Trust issues

[ShortFuse]

Did you have it sewn for you custom? What's the length?

I'm considering tying a non-adjustable bridge on mine. I hardly ever change anything on it.

I’m have one 13 and one 17 dime custom by treestuff.com. Let me know what length you’re working with I may have your length laying around


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[Fl Canopy Stalker]

The other thing too is there are bad people out there. A friend had all his straps cut almost all the way thru on private land. He notice it before he started to climb. It could have been bad. So it's a good idea to check things out if you leave your stuff in the woods.

My wife and I had a ladder stand we left out on public land. We locked it to the tree. They couldn’t steal the stand so the stole everything else, they straps, pads, the center support bar and fork from the ladder to the tree, the bow hanging clips and a couple of screw in drink holders. It was that event that led to me beginning to saddle hunt in the first place.

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

In states without a lot of hunters/fishermen, it might be the case that hunters/fishermen are a select group that are more likely to be honorable and also stewards of the environment. In WV, it's the exact opposite. Over 50% of the general population hunts/fishes, and nearly 100% of the disrespectful, redneck population hunts/fishes. You're more likely to have something lost be returned by a random person than you are a fellow bowhunter.

Yea we refer to North Florida as basically south Ga. there are tons of rednecks and even preppy “outdoorsmen” the ones that ride electric bikes 200 yards in to their stands lol I joke I joke... but seriously theft and destruction of property seems to be getting worse. Then again it could always be those PETA folks that can’t stand people that hunt or fish. I don’t usually do trail cams so I honestly don’t know who did it or what their motives were. I just know it completely changed the way that I hunt (for the better) and I wouldn’t dream of going back to stands. My saddle is very comfortable, I like the colors of it. I love the pack ability, weight, and the mobility in the tree. So I call that event as my blessing in disguise.

 

[Jtaylor]

Disclaimer: I'm not suggesting we free climb up the tree!!

So back to the original post, after reading a couple articles about Alex Honnold or Emily Harrington (record setting free solo/free climbers) their insight might help others dissect the reasoning behind trust issues in ourselves and our equipment and potential ways to overcome these issues. I've included an example article here: https://amp.redbull.com/us-en/alex-honnold-interview-free-solo There are plenty of others online by doing a quick search of their names.
I work frequently at heights for work in fall restraint/arrest devices and our yearly training, practice falls, etc. greatly reduce or eliminate my fear of catastrophic injury from a fall.
I'd hope through mental preparedness and familiarity through practice with our gear, hunting at height should be a safe and relaxing time.

 

[dbow0603]

For me to feel safe i do a couple things.

Firstly, I leave my linemans rope tied in. Sometimes i will wrap it around the tree twice and since i have enough rope, let it have slack. If the tree is too big i'll put a screw in step on the side of the tree to help keep my linemans rope from falling too low.

Secondly, I use 1/2 rope and a beefier saddle. I did hunt with a latitude method which worked great, but a bigger beefier saddle and rope keep my heart rate low.

Third, I pick large(r) trees. I hate to admit this, but I have a fear of heights. I will never go to the grand canyon, i didn't like the top of the sears tower and so on. But i love hunting. So, the bigger the tree the better lol.

 

[raisins]

For me to feel safe i do a couple things.

Firstly, I leave my linemans rope tied in. Sometimes i will wrap it around the tree twice and since i have enough rope, let it have slack. If the tree is too big i'll put a screw in step on the side of the tree to help keep my linemans rope from falling too low.

Secondly, I use 1/2 rope and a beefier saddle. I did hunt with a latitude method which worked great, but a bigger beefier saddle and rope keep my heart rate low.

Third, I pick large(r) trees. I hate to admit this, but I have a fear of heights. I will never go to the grand canyon, i didn't like the top of the sears tower and so on. But i love hunting. So, the bigger the tree the better lol.

This might be counterintuitive, but really big trees are less safe. The safest trees are ones you can reach all the way around to easily strap on steps or sticks and check all your ropes/straps are good. Also, worst case scenario, if SHTF you can bear hug the thing and kinda half slide down.

