Bad News!!! I fell from my tree stand.

[ManOfTheFall]

Guys, I have some bad news. Last night the stand I went to has been in the tree for like 18 years. It has been one of my best spots ever. This summer I had contemplated changing it but I never got around to it. I climbed up into the stand, 22 feet, and tested it. It seemed ok. I started to adjust the seat a little bit and the platform snapped. Needless to say I went straight down 22 feet and landed on my right hip and right shoulder. They aren't broke, but I am in extreme pain and can hardly move. I do have a fractured sacrum, (tail bone). I may not be able to hunt for a couple weeks. This really sucks cause it was the first day of my three week vacation and it's in prime time. Believe me, I will do everything in my power to get back out as soon as possible. In the mean time I hope you all have SAFE hunts and successful ones. I will keep you all updated on my situation and will be monitoring everyone's success. Good luck!!!!!

[Genesis 9:3]

I'm sure glad you are alright! You know you didn't have to take your forum handle literally! All joking aside, I've never hunted from anything but a climber, so that's hard to imagine... but what I can imagine is terrifying! I guess you weren't wearing a harness then? I should probably be a little more stringent on using my harness...

[gonehunting 45]

Wow....glad your ok. 22ft is a long drop.

[ManOfTheFall]

No harness. I know and have known I should. This was actually an old climber that I made into a permanent stand. The stand broke a second or two after I stepped into so I probably wouldn't of even had a chance of hooking in. So, I have a broken tailbone and I go see an orthopedic doctor on Wednesday for my hip and Friday for my shoulder. They aren't broke but I think I have a lot of torn ligaments and tendons. I work in the medical field and have a good idea of what might be wrong. All I know is I'm on vacation for 3 weeks and I want to be back in the stand before that time is up. I have my doubts though. Please pray for me for a quick recovery.

[gonehunting 45]

again that sucks. Hope nothing is to torn up and a quick recovery is a head.
A harness is a must. I use to be fearless, till one time the base of my climber ended up at the base of the tree which just left me setting 30ft up thinking what the heck just happened. Now I attach before I head up the tree. When I do use my hang on which isn't to often I attach before I step on the stand. Some use a life line.

[Big_Holla]

Boy I hate to hear that but am so glad to hear you will recover, considering the possibilities. I have always preached about using a harness but in your situation it may not have helped as you mentioned. The one thing that WOULD have helped is if you were using a harness AND a lifeline. Do some looking around on what they are and how to use them. I will say one thing, hang on stands will always have a lifeline on them for me. That is the only way to go and you set it up just before season so it is there.

[Toke2]

Sorry to hear this. From your description, I would say that you had someone looking out for you. I know it probably doesn't feel that way though. A fall like that many times is catastrophic. Glad you are o.k. ( relatively speaking). Hope you get good news from the Surgeons. Thanks for sharing the story - I somebody out there reads it and decides to start using a harness! Wishing you a full and speedy recovery!

[mneal]

Sorry to hear about your close call. Three guys I know in my small town who have permanent injuries from tree stand falls... You are very fortunate. Not going to dole out any advice because I know it could happen to any of us. I am religious about my harness... but equipment fails. I actually was thinking in the stand last night how much more brave and confident I have become since I began using a harness. I actually relax about falling once I am hooked up... which is obviously dangerous in itself. As I was practicing leaning out over my stand (with my harness holding me secure) to see if I could potentially take a shot, it occured to me. I have placed way too much trust in my harness. Anyhow... I hope you heal up fast and stick a big one. You will remember this season for a long time.

[mrbb]

sorry to hear about your fall, and hope you recover as fast as possible
BUT I have to ask, why woudl you leave a stand up for that long?
I mean, NOT to bash on you
but the MGF"s suggest NOT leaving a stand up for more than a few weeks?
18 yr?
WOW
I don't even keep metal ladderstands that long, after 10 yrs, I cut em down and scrap them
a growing tree has unreal power to stress welds,nuts and bolts and what not's
its one of the reason, so many folks stopped making there own wooden stands, like yrs ago, most hunters did(or up my way)
the growing tree would tear them apart in time, long with the wind moving them, swaying back and forth
and it caused a ton of falls
safe today, bad tomorrow!


