I had an accident. I am ok. The fall deer season ends Friday. Today was my last chance as family stuff takes up the next few days. I went out today to see if I could sneak in on the deer I spooked last week. After walking in, I decided that the tree I chose last week was too close to their bedding area. I picked a tree about 20 yards back. The tree I decided on was larger than I normally sit in, I couldn't get my arms around it. The tree first pitched back towards me before straightening out. I carry three shortened API sticks with aiders. I run a DIY Kestral saddle and trophy line tether and lineman's rope. My first stick held fine. My second stick held fine, at first. As I was standing on top of my second stick, I decided to lower my third stick to the ground, as I didn't need it. The way the tree trunk branched made my line of sight too complicated, so I made a decision to just use the two sticks and then my ROS. My lineman's belt was a little low, obstructed by a large trunk veering off, so I decided to connect my tether, unhook my lineman's belt, then move it over the trunk and rehook it. Then the bark of the tree sloughed away and my second stick slid down the tree until it was almost out of reach. As a major part of the bark was gone, my stick was sort of hanging loosely, parallel to the ground at this point. I caught the amsteel with my foot and hoisted the stick back up to me. I also had my ring of steps on me. My saddle and tether held, but I had nothing to put my feet on. I took stock and focused on remaining calm. I made sure I still had my phone. My first stick was about 4-5 feet below my feet. I tried to get the amsteel from my second stick to get around the tree, which failed. The tree was too big and it was too windy. I then tried to use my ring of steps, but I dropped my buckle, so I went back to my stick. I decided to swing the whole stick instead of the amsteel around the tree, and that worked as I was able to catch it on the other side. I set it and finally had a place to rest. It was still too far between sticks though. It took me a little while longer to get my lineman's rope out, as when I was pulling it down, the loose carabiner, jammed up between two trunks and I couldn't reach it. Once I was able to reset my lineman's belt I was able to climb down. I think I was up there for about an hour. I got down and just rested for a while, then hunted for a few hours.
Some final thoughts. I am really lucky my tether was in as I unhooked my lineman's belt to move it around a branch. I would have fallen without it. I am also really lucky I caught the stick with my feet as it fell. I stayed calm, which was good, and just worked on the problem. I don't know if I would have been calm if I lost that second stick and my ROS buckle. I made several mistakes, one of which was the tree I chose, for its girth and loose bark. I also should have had a secured second method to get down. In addition, I should have put a stopped knot on my ROS strap so the buckle wouldn't slide off.
All the blame is on me. What else could I have done?
I'm done for the fall season, winter season doesn't pick up for a month, so back to flyfishing and housework.
-J
