I am telling this story on several sites in hopes that someone reads and realizes how important safety is.


So, I worked a half day and showered up and got ready to go to the lease. I waited till the kids got off the bus and headed out. I decided to take my climber and try a place near the bedding area. I had never hunted this particular location. But, just knew it would be good. I got to my spot and hooked my Summit Viper climber stand to the tree. I also put my Hunter Safety Systems Life Line on the tree and started to climb. I got to my preferred height and realized that the stand was leaning forward and wasn't what I wanted. So, like the idiot that I am, I attempted to unhook the base and tighten it so that it would sit more level. Thankfully, I realized that my seat and base were not connected. So I tied the bottom end of the life line to the base of the climber before unhooking it from the tree. Sure enough the base slipped out of my hands and fell to the ground leaving me sitting 20 feet off the ground on the climber bar. I started to panic and could tell I was going to hyperventilate. So, I concentrated on calming my breathing. I attempted to pull the base back up to me using the rope but it was wrapped around the base. This meant that every time I pulled the base would dig into the tree and not budge. I was in a real bad situation.

I was able to get my cell phone out of my pocket and somehow call my hunting partner Corbin without dropping the phone. I was shaking like a leaf. Corbin answered the phone and I explained to him what had happened. Luckily he was only a few miles away. He told me to calm down because the section I was sitting on would hold me and that my life line would catch me even if I fell. I really wasn't interested in finding out if it really worked though. Corbin started telling me a story about a time when the same situation happened to him. He was going into detail and all I remember thinking was "who the **** cares about your story right now!" But, Corbin was telling me the story to take my mind off of the situation. I hung up with him knowing that he was no more than 10 minutes away. Next, I closed my eyes and prayed. I asked God for help. I asked for him to keep me safe so that I could go home to my family. I opened my eyes and took a deep breath. I decided to mess with the rope some more to see if I could get it unstuck. As if God was answering my prayer right before my eyes, the rope came free and I pulled the base back up the tree. It was a bit tricky to get it back positioned correctly to the tree. But, I managed to do it.

I was so nervous that I could stand right away. I had to sit there for a minute and call Corbin back. He had just arrived at the lease and was about to start heading to my location. After thanking him for his unique way of distracting me from my panic, I eased back down the tree like I should have done in the first place and fixed the base so that it would be level at my desired height. I decided to go ahead and hunt even though I had made A LOT of noise and was sweating pretty good. About 15 minutes later, I saw the first of 7 deer. 4 does, 2 button bucks, and a 2 1/2 year old buck who was looking for lovin. He ran those does all over the place.

I didn't bring any deer home with me tonight. Passed on several occasions. But, I was able to come home and tell my wife and kids that I loved them. Thank God!

Guys, if you don't use a safety harness, you are a fool. Better yet, I urge you to look into the Life Line system. This allows you to be connected to the tree from the ground all the way up and all the way back down. I believe it is the safest system available. They aren't cheap. But, I was able to pick up a 3 pack on Ebay for $99 with free shipping. I didn't have to rely on the HSS Vest or Life Line tonight. But, had things gone from bad to worse, I believe I would still be here telling this story because I took the precautions to make sure I would come home alive.

Glad you are okay and were smart about being connected.

Glad you made it and are around to tell the story. Very good example on what we have been talking about for safety harness. And you got to see your family and friends after a horrific event and also tell us. Thanks for story. Deer were a bonus after that! Hope you kill a giant this year!

$99 is a pretty cheap insurance policy if ask me... Glad you are ok and able to go home....

Thanks for sharing.

Glad to hear it turned out ok.

Glad You are ok Buddy!!!

Glad to hear everything turned out alright for you.

Never climb without the aid of safety systems!

Glad it all turned out. I just watched a video on YouTube of a guy showing how to do adjust a climber when you get up there. Once again glad you are ok. I bought a hunter safety system belt last year and can say it is the best investment I spent my money on

With the summit viper?

There is no way to do this safely.

Summit says in their video and in the instructions, under no circumstance should you ever release the cable when you are off the ground.

Got one. Where was the retention strap that goes between the upper and lower sections to prevent a lower platform free fall? Agree with 76Chvey, not safe nor recommended to try adjusting the lower platform cable on the tree. That's why you start out with the lower platform tilting up slightly on front, as it will go down as the tree diameter gets smaller.

Glad you're ok!

In my younger days with less responsibilities, I never thought twice about unhooking the platform to go around a limb or to level it up. Not anymore.