I hope maybe your fall will , make other re think things about leaving stands up long periods of time!
as again, its really NOT a good idea to leave stands up for long periods of time!

[00buck]

Glad to hear you are OK and I have been using a life line and harness ever since the 25 foot fall a few years back I never come Un clipped from them even when going from the sticks to the stand and when I use my climber I push the tree strap up as I go hope you can make it out and get feeling better quickly

[ManOfTheFall]

Did you have any lasting injuries fro your fall? Yes, I know things I should have done and didn't do. I am a born again christian and believe I was definitely being watched over this in this situation. Even just over the last few hours I feel much better. I had slowly been replacing all my stands and have pretty much switched over to ladder stands. Unfortunately this was the last one. I even felt uneasy about this stand but you know how us men can be. Just like I refused to go in the ambulance. I did spend 7 hours in the ER and had multiple x-rays and 2 CT scans.

[mrbb]

I hear you on not doing some times what we all know we should, and rolling the dice
I have fallen, out of about 7-8 tree stands over the yrs, l;ast one was back in the mid 90's
long befroe harness's were about
I was lucky too, between all my yrs of racing MX bikes and I guess learning how to relax in a fall
I never really got hurt
I did fall once out of a home made stand my cousin made and landed on him, and broke his arm LOL

but all them yrs ago when again we made stands out of even tree branches, and they came apart FAST
I learned that its always better to stop using a stand before it goes south
as they say live abnd learn
and some times getting hurt, is alesson we never forget!

[BUCKHUNTER30-06]

I know it might not sound too good to say this but you really could have broken your back and never hunt from a tree stand again. sure hope you get better soon and back out there. any one taking 3 weeks off for hunting is a dedicated hunter in my book. hope to see a pic of you with a buck soon. Good Luck.

[SLIDER0906]

Glad your doing "ok" considering!! I have a good friend at work whos father died from a fall a few years back and what a terrible scenario. I know i dont have to tell you, but be thankful for the condition your in, and this should serve as an immediate reminder for myself and all the others on this page how much more careful we should be during our adventures afield. Again, glad your somewhat well!! And hope it isnt too long before your getting back at it. Prayers.

[00buck]

Did you have any lasting injuries fro your fall? Yes, I know things I should have done and didn't do. I am a born again christian and believe I was definitely being watched over this in this situation. Even just over the last few hours I feel much better. I had slowly been replacing all my stands and have pretty much switched over to ladder stands. Unfortunately this was the last one. I even felt uneasy about this stand but you know how us men can be. Just like I refused to go in the ambulance. I did spend 7 hours in the ER and had multiple x-rays and 2 CT scans.
Some stitches and 6 broken ribs and sprains it lasted a while and I wasn't hunting much after the fall or doing much of anything

[Mikebaker]

Glad your gonna be ok. I've already heard of several that has fell this year. I fell years ago as I was climbing up. I used screw in tree steps that had been in the tree for several years. One rusted and broke! Luckily I was only 6 ft up and walked away sore. I will never go with out a harness and life lines. Hunter safety systems has a great line of products and wouldnt step foot in the woods with out one. After that fall I sold a few things to get a harness. Best money I ever spent.

[ManOfTheFall]

I definitely know how lucky I am. If I feel like I do now, I think it may be as early as next week and I can be back out there. Hopefully I get good reports from the surgeon today and Friday. In the mean time you guys pull together and pick me up and shoot some big ones!!!!!

[ManOfTheFall]

I got good news from the doctor. He said besides the fractured tail bone, he believes I just have very deep thigh and shoulder bruising. He said I can do things as I feel comfortable doing them but doesn't want me going back to work until December 1st. I was off til the 14th anyways so that only leaves 2 weeks after that. I don't see myself getting back out there this week but I think next week is a definite possibility.

[mrbb]

well glad nothing major
But I wouldn';t push it, going back too soon, can some times do more harm than good
injuries many times take time, and just time to heal
over stretching or?? stressing a muscle that is already weak, can rwsult in a bigger problem
see it happen a few times over the yrs
drawing a bow and holding it, and or climbing a tree uses a lot more muscles than you might think
but hey, your an adult, and its your body LOL
just go easy
and best of luck when you do get back out there!