 

[Fl Canopy Stalker]

This might be counterintuitive, but really big trees are less safe. The safest trees are ones you can reach all the way around to easily strap on steps or sticks and check all your ropes/straps are good. Also, worst case scenario, if SHTF you can bear hug the thing and kinda half slide down.

I can’t speak for tree but back in the day, when utility men free climbed, they would teach them if they cut out to push off the pole not try to hug it. At least that’s the way the old timers tell it. Only thing I can figure is a broken leg was better than torn shoulders ribs and the giant gashes from splintering....?
I thought people hunt smaller trees because it was easier to reach around them for straps and ropes. I guess that is safer but I think he was referring to bigger trees being stronger so to speak. So for him it was psychological

 

[raisins]

I can’t speak for tree but back in the day, when utility men free climbed, they would teach them if they cut out to push off the pole not try to hug it. At least that’s the way the old timers tell it. Only thing I can figure is a broken leg was better than torn shoulders ribs and the giant gashes from splintering....?
I thought people hunt smaller trees because it was easier to reach around them for straps and ropes. I guess that is safer but I think he was referring to bigger trees being stronger so to speak. So for him it was psychological

I've heard that about gaffing out, and it might have to do with wanting the lineman's belt to catch and swing you back in (otherwise you can fall to the ground even with a lineman's on) and also avoid things that might stab you on the way down.

I was referencing a different situation. If you are in a basketball sized tree, you can be totally stuck and so long as you are in pretty good shape, you can wrap yourself around it and slide down the tree. That's all. If you are in a really big tree, you can't do that. I don't like being in a tree and knowing that if on my own, then I'm gonna peel off like a cheap band aid on a wet foot. You can't even grab and steady yourself on a big tree. Not that you should rely upon that, but it is nice to know your cat like skills can help if SHTF. I suppose it depends upon what he meant by a big tree. I've never heard anyone feeling safer in really big trees (so big you can't reach around and touch hands).

 

[Zero One Actual]

Once you accept that if you should fall you'll probably cripple yourself or die alone at the base of the tree you'll find your inner peace and will be able to relax and enjoy living life on the edge. It helps if you make peace with your maker...

Don’t forget some hunter finding you with crows eating your eyes out of your impaled body on your third Shikar stick six days after you were supposed to be home.

 

[dbow0603]

I've heard that about gaffing out, and it might have to do with wanting the lineman's belt to catch and swing you back in (otherwise you can fall to the ground even with a lineman's on) and also avoid things that might stab you on the way down.

I was referencing a different situation. If you are in a basketball sized tree, you can be totally stuck and so long as you are in pretty good shape, you can wrap yourself around it and slide down the tree. That's all. If you are in a really big tree, you can't do that. I don't like being in a tree and knowing that if on my own, then I'm gonna peel off like a cheap band aid on a wet foot. You can't even grab and steady yourself on a big tree. Not that you should rely upon that, but it is nice to know your cat like skills can help if SHTF. I suppose it depends upon what he meant by a big tree. I've never heard anyone feeling safer in really big trees (so big you can't reach around and touch hands).

Yea I guess I could be clearer. I meant around a 17" tree is perfect for me. I see guys climbing super small tree the movement bothers me a little lol

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[Fl Canopy Stalker]

Yea I guess I could be clearer. I meant around a 17" tree is perfect for me. I see guys climbing super small tree the movement bothers me a little lol

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Our first day climbing, they let you practice at 3’ for an hour straight, then 10’ for an hour straight, then 20’ up and down, around the pole for an hour straight. After lunch you climb to 30’ and start throwing a football. If someone drops the ball (or their hard hat) everyone climbs down to get it.... Then, by the last hour of day one of climbing school, they had us climb to 40’ on a pole, which is shaky enough at that height, then we had to reach out and lock hands with a guy on the pole next to us which was around 6’ away at ground level. At 40’ there’s enough lean and sway that you can literally lean way out and lock wrists. Keep in mind these aren’t on sticks with tethers, it was on hooks with a lineman’s belt (we did have the buck squeeze though). You decide real quick like if climbing is for you or not