Reading through the does anyone know of hunters getting hurt thread I thought we could maybe collaborate on "best practices" for staying safe when hunting from a saddle.
This shouldn't be War and Peace. We can link to longer discussions but it should be concise like the 4 rules of firearm safety.
Let's keep this specific to saddlehunting--not things that apply to every kind of hunting like "carry a first aid kit and a phone."
We can add disclaimers at the end to make @redsquirrel happy.
This is my first pass, I'm sure I missed or bungled a few things, so feel free to chime in. Anywhere you see TODO or ??? I'm looking for help.
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Always stay attached to the tree with tether and/or lineman's belt.
When changing attachments to the tree, connect the new attachment before removing the old attachment. Double-check everything in this process.
When using mechanical devices to attach (carabiners, buckles, ropemans), use locking devices and test the locks before trusting them.
Avoid excessive slack in your tether. See this thread on the dangers of short static falls.
Use stopper knots.
Inspect your gear regularly and be aggressive in replacing gear that is old, worn, or questionable:
Rope: Discard rope that is excessively worn and observe the manufacturer's rotation/replacement recommendations.
Knots: TODO
Saddle: TODO
Platform: TODO
???
Test new gear at low height before trusting it at hunting height.
Disclaimers: TODO
This shouldn't be War and Peace. We can link to longer discussions but it should be concise like the 4 rules of firearm safety.
Let's keep this specific to saddlehunting--not things that apply to every kind of hunting like "carry a first aid kit and a phone."
We can add disclaimers at the end to make @redsquirrel happy.
This is my first pass, I'm sure I missed or bungled a few things, so feel free to chime in. Anywhere you see TODO or ??? I'm looking for help.
******************************************************************
Always stay attached to the tree with tether and/or lineman's belt.
When changing attachments to the tree, connect the new attachment before removing the old attachment. Double-check everything in this process.
When using mechanical devices to attach (carabiners, buckles, ropemans), use locking devices and test the locks before trusting them.
Avoid excessive slack in your tether. See this thread on the dangers of short static falls.
Use stopper knots.
Inspect your gear regularly and be aggressive in replacing gear that is old, worn, or questionable:
Rope: Discard rope that is excessively worn and observe the manufacturer's rotation/replacement recommendations.
Knots: TODO
Saddle: TODO
Platform: TODO
???
Test new gear at low height before trusting it at hunting height.
Disclaimers: TODO
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