Treestand safety, or not

[kpk]

I've always worn a harness but added lifelines last year. Used to use short lifelines for transferring between the steps and stand but now they go all the way to the ground.

My girlfriend is a nurse and did some clinicals out of state last year helping with a kid that was about 19. He had fallen out of stand and had severe permanent injuries. IMO there's no hunt worth the injuries and life changes that can happen if a fall occurs.

 

[Sooner]

Hope he recovers well.

A good friend of mine fell a few weeks ago. He climbed up his ladder stand and somehow blacked out. Ended up falling 18ft and landed on a rock. Broke every rib on his left side, hole in his lung, had to get staples in his head. He just left the hospital a few days go. 3 months off of work and all of that healing is going to be tough. Needless to say I went and bought a HSS and lifelines.

 

[nirvanafan]

I've wore a harness for 9 or 10 years now. I use a lifeline every time I climb into the hang on stands we have. I don't really like getting in and out of them. However, when I go up in a ladder stand, I generally don't use the lifeline. As soon as I get up the stand, before I even turn around or take my backpack off, I clip in.

About 4 or 5 years ago, my uncle died falling out of a tree stand. It was only about 16'. It doesn't take too much height, you just have to hit the ground wrong.