Why don't yall 2TC?

[krub6b]

I had a question about the foot loop so is here is a picture of the current configuration that is working well. It is made of 14 feet of Sampson Predator 11,4mm rope. One end had the normal loop for girth hitching the tree. The other is tied into a Blakes hitch loop with a stopper knot. I added a 6 inch piece of 1 inch rubber hose from the hardware store to keep the loop spread out so it is easier to get my foot in. This is only really an issue coming down the tree in the dark. I also added a strip of reflective wrap to each end so I could see where to put my foot in the dark.

On the foot loop between the grith hitch loop and the Blakes is a Distel hitch with a carabiner. The Distel is tied out of 9mm cord. This serves several purposes. Initially it was there to serve as a means to go around limbs. I can clip my bridge into the hitch, take out slack, sit into it, then disconnect my main tether, go around a limb and reattach the main tether to my bridge. In actual hunting I have not needed this feature yet. The main purpose it has been serving is to clip my backpack into so I can set my ring of steps, and as the backpack holder once I am up at hunting height. I move the foot tether up about 8 inches under the main tether, slide the Distel up to the top, and clip the backpack in. Backpack lives at about the 1 o'clock position, out of the way. I use a HME 3 hook gear hanger between the top and foot tether.

This is the same configuration I run my foot loop in, minus the rubber hose. It's a great minimalist setup that serves multiple purposes.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[mtsrunner]

I had a question about the foot loop so is here is a picture of the current configuration that is working well. It is made of 14 feet of Sampson Predator 11,4mm rope. One end had the normal loop for girth hitching the tree. The other is tied into a Blakes hitch loop with a stopper knot. I added a 6 inch piece of 1 inch rubber hose from the hardware store to keep the loop spread out so it is easier to get my foot in. This is only really an issue coming down the tree in the dark. I also added a strip of reflective wrap to each end so I could see where to put my foot in the dark.

On the foot loop between the grith hitch loop and the Blakes is a Distel hitch with a carabiner. The Distel is tied out of 9mm cord. This serves several purposes. Initially it was there to serve as a means to go around limbs. I can clip my bridge into the hitch, take out slack, sit into it, then disconnect my main tether, go around a limb and reattach the main tether to my bridge. In actual hunting I have not needed this feature yet. The main purpose it has been serving is to clip my backpack into so I can set my ring of steps, and as the backpack holder once I am up at hunting height. I move the foot tether up about 8 inches under the main tether, slide the Distel up to the top, and clip the backpack in. Backpack lives at about the 1 o'clock position, out of the way. I use a HME 3 hook gear hanger between the top and foot tether.

That’s nice. I like the multi-purpose functions built in. Question: did you go with Predator mainly because the Blake’s hitch functions better than with other rope such as Oplux/RescueTech? Seems like you could shave some weight and bulk and still have all of the functionality by using a smaller rope. Having said that, I have noticed that bigger ropes are significantly easier to advance up the tree while 2TC climbing.

 

[kyler1945]

That’s nice. I like the multi-purpose functions built in. Question: did you go with Predator mainly because the Blake’s hitch functions better than with other rope such as Oplux/RescueTech? Seems like you could shave some weight and bulk and still have all of the functionality by using a smaller rope. Having said that, I have noticed that bigger ropes are significantly easier to advance up the tree while 2TC climbing.

Thinking same questions!

 

[krub6b]

I use a muddy safe line for my two tethers, it is slightly less than 10mm, .38" or 9.6 mm. I use it because it is what I have, but when I buy new ropes I will probably go with a 10 mm or larger rope. It packs down plenty small for me and isn't overly floppy for advancing. There may be a stiffer small diameter rope that would work fine but I don't see a huge benefit in testing that assumption at this point.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[NMSbowhunter]

That’s nice. I like the multi-purpose functions built in. Question: did you go with Predator mainly because the Blake’s hitch functions better than with other rope such as Oplux/RescueTech? Seems like you could shave some weight and bulk and still have all of the functionality by using a smaller rope. Having said that, I have noticed that bigger ropes are significantly easier to advance up the tree while 2TC climbing.

I used it due to its knot tying properties. I do have a couple of 2TC kits that are significantly lighter. I just haven't hunted off them yet.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Here is today's hunt report. I had a little work to take care of first thing this morning, so I went out about 9 and did some scouting for the evening. I found three good spots and so I hunted the one that looked best sign wise. This spot had white oak acorns dropping, the leaf litter under the trees was disturbed and most encouraging were the fresh deer turds. One of them baked a loaf, lol. I was looking for the author of the one pictured below.

I 2TC'd up a fairly wide tree about 1 pm and sat until dark. I only had squirrels for company. I had to go high today in order to get into cover and because I was in the bottom of a valley with the oaks on the hillside. I maxed out the 30-foot bow pull up rope, so that says something. It was a good climb and sit. Just no deer. They were probably at one of the other two spots I found today.

 

[Samcirrus]

Im gonna make a change in my 2TC setup! Last night I 2TC up, with a single footloop, a large popple, cuz branches started at 40', with a pine next to me as cover...
Last time I had deer there I had my platform and knee pad on my back and bow on the ground so couldn't do anything, so this time I switched it up and had just put my bow on the tree and was about to pull up my platform when a deer showed up at the truck! Needless to say I was very uncomfortable as it was looking in my direction and I only could stand on 1 foot! It took 30 mins for it to slowly walk right to me and eat along the way. My legs and feet both went numb because I put my right foot over my left foot, which was in the footloop so that I'd have stability for a shot attempt....
So I'm gonna use a double footloop from now on, and still climb with my left foot, but just in case it happens again!
BTW I successfully shot that doe for the first deer of the season! And pulled my platform up to save my feet while I waited for it to expire!

