Climbing larger trees

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cbigbear
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Climbing larger trees

Unread postby cbigbear » Fri Oct 02, 2015 11:13 pm

What's your method & equipment for larger trees? Not setting up in a large tree cost me a shot at a pretty good 3 yr old velvet buck yesterday morning!!!

I've used extension straps before, but the problem is getting the strap around tree. Is rope easier?

Where I was hunting yesterday the trees are either 6" or 5' diameter.

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kenn1320
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Re: Climbing larger trees

Unread postby kenn1320 » Fri Oct 02, 2015 11:52 pm

Bummer. I think ropes are easier and that's what I use. They have some "back bone" which allows you to flip them around the tree without having to really swing them. Sure you can fling a buckle around the tree, but its going to land a foot lower. My ropes are long and still had a tree i could barely get around. Ropes do stretch, so using them on shaggy bark is going to be a little more noisy. I still believe they are the better choice.

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Re: Climbing larger trees

Unread postby BassBoysLLP » Sat Oct 03, 2015 12:00 am

5 foot diameter is huge especially if you have those big southern buttresses. I don't think I could do it with a stand and sticks. Maybe a single rope climb? I've never done it in a hunting setting, only trimming, but I would strongly consider it if my area was like that.

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Re: Climbing larger trees

Unread postby drew13 » Sat Oct 03, 2015 1:44 am

Can you use screwin steps? I have had to use a few screwins at the bottom of a tree to get high enough to where the taper of the tree allows me to use my LW sticks. Have also used an extension strap as you mentioned.

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Re: Climbing larger trees

Unread postby sojourner » Sat Oct 03, 2015 2:13 am

I have the lw stick extensions but have not used them. Do you just use a larks foot / girth hitch to attach the extension to the strap?

Largest trees I was in was with a climber (Treewalker) or a ladder stand. To me, big trees are tough with sticks and hang on.

I have not done it, but I believe I could use two ropes with prussic / biner and sling to inch my way up in a guidos web. If I encounter a tree that big that I must hunt from, I'll give it a try.

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Re: Climbing larger trees

Unread postby BassBoysLLP » Sat Oct 03, 2015 2:44 am

I've been meaning to try this for a while to climb some jumbo oaks down south. It looks easier than the conventional ascender approach I've used in the past.

[bbvideo=425,350]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SpQ1AC0Ikw[/bbvideo]

I'd PM redsquirrel if you are interested as he's been using it in conjunction with his saddle. He has a good thread on his forum (saddlehunter).
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VA5326
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Re: Climbing larger trees

Unread postby VA5326 » Sat Oct 03, 2015 2:06 pm

Try strapworksdotcom. I had them make me some 8ft cinch straps specifically for this reason. I use sticks and Ameristep rapid rails. They make them to the specs YOU want.
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Re: Climbing larger trees

Unread postby Zap » Sat Oct 03, 2015 2:13 pm

I have used tree steps on very large diameter trees, but I never really cared for not being strapped in while setting them.

I do not set them anymore and if I really wanted to I would probably stake and tie off a ladder or use a ladderstand, which I do not own.
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Re: Climbing larger trees

Unread postby BassBoysLLP » Tue Oct 06, 2015 1:36 pm

Another option is a plain old ladder. I've done this a bunch of times and its surprising how quiet you can set up if you take your time
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Re: Climbing larger trees

Unread postby dirt nap giver » Tue Oct 06, 2015 1:45 pm

When trees are that big, I use a 2-3 foot stick in my right hand and toss the buckle around then it lands on the stick. Then I tip the stick up and bring it around the tree. It works best if you have a small "Y" at the end of the stick.
It works better than trying to catch it with my hand.

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Re: Climbing larger trees

Unread postby BassBoysLLP » Thu Oct 08, 2015 1:39 pm

BassBoysLLP wrote:I've been meaning to try this for a while to climb some jumbo oaks down south. It looks easier than the conventional ascender approach I've used in the past.

[bbvideo=425,350]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SpQ1AC0Ikw[/bbvideo]

I'd PM redsquirrel if you are interested as he's been using it in conjunction with his saddle. He has a good thread on his forum (saddlehunter).


Link to that thread.

http://saddlehunter.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=104
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ThePreBanMan
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Re: Climbing larger trees

Unread postby ThePreBanMan » Thu Oct 08, 2015 3:45 pm

What I've done is taken the long strap on my lone wolf stand and sticks and replaced it with 1" tubular webbing. I cut a piece that was 9 feet long and tied a figure 8 loop knot in the end that loops over the button. The other end goes through the buckle. You lose about 1.5 feet to the knot.

How to tie the knot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DwxY744fcU
OR
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZUC132qE2Y

It works very well and you can go as long as you want on the webbing...
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Re: Climbing larger trees

Unread postby BigCedarJack » Thu Oct 08, 2015 5:00 pm

I use rope and a stick with a hook.

Cool vid!

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