Who is hunting the Eberhart way?

[vtmtnman]

I am curious who is using John's methods and tactics and how it's working for you?

I have all of his books and vids and have been trying to fully implement his system.I tried some of it this year and am trying to get on track slowly.

[Guru]

Not familiar with "the Eberthart way"......what does he do "different"?

[Rufus]

Yea????

[wulf]

I sometimes use a Treesaddle to hunt with but unlike John who hangs at least 30 feet off the ground, I typically hang much lower which dramatically increases the chances I'll be seen or heard while maneuvering into position for a shot.  I just don't care for the shot angle or distance using my recurve or longbow hanging higher than 15 to 20 feet.  Of course there's more than just the "sling" in hunting "the Eberhart way" but thats the "gist" of it the way I see it.

[postman]

Tried a tree saddle 4 yrs ago and now I have 2 of the leather ones. Haven't used a climber or sit on loc-on stand since. I go about 16 ft up and thats about right with the longbow, Eberhart hunts with compound and sights so higher than 20 works for him. About 90 percent of my hunting is on public land and the saddle really helps getting back in the thick. I do stand on a home made platform that weighs about 4 pds, I shoot right handed so if the animal comes on my right I just let a little slack out of the strap and shift to the right and shoot as if I was standing on a loc-on. My whole hunting outfit including screw in steps and back pack with platform weigh about 12 pounds, and since you have the tree in front of you the animal never even knows your there.

[Ray Lyon]

John Eberhart is a compound bow hunter from lower MI.  His books and video's are about hunting whitetails in highly pressured states like MI and Pennsylvania.  In MI we have 700,000 hunters and a rifle season that occurs in the middle of the rut and lasts for two weeks plus a muzzle loading season that lasts for 10 days on top of the rifle season.  Our larger bucks that make it through this onslaught are very nocturnal and extremely wary.  

John's 'way' talks about the methods he uses to be successful in the MI deer woods on larger bucks.  I don't subscribe to all his methods, but much of his information is spot on and the book is a worthwhile read.  It's available on Kindle as well as paperback.  

Some of his tactics include:

Hunting very high in trees as mentioned above.

Setting up stand sites in the winter or very early spring for the following fall at multiple locations on the property you hunt.  

Finding 'staging areas' where bucks and does congregate just before the rut and not hunting these areas until that arrives (avoid contaminating your best spot before bucks become less nocturnal)

Calls and rattling don't work like the videos in highly pressured areas. He gives tips on what's worked for him.

He advocates scent lok clothing use as well as scent reducing techniques for entering stands and setting up stands. He recommends if your setting up a stand in season, to try and do it on a windy/rainy day so it washes away scent and covers noise.  

Don't hunt in/near a bucks bedding area.

There's more, but these are the highlights. As I said, it's a good read and take some stuff with a grain of salt.

[vtmtnman]

Originally posted by Guru:
Not familiar with "the Eberthart way"......what does he do "different"?

He has sightly different methods for scouting and hunting that involve setup and use of the tree saddle.

I was just wondering if anyone in the trad side of things was using his methods.

[vtmtnman]

Thanks for the full explaination Ray.

[Mike Spaulding]

I've read his books as well, and do implement some of their tactics in my hunting.  Scouting in late winter/early spring (after the snow melts) has been beneficial for my hunting and they advocate this heavily in their books.. I also try to make my tree stand sets in the spring to avoid the areas long before season HOWEVER, I feel you have to also tailor strategies that work for your woods along with what the Eberhardts are explaining.  My primary hunting area is private, but there are 2 other guys that are allowed to hunt it as well, it's 100 acres.. so even though I'm not in there in the summer setting up.. the other guys are.. so I'm not really sure how that works/matters that its not me lol!  They also dont like the use of trail cams, but I like and use them regularly  along with glassing at a distance during the summer months.  I guess their big thing is hunting areas other guys wouldn't and with that, there is some excellent info.

[Mike Spaulding]

I've read his books as well, and do implement some of their tactics in my hunting.  Scouting in late winter/early spring (after the snow melts) has been beneficial for my hunting and they advocate this heavily in their books.. I also try to make my tree stand sets in the spring to avoid the areas long before season HOWEVER, I feel you have to also tailor strategies that work for your woods along with what the Eberhardts are explaining.  My primary hunting area is private, but there are 2 other guys that are allowed to hunt it as well, it's 100 acres.. so even though I'm not in there in the summer setting up.. the other guys are.. so I'm not really sure how that works/matters that its not me lol!  They also dont like the use of trail cams, but I like and use them regularly  along with glassing at a distance during the summer months.  I guess their big thing is hunting areas other guys wouldn't and with that, there is some excellent info.

[vtmtnman]

Mike I agree,I like their methods and tailor them to my area.

I also fully agree with you on trail cam usage.I feel they are a vauable part of scouting.

I am, except on the ground and with a longbow  

[rg176bnc]

I cant disagree with much of what he's saying.  In fact I think he is spot on as well.
In most cases height wont hurt you but 20 is about my limit.
I'll give a buck a chance to come to me but Im not afraid to hit a bedding area.
Love my saddle.

[Arwin]

One of the best books I have read, Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails by John Eberhart.

 Changed the way I hunted and had immediate results. I was self taught and this book helped so much!

 I've talked with John on several occasions at Bobs Gun and Tackle during their summer event. He's a great guy to chat with.

[Hawkeye]

"the Eberhart way???"

Is that anything like the "Gangnum style?"

I am SO out of it....