Yes I do and I have tested it.

I use a Summit Open Shot stand. When I set into position...I put small straps around the cables. The stand cannot fall or move. When I tie in...I put the tree stap high so it is a little tight when sitting. This will ensure I will not fall below stand level. I tested it in my back yard...when I fall the stand is at waist level. With the two stand pieces right in front of me...I'll figure something out at that point.

You do not want to drop or free fall any amount of distance. If a guy drops and hangs below his stand...might be better off just falling.

Cell phone is always in top left breast pocket, small SOG knife that came with my QAD is always in top right breast pocket.

 

Yes I do and I have tested it.

I use a Summit Open Shot stand. When I set into position...I put small straps around the cables. The stand cannot fall or move. When I tie in...I put the tree stap high so it is a little tight when sitting. This will ensure I will not fall below stand level. I tested it in my back yard...when I fall the stand is at waist level. With the two stand pieces right in front of me...I'll figure something out at that point.

I have a summit razor and basically did the same thing you are doing with it. What if the platform breaks and is rendered useless? I know it isn't likely, but there have been instances where welds have failed on stands.

 

My hss has a loop to stand in to relieve pressure but I carry my cell phone and will call for help. But I tie my climber on to the tree and so the same as you with my lock on put it high enough to not fall below stand. My luck would be ole freak nasty would walk out while I was hanging!!!!!

 

I hunt areas where cell service is nonexistent. No roads, venomous snakes, lions, cartel guys, all kinds of crap. I'm also at an age where I can fall down and not get back up. I carry a ResQ Beacon for unforseeable situations, it's peace of mind at the push of a button. I consider this self rescue because without it, i may have no other viable options to postpone the inevitable dirtnap.

From what I have been reading you better hope whoever is coming to rescue you is there and able to get you down before you succumb to suspension trauma. Apparently this can happen in as quick as 7 minutes, but most of the reports I read give you about 15 to 20 minutes average.

 

I hunt areas where cell service is nonexistent. No roads, venomous snakes, lions, cartel guys, all kinds of crap. I'm also at an age where I can fall down and not get back up. I carry a ResQ Beacon for unforseeable situations, it's peace of mind at the push of a button. I consider this self rescue because without it, i may have no other viable options to postpone the inevitable dirtnap.

 

I use a rock harness and a 35' length of 11 mm climbing rope. In the event of a fall, I'd use my figure 8 tool, connect it to my climbing rope that is strapped around the tree above and hanging below then clip into the figure 8 and simply lower myself. No more killer full body harnesses for me! Best thing I've done for myself in 30 years of tree stand hunting.

Be safe everyone, have a plan!

Mike

 

This is my exact plan when I use my summits stands. I've tested it in my yard, and it's a great way to get down the tree if your climbing stand fails you. I keep the figure 8 in my cargo pocket in my pants and an extra carbiner in there also.

 

I use a rock climbing harness, so I carry rope, and extra carabiner, and an atc device. I have the rope tied up tight and hooked on to the extra carabiner with my atc all hooked onto the back of my harness. It's a little bulky, but out of the way and worth having. If I fall or my stand fails, I tie the rope off to the tree, put it through my atc and carabiner, pull out my pocket knife, cut the preexisting line and repel down the tree. I've test this out (aside from cutting the preexisting line) and it seems to be a viable option.

 

Take some pics and post them on AT and snapchat. Then act like a squirrel.

 

Obviously the first thing is trying to pull myself back into the stand. If I can't do that then I guess I would bear hug the tree, cut the strap and ride it down.

 

This is pretty much my plan lol.

 

HSS with foot loop. Top and bottom of climber tied together and top of climber secured to tree.

If all that fails I'll figure something out.

 

I use a HSS Elite vest and a Live Wire system. If I fall out off the stand or whatever, the Live Wire is supposed to lower me to the ground. I have yet to have a fall and am relying on this system working but from my research prior to buying the system, it should work. The Live wire is a one use device but that one use was what I bought it for. It is a system I hope I never have to use but I like the idea that I will get down. I am near retirement and have had double knee replacement, my athletic ability is not what it used to be, so monkey climbing back onto the stand or shinnying down a tree is not a good plan. I always hunt alone and in areas were cell service in zero.

 

I have had catastrophic stand failure before, while pulling my bow up the bottom half of my stand snapped clean off, my harness caught me and I pulled myself back up to my seat platform. After getting my wits back about me I wraped my legs around the tree best I could and slid down using the hand climber top half.. Since this Iv taking a long piece of rope with a loop on one end, I simply cinch it up to the tree and repel down to the ground, it works great and doesn't add that much weight to my pack at all, I simply hook my pack to my tree strap that my harness is hooked to that way it's readily excessible in the event of a fall.

 

this thread is a good reminder to have a knife readily accessible while on stand. if you leave it in your pack and it's strapped to the tree where you can't reach it you might be SOL. it makes me rethink having my car keys in my pack as well.

 

The Scout nailed it ...... Knife and phone in breast pocket has always been my priority when in a tree.

The sad fact is as I get older .... being up in a tree is starting to get a bit un-nerving to me.

