Tree Stake

Found this out in the woods. Dug under stake nothing there. Any ideas for what to look for or what to do?

Lantern hook maybe placed by an enterprising camper?

How high up is it ? What type tree is ? How big is  the tree  to estimate age ?

Looks kind of old.....check the tree...is there others or even scars where they were? If so it maybe steps to a treestand...but if its the only one and its not a camping site...use it as a sight, (like on a gun)...does it line up with an object that is in the distance? Remember it could have been done when the brush was not there so you may have to cut some of it. You might want to look in distant trees, the spike may be a in a line that will lead you to others in other trees that will end where the target is. Hope you find a million dollars!

It's a railroad spike.

We as kinder used to hammer them into trees as "steps" to our "tree forts'

This was most likely used for somebody's hunting stand or blind..

    Thats what I thought also 

Back when I was doing surveying we used them as temporary benchmarks. Don't know where you found it, but it could have been used for that.

Luis S.

How high up is it ? What type tree is ? How big is  the tree  to estimate age ?

Glad you asked those questions. The area is on a point close to Copano Bay on the Texas coast. The tree is about 150 yards from the water. The stake is only 2 feet above the ground. The tree type is Oak. The age is a little tricky. The tree died once probably from driving the stake in. It started to grow again inside the dead part. It's about 2 feet cir. Surrounded by huge oaks very old, 250 to 350 yrs old. We have one of the oldest trees in Texas where the Indians worshiped around it, called big tree estimated 500 yrs or older.  This tree is close to where Santa Anna landed some of his troops at St. Marys on there way to Refugio and Goliad and finally San Antonio.

I don't know anything about the area you are in, the water you are talking about, that wouldn't be the Gulf would it? There is a famous treasure that is linked to spikes in a tree close to the Gulf. You can PM me if you are close and need some details.

Thanks Spooky,there's one in a oak tree at the YMCA that I swim at and I've always wondered why,there's 3 of them about 2-3 ft.apart going up and around the tree.

Great information. Best of luck to all of you.

It's a railroad spike.

These are not easily pounded into a tree.

Maybe a hole was drilled into the tree first to allow the spike to be pounded in.

Putting the spike so close to the ground doesn't make sense ... or makes perfect sense. Consider that the spike may be pointing toward something or somewhere. Try sighting along the spike to any nearby landmarks: tree, rock, cave, hole ... something. You must also consider that the spike shaft may be pointing to something, or the spike point (upward).

Someone went to a lot of trouble to get that spike there. Now you have to follow the clue(s).

It could be bury under that tree.

looks like a railway spike to me...rail tracks in the area?

Railroad spike (given)

Close to the water, possibly used to tie up a boat.

Are there any others in other trees? Triangulate to a cache?

Spike pointing to another marker which might lead to other markers or a cache?

I suppose a spike might also be used in ship construction/repair, and might have been carried on-board a ship.

I suppose a spike might also be used in ship construction/repair, and might have been carried on-board a ship.

Look real close. It's a RR spike. Never seen/used a RR spike used in ship building, even as a kid trying to patch together boats that everyone else gave up on. Kinda think somebody used it to tie up with. Maybe he stumbled on the best make out spot in the county.

Look real close. It's a RR spike. Never seen/used a RR spike used in ship building, even as a kid trying to patch together boats that everyone else gave up on. Kinda think somebody used it to tie up with. Maybe he stumbled on the best make out spot in the county.

As another reply states this is 150 yards from the water, hope he had lots of rope handy.

Look real close. It's a RR spike. Never seen/used a RR spike used in ship building, even as a kid trying to patch together boats that everyone else gave up on. Kinda think somebody used it to tie up with. Maybe he stumbled on the best make out spot in the county.

As another reply states this is 150 yards from the water, hope he had lots of rope handy.

Ooops my bad! Still, I'd be looking around the area. The spike might be pointing at a cache or another marker, or several triangulating on a cache. Another thought, how much has the river moved since the spike was driven in. Be interesting to see more photos of the surrounding area. If I had found it, it'd definately be worth investigating more!

I hope the man have a lot of time on his hands.