johnf Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 As some of you know, I had a fall a 3 years ago and broke my back when my ladder stand came loose from a tree. It didn't damage the stand, but I made some changes on it anyways to make it more stable. I put it up in the front yard yesterday, got it all secure and solid. I went up it and sat there for about 5 minutes and took some shots with my bow. I had my harness on and now have a system to keep me tethered to the tree from the ground up and from the top down. When I turned to come down the stand I just almost went into a panic attack. My heart started racing, my hands were shaking and by the time I got to the bottom my shirt was soaked in sweat. I know the stand is secure, but I'm not really sure if I want to use it. I used and climbing stick with a hang on that's about 6 feet higher than my ladder, and went way higher in my climber last year and today and don't get spooked at all. Should I just get rid of the ladder stand along with the bad memory, or suck it up and be a man? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngbuck30230 Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 u just gotta face it head on and concure your fearkeep tryin and dont give up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98chevy Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 I always try to face my fears till I beat them. Good luck man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyt03 Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 Get rid of the ladder and use a hang on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ohiobucks Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 Don't look to others for advice in this case, you are the only one who needs to be comfortable in your stand. If you don't have that safe feeling in the ladder, I would get rid of it and look into another hang on stand. It is completely your call here IMO. Don't let others tell you to "suck it up" or "be a man". Be safe is all I can tell you. I bought a Lone Wolf Hand Climber climbing stand last year. Whisper quiet and solid, but I didn't feel secure in it at hunting heights - 18-24 feet. I sold it and kept using my Summit Razor. A lot heavier and bigger, but I feel 10X safer in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razortec_hunter Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 face your fear. i know that's a horrible experience but when u get in a car crash do u stop driving? i would face the fear till you beat it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted September 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 I notice the young guys are saying to face my fears and the chronologically advanced are not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest adrenaline_junky Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 I'm a young guy and im gonna have to say do what makes you feel comfortable in the stand. I've fallen a couple times it isn't much fun. Good Luck to ya and stay safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nut Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 I've tried and tried to use climbers. I just never felt comfortable in them. It does not do any good if you only get 10 feet up:D So I stay on the ground for now.Yes I am a old fart;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted September 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 So I stay on the ground for now.Yes I am a old fart;) You're only 9 years older than me and I'm young. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CampRAGS Posted September 23, 2007 Report Share Posted September 23, 2007 This past super bowl sunday I fell from a ladder stand, ok I was taking it down by myself to move it for this coming season.....I broke my pelvic bone.... I lost 4 months of work.......first of all be safe..... secondly if you do not like the stand get rid of it. I hung the same ladder stand today that i fell from.......... for me it was second nature to get right back up there and get ready for the new season. You decide what is right for you,,,,,tree stand or ground blind......whatever you chose makes you no less a man but a man that make up his own mind,,,,,, hunt safe but always enjoy the privlage of being there............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revhard Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 Well man, here is what I would do. Being that hunting is not gonna be fun(and safe) unless your comforable, Iwould only hunt out of your hang on stands. But keep the Ladder stand and practice with it untill you feel 100% SAFE and comfortable. That way you can hunt safely,face your fears and overcome something in your life that has obviously had an impact on you. And doing that will give you a great sence of acomplishment... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichiganHunter Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 Hey no one on here has a right to tell you to face your fear's or man up if they havent been there before. It is always hard to get over somethin like that, 4 years ago i was in a car accident that i prob should of died in it took me a wile to get back to where i wanted to drive and even longer before i could drive through that intersection again, If you dont feel comfortable in that ladder stand dont use it, if you think u can get use to it practice and you will probley get to be ok with it, also I dont know if u have seen them or not but there is product out called a fall guy and it's supose to work kind of like a seat belt to keep u from falling at any hight from a foot off the ground to the top of the stand. take a look, i've not used them but i've seen one and talked to some one who swears by them might want to take a look. Remember there is nothing fun about hunting and being scared so you cant enjoy the hunt, so be comfortable and SAFE. