• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Saddle Hunting Safety - What do you think?

I've seen a couple things related to auto locking biners. Do you guys think that because they are "auto locking" that people are more apt to think they did their job. I prefer screw locks, and every time I disengage and reengage it I am verifying that it is hooked to the right spot. Do you think having to think about screwing it on actually makes me think about it and prevent a mishap?
 
DaveT1963 said:
Most of the guys that actually do DIY research things pretty extensively and they know how to inspect their gear properly.
Click to expand...

I agree with a lot of what you posted Dave. The quoted part I am not sure on. I agree that most of the guys on here are taking extra precautions. I am not sure about the random person who stops by the site and reads something or sees something on youtube. I have seen some crazy stuff being done out there. That is why on this site I stress safety so much and I hope that we can make people realize that this stuff can be done DIY in a safe manner!
 
I do check all my biners screw or auto locking . It is just a good habit to get into.I am sure that you thinking about does help prevent mishaps.
 
redsquirrel said:
I've seen a couple things related to auto locking biners. Do you guys think that because they are "auto locking" that people are more apt to think they did their job. I prefer screw locks, and every time I disengage and reengage it I am verifying that it is hooked to the right spot. Do you think having to think about screwing it on actually makes me think about it and prevent a mishap?
Click to expand...
You can forget to screw them in too. The big thing for me is sloooow down. Type A guy and be methodical. Same way every time. I have worked on that all fall. Everything in the same place and same order. That is why I like some of the posts on how guys pack up and set up.
Being methodical, orderly and slow equals safety in my mind. It is not my nature so I need to think about it

The equipment is fine but the human is not.
 
redsquirrel said:
Yes, you can forget to screw them in, but that is my point. Getting in a routine where I mentally have to think about screwing it in forces me to mentally think about verifying it is connected properly also.
Click to expand...
I guess with the auto lock. Rock climbers use them all the time. I now look, check, lean back and test on the ground. My routine to prevent brain cramps. That will work with either type of biner.

It makes it easier going around a branch with an auto lock and I still go through the same procedure before I unhook my second linemans belt.
 
Last edited:
bigjoe said:
I would not get back in a tree again if I did not think this is very safe. I think saddle hunting is the safest tree hunting option.
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting this and your story. It serves as a great reminder to be extra safe.

We need to come up with a Mantra for Saddle Hunting like construction workers..."Measure twice, cut once" or from the military "slow is smooth, and smooth is fast"...and adapt it to our safety purposes.

Who can come up with something clever like that?
 
I found it to be very humbling experience. It was the first season using self closing/locking biners.

I cannot help but believe that using a screw closing biner helps one too double check. I Feel very fortunate to be here today. I think slowing down and being methodical is very important. The slow cautious approach is best. Yes you can forget to close a biner.

If you do not feel comfortable with a situation be man enough to admit it to yourself.
 
Last edited:
redsquirrel said:
I agree with a lot of what you posted Dave. The quoted part I am not sure on. I agree that most of the guys on here are taking extra precautions. I am not sure about the random person who stops by the site and reads something or sees something on youtube. I have seen some crazy stuff being done out there. That is why on this site I stress safety so much and I hope that we can make people realize that this stuff can be done DIY in a safe manner!
Click to expand...

There are, and always will be a few special snowflakes… but to summarize that DIY causes so many problems is just silliness
 
Last edited:
I'm with @skell here. I have been hunting since 1992. Mostly hang on tree stands 20-30 feet high. Or API climber. I have NEVER worn a harness of any sort to climb, hunt, or set up any of those trees. I now consider myself incredibly lucky. This was my first season saddle hunting and it is by far the safest I have ever been in a tree. My wife at first asked me if this was safe and I told her it is 1,000 times safer than what I have been doing for 25 years. I can remember being 25 ' up on a tiny lock on and falling asleep without any harness. Thinking back it was so careless and reckless. Saddle hunting may have unknowingly saved my life or at least life as I have come to know it.
 
Jefferson10940 said:
I'm with @skell here. I have been hunting since 1992. Mostly hang on tree stands 20-30 feet high. Or API climber. I have NEVER worn a harness of any sort to climb, hunt, or set up any of those trees. I now consider myself incredibly lucky. This was my first season saddle hunting and it is by far the safest I have ever been in a tree. My wife at first asked me if this was safe and I told her it is 1,000 times safer than what I have been doing for 25 years. I can remember being 25 ' up on a tiny lock on and falling asleep without any harness. Thinking back it was so careless and reckless. Saddle hunting may have unknowingly saved my life or at least life as I have come to know it.
Click to expand...
This was my experience as well. I used to hang from 1 arm wrapping the treestand cables around the tree perched with 1 foot on a limb! No harness ever!

Looking back, I am soooo lucky I never got hurt. I feel so incredibly safe in my saddle.
 
In the early 70's there weren't a lot of options for tree hunting as far as tree stands went, especially in the price point of a young teenager. Hunting spot selection had more to do with finding a tree that had limbs close enough to the ground that we could climb it. We then just stood on branches and leaned against the trunk for the duration of the hunt. No all day sits in those days, 1-2 hours was all that was bearable.

In fact I remember shooting a buck once where I was standing on a branch leaning out of the tree holding myself upright with my forehead on another branch. That was the only thing keeping me from falling face first to the ground. Needless to say I've taken a few falls but I was lucky and was never seriously hurt.

Things have come a long ways. I must say saddle hunting takes me back to those roots to some extent but I feel extremely safe tethered to the tree.
 
Heck, I learned to hunt with stands made of a couple 2X4’s nailed across some limbs and a piece of plywood on top. 2X4 steps screwed into the trunk for a ladder. I should have died out of those things...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
That is the reason my Dad, made me life lines and a harness. Said I had to carry on the family name lol. Or possibly because my mom saw my 12-13 year old construction methods.

He trained at EtaJima Specialist School in Japan before Korea. Said the scariest thing he had to do was climb a 100’ pole, free hand with no lifeline to graduate. He learned harnesses and proper climbing techniques there. In the scheme of things it is all coming back to rigging techniques and proper harnesses/saddles.
 
g2 you asked about a Mantra:

Here are a few suggestions:


  • Saddle Hunting & Safety a Way of Life
  • Saddle Hunting Supports Safety First
  • Saddle Hunting - Never Not Tied In
  • Saddle Hunters for Safety
  • Saddle Hunters - Live Lives by Safety
  • Saddle Hunters Think Safety First
  • Saddle Hunters Safety for Family
I spend half of my career pondering things.
 
g2outdoors said:
We need to come up with a Mantra for Saddle Hunting like construction workers..."Measure twice, cut once" or from the military "slow is smooth, and smooth is fast"...and adapt it to our safety purposes.

Who can come up with something clever like that?
Click to expand...

In the firearms world there are "the 4 rules" maybe "the X rules" (where X is whatever number) could be used to refer to a set of rules to summarize safe saddlehunting.
 
bigjoe said:
g2 you asked about a Mantra:

Here are a few suggestions:


  • Saddle Hunting & Safety a Way of Life
  • Saddle Hunting Supports Safety First
  • Saddle Hunting - Never Not Tied In
  • Saddle Hunters for Safety
  • Saddle Hunters - Live Lives by Safety
  • Saddle Hunters Think Safety First
  • Saddle Hunters Safety for Family
I spend half of my career pondering things.
Click to expand...

Oooohhhhh, I like the “never not tied in” one...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
There seems to be a common theme with the falls that have been discussed: human error. I appreciate those guys sharing their stories because I think it helps all of us. I don't hear any stories about DIY guys falling. Maybe they just haven't shared or I overlooked it. I think The guys who set up their own rigs tend to not overlook the safety aspects they built into their systems because every part of it was painstakingly thought out and being so familiar with the systems they built keeps them aware of the technique of using custom built gear. I'm not saying home made set-ups are safer, but being more aware certainly is.

Other point I wanted to make is, I am also in that crowd of lucky guys who never tied in until i started hunting from my Evolution. That was the first time I tied in going up or down the tree. I also rarely used the safety harness that came with my tree stands. We've all done dumb stuff. Saddle hunting is the safest system I've ever used, and in my opinion it is inherently safer than any hang-on or ladder stand I've ever used. I predict that as saddle hunting grows, the number of falls from trees will decrease. I know we are a small community right now, but I think we have less incidents per capita than fixed stand hunters.
 
Very humbling to have fallen, and as another stated it can be embarrassing. I am not ashamed. I did not hurt anyone other than myself. If someone can learn from it too prevent an injury or death...

Most state departments ie Game & Inland fisheries or Dept. of Wild Life Management are required a record of a fall.

I would think most DIY’s take a lot of care in building their equipment. I would and think most do.
 
DaveT1963 said:
I doubt very seriously there are a large number of falls due to DIY. Most of the guys that actually do DIY research things pretty extensively and they know how to inspect their gear properly. Most accidents are NOT DIYers, they are human beings that make a mistake or their PURCHASED equipment fails. I would LOVE to see one DOCUMENTED case of a DIY saddle failing.
Click to expand...

I don' t think any one has ever said a DIY saddle has failed.

I know of two DIY rope cases where the DIY'er did not research enough and purchased the wrong size rope for the prussik knot.
Once case was on a "life line" he was going to use as a tree strap, one guy was in a tree sand the other was in a Tree Saddle. When the guy in the Tree Saddle leaned back to set up, the prussik it didn't bite. He basically "fast roped" down the tree, he tried to grab the line and got rope burn on his hand. His "life line" ended 5 ft from the bottom of the tree with no stopper knott, he fell flat on his back. knocked the wind out of him but he survived.

DIY climb paw broke, guy had his lineman's belt on fell, lineman's belt caught him, he had to get stitches.

DIY climbing stick kicked out (similar to Dave) on second stick as he was attaching lineman's belt this guy fell 6 ft and broke his arm.

To think that all DIY'er research thing to the extent that most of you guys do here, is crazy. Most are just trying to save a buck. Again, we are a small forum, most here are the elite saddle hunters. So again, this is why the DIY on here is so extensive. Most saddle hunters are not this way, especially the new guys. We see it here, guys asking to buy or build there ropes/gear.

Thanks,
Boswell
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top