Not sure what i am going to do this year ..... probably carry a comfy directors chair into the woods with me when deer hunting.
Probably just climb 8 feet up in my LW when hunting bear over bait .....

 

Yup always have a knife on you.

 

Thats one reason I went to a rock style harness. Its way easier to self resurgence from one then a standard harness.

 

I carry 3 screw in steps in my pack so I can screw them in. I always put the pack where it won't get knocked out of the tree by my tether rope. I also keep the cell phone and suspension relief strap in a closed pocket so they won't fall out in the shock of the tether catching. I always text my stand GPS cords to my wife so she knows where I am.

 

I dont know if this has been mentioned but they say if you are hanging in a harness for more than 15 minutes it will more than likely kill you. Where i used to work we used to have to do training and that is what we were taught for our harnesses we wear. They are simply a glorified safety harness. Something about it cutting off circulation to and from the legs which causes major issues.

I slept through those dumb videos but i do remember this and how i did not want to die hanging in a bin at work so i was always very careful.

 

After reading this I might have to invest in a rock harness and some rope, My first year hunting with my climber I made the mistake of not connecting the top and bottom stand, once I sat for a while I was moving my feet and the platform broke loose and fell down the tree 5 feet from the base, also being young and stupid I didn't have a harness on either, I ended up having to bear hug the tree and shimmy down it, since then I have learned I use all the safety straps and tie both platforms into the tree now but if the lower platform actually failed other than bear hugging again I don't really have a plan on actually getting down.

 

This was the decision I came to after doing a good deal of research and reading some good info on this site. Both types of harnesses have their pros and cons you just have to decide which is best for you.

However, no matter what harness you choose, everyone should have a plan they have tested and know will work to get them to the ground safely in the event of a fall in which getting back on the stand is not an option.

 

Several years ago I bought a CDSII vest, it has a 30 foot rope in the back and you can control your descent down a tree if something was to happen. I have never had to use it and hope I don't but it's there if I need it.

 

screw in tree steps in my harness

 

This is a really good idea. I feel like a fool for not realizing it. I guess I dismissed screw-in steps as they're illegal in my state, but if it's an emergency, I'm guessing they'll let it go.

 

ttt

 

I plan on not falling and take the necessary steps to make that happen. If a person thinks they will fall they aren't sure about the setup to begin with, stay on the ground. It isn't that hard to climb and stay in a tree if you know what your doing.

Problem is many do not know what they are doing and go on a campaign finding other like minded people to buddy up with.

Do not take advice from people who shoot themselves in their own foot or from people who fall out of trees. Take advice from people who don't and you won't do either.

A stand isn't a lazy boy, it's dangerous situation, treat it as one and all will be well.

Many stand hunters are tightrope walkers in the dark without a net a few times a year. The rest of the year they're couch potatoes. What about that makes those qualified to give advice except they've lived through a fall and still haven't learned their whole routine is another accident waiting to happen.

You know why many do not fall down a set of stairs? You really want the government to have to apply the same regulations to stand hunting just because of careless people? I don't and it's why I insult them into staying on the ground.

Did you see the news about the company that made the red plastic gas jugs? They've been sued over and over from between 1 mil and 10 mil dollars. Stupid people have poured gas out of them and caused serious damage to themselves and others and some how won judgements against the maker of the containers. Stupid people who fall out of trees are no different than those idiots. One guy in his trailer poured gas into a wood stove, burnt the place to the ground and won. Probably a spokes person for fire detectors now since that's what will save him next time he pours gas on a fire.

 

I believe it was Benjamin Franklin who said, "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!" While I am not planning to fall from my stand and take every precaution not to, as everyone says "Chit happens!" Therefore, I have a plan to rescue myself (personal responsibility instead of government regulation) in the event that the aforementioned "chit" does indeed happen.

And, no, I'm not looking for like minded people to buddy up with. Since most people think they have a pretty good bead on things, I thought it might be a good idea to give folks something to think about that, unfortunately, most people do not think about until it is too late. Then, they too can decide what steps to take to protect themselves (personal responsibility again) and hopefully avoid any future government intrusion. So, instead of insulting people into staying on the ground, I believe educating people or at least giving them something to think about is the better route.

 

My harness has a strap that I can let out and step on to take the pressure off. At that point, my plan is to call somebody for help with my phone. I only hunt on my in-law's property so somebody is always a few minutes away. God forbid I ever have to test this plan though.

 

Here's my plan....

http://www.robinsonoutdoors.com/tree-spider/livewire.php

 

A lifeline. And always be attached to it. I use hang ons and a ladder stick. The lifeline runs close to the stick. If I fall I just simply first mess my pants and then go down the tree.

 

Well as I stated I wear a rock style harness which I tested out the best I can. I found it way easier to self rescue and way more comfortable while hanging. Look life is dangerous and we are all gonna go sometime somehow so I'm willing to take the risk and hunt from a tree. The ride home in my truck is more dangerous than the tree. Be sure your harness is a sold piece of equipment and your stands are in good shape. Hook up correctly and just hope for the best.