I'm a public land hunter so I have to be mobile. I really like Beast sticks with steath strips. Never had an issue. I don't set up where a deer will walk right to the base of the tree. I don't buy the scent control bunk either. To many people shoot giants every year with none.
John you have been helping lots of hunters for a long long time. You share a lot of hard earned info, and you always have. Best to you, and your family. And a giant THANK YOU!!
Hello John , thanks for helping educate all of us on many aspects of hunting. Just a tip before painting the sticks wipe down with a chemical de gloss for maximum adhesion
Your a great guy john. I don’t know if you get told enough. Thank you. For all of your advice and knowledge that has worked for you over the years. I’d love to get the chance to meet you one day. I’m taking my scent control to a new level thanks to you and people like Jim ward. REAL KILLERS. Keep doing you and F the haters.
Thanks and the haters don't bother me because I know they are simply lazy hunters. If they are lazy and successful, that tells me they are hunting really good property unlike what most hunters have access to. There are so many CZcamsrs and guys that hunt managed properties and pawn it off as something different. When I see anyone over a food plot, I know it's not public or free permission.
That makes a lot of sense. Pretty don’t kill. Those black sticks would easily get picked here where I live in Ky. After painting they blended right in to the tree
Lol just had a very nice mature buck spook on video after looking straight at my camera on a scrape, all the other bucks didnt care. Wish he was there yesterday morning when i was there..😂
Not knocking the video because I do think the over obsessed even though they may eliminate a 1/500 encounter happen because of something like this, I can say your ability to stay still and hunt silent and with the wind will make the hunt. I have several of your books and it’s your hunting ability, willingness to go where others won’t, and deer knowledge that is impressive. Again, I am sure this procedure would not hurt anything and takes minimal time, but if the average joe hunted half as well as you I doubt this will be an issue.
Roy, I'm sorry but I sort of have to disagree and you. When you said 1/500 chance, that meant that there is a chance of a mature buck sighting the black sticks and in my opinion, the odds are much higher than that depending on what type of property you're hunting. To me, there is no question that the amount and type of hunting pressure an area receives, affects the daytime deer movements more than any other factor, PERIOD and a bunch of small odds things, eventually adds up to much higher odds. I gave my son some serious crap yesterday because he went in and hung a camera at a location we both hunt and I asked him if the autumn olive had grown up over the summer to possibly block a shot to the main transition runway and he said the chutes had grown 6 feet high over the summer. I assumed that as long as he was there that he would have cut the chutes and he said he hadn't. That means another trip is required and that is soooooooooooo unacceptable to me to make another intrusive entry to cut stuff that should have been cut when he was there. That one simple thing about having a second intrusion could possibly make the difference between a buck passing by in daylight or not. Little things add up. It's like taking a bunch of minor details which are small small fractions in terms of odds, eventually they add up to a whole number and a missed opportunity and over a hunting career, makes up a lot of missed opportunities. I like that you are not afraid to come at me and question me with good questions, it makes it better for everyone when these questions are answered and that they come up. Good luck Roy
Hey John. I killed a doe opening day yesterday in NJ in the middle of a transition zone between bedding. A 4pt and spike came by before her. I am doing a full scent control regiment this year with scentlok pants, jacket, mask and gloves; and rubber boots. Using my EES and in the tree 2 hours before daylight. 13 yard shot on her quartering away she went 90 yards. I read the book you and Chris wrote "Bowhunting Whitetails" this summer. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I now have prepped locations in transition zones, funnels, and mast trees; where before I wasn't really hunting, I was baiting. I wont ever bait again. Learning to actually hunt has been so rewarding.
@@johneberhart4062 @John Eberhart It's been the most rewarding experience and I have you to thank for it. Thank you for always calling out those bullshit fantasy land hunters hunting 1000 acre managed properties passing up bucks until they get to killing age and size. Killing them from redneck blinds on the edges of fields. Idk how they call themselves hunters. Lol. I am hunting NJ public land and its covered in briars and thick.
I paint everything. Usually using brown, black, and light gray. I paint them at least a month ahead, leave them outside and have never had a problem. As a matter of fact, last year I had pinned my stand, which isn't exact most times, and I walked past it, turned around and there it was!
I can't speak about the material collecting scent as I have zero experience with such a thing however I've used the same brand of paint in a different color on my platform. The odor dissipates within a few hours.
Paint smells and takes a couple months to get rid of the smell by having outside and I forgot to mention that on the video. I did mention it in a couple replies on this post. When handling sticks with bare hands, you put human odor on the stealth strips that are made of fabric and hold odors.
I always paint my ladder stands just to help them blend in a little as to not spook deer that may be moving through that are not familiar to those woods. But I disagree with no stealth strips. I want everything as quiet as possible!
@@johneberhart4062 yah, but you know how easy it is to accidentally "click" something together. Great content. I do pretty much everything u do...... including a mommy wagon of death!!
Hi John Thank you for another great video and great information. Why doesn’t Tethered paint their sticks in the first place? I sure they would listen to you being on their staff. They could offer several different camouflage patterns and the custom could chose. It would be another great selling point for their product! Thanks again.
Mr. Eberhart, how do you store your sticks inside of your van, do you keep them outside or inside of specific container. Also if those aiders are made of fabric material they will pick up and cary scent. Thank you for sharing your best practices….
From what I've read, deer actually see Grey's, tans, better than red. Color sight is different for deervin comparison to humans. From what I've red deer see blues even as we see reds. My thought is to us they blend better, but not to a deer. I think one sticking is the best method to try to avoid any foreign object that a deer knows shouldn't be there! Thoughts?
