Age of stands...safety issue?

[deer_slayer]

I was just sitting her thinking about some of my stands that I have left out. I usually take them out each winter and then hang them again in August. These are store bought (API I think) hang on stands, but they are probably close to 10 years old. Last year was busy and I ended up leaving them out all year. I have hunted all of them at various times this year, and except for one seat ripping, they are all in about the same shape they were in last year. I was just wondering what the rest of you do in regards to your stands and how long you think they will last. I'm a little concerned of the straps that hold them to the tree rotting from age and being left out in the weather so much. When do you decide a stand is just too old to safely trust anymore and replace it?

[Great White Hunter]

deer_slayer said:
When do you decide a stand is just too old to safely trust anymore and replace it?

I guess when the stand falls out from under you. What kind of a question is that? Are you serious?

[Rafe Hollister]

I don't think deer_slayer was asking a serious question. He just wanted to see if it was possible to post someplace other than the Buy/Sell/Trade Forum.

[counts]

The industry now puts a 5 year lifespan on stand straps. Not replacing them after 5 years may cause serious injury or death.

[Warmouth]

Just keep an eye on the straps, the will fray before they get dangerous.

I have a habbit of feeling the strap before I climb into the stand, to make sure some yahoo hasn't tried to steal it, or loosened it up somehow. I heard a story about a fella climbing into his stand and a tresspasser had cut the strap 90% through, it was basically a death trap, so I check mine now before taking that first step onto the stand.

In the off season I just stack them in a shed, set them out in lat July-August to air out, for a few days before setting them up again.

[2BHNTN]

I inspect each stand before hanging each year, replace the cables, straps, and bolts on my API's as needed. Anymore though its about as cheap to go buy a new one. 5 years sounds like a good rule of thumb for the straps.

[counts]

I am sure that is a conservative number. If his stands are 10 years old, I would start replacing them. The industry has come a long way on safety. Wasn't that long ago when a harness that came with a stand consisted on a single strap around your chest. Talk about a death trap. I would almost rather take the fall over using one of those. My dumbazz used the thing for a few years before swithching to a full body.

[2BHNTN]

Me too Counts.... they sent them free with the api's. I'm so fuggin top heavy a fall with one of those type straps just couldn't be too pretty.

[Warmouth]

I still have those straps set up for each stand, but I only wear them if there is ice or severe wind. I have the ballance of a cat though.

[Big John]

Can anyone say HARNESS!!!!

[Big John]

P.s. I don't own any store bought or hagers for that matter, but my stands are checked for problems befroe I put them out. My oldest one is 15 years with no problems.

[deer_slayer]

I wear a full body harness everytime I'm in a hang on type stand, but you have to get in the stand before you can strap yourself to the tree. With my luck, that moment just before I get myself hooked up would be when the stand would break. Most of these stands are 20 plus feet up and I'm not really looking forward to that sudden stop at the bottom of the tree.

I think I may try to rig something so that the stands use chains instead of nylon straps.