I'll second the shotgun! I somehow managed to securely lodge the tail section of a Balsa USA Stick 40 into the fork of a tree 50 or 60 feet up. No amount of rope tossing or rock throwing was going to budge that sucker. A few well placed shots (as well as a few not-so-well placed shots) later, the bird was back in my hands. The tail, of course, was obliterated, but all the gear was recovered safe and sound.