I'm blessed to be back to the truck in one piece this morning. Climbing down after a morning hunt and the top part of my stand came loose. When I sat down to pull my bottom loose from the tree I went backwards and my feet hung. My hss caught me but I was laying backwards with the top part of my stand wedged in the grating on the bottom. Managed to pull myself around an dislodge and reattach the stand and finish climbing down. Just thinking about all those years I hunted without a harness and how lucky I am right now.

Wow. Glad you had that harness on and are okay. Also glad you were able to get turned around and recover enough to get down! I don't climb without it now and always strap in on my way up and down.

Whew glad you weren't a statistic.

About 7 years ago my brother had his cable on his top piece brake. He didn't have a harness on. When he went to fall he said God help me. His foot got stuck in the v part that braces on his bottom half of the climber and got caught. He was hanging upside down by his ankle and was able to pull himself back up and somehow get his foot out of his boot and slid down the tree. It messed his ankle up prett bad and he was on crutches for a while. Much better than going backwards headlong into the ground though. He was very thankful and considered not hunting any more all together. He ended up not going that route but has a harness on always now.

I know several men personally who have broken legs from climbing stand falls. I hate that it happened to them, but I consider myself fortunate that I can learn from their mistakes. As soon as my 2 feet leave the ground and onto that platform I have my harness on and attached to the tree. Glad that you are ok, stay safe out there.

Seems like I've read a lot of these stories this year. Maybe most folks have wised up and are wearing their harness. Glad you're safe.

Not that it makes a lick of difference, but if you don't mind my asking, what brand climber was it lawnman?

It is an older Summit viper that I have always loved. The little covers that swing around over the cables have gotten loose and one of them moved around as I was climbing down allowing the cable to slip out. It was my fault. I climb so much I dont give it the thought that it deserves. I have already tightened the clips up and called HSS to thank them for the harness.

Glad you are OK.

^^^^X1000

I had the same thing happen but both sides came loose and the cable hit the ground. My harness caught me at about a 45 degree angle going over backwards. I had to hug the tree all the way down. I had only been wearing the harness all the way up and down for a year or two, I used to just strap in after I was up. I tightened the latches and keep a very close eye on them now. I'm still using that stand.

I have this same stand (mine is at least 20 yrs old) and have the same problem. I always thought that if tension remained on the cables that it was very unlikely to come out. I will have to do some work and learn from your lesson. Thanks for sharing.

Lawnman, I'm glad you're ok. Thanks for posting this as it reminds us how quick things can go wrong using a climber.

One of my neighbors has permanent brain damage from a treestand fall. It's sad to see him not able to do the things he used to. Partly because of that, I've stopped hunting from climbers and just stick to ground blinds.

Lawnman if your harness caught you then you've stressed the lanyard and you need to discard it and get a new one. They're only rated for one use. It ain't worth the risk to try and save a few dollars by continuing to use it.

mercy ...

Glad you were ok... but you weren't "lucky" at all. Blessed - protected - you pick the adjective, but God was watching over you. Plain and simple.

I got life lines on all my stands now.

Amen.

WOW..Glad you had a harness on. I've had my bottom drop before. Scary scary thing.

Glad you are alright also man.

I put zip ties on mine now