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Way to go! Do what you have to do to get it done. Congratulations!

 

[Samcirrus]

Way to go! Do what you have to do to get it done. Congratulations!

Yep I had no pivot to move around the tree or take anything but a strong side shot so I'm very glad she went in front of me!

 

[mtsrunner]

Im gonna make a change in my 2TC setup! Last night I 2TC up, with a single footloop, a large popple, cuz branches started at 40', with a pine next to me as cover...
Last time I had deer there I had my platform and knee pad on my back and bow on the ground so couldn't do anything, so this time I switched it up and had just put my bow on the tree and was about to pull up my platform when a deer showed up at the truck! Needless to say I was very uncomfortable as it was looking in my direction and I only could stand on 1 foot! It took 30 mins for it to slowly walk right to me and eat along the way. My legs and feet both went numb because I put my right foot over my left foot, which was in the footloop so that I'd have stability for a shot attempt....
So I'm gonna use a double footloop from now on, and still climb with my left foot, but just in case it happens again!
BTW I successfully shot that doe for the first deer of the season! And pulled my platform up to save my feet while I waited for it to expire!View attachment 74912View attachment 74913View attachment 74914

That’s awesome. I had a similar experience my first season saddle hunting about 15 years ago. I was watching a 10 pointer that was heading my way and stood up on my bolt ROS. He stopped about 60 yards out and browsed on a shrub. I stood on those bolts for about 30 minutes and my legs were shaking. Finally, at last light another buck came from behind me and gave me a 20 yard chip shot.the 10 point never got any closer.

 

[MSbowhunter48]

I’ve been following this thread for a little bit and finally decided to give it a try. I’ve been no stick climbing with just my platform for the past few years, but always dreaded the metal on metal contact that occurred at times. Dug around my gear and threw together this 2TC setup. It was definitely easier than I thought it would be, once I got the toe kick and leg wrap down pat I was going up and down the tree pretty easily. I’m gonna play around with it some more and see what comes of it.

 

[phatkaw]

^^^ Did you tie an overhand knot under the hitch on your foot tether?

 

[krub6b]

Some rainy 2tc advice from this morning.

1. Be sure your friction hitches work flawlessly while being wet, mine got very tight and made repositioning them as I climbed very difficult, making my moves very inefficient

2. Leg wrapping a wet tree is not fun

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[MSbowhunter48]

^^^ Did you tie an overhand knot under the hitch on your foot tether?

Yeah that prusik knot didn’t have enough wraps in it and was barely slipping so I did that just to make a quick fix. Definitely not a permanent solution.

 

[krub6b]

Some rainy 2tc advice from this morning.

1. Be sure your friction hitches work flawlessly while being wet, mine got very tight and made repositioning them as I climbed very difficult, making my moves very inefficient

2. Leg wrapping a wet tree is not fun

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[Hall17]

Some rainy 2tc advice from this morning.

1. Be sure your friction hitches work flawlessly while being wet, mine got very tight and made repositioning them as I climbed very difficult, making my moves very inefficient

2. Leg wrapping a wet tree is not fun

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Been there before. I found not moving my hitches while climbing to be more efficient for me personally. Find the spot on each tether where it needs to be set and from there just move the ropes up the tree.

either way I don’t climb 2TC on wet trees anymore for those reasons you explained

 

[krub6b]

Been there before. I found not moving my hitches while climbing to be more efficient for me personally. Find the spot on each tether where it needs to be set and from there just move the ropes up the tree.

either way I don’t climb 2TC on wet trees anymore for those reasons you explained

My tree had too much taper to leave the hitches in the same spot unfortunately, probably gonna be upgrading ropes before next season

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

 

[Gmccarthy19]

Had some Amsteel laying around so I made a foot tether per the instructions on Jerry’s video and used a tether rope that came with an XOP tree stand harness. Tried practicing on the only tree on my yard I could which is a Queen palm and has problems with the ropes sliding down the tree, especially on the descent. The XOP tether seems much slicker than my other ropes and the Amsteel is too maybe that’s the problem? I tried adding the highwayman’s hitch from a JRB video but it didn’t really help much. The Palm is very smooth barked and not what I would typically climb, it also doesn’t get narrower as you go up like most trees do. Descending seemed pretty sketchy in general like I might drop the ropes down too far, are most people just rappelling? Should I just use my Resc tech rappel rope for the top tether? For the foot tether would I be better off getting some type of foot loop and attaching it with a prussik to a regular tether so I can adjust it up and down as I climb? While I don’t see this as being any easier then one sticking with my Wingman and I plan on still using a platform so the weight savings isn’t that significant (especially if I still need the rappel gear) I do think it could be quieter so would like to make it work. Looking for suggestions to build out a kit. I already have a couple different tethers with prusiks and tenders, a rappel rope with a Madrock, and various carabiners hoping I don’t have to add much gear to give this a go.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Sounds like you just picked a hard tree to start out on. Try it out and a regular tree. I made the amsteel loop like you are talking about and it works great. I made two sets actually. Both use the amsteel loop for the foot tether. One used Canyon C-IV and the other HTP static. I got the ropes from Eastern Woods Outdoors.

 

[Gmccarthy19]

Sounds like you just picked a hard tree to start out on. Try it out and a regular tree. I made the amsteel loop like you are talking about and it works great. I made two sets actually. Both use the amsteel loop for the foot tether. One used Canyon C-IV and the other HTP static. I got the ropes from Eastern Woods Outdoors.

Thanks! You’re probably right about the tree. Maybe I just need to attach a little piece of bungee or a castration band too the foot loop to keep my foot in so I don’t worry about dropping the foot tether down the tree.