Strut10 Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 .......that I got out of a tree due to wind. Left the house this morning and it was windy. I hesitated for 1/2 second and took off. Figured the wind would help conceal any of my noise & movement in the tree. It would be to my advantage. Well............a couple hundred feet higher in elevation it was a tad different story. I carried a stand up to a climbing stick I'd left from early archery. I went up and hung the stand then went back down to hook my bow and grab my pack. I got back up & tied in. I nearly couldn't get my bow up. It kept blowing around back of the tree and hanging up on the climbing stick. I got it up to me and got stuff situated. I was not sure the bow was going to stay on the hanger or blow off. Then this 15 foot section of a dead tree came crashing down about 25 yards to my left. I looked up and around..........nothing dead above me..........so I'm good. Then the wind REALLY started to blow. I had my left arm wrapped around the back of the tree as I sat there tossing. All I could think of was those PBR bull riding guys. Figured I had hung onto the tree for 8 seconds and if I didn't get down I was just asking for it. Besides.......there was NO WAY I could have gotten a sight pin to stay steady on anything. Probably couldn't have even shot the ground. Lowered my bow down as it was tossing around. Put on my pack and unhooked. Forgot to take the cushion off the stand seat and clip it on my pack. So rather than mess with that without my safety belt on.........I just took the seat off the stand and dropped it 20 feet to the ground. It landed almost 10 yards behind the tree!! The weather said "gusts to 40 mph". I think they were being a tad kind. I've ridden some pretty rough winds in a treestand........ As a kid, I was 1/2 boy and 1/2 monkey. I've never had a problem with doing anything that involved climbing a tree. All I wanted this morning was OUT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 Catch a lot of wind in these hills up here and often the reports are not close, can definitely relate. When the gusts get that high here, I usually will get down and walk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 I've never gotten out of a tree due to wind but I have been sitting there watching trees fall over around me. The feeling that gives doesn't give you a good one. Glad your ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted January 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 It's GOTTA be serious when I'm coming down outta the tree at 7:00 in the morning. This was the worst I've ever seen it. Figured it was in my best intrest to live to hunt another day. I thought about still hunting. I DEFINITELY could have used the wind to my advantage, scent-wise. But there was too many big chunks of stuff falling out of the trees. I'd have spent too much time......all my time.......looking up instead of forward. Wasn't interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 I've been driven out of a tree due to wind once. I even remember the day, November 10th, 2002. Only reason I remember that is because of all the tornados that hit the area that day, including an F4 that hit Van Wert, Ohio. I weathered a few good gusts, but I decided to get down when a tree about 3" in diameter snapped off in front of me and bonked me in the head. As I got to the base of the tree, the storm hit with the most intense lightning I can ever remember. I dumped my stand and sprinted across my buddy's field all the while worrying that me and the lightning rod I was holding in my hand (my bow) was going to get struck by lightning. I found out later that the storm that hit me spawned a little tornado about 3 miles from where I was hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 I'm just glad we're hearing you tell the story. I've been there, done that too, and won't even attempt it in high winds now. A stiff breeze is one thing. Too dang scary for this old boy. Good to hear you're safe and sound (and I hope your post is a lesson for all who read) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LifeNRA Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 Plus with that ice storm we had a few weeks ago. You never know what tree got weak, and has the chance to fall! Which is why I got the blind out to hunt after Xmas! I don't trust any trees since that ice storm! Seen too many down that looked that they shouldn't have fallen! Glad you got out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adjam5 Posted January 1, 2008 Report Share Posted January 1, 2008 Been there....:rolleyes:I hate that sway when its windy. When it is over 15mph, I stay out of a tree. Bad part is when you get up in your tree, most likely it is dark and you have no idea of what is hovering above you. Does the word "widow maker" have any meaning? Close one huh Chris? Don't worry, you have better chance of being audited by the IRS than being hit with lightning:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted January 2, 2008 Report Share Posted January 2, 2008 I've been driven out of a tree due to wind once. I even remember the day, November 10th, 2002. Only reason I remember that is because of all the tornados that hit the area that day, including an F4 that hit Van Wert, Ohio. I weathered a few good gusts, but I decided to get down when a tree about 3" in diameter snapped off in front of me and bonked me in the head. As I got to the base of the tree, the storm hit with the most intense lightning I can ever remember. I dumped my stand and sprinted across my buddy's field all the while worrying that me and the lightning rod I was holding in my hand (my bow) was going to get struck by lightning. I found out later that the storm that hit me spawned a little tornado about 3 miles from where I was hunting. Now that would be scary once you got home and realized that it spawned a tornado. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted January 2, 2008 Report Share Posted January 2, 2008 Heavy wind is scary...I remember being in a permanent treestand one October when a monster thunderstorm was pushing big wind in front of it. The violence in the woods was incredible. I had deer running by me in total fright as limbs were snapping and crashing to the ground. I got down and ran up the mountain as hard as I could to get to my truck and out of there. Lightning was crashing all around and the rain was pelting to the point of hurt. Was never so happy to get to the protection of my vehicle. I went back to that stand a few days later only to find it crushed beneath the big oak that the storm snapped in two! The wooden rungs of the ladder were flung quite a distance in all directions. Those woods took a big hit that day from straight line winds created by the front. It changed the whole area. To this day I thank the angel on my shoulder who told me to get out of that tree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckbuster11 Posted January 2, 2008 Report Share Posted January 2, 2008 I can't believe you went out in that disaster. I didn't even think twice about hunting in that crap. That was some serious wind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted January 2, 2008 Report Share Posted January 2, 2008 Close one huh Chris? Don't worry, you have better chance of being audited by the IRS than being hit with lightning:D Yup. Had to laugh later. Sometimes I don't know if I'm dedicated, or just plain stupid. Hey Tom........"you hunted in a tornado? That's HARDCORE!!!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted January 2, 2008 Report Share Posted January 2, 2008 Been there at least a few times Don but only once that I can recall here in MS. About 5 or 6 years ago we caught some tropical storm force winds from a hurricane that moved through Louisiana. With the wind continuing to get stronger along with horizontal rain I threw in the towel about a hour before dark that afternoon. One of my hard core buddies hunted until dark that day. There was another time when I was bowhunting in Kansas. I was tossed around a lot in the tree until 11:00. I decided to take the afternoon off with the wind getting stronger and took a nap at the motel to recharge my batteries for the next few days of hard hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted January 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2008 I can't believe you went out in that disaster. I didn't even think twice about hunting in that crap. That was some serious wind. You fair-weather guys................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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