Joe's post inspired me to share a couple lessons my hunting partner and I learned yesterday.

My wife's 18 year old cousin and I hunted Parke County yesterday. He has yet to kill a deer but is enthusiastic. He told me before the hunt that his rifle was only bore sighted so I lent him my 20 gauge Mossberg. I put him in a ladder stand that I've killed a couple does out of and told him where to watch and when I'd be back around. No shots were taken and around noon I see him standing near the stand. We talk of the morning and then he breaks it to me. As he was lowering the unloaded shotgun on the pull-up rope, his knot unties. The gun falls right on the top of the scope, damaging it beyond repair. He tells me he'll buy me a new one and I said we'd work it out.

My lesson: Have a clip on all your pull-up ropes, especially ones used by others.

His lesson: Learn to tie a knot

At least he used the rope and apparently did it in a manner to keep the muzzle down. No one was hurt and we are splitting the cost of a new scope.

It was a fine morning to hunt and I even managed to miss the same squirrel twice with my recurve.

get him a how to book of tying knots for Christmas!

Tough situation but a fair outcome, and hat off to you John for being supportive and understanding.

That's a great idea Chevy!

Someone should show you ho to make a loop knot or slip/ cinch type knot that you just slide over your gun stock and pull it up every time. this way your gun is always facing down and it is easy to use. Everybody needs to be a scout for at least a couple of years.

DNA beat me to it because that is exactly what I do. I have a loop tied in each end of my pull up rope. All it takes is to pull the rope through the loop & you have a choker loop that you can put over the stock of the gun, when you pull up on the rope the weight of the gun will close the loop up on the gun.
I use it to get my bow & pack into the stand during archery season too. I don't like carrying anything up the ladder into the stand, I got to have my hands free to hold the ladder & move my safety rope.

Here is a good item if you're into gadgets, and/or can't tie a good knot. Takes up more room though...

Never an issue of a knot coming untied, and can pull up gun horizontal - no way for muddy barrel

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/lewis-strapper?a=424282