Not sure where else to put this but this subforum is probably close enough. I'm dealing with a ton of dead and dying cedar and ash, in dense forest, and most of the ones I'm concerned with are at a 45* lean. I have maybe 40 or so trees I need to deal with. I've used a variety of techniques to bring them down but nothing I am happy with. I was dealing with a cedar today that was really hard to get at; tons of thorny bushes and just all around poor access. If I have to brush cut my way to every tree in order to do a wedge and back cut and walk them down, it's going to take me too much time. And it's kinda dangerous. My main problem is I can't get enough leverage on these trees to yank them over and then out into a clearing. They often have some root structure still intact holding them to the ground and I can't get a chain/rope high enough up on the tree to pull them down. So my tractor or sxs doesn't get enough traction to winch them down. Snatch blocks not helping. What I need is some sort of slingshot device that I can use to hook the top of a tree and lever them down. I'm 100% confident if I could hook onto the top of the trees, 99% of the trees I'm looking at would come down and then I can drag them into an open area to process. Does this sort of thing exist? With that said, another device that would help me out would be some sort of anchor (like a boat anchor!) that I can drive into the ground to use as a holding point for winching trees down. Does this sort of thing exist also?
Here's the fanciest throw line launcher I've seen. Reminds me of a potato gun. You'll obviously need a few more peices like a throw line and weight. They make them like a big sling shot too. Shoulder Shot
The big shot with the trigger attachment is the bomb. Toss line, weight, and the collapsible toss rope box are a game changer for getting bull ropes up into the canopy where you need it sometimes.
Once you get the rope/cable in place you can use one of these. The More Power Puller®, Portable Winch, Cable Puller, Come Along Winches | By The Wyeth-Scott Company I bought 2 of them and use them a LOT. You can use the pilley at the base of a tree where you want it fown and pull from out of harms way with a redirect. Way beefier than a normal come along. I use them mainly when I'm working close to power lines or structures. The redirect pulley is plenty stout and just chain it to a tree base. This tree was 30 inches in diameter with a hard lean towards a road and power lines. You can see the backcut towards the road has been opened up that much to pull it over the opposite way.
Yeah this is what I'm talking about! Can I have a quick rundown on what the process is for getting a line up into the tree, back down and then secured to the treetop?
I’m sure there’s lots of videos that will be more helpful. I use mine all the time. I tie a slick line to the 12oz bean bag. Zingit is a brand of slick line. You’ll want a bag to store your slick line. It can easily get wadded up with knots if you don’t store it properly. You’ll shoot the bag and a squirrels nest goes flying through the air. Once you shoot your bag where you want it in the canopy and the bag is back on the ground, remove the bag and tie the slick line to your rope. I use several clove hitches to attach slick line to rope. It has to be super secure or you won’t get your rope pulled back through the tree. Once your rope is pulled through you need to tie a running bowline. Tighten up the running bowline and attach rope to whatever you are pulling with. Most of the time I’m hooked up to my truck with a 3 ring knot and carabiner. Sometimes I’m also using a block and sling for a redirect. Good luck! Using slick line has a learning curve, so take your time. It can be a headache for the most experienced sometimes. Imo a big shot bean bag slick line and good rope opens up a whole new level of tree felling.
I have one of those too and use it for the same purpose. Just used it last weekend in fact. I don't have the handle extension or re-direct though. I probably bought mine 6-8 years ago, after I overloaded one of those cheaper Maasdam ones.
The redirect pulley is also nice too use when you hook the line to a tractor vehicle when in a tighter area. Done that a few times as well.
These are made about a half hour from me. OP...I know there are purpose built tools for this job but I have an oddball suggestion you might have laying around in the basement. A small kids Bow. I thought it was a goofy idea until I watched it in practice. Can be had pretty cheaply at most sporting goods stores. Of course it's not a great idea to have arrows flying around in certain areas, but you can blunt the tips and they are tied to a string anywho.
idk. last time I shot a kids bow into the air, the arrow went way WAY farther than expected and I felt like a dirtbag for several hours afterwards. Maybe if the arrow is tethered...
