Larger Tree Diameter Issues?

[Montana Craig]

Hey long time lurker and tree stand hunter here. I live in Montana and started hunting in some newer spots where the best trees are too large for my lone wolf hand climber. The trees are 2'+ diameter cottonwoods and ponderosa pines. I am thinking saddle hunting might be a much better option but can't seem to find anything on what's best for larger diameter trees.

For the saddle I'm guessing it's personal preference but may need to get longer ropes.

Will any sticks work or will one brand grip the tree better?

Thanks!

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[casts_by_fly]

Lots of considerations. How big of a trunk are you talking? Limbless or plenty of sturdy stick out limbs? How do you want to climb?

Different sticks grip depending on the standoffs And everyone has a preference. But do you need sticks? A 2tc setup is slick and easy. Also light. For really big trees with good limbs, rope techniques might be your answer where a stick setup won’t be practical.

For a 2’ diameter, you’re talking 6’+ of strap working length plus tag ends. I don’t think my hawks will get there. But last season I went 2tc on that size of tree with no problem. If you have a platform, check the strap length. That’s my biggest limiter.

 

[Montana Craig]

Lots of considerations. How big of a trunk are you talking? Limbless or plenty of sturdy stick out limbs? How do you want to climb?

Different sticks grip depending on the standoffs And everyone has a preference. But do you need sticks? A 2tc setup is slick and easy. Also light. For really big trees with good limbs, rope techniques might be your answer where a stick setup won’t be practical.

For a 2’ diameter, you’re talking 6’+ of strap working length plus tag ends. I don’t think my hawks will get there. But last season I went 2tc on that size of tree with no problem. If you have a platform, check the strap length. That’s my biggest limiter.

The largest tree would be around 30" diameter at the bottom. Most of the pine trees won't have any branches in the first 20' but the cottonwoods will have some tiny branches which I'm not allowed to cut off.

I never thought about doing the 2tc method. I was thinking sticks would be nice because I could leave them up for a night to get up the tree quickly the next morning. Most of the hunting will be public land.

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[casts_by_fly]

With no branches in the bottom 20' and you coming from a climber, a 2TC approach makes a lot of sense. Same motion to climb the tree- sit down, move equipment, stand up, move equipment. Use longer tethers with stiffer rope and a 30" diameter tree is fine. If I'm planning to be in a tree with that size, I have my rappel rope as my top tether and I have a 12' rope (I think) as my bottom tether. Then I know I'm not running out of rope if I hit a widening of the tree at a crotch or something else.

A 30" tree isn't going to fit my helium sticks and factory straps. It will only just wrap around the tree and not be enough to hook on, let alone a truckers hitch or a knotless attachment. I converted one of my sticks to a cam cleat/rope/one stick setup. That one has a long rope which will fit a 30" tree. I don't think my platform will wrap around one that size.

Sticks are nice if you're hunting the evening and then the next morning. Like you said, quick to get up and down, leave them overnight and less to carry in and setup in the morning. I've done that a bit.

All that is to say that there are a couple ways to skin this cat so you're going to have to check your specifics and see what works for you. If that's my tree, I'm going 2TC/rappel right up to the bottom of the canopy.

 

[Montana Craig]

Can you send a picture of your tethers and system?

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[casts_by_fly]

Wish I had seen this earlier when I was hanging in a tree and had them laid out. This is about the best I have on my devices now. Tonight I climbed 2tc with 30’ 8mm blue water on top and 8mm resc tech for my foot tether. I was up at 25’ to eye level and the tree was about 14-16” dia. The rope was just hanging off the ground when I dropped it to rappel. I used 6mm accessory cord for the top hitch and 6mm resc tech for the foot tether hitch. (Foot tether not shown in pic).