Watch those screw in steps!!!!

[bmc]

More and more, I've been hearing of people being hurt when their screw in steps either pull out of the tree or break. Be darn careful if you use these kind of steps. My dad and I are switching to using climbing stands and portables with climbing sticks or speed steps. And always, I mean always wear some type of safety belt or safety harness. It could not only save your life, but may come in handy if you have to lean a little to get a shot around a tree or some brush. Just make sure you have it properly attached to yourself and your tree!!

bmc

[jiggy8974]

you really do have to be carefull when hunting out of a tree stand. those screw in steps are what will kill ya if you fall. you can survive the fall, but if you catch one of those steps on the inside of your leg and it cuts through that main arteri down there, you'll be dead in 30 min. no joke. that's why i hunt on the ground. it's not worth the risk.

[Boar]

I just relocated a stand on sat. and was screwing in steps, and I started to think about how I'm getting a little heavier each year and was wondering about the strength of those things, snapping off and then falling while the ones beneath are gutting me open like a doe on the way down. Nasty thought. I stopped what I was doing and put on my harness to continue my acsendt with the steps. This is the last time I will use them. I also have a API baby grand, strap with T screw with a 15 foot 3 section ladder steps i feel very comfy going up and down and harnessed in on the API. Those screw in steps are just to scarry. Later, Boar

[cashcrews]

Those screw in steps are scary things. I wouldn't trust 'em. I actually know of a guy who got his b*lls ripped off--or nearly so--when he fell and the aforementioned part got "hung up" on the steps. Bad news, and I'm not willing to take that kind of chance.

[Sinker]

A few years back I was getting down from the tree on the screw-in steps and when I was close to the ground I kind of jumped the rest of the way.Bad idea.I didn't have gloves on and my wedding ring caught underneath the outside end of the step.Could have pulled my finger off if my feet didn't hit the ground already.Hurt pretty good and had a decent cut.I'm more careful now.Take it easy.

[NoodleSalad]

Euphorians! -NS-

[mnfishman]

I purchased magnum steps and they are rock solid. I also bought some rubber protective caps that slide over the tips of the steps which helps keep my boot from sliding up over the edge of the step if it is wet. Also the caps glow in the dark so when I am getting ready to climb down I shine my flashlight on the steps and I can safely climb down without having to feel for the steps.

As with anything these days you get what you pay for. If you buy cheap steps your only asking for trouble. Just like if you buy cheap stands or hunt without a safety belt you are increasing your chances of getting hurt or worse killed.

[Ruttin' Buck]

I have to keep hunting from stands...just love the vantage point

I must say, you have to watch those steps primarily when hunting from oaks, and more specifically burr oaks. Oaks provide outstanding cover for the entire season because their branches get so large and are very horizontal and many of them hang onto their leaves through most of the winter. Make sure when you screw into a burr oak, you get that peg started on a low part of the bark. I'd bet that bark can get to be 2" thick!

Note: this cannot be done with a fixed peg, you need the pegs that open up so you the 'burrs' don't interfere with the shaft of the peg.

Hey cashcrews...wonder if that story made it out to me...did that guy happen to be in Camp Ripley? The story I heard definitely made me start taking my time getting down!

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"When the hunter is in a tree stand with high moral values and with the proper hunting ethics and richer for the experience, that hunter is 20' closer to God"
-Fred Bear

[Scott M]

I think I'm just going to avoid these things. Never really liked anything screw in for the outdoors. The screw in anchors for my fish house are pretty much worthless, the bow holder I bought works but not well on the old oak trees I hunt out of, and I'm afraid to use screw in steps.

[USPENAMC]

dont wear a safety system thats 15 feet long and your stand is 10 feet high...he he disaster im saying this cause ive heard of it happening before

[harvey lee]

I have almost totally quit using those screw in tree steps as I have had them pull out. One really should use a safety harness to at least reduce the risk of falling and serious injury. I purchased a vest that goes on like a life jacket and straps to the tree and its a nice unit but, not cheap.

This is another reason why I have gone almost totally with a climber as I personally feel much safer going up and down a tree.

[analyzer]

I've never had a problem with screw-ins, other than leaving them in a tree for 3 years, and the tree grew right around them, couldn't remove em. I figget too much to sit in a tree stand anyway. My b-hind gets sore after a couple hours, and considering i get up in the tree an hour before legal shooting, that only gives me an hour or so of shooting before I get sore and restless. I much prefer the ground blinds. I have a very comfortable chair in mine, and can sit there all day. I guess if I really had my druthers, I'd have one of those elevated shooting sheds. I don't think the farmer would let me build one though. I guess I'll have to ask.

