WEAR a Harness
- Thread starter Cmorris
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PecanArcher
Active Member
I don't hunt hang-ons without safety lines anymore. Just not worth it. Secured from the moment you start climbing.
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Turkey Creek
Well-Known Member
A friend of mine caught the inside of his calf when he fell one day about 6' off the ground on a scew in step. Lets just say he was damn lucky and has not used screw in steps since. I have never used screw in steps from the first time I hunted in a tree stand, just never trusted them. They should probably not be allowed to be manufactured anymore, I would guess that they have contributed to more tree stand injuries and deaths than any other type of tree stand accessory.
Otghuntingclub
Member
Ouch....wow, that looks like a long recovery.
I did that exact thing many years ago but mine tilted an like to broke my finger and gashed into it pretty bad...ruined the ring too...
I hunt mainly from ladder stands but I do have a few hang on stands and I am guilty of using the screw in steps. I have seen some injuries from these types of steps on a n old friend of mine...
G3 Ranch
Well-Known Member
Several years back on one of our leases there was a big pecan tree with a stand. It was renamed the "finger stand" the guy lost his ring finger due to wearing a ring, hooked on a screw in step. I don't use screw in's anymore, but always remove my ring Oct 1 and don't put it back on until after season.
Jeff H
Well-Known Member
I watched a friend of mine fall from about 10 feet up as a screw in step came out. As he slid down the tree I watched as each screw in step below him came about 3 inches from gutting him. They all came out the next week and were replaced with climbing sticks. No more screw in steps for me !!
W33kender
Active Member
I quit using screw in steps after hearing a few horror stories, even though I have always worn a harness. But with a harness, I was afraid I'd literally rip myself a new orifice before I came to a stop.
And I wear light gloves regardless of the weather when climbing a ladder. I thought I was merely keeping my ring from making little clinking sounds on the way up.
Tell you what tree steps are good for, though. If you don't use a lifeline, like with a climber? If you have a tree step in your pack, and God forbid your top and bottom give away? You could screw in a tree step and take the pressure off your body to avoid suspension trauma.
And I wear light gloves regardless of the weather when climbing a ladder. I thought I was merely keeping my ring from making little clinking sounds on the way up.
Tell you what tree steps are good for, though. If you don't use a lifeline, like with a climber? If you have a tree step in your pack, and God forbid your top and bottom give away? You could screw in a tree step and take the pressure off your body to avoid suspension trauma.
This is how I do it now also. The older I get the less comfortable I am off the ground. Really it was when my kids started hunting that I didn't want them off the ground unless they were secured. I bought several of the safety lines and have gone that route since. Every new stand I buy is a ladder stand also. I prefer them where I can use them.
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