Man that crazy glad to hear you are alright. I was just in my climber at 40 feet this weekend without a harness. I will be buying one. What kind of climber was it?
I know people are curious about which stand, but boys it really don't matter. They are all welded or pressed pieces . That means any of them can fail or break like any other mechanical item. Wear your harness and let someone know where you are hunting at and for gods sake take your stand out in the yard In good daylight and check every square inch of it.
Glad you and your friend made it out OK. It sounds like it was a close run thing. From this day forward remember friends don't let friends deer hunt in a tree without wearing a safety harness. And don't get an el cheapo safety harness. Get a good one. Your life depends on it.
Glad your ok and able to share this experience with us. I'm bad about not putting my harness on until i get up the tree. Don't wear them in ladder stands, though I reckon I should. Can't imagine how scary that was for ya, but it seems your eyes are open and probably opened a few of ours too!
I was at grady opening weekend of archery season visiting a friend there. There was a game warden I know there and he was up checking on a hunter that fell. He said there had been reports of 3 from opening morning in Georgia.
Glad you are here to realize your mistake. Had this happen to me. Bottom busted and went, caught myself dip exercise style in the top piece. Pulled up through stand and reached out and rode a 20 ft young pine to the forest floor below. No harness. I was young. 20 maybe. I dont use climbers any more. Ladders well achored to trees and ground.
I`ve been using a harness for maybe 10 years. I went to my climber several years ago on opening morning of bow season, step up on climber and realize I`ve forgotten my harness. So I drive back to camp and sit out opening morning because I didn`t want to mess anyone else hunt that morning. Go back that afternoon and got a big doe. It was worth not hunting that morning because I forgot the harness. Glad you came out alright.