Big Trees On Creek Bottom

[PJC]

You can't see from the photos but there is a creek running through the property surrounded by some marshy area and ag fields to either side. These trees are right on the creek. There is a TON of deer sign out there (I had a close encounter with a giant buck from a Ghost Blind back in early Oct). The deer cross the creek in several places. Some crossings are literal mud slides. This land is owned by the Audubon society and it used to be part of the farm I grew up on. I hunted this land for all of my youth. I didn't realize I could hunt it still until I spoke with someone from the society and they gave me permission. They let several others hunt out there too from what I could tell during the gun season. But during the bow season, I only saw one other person out there.
I can't put up ground blinds like in the past and I wouldn't want to, everyone else would be hunting out of them. But there are some large trees along the creek, not many, but they overlook the creek bed and the marsh and the edge of the crop fields. The society has cut in walking paths close to the creek so the trees are accessible and the deer like to roam those paths. The trees are big. I want to get up into them. What's the best way to do this? I'm thinking pegs. (the society said that I could use pegs) but I don't want anyone else getting the idea that they can use my trees to hunt out of. I could use bolts for the first several feet so they can't get to the pegs. There will be no hang on in the tree of course because I'll be hunting from a saddle. The trees are very wide at the bottom and I need to make a longer lineman's rope, and I'll need a second one to get past the V in the tree. I think once I get this set up it will be a very good location to hunt.
There are 3 or 4 trees I'd like to set up this way. Any advise or ideas would be appreciated. I actually put in pegs up to the V on the first tree shown but I didn't have the gear I needed to negotiate the V and get above it.
Pegs the way to go? SRT? Thoughts?

 

[g2outdoors]

hunted a giant Cottonwood in NY. I used screw in steps and it worked great. I was so hidden amongst the branches I felt totally invisible. My advice would be to drill holes and use bolts. Take them in and out with you every time.

 

[PJC]

hunted a giant Cottonwood in NY. I used screw in steps and it worked great. I was so hidden amongst the branches I felt totally invisible. My advice would be to drill holes and use bolts. Take them in and out with you every time.

All the way up the tree?

 

[g2outdoors]

All the way up the tree?

Yup. But I think bolts are better. An observant hunter will find tree steps.

Sent from my Galaxy S8.

 

[PJC]

Yup. But I think bolts are better. An observant hunter will find tree steps.

Sent from my Galaxy S8.

I think you're right.
Any advice for getting myself over that V in the tree? The tree gets wide there and it's hard to get a lineman's rope to flip up and stay up while climbing to the next step.
I'll need to throw another one over the branch and swing around a little to grab the end so I can hook it up, then take the other one off. I'm afraid of it pulling me to one side and making it hard to ascend. Any experience with that?

 

[IkemanTX]

hunted a giant Cottonwood in NY. I used screw in steps and it worked great. I was so hidden amongst the branches I felt totally invisible. My advice would be to drill holes and use bolts. Take them in and out with you every time.

That’s my recommendation as well.
Once you get used to setting trees up, you learn your spacing by heart. Even in the dark it’s not too hard to find your bolt holes.



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[g2outdoors]

Some trees are tricky to climb with a LB. You have to make a judgement call on the safety aspect. I've climbed many trees without a LB at all. Me personally, I wouldn't let that stop me from hunting a tree. I'd just go slow and be very methodical.

 

[Jefferson10940]

If you want to stay attached to the tree, maybe you can screw in an eye hook or something to throw the LB into until you get above the V? Just a quick thought, in reality it may be a terrible idea. But at least you are attached.

 

[Gettin Closer]

I had to use bolts to get up 8 foot before using the Stepp Ladder. Bolt would work all the way up too. As far as going over the fork in the tree, I go up as high as I can and take a second (longer) lineman belt and throw it over the fork and hook up again. Worst case scenario, I had to hook a lineman to my tether to make it really long to get past the fork and stay connected.

 

[PJC]

If you want to stay attached to the tree, maybe you can screw in an eye hook or something to throw the LB into until you get above the V? Just a quick thought, in reality it may be a terrible idea. But at least you are attached.

I was thinking the same thing today. I was going to ask (and now I will) if there is some sort of Screw In Eye Bolt, similar to the screw in tree step? That would be awesome. I'd even consider putting in a few along the way up and having two belts to hook up with so I'd always be attached and alternate them as I go.

 

[PJC]

I had to use bolts to get up 8 foot before using the Stepp Ladder. Bolt would work all the way up too. As far as going over the fork in the tree, I go up as high as I can and take a second (longer) lineman belt and throw it over the fork and hook up again. Worst case scenario, I had to hook a lineman to my tether to make it really long to get past the fork and stay connected.

Yeah, that's where I was with the process yesterday. I had the second lineman's belt tossed over the limb, swung around enough grab it and hook up. My problem was the *^$%#@ blakes hitch knot in the second belt. It wore me out trying to get it to adjust. Tighter than a ... So I just came down to make changes to my gear so I can advance again. No way I'm climbing this without being hooked up at all times.
By the way, I feel real safe in the kestrel while working on this.

 

[wes k]

Tree hopper bolts or SRT

 

[PJC]

Tree hopper bolts or SRT

Can you explain?


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[IkemanTX]

Yeah, that's where I was with the process yesterday. I had the second lineman's belt tossed over the limb, swung around enough grab it and hook up. My problem was the *^$%#@ blakes hitch knot in the second belt. It wore me out trying to get it to adjust. Tighter than a ... So I just came down to make changes to my gear so I can advance again. No way I'm climbing this without being hooked up at all times.
By the way, I feel real safe in the kestrel while working on this.

Grab a ropeman1 for each linesman belt/tether.


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[PJC]

Grab a ropeman1 for each linesman belt/tether.


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Ordered another one yesterday


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[noxninja]

Woodpecker drill and some grade 8 bolts!

 

[Sipsey]

You can replace the Kestrel linemans belt with a good quality hollow braid, similar to the tree hopper system. Splice into one loop on the Kestrel and splice back into it to make an adjustable loop to your desired length.

 

[PJC]

You can replace the Kestrel linemans belt with a good quality hollow braid, similar to the tree hopper system. Splice into one loop on the Kestrel and splice back into it to make an adjustable loop to your desired length.

That's over my head. I don't know what tree hopper is.

 

[PJC]

Ok, looked up Tree Hopper. I see they make a drill like the Wood Pecker drill. I like the bit they offer. Those I find in the hardware stores are so long that they will be a pain to use.

 

[PJC]

Tree hopper bolts or SRT

Wish I knew more about SRT. I've got a lot to learn.