Should have made a poll. How many here are tied to the tree while climbing no matter if you are using a climbing stand or hang on? I admit to not being tied to the tree with my harness until after I get into my hang on or reach my destination in a climbing stand. Just curious. I use a safety harness while on stand but not a lifeline.
I have anchor points on all my sets and I click my harness on prior to making transition from climbing sticks to stand.
Same here. As soon as I get in my stand, or up with my climber, I strap in. I use my climber 90% of the time, so I don't think the lifeline would work.
Most of the time with my climber, I'm tied to the tree while i climb. there have been a couple times though when i got in a little late and didn't hook up until i climbed up.
We use ropes with prussic knots when climbing up to hang-ons. For ladder stands we just tether in once we are in the stand.
I don't always tie in at the bottom but I always throw my lineman's belt around the tree before climbing into the stand. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have two hang on stands with lifelines. If I'm in my climber I will strap to the tree about 10 ft up. If I'm using a hang on stand that's not mine or doesn't have a lifeline I will strap to the tree before stepping up onto it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Honestly how many videos or articles have you guys read that said to attach yourself to the tree in some way before your feet leave the ground? You are playing a dangerous game every time you don't. You may not have an accident this time, or the next, or the next 100 times you climb...but some day it WILL happen. Climbers break, steps are missed, straps wear out. Take every precaution you can. You owe it to yourself and your loved ones to be as careful as you can be. There is nothing less manly about attaching yourself to the tree before you leave the ground. I would rather do this every time than fall and be seriously injured or dead at the bottom of the tree.
I put my strap on at ground level and slide it up as I climb. The rope tree straps seem easier/quieter to me so I use those.
I use a lifeline with a prussac knot and hook up with my feet still on the ground. It's not worth risking it. -Andrew
I'm mostly a climber guy and I hookup before starting my climb. On ladders, thats hard to do but I hook up as soon as I'm in the tree. Hang ons, lifeline with prussic knot all the way up and down.
If I am using a climber I am tied to the try from the ground up. When I use a ladder stand I don't strap in till I am in the tree.
If I have a stand that stays in the tree, it has a lifeline. Many times I'm running and gunning, so a lifeline doesn't make sense. Then I'm attached once I'm in.
Always... from when I leave the ground to when my feet are back on the ground. Use a lifeline, leave it on the tree for hanging stands and yes, make your own, it saves money. For installing a hang on... Use two line belts... I usually try to place stands in cedar or similar which have loads of branches. When I get to a branch, I use the second belt before un doing the first which then hangs at my side until needed on the next branch. It takes more time BUT I will have more time over the course of my life because I am safer. T