In the middle of the National Forest and no place to hang.

**Olydog09** · 09-06-2013, 13:01

A buddy and I did an overnighter hike and hang in the St. Joe National Forest and did not bring a hatchet or machette. We hiked in 3 miles and the whole time we were looking for good spots to hang. Trees everywhere but with out having a cutting utensil to clean things up a bit we had a hard time getting a good spot to hang. We ended up hanging where two elk trails crossed on a small bench.

Lesson learned, always have a cutting utensil on hand.

**Gary_R** · 09-06-2013, 13:04

The lower branches were not dry enough?

**zooshooter** · 09-06-2013, 13:08

Originally Posted by Olydog09

A buddy and I did an overnighter hike and hang in the St. Joe National Forest and did not bring a hatchet or machette. We hiked in 3 miles and the whole time we were looking for good spots to hang. Trees everywhere but with out having a cutting utensil to clean things up a bit we had a hard time getting a good spot to hang. We ended up hanging where two elk trails crossed on a small bench.

Lesson learned, always have a cutting utensil on hand.

Is that even legal? I hung on some trees on an island in the Mississippi River and didn't have to cut anything to get it done.

**Olydog09** · 09-06-2013, 13:33

More for ground clearing than tree chopping. Lot's of brush

**Old Dog** · 09-06-2013, 13:34

Originally Posted by zooshooter

Is that even legal?

Be careful about cutting things in a NF. Breaking off dead branches is probably ok, but cutting live stuff could get you in big trouble.

**Olydog09** · 09-06-2013, 13:37

Originally Posted by Olydog09

More for ground clearing than tree chopping. Lot's of brush

We had a real wet spring leaving us with lot's of brush and yellowjackets

**2eez4life** · 09-06-2013, 16:11

Yeah, I'm sure you know how to care for the environment and do permanent damage it. I have definitely been in a similar situation.

**Olydog09** · 09-06-2013, 16:33

Originally Posted by 2eez4life

Yeah, I'm sure you know how to care for the environment and do permanent damage it. I have definitely been in a similar situation.

We almost hung across an old skid road but didnt have the strap to do it.

**matthew2000tx** · 09-06-2013, 17:53

Leave no trace man!

**zooshooter** · 09-07-2013, 05:44

Originally Posted by Olydog09

We had a real wet spring leaving us with lot's of brush and yellowjackets

All I know is that in the forest preserve around here, in the comments received in the state hang thread on this forum, and from what I've ever been told, this is illegal even if it is just "brush".