Yes, I was wearing a HSS vest and rope safety line. I'm not hurt but I made a few mistakes I want to share so it won't happen to you.

I was climbing down this evening. It was very dark by the time I came down and I didn't turn on my light(mistake #1). I was only about 5 feet from the ground when my seat turned loose. I fell backwards upside down. I was hanging upside down with my feet still in the straps of the foot climber. I thought my left ankle was broke. I couldn't get myself back up, or get my feet loose.

I was likely a little panicked and I just started praying for the Lord to help me.I managed to wiggle my left leg enough to get it loose from the foot strap. Then I could touch the ground with my left hand but not enough to release any pressure off my right foot to get it loose. I finally managed to get hold of my safety line and pull myself up enough to get my right foot out.

I got on the ground and just lay there taking stock of how bad I was hurt. My left ankle hurt but it started easing up after a while and it took my weight just fine.

Now my light and keys are gone. They fell out of my pockets while I was upside down. I felt around on the ground and found my keys. I had a small light on my keys and managed to locate my flashlight. I got all my stuff and my stand together and went back a couple hundred yards to my truck.

All I can say is the Jesus was with me today.

Now, let me say this. It seems the pin holding the cable on the seat climber came out. There were some vines and one must have snagged it on the way down enough to dislodge it. That wouldn't have happened if I was watching with my light on.

My safety line had too much slack in it because I was coming down. If I had came down slower with my line tighter, I wouldn't have fallen all the way upside down.

Last, I was by myself. It would have been bad if I had broken my ankle and had to wait for my wife to come looking for me. She knew where I was but I was only hanging a couple minuets and it was the longest two minuets of my life.

Learn from my mistakes and be safe.

I am fine except from some scratches all over the back of my head and hands because I went through some thick brier vines when I was pitched backwards.

Thank you Jesus!!!!!

Wow, glad your alright. I bought my a climber this year but haven't had a chance to use it yet. I appreciate you sharing your story. I'm not up to par on using the climber yet but will definitely have a safety harness on.

Stands are dangerous.

Sure glad we don't have to use them out here.

Amen, brother.

Things happen fast. Glad your ok.

I should have had my safety line tighter. If it had been tighter, I wouldn't have fallen upside down. I couldn't get myself back up, or get my feet out of the straps. If I had been higher, or broken my ankle, it would have been a lot worse. I might still be hanging upside down by the foot climber straps.

RH, glad to hear your ok and glad to hear you had on a harness, it could have been a lot worse.

BTDT

Yes! I do want to say however that my harness never took any weight. I had my safety line too long because I was climbing down. Because of that, I was left hanging by the foot climber feet straps. I couldn't get my feet out of the straps for a few minuets. It seemed like a very long time.

I am very glad you are OK...even using a harness a person can be severely injured or killed in a fall. In fact, it is not unheard of for a person to suffocate while hanging in a chest harness.

In a previous life I was a game warden. One evening I was conducting a public hearing about deer hunting regulations. At one point I asked how many people attending the hearing used tree stands, and about 30 hands went up. Then I asked how many of them had fallen from a tree stand...and about 25 hands went up.

The other 5 were apparently waiting their turn. I'm a chicken, and like a chicken, I don't fly very well no matter how hard I flap my wings. So I stay on the ground...with the other chickens.

Glad you are alright. Sorry to hear of your troubles today.

Thanks guys.

I'm sharing so someone may not make the same mistakes I did. In retrospect. keep the safety line very tight to the tree .

Instead of webbing straps on the foot climber, a tarp strap would have been much better. If my feet had come out, the vest would have caught me.

Dang glad you are safe. BTW what is a tree?

Glad to hear your ok. Hanging upside down to long can be fatal. Hanging upright can also as it cuts off circulation to your main artery in your leg. We use harnesses in the theater and have rescue plans in place whenever someone is up.

Glad you're ok.

Trees are for squirrels though.

Good to hear you came out alright, RH. PTL.

R H,
Glad you came out ok. Tree stand falls are scary. I have never fallen, but I slipped once and fortunately caught myself.

I have given up on trees. Leafy suits and ground blinds for me.
Did I mention I do not like heights...at all.

Good to hear you were not injured. I've came before the Lord regarding climbing stands a couple of times myself. I didn't listen well enough the first.

Trees are for birds & squirrels & such.

I keep my azz on the ground & manage to kill all the critters I want.

I know people that have been messed up bad & one that got killed falling out of trees.


Mike

Glad you are OK.

I think that's right where I used to live....or was it another stretch of Wyoming prairie that looked just like it?

Thankful you weren't hurt, Randy. A shooter that shot in our matches fell out of his tree stand and broke his neck. I had a climber ratchet down a tree with me once from about 10 feet. It just skinned me up a bit. I don't mess with them any longer.

Glad to hear you're OK but for the grace of God you could not be home to type your post!

