Climbing spur question

[Phaedrus]

I live and mostly hunt in the south where I climb a lot of pines with shaggy flaky bark so im thinking tree gaffs would certainly be better for those and pole gaffs for oaks. The smoothest tree we really have would be a red oak with hard bark. I would think pole gaffs would be better on those.

I think you’re on the right track there. Bark type really dictates the length of gaff needed.

Just be careful folks. I spent a lot of time learning from professionals (I’d never claim to be one) before I got the hang of it.

Gaffs are a great tool, but complacency with them can get you dead quick. Tree squeezes work great from what I’ve seen, but I’ve never spent the money. Definitely the safest way.
I was taught to grab the lineman’s belt and push it together instead of grabbing the pole.
Be safe fellers.

 

[PJC]

I think you’re on the right track there. Bark type really dictates the length of gaff needed.

Just be careful folks. I spent a lot of time learning from professionals (I’d never claim to be one) before I got the hang of it.

Gaffs are a great tool, but complacency with them can get you dead quick. Tree squeezes work great from what I’ve seen, but I’ve never spent the money. Definitely the safest way.
I was taught to grab the lineman’s belt and push it together instead of grabbing the pole.
Be safe fellers.

I use a Prusik on one side of my lineman’s lanyard and connect to the other side of the lineman’s lanyard with a non weight bearing carabiner to create an inexpensive tree squeeze of sorts. Works really well. Makes advancing up the tree much slower though. Can’t just flip the lineman’s lanyard up as you go and you need to adjust the Prusik as you go up and the tree narrows. Not difficult, just takes time. Not a bad thing to go slow, that’s for sure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tmattson]

Guy's when you refer to "Gaffs" is that the main part of the system (what the spurs and pads connect to)?
Difference between pole and tree is length of the spurs??

 

[Patriot]

I refer to spikes as gaffs interchangeably. I could be dead wrong though.

 

[PJC]

Gaffs are the part with the point that go into the tree. They are interchangeable from tree gaffs to pole gaffs.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tmattson]

Man, now this thread has me. This is my first year hunting with saddle, so been keeping it simple since opener. Only hunted private so far so just initially set up presets with old steel three steps and some aluminum's, don't have a platform, so was just using top step of last platform - that works but not idea. I bought a new LWHC, and used it only once as a platform, have not had the need to climb with it with the presets. Having seen this video, I am seriously thinking of trying the spur method this off season. Have all I need to start playing with rappel, just need the rope. Just a quick peek and the carbon stuff is pricy, aluminum is fine for the little more weight. What is a good aluminum set to get? What pads, in the video he mentioned steel or aluminum pads, is that for more stability? Anyone climb with Spurs using tether attached or just line belt until reaching hunting height (at least to start, makes you feel safer)? Actually, thinking about it now, does anyone actually rappel, or just climb back down with Spurs.

 

[EricS]

@tmattson this s my first year hunting with spurs. I initially tried rappelling but it wasn’t worth it. It’s just not that hard putting them back on and walking back down the tree. There’s supposed to be a real easy way but @huck72412 gets all hush hush when I bring it up. I did have my first real gaff out on a tree tonight. Only fell six inches before I caught another step. Had several times where I lost one or the other while moving my lb up but just the one that resulted in a loss of elevation. I’m using climb right aluminum with tree gaffs. I think it was just the massive size of the tree left me getting to close to the tree to manage my linesman’s belt. Probably need a real flip line to climb trees that big. First hunt from the predator this year and had to get almost 40’ up to get the strap around the tree.

 

[PJC]

@tmattson this s my first year hunting with spurs. I initially tried rappelling but it wasn’t worth it. It’s just not that hard putting them back on and walking back down the tree. There’s supposed to be a real easy way but @huck72412 gets all hush hush when I bring it up. I did have my first real gaff out on a tree tonight. Only fell six inches before I caught another step. Had several times where I lost one or the other while moving my lb up but just the one that resulted in a loss of elevation. I’m using climb right aluminum with tree gaffs. I think it was just the massive size of the tree left me getting to close to the tree to manage my linesman’s belt. Probably need a real flip line to climb trees that big. First hunt from the predator this year and had to get almost 40’ up to get the strap around the tree.
View attachment 21127

Wow. Your almost out of bow range by the time you get settled in. Lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[PJC]

