STRAP UP

[Otto]

Acting Buffalo Mayor Chris Scanlon’s brother has been killed in a hunting accident.

 

WIVB reports New York State Police responded to a call for a welfare check Wednesday after a hunter had not returned to his vehicle in the Cattaraugus County town of East Otto. An investigation determined that 54-year-old Mark P. Scanlon, of Buffalo, fell from a portable tree stand and died.

https://www.syracuse.com/state/2024/11/buffalo-mayors-brother-killed-in-hunting-accident.html

 

[dbHunterNY]

no deer is worth losing your life. i still have family members that hunt without a harness. i've told them countless times. they've come a long way and cheap insurance.

[Splitear]

There's really no excuse not to wear one. Those available today are convenient and comfortable and all it takes is a minute or 2 to keep yourself safe. One of the first things we go over in Hunter Ed are hunting accidents, and the general theme is folks getting hurt or killed are either newer hunters who generally don't know any better (which shouldn't be the case after taking hunter ed) or in large part older, more experienced hunters.

I teach both Hunter Ed and Tractor Safety for 4-H, and I always impress upon folks that most accidents occur for one of 2 reasons, Ignorance or Arrogance. Ignorance is not knowing any better (which is why they take the course), and Arrogance is knowing better and doing it anyways. Folks who act out of arrogance have probably gotten away with the same unsafe practices hundreds or thousands of times, but all it takes is one time. 

https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-02/decehisummary23.pdf

[mowin]

That's horrible and totally avoidable. 

[dbHunterNY]

1 hour ago, Splitear said:

There's really no excuse not to wear one. Those available today are convenient and comfortable and all it takes is a minute or 2 to keep yourself safe. One of the first things we go over in Hunter Ed are hunting accidents, and the general theme is folks getting hurt or killed are either newer hunters who generally don't know any better (which shouldn't be the case after taking hunter ed) or in large part older, more experienced hunters.

I teach both Hunter Ed and Tractor Safety for 4-H, and I always impress upon folks that most accidents occur for one of 2 reasons, Ignorance or Arrogance. Ignorance is not knowing any better (which is why they take the course), and Arrogance is knowing better and doing it anyways. Folks who act out of arrogance have probably gotten away with the same unsafe practices hundreds or thousands of times, but all it takes is one time. 

https://dec.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-02/decehisummary23.pdf

When the QDMA did field to fork programs we had the classroom and hunter ed at the saratoga facility. john bowe taught the hunter ed with me doing a "portable treestand" demo. they all watched me climb around 20' in not much time at all. prior to each move to go higher I moved the rope style tree strap up and "set it" in its position. multiple seasoned hunters spoke up that they never realized using one allows you, not the stand, to be attached to the tree 100% of the time. this guy clearly didn't bother which is unfortunate. I mean he maybe would've burned up 2 minutes of his time using one from putting it on to using it to climb up and down.

[Splitear]

20 minutes ago, dbHunterNY said:

When the QDMA did field to fork programs we had the classroom and hunter ed at the saratoga facility. john bowe taught the hunter ed with me doing a "portable treestand" demo. they all watched me climb around 20' in not much time at all. prior to each move to go higher I moved the rope style tree strap up and "set it" in its position. multiple seasoned hunters spoke up that they never realized using one allows you, not the stand, to be attached to the tree 100% of the time. this guy clearly didn't bother which is unfortunate. I mean he maybe would've burned up 2 minutes of his time using one from putting it on to using it to climb up and down.

I was guilty of that for a long time, I would strap in when I got to the top, but not when climbing. Looking back, very dumb, same as riding a motorcyle for years without a helmet. It adds maybe 1 minute to a climb. The few times I've ran into issues and really needed a harness it has been while climbing, not while on stand (bottom platform falling out from under me). Fortuately I was able to recover the platform each time, but still, climbing is the most dangerous part IMO, and something that a lot of hunters skip the harness for. 

[Ausable]

One reason I prefer still hunting.
Play stupid games win stupid prizes, condolences to the family, now watch nys outlaw treestands because they're dangerous

Edited November 9, 2024 by Ausable

[The_Real_TCIII]

If anyone needs a harness I just got another one with a stand. Free to a good home

[BowmanMike]

Everybody can make their own decision,but no safety harness is stupid. I have no sympathy for people that get injured not wearing one. 

It is a gamble and plenty of people loose,it only takes one time.

[mowin]

1 hour ago, BowmanMike said:

Everybody can make their own decision,but no safety harness is stupid. I have no sympathy for people that get injured not wearing one. 

It is a gamble and plenty of people loose,it only takes one time.

I'm not that mean..  I'll still have sympathy for someone that gets hurt.  But I'll be up front saying you knew better, gambled and lost. 

[Otto]

2 hours ago, The_Real_TCIII said:

If anyone needs a harness I just got another one with a stand. Free to a good home

I've got extras too. And I have a couple of Safety Ropes used for climbing up and down too. 

[mowin]

I don't have lifelines, but every ladder stand has tree straps.  Today when climbing  my ladder stand, I could see the need for a lifeline.  Next season every ladder stand will have lifelines.  I've just ordered 4 to put on the rifle stands. The rest will be on next fall. 

[Otto]

Most of the falls are when climbing up or climbing down, not while actually up there and standing or sitting. 

[First Light]

There is a saying when going up or down a ladder. 3 points of contact. I fell two years ago about 8 feet. Both feet were on the stand but one hand slipped and I fell backwards. longest 2 seconds of my life. Landed horizontal but my neck snapped pretty hard and my head hit the ground. Shoulder and neck were sore for a week. I was lucky. One more thing. Make sure there is no rocks or cut off trees at the bottom or your stand. Those can and will kill you. 

[Joe T]

Sad story and important lesson