Treestand accidents and safety

[Hardcorehunter]

I am bored; time for another broken ankle post. This pertains to hangon stand hunters. When climbing a tree, whether using climbing sticks or stickladders, have you ever fell or about fell when at the top, simply because you were attempting to hook up your safety rope to the tree and your harnass before stepping onto your treestand? Same thing can happen when decending. I have had a few close calls over the years, but haven never fallen. I always think to myself of how ironic it is that the only safety issue with my style of hunting is using the safety equipment.

 

[Bowhunter500]

I fell puttin up my hangon stand! i was repositioning my step screws.. and it had rained the nite b4.. and i slipped and fell about 10 foot on to my back! i held on for about 5 ft and then let go becuz i torn the hell out of my stomach and armpit! but then i just fell to the ground! and didnt get severely hurt.. but it could have been worse!

 

[Hardcorehunter]

Ouch!!! That just made me hurt.

 

[gundog870]

I biffed it one time only to rack myself on the API sticks (which suck in the first place,the old ones.) Not big deal just hurt I caught myself didnt fall.

 

[timbershadow]

Jan 1 07: I went out to a new favorite spot and decided to call it quits before I could even get settled in! I got to the spot with high admiration due to some new rubs I seen as I walked in at about 2:00. I instantly started looking for sheds and said to my self, oh boy, I can't even walk in without thinking about sheds, this is going to be a long sit!! I get close to the tree and hang some scent bombs around. We had a pretty good wind so I figured it might stir up a late season horn dog.
...The tree I'm in is pretty nasty. Its got multiple trunks poping out from about 5 feet up. So I need to climb up the big base and into the middle of where they all attach. I have a climbing ladder from there. I get to the top of the ladder and make sure the stand is good and I continue up. I hang my rattlers up and get my bow ready and look down and notice that the stand is leaning away from the tree quite a bit. I drew my bow and made sure that it was good and then hung it up.
...Just as I was ready to step off the platform to adjust the strap, snap! Next thing I know I'm looking up, lying flat on my back with my hand's up in the air, waiting for my stand to fall on me. I slowly peak to see where is was and try to roll over and take a deep breath! I'm on my hands and knee's gasping for air, thanking the good Lord in Heaven for the breath and look up to see what the heck just happened! Still on my hands and knee's I feel pain in my back and arm and realize I not wearing my glasses anymore. So I look back to where I fell to and find them easier than I thought I would.
...I slowly got to my feet and started calling myself everything under the sun for being so stupid. I look in the web of all the trunks and see my stand where it had fallen. I look up to make sure my bow is still good and it was gone! I started to panic a little bit and crawled back up to where the stand had fallen to and see the bow laying there with it. Arrow next to it! I prayed to God and thanked him for an easy landing considering the possibilities from 24 feet up!
...As I write this I'm feeling fine! Thankfully! My neck is only a little stiff and my arm feels like someone puched me pretty good but thats it! Totally unbelievable! If you ask me that is.

 

[nannyslayer]

Back in Missouri I have a box blind 16 foot in the air. It has steps like a house would have(so you think it would be pretty safe). The first day of 1995 deer season we had some freezing rain come through. I waited a bit and it lightened up so I went to go get in my stand. Half way up I slipped on a step and fell about 10 feet, bouncing off of every step along the way. All it did was knock the breath out of me and bruise my ribs. Still when I'm bow hunting I think, dang it would suck to fall straight down from 20 feet with no steps to slow me down.