Man, now this thread has me. This is my first year hunting with saddle, so been keeping it simple since opener. Only hunted private so far so just initially set up presets with old steel three steps and some aluminum's, don't have a platform, so was just using top step of last platform - that works but not idea. I bought a new LWHC, and used it only once as a platform, have not had the need to climb with it with the presets. Having seen this video, I am seriously thinking of trying the spur method this off season. Have all I need to start playing with rappel, just need the rope. Just a quick peek and the carbon stuff is pricy, aluminum is fine for the little more weight. What is a good aluminum set to get? What pads, in the video he mentioned steel or aluminum pads, is that for more stability? Anyone climb with Spurs using tether attached or just line belt until reaching hunting height (at least to start, makes you feel safer)? Actually, thinking about it now, does anyone actually rappel, or just climb back down with Spurs.

Aluminum just keeps them light and odor free. I have a good method for using lineman’s lanyard as a tree squeeze so you don’t fall far if you were to fall. Keeps the lineman’s lanyard from falling with you. I’m going to have to make a video on it and put it on my channel. Paul Crave on YouTube.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tmattson]

Will check it out

 

[Bmft81]

Ive never used spurs and am strongly considering it. Im looking at a set of used Klein spurs with pole gaffs. Would this be a good pair to start with? Is the pole vs tree gaff a personal preference? Thanks in advance

I own Klein tree spikes. I bought them gently used for cheap af. They’re great. I read someone saying the learning curve is steeper with tree gaffs And I would agree... I was comfortable inside of 5 practice attempts.

 

[Buckhole75]

Mark my words.One of these guys using pole gaffs on these pines is gonna get their arse busted.You need the extra length on trees with this type of bark.That is what they are made for.All it is gonna take is someone soft shoeing their way up the tree and not penetrating the bark into good wood and its coming.Just hope one of em don’t get hurt.

 

[JFin15]

Mark my words.One of these guys using pole gaffs on these pines is gonna get their arse busted.You need the extra length on trees with this type of bark.That is what they are made for.All it is gonna take is someone soft shoeing their way up the tree and not penetrating the bark into good wood and its coming.Just hope one of em don’t get hurt.

This was my concern exactly. Hunting mostly in the south, pines (the southern DNA altered dollar bill pine) are 50% or more of what I climb. But thanks for the input, I'm becoming less and less satisfied trying to quietly get my we stepps to cam and not slide on these pines. Gave up on a good spot this afternoon on the FIRST stepp at the base of the tree. Thinking a little harder about getting some gaffs or going back to sticks

 

[Phaedrus]

This was my concern exactly. Hunting mostly in the south, pines (the southern DNA altered dollar bill pine) are 50% or more of what I climb. But thanks for the input, I'm becoming less and less satisfied trying to quietly get my we stepps to cam and not slide on these pines. Gave up on a good spot this afternoon on the FIRST stepp at the base of the tree. Thinking a little harder about getting some gaffs or going back to sticks

I feel ya there. I hunt the same type of pines in GA. One thing I can tell you about spikes is, they’re not much quieter on the pines.
Between the bark crunching and the lineman’s rope, it’s pretty much the same as using a summit climber. At least, that’s my experience. Only way I’ve been able to go all “beast” on a pine tree is preset the thing.
But I’m pretty clumsy, so who’s to say?
Good luck.

 

[JFin15]

I feel ya there. I hunt the same type of pines in GA. One thing I can tell you about spikes is, they’re not much quieter on the pines.
Between the bark crunching and the lineman’s rope, it’s pretty much the same as using a summit climber. At least, that’s my experience. Only way I’ve been able to go all “beast” on a pine tree is preset the thing.
But I’m pretty clumsy, so who’s to say?
Good luck.

Well put! Since my last post, I've bought a set of spikes, which I'm loving, and just opened 3 packages with everything I need for srt. For me, the spikes are almost exactly like climbing with a summit as far as sound and time go, big plus is not carrying a climber. Big plus. However, like you pointed out, they're loud on pines so I'm going to be installing paracord lines on every pine I plan to hunt again and just srt. Hopefully the hand ascender and safeguard wont be as loud.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

 

[Patriot]

Aluminum just keeps them light and odor free. I have a good method for using lineman’s lanyard as a tree squeeze so you don’t fall far if you were to fall. Keeps the lineman’s lanyard from falling with you. I’m going to have to make a video on it and put it on my channel. Paul Crave on YouTube.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Please PLEASE do that!