Any hunters fall out of a tree stand? What happened?

[michael Brooks]

Anyone fall out of a tree stand and care to share about it? I am doing a show segment on accidents to hunters, if you care to share what happened and how it could have been prevented, I may use this in a book project for accident prevention. Thanks for your help..

Dr. Mike
mbrooks33@aol.com

[SARDog]

Let's see, I ate my two sandwiches, and my soup in the thermos is gone. It sure is a nice day. I wish I would of got dsome sleep last night. Hmm, no sign of deer yet. I think i'll just lean back and relax :p
SNAP!! :eek: What the....
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.
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AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THUD! :(

[Banditto]

I haven't fell and also use a 5-point safety harness.

Last year when I was in Sparrow Hospital in Lansing I found out that they have a dedicated room for hunters who fall. So they spent a ton of money converting a room that treats only such accidents. I thought that was worth noting.

[Worm Dunker]

A good friend of mine fell out of tree during gun season(here in Mi.) and broke his back. Woke up several hours later and it was raining. He past out from pain woke up later and was covered in 3 inches of fresh snow. He was on the ground from around 6 p.m. to 11.30 a.m. before he was found. His body temp was so low another hour he would have died. NEVER HUNT ALONE.

[Outdoorzman]

While there are many dangers associated with hunting there are also many safety precautions that need to be takin. Yet, accidents can and do still happen.
I have to disagree with the statement "NEVER HUNT ALONE". If you lay out a hunting plan of dates, times, and locations and leave that itinerary with someone,I feel that you have covered the bases in case of an accident.
Worm Dunker,
I have to ask, did your friend have a harness on or was this fall from climbing into, or out of it?
Be safe and enjoy the great outdoors.

[Worm Dunker]

My buddy fell coming down out of tree after hunting. He doesn't remember how or why he fell alot of that the doctor told him he may never remember. He carried one of those 12 chanell radio(his cell phone was back in cabin charging batteries) and would call may day every so offen and or when he would hear a shot. Three day later another friend went up and got the rest of his stuff and his ladder stand was tight so that wasn't the problem.

[skinne]

i have fallen out once but was very lucky. i was using a api strap on seat and was about 20' high in a oak. i had only used the seat 3 times and made sure it was tight everytime before i sat down but i never checked where the strap was bolted on to the seat well i sat down for the evening hunt and after about 20mins the bolt pulled away from the belt and i was on my way to the ground lucky for me i always wear a saftey harness and after about 5mins of trying to get my bearings i pulled myself to the tree and got down. i took the seat back and got my money back and ever since i always check my stands before i get in better to be safe then sorry.

[Trushot_Archer]

I've been dangling from my harness a time or two. I fell asleep and I always like to test all my gear...yeah right!

[Tim Baker]

My brother fell 6 years ago coming down after an opening day bowhunt. Branch broke and down he went, landed on his back and knocked him out. Woke up some time later and fell into a creek head first. Only part after that he remembers is putting his bow in the truck and walking into the hospital.

Don't be a cheap *****, use a couple extra steps!

Tim

[Banditto]

Skinne, API recalled several million of that style stand for that very reason. I would seriously look into if you or any of your friends own any of the affected API stands...

[buckslayermichigan]

hey banditto do you have any idea how to find out what api treestands were recalled and what to do with them if you have them.thanks jeff

[Gr8 Scout]

I've never fallen; I use a Warren & Sweat climber and a ladder stand. All of the falls I know of were out of homemade stands. I had a close call while in a home-built widow-maker, and I wised up quick.

[salmonslammer]

If you don't use a full body harness and safety off to the tree.....you're an idiot.......Plain and simple. I speak from experience.

I spend most of my days on a 7" wide I beam, either 50 or 95' in the air. I have worked as a rigger for the better part of the last 16 years....Spent alot of time, energy and $ to gaurentee that people will be safe under the loads that I'm working with. Nobody thinks that they are going to fall....That is why they are called accidents. You need to do what you can to cut down on the odds.

Knock on wood.....I haven't had to do a safety check yet. I have been to 5 funerals of associates that weren't so lucky and didn't pass the check. It does not cost that much to buy a full body milller harness and a safety to make sure your butt stays where it belongs.

Its not the fall that is so bad.....It's the sudden stop.

[WALLEYEvision]

My brother fell 6 years ago coming down after an opening day bowhunt. Branch broke and down he went.......................Don't be a cheap *****, use a couple extra steps!

Tim

Great point Tim! Had the same thing happen to me while climbing down from my stand several years ago. Luckily the branch that broke was only about 10' off the ground and I only received a few “bark burns” and tore up my fatigues.

[D_Hunter]

I fell about 12' out of a tree as I was wrapping my safety harness around the tree. The portable lock-on treestand strap snapped and dumped me out. I was lucky, I only ended up with a bruised elbow and ego. However, 1 week later my best friend fell about 20 feet out of the same type/brand stand when his strap snapped. He fell (no safety belt) and busted his back in 3 places. This was in 1993. My best friend can still walk but is on permanent disability and has had several back surgeries (screws/steel rod) and on permanent medication.

