How do you guys get decoys up into trees? I use old Zebco reels. Tie off to the decoy, open the reels bale and throw the reel over a branch. After multiple attempts of course. Reel the decoy up to the branch or wedge it in others if windy so it doesn't swing like a piñata. Secure the reel to the ground.
I was wondering how others do it. Interested if there is something easier or faster that you guys do. Faster especially, I hate getting busted by flyers before I get set up. Don't see the numbers up here like you guys show in your pics, so every opportunity counts.
Thanks
I use a 10ft pole (2 - 5ft sections of pvc with a connector) that is also part of my blind. I have about 15ft of trot-line (heavy braided fishing line) attached to the bottom of my decoys with hooks on the top to attach to branches. On the end of the trot-line, I've got a fishing weight.
To hang up the decoys, I run the weight and line down through the pole and hold it tight while I lift the decoy up into a tree and attach it to a branch. If its windy, I can tie off the decoy with the trot-line.
Works ok, but I'm limited to about 16-17 feet high.
I now have three cheap closed faced fishing reels and I use a heavy sinker with each. I hit the button and hold the reel facing up and swing the sinker up and over a branch. Then I push the sinker through a slit in the top of my light foam decoys and then reel them up and set the reel on the ground. Painted the reels camo color. I've even done a tandem tying one decoy to the bottom of the other about two feet below and raising them both. Works pretty well and I can get them up there 20 feet or more.
I use a 20 foot extendable paint roller pole to hang my dekes. I took a old paint roller and made a screw on handle and hook with it.
I make large hooks for the dekes out of old coat hangers. You can hang a bunch of dekes in a hurry. Make the hooks for the dekes bigger than you think you need too.
I use a 16' extendable paint roller pole also, I made a fork using a screw on paint roller handle, and I use curtain hooks for hooks on them, they are nice because you can snap them closed on the decoys, and they don't get lost in the bag.....
i use these: http://www.hubertus-fieldsports.de/Jagdarten/Kraehenjagd/Lifthaken::391.html
and an old fishing rod
I looked at these and have to say I really like the way the decoys with the counter balance sit on top of the limb instead of hanging from them. They look realistic sitting up in the tops of those trees. Might have to give those a try.
How are they on a windy day??
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"If money can fix it, it ain't broke" The great theologian and my crow hunting partner AW.
I have a pole invented by Marv in Iowa for my sentry's. It is AWESOME!!!! 4 section put together of thin wall aluminum. I'v had trees to short for it. I hang em high!!!
i have 40 pound fishin line a 4 ounce sinker and i tie the sinker to the line throw it to the top of the tree and the tie the crow on and pull him up i get them up the probably 25 feet or so i will take pics and post them next time i go out this weekend.
45ft of green 50# test ice fishing braided line and large 3"caribbean Just unwrap the line around the decoy and toss the caribbeaner up and over a limb.
When I'm done, I lower the decoy and unclip the caribbeaner from a loop I added to the end of the line. Grab the decoy and start pulling the line out of the tree and wrap it all up on the decoy for the next time out. The line has yet to get hung up and there's no hassle of trying to untie my weight, getting the weight or decoy over limbs and out of the tree
-- Edited by MKMGOBL on Saturday 24th of March 2012 06:48:52 PM
There are dedicated "Lofting Pole Sets" for getting decoys up in trees. An old wire coat hanger or piece of welding wire bent into a hook shape and inserted into and through the decoy will suffice to place two decoys at a time up in the branches. generally the poles are 20-30 foot built from 4-6 aluminum or fibreglass sections with a special "T" top to place the decoys. You can get them on the dreaded EBAY too, just Google "Lofting Poles" or Lofting Pole Set"
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If it moves and is legal but also moral, SHOOT IT !!
I use Army Poles for Camo nets. Screwed together I reach hights of 15m in trees with a decoy on top. When I want to hang them into branches I just stick them on a plastic cable tunnel which I stick into the decoys. A 1 m tube is heavy enough to balance it in branches...
I hunt in lower trees by preference. Simply bend a 10-12 foot tree down , put my deeks on the branches and let the tree spring back up to its natural position. On a more permanent hunting site I will cut a 20 foot sapling down and put my deeks on the upper branches. Stand this cut tree up against a living tree, tie the two together and I'm in business!
Just unwrap the line around the decoy and toss the caribbeaner up and over a limb. 
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