Went for an evening hunt last night for the first time this year. Archery whitetail. Don't always like to hunt this early in the heat on a stand, but the corn was just cut the day before and the farm adjacent was currently being cut, which everyone knows is a great time to get deer on the move. In the stand for a few minutes and hear a slight bump type noise from the hang-on. Took a look at the straps and all looked good. About 3 mins later the bottom fell out, as in the bottom of the stand flexed downward, with the 90 degree angle of the platform opening up in a downward motion.
Fortunately, the platform on this stand was set up about 1 foot above a solid branch, so when it went, the platform only dropped about a foot before coming to rest on the branch. I was wearing a harness and strapped in, but the branch stopped the downward motion and prevented me from going overboard, which would have left the harness to keep me from falling. Talk about pucker. Pretty un-nerving from about 18 feet up.
Looked to be a failed weld spot, but haven't yet taken it down to formally determine the cause. We normally conduct a good inspection on these types of things every year, replacing straps and so on. This spot just wasn't visually noticeable as it seems to have rusted from the inside. Thank God for that branch below. Still had the harness on, but have no desire to test it in a true fall. I've got a couple of stands set up like this right above a good branch, and when possible would recommend it. Part of it has always been because it breaks up your outline and helps you blend in, but there was always a little extra feeling of security having that branch below. I NEVER thought it would actually be tested in the way things went last night, but in hindsight I'm thankful this one was set up like that. Be careful out there and double-check your equipment.
Fortunately, the platform on this stand was set up about 1 foot above a solid branch, so when it went, the platform only dropped about a foot before coming to rest on the branch. I was wearing a harness and strapped in, but the branch stopped the downward motion and prevented me from going overboard, which would have left the harness to keep me from falling. Talk about pucker. Pretty un-nerving from about 18 feet up.
Looked to be a failed weld spot, but haven't yet taken it down to formally determine the cause. We normally conduct a good inspection on these types of things every year, replacing straps and so on. This spot just wasn't visually noticeable as it seems to have rusted from the inside. Thank God for that branch below. Still had the harness on, but have no desire to test it in a true fall. I've got a couple of stands set up like this right above a good branch, and when possible would recommend it. Part of it has always been because it breaks up your outline and helps you blend in, but there was always a little extra feeling of security having that branch below. I NEVER thought it would actually be tested in the way things went last night, but in hindsight I'm thankful this one was set up like that. Be careful out there and double-check your equipment.
