Question About Bows and Arrows

[n2ize]

Umm, have you ever shot a bow before? If you have not, you are going to hurt yourself. What is the draw weight on the bow? Arrows need to be sized to the draw and your arms. I'd take it to a bow shop, have them inspect it for safety, they can restring it and fit it with the right length arrows. If it has a draw weight in excess of 45#, it might be a little too powerful to launch arrows into a tree. Also, if it is a hunting bow, an arrow with a string on it can come back on you if the string gets caught. Ask me how I know this stuff! I have a recurve hunting bow with a 60# draw weight. Decided to switch to a fishing rod with 20# test fishing line and a 2 ounce weight (MUCH SAFER).

Yes, I've fired a bow before and I've fired this bow before to to the very same job. Then I loaned it to someone only to get it back a few years later minus one bowstring.

I've thought of a few methods of getting the line up there other than the bow...

1) Slingshot. Accurate and inconspicuous but not enough power and accuracy when dragging a line. Only good for raising antenna onto lower branches resulting in poor height and communications.
2) Climbing the tree... Not an option for me right now. Perhaps when I was 18 but not today.
3) Professional tree climber/surgeon... A possibility but expensive. (*)
4) RC Helicopter ... too risky in an accident... loss of control, etc. small property with lots of adjacent yards. Too much at stake.. Can't take the chance.
5) Fishing pole ... difficult to get a good angle and put the line where I want it. Line ends up on adjacent property, snagged in neighbors trees, roofs, etc.
6) Manually throwing a weighted line... Possible but I have never tried before. Doubt I will have the required accuracy.

That leaves bow and arrow. Accurate, can easily be aimed where I want it, minimal interference with neighbors, quiet, adequate power. Plus I have done it before using blunt arrows and it does work. Drawbacks are as you mentioned but I am willing to take the risks.

[KJ3N]

1) Slingshot. Accurate and inconspicuous but not enough power and accuracy when dragging a line. Only good for raising antenna onto lower branches resulting in poor height and communications.

You're doing it wrong, then. I've routinely shot a 1-oz weight with 10# fishing line up to 65 feet high; sometimes as high as 70 feet. I use this contraption, but you can build one, if you like.

[n2ize]

You're doing it wrong, then. I've routinely shot a 1-oz weight with 10# fishing line up to 65 feet high; sometimes as high as 70 feet. I use this contraption, but you can build one, if you like.

Hmmm... Maybe I should give the old (and illegal in NY) wrist rocket another try.

BTW this thread really shouldn't be in this section. I posted it here by accident. It should really be in general chat or one of the radio related sections.

[ab1ga]

How high are the tree limbs in question? I know you discounted the thrown weight, but it's the method arborists use to get lines in trees. A throw bag weighs about 12 to 16 ounces and is attached to a length of "slick rope", usually polypropylene. The high mass makes it less likely for a toss to go wild, and they don't bounce off branches, either. It takes a bit of practice to get the step and underhand throw just right, but the biggest challenge seems to be laying out the line prior to the toss so it doesn't get tangles on the way up.

[n2ize]

How high are the tree limbs in question? I know you discounted the thrown weight, but it's the method arborists use to get lines in trees. A throw bag weighs about 12 to 16 ounces and is attached to a length of "slick rope", usually polypropylene. The high mass makes it less likely for a toss to go wild, and they don't bounce off branches, either. It takes a bit of practice to get the step and underhand throw just right, but the biggest challenge seems to be laying out the line prior to the toss so it doesn't get tangles on the way up.

Yeah I know. But the throwing method is not going to work here because my throws won't be accurate enough. I'd need to do practice first and that means going outside and looking stupid while people look on and say "what the heck is that nut trying to do ??". If I knew the trees were scheduled for maintenance I'd ask the tree men to put the line up for me but I don't know when there will be any tree work done around here.