Took the fireman hours to find him. When they did he had broken ribs and a broken back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Sorry to hear about your friend Wes. Hope & pray for a full recovery. I've had issues in the past with some types of stands when the platform was covered in frost or ice. The ones that don't use a metal type grate for the platform can get slick. I almost slipped off of one while stepping into it once hunting in Iowa. I fixed that problem putting a non slip finish on the 3 I had of that style. In that situation you don't have a chance to hook up to the tree with a safety harness if you're hunting a ladder or a hang-on stand. You're only protected if you're using a life line while climbing in or out of the stand. You can with a climber if you stay hooked to the tree while you're climbing. Most hunters I know don't though when using climbers. After the scare I had in Iowa...all the stands I've bought since then have grate style platforms since they are virtually a non-slip finish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Sorry to hear that, hope your buddy has a full and quick recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbeck Posted October 23, 2013 Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 boy I hate to show my age but I can remember climbing with a Baker stand hugging the tree there were not harnesses then when you wanted to get down just tilt your feet and slide down the tree taking all the skin off you chest and arms. Putting railroad spikes in a tree to a plywood platform 25 feet in the air nailed between two tree trunks. Never thought of falling, fortunately never did either, I wear a harness now. LOL two kids will do that to ya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WStreblo Posted October 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2013 Wear a harness when in the tree Thanks everyone, I still haven't heard anything. I sent a Facebook message to his sister but still haven't heard from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WStreblo Posted October 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 Wear a harness when in the tree UPDATE: Buddy's back is broke and it's still to swollen to operate on. I was told he won't be walking for 4-5 months. Had a harness on but it snapped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smha6784 Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 Wear a harness when in the tree Good to hear they said 4-5 months and not ever again. Prayers sent for a speedy recovery!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitetailfreak55 Posted October 24, 2013 Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 Dang thats too bad Wes. Hopefully he makes a speedy recovery. Thats another thing to do is to make sure all your gear is good. If not replace it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WStreblo Posted October 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2013 Wear a harness when in the tree Thanks fellas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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