How do you all deal with standing in your stand if your scared of heights. I just force myself to do it, but man, I am shaking almost all the time.
Are you hooked into a LifeLine system with a harness? My advice is each time you go up in the treestand, force yourself to stand for as long as possible until you get more comfortable with it. Once you get a bit more comfortable with it, try turning around backwards in the tree and testing out different positions so you body gets acclimated to everything. It's just something you have to practice, and you'll eventually get used to it. Also, make sure you have everything connected securely to the tree.
In my climber, I'm always hooked into my tree strap. In a lock on, always on a lifeline. I stand as long as I can...just hate it. ha I try to tell myself I'm locked in, but it just gets to me.
Up until two seasons ago, I was in the exact same boat. I was deathly afraid of heights. I always hunted out of a climber for that reason. I was still scared in the climber, but felt a little more secure. What I did in order to overcome my fear, was to start using a Lonewolf assault hang on treestand and lone wolf climbing sticks. , i used the linesman harness around the tree, and started off very slow, and low to the ground. I learned to trust My gear. I was shaking the whole tree the first time I went back with a lineman's harness on. I kept practicing doing it every day, and every day gone a few feet higher, leaning back hands not touching the tree. It took a while to get used to it, but I finally Got over my major fear. I still used to get a little bit shaky my climber, I think because there are no branches under me just 20 feet of air. Suggestion to you is to do the same. Not out in the hunting woods of course but maybe on a tree in your yard. Practice being up there, only a few feet up at a time. Learn to trust your gear. And it will help. No longer have this problem, because I now hunt on the ground due to health issues. Good Luck! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Big platform, safety harness/lifeline. I've jumped from airplanes yet a tree stand gets me second guessing myself.
What do you use for a lock-on? Maybe something with a bigger platform would make you feel more secure. Another thought is ziptying a piece of camo fabric underneath the floor of the lock-on so it gives the illusion that you're standing on something more solid.
Get equipment you trust, then start out low, heck even 3 feet, then gradually work your way higher, get comfy at each stage before going higher, That,l do it !
I remember the first time I climbed a set of sticks, I was hugging that tree so hard, I got up to the platform and said there is no WAY I'm climbing up there. A lifeline is probably the best tool to help you gain your confidence while climbing.
I only use LW products because I trust them. I know this gets a bit pricey but it is worth it to me. That being said, if you don't make smart decisions like choosing your lines and harnesses meticulously, a stand cannot save you. My first outing I got in a tree about 8" in dia, roughly 20ft high. A storm blew in and tossed me around that tree for a good bit, so much so I got sick when I was on the ground. What I'm getting at is that if you test your gear and trust it, you will be fine and feel better. One of my favorite sets is in a monster pecan tree, ~45ft up. Some ask, why so high. It's because it's at the bottom of a bluff and I am looking over the top. I am roughly 25 ft off the bluff side. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
If you have the time, read a book called Fearless (the Adam Brown story) and pay special attention to the parts where "the 3 foot world" is dicussed. This book will change your world in more ways than one. Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk
I added third hand archery stabilizer straps to my climber. Made a world of difference. Best $20 I ever spent to overcome my fear of heights. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
Heights don't bother me (Dad owned a construction company and I was forced child labor) but hang-ons never felt stable to me. A climber with Thirdhand straps is just rock solid. Another thing I do is place my lifeline just a smidge higher than necessary. Keeps you in check and you can feel it catch you when you move, stays out of your way on the draw and if you fall - you fall less.
I am not afraid of heights or falling. I am afraid of the sudden impact at the end of a fall. That said, equipment practice will go along ways towards feeling more comfortable. I use a lifeline with my climber, yes this means climbing up and down twice. I also have to keep the regular strap for climbing for when I come down. But the extra security and peace of mind is worth the trouble. It also gives me the option of tying in twice on really windy days. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
I fell from a ladder about 12 yrs ago. I broke my elbow and wrist and have a screw in my wrist. It took me forever to get over that. What helped me was screwing in a big ladder step. I wouldn't hang anything from it but I would hold onto it while I stood there. It just gave a sense of stability. Now I don't need anything and climb as high as I need to. Try it out Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
I'm not a fan of heights either and REALLY don't like ladders. I'm always a little nervous on the climb up and down but knowing I'm hooked in gives me some faith. Once I'm in the stand, I just take a couple deep breaths and give a tug on the clip for some additional comfort. After that, I'm too excited about hunting and looking for bucks I forget about being up there. I think the more you do it, the easier it gets. You just can't take the safety part for granted and make sure to secure yourself every time.
I try to hunt trees that have limbs within reach of me so i can have something to hold onto while i am in the stand! This has helped me alot with getting some comfort with being in a tree stand. I think some fear is a good thing, it keeps you focused on being safe rather than complacent.
I was a little unsure about the safety of treestands when I first started so I would hang a stand in my yard at 8' or so until I was comfortable and them move it up and continue until I got comfortable at different heights. Repeating the hanging process also made me more confident. Third thing I did was hang the stand a few feet off the ground stepped off the platform to see just how my safety equipment worked and worked on recovering back into my stand. I think it skyrocketed my confidence because I know my gear will catch me and I know how to get out of that situation should it ever happen. Sent from my Z831 using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
