Zip ties

Joined
Dec 31, 2021
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2,162
Location
Western Montana
In the past I have always used parachord to tie my cross poles between trees for quartering elk. As I get more into my grumpy years, I find tying chord above my head hurts like hell.

I got to thinking that maybe two zip ties at each end of the pole might be quicker and hurt less. Does anybody have any experience with these in the cold ? Weight bearing loads? Anything else to watch for?
 
I just decided I'm gonna use zip ties to hold my two sections of climbing stand together, to and from the tree.
Should make it easier to carry and not as much clanking noises.
Will carry a pair of snips to use when I get to the tree.
 
In the past I have always used parachord to tie my cross poles between trees for quartering elk. As I get more into my grumpy years, I find tying chord above my head hurts like hell.

I got to thinking that maybe two zip ties at each end of the pole might be quicker and hurt less. Does anybody have any experience with these in the cold ? Weight bearing loads? Anything else to watch for?
No first hand experience but those heavy duty ducting zip ties are strong as hell and come in some good lengths ...... Take a look on Amazon .. they have a huge selection ......
 
No first hand experience but those heavy duty ducting zip ties are strong as hell and come in some good lengths ...... Take a look on Amazon .. they have a huge selection ......
I use zip ties to connect cattle panels to metal poles, they are 1000lbs breaking point till UV light deteriation makes them weak, great for short term
 
Shoulder sockets are completely gone and upper arm ball is held in place by bone spurs and tendons. My doctor told me to come in when I couldn't lift 30lbs cause I would never lift more than that after the replacement. I can still lift 90lbs but I pay for it.
 
FWIW, I use zip ties at work on a fairly regular basis and in cold weather or if they sit out for just a little bit, they become brittle quick.
 
I know most of the folks don't care but for those that do heres a system we use for quartering elk.

Our hunting is usually in extremely dense lodgepole and fir jungles. Once we get an elk down we cut a 3-4 inch pole and set it as high as we can reach between a couple trees about 4 ft apart. That's where we are looking at zip ties. Then I have bag with tools. Over the bar goes a short chain that we attach a 7 pulley block and tackle with parachord. We cut a 29 inch gimble out of a 3 inch tree and attach a center unit for the block and tackle. On the ends I have designed hooks that strap on and link them with parachord. The gimble is inset with an electric chainsaw. The hooks go through the achilles tendon spaces for the first half and the holes in the ribs for the second half.

Once we hook the elk up we hoist it to the bar and then split it with an 18" dandy saw or a reciprocating saw with a 10" blade. When the elk is split to the third rib, we cut the front half off , lay the rear quarters down and reset the front half through holes below the second rib. Once the front half is hoisted up it takes just a matter of minutes with recip saw to halve it.

I pack on riding saddles usually and the hind quarters are loaded hair down, legs back. A rope goes around the ribs and to the horn. The second quarter goes on the other side the same way. Then you bring the rope back and go through the hole in the hock and back to the horn. A half hitch and then to the stirrups. In pulling them up they act like a lash cinch to support the middle of the quarter. It takes about 10 minutes to load - alone or with a partner.

On another horse, a front quarter is set in the saddle with a rope through the ribs. It's set hair down, leg back neck forward. The you bring the other front quarter to the other side. Run the rope throgh the ribs and pull them up until the quarters are about 8-10 inches apart. Tie off onto the saddle horn and drop the quarters on either side of the saddle. They should ride at the base of the pommel and cantle. I sometimes use the stirrups in rough terraine but not always. It takes about 10 minutes to load and tie down.

I dismantle my gear and put it back in the saddle bag. The saw and battery is the heaviest. The hoist kit fits in a bag at about 2-3 lbs. If you have horns place them over the ribs or supported on a cross pole above.

You leave the pole in the tree and take your elk to camp at a comfortable stroll.

Just an option if you are interested.
 
man that sucks. i am not that bad yet but my neck is my limit for hanging a pole [ i will start to pass out from a pinched nerve]

how about a piece of rope with a loop spliced in one end. i have used that for a pole for a hitch pole or saddle rack. a couple 4 ft pieces can always be used for something.
 
Buy some one 1” nylon straps and 1” buckles to secure the poles if needed. Super easy, stronger and easier than paracord or zip ties.

Or just quarter an elk on the ground gutless or after field dressing?
 
Looks like a meat pole for camp. You stand on the lower pole to hang the meat on the upper pole. Usually the lower pole is removed while the meat is hanging. At least that is how I have done it in some camps.
 
Looks like a meat pole for camp. You stand on the lower pole to hang the meat on the upper pole. Usually the lower pole is removed while the meat is hanging. At least that is how I have done it in some camps.
Roger that and it was nearby a pretty old semi-permanent camp somebody dragged waaaaay back in there…. Had probably 15’x10’ platform on the ground made out of pallets nailed together. There were a couple old tarps laying around and a fire pit with some kind of drying rack 6’ or so above it made out of a pallet nailed to half dozen trees. Somebody went through a lot of effort to drag all those pallets and materials back there. The fire pit worked well for keeping us warm during a snow squall.
 
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