Two trunk trees

[JPS]

This is the newbies forum, so I take it may be OK to comment on something new (to me) that is old (to others). And this time is: Two trunk trees.


After hunting with a climber for several years, of course, I dismissed two trunk trees, except when they bifurcated low on the ground, so that I could attach the climber right above the bifurcation.

But now... two weeks into bow season hunting from a saddle and climbing with sticks and I've rediscovered two trunk trees (and trees with lower branches) as a hunting asset . Of course, those hunting with hang-ons or sadlle know this already.

One thing I like about these trees is the extra concealment, of course. Once thing I dislike is that it takes me extra time to get around the bifurcations/branches.

But here is my question specifically about bifurcated trees that split at mid height (say 10 feet above ground) but have the two trunks run almost straight up, parallel and relatively close to each other: Do you guys ever put your sticks on one trunk and hang the platform on the other trunk?

I did that last night: climbed on the right trunk because it was straighter down at the bifurcation and easier to attach the sticks and when I got to "platform height", I decided to put the platform on the left trunk to be able to have a clear strong side shot. It was sketchy to lean to my left on the stick to hang the predator, but once I could do it, it was very comfortable. Any ideas?

 

[Newhunter1]

I've done just that. I get my long or rappel tether (I one stick and rappel out of the tree) as high as I can reach and then sit in my saddle. Once sitting and I feel this is a good height...I then stand on top of my stick...either at the bottom or top (which ever step is best) and hang my platform. Personally, I like to place the platform even with the top of the stick step so that I can actually place one foot on the stick and one foot on the platform. Then I take my short tether (I acutally carry a couple of extra tethers just for this) and adjust it down to where I can place it on my bridge. At no time have I ever disconnected from my long tether. Once I have my short tether hooked up...I then reach up and release my quick link on my rappel tether and move it over to the other trunk. Step my other foot on the platform, adjust any slack out of my short tether before I do anything else. Then I take my long rappel tether and place it on that trunk. Adjust to take the slack out of that tether, adjust my bridge and then either take off and put away or leave on the tree in case I need it to adjust something and want a back up. At the end of the day...my long tether gets deployed to the ground...the end of the tether gets tied to my pack and I lower that to the ground. Once that is on the ground, I then release my retrieve line and send that to the ground. My doyles sends my weapon down and then I start the process of rappelling. At the base of the platform, I stop rappelling, grab my platform and attach it to my saddle. Then I do an about face, grab my one stick and then place that on my saddle. Continue rappelling down and on the ground I grab a stick of some sort, wrap my 5mm line and pull. My rope comes right down...

 

[Westdesign03]

This is the newbies forum, so I take it may be OK to comment on something new (to me) that is old (to others). And this time is: Two trunk trees.


After hunting with a climber for several years, of course, I dismissed two trunk trees, except when they bifurcated low on the ground, so that I could attach the climber right above the bifurcation.

But now... two weeks into bow season hunting from a saddle and climbing with sticks and I've rediscovered two trunk trees (and trees with lower branches) as a hunting asset . Of course, those hunting with hang-ons or sadlle know this already.

One thing I like about these trees is the extra concealment, of course. Once thing I dislike is that it takes me extra time to get around the bifurcations/branches.

But here is my question specifically about bifurcated trees that split at mid height (say 10 feet above ground) but have the two trunks run almost straight up, parallel and relatively close to each other: Do you guys ever put your sticks on one trunk and hang the platform on the other trunk?

I did that last night: climbed on the right trunk because it was straighter down at the bifurcation and easier to attach the sticks and when I got to "platform height", I decided to put the platform on the left trunk to be able to have a clear strong side shot. It was sketchy to lean to my left on the stick to hang the predator, but once I could do it, it was very comfortable. Any ideas?

Probably not exactly what you’re asking about but you could check out the crotch rocket from Treehopper. It’s made exactly for the kind of trees you’re talking about. I have one and it works awesome in that kind of situation I think. Then you’d have a platform you can just stand on and turn any which way you need too. Granted I’ve not officially hunted with it yet but I have a tree in my yard that I actually need this platform in order to practice at some height out of and it works awesome.