I now use a full body harness style safety belt and only use ladder type tree stands. I also replaced all the "ratchet" style straps to chain and binders. The little extra effort has never failed me.

[ozzgood2001]

my dad fell last bow season doing two major no no's. first he was using branches to steady himself on his ladder stand, why did he need to steady himself cause he doesnt drop his bow down on a string he carries it. of course one hand on his bow other on a dead branch......next thing he remembers he wakes up after a few minutes still alive and unbroken minus some stretched muscles in his shoulder making it look like a dislocated shoulder. he was a walking "dont not do this" banner, oh and he doesnt wear a harness either.....

[Randy Kidd]

I had a close call about 15 years ago, slipped on a step and fell backwards. I was only 2 steps up, But it made a believer out of me. I hunt from ground blinds now, and I get shots at just as many deer as I did hunting in trees. Plus being able to really Stretch out for that afternoon nap makes it a bigger reason.

[FIJI]

Sept 1992 I was climbing into my buddy's permanent platform stand in Holly to check it out (he went sky diving that day instead). At the top just as I was swinging my leg to the platform the top rung (2 x 4) came off in my hand. Second rung came off too on my way down. 14 foot fall and landed in a sitting position. Felt like a BIG hand came outta the sky and slapped me down. No "slow motion" fall for me !

Result: 70% burst-compression fracture of the L-1, and busted ribs. Couldn't even blow my safety whistle for help. Felt myself going into shock so I crawled the 300 yards back to my buddy's house - that took almost 3 hours. Luckily his wife was home and called 911. Six months in a plastic body cast and fortunately the leg paralysis was temporary. No surgery was needed until last Sept (disc).

WEAR the !@#%##&^* harness and NEVER trust anyone's gear but your OWN.

[thornapple]

Back in 1999 I was climbing into my stand which was right around 20' off the ground. Anyways I stepped off a branch (I know) and before I could get onto my stand the branch snapped. It was completely dark outside and to the best of my knowledge about half way to the dirt I cought another branch and started to spin and tumble to the groud. I know my head hit just before the rest of my body did because there was a depression in the muck about 3 or 4 inches the size of my melon. Anyways, I got damn lucky because other than getting the wind knocked out of me, and smashing my glasses I had minor neck pains for almost 2 months. If it would have been a couple weeks later and the ground was froze I might have been taken out on a stretcher. Needless to say I learned from my mistake.

[victor mi pro bowhunter]

I fell once back when tree spikes where legel to use.
coming out of my stand my pant leg got caught on the spike and i triped and fell backwords.

[wildcoy73]

well its been years since i have fallen from the tree the latest one was on a snowy january day. no injuries to me but that brand new hunting jacket i recieved for christmas was shreds.... this all happen while taking our stands down we had one stuck in the tree so i decided to give it a hand and jump on the platform and it was one hell of a ride down to the ground..


>>> this may show the reson for a buddy... my younger brother and father where out in september hanging stands a few years back. and the accident happen. my brother was putting ree steps into the ree when one of the steps brokes as he fell from the tree the broken step cauh his arm and riped it almost off. if this would of happen by himself he may no be with us today. it is a scary thought. were sitting in a tree with razor blades one miss fall and that blade is in you. one advatage we have now a days are cell phones and two way radios. a check up on each other once in a while may just save a partners life with head phones on most you won't bother your hunt checking in with your buddies and may even keep ya more alert.

[lawnguy]

I was always against a harness or belt because I could never be that guy thats plumits to earth with a sharp arrow and hot coffee following behind. I was the tuff guy!!! untill......I fell asleep in the tree and woke up just in time to catch myself sliding down in the seat. I now always wear my 5 point and wouldn't consider climbing 6' without it. It's hunting when your out there searching for animals, its a search and rescue when others are out searching for you! be safe

[jmoser]

First time I ever used a tree stand - self climbing model, 2 sections. Well I didn't read the instructions too well and had not tied the 2 sections together. While still climbing about 16 feet up the bottom half just dropped straight down to the ground. I don't think it even touched the tree it dropped so fast. No problem I thought, I'll just use the top section as a platform and hug the tree while I shimmy down. About 2 feet and it dropped straight down as well, leaving me hugging the tree like a scared bear.

I was strapped on but it was a 'cinch' style loop and not a real harness. As I started to climb down by hand the tree trunk tapered out slightly bigger and the tie on strap got hopelessly tight, the release buckle was stretched so tight I couldn't open it (especially with one hand.) Then I slipped a little and the strap cinched real tight around my chest, hard to breath. I had visions of them finding my skeleton swinging from the tree next spring.

Finally I calmed down and rememebered a pocket knife, one slice and I slid right down. I dropped the knife before descending, never did find it and it was a real nice Browning that I liked a lot. I searched many times for it but in hindsight I probably threw it a good ways away so I wouldn't fall on it.

