I climbed into my tree stand and hung my bow on my bow hook this evening. As I was about to take my pack off the ratchet strap on the top of the hanging stand broke. I fell 18ft to the ground but landed on my feet. On the way down my left butt cheek caught the side of the ladder stick ripping it open. So after a trip to the ER and 9 stitches inside and 11 stitches outside I'm back at home. I am a firm believer the good Lord stepped in this evening and let me make it another day. I realize how bad this could have been had I landed on my head so please, please wear your harness.

Dang bud. Sure glad it wasn't worse, because it sure could have been!!! Always wear your harness and be safe

Dang brother take it easy on those tree steps!! GLAD you're ok!!

Landing on your feet, from that height, you're lucky this is the extent of your injures.
Glad you're ok though.

Holy crap! I don't think it's going to be comfortable sitting for a while, but falling that far I'm surprised you didn't break a bone, thankfully. That butt rub probably slowed your fall.

Hope you heal up quick.

You're lucky that your injury is not worse!!! Thank you for the reminder!!! They make safety gear for a reason!!!

things that happen (good or bad) are a number game... Wasn't your time to go, but it was time to rip you a new [censored] and wake you up. May as well clean the gutters since you won't be settin for awhile.
Thanks for the reminder.... I've been in a portable stand a couple of times in the area that I've been hunting. You can bet I won't be climbing my fatass up there again.. It's homemade too by a guy that's 60 pounds lighter than me...

Your a lucky man to only have those minor injuries. My dad fell climbing our tower stand a few years ago. He landed on both of his feet too, difference is he broke both of his feet and heels. Pretty tough on him for a while. Glad your injuries were not worse.

Glad you're OK.

And dont tie off to your stand. If it falls, as in the op, then it is no help to you.

Always nervous climbing up until I'm completely strapped to the tree. Even though I believe my stand is secure, it always settles a little as I'm climbing/sitting in it. Very nerve wracking.

Yikes, like stated above. Landing on your feet, could of been a lot worst. I knew a guy that fell from a stand because he got attacked by bee's when he opened up his blind. He ended up blowing out both hips, and both ankles. Count your blessings my friend, your a lucky man. Speedy recovery.

FINALLY! A post with a real life & death message.....

Glad you weren't injured anymore than you were!

Wow...Glad you are okay Bud, Not good.

Guys, I can't stress enough how lucky I was and hope people can learn from my mistake. I will be selling all my tree stands and going to ladder stands, ground blinds and tripods. I just can't take the chance since my kids hunt with me all the time.

I got rid of all my tree climbers once I turned 40, strictly use portable ground blinds or box stands as I mostly hunt with my kids.

Had a few events that made me think twice and I always wore my safety harness.

You are indeed blessed to not have broken any bones and be able to walk away from such a fall.

I have 2 ladder stands for bow hunting and a tower blind for gun season!!! We do need reminders at times to use safety equipment just glad you weren't injured worse than you were!!!

Damn wish I hadn't looked at that. I don't use a climbing stand, scared of heights and weigh more than a lot of the climbers max weight is at (250). Will get in a elevated box stand but I like my roomy pop up blind. That does look like a major pain in the butt

Glad things werent any worse! As bad as the tear in the leg is, it might be good that it slowed you down a little..

I fell about 18" out of a tree stand about 10 years ago, and luckily hit a few limbs on the way down. I felt like the ball in a freaking pachinko machine, and landed on my side after bouncing off the last limb at about 10'. Landing like that was the hardest shot of any kind I have ever taken, and it knocked the wind out of me so bad it is a wonder I didnt pass out.

Miraculously, no broken bones or serious injuries, and I probably landed on the only spot on that whole ranch that didnt have cactus, mesquite, or rocks covering it!

I got home and discovered that I had one ear packed with bark, and had a big bark-imprint bruise on my forehead.

My gun and pack were still up in the tree, so once I collected myself a bit, I had to climb right back up and lower them down!

That was the last time I climbed that freaking tree, and I build a 6' elevated box blind with a ships ladder the next year!

I always throw an extra strap on mine

glad you made it out without major injuries. a friends father fell out of his stand and broke his back in the 90's, his daughter found him in the woods after he didn't come home that night. he's okay now, but had a rough time for awhile.

again, i'm glad your injuries weren't worse.

I'm sure it's 18' and not 18". Unless you are a really small person. Somebody had to say it

Wow ! that's intense ! glad your ok though be safe