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How does one hunt in honey locust tree?

I had one of those thorns under my fingernail over a week ago. Pulled it out but they must have some kind of bowhunter/saddle nut repellant on them because it still throbs. Be careful out there...
 
So I was limboing one of these last summer to hunt an adjacent tree. I had gloves on but got stuck by a thorn pulled the glove off and saw a red spot at the 2nd knuckle of my right middle finger. That evening I thought my finger was broke. 2 months later it hurt so bad I could not wipe my a**. Long story short I ended up having surgery on it and thank God the physician found and removed the very tip of the thorn. Still have limited range of motion but no more pain. Stay away from those suckers!!
 
SCSaddleman said:
So I was limboing one of these last summer to hunt an adjacent tree. I had gloves on but got stuck by a thorn pulled the glove off and saw a red spot at the 2nd knuckle of my right middle finger. That evening I thought my finger was broke. 2 months later it hurt so bad I could not wipe my a**. Long story short I ended up having surgery on it and thank God the physician found and removed the very tip of the thorn. Still have limited range of motion but no more pain. Stay away from those suckers!!
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Wow. I'm glad you are doing better. I had a much milder version of this when cutting a trail through brush, and it was no fun.
 
SCSaddleman said:
So I was limboing one of these last summer to hunt an adjacent tree. I had gloves on but got stuck by a thorn pulled the glove off and saw a red spot at the 2nd knuckle of my right middle finger. That evening I thought my finger was broke. 2 months later it hurt so bad I could not wipe my a**. Long story short I ended up having surgery on it and thank God the physician found and removed the very tip of the thorn. Still have limited range of motion but no more pain. Stay away from those suckers!!
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You know...I think I'll pass on this tree...and just hunt an adjacent tree.
 
Newhunter1 said:
You know...I think I'll pass on this tree...and just hunt an adjacent tree.
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Like I said earlier, some of these locusts are crazy loaded with thorns and others aren't too bad. The ones with fewer thorns are manageable for a preset.
Its amazing how, on some properties, there is only one tree on the entire property that is in the right position for a stand. And how often that tree has difficulties like thorns, poison ivy, etc.
"Another tree" often is not an option.
The RIGHT tree is not always a NICE tree.
 
Allegheny Tom said:
We dont have them where I live in Pa but we just did several presets in those in Iowa.
I notice some trees are crazy loaded with thorns and some are only moderately thorned. Is that a male/female trait?
Some trees were so loaded with thorns, we don't even consider them but others are not that bad. We stripped the thorns off with a pole saw from the ground. But there always seems to be a couple we miss so be really careful climbing. Those thorns hurt! Not sure if there is some sort of sap or something on them but they seem more painful than just the jab.
The one property is so freeking good but they logged it and the only remaining trees are locust so its either those or don't hunt.
This is definitely a case for doing presets. I can't imagine doing run and gun in a locust forest.
I used a cordless drill and bolts and it worked great. Another buddy is afraid of bolts so he used screw in steps...those trees are really hard. Steps do not screw in easily but bolts are a breeze.
One other thing, I've been told that those thorns will grow back, so this is not a one time chore. I would preset as late in the summer as you can and be prepared to trim a few new ones after the growing season.
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Where are you guys hunting in Iowa. I live in Davis county. (Non-resident Zone 5). And yes.... my farm has a lot of Honey Locust. I have a friend here that will not hunt out of any other kind of tree if possible.

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So I'm bringing this up again.

I went to my lease yesterday and found that the landowner had mowed the perimeter of the CRP field down to almost 3/4 of the field...I was able to get to the other side of the perimeter...on the eastern edge of the property is a large hill that goes down into a creek area. This is the bedding area of the bucks and some does. Their are does that bed in the CRP...anyway I found on the far eastern tip of the property an opening in the thick brush (a funnel) that is 3' tall and 4' wide. There wasn't any fresh tracks...hasn't rained in about 4-5 days so the ground is hard. But I found several scrapes and a two rubs from years past. Set up my game camera facing that opening and found a tree that was about 20 yards from that funnel and it was one of those stupid locust trees. AKA...Jesus tree...because every branch you touch you're praying to God himself. I cut as many thorns and set up a paracord for DRT but I could just one stick. The tree is sparsely covered with those thorns but what I love best is that there are cedar trees on three sides of that tree. I was able to trim a small hole in that cedar, and I'm about 12-15' up the tree...but I may go higher when I set up my platform and trim more of a shooting lane higher in the cedar. We shall see...but jeez...that tree left holes in my hands...and back, and the top of my scalp. Best tree for that set up...believe me I looked over that perimeter.
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So I just stumbled on this post and Im laughing my tail off! So Id never seen a honey locust tree nightmare before when hunting. We JUST DONT HAVE EM where I hunt, where I grew up. But yesterday I go down by my pier to do some practice climbing. Keep in mind, Ive lived in this subdivision since 1996! So I start climbing and I see this cluster of horror. I think...must be from a limb that broke off. Scar growth or something. No biggee. I smash em off and look up..."They are alll over he## and half of Georgia!" "What kind of Devil tree IS this????"

So at the end of the day I look em up, Yep! Honey Locust, Who Knew right???? Then I see this post. My Locust tree education has gone from 0-60 in about 30 hours..

So...Whats the evolutionary benefit of those horrendous spikes? Coon Proof? Bear Proof? Cant even imagine why those exist! Pretty sure I have one in my heel.

Do they diminish as the tree gets taller?
 
Wait till you're walking in the dark through an overgrown pasture and they're about right at ankle to knee height and ya can't see 'em because the grass is too tall. You'll wish you took the long way around.
 
I have found that those trees when younger...smaller diameter the thorns are as thick as Nancy Pelosi’s stupidity. However as they get taller or bigger diameter that they are not as much. I used my saw to knock if as many as I could but some still got into my hands. Especially as I was one sticking and had a bramble of branches to get through. As I would reach up I would inadvertently get poked. It was a tough time but I now have one of the best places I think to hunt....but in all honesty I may just go higher as I now have about 15’ of the trunk cleared.


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Jtaylor said:
Wait till you're walking in the dark through an overgrown pasture and they're about right at ankle to knee height and ya can't see 'em because the grass is too tall. You'll wish you took the long way around.
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Kind of like in the Marines at 29 palms. Moving through the desert and running into a cactus that would literally shoot its thorns into your legs.


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Yes it is...but it's the tree that's in the right spot...so desperate times call for desperate measures. Plus I can heal the small punctures. If I'm correct then this will be hot. My hunting partner just pulled his camera by the pond...this location is 50 yards from the pond. There are bucks and does in the field at 8 am and all day for the most part. I just need a wind from the north west...

I put a game camera about 10' up a tree facing the location...I'll let it soak for about two weeks and head up there mid september and won't be there till the second weekend in October for youth shotgun season.
 
There is another tree that was literally on the corner of the funnel. It is a big maple with a trunk that breaks off in three different trunks. I was going to set up in that three but then I looked at the base of the tree and I could literally see through the main trunk of the tree. It still had green leaves and appeared to be solid...that hole was rather large and the tree doesn’t look to have much longer.
Would anyone set up in a tree where the base looks compromised?
 
Spent Saturday prepping a honey locust tree... just be extremely careful. Wouldn't be a bad idea to wear eye protection. They are extremely pointed and when you cut them above your head they fall toward your face. Had one hit my arm and stick... OUCH...
 
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