Elevated treestand safety belt use. Use them? What kind?

[Bang]

Shooting from a tree stand is over kill.

[busa dave]

My friend who broke his back did exactly what you described, tried reaching behind the tree for a shot and the stand shifted, down he went. My other friend who broke his neck said his stand slipped just as he stepped out of the foot straps, both were in climbers, which was one of the main reasons I quite using them.

Doesn't matter how good your balance is if your stand shifts and your not expecting it good chance your going to fall.

If their stand shifted/ tilted or dropped some, I can completely understand them falling. I was able to recover when it happened to me. I believe it was mostly due to my above average balance and not panicking when it happened because of what I do everyday in my line of work.

[27hand]

Hans, FWIW when I used a loggy I also used the hand climber. That combo worked way better than the strap you mentioned but after many near death experience with climbers I started using hang on stands with either screw in steps(where allowed) or I used a set of aluminum climbing sticks(4 4' portable strap on sections that allowed me to get 25' easily and much safer. When I was done I could pull the sticks down in minutes so getting to my stand to steal it would take a lot of effort.

I had about 8 tree stands and always hung at least 4 in pre determined spots before season and relocated or added some as the season went on. I know this is not possible in some areas due to thieves but where I hunted I never had an issue.

I never got the hand climber. I'm with tollster and minimize what I can. I have a pretty good sense of balance and feel that the strap that came with the Loggy was sufficient. I cinch it about neck level and wear it above the waste. I leave just enough slack to get up and shoot or shoot around the tree. If I slipped, I would only go down a foot or so.

At that PPG Tower job, I climbed over the safety cables and into the mechanical shaft under the ironworkers safety net to weld water line supports onto the lower flange of some structural steel. Could turn and spit 40 stories when I got to the top. Next week I'm going to zipline a 3300 footer in WV. That's a cool feeling (and I'll be in a full body harness )

I've had my Loggy slip on a wet, smooth barked tree in the first couple years I had it so I only climb rough barked trees now. If you lock the loggy in and use the screw/rope tightener, I never had one shift after that one smooth bark slip which happened when I got out of my foot straps before locking it in. Had that climber gone to the ground and left me hanging, I don't think I'd have had any problem climbing down even if I had to cut the strap. I carry a couple knives.

I'll probably get out next week if the temp comes down.

[hunterdan]

I've used just the belt harnesses, but that was before the full body harness became more available. Since then, it's been nothing but a full body harness. Properly fitted, it does not restrict movement, and is not uncomfortable. I used to do indoor rock climbing in my younger days where I would use a belt harness with leg straps. I've done my share of hanging from a harness, and if it's not on right, you know it. If it's on right, it's not too uncomfortable. I almost always wear my harness when ascending or descending the tree. I have cheated a few times while climbing a permanent ladder stand, but most of my hunting is done from a climber. My climbers have ropes to keep the bottom half from falling all the way down. I also use a ratchet strap to secure the top portion to the tree. So far I've not had any major problems. I personally wouldn't risk my safety in a treestand by using a harness that you know isn't as safe, because it weighs a little bit more, or takes up more room in your pack. Depending on how far I have to walk, it goes on before I even walk in the woods.

[football061]

I use the harness supplied with the overhead strap you tighten around the tree. The only time I loosen the overhead strap is when I pause to move it further up or down depending on whether I'm ascending or descending. I would NEVER go up a tree without a harness even if I'm only 12-15 feet up. My climber does a good job gripping with its teeth but I still wear the harness.

I keep anywhere from 2-3 knives on me in different pockets. I pick trees that are skinny enough to get most of my arms around and my legs. If I was to fall I'd rather have the harness catch me, cut the strap and shimmy down the tree like a fire pole. I grew up hearing stories of guys that broke legs and backs falling out of stands.

I also hunt with an old timer who has been using the same climber for close to 15 years and never once fell from the tree. Take your time and pick the right tree. You SHOULD be safe.

[TheWolff]

And hunting alone is the exact reason why I won't wear one. Help would be no where around.

I don't understand your logic. My harness is made of nylon webbing. If I'm hunting, I'll have at least one knife on my person. If I fall off the stand, the harness will hold me upright. I can turn toward the tree, grab a branch, my screw-in steps, or the trunk itself, disconnect or cut my harness and climb down the tree. Why would I need another person for help?

[Pector55]

My son and I use the one that came with our stands. I purchased a more expensive vest version and to be honest, I've never used it. It's much more complicated and cumbersome. I've now lost enough weight that it wouldn't fit me if I wanted to wear it. My son and I have practiced hanging and also using that strap with the foot hold device to help you descend if you get stuck hanging. Neither of us have ever had an accident and I won't allow him to ascend or descend without it. I think I forgot my safety strap once. I'll admit that I used my stand but I only got high enough to see over top the brush (maybe 6ft). That's about as risky as I get.

[busa dave]

I don't understand your logic. My harness is made of nylon webbing. If I'm hunting, I'll have at least one knife on my person. If I fall off the stand, the harness will hold me upright. I can turn toward the tree, grab a branch, my screw-in steps, or the trunk itself, disconnect or cut my harness and climb down the tree. Why would I need another person for help?

well my reasoning is as follows. if your using a climbing stand like most people there will be no branch below you to grab onto as you stated. most people use the cheap ratchet strap 1" nylon belt style that goes around your chest. you know, the cheap ones that come with most stands. unless you keep your knife high in an upper pocket, i doubt you would be able to get to it quickly seeing as though its going to be difficult to breath and you will probably be loosing feeling in your arms by now. speaking from experience as i've actually hung from a full body harness after falling at work. even with all the support you get from a full body harness your legs go numb and you have a lot less mobility than you would think. you basically hanging helpless, now could you spin yourself around and grab the tree, yes im sure. but im not interested in trying to hang on to a tree and using my sharp knife to cut myself free, the last thing i want in my hand would be a sharp blade when i'm about to not so gracefully drop after cutting my lanyard. This is my own personal reasoning and i don't expect or encourage anyone to follow my lead.

[yukon375]

[IMG][/IMG] they make me wear a harness at work to, but when hunting I prefer a simple one around my waist. and I can use it to lean out a good bit to get a better shot if I have to.

[Pector55]

I don't quite understand why you guys are concerned about cutting a harness and falling to the ground. There are simple nylon devices that you can use while hanging. You throw it around the tree, run one loop through the other and tighten to the tree. You then step inside the end to remove tension from your harness so you can work it, and yourself, down the tree.