Crossing a river/creek?

[TXBlkCld]

foot bridge is all i'm looking for. Just something for me and a deer to get across on.

How long are telephone poles and where can they be bought from. will that make a 20' span and not sag over time?

Telephone poles are usually at least 40'-50' long and soaked in creosote so weathering shouldn't be a problem. Anything will sag over time but they won't sag much as long as you're just walking across with your gear and a deer. Lay them about 4' apart and use the 2x12s as cross runners to walk on and you can even use 2x4s and make a hand rail to hang on to. Maybe even hang a rope above you the full length of the bridge to use for balance to hang on to. There are lots of viable options. You just have to pick one and figure it out.
More than likely your local utility company or co-op would be the place to purchase the poles.

[splitfinger]

Just hunt on the near side and don't worry about crossing the creek. Unless, that is, if you shoot a deer that just cross' it on his death run.

Or you might hang a big rope in one of them big White Oaks on the creek bank and swing across...

[BTLowry]

See if you can find some used guardrail, will last from now on and alot easier to work with than a telephone pole

[RedneckMorton]

Lots of good options here. Guess I'll have to get a good distance on the crossing, and find a good hidden spot.

I'd just hunt this side of the creek, but they only left one little row of trees down this side that we can get to, but its prime looking in the areas on the other side that we can't get too.

[glpoe1]

foot bridge is all i'm looking for. Just something for me and a deer to get across on.

How long are telephone poles and where can they be bought from. will that make a 20' span and not sag over time?

Most power poles in rural areas are 35'/40' and are buried about 5'/6' deep. If they have been replaced then there will probably be rot at about 5'/6' but that would leave you enough good pole to span 25'/30'. Power poles are tapered and depending on the class of pole they can be rather small diameter at the top but still suitable for a foot bridge. The poles will have a high side meaning they are not straight they are bowed to some degree and you probably want to put the bow up. You may be able to pick up some suitable hardware also from the power company to bolt everything together. These poles are put together with galvanized bolts, washers, etc. that will last a lifetime. A good 5/8" X 18" auger wood bit will be a necessity and a 1/2" or larger drill as well. Good luck and I would like to see the results if you "Get er Done".

[RS3]

Just shoot the deer first, then figure out how to get him back across the creek.

[sqiggy]

I built one on our place except we needed to get the 4 whlrs on the other side as well. I took a full length of drill stem pipe (32' long), laid 2 across the creek, set 3 poles on each side, cut a saddle in it, laid the pipe in the saddles, then saddled cross pieces in every ft and half and then welded cattle panels on top of that. Of course I have a welding machine on a trailer that we pulled in with a 4 whlr and the oil co left a big ole pile of drill stem on one of the well locations!!! Same company that took out one of my feeders and a climbing stand. Guess you could say we're even now!!!

[cosmiccowboy]

If you have two good solid trees to anchor off of you could just run two cables...one for your feet and one for your handrail. To get a deer back across just use a pulley on the handrail with a hook and a rope tied to it...you cross, then pull the deer across. If you have a flood it won't wash the cables away like it would a bridge.

The theory is kind of like this picture. You could clip a safety lanyard to the handrail if you wanted to.

[Patton]

In Louisiana we had a to cross a reek and we had posts driven down with some guardrails laid for the four wheeler tires to go over, kinda scary though

[arrowdynamic]

Grapevines a la Tarzan?

[westguy76]

You are lucky to have this "problem" in this drought. If it is holding that water now it will run pretty good when it comes a rain I assume. Build something that will not wash away or is high enough.

[RedneckMorton]

With as deep as the side banks are, I have yet to see the water come up much. Even after getting a lot of rain last year at one time. Its a main creek that runs a long ways starting up at the lakes and running no telling where.

[Reaper]

zip line?

[bwssr]

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=202556&highlight=BRIDGE

[Montec man]

Do you have access to a bobcat or a dozer? We had the same problem. Used a dozer to knock down the steep banks and dumped chunk rock on the bottom.