I bought one from K-Mart when I was 14 or 15. Before I bought it I asked my dad if he would let me hunt out of it if I bought it, he said “yeah”. So one day me and my brother went with our mom to Tuscaloosa to visit the grandparents, while there we went to K-Mart and I bought my stand I had been saving for, $30.00 or $35.00. I couldn’t wait to try it out! Bought it from the bargain bin at K-Mart, no box, no instructions, just one big red stop sign shaped sticker that stated “Don’t climb power poles.” Heck I wasn’t dumb enough to get electrocuted! I immediately peeled off the big red sticker, didn’t want the deer seeing that big red spot.

Well the next day, August or September, still really hot outside, me wearing a tee shirt and shorts, and having an audience of my dad, my brother and my friend Greg all watching I went on my maiden climb.

I’ll never forget, as I was attaching the V bar around the power pole I was telling the onlookers about how this was gonna be a game changer for my deer hunting.
I stepped onto the stand, faced the pole and began my bear hug climb, I did so oh so carefully to avoid getting splinters from the old power pole. I climbed up about 16’ I guess, right below the phone line. Carefully I turned my back to the pole and tried my best not to look too scared. I then, as a demonstration of bravery, pretended to draw my imaginary bow and aim at imaginary deer while saying “Cod you’re gonna have to get you one of these.” I didn’t have a safety belt, I don’t even think they made them back then.

Then it was time for my descent.

It was simple, you just reverse the process. Now, my stand had a plywood bottom and it had a piece of nylon strap that was screwed to it that formed two loops to put your feet in when climbing, so you hopefully wouldn’t drop the stand while climbing AND your feet would always be located out away from the tree so as to maintain leverage on the tree.
Anyhow, I get turned around and begin my descent, after about MAYBE 4 feet, all hell broke loose! That SOB ratcheted down that power pole like one of those old car jacks! It stopped maybe a few inches from the ground, probably got caught on the grounding rod for the power pole. I was hanging on for dear life and remember smelling burning flesh and creosote. I stepped off of the stand and walked 40’ or so into the house where I received nearly a whole bottle of Merthiolate on the insides of my knees, my belly, my chest and my arms! I had splinters for days! Can’t remember which burned worse, the creosote or the Merthiolate.

I never hunted out of that SOB.

Lonster

Last edited by Lonster; 08/30/22 09:37 PM.