Topband: The Slingshot Option

[Charlie Young]

Bow and arrow is my preferred method.  Years ago, I used a bow and arrow to put wires in trees on the WV hillsides.  However, when starting on 160 fall of 2008, a fancy slingshot was purchased.  This worked, but I could not get enough height and multiple attempts were nearly always required. 
 
In fall of 2009, I reverted to methods of my youth and used a Bear bow and fiberglass arrows.  The pull on the bow was adjusted down as we are not trying to put the arrow into orbit. I tape the round part of a 5/8" ground rod clamp to the end of the arrow.  This is perfect, enough weight to make the arrow come down to the ground without hanging in the tree, but not so much weight that it prevents getting the shot high enough. 
 
I shoot a fishing line first, then pull masonry twine over with that, and last pull the antenna support rope over the tree.  The reel I use is not mounted on anything, it is just placed on the ground behind me and off the the side a bit.
 
Using this method, I can line up a shot to go over two trees.  It seldom requires more than one attempt.  With a slingshot, I could never get the line over/through one tree in the exact place targeted. 
 
73 Charlie N8RR