tree entry -- compund bow Vs. Big Shot

3

3climbr

I'm a rec climber and plan to do some redwood climbing over the next few years.

I've been working with a compound bow, fiberglass arrows and nice fishing line for tree entry. I'm getting to be a better aim. Though, it's no easy matter-mastering archery with large/heavy arrows shot nearly straight up at changing targets over a great distance. Can anyone share with me your experience.

I'm also wondering what experience people have had with the Big Shot for this purpose.

Please share. When I get a little more experience, I'll share back.

Thanks,
Robert
 
Big Shot works great, easy to aim, throws high and has the advantage that you're shooting your regular throwline (1.75 or 2mm) so you can start hauling rope as soon as you get the branch you want as opposed to crossbow or compound bow where you have to to transition from fishing line to throwline to climbing line.
-moss
 
It shoots too far through the limb and doesn't have enough weight to pull the line to the ground. I've tried it several times with little success.
 
I wonder what the furtherest distance you could get with the big shot. For trees with limbs that start at 150'+, would the big shot work for that?

jp
grin.gif
 
Thanks,

The New Tribe page is a good starting point. Though, it does not address the safety issues of shooting an arrow that has a string attached. You should use a safety system (to keep the string out in front of the bow) like that which amsbowfishing.com sells. The small hole in these fiberglass arrows is for the stop the SafetySlide uses-not for the string! The Tom Ness article posted on New Tribe "Technical Matters" page gives instructions, which could lead to you being seriously injured-if the string got caught in the bow string.
http://www.amsbowfishing.com/information.php?info_id=6

So, if a compound bow is a PITA, then is there any advantage to using it? Some people say the BigShot tops out at about 150'. Has anyone gotten it to go higher? What is the correct bag weight/line/reel to use? Please share any experience with particulars on this subject.

Nick Araya and I are working on this subject and will be glad to share everything we learn. Any info to start with will help us.

Thanks,
Robert
 
For what its worth....
I have never used the bow because it is considered a weapon and as such is frowned upon by authorities.

Using a big shot with fishing line enables me to shoot over 150' with ease. However, it can be time consuming to then switch bags and step up gradually to heavier line until a rope can be attached.

Usually I just use the thinner zing-it with a lighter bag. My shots go up to about 120'-150' easily.
I also use a pulley and quick release system on the big shot so I can pick my shot without holding the bag down.
Dont know what kind of trees you need to get shots over 150' but I rec. climb in the redwoods and they are tall trees.
Frans
 
I was never convinced about the 'big shot' till I tried one.

Used it to get a line through the Y crotch at the top of this tree I was removing(see attachment)maybe about 80/90ft.

I don't use it much these days as I prefer to go low with the throwline as I've been shocked to see what my rope was over when I got upto the anchor point, small twigs etc.
 

Attachments

  • 88812-Tulips.webp
    88812-Tulips.webp
    34 KB · Views: 114
For the long shots the compound bow works OK, using fiberglass bolts (heavy arrows) and pulling monofilament off a large spin reel. shots up to 200'

The BS, also, can exceed 200' by launching sinkers (4 oz.) tied to 20 lb test mono.

Certain criteria must be met; the spool must be full up with line if you expect to achive these shots. The reel, large surf casting size set in a rod holder using only the bottom section of rod with the large line guide.

A light tackle system to draw on the snubbers and a quick release to execute the launch assures accuracy beyond the manual method.

The rest has been covered pretty well.
 
You answered my question G.B. I was unsure if anyone has used a QUALITY spinning reel for setting throw lines. I have several that are retired from fishing and I think an open face reel puts more line out smoother than the spincast types I see in catalogs. Any ideas as to how I attach them to my Bigshot?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Where do you put the pulley-and what kind?

[/ QUOTE ]

An expensive but very well designed and effective quick release is the Wichard sold by Sherrill. It clips onto the pouch webbing. Then you need a way to tension it with MA for precision longer range aiming. As many ways to do it as your imagination can come up with. Here a few to consider...

1. Attach a minimum 8mm diameter length of cord at the base of the pole, secure a Petzl Mini Traxion to the bottom eye of the Wichard with a small rated screwlink, run the cord up through the MT and and back down. Pull down on the cord coming out of the MT as much as you need to tension sling.

2. You could do the same with a closed hitch and pulley slack tender at the bottom of the pole and a micro pulley attached to the Wichard. Run the cord from the bottom of the pole up to the micro pulley and back down to the friction hitch, through the slack tender pulley, the tail is now exiting up with enough to length reach back up so you can pull it up comfortably. With this setup one hand grabs the slingshot rubber just above the pouch and pulls down and the other hand pulls up on the cord at the same time.

3. This is a more simple system that I've been using for a while, no MA but it's got few moving parts and is very sturdy. You just push it down from above and put your body weight into it. One hand on the sleeve, the other grabs the sling rubber just above the pouch. Works great, sling can be extended full length of 8 ft. pole and held by the Klemheist or your favorite hitch no problem. Still requires a Wichard or other secure snap release at the top of the system. Works on a single or two section 8ft. pole.

Detail of pulldown (pushdown actually) and hold setup. Do not be put off by the green electric tape, it just holds the #3 snap up vertical when you're attaching the pear link to attach the Wichard to the slider and Klemheist. Without the slider/sleeve the hitch tends to grab when you're trying to slide it down. The slider keeps the hitch in a released state as you push down and the hitch grabs as soon as you let go of the sleeve.
687935169_29ea332b54.jpg


Detail of Wichard at top of system
687930421_c847ab77d6.jpg


Larger versions of photos here, click on "All sizes"

The advantage of a pulley tensioning system is you can use it on a 4 sectioned fiberglass pole which is easier to pack into the woods for long hikes.
-moss
 
[ QUOTE ]
Any ideas as to how I attach them to my Bigshot?

[/ QUOTE ]

As GB said, mount the reel on a cut off fishing rod, install spike and PVC rod holder into the ground in front of or next to the Big Shot.

Thinking about attaching the reel to the Big shot pole some more, doesn't make a lot of sense. If you put it down low on the pole it gets in the way of extending the sling to the max. You could put it up high on th opposite side of the pole from the sling but it would be awkward to get it to it to flip the bail for firing. Plus you want to have a guide (as on the cut off fishing rod) to center the line coming off the reel.
-moss
 
Gerald,
I appreciate you sharing your experience.
May I please ask you two related questions?
I'm curious what make/model of reel you use.
Also, why do you use mono filament line-rather than a stronger/lighter line (eg. FireLine or braided Dacron)?
Thanks,
Robert
 
Make or model doesn't matter so much as type of spin reel. If you're really going for the long shot the reel has to be a large spool type, like those used for surf casting. The large spool doesn't empty line so fast= less drag the farther out the shot.

Monofilament because it's so lite and slick. Some of the mono available today is half the size, pound for pound test, than it was years ago. But it's expensive.

It's a step by step process to shoot the mono, pull through the zing-it and then the rope. Could easily take an hour. Depending if you get the desired limb on the first shot of course.

Luck with your venture there, Robert. Looks like you got a good set up.
 
Mono tends to come off the reels smoother andfly further AND it drops better due to its construction not tending to snag on rough surfaces... however I have used Fireline with good results. As has been mentioned numerous times- Using a bow can be frustrating because it is sometimes hard to get the arrow and line to drop; Having used both I can say unreservedly that the Big Shot is a far better tool for most arboricultural applications. However, for rec climbing in monstrously tall trees the bow may work out better-I dunno.

I see that the master answered while I was typing.
smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom