You can't see Cookie in this picture, because he is covered by the vines and foliage behind the branch that enters the circle, but that is where he is. Since Cookie was already at the top of the tree, I could not set my rope above him. At first, I picked the next significant branch below him and planned to install my rope there, but just before I began to aim my big sling shot to launch my weighted bag over that limb, Cookie decided to move out just above that limb. It would have been risky to shoot the bag with him so close to my target, and I didn't want to risk hitting him. So I took advantage of this opportunity to set my rope at the top of the tree where Cookie had just been. I shot my line in exactly the right spot without fear of hitting him and installed my rope there.

I always like to bring a cat down in the carrier when possible, but I have been having a high failure rate with that method lately. Still, I wanted to try it again, so I opened the carrier and placed in front of him as best as I could. I thought he would be a great candidate for a carrier rescue, but he, too, balked at walking inside. I made a note to myself to be sure I clean the carrier thoroughly when I get home in case there is some scent on it that is repelling the cats.
The only option now was to bag him, so I prepared the cat bag. I broke some more vines out of the way to be sure they did not get in the way, and then I petted him some more. I massaged his scruff then slowly grabbed him and pulled him out of the vines. I pulled the bag over him, and he was not happy about this at all. In his mind, he had trusted me, and I had betrayed him. He fussed about it but did not struggle, and I secured him in the bag.