Use a safety harness/vest when hunting from a tree stand?

This will my first year with one (long time tree stand user). Had a friend shatter one ankle and tear the other one up pretty dern bad hanging a stand last month.

Always....I would not hunt without it

Always always...the only thing dying in the woods should be the prey.

I had bad hunting mentors... Haven't ever hunted with one.

A safety harness may be one of the true, "sponsored" items that are important that are pushed by big companies.

I gotten to my lease ( 15 min from home) got out to walk to stand and figured out I didn't have my harness. I went back home and didn't hunt. I knew I had deer coming in early and couldn't get back in time without spooking them. Made a promise to my wife years ago to always use one and I won't hunt in a tree stand without it.

Coach

Great rule

Here's a reason you should always wear one. My dad last year he is around the age of 50. Well he was climbing in his stand one morning, and he didn't have a harness with him. He was very weary about climbing without it but he did it anyway. (bad choice on him) Anyways my dads stand is about 13-15ft i believe i am not to sure. He fell out of the stand that morning. Landing on some rocks, broke an arm, and 2 ribs. He is lucky it wasnt any worse then what it already was. Also very lucky that a fellow lease member strolled right by him, and heard the yells. It was not a good day at all. We also carry walkie talkies. Had to lift him in the truck and we put him in the back while i road with him. We hunt in burnet. ALWAYS take a harness and ALWAYS make sure you are safe. My dad was lucky but took a year to get back to normal. I dont think he will be climbing a stand this year.

Shame on me, but I don't wear one. I hunt from a two man ladder stand. If I used a climbing stand I would. Both could be potentially as dangerous I suppose.

We use hang on stands and for years I never used a safety harness, but after my boys started bowhunting I bought us all one and would never hunt without one, it's not worth it to not have one!

I didn't even hunt my tree stand this morning because I couldn't hook everything up in the dark. I'm going to make it a rule from here on out. It's really not worth the risk. Y'all stay safe.

My dad took a fall two years ago out of a 17' ladder stand that nearly left him for dead.still has major issues with his leg today. I will not climb above 10' without a harness attached all the way up. He was on his way in the stand which is where research says most falls happen, coming either in or out of the stand. Many are no longer attached to the tree at this point. I have a little boy that I want to make it home to, so ill play it safe.

I didn't wear one for a long time, but have for the last year or so.

Too many horror stories about falls, and Mrs Gummi said she won't change my diapers if I do fall.

She got me a really nice Gorilla G30 and a Fall Guy for Christmas last year.

always...had a guy at work fall and cut his leg w/ broadhead...53 stiches later...

I never do. We're hunting, being manly. Why would you lessen the testosterone by adding some BS safety device?

I see it as extremly selfish to hunt without one, i have done it many times but now that i have a little girl and a baby on the way i see things very differently.

Clay

I always wear mine. I invested in a TreeSpyder last year and I wont leave home without it. The guy that I hunt with in Illinois fell 3 years ago from 25ft up. He walked(limped) away with just a sprained ankle. He is very lucky to be alive. However, I do not strap in on the way up or down, and I am not real sure how I could do this on the couple of trees that I hunt(they are 25'-30' in diameter).

Funny story...I was talking to my wife Sunday when I got home and I showed her my bow and said look hunny, This is a device used to take a life in the woods. I then picked up my harness and showed it to her and said look hunny, this is a device used to save lives in the woods.

Wouldn't climb into my ladder stand without a harness!

When I first started bowhunting as a teenager nobody talked of safety harnesses. I simply would climb a tree and stand in a suitable fork waiting for a shot opportunity. One day after standing in that fork for about an hour, it gave way and down I went. I had an arrow nocked but was luckily able to toss it away as I was going down. I landed on my back and it really stunned me to say the least. No damage done but it was quite the learning experience. I havent climbed a tree to hunt since, Im a big fan of the popup blind for many reasons, but if I did I can assure you, I would never go up a tree without a harness on. Let's say you fall and get lucky and only break a leg or arm or wrist, you are still going to have your life impacted for a time period that could have been easily prevented. Wear those harnesses folks. There is nothing to be gained by not.

every time I climb the stand.

Never use one. If I buy a climber I will but not for ladder stands.