texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Beatixre, MooseSteed, Trappernewt, casyoo
71987 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,788
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 65,413
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Stub 43,764
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics536,988
Posts9,719,168
Members86,987
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2
Tower of Death #5955356 10/01/15 02:01 AM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 369
MartyN Offline OP
Bird Dog
OP Offline
Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 369
Hey guys, I joined a new lease last year and put my 4x6 blind on a 16' tower that was available on the property. Love the view, but coming up on birthday 55 and feeling like I need to come up with some sort of safety harness. The ladder is vertical, and I usually have a backpack and my rifle slung over my shoulder (unloaded). When I get to the blind I have to hang on with my left hand while I reach up to open the door with my right, then duck as the door swings open. Not a good situation. Also, that first backwards step out of the blind to come down is not ideal.

I know there are safety harnesses for tree stands. Would one of those work? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5955362 10/01/15 02:03 AM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
S
stxranchman Offline
Obie Juan Kenobi
Offline
Obie Juan Kenobi
S
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
Get you a rope to pull up your backpack and rifle that you leave tied up there permantly. I would look at getting an angle ladder or staircase for it.


Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?[Linked Image]
Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5955365 10/01/15 02:04 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442
kmon11 Offline
junior
Offline
junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442
Tower climbers have harnesses used on vertical steel ladders.

I would also use a rope to pull my gun and pack up.


lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true
Mainstream news might be fun to watch
Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5955374 10/01/15 02:09 AM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067
T
titan2232 Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
T
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067
Def a rope to pull your gear up. I put in a sliding door on the new blind I just made. Aluminum tracks from Home Depot and a few spare shielded ball bearings from work.



Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5955398 10/01/15 02:19 AM
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,432
T
TFF Caribou Offline
Extreme Tracker
Offline
Extreme Tracker
T
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,432
I would think about some stairs.


The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference. -George Washington
Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5955417 10/01/15 02:30 AM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,269
S
swmays Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
S
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,269
I have the same thing at 10'. Was ok 15 years ago. The solution for me may be adding two post and a platform at about 7' from where I can stand and reach the latch to open the door...

Re: Tower of Death [Re: swmays] #5955422 10/01/15 02:32 AM
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
S
stxranchman Offline
Obie Juan Kenobi
Offline
Obie Juan Kenobi
S
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
Originally Posted By: swmays
I have the same thing at 10'. Was ok 15 years ago. The solution for me may be adding two post and a platform at about 7' from where I can stand and reach the latch to open the door...

This ^^^^^^^^ If you think getting in and out is difficult today, wait till it is cold and you are stiff from sitting for hours one morning/evening and try to get out.


Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?[Linked Image]
Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5955440 10/01/15 02:39 AM
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,161
S
SouthWestIron Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
S
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,161
Sir, I'd recommend a safety harness with a pick off strap. Pick off strap is a smaller webbing strap that attaches to your harness via a carbiner. You can lock in before climbing into the blind and coming down out of it. You can also lock in every couple of rungs going up and down the ladder of the blind.

Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5955466 10/01/15 03:00 AM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 369
MartyN Offline OP
Bird Dog
OP Offline
Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 369
thanks guys, I just ordered a harness, lifeline, and tow strap from Hunter Safety Harness. Looks like just what I need.

Re: Tower of Death [Re: SouthWestIron] #5955476 10/01/15 03:09 AM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 189
J
JDPoulsen Offline
Woodsman
Offline
Woodsman
J
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 189
I second the safety harness idea. The Tower of Death reminded me of my father in laws Deer Stand he hunted out of over 30 years ago. It was over twenty feet off the ground in a Power Line Tower. My father in law would climb up on bolts staggered up one corner and when he got up as high as the stand, he had to walk across the length of one side to get into the stand. He did not use a rope to get his rifle up there. He held it in one hand and climbed up. He hunted for years out of this stand even climbing it when it was glazed over with ice. He killed some good bucks out of the stand. The Power Company would take it down and he would get his ropes and pulley and put it back up. We finally convinced him to quit hunting out of it.


Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5955549 10/01/15 04:05 AM
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 529
B
basspromaster Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
B
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 529
Please be safe. Great job ordering the harness and I too would be using a rope to pull up and drop your gun and pack. You have way to many people that live and care about u to fall and get injured or die doing something like that. Good luck this season and God bless!

Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5955907 10/01/15 02:23 PM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 189
J
JDPoulsen Offline
Woodsman
Offline
Woodsman
J
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 189
When my father in law was a young kid, he and his older brother decided it would be fun to climb the town Water Tower. Their Mama was washing dishes and looked out the kitchen window and saw two of her boys walking around on the roof of the Water Tower. She went out on the back porch and hollered for them to get down. When their Dad got home from work he made sure they never scared their mother like that again. I bet they couldn't sit down for a week!


Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5955933 10/01/15 02:40 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,481
R
redchevy Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
R
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,481
This is what we did. This stand is only 10 or 12 foot tall but the porch is nice!


It's hell eatin em live
Re: Tower of Death [Re: redchevy] #5955959 10/01/15 02:56 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,441
T
TxDispatcher Offline
Veteran Tracker
Offline
Veteran Tracker
T
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 2,441
Originally Posted By: redchevy
This is what we did. This stand is only 10 or 12 foot tall but the porch is nice!


That's pretty much what I went with. I built the base 4x8 and the stand is 4x6, so I have a 2' porch to get on before worrying about the door. And the door swings in...but it's much more comfortable to have that small porch section to stand on


Originally Posted by East...
Originally Posted by East...
I will get off in a little bit

You shouldnt have said that
Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5955971 10/01/15 03:06 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,481
R
redchevy Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
R
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,481
Hunted a buddies place a couple times they have a 25 foot tall tower with straight ladder with rungs about 1.5 to 2 foot apart. I don't like that stand. It feels like FOREVER till you get to that top rung when climbing down!


It's hell eatin em live
Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5956010 10/01/15 03:40 PM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 316
BigBucky2014 Offline
Bird Dog
Offline
Bird Dog
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 316
Here is the 4x6 that I built last year. Worked awesome last season. I built the platform and base first and then put the blind on top. The entire platform is 4'x10'. The blind is 4x6 which means the porch is 4x4. I used Elevators to secure the legs and deck boards to cover the porch. I know you already ordered the harness with the lifeline (great product), but you might want to do this in the future.


Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5956170 10/01/15 05:29 PM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 369
MartyN Offline OP
Bird Dog
OP Offline
Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 369
would love to have a porch on mine

Re: Tower of Death [Re: JDPoulsen] #5956408 10/01/15 07:40 PM
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 21,271
S
SniperRAB Offline
THF Celebrity
Offline
THF Celebrity
S
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 21,271
Originally Posted By: JDPoulsen
I second the safety harness idea. The Tower of Death reminded me of my father in laws Deer Stand he hunted out of over 30 years ago. It was over twenty feet off the ground in a Power Line Tower. My father in law would climb up on bolts staggered up one corner and when he got up as high as the stand, he had to walk across the length of one side to get into the stand. He did not use a rope to get his rifle up there. He held it in one hand and climbed up. He hunted for years out of this stand even climbing it when it was glazed over with ice. He killed some good bucks out of the stand. The Power Company would take it down and he would get his ropes and pulley and put it back up. We finally convinced him to quit hunting out of it.






Committed roflmao


Re: Tower of Death [Re: SniperRAB] #5956469 10/01/15 08:14 PM
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 189
J
JDPoulsen Offline
Woodsman
Offline
Woodsman
J
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 189
One morning he had climbed up to this stand in the dark. As he was fixing to step into the stand a big Owl flew out right by his head. Don't know how my father in law kept his composure but he stayed the course and climbed in and hunted that morning!

Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5956470 10/01/15 08:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,113
Bbcat78 Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,113
love it SniperRAB, looks like something my family would do

Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5956755 10/01/15 11:56 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 103
R
Rembrandt Offline
Woodsman
Offline
Woodsman
R
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 103
We went with stairs for the safety aspect......especially with the kids.


Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5957155 10/02/15 04:10 AM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 869
B
Bdontexoma Offline
Tracker
Offline
Tracker
B
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 869
This and you should be good in case you use your footing. I have one on both the trees I hunt out of. Never fallen but it's nice to know I would never fall more than 2 or 3 feet if I did loose my footing.

http://www.huntersafetysystem.com/hss-reflective-lifeline/

Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5957188 10/02/15 05:12 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 27,891
skinnerback Offline
THF Celebrity Chef
Offline
THF Celebrity Chef
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 27,891
Hunting high (in the air) is different for sure. When I was 6 yrs old I think (5 or 6), I followed my Dad up a 25' tower blind on a fence line in S Texas (vertical ladder). I was a climber, so he trusted me I guess. Made it to the top but ain't gonna lie I was a little scared when I looked down. Dad said don't look down & opened the door, put 25-06 & Thermos inside, told me to hold on tight son as he climbed in then reached his big arm down and pulled me in. First thing I noticed were the yellow jacket nests and before I could even finish my sentence Dad told me to calm down, be quiet, he's got a knife it's gonna be OK (was a little cold out). Took him about 5 minutes to cut all of the half comatose yellow jackets in half and then he poured me a cup of hot chocolate from his Thermos and told me not to touch them because they can still sting you. Also toted my BB gun up and my job was to shoot the cows in the butt if they got too close to the blind. Cows rubbing on tower blind was kinda scary LOL. Right before dark Dad said there's a good buck, he just stuck his neck out of the brush. He's a good ways out there, be quiet and don't move. Set binoculars down grabbed rifle and BAM. I got him son, gonna wait a few minutes. I'm going down first and then you step down. Don't worry, I've got you. I was so excited I can hardly remember getting down. That was my first experience in a tower blind and something I will never forget. Miss you Dad.


Re: Tower of Death [Re: MartyN] #5957189 10/02/15 05:15 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,177
D
DH3 Offline
Pro Tracker
Offline
Pro Tracker
D
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,177
I am 80 and climb a ladder to a blind 16' off the ground. I climb with my rifle strapped to my back. Difference is a "porch".
If the O.P. has to climb a vertical ladder, then use one hand to open the blind door (and duck when the wind tries to blow it shut) he is in a world of hurt. Trying to pull a rifle and backpack up on a rope is just asking for it to get caught on the ladder while he peeks out and holds the door open.
He needs a porch "add-on" and an angled ladder, MINIMUM.
Be safe out there! scared


Old age and treachery beats youth and stupid every time!
Re: Tower of Death [Re: skinnerback] #5957203 10/02/15 06:18 AM
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067
T
titan2232 Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
Offline
THF Trophy Hunter
T
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067
Originally Posted By: skinnerback
Hunting high (in the air) is different for sure. When I was 6 yrs old I think (5 or 6), I followed my Dad up a 25' tower blind on a fence line in S Texas (vertical ladder). I was a climber, so he trusted me I guess. Made it to the top but ain't gonna lie I was a little scared when I looked down. Dad said don't look down & opened the door, put 25-06 & Thermos inside, told me to hold on tight son as he climbed in then reached his big arm down and pulled me in. First thing I noticed were the yellow jacket nests and before I could even finish my sentence Dad told me to calm down, be quiet, he's got a knife it's gonna be OK (was a little cold out). Took him about 5 minutes to cut all of the half comatose yellow jackets in half and then he poured me a cup of hot chocolate from his Thermos and told me not to touch them because they can still sting you. Also toted my BB gun up and my job was to shoot the cows in the butt if they got too close to the blind. Cows rubbing on tower blind was kinda scary LOL. Right before dark Dad said there's a good buck, he just stuck his neck out of the brush. He's a good ways out there, be quiet and don't move. Set binoculars down grabbed rifle and BAM. I got him son, gonna wait a few minutes. I'm going down first and then you step down. Don't worry, I've got you. I was so excited I can hardly remember getting down. That was my first experience in a tower blind and something I will never forget. Miss you Dad.



Thanks for sharing. Good story up



Page 1 of 2 1 2
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3