Pennsylvania Game News - July 2010 - 58

den stop. The belt extends up to 20 feet, retracts automatically, and remains in the weatherproof housing when not in use. Some may consider it a little pricy, but it’s a quintessential piece of treestand safety equipment, and it will protect a hunter from just about any treestand accident. In addition, it is more convenient than using a safety rope with a Prussic knot, so it’s more likely to be used. Preventing falls from trees involves more than safety equipment, it involves common sense. About 10 years ago, as October turned to November, I couldn’t wait to go hunting after work. It snowed that day and I had to walk through about four inches of it to get to my stand. I took my usual precautions before climbing, but because of the snow on the bottom of my boots, my feet went out from under me as I was climbing the tree. I wasn’t hurt because I was holding the step above me with two hands, but the sudden jerk nearly tore my arms off. From that day I vowed never to climb a tree with snow on the ground or if conditions are icy. As much as I love to bowhunt, I decided it was just too risky to be climbing trees when a sudden slip could cause an accident and ruin not a season but the rest of my life as well. It should be noted that even though a full body harness will prevent serious injury, hunters should be aware that hanging in a harness could ultimately prove to be fatal due to what’s known as “suspension trauma.” Suspension trauma can occur when a person hangs suspended for more than 15 minutes in an upright posture. With legs relaxed and hanging beneath a person, gravity pulls the blood into the lower legs, reducing the normal amount of blood returning to heart. As a result, the amount of blood pumped back to the body by the heart is reduced and the heart pumps faster to compensate for the reduced output. The ultimate result is that the hunter faints and could possibly die. To prepare for this possibility, a hunter must have a well thought out plan for self58

rescue or for rescue by a hunting companion. In this electronic age it’s wise to carry a cell phone or at least a 2-way radio to contact hunting companions should the need arise. A less high tech but equally important gadget is a loud police whistle to alert other hunters if assistance is needed. If you’re hunting alone and find yourself hanging suspended from your safety harness, keep a level head and exercise your legs by pushing against the tree or do any other type of continuous motion until help arrives. If you can climb back into the stand or reach a nearby branch so much the better. Just to be safe, I carry a screw in tree step and a length of rope in my outside jacket pocket so that I can reach my climbing device or possibly a tree branch to get out of the situation. In an emergency, I can screw the step into the tree or tie the rope around the branch or tree trunk and make a loop in which I can place my foot. Once I release the tension on my safety line I can climb down the tree. This is why I prefer using the FallGuy system rather than a safety rope and Prussic knot. Once the tension is released on the FallGuy safety system, a hunter is free to continue his descent. A Prussic knot on the other hand may be wedged so tight the hunter can’t free himself without help. Some reading this may argue the price of a full body harness is expensive, as they can run from $75 to about $150, depending on the make and model. A FallGuy safety line costs about $70, while a safety line made of nautical rope could cost about $30. This may seem expensive until you ask yourself what your life is worth. There are two things hunters should know about falls from trees. The first is that there is a strong possibility it can happen to you, and the second is that they are preventable. By being aware of what can happen and by taking the proper precautions, a hunter can be around for many seasons to come and continue to participate in the sport we all love.
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Pennsylvania Game News - July 2010

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