[ManOfTheFall]

Unfortunately mrbb you are right on. I am already going crazy and it's only been three days since I've been in the stand. i guess the thing that makes it so bad is the timing of it all. I wait for this 3 week period all year then bam, I can't even go out. I know my health is more important and I am probably just spouting off at the mouth and wishful thinking. My wife is threatening to hide all my hunting stuff so I can't go out. I did reassure her that if I truly feel I can't handle it I am not going to be stupid and go out. I definitely enjoy reading about everyone else's hunts and their success and frustrations. Maybe this year I will have to live off of that. So, everyone get out there and shoot big one's and post pictures so I can at least enjoy that. But if I truly feel I can get out there without doing any further injury to my self, you know where I will be. So, everyone, shoot a big one for me and pray for me that I get back out there as soon as possible that I to may take part in one of the best harvest years ever!!!!!

[mrbb]

Hey, just remember Ohio has a LONG bow season, so you will have time to get a big one too imagine if you were here in Pa, where the season ends in second week of nov.
and is only 6. Weeks long!
count your blessings LOL

[ManOfTheFall]

Yes, and I love the late season hunts.

[blackbeard]

Gotta wear those safety belts and not leave stands in trees for a long time without checking them. Glad you are ok. I learned the hard way too, but with more consequences.

[ManOfTheFall]

Did anyone get out this weekend? Thought I might be seeing some bucks fall. I will not be able to get out the early part of the week but if my pain level continues to improve maybe in the latter part of the week I may be able to get out. I am going stir crazy sitting at home while the rut is on. Good luck to everyone!!!!

[Huntaholic247]

Sorry to hear that man. This is my first year hunting in a non ladder stand full time and its about 22ft up as well. I couldn't imagine falling. Hope you get better soon!

[Huntaholic247]

I just seen your last post. I went out Sunday and got my first bow kill. It was just a doe but I did see some smaller bucks with their noses to the ground moving around. Nothing super crazy here in SW Ohio but its coming!

[ManOfTheFall]

I see the doctor again on Wednesday. I am having more x-rays and he is going to reassess my injuries. Even though I am still in quite a bit of pain the thing that is driving me crazy is the amount of swelling I have. Anyways I hope you are all getting some time to get out there it seems like from here on out to this next week or so is definitely the time to be out there. Good Luck!!!!!

[nomad_archer]

Feel better.

[ManOfTheFall]

I am doing and feeling better but not well enough to get back in the stand just yet.

[ManOfTheFall]

My wife isn't going to like it, but as of right now I am planning my return to the stand on Friday and Saturday. It should be two very good days in the woods. There are also some other factors that may override this. The first will be my pain level. Right now I think I am at about 50 percent. With it coming down each day I am hoping to be at 75 percent by Friday. I also have a doctor's appointment today that could sway my decision one way or the other. So, I'm hoping for a good report. The other good thing is I am the only guy hunting my 2 different spots so there shouldn't have been any other people out there for nearly 2 weeks. I am stoked to get back out there.

[ManOfTheFall]

News from the doctor is good. Now, as long as my wife doesn't kill me I will be in the stand Friday morning. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!! Still some very good prime time hunting left!!!!!

[mrbb]

well best of luck to you, and YES the rut is just getting good
seen a very nice 8 today following a herd of soe(in a fenced in enclosure, of about 35 acres)
he was just following them and not trying to mount any, so, there getting close, and this was 1 pm, out in the middle of a grass field<

[Genesis 9:3]

News from the doctor is good. Now, as long as my wife doesn't kill me...

Haha, the hunter may soon become the hunted! Best of luck and don't make it worse trying to haul out a monster by yourself!

[ManOfTheFall]

If I do shoot a big one it will just take a simple call. Everyone knows I will be calling if I get one.

[Toke2]

Great to hear the Doc has cleared you! Great timing too. Please continue to share your story - it may save someone else from a serious injury or worse. Now get a MONSTER.... could end up being the "season of destiny"....

[Weasel]

First off, super glad to hear you survived that type of fall. The Good Lord was definitely looking out for you. Also sounds like you take responsibility and know what you did wrong.

Please, everyone learn from this. No harness and leaving the stand out for 18 years is suicide. Get a harness, wear it every time and take down your stands and inspect them every season.