I don't use climbers but I use a lot of hang on stands with ladder sticks and there are a couple things I do to be safe.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS wear a safety harnass - no excuse for not wearing one!

ALWAYS use a Lineman's belt when setting up stands for the first time and taking them down after season - ALWAYS!

When you set up your stand ALWAYS put a life line in the tree. Most falls happen getting off the ladder onto the stand or out of the stand on the ladder, without a life line you're not connected at these times. If you think $30 is to much to pay for a life line look at your childs face and tell me again $30 is to much to make sure you get home?

Carry your cell phone (on silent) somewhere were it's easy to get to in case you need to call for help.

I live alone so it could be days before someone notices me missing so I text my sister every time before I go hunting. She knows that if I don't call or text within 45 minutes after dark to call me, if I don't answer she has the numbers of my buddies who know where I hunt and know where my stands are.

A couple years ago I had an accident that was a freak thing and resulted in no injury at all but could very easily have resulted in my death in a tree stand. After going home and seeing my daughter's face when I told her about what happened I decided right there that safety is #1, not for me but for those around me that I love. All the money we spend on hunting there is no reason for not haveing the best safety equipment available.

first of all, I am thankful you survived the fall.

Back in 1994, I was hunting a friend's place east of Gainesville. 4AM found me in my climbing stand, 35 feet up a pine tree. Pouring rain, windy.
Just as I got the seat set into place, and before I could put on my safety strap, the dang thing broke loose. I slid all the way down the tree, and knocked myself out when I hit bottom. Thought for sure I was a goner.
I have not been in a tree stand since, and won't be. Just still hunting for me now.

I get nose bleeds on the third rung of a ladder, and also get real clingy, so tree stands are a non issue with me. Had a good friend in Wisconsin that fell out of a tree and broke his ankle and a couple ribs, so you fared well. Glad you're okay.

Glad you're OK.
Climbers can get hairy at times.

My first season using a climber, I made the mistake of climbing a Rock Maple.
Everything went well and I was in the tree for an hour when the seat dropped about 4 inches. Scared the pizz out of me.

I only climb Ash and Oaks these days.

Glad you're OK

Good post - and good info. Glad you're ok.. A good friend of mine had a very bad experience with a tree stand back in circa '77-'78, and, after his experience, I determined that I'm best off stayin' on the ground..

Last, at my age (66 today) I won't go hunting unless my son is with me..

Best wishes sir..

Thanks again everyone. I posted this on a local site to remind those guys too. One of them told me that he did the same thing two years ago and broke both ankles.

He was left hanging at 15 feet, upside down, with his feet trapped in the foot climber webbing. He managed to cut himself loose and fall to the ground.

The main thing is to keep your safety line tight to the tree!! It needs to be adjusted short enough that you can't be thrown upside down with your feet trapped in the foot climber webbing.

Also, I think a tight tarp strap for your feet would be a lot safer than nylon webbing. Your feet wouldn't get trapped or broken from a tarp strap.

This ^. Had a similar experience with a climber years ago and haven't touched one of them since.

Wow, close one RH. Glad you're ok, I think there are several lessons to learn here but you forgot to mention what you did right, you had two lights on you! Never ever go in the woods without at least two lights. I learned this lesson the hard way many years ago when a bulb on my mag light burned out and I had to fumble in the dark to change the bulb, at several points I wasn't sure it was going to happen but luckily it worked out.

Glad you are okay

Glad you're ok. Falls are the #1 killer now of hunters! My son, Chad, AKA "High Brass" used to do tower work. He always said he was more afraid of falling using a tree stand than off of towers because he wouldn't suffer and linger from a fall off of a tower!

dang it, glad you made it out ok


regular occurrence for me to climb 90-100 ft. spruce trees to locate moose


no seat or harness, just a couple of boards, and some cargo straps.

I try and be damned careful though.


few years ago big windstorm blew through, hanging onto that tree for dear life, while it swayed to and fro, trees crashing down all around, was kinda sporty as it lasted over an hour.


but pretty tough to fill a freezer where I hunt without gaining a birds eye view.


may have to rethink how I'm doing things though.


appreciate your post and glad you weren't hurt any worse than what you were.

You're very fortunate to be ok....glad everything worked out and thank you for the reminder!

I ALMOST bought a climber this year, but came to my senses and bought another ladder stand. Climbers, if they're for anyone, are for fit and strong folks, not fat old men like me.

When I think about the homemade stands we built in the 60s using sections of saplings cut on site, it makes my blood run cold. Later, we started using treated 2X4s and plywood, but they still were potential deathtraps due to age, weathering, and tree movement.

