Big Shot Methodology

[daytondedrick]

OK, I had a "no brainer" tree job the other day. But, over the course of the winter invested in a big shot, and was itching to play with it a little. The tree was a sugar maple and was blocking the sunlight to the HO's new pool. The tree was leaning pretty much perfectly away from everything I didnt want to hit with a simple notch and drop. Figured I'd put a line in it just to be safe, and play with the new toy. Well the crown of this sugar maple is branchy and hairy and really quite thick. So, after a few attempts I had the throw bag through the mess, and on a pretty good leader, and was quite proud of myself until I pulled the bull line through with the zing-it, and was till no farther ahead. I now realistically had to shoot the bag back through the hairy mess of a crown in the reverse direction, as close to but not in, the same spot as my first one.
This is the only way I could think of to end up with an acceptable purchase on this tree. Other wise I would have half the crown in the bight of my bull line placement. Am I making any sense here? I guess what I am asking is....Is there a method that I am oblivious to? Because, although I was impressed with it...my lack of experience with this thing is hilarious! One hour trying to get a bullline in a tree that really didnt even need one. Oh well, any suggestions? Hit me! Yes...I rode the short bus.

 

[Grace Tree]

It just takes a bit of practice to learn how to isolate a limb. The Jerry Beranek Working Climber series of DVDs have some helpful tricks and are worth the money. Search on youtube and see what you can find. It's like anything else. Once you learn it it's not so hard although you'll always have days when nothing works.
Phil

 

[newbym]

Smallwood's right, practice will help with your aim a lot, but you need to be working on how to redirect your throw-line without using the big shot again. Once you have the throw-line over a solid branch and it will flow freely through the crotch, the real fun begins. Don't take the weight off the throw-line, pull it back up into the tree until it has cleared all the branches it was over after the one you want isolated, then carefully lower it back down, swinging as needed to clear branches so that you have it coming down an isolated path.

Sorry, it's hard to describe in words, but it can be done.

If the rope is over branches before the crotch you want isolated, put a weight on the tail of the throw-line and repeat the procedure of pulling it up into the tree and dropping it down the path you want.

It takes some practice, though, and you'll go up after a few weights that get stuck from swinging and wrapping around a branch too many times for you to pull it out. That's why I buy my throw-line in spools and have multiple weights.

Don't forget that sometimes it really is just easier to climb the tree real quick and set the line.

 

[rarefish383]

If I get what you mean, when you tied a running bowline on the standing end you would have half the tree in a big loop? All you wanted to do is put a pull line in it to guide it over, and get a chance to play with the big shot? If that's what you wanted to do, instead of tieing a running bowline and making a big loop, drop the end coming down inside the tree down to chest hight and tie a timber hitch around the trunk above where you are going to notch it. Then you will have a strong tie off and can pull the tree over.

Since you said a bull line, I took for granted you just wanted to pull it over, Joe.

 

[VA-Sawyer]

If I understand the problem correctly, you are asking how to set up a pull line quickly in a 'brushy' tree. Rather than having to shoot the line back through the canopy to wrap the rope around a larger vertical branch, try shooting through the middle and tying the pull rope onto the lower trunk above the cut line. The rope goes up the backside of the trunk into the upper brush and then out to whoever or whatever is pulling on it. I have shot lines completly over a few trees where the branches were extremly dense. Just give the line a VERY hard pull before cutting the tree to make sure the line won't try to slide down off the side.
Rick

Oops, Rarefish got there first. Well, it seems great minds think alike.

 

[Kottonwood]

I am pretty new to the bigshot/throwline as well. I set three lines in a silver maple today though for some nice easy SRT ascents. I never try to mess with the line and get it to fall exactly through when I use a throw line. I always tie off to the trunk like the above posters are saying. I used to try to use dbrt with the bigshot for ascents, it always took me forever to set it up, I would be thinking to myself "I'd be to the top already if I would have just climbed it"

Another thing I always try to do is grab the line as soon as the weight is over the crotch I am shooting at. If you grab and stop the line you can then lower it straight and there is a less likely chance of it getting caught up in something else.

I will say this for the record, I used to think the bigshot and throwline were useless. I figured with a ladder, a pole saw, and a monkey's fist, there is no tree I can't climb. Now, I can't imagine working without it. Setting lines in trees is so easy and quick once you get the hang of it.

