i eventualy got smart enough to use a catchdog
but the last one i made was a nice straight 5' limb from a crape myrtle with a butcher knife blade drilled and bolted in the end of it . i had to use a grinder to sharpen the back of the blade and take the finger guard section down to the width of the lance. it didnt work all the time though bcuz a few times the lance was pulled from my hand. I definetly had to guage the situation to see if it would be pheasable and ethical to use, but when i used it i never had to track very far.
