Hey guys, with all of the horror stories and pictures flying around the internet tree stand safety is definitely a HIGH PRIORITY for myself and hunting buddies. We've all upgraded to nice harnesses and just recently started using lifelines (WHICH ARE AWESOME BTW). My question is...what is the best way to keep yourself safe when using a climber?? Might be a dumb question but wanted to get some advice and opinions. We mostly hunt out of ladder stands and hang ons so the lifelines have been the way to go. For my climber however, I can't figure out what the best option is to keep me secured on my climb up and down... Do you guys use your linesmans rope and adjust it as you climb? Hook your harness to the climber somehow? Any advice is appreciated!
Yep as mentioned, I slide my tree rope up the tree as I climb. I am hooked in from the time I step onto my climber to right before I step off of it.
Attach your safety harness to the tree, leaving enough slack to be able to move it up as you climb. One other thing, always have the lower section of the climber tethered to the top section. Lose that foot section on the way up and you'll very quickly learn the importance of that step. Blessings...........Pastorjim
Hss tree rope or Q-safe to slide up the tree. As Jim said, make sure the top and bottom are tied together so the base cant slip and slide out of reach. The summit stirrups also provide good footing while climbing.
IMO, climbers are far easier to be safe in than other types of stands. You do not have to setup and have life lines with climbers. Just use the strap or tree rope that comes with your harness. The ropes are easier and slide up and down the tree easier. Just hope on your climber, wrap rope around tree and clip in. You're attached all the way up, while you hunt and all the way down.
I learned this the hard way when I first bought my sit and climb about 15 years ago. I actually used my pull rope with 2 screw hooks tied cross wise to hook the dropped platform section and pull it back up. It's always tethered now
From my experience, people get into the most danger when they rush or become overly confident. Just because you've climbed a tree a million times, doesn't make it any safer. TAKE YOUR TIME. Always wear a harness and use it properly.
I use a HSS tree rope, but it's kind of slow getting up the tree. Been thinking about installing 4 lifelines on 4 diff trees / spots I like to hunt at the hunting camp. Just hang the climber (Summit) between the rope and tree...
With Lifelines you would still be moving the prussic not up the rope as you climb. There is a definite technique with the rope to get timely with its use.
This!^^ For added security (once I reach my desired height), I screw a small tree step into the back side of the tree, directly under my upper cable. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Another vote for the HSS rope. It adds a couple of minutes to your climb, but it's worth it to save yourself from a fall.
be sure to have a tension relief strap in your pocket at all times in case you fall. Climbers are real safe until you actually do fall because then you don't have a ladder or treesteps to swing over too like you would on a hang on or ladder stand. I always carry one and luckily have never fallen.
I like to use the third hand archery stablizer straps to tether the bottom and top and once up and cinch them down the stand is solid in the tree.
