|
|
Post by michaeladkins on Oct 18, 2014 14:40:06 GMT -5
I got a text from a buddy in Michigan yesterday that said he fell as he was transitioning from the climbing sticks to the lock on. He said it was 18 feet. In the picture he sent, you could see the strap holding the climbing stick had broke. He said a limb slowed him down and was able to land on his feet. But for a guy who is 300+ pounds, u know there was some damage done. He said his ankle is a little swollen but basically good. He is one lucky dude. Last weekend when I was up there hunting with him I was all over him about wearing a harness. His excuse is they are not comfortable. That is a poor excuse, I don't even notice mine anymore. Everyone be safe and just wear a harness. Edit: Here is the picture he sent me.  |
|
|
|
Post by salt on Oct 18, 2014 15:07:32 GMT -5
I don't leave the ground without a lifeline. It's not fair to my kids.
|
|
|
|
Post by scrub-buster on Oct 18, 2014 15:07:56 GMT -5
I started wearing one last season after I fell while hanging a ladder stand. I got a comfortable harness for under $40. I wear it every time and never notice it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Genesis 27:3 on Oct 18, 2014 15:08:31 GMT -5
My gorilla harness is comfortable (for a safety harness anyhow) but still very noticeable on the walks to and from the stand. However, I bet a cast, of any sort, is far worse then any safety harness when it comes to comfort.
Thanks for the reminder and I hope your buddy is ok and has a change of thinking.
|
|
|
|
Post by esshup on Oct 18, 2014 16:06:16 GMT -5
I have a harness question. It's either the ground or a ladder stand for me. So, how do you use a harness in a ladder stand? Just get it clipped in when you are at the top, or are you harnessed in and protected from a fall from the moment your feet leave the ground? Personally, I think the most dangerous part of it is actually placing the ladder stand in the tree and tying the top to the tree. How/what do you use as a harness/safety line to do that?
|
|
|
|
Post by scrub-buster on Oct 18, 2014 16:12:16 GMT -5
That is how I fell. I was going up to strap the ladder stand to the tree and it shifted downhill and fell to the ground. I went with it.
|
|
|
|
Post by michaeladkins on Oct 18, 2014 16:14:11 GMT -5
I have a harness question. It's either the ground or a ladder stand for me. So, how do you use a harness in a ladder stand? Just get it clipped in when you are at the top, or are you harnessed in and protected from a fall from the moment your feet leave the ground? Personally, I think the most dangerous part of it is actually placing the ladder stand in the tree and tying the top to the tree. How/what do you use as a harness/safety line to do that? A lifeline is your best bet then. I just watched a video on how to make your own. The guy made it look simple and explained it quite well. Take a look. www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/whitetail-365/2010/07/video-make-your-own-treestand-safety-line |
|
|
|
Post by sakorifle on Oct 18, 2014 16:32:40 GMT -5
greetings
is a ladder stand what we call a high seat?
basically a ladder with a seat attached to the top all one piece?
if so i strap the ladder to the tree then go up and strap the top twice.
but mine are not too high.
regards
billy
|
|
|
|
Post by M4Madness on Oct 18, 2014 16:45:57 GMT -5
greetings is a ladder stand what we call a high seat? Yes, but much higher, with some being 20 feet tall (over 6 meters). |
|
|
|
Post by Woody Williams on Oct 18, 2014 17:09:52 GMT -5
greetings is a ladder stand what we call a high seat? Yes, but much higher, with some being 20 feet tall (over 6 meters). Most are measured to the shooting rail. The platform itself is a couple feet below that.. |
|
|
|
Post by Woody Williams on Oct 18, 2014 17:12:56 GMT -5
WOW Michael!
He was sure lucky that is all that he got out of it. To me the safety line is just as important as the safety harness. In climbing up, getting into the stand, getting out of the stand and climbing back down the harness is worthless without a safety line. BTW - MOST falls occur when the hunter is getting into and out of the stand.
|
|
|
|
Post by M4Madness on Oct 18, 2014 17:15:38 GMT -5
Yes, but much higher, with some being 20 feet tall (over 6 meters). Most are measured to the shooting rail. The platform itself is a couple feet below that.. Yep. There are genuine 20-foot to-the-platform ladder stands, but they aren't that common. I don't use ladder stands for three reasons: 1. I feel that they stick out like a sore thumb and every deer and trespasser in the area sees them immediately. 2. Theft (see #1) 3. I never hunt less than 20 feet high, and very few ladder stands meet that criteria. |
|
|
|
Post by Woody Williams on Oct 18, 2014 17:17:24 GMT -5
I have a harness question. It's either the ground or a ladder stand for me. So, how do you use a harness in a ladder stand? Just get it clipped in when you are at the top, or are you harnessed in and protected from a fall from the moment your feet leave the ground? Personally, I think the most dangerous part of it is actually placing the ladder stand in the tree and tying the top to the tree. How/what do you use as a harness/safety line to do that? One can still take a tumble out of a ladder stand or just ascending or descending the ladder. Therefore use a safety line. Most ladder stand companies have instructions to: 1) Wrap and Tie two ropes around the tree after the stand is up and in place before climbing up to ratchet it in. That does stabilize then somewhat. 2) Make sure the legs are on solid ground.. 3)Have a partner steady the bottom of the ladder. Setting up ladder stands should not be a one person job. |
|
|
|
Post by sakorifle on Oct 18, 2014 17:28:11 GMT -5
greetings
firstly i know absolutely nothing about bow hunting.
