Tree Climbing safty tip

[Bowcrazylady]

So far this year I havent been hunting as much as I usually would have been. Granted it has only been 4 days since the season opened for me but normally that would have ment 10 solid hunts by now.
After examining why I am not hunting so much it was brought to my attention by Jim that I have been really concerned about "Climbing" into my potable treestands. I have no problems with my ladder stands though.

Last year I fell after climbing into my treestand and I am obviously still concerned about falling again. I did some checking and in a few of the hunting catologs there are harness systems in there that are designed to catch you if you should fall on your ascend to your stand. Problem is they are between 40-50 dollars apiece. If you are like me and have several stands it just isnt practical.

Thus, after doing some research on the net I have come up with a easy cost efficent solotion. It is called the Pursik knot. You attach a rope to the top and bottom of your tree, tie this knot to the rope and hook it to your safty harness. The knot will slide with you as you climb, but if you are a rock like me and decide to fall it will catch you. Once you get your heart out of your chest and get your footing back it will loosen easily and you are on your way back up the tree.

Here is a link to the knot.
www.virtualinks.com/index.htm
just look for Pursik knot and it will show you how it is done. There are also alot of ascending and descending hooks on the market too.

I hope this helps me chill out a little bit and get to hunting.

I also hope that maybe it will give someone else like me the confidence to get back in the game.

[Win Mag]

Bowcrazylady
I have a climbing belt i will send you.Can't have you sitting at home now, that just isn't right.

[timhicks]

I am thinking I ruined your hunting. I was trying to if it was me.. A few things can help the knot you talk about is what i learned for rescuing people from confined spaces. Its a great one. the second thing is going up and down is not hard for alot of people but hard for others. What scares me is I watch alot of videos for safety at work and see what a fall can do o you.There is a thing called being to safe. I go through this at my job. I need to get a ladder to shut a valve to work down stream of it DO I NEED TO TIE off HELL NO. its less safe trying to tie or clamp my harness to a pipe that I could have already shut. If you have safe steps and no slipping hazard you can go up and down without a fall worry.I work in the air alot am I tied off yes do I forget no.Why practice safety. because it works saves lives and keeps us from being down. We have a program at work called STOP its a process but it makes you think before you do. Stop, assess and figure all that could happen. Look what could make it better ,safer, or not doable. All I say is stop, think, act. Use your head and common sense. Dont rush and be ready always have a what if plan. Tim