Hard to be too safe.
http://www.weau.com/content/news/Falls-from-tree-stands-result-in-spinal-injury-470287243.html

I had a fall 15 years ago and was very lucky. I was coming down the tree with a harness on, but had to take the lanyard loose to get around a crotch. When fastening the lanyard back something stung my hand. My natural reaction caused me to jerk my hand away and down came about 15 feet from the bottom of my feet. I never go up/down a tree without a harness or lifeline and I use a double lanyard in case I have to go around a limb while putting up or taking down stands.

Another take away from that day was that nobody knew where I was. I was moving a stand in the early afternoon before going to another location to hunt. Now I always let somebody know where I’ll be and make contact as soon as I’m out. I created a map of my hunting areas with numbered locations so it is easy for me to tell her I’m hunting stand #1 today. She either knows where all my stands are or could give the map to search/rescue to find me.

Thanks for sharing your story Gary. Plenty to be learned from that.
I think most falls happen when climbing up or down. I'm trying to figure out a harness system for climbing up and down, but can't seem to figure it out. I use a strap once in the stand, but your story is a good reminder for everyone.

I often hunt trees with branches, so developing the fall system for that seems tricky, especially since it's not uncommen for people to have multiple stands that they may go to on a given day.

My rule not the spouse......no harness no tree stand. I always tell her where I will be and let her know when I'm out of the woods. I also show her or tell her where my stand is. If anything ever happened she knows where to look or send help at dark.

I'm a tree climber by trade and feel very confident in trees and I've never used safety harnesses but I was in a lock on in Ohio this year 35ft up and had been in the stand for 6-7 hours and was staying til dark about 1 o'clock I fell asleep in the stand and woke up as I was going over the side. Luckily I was able to grab the stand with one hand and catch myself. I have a wife and 3 kids that depend on me coming home so from now on this ole boy will be wearing a safety harness. They make a life line that keeps you attached going up and down too

Every year I say that Im going to buy a quality harness and climbing system but I never do.

My rule for anyone who hunts with me no harness no hunt I put lifelines with every stand, accidents happen but don't have to end up as tragedies.

I have also had a fall and was very fortunate that a 6 hour surgery and 3 months with no weight on one leg allowed me to heal and move on with a normal life.

Stay connected to the tree at all times once you leave the ground. Use a double linemans belt if you have limbs or forks to go around when hanging a stand then attach a lifeline with a prusik on it to use when hunting. If using a climber, use a harness with a loop around the tree and move it up and down as you climb and descend.

Also know what to do if you should slip and be suspended in your harness. Suspension trauma can be fatal if you do not relieve the pressure so blood can circulate.

Good advise above on location as well. I got a device for Christmas that allows me to send and receive texts and also activate an SOS with emergency services anywhere in the world through a satellite network. I hunt areas by myself where there is spotty or no cell service and family is several states away. This device also allows them and emergency services to know my location.

Just for what it's worth everyone, you can make your own lifelines. It's surprisingly easy to do and actually kind of fun. Plus it's about half the price of buying them.

I bought 2 spools of rope, one for the lifeline and one to make the prusik, because I hang stands at various heights. The one length pre-made ones were not always long enough. I can precut and tie the prusiks but I take the entire spool of lifeline to the woods and do not cut it until I have the top anchored and know where to cut it to attach it at the bottom.

High percentage of falls happen getting in or out of the stand....when I used hang on stands I was guilty of stepping up off my last step into the stand basically using the stand as a tree step, and stepping down off the stand...not a good idea....

Now I use a sling as my stand, I never have to get in or out of my stand I'm always in my sling...it's a great system but not for everyone.....I never have to put up or take down another stand, I hated hanging stands...

Hopefully all of you had a safe season