I'm looking forward to hunting with my (new to me) Excalibur ExoMag in a few weeks here in Virginia and have dusted off my old treestand. I've never worn a safety harness when hunting out of it before, but think that I might want to start using one.
Does anyone on the forum have any experience with a harness that they recommend, or DON'T recommend?
Thanks in advance
Eck
Tree Stand Safety Harness
Moderator: Excalibur Marketing Dude
Tree Stand Safety Harness
Last edited by Eck on Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Safety Harness
Don't buy a harness that riggers use. You need one that uses buckles, so that if you do fall and can't get back into your tree stand, you can undo the buckles and lower yourself down. If you have one of the rigger type harnesses, you cant undo them and if you are alone, you are in trouble after about 20 minutes. Circulation starts to be cut off and pressure on your lungs as well.
Cabelas has one that I bought and it works great. In addition, I use a retractable seat belt type of mechanism. You can buy them at any industrial safety distributor. About $175.00
Good luck,
Bert,
Don't buy a harness that riggers use. You need one that uses buckles, so that if you do fall and can't get back into your tree stand, you can undo the buckles and lower yourself down. If you have one of the rigger type harnesses, you cant undo them and if you are alone, you are in trouble after about 20 minutes. Circulation starts to be cut off and pressure on your lungs as well.
Cabelas has one that I bought and it works great. In addition, I use a retractable seat belt type of mechanism. You can buy them at any industrial safety distributor. About $175.00
Good luck,
Bert,
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Woody Williams
- Posts: 6440
- Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2002 5:07 pm
I use Seat of the Pants Fast Back Safety Harness....and the climbing rope. I'm hooked up from the ground into my stand and all the way back down to the ground.
ALWAYS tie off high enough above your head that you can NOT fall to below the level of your stand.
That way you can get back into the stand with no problems..[/u]
ALWAYS tie off high enough above your head that you can NOT fall to below the level of your stand.
That way you can get back into the stand with no problems..[/u]
Woody Williams
We have met the enemy and he is us - Pogo Possum
Hunting in Indiana at [size=84][color=Red][b][url=http://huntingindiana.proboards52.com]HUNT-INDIANA[/url][/b][/color][/size]
We have met the enemy and he is us - Pogo Possum
Hunting in Indiana at [size=84][color=Red][b][url=http://huntingindiana.proboards52.com]HUNT-INDIANA[/url][/b][/color][/size]
For me it depends on which type stand I'm using. For the climber the "seat of the pants" system Woody mentioned is hard to beat. For a chain-on stand I usually tie a climbing rope from the ground to above the stand and use a prussic knot attachment so I'm connected for the trip up & back down. On the ladder stands I just climb carefully and then attach the harness to the tree once up in the stand (as Woody said, attached high enough to prevent falling below the level to get back in easily).
wabi
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crazyfarmer
- Posts: 5250
- Joined: Wed May 24, 2006 10:21 pm
- Location: Virginia
- Contact:
if I ever get one im gonna get the hunter saftey system since its more like a vest so its easy to put on! Not a bunch of straps you cant figure out where they go 
Its about 120-140bucks
I know I need one but I keep knocking on wood nothing bad will happen.. so far after 10 years and all is well. If I started going up higher than 12-15ft then I would definitly have one
Its about 120-140bucksI know I need one but I keep knocking on wood nothing bad will happen.. so far after 10 years and all is well. If I started going up higher than 12-15ft then I would definitly have one
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Woody Williams
- Posts: 6440
- Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2002 5:07 pm
It only takes one fall....crazyfarmer wrote:if I ever get one im gonna get the hunter saftey system since its more like a vest so its easy to put on! Not a bunch of straps you cant figure out where they go
I know I need one but I keep knocking on wood nothing bad will happen.. so far after 10 years and all is well. If I started going up higher than 12-15ft then I would definitly have one
12-15 foot is MORE than enough to kill you or cripple you for life.
Its' not worth the chance..
I had a Hunter Safety System vest, but I found it too heavy and hot. I sold it and bought the SOP Fastback.
Woody Williams
We have met the enemy and he is us - Pogo Possum
Hunting in Indiana at [size=84][color=Red][b][url=http://huntingindiana.proboards52.com]HUNT-INDIANA[/url][/b][/color][/size]
We have met the enemy and he is us - Pogo Possum
Hunting in Indiana at [size=84][color=Red][b][url=http://huntingindiana.proboards52.com]HUNT-INDIANA[/url][/b][/color][/size]
Safety Harness
SOP all the way. I think it's the best out there.
BE SAFE.
Bucktail
BE SAFE.
Bucktail
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crazyfarmer
- Posts: 5250
- Joined: Wed May 24, 2006 10:21 pm
- Location: Virginia
- Contact:
i know, 5ft could break some bomes.... im asking for one for xmas so hopefully ill be fine untill then. Knock on wood all has been well for 14 yearsWoody Williams wrote:It only takes one fall....crazyfarmer wrote:if I ever get one im gonna get the hunter saftey system since its more like a vest so its easy to put on! Not a bunch of straps you cant figure out where they go
I know I need one but I keep knocking on wood nothing bad will happen.. so far after 10 years and all is well. If I started going up higher than 12-15ft then I would definitly have one
12-15 foot is MORE than enough to kill you or cripple you for life.