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted September 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 I've got a rope that goes above the stand a to the ground and have a prussic knot on it that keeps me safe from the ground up and from the top down. There is no way that I can fall and I know it. I didn't have any problems going up and was fine while I was up there. I didn't get spooked untill the trip down. (I fell while coming down the stand). I've still got the climbing stick and two climbers. I think I'm going to take the ladder to my dad's, get some cables and permanantly fix it to a tree up there on some family land. That way if I ever want to use it, it will be there. After going up and down it a couple more times today, I'm just not ready to use it. If hunting isn't fun what's the point in doing it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted September 24, 2007 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 I've got a rope that goes above the stand a to the ground and have a prussic knot on it that keeps me safe from the ground up and from the top down. There is no way that I can fall and I know it. I didn't have any problems going up and was fine while I was up there. I didn't get spooked until the trip down. (I fell while coming down the stand). I've still got the climbing stick and two climbers. I think I'm going to take the ladder to my dad's, get some cables and permanently fix it to a tree up there on some family land. That way if I ever want to use it, it will be there. After going up and down it a couple more times today, I'm just not ready to use it. If hunting isn't fun what's the point in doing it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 If it was me I wouldnt bother in using the thing. What is the point in using something you are not comfortable in getting in and out of. I would just sell the thing and get some money out of it. And there is no point to hunting if it isnt fun that answers your question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 Don't look to others for advice in this case, you are the only one who needs to be comfortable in your stand. If you don't have that safe feeling in the ladder, I would get rid of it and look into another hang on stand. It is completely your call here IMO. Don't let others tell you to "suck it up" or "be a man". Be safe is all I can tell you. I bought a Lone Wolf Hand Climber climbing stand last year. Whisper quiet and solid, but I didn't feel secure in it at hunting heights - 18-24 feet. I sold it and kept using my Summit Razor. A lot heavier and bigger, but I feel 10X safer in it. I agree 100%!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacherman Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 8 inches of plate and 13 screws in my right leg and torn knee cartlidge and a $23,000.00 doctor bill says to do what your heart tells you to do. I know my limitations now since I had the shooting house turn over with me during last deer season. I have had people laugh at me; but there are times when watching a hunting show on TV and see a shooting house that looks like the one that turned over with me last year and I begin to sweat a little. There are some memories that are hard to get out of your mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 Don't look to others for advice in this case, you are the only one who needs to be comfortable in your stand. If you don't have that safe feeling in the ladder, I would get rid of it and look into another hang on stand. It is completely your call here IMO. Best reply I have seen so far, and really about what I would have said myself. It is all about what you are comfortable with John. Me honestly I feel more comfortable in my ladder stands than I am any others, but that is me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mule659 Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 I notice the young guys are saying to face my fears and the chronologically advanced are not. I am pretty young guy but I feel I know more about facing your fears than a lot out there. I say the best thing to do would be to keep practicing out of the stand until you feel good with it and until then just hunt out of other stands you feel good with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 Don't look to others for advice in this case, you are the only one who needs to be comfortable in your stand. If you don't have that safe feeling in the ladder, I would get rid of it and look into another hang on stand. It is completely your call here IMO. Don't let others tell you to "suck it up" or "be a man". Be safe is all I can tell you. I bought a Lone Wolf Hand Climber climbing stand last year. Whisper quiet and solid, but I didn't feel secure in it at hunting heights - 18-24 feet. I sold it and kept using my Summit Razor. A lot heavier and bigger, but I feel 10X safer in it. Ditto with my buddy here. I will always remember Tom's mood when his Summit basically collapsed on him one evening. I rarely see Tom upset, but he was that night. Only you can make the correct call here. Bowhunting is so enjoyable, I don't know why anyone would want to mess it up by feeling uncomfortable whilst hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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