Another item I'll never use again is screw-in tree steps. I had a bunch, made of 1/2 inch steel and also a tool for installing them. The tool made them easier to install, but the tremendous torque it provided apparently twisted the step rather than screwing into the tree. The last time I used that stand, on the way OUT of the stand, two of the steps broke off in my hand. Fortunately, I hadn't shifted my weight to those steps yet. The stand was pretty low, so I was able to hop off to the ground. I used strap-on steps made of polymer with nylon straps for a while with no problems, but haven't seen them for sale recently.

I like ladders, and have two on the public ground I hunt now. One is only about 9 feet to the foot platform, as I left out a section of ladder. I've taken 3 deer in 3 years from that one, so it must be high enough.

Glad you're okay.

In all of this, I seemed to have missed the brand name and model of the climber


I think that would be more helpful to fellow hunters.


And from my experience, all that safety harness garbage (if you don't know wtf youre doing) can actually introduce more hazard to the situation both before and after a possible incident. Getting wrapped up in harness, ropes, cables, buckles.


So pretty please with sugar, how bout the name of the stand?

Thanks

I'm trying to understand how your safety rope got too long. On my climber the safety rope length is more or less constant. It is determined by the location of the knot I tie. The only way the distance from the tree changes is when the diameter of the tree narrows, which is a very minor change.

Postak
The safety line is a Hunter Safety System rope with a prussik knot on a 6' piece of rope. The knot is attached to a carabiner. I had the knot slid too far down the rope because I was coming down about 3" at a time. It allowed me to move twice before having to slide the rope down the tree. If I would have kept my rope shorter, I wouldn't have been able to fall completly backwards with my feet trapped in the foot climber straps.

slumlord
The stand was an Old Man Grand Multi Vision. I still haven't completly examened it this morning but last night it looked like the pin holding the cable around the tree came out. There were vines in that tree and I assume one grabbed the pin enough to remove the wire loop holding it in place.

I still highly recommend all safety harnesses and ropes attached to the tree when climbing and going down. They have saved a lot of lives. Mine would have caught me if I would have had it adjusted closer to the tree so I couldn't tumble backwards. I never envisioned getting caught with my feet in the straps of my foot climber.

Seriously? Nothing about climbing that high and unsecured is remotely intelligent.

If you are going to climb those trees, which I wouldn't, you need a safety harness and two ropes with carabiners. Just attach and move them up the tree as you go.Release one, move it up , attach it and then do the same with the other one. You will always have one attached to the tree.

Glad you are OK RH. God was watching out for you. Lessons learned.

Never, never,never, never, EVER, EVER use webbing straps. My wife didn't listen to me and wound up hanging upside down from her climber with two broken ankles.

I don't know why my ankles weren't broken too. My head was all cut up from some brier vines I went through on the way down. They must have slowed me down enough that I only wound up with a sprain on my left ankle.

Glad to hear you're OK. My wife's hand climber opened up because she didn't secure it properly and she fell backwards with her feet strapped to the platform.

Honestly don't know how she was able to swing her body upwards and cut the strap with her knife. Fell about ten feet and then crawled with her elbows up a steep clear cut about 600 yards back to the house. Neighbor found her in the middle of the road.

Tough girl.

Glad you're okay RH. Climber stands can be dangerous. A loc-on is safer, IMO. The Loc-on is a better choice if you plan to hunt to same location intermittently. If you use strap-on climbing sticks just take the bottom two with you will deter all but determined thieves, leave the cabled/locked stand in place. The prussik tied into a fall harness is a non-negotiable. Take a buddy with you when place the stand as that first time you will have to place the sticks/stand and the rope for the prussik/fall harness and the potential for a fall will be higher.

Having said that, all serious whitetail buck chasers know the first set up in a stand is likely the best ambush, and a portable climber makes this possible. Make sure you develop a thorough check to ensure all is well with your stand and climbing technique.

Just wanted to say I hate to hear that about your wife. It sounds horrible but I'm glad she survived.

I'm fine but thinking about how bad it could have been if it had happened when I was 20 feet up and it had broken my legs makes me very grateful.

R_H_Clark: Thankfully you were not seriously hurt!
And thanks for the tips.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Yes I don't get in tree stands either. If you do wear a DAMN GOOD HARNESS. A friend of the family didn't tell anyone where he was going to be hunting. Laid in the woods for almost 2 days before his brother remembered an old spot they used to go to. He fell out and broke his pelvis.

My new deer stand , I just got it today



and painted it



It don't climb trees


Mike

Can you really get 'em to stand on it?

I do the same. Not usually 90 feet up, but often 30 or 40. I am damn careful about how I do it. Three points of contact at all times.....That's what you gotta do to hunt moose effectively where I hunt.

Glad you weren't hurt RH, maybe build a permanent stand with a ladder up to it?

Thank you for sharing that RH. I just read that Larry Kelm, who played linebacker for Texas A&M and the LA Rams fell from a tree stand last week and died. He was only 49. Another warning for all of us.

Quite a story, and glad you're around to tell it...unfortunately, the scenario is too often recounted.

Glad to hear you're ok.