Harneses and hieght for tree stand
- Thread starter bud69
- Start date
15-20" on the stand height. I have used a Hunter Safety Systems harness for the last few years . I can't remember the exact model, but it's the lightweight version, not the full vest type. Whichever one you decide to go with, make sure you are comfortable in it because if your not you may do something stupid and not wear it that one time. Then you'll end up being spoon fed steak from then on. I always put mine on before I put on my hunting coat and let the strap come out the top behind my neck.
holzmeister
Regular
- Location
- Neumarkt Ontario
I use a proper fall arrest harness that has a shock absorbing lanyard. Using a lanyard with dynamic properties will greatly reduce injury.
Rayleigh_Scattering
Regular
- Location
- Under the arch
The tree stands I see at <outdoorsy store> are creepy.
Chinese made, and stuffed with uninspectable single failure points, any one of which would drop you.
There is something to be said for rope, knots and carabiners.
Can one effectively self-rescue with an upper back attachment point? If not, one is only choosing to feed the crows instead of the coyotes.
I understand the shock-absorbing harness to be a way to mitigate shock at the end of your fall. Since workers want to do stuff other than climb they want slack on their harness, which means a long fall requiring shock mitigation. If climbing my current understanding is that I’d rather keep the slack short, and keep the fall short.
Just thinking out loud here, but probably I’d start by booking a seasonally underemployed arborist for a day. He’d know how this is done, and could probably point to a guy he knows who is looking to get rid of professional level gear.
Once you’re in the tree with your weight safely supported a platform is just nails and 2x4’s. Meh.
A govt publication I saw from one of th eastern US states listed tree stand accidents as equal to all other hunting related mortalities combined.
Chinese made, and stuffed with uninspectable single failure points, any one of which would drop you.
There is something to be said for rope, knots and carabiners.
Can one effectively self-rescue with an upper back attachment point? If not, one is only choosing to feed the crows instead of the coyotes.
I understand the shock-absorbing harness to be a way to mitigate shock at the end of your fall. Since workers want to do stuff other than climb they want slack on their harness, which means a long fall requiring shock mitigation. If climbing my current understanding is that I’d rather keep the slack short, and keep the fall short.
Just thinking out loud here, but probably I’d start by booking a seasonally underemployed arborist for a day. He’d know how this is done, and could probably point to a guy he knows who is looking to get rid of professional level gear.
Once you’re in the tree with your weight safely supported a platform is just nails and 2x4’s. Meh.
A govt publication I saw from one of th eastern US states listed tree stand accidents as equal to all other hunting related mortalities combined.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
I used a hang on for a while, but it was just too damned small for my butt. I never felt comfortable in it, or safe. The thought of the harness saving my life by impaling me on the steps screwed into the tree wasn't very comforting either.
I switched to a two man ladder stand.
Safer, room for a pack beside you, less portable of course, but really not that much more work to put up.
I switched to a two man ladder stand.
Safer, room for a pack beside you, less portable of course, but really not that much more work to put up.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
Stand height varies with your spot. Some places that height just puts you in the canopy and you can't see far at all. higher is generally better, if it can be done, wrt scent, as it disperses your scent, as well as lifting you up out of some of the ground level infuriating breezes.
I like 16' to the stand floor, but I have places where 10 is max.
I like 16' to the stand floor, but I have places where 10 is max.
Personally I don't do tree stands anymore and I was once a great advocate of them. Had a friend fall and he is now in a wheel chair, kind of turned me sour on them. Now all my stands are either Dog House ground blinds or 6' x 6' permanent wooden structures up 8'ft on a 4 x 4 post framed structure. Higher than 8ft would be great but there is the logistics of building a tall support structure, then essentially a garden shed on top of that back in the bush, usually by myself. So 8 ft for me is doable and safe. The portable ground blinds are great for deer but bears love to terrorize them in your absence as try as you might you will leave some scent on the fabric, they will smell it and tear up the hide.
The reason you get seen in your tree stand has not so much to do with height but with movement and the fact your sitting up there in plain sight. You have got to blend in well especially your face and do not move. That's why I like enclosed blinds as they mask a lot of sins and cut you some slack.
My suggestion would be to buy the very best stand you can afford. aka the most well built one. and the very best safety harness system whether you can afford it or not as your life and good health is dependant on it working flawlessly.
If you need convincing on the harness and you live in the Toronto area. Pay a little visit to Lyndhurst Lodge, it is adjacent to Sunnybrook Hospital. It's where all the spinal cord injury folks end up to learn how to deal and live with there new life style. I used to visit my friend there after his fall, it is a healthy dose of reality.
The reason you get seen in your tree stand has not so much to do with height but with movement and the fact your sitting up there in plain sight. You have got to blend in well especially your face and do not move. That's why I like enclosed blinds as they mask a lot of sins and cut you some slack.
My suggestion would be to buy the very best stand you can afford. aka the most well built one. and the very best safety harness system whether you can afford it or not as your life and good health is dependant on it working flawlessly.
If you need convincing on the harness and you live in the Toronto area. Pay a little visit to Lyndhurst Lodge, it is adjacent to Sunnybrook Hospital. It's where all the spinal cord injury folks end up to learn how to deal and live with there new life style. I used to visit my friend there after his fall, it is a healthy dose of reality.
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- Location
- Saskatoon Saskatchewan
I'll second the 2 man ladder stand advise. Feels much safer to me. I use a big game guardian stand and Hunter safety system vest for my bear hunt. I think it's about 16' to the platform in that one. Definitely a 2 man job to set it up though.