Nothing like a good scare to make you into Captain Safety!

[outfishin_]

Back in 1992 one of my co-workers fell out of his stand while coming down. He was very careless in his desent. He fell about 8 ft. and broke his neck. He didn't know it at the time, he drove him self to the emergency room. He ended up in a "halo" for 6 months....He was lucky to have not been killed or paralized.

[deepwoods]

I did. Fell asleep in my tree (IDIOT) :dizzy: . I did have my safety strap on luckily.

A word of warning for everyone. I was using one of those continous loop straps that wrap around the tree and then around you. Be careful!!!! When you fall these things cinch down on you like a boa and your body weight only pulls it tighter (210 lbs.) I thought I was going to pass out it squeezed me so hard and I couldn't breath. Luckily I was able to get footing and lift myself up and get out of it or I could have suffocated. My ribs hurt for a month. I also had to much slack in the strap.

[bucknduck]

When I set the strap for my 5 point harness system around the tree, I make sure that it is set high enough so that it is almost pulling upward on my shoulders when sitting down and there is always tension on the line from my shoulders to the tree. That way if I were to fall asleep, the farthest that i would fall is that my head would fall forward but i wouldnt fall out of the tree.

My wife almost learned the hard way, she ignored what I showed her about connecting both the top and bottom sections of the stand together with a climber. She lost the bottom section but luckily it only dropped about a foot before it caught the tree again. As a hunters safety instructor, I was quite dissapointed in her since I have done everything possible to teach my family that safety comes first! That was the first and last time that she ignored the rules of safety first! I hunt on average of 20-22 feet up and i will sacrifice comfort for safety any day.
Someone mentioned their friend skydives? I skydive too, but wouldn't miss a day of deer hunting to drop 12,000 feet.:tdo12: Besides its too cold in Oct to be skydiving.

[baitholder]

i did'nt fall but a buddy of mine fell while stepping into his stand . remember them old steel steps shaped like a z, well he landed on the top one about 3in. from his groin through his pants and into the leg it spun him around and ripped out about 6in above his knee . when he hit the ground he got up and tied his belt around his leg and started yelling for me when i got to him he was not doing so good carried him out and rushed him to the hospital. he ended up with over 100 stiches and he was lucky not to of hit anything vital. since then we use ladderstands

[safetreehunt]

You guys are like a website marketing program for me. Though that's not my intent here. As you can see from my Xray, I crashed badly, but feel I was lucky. I was climbing into my stand when I lost my grip and fell backwards landing on my left foot and shattering my ankle. Two surgeries a lost hunting and ski season and 3 months on crutches, I'm doing a better now. Oh yeah and about 2grand in cost out of pocket after insurance.

I now use a climbing system that connects me to a line from the ground up and back down. Never off the line, just like a rock climber.

Let's see...rock climbers never go up without being on a line...Why should bow hunters???

Need more info? PM me

[safetreehunt]

Man,
This thread ought to be required reading for all bowhunters that climb into trees!!!

[Lunker]

A freinds climber let lose just as he was about to touch the ground only 4 foot up. That broke his back It took him a couple months to walk again. I dont do tree stands anymore. I like the ground.

[dinoday]

Never fell myself although I have had a couple close calls(always while hanging stands).
I saw my friend fall a few years back while hanging his stand,he fell about 10 ft. Only thing really hurt was his pride, me and his son saw him do it! I know he's now a firm beliver in a harness.I have several and if I do happen to forget on I stay on the ground ;)

[ESOX]

Any hunters fall out of a tree stand? What happened?

question 1) Never have myself, but I have an in-law who took a fall.

question 2) It hurt.

[SPH]

Fell several times while hanging stands when I was younger. I now use ladder and climbing stands as the hanging stands were becoming hazardous to my health.

[newk8]

I have had some close calls and watched my brother in law fall on day while hanging stands. I have purchased one of those new saftey straps that is part of a vest. It is a 5 points system. It is excellent and comfortable. Also stopped using tree steps and branchs. It is ladders or climbers for me. This is a great post and should be read by every hunter before heading to the woods this fall> Good Luck to all of you.


Tight Lines and Straight Shootin

[SR-Mechead]

My son fell out when he was 12. Broke his wrist. Never claim old tree stands always check them out.

[jkintn]

This months field and stream has a real nice article on how to set up a rope system to use while sitting and while climbing up and down the tree.

[Byron]

See my post here (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51317) about a nearly-identical rope system I started using last year. For about $8.00 each, they're well worth making up. I'd strongly recommend using a 5-point type harness, as opposed to a chest or waist belt.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/520/864Safety_Rope.JPG

I also posted more descriptions of the system in a post here. (http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=48106)

Best Regards,
Byron

[Death_From_Above]

I cracked my back side......I think! All I know is that's a lot of crack...somethings gotta be wrong!