Treestand harness

[blake_08]

Hey all, it's that time again and I'm scrambling around getting stuff ready for deer season. Which leads me to the point of this post. For about 10 years, i've been hunting out of stands with no fall protection (i know, dumb mistake) and i have to stop. I'm not an "invincible" kid anymore, i now have a wife and family that depends on me to be alive and well. So what are you guys' recommendations on a harness? i'd like to stay under 100 bucks on one but if that's not enough to get a quality harness, i don't mind spending a little more. I have no experience with treestand harnesses, so any advice is welcome.  Thank y'all.

[Jroddc]

Hunter safety system

[chadly]

Yes definitely get a harness.  I have a couple and cant say the names at the moment.  However the lighter the better.  Also I have one that I put on the very last article of clothing and one that goes under the heavier clothing.  Lots to choose from that are good.  Just get one and use.  My wife fell out a tree close to ten years ago while getting down for the night.  The stand was 25 feet at the  base.  Thanks God she had a harness on.  After that we upgraded our harnesses again. 

[SwampRooster17]

I hunted without one until 2 years ago. Now I always have one on if I'm in a tree. I went to Walmart and got one I think it's made by Gorilla


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[SteelerFan]

As a certified treestand safety instructor - I would highly recommend buying the best you can. It's priceless if you need it!

Go with a brand name, quality full harness like HSS, Muddy, etc. I personally like the HSS Hybrid - it's minimal on bulk but gives you some nice pockets - 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073RWBXTP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_HptWzbTWB4YQW

ALSO - please consider using lifelines in all stands that are fixed position. That way you are hooked in before you ever leave the ground.

Strapping "in" once you are up is dangerous. They stepping into and off the stand is the danger times in most cases.

http://www.huntersafetysystem.com/how-it-works/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea0S3oySXic

[2eagles]

I was taught most treestand falls are:
Climbing up and into the stand.
Getting out of stand and climbing down.
Of course, use a harness in your stand, but be especially careful going up and down!

[Farmboy27]

I never used one in my younger years. But like most people, with age comes a diminished sense of invincibility!  I've been wearing a hunter safety systems vest for probably 10 years now and I'm so used to it that it would probably feel strange not having it on in a tree. Sure it seems like a lot of money for something that you hopefully will never need. But if you ever do need it, you're gonna need it bad!!

[KentuckyHeadhunter]

I admit I only use one with my climber,  not other stands.  I use the cheap one that came with my Summit Viper.  It works decently. 

My worst fall happened in a ground blind.  Don't ask.

[outdoors]

WOW LISTENING Too YOU ALL MAKES ME FEEL KINDA STUPID
IVE NEVER WEAR ONE I USE A SUMMIT CLIMBER
ONE TIME AT HAD A INCIDENT WITH A TREE LOUNGE CLIMBER , STILL HAVE BUT DONT USE IT
IT RAINED HARD FOR TWO DAYS , WENT TO MY SPOT AND STARTED TO CLIMB AND SLID DOWN , I WAS ABOUT EIGHT FEET UP CHECKED THE WING NUTS EVERYTHING WAS FINE TRIED IT AGAIN MADE IT UP TO ABOUT TWELVE FEET AND SLIDE DOWN AGAIN AND I HIT HARD AT THE BOTTOM, BUSTED UP MY BINOCULARS, MAYBE I SHOULD CONSIDER ONE ..........

[Farmboy27]

WOW LISTENING Too YOU ALL MAKES ME FEEL KINDA STUPID
IVE NEVER WEAR ONE I USE A SUMMIT CLIMBER
ONE TIME AT HAD A INCIDENT WITH A TREE LOUNGE CLIMBER , STILL HAVE BUT DONT USE IT
IT RAINED HARD FOR TWO DAYS , WENT TO MY SPOT AND STARTED TO CLIMB AND SLID DOWN , I WAS ABOUT EIGHT FEET UP CHECKED THE WING NUTS EVERYTHING WAS FINE TRIED IT AGAIN MADE IT UP TO ABOUT TWELVE FEET AND SLIDE DOWN AGAIN AND I HIT HARD AT THE BOTTOM, BUSTED UP MY BINOCULARS, MAYBE I SHOULD CONSIDER ONE ..........

With the ease of use of the new style harness and harness vest systems, I really can't come up with a good reason not to wear one. They go on as quickly as putting on a jacket. Sure, they cost a bit more than a lot of us like to pay. But when you figure the time and money most people put into hunting, 150 dollars for a harness and less than 1 minute to put it on is really a small price to pay for safety. Like they say, people are counting on you to come home!

[SteelerFan]

Here is a really good overview video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbWtE7N6RJM

I've spent 30 years investigating falls and locating dead and crippled hunters at the bottoms of trees. Without fail, every single survivor said the same thing - "I didn't think it could happen to me"

*** And have a recovery plan - you can't hang there too long. Have your phone handy in pocket, suspension relief strap, screw in step, or something. If you just slip out of the stand, you should be able to re-enter. If the stand fails and falls to the ground, that's when you'll need a plan. Worst case, a controlled slide down the tree sure beats a 20 foot dive to the ground.

When you do fall, that harness will grab you tight. Make sure it's adjusted properly and not just loosely buckled.

It's a lot easier to hunt safe these days. Just do it. 

[MK M GOBL]

HSS is my choice.

MK M GOBL

[nativeks]

3 stories
First a buddy was hunting an NWR about 1.5 miles in. He had just got to where he was going to be for the evening when something bad happened. He ended up falling 20 ft feet first. Shattered both his ankles. Luckily another hunter was within earshot and came to his aid.

My old high school football coach fell asleep in his stand and fell 15 ft. Nobody knew anything was wrong until he didn't come home. They found him at the base of the tree with a stick impaled in his leg. Missed his femoral artery by 2 cm.

Hunter fell out of his stand 2 years ago just NE of my house. No feeling below the waist and he was lifeflighted. Never heard the end.

Myself I use a HSS harness with a lifeline. Getting into my stand is sketchy and I feel much safer at least tied off if something happens.

[chadly]

When you do fall, that harness will grab you tight. Make sure it's adjusted properly and not just loosely buckled.

That is exactly what my wife said when she fell.  She panicked and screamed for help.  She quickly realized no one was going to hear her and got herself together.  She said the harness was restricting breathing.  She knew she had to get back on the stand and quickly.  Luckily she is small and strong.  That is why we upgrade to new harnesses.  I hunted without one for many many years.  Now if I ever forgot mine at home I would probably not hunt that day.  They are a must.  Seriously guys don't hunt without one.  My sister is a nurse and had a patient last year that fell from only 12 feet.  He was messed up. 

[compton30]

Somewhat off the trail a bit, but still related. I'm not a big fan of heights, and used to opt for staying on the ground rather than climbing into a treestand. Even a rock solid ladder kept me on the ground. Now that I have and use a harness, I scurry up into a stand without any fear and it makes me a more effective whitetail hunter. It really did help alleviate my fear of heights. Just take the time to watch the videos Steelerfan posted and you'll have more confidence to be 20 feet up in the air.