I know you know this, but as tree stands go, even the safest climbers are among the most dangerous stands. I'm not sure is bigger is safer. I've been using Vipers for a long time. As safety goes, I'm the biggest limiting factor.
Yes,sir! I'm always wearing an HSS vest with safety line attached from the time I start climbing. Never had a problem since age 15,nearly 35 years with even crap homemade stands and a rope for safety way back,yes,young and dumb back then. I've been in hundreds of trees.
About 2 years ago I had an accident in an Old Man Grand Multivision. My seat platform just turned loose and came completely off the tree as I was descending in the dark. I was only about 8-10 feet from the ground,but I fell backward with my ankles hung in the webbing strap of the foot platform. It took some hard praying and dedicated effort to get loose. I thought I had broken both ankles. I had my safety equipment on but my ankles had caught the force because my safety line was adjusted too long during the descent.
Once I got down,I was able to walk after a bit and took myself home. Both ankles turned blue-black but were not broken. I will never again use any stand with a webbing strap for the ankles,or any where ankles can get trapped. I haven't climbed in 2 years,but I am ready to go again,a little wiser and a lot more cautious.
I made 2 near fatal mistakes that evening. The tree I was in,was full of vines,and running briers. A vine must have pulled my pin on the seat coming down. My first mistake was not using my head light. It was completely dark and I had several deer close. I didn't want to spook them for the morning hunt,so I was going to slip out as quiet as possible without my light on,otherwise I could have seen what was happening. My second mistake was that I had my safety line adjusted too long so I could move down in longer increments. I'll never do either again.
Tree stands are dangerous,but here in the south very beneficial for hunting. I'm safe and will be safer in the future. I took the time to tell all that though because I always thought I was safe before. No matter how much experience you have,it's the thing you overlook that gets you.
