Any of you tree stand hunters use spikes??? I was wondering if you leave them in a tree will they eventually kill the tree?? Is it better to take them out each season?? Thanks!

Joe b!

I've seen trees die because of spikes. I'm not sure if taking them out every off season would help though. I think the damage is already done. I'm tired of using steps. I've recently swiched to a 20 foot pole ladder. easier to climb, easier to set up, about the same price although a pain in the ass to carry.

kill the tree...no, not by themselves

If you ever want them back I would suggest taking them out now and then! Otherwise they will grow into the tree over time and become increasingly harder to retrieve

Kill a tree,I thinknot.

Spikes will not kill a healthy tree by themselves. It is much more likely that atree which has diedwas weakened by drought or defoiliation from insects or disease,than someones spikes. I have been a Arborist for the last 27yrs andhave used spikes/nails and lags for years puttinguppermanent stands, many of those trees are still standing, alive.

Iuse climbing spikes(gaffs) as well and while they willdamage the bark theywill not kill a healthy tree. There are newer andbetter ways to get up to my stands but it is hard to teach and old dog you know.

Paul

i think they ae fine. and they arent to pricey

I use em for climping trees with no limbs. they work great but are easy to get stolen[:'(]

I use screw in steps that I can remove. I logged for a while and know that if the tree grows big and the spikes disappear into the tree someone could get hurt. Snapping the chain is the least of the worries. The flying metal and or kick back can seriously injure the saw operator or bystanders. Why do you think the liberal tree huggers spike old growth trees on the west coast.[:@]

Killing the tree isn't too big of a problem unless you aren't removing the spikes each year. The poisoning of the tree from the leaching of the metal takes around 4-5 years to begin the process, and it will kill the tree shortly thereafter, so I never leave them in for more than the month of archery season.

toddr96, after many years of tree work and hitting everthing from cans, nails, old wash line pullies to bullets, I can tell you that metal will not be the cause of death in a tree. If one dies it will be from some other cause not from tree spikes.

Ken you are correct about the tree huggers but I think it is more dangerous in the mill with a3ft or 4ft blade spinningwhen it hits metal and flies apart or a band saw lets loose.Ken I like your avatar and location.Me, Surf62 (Surfcaster62) only I fish Montauk Point NY, so I am on a rock not a sand pile.

Paul

This is not accurate. I have seen 100 year old trees that had metal in them, and they were nottaken down because they were dead. Most trees will grow aroundforeign objects, given the time, with no ill effects.Oh yea, I'm an arborist of 27 years.