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[JPS]

I've done just that. I get my long or rappel tether (I one stick and rappel out of the tree) as high as I can reach and then sit in my saddle. Once sitting and I feel this is a good height...I then stand on top of my stick...either at the bottom or top (which ever step is best) and hang my platform. Personally, I like to place the platform even with the top of the stick step so that I can actually place one foot on the stick and one foot on the platform. Then I take my short tether (I acutally carry a couple of extra tethers just for this) and adjust it down to where I can place it on my bridge. At no time have I ever disconnected from my long tether. Once I have my short tether hooked up...I then reach up and release my quick link on my rappel tether and move it over to the other trunk. Step my other foot on the platform, adjust any slack out of my short tether before I do anything else. Then I take my long rappel tether and place it on that trunk. Adjust to take the slack out of that tether, adjust my bridge and then either take off and put away or leave on the tree in case I need it to adjust something and want a back up. At the end of the day...my long tether gets deployed to the ground...the end of the tether gets tied to my pack and I lower that to the ground. Once that is on the ground, I then release my retrieve line and send that to the ground. My doyles sends my weapon down and then I start the process of rappelling. At the base of the platform, I stop rappelling, grab my platform and attach it to my saddle. Then I do an about face, grab my one stick and then place that on my saddle. Continue rappelling down and on the ground I grab a stick of some sort, wrap my 5mm line and pull. My rope comes right down...

Thank you. One of the problems I had was a lanyard attached to trunk 1 while trying to reach away to trunk two to put the platform.
You just gave me a good idea: tether to trunk 1, hung in there and reach the other trunk and tie the platform to trunk 2while hanging. Then step again on the stick on trunk 1, tether to trunk two, step on platform and untether from trunk 1. This way I am tethered to at least 1 trunk at all times and with more degrees of freedom to move and hang the platform while being securely tied at all times....

 

[JPS]

Probably not exactly what you’re asking about but you could check out the crotch rocket from Treehopper. It’s made exactly for the kind of trees you’re talking about. I have one and it works awesome in that kind of situation I think. Then you’d have a platform you can just stand on and turn any which way you need too. Granted I’ve not officially hunted with it yet but I have a tree in my yard that I actually need this platform in order to practice at some height out of and it works awesome.


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Thank you! This EXACT idea popped my mind last night: "how could would it be to have that treehopper platform here now".

My only problem is that I don't exactly know what kind of tree I would be hunting when I go in (perhaps sometimes I do, but most of the time I don't know). So, in that case, the crotch platform would only be useful if I can find the right kind of tree, while the predator can be hung from virtually any kind of tree up to a certain trunk diameter.

 

[Westdesign03]

Thank you! This EXACT idea popped my mind last night: "how could would it be to have that treehopper platform here now".

My only problem is that I don't exactly know what kind of tree I would be hunting when I go in (perhaps sometimes I do, but most of the time I don't know). So, in that case, the crotch platform would only be useful if I can find the right kind of tree, while the predator can be hung from virtually any kind of tree up to a certain trunk diameter.

For sure! Yeah I know, I have the exact same problem. My normal setup and go to for my platform is the TL Mission. I would use the rocket if I go in to a place where I set up but then maybe observe a spot I SHOULD be set up and if that spot has a tree that makes sense for the rocket, then I will bring that one next time. This scenario and the practice tree in my yard are about the only instances I would use the rocket at the moment.


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[Newhunter1]

Thank you. One of the problems I had was a lanyard attached to trunk 1 while trying to reach away to trunk two to put the platform.
You just gave me a good idea: tether to trunk 1, hung in there and reach the other trunk and tie the platform to trunk 2while hanging. Then step again on the stick on trunk 1, tether to trunk two, step on platform and untether from trunk 1. This way I am tethered to at least 1 trunk at all times and with more degrees of freedom to move and hang the platform while being securely tied at all times....

That is correct. Last year I hunted out of a tree that had two trunks. I was in the one that was the straightest..but what was great was that there was a tree directly behind me that I could actually lean on while attached to the two trunk tree. So what did I do...I placed one of my extra gear hangers on that trunk...a carabiner and my pack made for a great backrest. I thought about putting a bolt in the tree for a footrest in case I needed it...but did not.

As long as you have two or even three truck trees (Our sugar maple trees do that a lot) and place your main tether on a trunk and stay connected then you can place a platform, or even another stick on the other trunk. Place a new tether and adjust your bridge so that you are never unattached then move carefully. I'm short..so I don't want to over extend myself, but as long as the I can safely touch the other trunk then I'm going to use that trunk as well.