Tree stand safety|Bowhunting Talk|Forum|Bow Hunters of Alabama

I found the following post on another forum. The safety reminder is well worth the read.

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I’ll post my screw up so this doesn’t happen to you. I walk in with a stand and sticks and set up fresh each hunt. Last w/e end was not different from the dozens and dozens times I’ve done this. I hang my sticks one at a time usually to about 18 feet, take the stand (LW Assault) off my back and hang it parallel (slightly lower) than the highest step on the highest stick. During this process I’m ALWAYS connected to the tree. During the transition from the sticks to the stand I’m belted in with lineman’s belt and I double protect myself by attaching my tether before disconnecting the belt and taking the step on to the stand.
Now, I know what you are thinking …I stepped and whammo the stand fell out from under me feet….wrong. I entered the stand and went about my step up process hang back pack, pull up bow, etc. I hunted for half the day as planned – 5 hours and during that time stood up sat down along with other normal movements. When I was done I do the reverse process of protection. Belted and tethered. As I went to remove my stand I noticed the strap to the stand was HALF WAY OFF the versa button. The only thing holding it on was the fact that it was wedged into the versa button nut that holds the versa button in place. Had it slipped off that 1/8 inch perch gravity certainly would have done its job!

Two lessons – Always stay strapped to the tree. I used to transition to the stand without protection and had the strap slipped off once in stand for those few seconds while I re-connect to the tree, I would have had an elevator ride down without the elevator.

Second – I don’t care how many times you hung a stand – Stop for 2 seconds and take a second look at your work.

Those of you who blow this off as another “this could happen to you post” please change your attitude. I don’t think you ever can have enough safety reminders. Maybe this post or the next, or the one after makes you realize that you need to go home the same way you entered the woods! God bless and be safe.

http://mathewsinc.com/forums-h…..ree-stand/