but i cannot understand having to be that high, would one go as high using a rifle or shotgun
sorry if i seem ignorant but it is the only way of learning your techniques.
i use the high seat in a lot of cases just to spot the animal, if it is in range then i will shoot it, but if not i may get out the seat and go and stalk into rifle range
regards
billy
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 18, 2014 17:32:47 GMT -5
Being higher allows you to be above the sight line of deer at close range, thus allowing you to draw your bow without as much chance of being picked off. It also can help carry your scent out a ways, giving you more opportunities at close range. Not as crucial with gun because it's not as close range in most situations.
|
|
|
|
Post by esshup on Oct 18, 2014 17:41:32 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies. I set the ladder stands by myself most of the time. Here's how I do it. My ladder stands are advertised as 15' tall (5 meters).
1) Tip ladder stand up onto the tree, making sure that where it hits the tree at the top is relatively stable, and making sure the bottom of it is far enough away from the tree.
2) Step on the bottom step, which usually punches the legs into the ground.
3) Attach the horizontal metal brace to the ladder stand, either right below or right above the 1st to 2nd section joint. Attach the horizontal metal brace to the tree with a ratchet strap. Take another ratchet strap and the on the side rails above the next step, go from the side rail, around the back of the tree, then to the side rail on the opposite side. Tighten down the ratchet strap being careful so that it is tight, and not twisting the ladder stand to one side or the other.
4) Go up a few steps, and see if the lower portion moves at all. It shouldn't. If it does, I get down and tighten it up more.
5) Slowly, carefully climb to the top, keeping my weight as close to the tree as possible. Toss a ratchet strap around the tree, and ratchet it tight. Then I'll take the 5/16" chain that is attached to the top of the stand, throw that around the tree, hook it to the other side and tighten down the turnbuckle with the 5/8" box/open end wrench. The ladder stand is rock solid and doesn't wobble at all. I can lock the stand onto the tree too, using the chain at the top of the stand.
I never, ever use those cinch straps that come with many ladder stands. Those get thrown away and ratchet straps that are rated for 1,000 to 1,500 pounds are used. Those get replaced every 2 years. The ladder stands that I use all have the sling type seats, not the hard flat platform to sit on. With the shooting rail in place, there's no way that you can fall out, even if you fall asleep, the side rails are not too far under your armpits. Since I don't hunt with a vertical bow, all of my shots are from a seated position, and I can use the side rail or shooting rail to steady the x-bow or gun.
Now time to go looking for more safety equipment.
|
|
|
|
Post by sakorifle on Oct 18, 2014 17:42:46 GMT -5
thank you meta
i understand now.
i see you are out hunting i wish you luck, not sure what time it is over there, but your time for a big one has got to be coming.
regards to you and your family
billy
|
|
|
|
Post by esshup on Oct 18, 2014 17:46:01 GMT -5
Being higher allows you to be above the sight line of deer at close range, thus allowing you to draw your bow without as much chance of being picked off. It also can help carry your scent out a ways, giving you more opportunities at close range. Not as crucial with gun because it's not as close range in most situations. Also, if there is thick brush in an area, it allows you to look down into the brush instead of trying to look thru it. I agree about the scent thing too. I've had deer walk by the ladder stand not 6 feet (2 meters) off to the side and never realize I was above them. You can be too high, depending on the branches in the trees in the woods. I don't think that I've ever put a ladder stand in a tree that was smaller in diameter than about 12" at 15' up off the ground. |
|
|
|
Post by M4Madness on Oct 18, 2014 17:46:59 GMT -5
firstly i know absolutely nothing about bow hunting. but i cannot understand having to be that high, would one go as high using a rifle or shotgun Billy, I hunt even higher with a rifle than the 20 feet I do with a bow. It is 6:45 PM here in Indiana right now, with about 45 minutes of legal shooting light left. |
|
|
|
Post by esshup on Oct 18, 2014 17:50:03 GMT -5
Lets get Billy really confused now. It's only 5:45 p.m. here and I'm in Indiana too. There's the same amount of legal shooting light left here too.  |
|
