The reason that this West Virginia hillbilly makes it look so easy in this video is because it is that easy. Practice and trust. Too many times the beginner tries to make the spurs work. Put the spur against the tree at the correct angle and stand up on it. If @flinginairos can do it....... anyone can. Great video Jared.
@flinginairos great video! It really shows how quiet and easy they are to use.
I don’t use them because of the potential effects to the tree. I just want to point out the potential issue they can have, I can remember learning about it in Dendrology and Forest Ecology in collge, and what factors effect the potential damage. Anytime you puncture the cambium layer (the only living part of the tree just below the bark), you have to be concerned with two things, Disease and Insects.
So, the factors that can effect the severity of the potential damage to the tree are
The time of year- Spring and summer will “heal” over faster than winter/fall. Longer the wound is exposed the more potential for insect/disease infestation.
The species of the tree- Some trees heal faster, some are more resistant to damage.
The size of the hole (depth does not matter)- How wide or tall the hole is, this is the amount of cambium is exposed, most things sub like 1/2” will “heal” in one growing season depending on some factor listed here.
Angle of the wounds- upward, perpendicular, downward, in order from least to most potential for issues.
Growth ring size- Thicker growth rings(longer growing season or better soil) the better, thinner growth rings(shorter growing season or poor soil) not so good. Growth rings can also be effected by where a tree is growing or if it is leaning. Typically the down hill or side that the tree is leaning to, will have thicker growth rings on that side. The uphill side or the side it is leaning from will have smaller growth rings. The growth rings will effect the “healing” rate.
Tree’s don’t heal like we do. We get a cut, our skin will scab then heal (return to function). A tree will develop something similar to a cyst, it will seal off the damaged area but it will never return to function.
Looking at that, as hunters using spurs for the most part, we put the worst angle of hole, in the worst time of year and if on a leaning trees on the worst side of the tree. So all this means is we have increased the likely hood of said tree to become exposed to disease and insect infestation.
It’s a lot like skinning/handling animals without gloves, some will accept the risk for potential diseases, some won’t.
It’s up to each person to make a decision on private lands.
Thanks,
Boswell
I don't believe they are prohibited in Ontario on crown lands.I wish they were legal. Great video.
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I wish they were legal. Great video.
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Thanks for that Info that’s good stuff to know!! Like I said in the video, that is a call you have to make yourself and do what feels right to you. Got a question for you that I have been curious about because I see it a lot, what kind of damage does a strap/chain do that is left on a tree to the point that it starts to grow around it? I see it all the time on public land where guys leave stands up for years.
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I hunt within 15 miles of home and they are prohibited on all the public land available to me - Conservation areas and provincial park reserves. I also hunt some private land including my own farm. Presets with bolts work great at home.I don't believe they are prohibited in Ontario on crown lands.
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Good question, there is actually a term for that, its called edaphoecotropism when a tree grows around a foreign object. You see this a lot with old fences that have a tree grown around them. Because this a slow process, its not as bad for the tree as a puncture wound. My understanding it engulfs the foreign object with out exposing it the object to the cambium layer.Got a question for you that I have been curious about because I see it a lot, what kind of damage does a strap/chain do that is left on a tree to the point that it starts to grow around it?
I know I have done worse damage with a climbing tree stand.
Even my saddle platform can leave a nasty cut into the layer.
Not to mention damage done with tree steps, tree bolts, bow/pack hangers, ratchet strap camera bases, poor cuts with a hand saw, etc.
All are vectors for disease and insects.
It's tough to be perfect. Agree that one needs to use their own judgement. It's tough to walk through the woods without stepping on living things.
Hi Ontario,
Hope you had a nice Easter. I just tried a search on the MNR site trying to find info on using Spurs. Nothing came up. Do you know the site?
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