Cougar Mag

Voted on a poll on another forum and I was very surprised. Surprised because I really thought I would be in the great minority. So far 47% voted they always climb with their harness attached, 46% never climb with their harness attached, and the rest sometimes do. Well, I am going to admit it.....I started bowhunting in 1977 and have always used stands as part of my regimen. I have never worn a harness, safety belt or anything while climbing a tree. No matter if its in a climber or using steps. I have always waited until I am situated in the stand, then attach a harness. I know, tell me I am stupid and its hard to break old habits but this is one habit I will change next season!

ash2042

I always climb with safety harness attached while using my climber but never use one when climbing into a fixed position stand.

RDHunter

When it comes to your life , don't gamble with it .
Doesn't matter if your using a climber or a fixed , even if your putting one up or taken one down.
Always use your harness / lineyard or some type of safety system , you'll regret it if you don't.

Rhody Hunter

change your habits always wear your harness the whole time while in a tree you never know it could just save your life

hatchet jack

AMEN!

PABuck_HNTR

Same here, I do use a harnes once up in the fixed stand though. I don't use a harnes while in my ladder stand which i don't use much. It has rails

Bob H in NH

I use exclusively hang on stands and have ALWAYS used a harness hanging the stand and taking it down, until this year I never was attached when climbing it to hunt, or coming down. However this year, with my sons and wife getting more into it, I invested in climbing ropes from a guy I "met" on archery talk. For $30/setup, I am now connected the entire time and so are my wife and kids. Basically its a rock climbers rope that attaches to the tree above the stand and at the ground. On this is a prussic knot that I attach to me. The knot is designed so that when its loosened a bit, it slides up and down the rope with you, if you pull on it, it instantly tightens and will catch you in a fall.

I figure this slows me down climbing the 15 or so feet, but about 3-5 seconds total. Since my one and only fall was while coming down from a stand, I figured for $90 I outfit 3 stands and my family is safe.

summit also sells this setup.

RIStrutStopper

I use a climber primarily and am wearing a harness from the minute I step into the stand until I'm back on the ground. The few times I have used fixed stands, awkward as it is, I used the harness from my climber while climbing and then attached it to the tree when I got to the stand. While not attached 100% of the time, I guess its safer than not wearing anything until you get situated. What I did was after every step up, I'd move the loop that usually attaches to the tree up to the next higher step. I guess if I slipped and fell I'd be dangling by one of the steps, unless it happened while I was repositioning the harness.

ijimmy

genraly I allways use one going up and down, and while in the stand . There is 1 style stand I own that I dont use one with , its a gunslinger stand that you face the tree with , I probably should though hence the signature line .

nohillbilly

I haven't figured out how to climb up or down my ladder stand with a harnes attached. How is it supposed to be done?