Ladder stand safety alert
Equipment
I took a fall this morning, this is what happened. I wanted to take a ladder stand down, it is one of those buddy stands that my brother and his son used years ago when my nephew was younger.
I looked it over and it seems to be in good condition. Up I went, it was solid. I got up on the platform and and cut the bottom strap as it had grown into the tree a wee bit. So far so good. I cut the top strap for the same reason. When I did the whole stand shifted to the left about six inches.
I grabbed the trunk and when I did the stand started to collapse. I tried to skinny down, but lost my grip on the tree and fell. I hit the ground with my right butt cheek.
I sat there for a couple minutes and didn’t feel anything that would lead me believe I had suffered anything serious. I stood and walked around a bit. I did have some lower back pain from a troublesome disc that I’m sure I aggravated.
I will be black and blue and sore I’m sure, but I got extremely lucky. I know better, and should have used more caution. I’ve been hunting from trees for 40 years, and this is the only fall I’ve had.
I do not like ladder stands for various reasons and avoid using them. When I looked to see what happened to the stand, I saw that the legs of the ladder had rusted and weakened where they slid together near where the pins go thru, and the legs bent and folded up. The rusted areas were not visible from the outside, and I didn’t think to check by pulling them apart.
I’m embarrassed that I let this happen, but hope by posting about my mistakes it may help someone from being injured. Take those stands down after season and store them somewhere dry, and check those ladder joints for defects.
Oh Robear sorry to hear but I'm reading this a tad differently...."never climb a stand without a safety belt"
Even the excellent advice I got from an expert whitetail guy [Matte here] many years ago of "always maintain 3 points of contact" isn't going to help you when you start cutting straps connecting the stand to the tree.
Sorry about the accident, but glad to hear you got off pretty easy — here’s hoping you heal quickly, fully, and SOON!
Thanks for posting the details behind the failure — you may have saved someone a far worse outcome!
Glad your okay, they are safe, but most don't use them right.
Here are some tips, putting up 15 foot plus stands, and double stands. Always get another to assist. Once you have it up, before a strap goes on, we put on a chain, a little loose, but if the strap ever broke, that chain will hold it. Chains are not going to break.
Straps are replaced every year, and checked. This is spring work, again with an assistant.
Never use one without a safety line. That purrsaic knot going to hold you, if something goes wrong.
Again so glad your okay, scary stuff.
The easiest and safest way to put up a two man ladder is to use a climber also. One guy on the ground, (that’s me), and my younger buddy in the climber. On a well built two man ladder, the platform is heavy and hard to get level. The guy in the climber is key for getting the platform lever and getting the straps on tight. Take it down in reverse. And never buy the cheap, Chinese made, chit ! It will kill you !
Not to hijack but this is related. Several years back I was checking a 20’ ladder stand before season. I gave it the shake test before ascending. It was just a bit loose so I climbed up very carefully to tighten the strap. When I got up the ratchet was hanging loose & I thought uh oh. It was in a poplar that had grown enough to snap the strap. All that was holding the stand in place was the tag end of the strap that I had wrapped around the tree & tied in place. Since then I always inspect the strap from the ground. Since then I readjust the strap or replace them every couple of years. I hope you recover quickly.
i don't know anything about ladder stands but doesn't sound smart to cut straps while standing on the platform?
maybe i just misunderstood?
heal quick!
Climbed a stand and cut the straps. Thank God you are ok. What would hold the stand in places e without the straps intact? Aren’t the straps the key to the whole thing?
Bou, most of them, all of the ones I’ve had, would still be strapped by the first straps that you install. Two straps, each hung on the frame before you raise the stand. They are then crossed behind the tree in an X pattern and hooked back into the ladder. You tighten them down and climb the ladder to put the other two straps on. So, theoretically it’s just as safe to cut the straps and climb down as it is to climb up to install them. I say theoretically, because I have never put one up without someone there to help, it’s not safe in my view.
Glad you are not seriously hurt. This is a timely and vivid reminder to wear a safety harness and be attached to a lifeline if your feet are not on the ground. I’ve fell from 20’ one time in 46 years of bowhunting. The harness and linesman belt stopped my fall after about three feet. I was very lucky.
In my opinion those “X” straps are only useful for holding the stand in place (ideally also held in place by a second person) while you climb up the back of the tree in a climber (or sticks and saddle) to put on the main straps.
Never leave the straps tight ! At tge end of the season I loosen my straps so the tree does not grow and ruin straps , it works very well for me I also replace straps on an as needed basis
I'm thinking some of you did not read his entire post. He said he was taking the stand down. How would you have a lifeline still on the tree if you're taking the stand down? Going to leave the line behind? I've done what he is talking about several times. I just made sure I had the auxiliary straps crossed behind the tree and tight off tight.
