Tom Dunlap:
I'll definitely look into the book. I always enjoy expanding my knowledge, and that sounds like an excellent read for many reasons.
Frans:
"Us being Arborists dedicated to preserving trees and Them being the entire population of folks who have brought our trade down to the level of hacks.
I see this as a golden opportunity to educate someone outside our field in the importance of tree preservation."
That is exactly how I see it, and very well said on your part. Fact of the matter is, most hunters (like myself) are NOT arborists. We do not know the "trade", nor know how to learn and/or apply its principles. I'm attempting to extend myself and increase my knowledge on the subject of tree climbing, and fortunately (at least I hope) some here have recognized that. You seem to be one of them!
Stumper:
I'll try to post pics tonight of the current adjustable rope grab I use now with my lineman style belt.
ORclimber:
Your suggestions are definitely appreciated, but are a learned skill. I have some work to do before I can reach that level of climbing. Hopefully I can locate a class around here where I can learn better ways to climb!
DadF:
I don't want to argue (on an Arborist site) about the benefits to treestand hunting versus ground hunting...I will simply say that there are many approaches to hunting and some approaches do not lend themselves to certain areas.
For example, I do have a climber and I do use a harness (whether in a climber or fixed position stand), but not all trees are suitable for a climber. I can either cut 100 branches so I can use the climber, or I can climb around the branches with tree steps and set a fixed position stand. Which would you recommend as an Arborist? I doubt it would be to cut 100 branches.
In terms of scent reduction and the impact of scent on your hunting experience, it is all relative to WHERE you hunt. I hunt highly pressured public lands where the deer are VERY wary and very aware of human presence. Hunting on the ground in such instances is a huge disadvantage for two reasons:
1) Your scent is inline with the deer, at the same level, whereas in a tree your scent stream is often over the deer's nose.
2) Your field of view is severely limited compared to being elevated.
Lastly, I do hunt from the ground on occassion and I have taken several deer from the ground and from stalking. In my opinion, to be a successful hunter...you must be versatile. As mentioned above, different areas lend themselves to different hunting approaches. To be successful you often implement the most opportune methodology.
So to define staying on the ground as "really learning how to hunt" is ignorant, short sighted, speculative, and completely opinion driven. Granted there is no arguing it is perhaps the safest means of hunting, it is definitely not the most effective one.
In fact, as a hunter...you should know that the majority of big game animals are taken from an elevated locale. This could be hunting on the ground on a ridgeside, or over a bluff, but mostly it is from treestands. (Review the P&Y results and see the hunting methods used to harvest most of the big game animals in there). In addition, being that elevation positions are a distinct advantage while hunting, and if you are hunting relatively flat land (New Jersey)...you only suitable option to achieve that advantage is a treestand.
Nevertheless, to each their own, but you cannot sway my opinion and own experiences regarding the best method for harvesting game. In short, there is no SINGLE way that is the "true way to hunt"
Note also that "old fashioned" and ground hunting is a contradiction. In review of history, as far back as the American Indians, many of them hunted from trees for the exact same reason we do today. They recognized it has its advantages, just as myself and many other hunters do today.
Now back to tree climbing!