ON a safety note. I definitely recommend, a drop rope, and pulling the gun up after you're seated. And be careful not to fill your muzzle with dirt, when you're dropping it back down. It's handy to leave a limb on the ground, so that when you are dropping your gun back down, you can catch the muzzle on the limb, and lay the gun flat without stabbing the muzzle into the dirt.

[MNRookie78]

Quote:

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I just relocated a stand on sat. and was screwing in steps, and I started to think about how I'm getting a little heavier each year and was wondering about the strength of those things, snapping off and then falling while the ones beneath are gutting me open like a doe on the way down. Nasty thought. I stopped what I was doing and put on my harness to continue my acsendt with the steps. This is the last time I will use them. I also have a API baby grand, strap with T screw with a 15 foot 3 section ladder steps i feel very comfy going up and down and harnessed in on the API. Those screw in steps are just to scarry. Later, Boar

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Great plan in stopping to put on the harness, most would not! I'd hate to hear about anyone getting injured let alone end their life by a tree stand accident, especially from the RLF area where I hunt. Next time I see you around town I'll buy you a beverage for being a true sportsman

[harvey lee]

Great post MN rookie 78. It only takes a few minutes to make sure you are much safer with the harness. One has to remember the pain your family and friend will go through at ones funeral. Not only that but, how about spendy the rest of ones life in a wheel chair.

Lets not have any sad stories this season and only succesfull stories of the hunt.

[smnduck]

2 luckey stories. I hunt out of a ladder stand because I'm scared to death of the screw in steps. I fell once after one pulled out and lucked out after my belt loop broke after catching on another on the way down. 1/4 inch from being gutted by a screw in step.

I fell asleep one warm afternoon after finaly getting relaxed from a long week at work and fell out of my ladder stand. If not for my harness I would be toast not only from the fall but my bow quiver let all the arrows out and they sunk into the ground all around where I would have fallen.

Be safe and help others that you may hunt with also.

[DooWap]

Climbing sticks are the way to go.

[fishwithteeth]

I bought the Lone Wolf climbing sticks 2 years ago because I didn't trust the screw-in steps - I can feel them bend and I'm only 160 lbs! Those climbing sticks are rock solid and light enough to carry with a stand. However, this year I decided to give a ladder stand a try and if I need to get mobile I can use the hang-on stand.

I would advise everyone to use a full body harness. I never did until 5 years ago. I became a FAS Instructor and started hearing all the horror stories of people falling and being injured or killed. One person has died already this year from a treestand fall. As I get older I figure I have too much to lose being macho. Think of it as not wearing a seatbelt when you drive. I'm getting off my soapbox now. Have a great hunting season and be SAFE

[Bassboy1645]

I think alot of you are devoloping phobias of tree pegs..Not to say that your wrong but that seems odd to me becasue Ive never had a problem EVER. I think I see what your talkign about though when they"bend out". You gotta make sure the peg goes all the way into the tree. You cant have a gap between the bark and the metal of the step. thats where you get your bend. Pegs should be almost hard to put in and take out if you crank them down enough. I like mine to peel into the bark a little bit when I turn them in. THyre rock solid and going nowhere. 7 seasons of huntign deer out of trees. The only issue ive found is you cant get pegs into trees late season when the tree is frozen. Other than that i do belive they could rip a guy open on a nasty fall...BE CAREFUL AND WEAR YOUR HARNESS!!!

[TrophyEyes]

I always wear a harness, but using those steps, I would almost rather not. The harness is going to swing you right back into the steps, impaling you. I would rather fall the 12-17ft. and break an arm or leg than be impaled on a tree. Call it a personal preference. That is why I use a climber or ladder stand.

[DooWap]

I like using climbers too but I got sick of having to lug it out every hunt. Even though I have a 20 lb Summit it's still another thing to carry. Climbing sticks are the way to go though, they're fast and easy to set up and take down and a lot safer.

[Big-Al]

Good point BassBoy about the proper way of using the screw in steps. They should be screwed in as perfectly perpindicular as possible and I will redo them if the is any daylight between the vertical portion and the bark. I've used them for 35 years and I'm 270 lbs. The only issue that I have ever had was with a homemade one that was made with inferior material. One other point about climbing a ladder, steps, climbing sticks, or branches, always have a solid three points of contact and transfer weight very slowly and methodically. Never put all your weight on one foot without having two good handholds. It all seems basic, but I've been climbing trees, ladders, and steps for a long time. Keep your head in the game and it may save you a nasty fall. Even a minor injury could kill you if nobody finds you in short order. But that subject is a whole other thread.

I also agree about the large oaks. The bark is extremely thick. Taking a bit of the bark off before starting the screw will certainly make it safer.