Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer Bow Talk Treestand fatality!!

A heard this morning that a Jay man was killed in Damascus in what appears to be a tragic accident. According to reports, he was hunting with his wife and brother and he called her and said he had shot a deer and was getting down to look. When she got back to the truck and he never came out, she went and got his brother to go help him. When they found him, he was at the base of the tree dead. They said the pin that holds the cable around the tree was missing and a deputy found it later by the tree.

Sad very sad. Anything can happen i guess. I know once i undo my safety vest from the tree this is the last thing on my mind.

That's terrible, I wish everyone would wear a saftey harness that is put on before you leave the ground. I don't know why so many people wait to put it one when they finish climbing, or take it off before coming down. It's not fair to your family to take that chance. So many accidents happen while climbing or coming down.

That was one of my friends that I had known all of my life and went to school with, his name was Todd Burgess. He was only a few years older than me, so he was around 35-36 and had two young daughters. He has been hunting all of his life and climbed a tree a trillion times, just keep them in your prayers and be as careful climbing a tree as if it was your first time, no matter HOW MANY times you have done it before...

Wear the harness all the way up and all the way down!!

Was the pin busted ?

I'm not sure, all I know is they found it beneath the tree...I'm sure the details will come out in the next couple of days...

I also knew Todd. He was a long time member of our club until last year. He was a really good guy and I'm glad I had the opportunity to know him if only for a short time. He was only 39 and had a little girl about 8 and one only a year or two old. His wife hunted with him a lot and they seemed like a very happy family. It's very sad!

Spoiler theres been alot of talk lately about busted pins. If it was busted I'm glad it was found, it may help the future of his family.

Thanks for the heads up because I was JUST ABOUT to load my Ol' Man stand in the truck for this weekend that has about 5 year old pins but I'm not putting a toe on that stand without some new FARM IMPLEMENT pins...

I packed my safty vest this past weekend,but never wore it. this tragedy has opend my eyes. i have a wife and a 1 yr old doughter. i am terribly sorry for this familys loss. my prayers are with you all.

If it was a old man then same thing happen to me 2 years ago the pin just poped out with out me knowing and i was hanging up side down for 20 min or so till I cut my boot straps and fell 20 ft I am very blessed to walk away. safty vest from then on!! prayers for the Burgess Family.

Prayers sent to the family. It's gonna take a long time for them to recover from this tragedy.

I too climbed last Thursday and didn't wear my harness, which is stupid, I know, particularly at my size. As much as I don't like to use them, I do love my family and I do need to do it for them.

Are they sure he fell? Is it possible he was taking the stand apart once down and maybe had a heart attack in the process?

That has been brought up too, but like I said, I don't the specific details as of yet but that is a possibility as is everything else... And I was not saying he was in an Ol' Man stand either, just that's what I was loading in my truck. I hope to find out more in the next couple of days...

Very sad to hear

Thats why I don't use treestands anymore. I know you can die from anything but ever since my three boys were all born I'm just not comfortable in a treestand anymore. I figure if I'm not comfortable up there then there is no reason for me to be there.

Very very sad news.

It would be nice if there was a way to take donations for the wife and children. It would be one less thing they would have to worry about right now.