Risky Business

Integrated Safety - Treestand Strategies
Risky Business
By Wade Nolan
Feb 9, 2007, 13:27

On a recent trip to Africa I hand caught a Black Mamba and while living in Alaska I worked at close range with 1000# Brown Bears. Although it took some getting used to I have slept in a little nylon tent for over 100 nights on Kodiak Island. Do I sound like a risk taker or to some of you maybe an idiot? Actually those occasions were all calculated risks. I took all precautions to make sure I could later write this for you to read. Look at your life; you take risks all of the time driving 60 mph past oncoming cars in the next lane only 6 feet to your left. Some times we recognize the risk and other times we are numb to it because of familiarity. Those risks that we "get used to" can catch up with you fast. Thinking you can't fall out of a treestand is one of those familiar risks.

One such risk that I'm not willing to take is employing foolish treestand practices. I talk to dozens of guys every year who thought it couldn't happen to them. Hogwash…be foolish here and it will eventually catch up to you. I recently read a few testimonials from hunters who have got the message. It seems we have one big factor working against most of us…we're men and most men think they are bullet-proof. Not so!

THE FACTS DON'T LIE

We know when these treestand accidents are occurring. While putting up or taking down treestands and while getting in and out. Although this sounds ridiculous, we could dramatically reduce treestand accidents if hunters stayed attached going up and coming down and if they stayed attached while putting up and taking down their stands…but took their full body harnesses off while on the platform hunting! Don't do this of course, because some falls occur from the platform, but data shows that most falls don't occur while sitting in treestands.

The correct course of action is to remain attached from the ground up, throughout your hunt and until you return to the ground. You can do this two ways. With a climber, just stay attached and slide your attachment up and down with you as you climb. With hang-ons stay attached to the tree by using the double attachment method. That is, using a lineman's style belt up to your stand and then reaching above and attaching your tether and treebelt…unattach the lineman's belt and board the stand while attached with your harness tether. Reverse coming down.
It's easy and safe.

Be attached from the bottom to the top and back down again. The FALLGUY 20-foot retractor takes the risk out of treestand hunting.

RISK TAKERS MEDICINE

But there is an easier way to remain attached. It's with the FallGuy 20-foot retractor. Install it when you hang your stand and then just pull down the 20-foot long tether and attach it to your Full body harness and start climbing. If you fall the seatbelt mechanism will catch you…just like in your truck. The webbing will automatically retract as you climb and keep you protected. It's quiet, quick and effective. You're protected getting in and out plus during the climbing portion…and if you need to move while in your stand it feeds out and retracts automatically. Lots of hunters have discovered them.

The FAllGuy Retractor 20+ allows you to move around on the stand platform with out limiting you to a short connecting tether that may hinder your shooting. But when your ready to climb down FALLGUY has you covered.

Dear FallGuy:
I just wanted to thank you for coming up with the 20-foot Retractor. My son's friend fell out of his treestand and now is in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. I always wondered if they had anything that protected the hunter while going up to their treestand and coming back down. I came across your item at Bass Pro in Jacksonville NC. I love the product I wouldn't go without it or let any of my family members hunt without it. I just thought you guys would want some feedback and I wanted to thank you for producing something that will save lives.
Thanks Jack R.
Jacksonville NC

Dear FallGuy:
I received my 20-foot Retractor in time to use the opening day of archery season, thanks for the quick shipping. I have used it about 5 times now and I have to say that this is the best thing since sliced bread. The retractor is very easy to install the harness with the vest is sooo easy to put on, so much easier than regular harnesses. And the piece of mind that it gives me when I am in my stand is by far the best feature. I feel totally comfortable the entire time I am hunting. And climbing up and down is a real breeze.

Thank you for a tremendous product.
Charles N. L.
Rochester NY