Jump to content

  • GUESTS

    If you want access to members only forums on HSO, you will gain access only when you Sign-in or Sign-Up .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member. ?

Climbing up my ladder stand.......Slipped....Fell......I got hurt

RumRiverRat

By RumRiverRat
in Deer Hunting-Bear-Elk-Moose

 Share

Recommended Posts

RumRiverRat Grand Master

RumRiverRat

Posted
Posted

I have not posted in awhile.

Friday after thanksgiving I was climbing into one of my ladder stands well before sunrise. I was 14 feet up the ladder when I reached to move the camo netting around my platform when I slipped on a rung, lost my grip and fell to the ground.

Broke my left arm, collar bone, a couple ribs.

Spent 2 days in the hospital.

2 surgeries and 4 weeks later and I am finally feeling better.

The cause of my fall was mud on my boots and being in a rush to get up the ladder.

Was a terrible way to end my firearms season in WI and the rest of Archery season in MN and WI.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
CANOPY SAM Veteran

CANOPY SAM

Posted
Posted

Oh man! Sorry to hear of your misfortune. That must have been a miserable walk out of the woods. Were you alone?

Thanks for letting us know what happened, and I am glad to hear your injuries weren't any worse then they were...not that they weren't bad enough.

Ironically, I was watching a deer hunting TV show late last night, and the main guy said that one of their RealTree crew had died in a tree stand accident only the week before filming. These guys use absolutely the best equipment available, so it just goes to show how dog gone dangerous this procedure can really be! It's not something to be casual or careless about.

Hope and pray you have a speedy, and complete recovery brother.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
RumRiverRat Grand Master

RumRiverRat

Posted
  • Author
Posted

My wife's cousin was hunting on the other side of my property so I sent him a text.

He brought the Gator XUV to me and drove me out of the woods.

Ended what had been a mediocre week of deer hunting.

South winds and temps in the 50's and low 60's for the first 6 days were not very conducive for deer movement.

Harvested a Doe on opening morning, using my Barret M98 .338Lapua to take her at 385 yards as she stepped out of the woods into a harvested corn field.

Let a couple average 8's walk the 1st 3 days.

No sign of the big 12 I had seen bow hunting.

Did not see the herds of deer I had encountered bow hunting.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mwal Experienced

mwal

Posted
Posted

This year I used a hunters saftey system lifeline with my ladder stand. I am attached from the ground to the seat and back again using a prussic knot. Check out their HSOforum and videos. Most falls happen in the transition from ladder or steps to the platform. Unless you are harnessed at all times you will fall with most harness while climbing. I am glad you are healing and will be able to hunt again.

Mwal

Link to comment
Share on other sites
certified jumbo Mentor

certified jumbo

Posted
Posted

Glad your getting better, sounds like a long recovery. scary for sure. Like your story, we had one from our deer camp this fall that is almost identical to yours. I got the text from my buddy shortly after I got in stand that he had fallen while stepping onto platform 16 feet, landed on his face and he couldn't get up. One of the scariest moments of my life was driving over to get him. A long story short, he was really messed up and had a slow recovery, but will fully recover luckily.

We have always used the safety harness system, but this fall happened before he stepped foot on the platform. We are doing something next year to be harnessed in while climbing up, but not exactly sure what yet. I never want to go to a deer stand again and find my buddy laying on the ground.

Thanks for sharing your story and glad your doing better!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Boar Grand Master

Boar

Posted
Posted

RRR, glad to hear your still vertical an doing better. I took a six foot fall several years ago under real stupid circumstances an landed on my side an my head floped like a bobble doll, the most sickening sound Ive ever heard an will never for get is my neck snapping like a branch being brocken. I cant eve imagion how luck i was, after a half dozen chiro appt. I Never looked at life the same again. Your still hear for next years hunt an no doubt youll make up for it. Good luck on ur recovery an Im really glad your still hear on the forum with us. Take care an have a Joyful Holidasy season. Later Boar

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Scoot Grand Master

Scoot

Posted
Posted

RRR,

Glad to hear you're ok (in the big picture) and sorry to hear about the fall and the injuries. This kind of thing is something that I never used to think about, but worry more and more as I get older and I have kids coming up in the stand with me.

I took a fall from a treestand and broke my foot, my bro-in-law broke his colar bone, by cousin tore his achilles tendon from a fall out of a treestand. Scary stuff!

Glad you're on the mend- heal up, enjoy the holidays, and start thinking about next season.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now ↓↓↓ or ask your question and then register. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing


×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

  I accept