Flaging tape

[HC Eye Hunter]

I went out on a long walk this weekend in search of antlers and last year's buck sign. It was a great day as far as weather with only one thing souring my experience, FLAGGING TAPE!!!!from last year's hunters. I cannot begin to tell everyone how much I hate finding this stuff on public wildlife areas. It was very obvious that the person/s putting the flagging tape on a tree every 10 yards must have been scared to death that they were going to get lost and be swallowed up by swamp demons. This area is in west central MN and should not pose as a serious threat of getting lost even for the least woods wise person. So, if you put up flagging tape and you neglected removing it from those littered trees please be respectful and remove this litter. If you are worried about getting lost use a compass or a GPS to get out.

I apologize to everyone that this does not pertain too but I felt something needed to be said about this topic. I seam to be tearing out old flagging tape every time I go for a walk on public grounds.

[paceman]

I agree that stuff is ugly to look at, probably takes many years to deteriate and chokes the trees its tied too. I to have removed a bunch in the spring in public ground...

[rowdyf]

There is an option...biodegradable flagging. The stuff lasts for about a year if the forest tent caterpillars don't eat it. It is less visible too just by its composition it does not provide the "brilliant" colors plastic flagging does. Its an option if you want to use flagging and not worry about it being in the woods until someone takes it down or it falls down.

[maros91]

It's really funny when you find the tape that hangs off the branch 3 feet and flaps in the wind.

[charliepete2]

I remove any flagging tape I come across any time of the year. If you can't navigate in the woods without it, you've got no business being there to begin with.

[Neighbor_guy]

HEY GUYS!!!! I HUNT OVER HERE!!!

Thats what I hear in my head when I see the stuff. I try to remove it when I can.

[echotrail]

I agree with your feelings HC, there's so much tracking tape in public hunting areas it's become a major eyesore to what should be a remote and peaceful experience. I've found lots of trails where people have left ribbon hanging every 6 feet. It's like lane dividers on the highway at night and you can see them for the next 40 yards from one spot. I don't go out of my way to follow a trail but I do pull them off and shove 'em in my pocket as I go along, especially the new ones.

[ANYFISH]

I agree that flagging tape is an eye-sore and should be removed after leaving the woods. Although the idea of removing the flagging that you didn't put up especially during the hunting seasons isn't the most responsible thing to do. Some people may need this to find their way. I have used and will continue to use flagging when exploring new area of forest (yes I also carry a compass) and will continue to remove my flagging, but I would hate to inadvertantly cause someone to get lost. remove flagging in the winter when there is no sign of some using it. I do wish everyone cared as much about the appearance of our woods as most of us on FM seem too.

[BLACKJACK]

I use flagging tape when I'm tracking an archery wounded deer, I drop a small patch at every blod spot. It really helps when you're stumped, you can look back and try to figure out a direction of travel. I also make a point to try and get back the next day - hopeuflly after a successful recovery - and pick up my pieces of tape.

[charliepete2]

BlackJack....instead of flagging tape, keep a roll of toilet paper in your bag. It works great for bloodtrailing and you won't end up cutting off the sleeves of your favorite shirt in an 'emergency'. With TP you don't have to worry about picking up every last piece. It will be gone in a few weeks time.

Anyfish....you're a better man than me. While your worried someone might lose their way if you pick up their litter, I'm secretly hoping they'll lose their way as I figure it would serve them right for uglying up the woods. I've even considered rerouting the tape, but I decided to stay passive aggressive and just pull it down when ever I see it. I wish the DNR would outlaw the stuff. The only thing a person ought to leave in the woods at the end of the day are footprints.

[cribbageboy]

Be carful what tape your pulling down, if it is in a known logging area, make sure it is hunter tape you are pulling down, and not the logging company's. They do spray paint on the trees too, but thats not too easily seen from up in a slasher. A good sign that it is a logger and not a hunter is that the tape (usually blue or pink) will be nailed or stapled to the tree instead of tied to a branch.

[surewood]

I hunt in the woods where I have used some flagging tape but now I use the reflective tacks. It is pitch black and although I have been to my spots several times it's easy to get turned around with just a flash light and it also marks the fastest quietest way in. I have no problem with flagging but yes it should be taken down when you are done with hunting the area. I also always use the bio-degradable when I do use flagging. Like many things we use they have their use when used responseably. That being said I don't think people should be taking it down during the season it is legal. I sure would'nt want to be responeable for a teenager or anybody getting lost in the woods by removing flagging.

[Scott K]

I hunt private land, been hunting it for years, I still loose my way in the dark, this last year I put up the glow tacks they work great.

[Bowfin]

Cribbageboy,

Very good point. Forest and wildlife managers commonly use flagging tape to mark out harvest, planting and other project areas and have real problems at times with people ripping it down. They will commonly use pink, orange or blue and tie it to the branch. It isn't a good image to our public land managers if they spend time constructing a project boundary and a hunter comes through and takes their ribbon down.

Reflective tacks are great for quietly getting to and from a thick area in the dark.

[rowdyf]

 Originally Posted By: cribbageboy

Be carful what tape your pulling down, if it is in a known logging area, make sure it is hunter tape you are pulling down, and not the logging company's. They do spray paint on the trees too, but thats not too easily seen from up in a slasher. A good sign that it is a logger and not a hunter is that the tape (usually blue or pink) will be nailed or stapled to the tree instead of tied to a branch.

Cribbage, you are close. Generally it will be an agency such as MN DNR, county land departments, USFS, or a consultant. Most loggers are following these lines that have already been established.

Paint is almost always co-existent with ribbon. You are correct in that most colors used are blue (interior boundary) and red or pink (property boundary). Most flagging is tied to a tree or branch, not stapled or nailed. Flagging is used with paint to better see the cutting lines during harvest. It is important for the operator in the feller buncher to see these lines, not a slasher operator.

[Bandit]

My daughter hunted for the first time last year. I put up flagging tape so she could find her way to the stand and back alone. I have taught her to read a compass, but anyone can get lost, compass or not. I take the tape off when I bring her stand out of the woods. If someone went and took it down while she was out there and she got lost trying to get back to camp I would not be a very happy camper. Think about what could happen before you take it down during the season.