OK, got my 1st swarm call this year and it's a hive in a tree trunk. Haven't done a tree cutout before and only 1 other cutout so I'm looking for a little bit of advice. Here's some details (all this is just from a phone call so I won't know more until I get there) :
Apparantly the tree is approx 40" diameter?! :shock:
The tree trunk snapped last night and is lying on the ground with the bees in the broken off trunk on the ground.
It is located at a golf course and they have shut 2 holes until the bees are removed.
I can't get there until 5pm at the earliest. (Sunset is around 6pm, last light around 6:30pm)
It is predicted to storm this arvo/evening (I know I know - crank bees)
I have a small chainsaw, wedge, log splitter, and general tools.
I have accepted if I try to do this cutout this afternoon I will be working into the dark with CRANKY bees, but it sounds like if I don't get rid of the bees tonight they will have them killed tomorrow as they don't want to have the holes closed any longer than they have to.
My plan currently is to drill into the tree to find where the hive starts and finishes.
Plunge cut into the trunk, then split or cut wedges out of the trunk to expose the hive.
Remove brood and lacky band into frames.
Leave the box next to the trunk & hope if I have the queen they will move into the new hive.
Any advice or ideas on this one?
Thanks
ML