Its' not worth the chance..
I had a Hunter Safety System vest, but I found it too heavy and hot. I sold it and bought the SOP Fastback.
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grandtrout
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2005 10:16 am
- Location: guelph, ontario
The key to any fall protection system is to were it! Particularly when hanging portable stands. My partner took a short cut to the ground last year & got realy lucky. He was alone and planed to hunt until dark so I wouldn't have gone to find him until about 5 hours after the fall. He limped his way 800 yards out of the bush & through a waist deep creek with an broken arm a bunch of broken ribs & a punctured lung. Spent 3 days in the hospital and missed the rut due to alot of brusing. He spent the rest of the season on the ground becuse he was to sore to climb. Forget about cocking your bow with a bunch of injuries. I'm still sort of dumfounded as to how he servived the fall because he landed in between several stumps & deadfalls. Lucky but stupid.
I use a linemans harness for hanging stands - always have & can depend on it to free my hands while hanging. The belt type system works best for this because it provides a stable and secure platform. As for hunting look for somthing that will prevent a fall not stop one once in progress. This way if you do fall into a sleep you have an easier time geting back into the stand & continue the hunt. Test the system you choose in your back yard or a park at low height so you can develop a plan to get out if you do fall. By doing this you will see that placement of steps is also critical - swing into them after a fall and you will understand why.
Our area is conducive to hunting high - 18 to 20 feet up and the deer generally move through our area right at first light so getting in early is a big benifit. I will often get to a stand an hour before legal shooting light, and have a nap sitting on the platform of the stand. I tie myself in and then adjust re adjust the harness when its time to hunt. I dress in cloths that promote circulation so that my legs don't fall asleap during the nap.
One other piece of advice. If you do shoot a deer be carefull getting down. The first one I arrowed got me so excited I bailed on the dismount. I'm OK when its time to shoot but after the fact I tend to loose it in the excitement, I've droped bows, quivers, calls, antlers and my pack from the tree becuse my hands just seem to shake alot after the shot.
Got to love it!!
I use a linemans harness for hanging stands - always have & can depend on it to free my hands while hanging. The belt type system works best for this because it provides a stable and secure platform. As for hunting look for somthing that will prevent a fall not stop one once in progress. This way if you do fall into a sleep you have an easier time geting back into the stand & continue the hunt. Test the system you choose in your back yard or a park at low height so you can develop a plan to get out if you do fall. By doing this you will see that placement of steps is also critical - swing into them after a fall and you will understand why.
Our area is conducive to hunting high - 18 to 20 feet up and the deer generally move through our area right at first light so getting in early is a big benifit. I will often get to a stand an hour before legal shooting light, and have a nap sitting on the platform of the stand. I tie myself in and then adjust re adjust the harness when its time to hunt. I dress in cloths that promote circulation so that my legs don't fall asleap during the nap.
One other piece of advice. If you do shoot a deer be carefull getting down. The first one I arrowed got me so excited I bailed on the dismount. I'm OK when its time to shoot but after the fact I tend to loose it in the excitement, I've droped bows, quivers, calls, antlers and my pack from the tree becuse my hands just seem to shake alot after the shot.
Got to love it!!
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Flintlockr
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Sun Nov 12, 2006 10:37 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania
Safety harness
I'm looking at getting one of the Loggy Bayou Transformer Safety Systems with the harness for my binoculars! Has anybody had experience with them?
http://www.treestand.com/Merchant2/merc ... ode=LB3030
http://www.treestand.com/Merchant2/merc ... ode=LB3030
Flintlock'r
".50cal patched round ball & 100 gr 2FG"
".50cal patched round ball & 100 gr 2FG"
I just ordered the Fall Guy System from Bass Pro ($79.00 USD)
Going to be about $125 CDN by the time I get it but I feel that it is a good system & like the idea of being attached all the way up & down without playing around with that linesmans belt that I have been using with my Gorilla harness.
Unfortunately I could not find it here in Canada so I bit the bullet.
Shoot Straight
Kirk
Going to be about $125 CDN by the time I get it but I feel that it is a good system & like the idea of being attached all the way up & down without playing around with that linesmans belt that I have been using with my Gorilla harness.
Unfortunately I could not find it here in Canada so I bit the bullet.
Shoot Straight
Kirk
A bad day hunting, is better then a good day of work
I haven't been able to find a commercial brand of safety harness that will fit me. Im not all that big but in the winter with quilted goose down long johns, wool clothing, and a huge polar parka (does the Pillsbury dough boy or the Michelen man ring a bell) I can't find anything to work. To make matters worse, I nap like the rest of us. Im an accident waiting to happen.
By the way, a hunter was found dead in my hunting area last year. He had fallen out of his tree stand with one of those belts on. It had slipped up to his chest and cut off his breathing.
By the way, a hunter was found dead in my hunting area last year. He had fallen out of his tree stand with one of those belts on. It had slipped up to his chest and cut off his breathing.