Effect of Bolts/Spurs on Trees

[Rise.Kill.Eat]

Honest question.

This may make me seem like a tree hugger. And I assure you I am not. I burn wood in the winter as our main source of heat. I clear trees on my farm as needed.

But I can’t help but think that drilling holes for bolts and or using spikes to climb may have an adverse effect on the trees health...which is likely why it isn’t allowed on most public land properties.

So my honest question is...have any of you been using bolts/spurs on trees and in the same timber long enough to observe any negative effects on the trees health - i.e. trees dying, bark rotting off after moisture gets behind it, etc?

Again, I think that if you want to use bolts or spurs and it’s legal...go for it! Whatever gets you safely up and down the tree!

Just genuinely curious for those of you that have used them long term to chime in on what you’ve observed!


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[Nutterbuster]

@WHW has been drilling for years and I think says he's seen one tree die. I've been drilling for 2 seasons, and havent seen any issues. One tree in my yard has been drilled extensively, and the holes just grow over.

 

[T.Clarke]

I'm sure an argument could be made that they damage trees or don't damage trees. @WHW has been using bolts for decades in the same tree and has demonstrated that there have been no adverse effects. Plenty of other guys have done similar tests.
I actually think some climbers as well as wild edge steps do more harm than spurs in many cases.

 

[EricS]

You definitely run the risk, however small of killing a tree any time you penetrate the bark. Climbers do it, as well as spurs, wild edge steps, bolts, screw in steps, some climbing sticks. I’m not going to drill the only white oak, or fruit tree on a ridge. If there’s another tree in close proximity I’ll drill it instead. I’ll choose any hardwood besides an oak when possible. I I do kill a tree I’m just opening the canopy allowing sunlight to reach the forest floor and stimulate growth for forage plants. I think they could potentially be a problem if every hunter in the woods started drilling every tree they think they may hunt. I don’t see it getting that popular but it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if people quit advertising how great bolts and spurs are.

 

[mattsteg]

Why on earth would there be anything wrong with wanting to minimize negative impacts on the forests we hunt? We should all strive to be responsible stewards of the areas we hunt as well as the animals we pursue.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Can't be much different than screw in steps or tapping maples for sap.

 

[WHW]

I drilled four trees today. Two oaks and two gum trees. All four had been drilled several times with no ill effects. The oaks actually seem to handle it better than the soft wood trees like popular. Plus the solid wood of the oaks drill cleaner and easier. I’ve drilled the same water oak in our yard every September since 2005 for elevated shooting practice without any visible negative effects. I consider the drill & bolt climbing system to be the lightest and most portable there is as well as the safest.

 

[MJH]

The tree bolt holes are grown over completely by mid-summer. I have a hard time believing that this really harms the tree.

One of the reasons up here why screw ins etc are not always permitted is that metal is unwanted in the timber if it is intended to be harvested.

 

[Wasp]

Honest question.

This may make me seem like a tree hugger. And I assure you I am not. I burn wood in the winter as our main source of heat. I clear trees on my farm as needed.

But I can’t help but think that drilling holes for bolts and or using spikes to climb may have an adverse effect on the trees health...which is likely why it isn’t allowed on most public land properties.

So my honest question is...have any of you been using bolts/spurs on trees and in the same timber long enough to observe any negative effects on the trees health - i.e. trees dying, bark rotting off after moisture gets behind it, etc?

Again, I think that if you want to use bolts or spurs and it’s legal...go for it! Whatever gets you safely up and down the tree!

Just genuinely curious for those of you that have used them long term to chime in on what you’ve observed!


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I think it is a valid question. I am not an expert and have zero data to back this up.
However, my thoughts are that it makes little to no significant difference to the tree. I would cite the example of maple syrup farmers. If this were damaging the tree wouldn't they be killing their cash crop? Secondarily what about Christmas tree farms. They sheer their trees every year or other year. If these were entry points for disease wouldn't they be in effect introducing disease to the trees.

 

[sdonx]

I drilled some holes in June to set cameras. Came back in August and they were completely closed. I was very surprised.


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[Vtbow]

I've said it before....my family has been drilling 12k+ trees for years for sap for syrup and we rarely have kill off. When it is, it's in wet, swampy areas where there are already adverse conditions for them to grow.

 

[slonstdy]

Not scientific data here just my own observations from drilling trees...
I pass by three trees that I drilled holes in over 18 years ago and they are still standing very much alive and in good health. The holes have grown closed and nothing more than scars on the bark now. One is a huge evergreen of some sort over three foot in diameter on the edge of a swamp, the other two are maples on a ridge.
For the last eight years I have drilled the same nine trees, two red oaks, three black birch, one beech, one maple and two shagbark hickories and they are all living a healthy life. Each tree has between fourteen and twenty drilled holes and I only re-open the existing predrilled holes right before the season.
I also tap forty or so maples for sap/syrup every other year but these trees will only see one or two holes drilled per season, the previous holes are always sealed up with no ill effects noticed to the tree.

 

[Plinker22]

Like others have said, my yard trees have all healed over perfectly. I have not looked at any of my real hunt trees from last year. I assume the same.

 

[IkemanTX]

I had one of my drilled trees die last year....

But, it blew over in a storm, so I doubt the drilled holes had anything to do with it. Haha

I’ve got an oak on my father’s place that was drilled 3 times in the last 4 years, and it is currently dropping a heavy load of acorns with no visible scarring. I don’t have any of the multi-year histories like @WHW does.

 

[noxninja]

I personally have had no problem drilling hardwoods, but I would not and never will drill a pine tree due to sap and the possibility of potential insect damage.

 

[davesonic444]

I have a lucust i drilled 15 holes in on my property and no ill affects. Kinda wish it would die. Holes were 2 inches apart.

 

[Nutterbuster]

I have a lucust i drilled 15 holes in on my property and no ill affects. Kinda wish it would die. Holes were 2 inches apart.

Yep. I absolutely mutilated a Chinese tallow tree in my yard. It looked like swiss cheese back when I was testing treehopper drills. Probably had 100 holes in it between head and knee high.

Finally broke down and chainsawed it. When I got to cutting through the areas with holes, there was staining of the wood from water intrusion, but no rot.

 

[davesonic444]

I would not drill any trees that would likely be harvested for lumber. Most trees where i hunt are considered a nuisance by the farmer. He occasionally bulldozed them to create more till-able fields.

 

[ThePennsylvanian]

There are multiple reasons why damaging bark is illegal on most public lands but they all fall under protecting the resource. There are so many things these days that can destroy a resource, I believe the regulations are in place to eliminate the chance of harming or killing a tree. I think this is especially true in areas where the timber is harvested for sale. I know around my area we have so many threats to our tree species, emerald ash borer, chestnut blight, and this last year cicadas hammered the regen... like @mattstsaid why on earth is there anything wrong with wanting to protect [the resource]... I dont knock anyone for using them, or screw ins, or wildedge steps, or really anything that breaks the surface, that said we cant deny that the risk is increased.

 

[davesonic444]

Only other response i have is, what about woodpeckers? Do we open season on them?