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SRT For Riverbank "Yakcess"

Z

ZC87

New Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2021
Messages
7
This is my first thread post on this forum, so let me start by saying "THANK YOU!" I've been in lurk-and-learn mode all spring/summer as I contemplated my transition from tree stands to saddles. This forum has been beyond outstanding. Almost every question I have had already been asked/answered (though please see my next post though on SRT and Scent Control). Almost every idea I've run across has already been pioneered and often perfected. I do have one idea I've not seen discussed, so I thought I'd share in case it helps someone.

The properties I hunt almost all have waterways either running through them or along the perimeter. I've been DYING to use them for kayak access, but have had one major hurdle... the banks are steep. I don't have the ability to dock the yak, let alone scale the banks. I've thought about rope ladders, etc., but that seemed expensive, clunky, and not nearly discrete enough (for public waterways). Dilemma is over now, thanks (indirectly) to my foray into the saddle hunting world.

I devised a way to anchor the yak to a creek or river bank using a Stake-Out Stick, some pipe straps, and PVC (disclaimer, this is still in prototype mode and I already have tweaks in mind). That allows me to completely stabilize the yak perpendicularly to the vertical bank. Then I will simply climb SRT right up the bank. My idea is to leave pre-set paracord loops at all my access points. Thus far I have only the maiden voyage under my belt. It's certainly a work in progress. There are certainly kinks to work out, mostly on beefing up the anchoring system, but I think this is going to be a phenomenally efficient and stealthy system!

I know there are plenty of SRT climbers on here, but I've not seen anyone talk about climbing anything but a tree yet. If I'm wrong and anyone else has already nailed this one down, please let me know. I could care less about credit for the idea and would far rather learn from someone else! Any advice or refinements are also welcome.
 
ZC87 said:
This is my first thread post on this forum, so let me start by saying "THANK YOU!" I've been in lurk-and-learn mode all spring/summer as I contemplated my transition from tree stands to saddles. This forum has been beyond outstanding. Almost every question I have had already been asked/answered (though please see my next post though on SRT and Scent Control). Almost every idea I've run across has already been pioneered and often perfected. I do have one idea I've not seen discussed, so I thought I'd share in case it helps someone.

The properties I hunt almost all have waterways either running through them or along the perimeter. I've been DYING to use them for kayak access, but have had one major hurdle... the banks are steep. I don't have the ability to dock the yak, let alone scale the banks. I've thought about rope ladders, etc., but that seemed expensive, clunky, and not nearly discrete enough (for public waterways). Dilemma is over now, thanks (indirectly) to my foray into the saddle hunting world.

I devised a way to anchor the yak to a creek or river bank using a Stake-Out Stick, some pipe straps, and PVC (disclaimer, this is still in prototype mode and I already have tweaks in mind). That allows me to completely stabilize the yak perpendicularly to the vertical bank. Then I will simply climb SRT right up the bank. My idea is to leave pre-set paracord loops at all my access points. Thus far I have only the maiden voyage under my belt. It's certainly a work in progress. There are certainly kinks to work out, mostly on beefing up the anchoring system, but I think this is going to be a phenomenally efficient and stealthy system!

I know there are plenty of SRT climbers on here, but I've not seen anyone talk about climbing anything but a tree yet. If I'm wrong and anyone else has already nailed this one down, please let me know. I could care less about credit for the idea and would far rather learn from someone else! Any advice or refinements are also welcome.
Click to expand...
Welcome! I was tempted to try this on some land I started hunting from water access but ultimately found some access points that work in the winter time when the water is down? What state are you hunting? I’m sure some cave climbing stuff would apply in this scenario but I’m not knowledgeable on it. I’d be nervous about trying to do all this on a kayak, including just setting the presets. How are you tying your kayak down? How are you getting a deer down? How are you hauling the deer in your kayak? Are there not some drainages you could hike in from? What size banks are we talking? 20ft 40ft? 60ft?
 
Is it steep like sheer wall or just pretty steep and slippery?

You can shovel out steps, even go as far as setting bricks, small pavers, etc to help hold that step in place a while.

A bit intensive, but when done, it’s done and you don’t have to fool with srt up the bank each trip


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gcr0003 said:
I sent my reply before this was posted. Those banks don’t look bad at all? Are there bluffs you’re trying to get over? Why do you need an anchor if you can tie to a tree? I’m also not seeing the application for SRT unless it’s just a steep steep bluff you can’t hike up.
Click to expand...

In my case, I intend to set the pre-sets from the top side. I can GET to the spots by land, but not without walking through the middle of the deer I'm trying to kill. I'd likely get the animal out by land too in my scenarios, but I see no reason you couldn't send one down the same rappel line if the watercraft was the only option. Would probably require some creativity and haven't put much thought into it.