Life lines are a dime a dozen, you get one with every stand. That is the last thing that stays on the tree. “Straps grown into the tree”, “used years ago”, and expect it to be fine?????
Thank God you are ok. I bought a cheap walmart stand one year. I used the ratchet straps it came with. I left it out for one year. When I climbed up to check it out both straps had dry rotted from the sun. They snapped like it was nothing.
I read this post with interest. Putting stands up and taking them down should be a two person operation. Do people actually leave stands up all year? Most of us set them up in September and take them down in December. I am glad for the reminder.
I can’t help but laugh. Not because you fell. But, because you climbed into the stand, then cut the straps holding the stand to the tree.
Maybe you’ve taken them down like that before. I’ve never done that. I always envisioned it working out about like your experience did.
Heal up and be careful.
I had ladder stands up for five years. Change the straps as needed and buy good straps and good stands to begin with. As with anything else, use common sense. I bought some cheap stands……once.
FWIW, I’ve never attempted to take a ladder stand down by myself either. I’d be afraid that the crossing behind the tree then tied off to the ladder wouldn’t hold it after the wind and such had stretched it.
A second man should have those straps in his hand. Behind the tree at a suitable angle to ensure he is keeping the stand tight. It’s be solid like this until your weight leaves the platform. Even with the ratchets loosened and off. Once you get on the ladder, mind your p’s and q’s. Just like when climbing up the ladder until it’s ratcheted in.
I’m not sure if you knew this or not. But, Incase you didn’t this will help ensure this never happens again. Good luck hunting and I said a prayer that God would heal you fast. I hope your back or sciatic nerve doesn’t get flared up. That’s awful.
not sure if this helps but can't see why it won't. I always put my latter stands on flat rocks. Thats got to help keep them from rusting on the inside. Where did it rust out at?
I'm glad that you weren't seriously hurt. I hate hanging ladder stands. There's some definite pucker factor involved, even with a helper. Taking them down is only slightly better.
Good luck this season, and be safe.
Second on the heavy-duty straps. Like, super heavy duty. The straps that the stands come with are a joke.
I appreciate all the comments and well wishes. I will get back over there and do a closer inspection tomorrow. I believe both sides on the bottom two sections at the joints folded over on themselves when I took the straps off at the top and the all the weight went onto the ladder.
I always hunt out of LW hang ons and was only taking the ladder stand down because I was sick of looking at it.
Glad you’re ok. Falls out of a tree are no joke! I’ve never understood why hunters leave stands up all year or even years. I only use hang ons and they are removed when the season is over but my season is usually only a few weeks. I also use a a thick airline cable as a second way to keep the stand attached to the tree. Also helps to keep someone from stealing it as well.
I've seen stands that were in the woods for 10 years. When they were finally removed, they were still in good shape. A lot depends on the _initial_ quality of the stand. There's a world of difference between a solid stand and those bargain basement Cheapo's from Dicks Sports.
robear, thanks for the reminder and tip to check for rust where the ladder sections slip together. i see how that could be missed. hope you heal quickly.
i use ladder stands and like them.
using a ladder stand is no different than using an extension ladder to get on your roof. as someone posted above, having two people helps but is not always practical.
Don’t know how much good it does, but I always put the ladder base on a section of pressure-treated 2x6, rather than shoving it down in the dirt.
@dnovo, comment "How would you have a lifeline still on the tree if you're taking the stand down? Going to leave the line behind? "
Its easy; You tie a pull line to the loop on the safety line where it wraps around the tree at the top. Then while standing on the ground you pull the line you attached to the safety line loop and it slides away and off the tree.
I always use a life line. I do have to do a better job of taking down my stands on a yearly basis. I usually leave mine up for years.
Good info I have been lucky and have not fallen yet but I have come close. I would have never thought to pull joints apart - exterior inspection would have been good enough for me. Thanks!
we run a rope through the stand and have someone put tension from the back side of the tree. Works great for hanging and taking down ladder stands.
I run about a dozen ladder stands on private ground, and usually put them up and down alone. The piece of treated 2x6 under the bottom rung is a must, and checking the straps for deterioration yearly also. The crossed ropes/straps behind the tree at the top make a world of difference, and would have helped with your scenario.
Glad you're ok. I've put my ladder stand up and taken it down myself for years. When I do, I have the brace attached to the tree, a support strap, and I tie a rope to one side of the top and loop it behind the tree to hold the stand to the tree as I go taking up the slack as I go. I tie off the rope to the other side when I get there, put on the top strap and reverse the procedure when I take it down. Once there, I install a lifeline. The rope I used to install the stand doubles as a pull up rope. Tree stand falls are no joke and potentially life threatening. Be careful out there.
