Many hunters carry a backpack or fanny pack with them into the woods and most of those hunters carry those packs up the tree for easy access to gear and snacks throughout the hunt. All a good option when things are going well. However, should you fall from a tree to the forest floor below, you will quickly realize the pack which may be housing all the things you need to stay alive—cell phone, knife, whistle, water and more—is now well out of reach. For safety purposes I prefer to leave my backpack holding all my gear on the ground below my stand, near the base of my tree, just in case a fall happens.
Once I am securely strapped into my treestand and settling into the hunt, I secure one end of a haul-line rope to my camouflaged backpack and the other end of the rope to my stand somewhere within easy reach. Before I lower the backpack to the forest floor below, I give it a good spray of scent killing spray to eliminate any traces of my scent. Because the rope stays attached throughout the hunt, I can retrieve my backpack anytime I want. Should I fall my backpack will be within reach just in case I should need it.
Staying safe is the most important aspect of any hunt. Keeping potential life-saving equipment within reach only makes sense.
Do you have a treestand safety tip? Share it with us in the comment section.
[lisa]
Actually I would us a long enough rope to tie the bag over a branch and attach it round the trunk of the tree. That way you can untie it and drop it down. The movement up and down to retrieve the bag might spook a deer. Yes it’d have to be a long rope, but wrap them around the tree and spray with scent covering spray. Beats no deer.
Should wear a Tree harness and prevent falling in the first place