The primary anchor is my stake-out pole that's jabbed into the bank (see the pic). I'm also tying the tag end of my climbing/rappel rope to the kayak. I bought a second rope that is going to reside on the yak for that reason, which I'm dedicating to this access route. Worst case scenario the pole breaks and I have to dangle from the bank while I pull the yak back in the rope. Might make re-entry tricky, but again I can get in and out by land if needed.

The photos I attached was just from one example. It's not as extreme as other places (purposely for the first try), but I think some scale and depth are probably lost in the photos. The banks are probably between 20-50', depending on water levels. Some places are shallow enough I could climb if it is bone dry and there are trees to grab onto. However, in most places the trees are at the top of the bank (obviously their root system defines the bank). Other places it's probably 70º up. Also, the other issue that's given me pause is the water level itself. Some properties are only 4-8'. Some are 20' deep and if I landed in the water it'd be over a mile from the truck... Gives me the heebie jeebies in 30º November mornings! To me, this system solves 100% of safety concerns. If you trust the rappel device, you know you can't fall in. And the stake-out system should stabilize the boat.
 
shwacker said:
Is it steep like sheer wall or just pretty steep and slippery?

You can shovel out steps, even go as far as setting bricks, small pavers, etc to help hold that step in place a while.

A bit intensive, but when done, it’s done and you don’t have to fool with srt up the bank each trip


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Click to expand...

I think that is a totally viable, and maybe better option, depending on the setting. I hunt some private and some public, but in both cases, I hesitate to invite others to use my access. If it were 100% private with minimal traffic, that'd probably be awesome, and worth the work. I just like the discretion of the SRT presets vs. bricks. With camo paracord they're dang near invisible.
 
Should also clarify, the SRT will mostly be needed for stability, something to hold onto, and the ability to rappel without worrying about getting wet otherwise. I didn't use my foot ascender in the example, just the hand ascender. I'm also sure this won't work well if the banks are super wet (i.e. rain, freeze/thaw cycles, etc.). But just opened up about 8 miles of water access to valuable river bottom spots :)
 
The problem with any rope you intend to climb is you want to keep it clean. Any dirt you get caked on it will either cause wear on your metal equipment or get ground into the inner fibers causing damage.

For your situation, I'd almost buy some manila rope at the hardware store, tie a bunch of knots into it and use that to climb up the bank. If you're worried about someone seeing it, rig a horizontal preset like you show in your photos to pull it up/down to the waters edge.
 
Hi and welcome.. No SRT expert here. But do you think using your climbing line is the best answer? Looks like you can really get some dirt, pine needles and other sticks and such in your equipment. More so if your doing it in the dark.. check it good before you go up the tree.
My other thought is animals moving your preset lines so you can't get to them. Or water levels changing. So hopefully you have them secured enough that will not happen.
Like @MNFarmHunter said. I would use a different rope for that. I'm think amsteel, but maybe someone else could suggest how to fasten it to your self??
Over all I love the ambition and out side the box thinking! Hope it works for you and you kill a nice buck!!!
 
Check out this thread…might help you out for what you are doing…make yourself the deer…

Other things you can do with Saddle Hunting-Mechanical Advantage

Other things you can do with Saddle Hunting-Mechanical Advantage

Had a Sunday morning epiphany thought I'd share. Where I'm hunting, there's a steep banked dry creek bed that the deer either use as a highway or cross to get from the woods to the fields. The problem has always been, besides brute force, how to get them out of the creek bed. It dawned on me...
r.tapatalk.com


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I agree with @MNFarmHunter ....I wouldn't want my rappelling gear in the dirt sand mud water.....some cheap rope made into marlin spike ladder or something similar. Go in now and attach to the anchor tree and hide the ladder at the base covered up and a paracord pull down rope going down the bank....paddle up, find paracord, pull down ladder....u could be creative and use some paracord to pull the ladder back up the bank if u wanted.
 
I'd probably recommend having two ropes, one for the tree and one to climb the bank.

I've done my share of near vertical river bank climbing. Though that's mostly in the context of trapping beaver. I've changed trapping methods on those rivers but still have to do some climbing occasionally and wished I had an easier way to climb back up, moreso for carrying 60#+ beaver back up slick clay banks. I keep my SRT kit in the truck these days for that situation and some deep valleys I have to trap beaver in

I've cut lots of steps but I don't do it the way you'd think. What I do is stick a shovel straight down inot the bank the push the shovel about a foot out towards the water. Then I stomp that now loose dirt down. This makes the step more durable.
 
As someone who hunts river ways and does alot of srt, I think it's a great idea. Especially since it won't give away your location like a carved out staircase in the bank. Its the extra mile that makes the difference. Goodluck
 
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