 

[treemandan]

I am pretty new to the bigshot/throwline as well. I set three lines in a silver maple today though for some nice easy SRT ascents. I never try to mess with the line and get it to fall exactly through when I use a throw line. I always tie off to the trunk like the above posters are saying. I used to try to use dbrt with the bigshot for ascents, it always took me forever to set it up, I would be thinking to myself "I'd be to the top already if I would have just climbed it"

Another thing I always try to do is grab the line as soon as the weight is over the crotch I am shooting at. If you grab and stop the line you can then lower it straight and there is a less likely chance of it getting caught up in something else.

I will say this for the record, I used to think the bigshot and throwline were useless. I figured with a ladder, a pole saw, and a monkey's fist, there is no tree I can't climb. Now, I can't imagine working without it. Setting lines in trees is so easy and quick once you get the hang of it.

Interesting, when they told me to climb up the ladder and set the rope with a pole saw I was like .

 

[Kottonwood]

haha yeah.....

The people I first worked for really weren't to into modern techniques and/ or safety.

I'm glad to never use a ladder to get into a tree again.

 

[treemandan]

haha yeah.....

The people I first worked for really weren't to into modern techniques and/ or safety.

I'm glad to never use a ladder to get into a tree again.

Everytime I get myself all tangled up in the throwline I just try to remember hauling that 40 foot fiberglass around everywhere I went.

 

[Kottonwood]

yeah, and then accidentally leaving it somewhere in the tree and having to climb back to it.

 

[tree md]

Speed will come with experience. Just keep playing with it when you have the time and you'll learn all the tricks. I set my climbing line with the big shot in virtually every tree I climb and I pretty much only climb on a double rope. My throw line and big shot are some of my most valuable tools. Once you master them they will save you tons of time instead of costing you.

It's always easier to work with a smaller rope. I use 1/2" tag lines and only use the bull rope as a tag line when I need to get a major pull with lots of leverage.

 

[VA-Sawyer]

The OP wasn't asking about setting climbing lines, he was asking about setting a pull line. Looking for a better way than shooting a line into the canopy and then going around and shooting it back to get the rope so it would pull evenly on both sides of the tree.

 

[sgreanbeans]

Don't forget that sometimes it really is just easier to climb the tree real quick and set the line.

So very true.
I am a sniper with the big shot. usually, one shot ,one kill. As they all said, practice!
Also, just a little tip. I have a 6ft Jameson pole, I clip in a 4fter to it, makin the pole a little longer than your standard 8ft, this gives you a little more control for the real big shots, and more power too.

 

[Scrat]

Tree climbers companion has some good pictures and explanations on limb isolation and less than 15 bucks if you can't find to much of Gerald F Beranek's stuff on youtube. his website is
atreestory.com

his working climber video series I and II are both excellent. one whole disc in the series is dedicated to the throwline and has some really amazing stuff.

 

[Scrat]

So very true.
I am a sniper with the big shot. usually, one shot ,one kill. As they all said, practice!
Also, just a little tip. I have a 6ft Jameson pole, I clip in a 4fter to it, makin the pole a little longer than your standard 8ft, this gives you a little more control for the real big shots, and more power too.

So true...practice practice practice. I get my kids out and practice throwline techniques and we shoot the bigshot alot...in fact there isn't a squirrel left in the hood that doesn't run and hide when they see my daughter with the bigshot. Guess her thought is target limb, target critter its all the same.

oh yeh and dont let your kids practice near any vehicles you like cause a 14 oz bag comin' down from 50+ feet really leaves a mark

 

[tree md]

I like to ring my neighbors bell with large Hickory nuts with my BS. He has a tin roof on his shop and I like to rattle his cage when I know he's in there.

 

[Scrat]

I like to ring my neighbors bell with large Hickory nuts with my BS. He has a tin roof on his shop and I like to rattle his cage when I know he's in there.

Good thing there aren't any coconut trees around you Tree md

 

[sgreanbeans]

It will shot a rock across the Mississippi river!

 

[Scrat]

It will shot a rock across the Mississippi river!

So your the one shooting rocks across the river into my yard

 

[newbym]

I like to ring my neighbors bell with large Hickory nuts with my BS. He has a tin roof on his shop and I like to rattle his cage when I know he's in there.

We found out that we can hit the deck of the mexican restaurant a half block over from our back yard with a chestnut!