I love all of your videos and appreciate the wealth of knowledge that you share. You really helped my decision to try saddle hunting last year, and I love it! There’s nothing like being able to doze off in my 2 panel haha (tree hopper recon sling). I’ve thought replacing it with the ESS when the time comes. But what I found interesting was when your were talking about modifications to it. Are they just basic personal preferences? Or as part of Tetherd’s pro staff, have you given input for changes in future releases?
No need to get an ESS if you have the TreeHopper 2-panel as they hunt exactly the same. The modifications can't be put on a commercial saddle due to liability issues. As soon as a saddle is modified, the warranty is gone as is the liability from the company. Mods are for the guys that have got used to the saddle and want to streamline it for easier use.
I agree that you can hand wash stealth strips and let them air dry outside. It's just much simpler to just paint the sticks and wipe them down with a scent free wipe if needed. Much less chance of having odors on your sticks.
@@mikeguy9668 Whatever works for you Mike is great. I just throw out what has worked for me over the years on likely the most pressured whitetails in the country, and if a hunter wants to do it, that's there call. No hard feeling from me either way.
@@johneberhart4062 I follow a strict scent control regiment that I credit mostly to you. But I also try to be as quiet as possible. I hunt in oklahoma and the deer here are very educated to say the least, so I try to check as many boxes as possible. It's alot to keep up with, but I'm pretty serious about it
John, quick question. On a breezy day do the aiders sway in the wind? If so, does that factor in for you with spooking deer? Thanks for the videos and tips.
I see a few comments here that John is obsessing over the color of those sticks, and that such a small detail would only matter 1/500th of the time, that a hunter need only “stay still and hunt silent and with the wind”. First of all, if you think John is letting the wind dictate his stand position, you’ve not been paying attention. The obsession with scent and use of ScentLock clothing how John defeats the deer’s nose so that he can sit in the best place to kill a deer, not in a place dictated by the wind. As for the attention to sight detail, I’ll just pass along two stories from my own hunting experience that prove John’s point. Once in CT I was in a tree that I had just climbed using screw in steps. Back then I did not paint them flat gray, but left them the dark green with a sheen direct from E-Z Climb. A deer walked straight to my tree so no shot, but I expected it to walk past and give me a broadside. What happened was that the deer saw the lowest step and keyed right in on it, then saw the next one, then its eyes and head moved step by step up that tree till it spotted me. At that point it did a panic drop, spring and dash. Don’t tell me deer don’t know what belongs and what does not. Another year, in MA, I climbed a thick hemlock tree to get some bearings in a thick swamp. The branches were tight and went to the base so I put my longbow against a sapling about 10 yards from the tree and climbed the branches. I was up about 20ft in the thick stuff when a doe walked in. She was not walking toward my longbow. Her path was 10-20 feet off to the side, but she caught sight of it in her peripheral vision and swung her head right at it. She walked toward it, stomping her foot from time to time. I think deer do this when curious, suspicious, but not frightened, to see if they can get a reaction. She got within 5 feet and decided that was enough. She backed up and walked carefully away. Now this was a wooden limbed longbow; nothing but a stick and a string. She didn’t wind it I’m sure cause she never made that wide nose sniff motion deer do when they catch something they don’t like. She didn’t blow. She just snuck away. All that just because she saw my longbow leaning against a tree. Those are two true stories. If you think John is just blowing smoke up your butt to make CZcams bucks think again. This guy is the real deal. As far as Whitetail deer hunting there is nobody alive today his equal in knowledge, skill and demonstrable success. Ignore his advice please. Leave the deer in the woods for those of us who follow him to hunt.
What is the significance of 69 might I ask? If I’m correct in my thoughts, people need to go into 69 scent free, otherwise things can get nasty rather quickly. No way I’m going to my stand with a tuna can smell altering my thought process.
Hey John I've bought several of your books and I believe you are one of the best hunters in North America but I paint all my stands and have to leave them outside for at least 3 months to get the paint smell to go away. Also I don't see a difference between human scent attaching to the stealth strips vs the straps on the aiders. Not being a jerk but if I can smell the paint I'm sure the deer can. This being said, I do appreciate your videos.
You're correct and I answered the question about paint in a reply earlier on this video. I said it takes a couple months of being outside, so I totally agree and should have mentioned it in the video. The aider straps on the sticks get washed in scent free detergent in my washtub and I have a complete video on that process and then the sticks are only handled with ScentLok gloves on. If you had a large enough washtub, you could wash the entire sticks with stealth strips and aiders.
@@johneberhart4062 "If you had a large enough washtub, you could wash the entire sticks with stealth strips and aiders."... Exactly! Then you would have the hugely beneficial addition of being far more quiet.
Can you do a video of you going up a tree and setting up the saddle scaffold? Always been very interested in seeing how you set up for a public land hunt quietly and efficiently
I don't have a full video of that and will have at some time and now I like the TreeHopper strap on ring of steps better than the Cranford. So they will be in that video.
@@johneberhart4062 Why do you like the Tree Hopper steps better than Cranford ring of steps? Just curious because I bought Cranfords based on your recommendation. Thank you
@@garyfuhrman9468 Gary, the Treehopper steps are made of a high quality plastic so they are lighter and quieter and they nest together when not in use. The Treehopper ring of steps is new and wasn't around when I mentioned the Cranford steps. The Cranford's work great, just heavier, and a bit noisier.
A couple months being in an outside shed or anything with an overhang to keep out of the weather. If it's going to rain, I will put them in the rain and then let them air dry and put them back in the shed.
Hi John, thanks for the videos and all of the great info. I have a question. Are you concerned about the aiders blowing in the breeze and attracting the attention of deer? If so how do you handle that ?
I know I'm not John, but my unsolicited thoughts are that if the aiders are blowing in the wind, everything else should be too. Lol. Hopefully wouldn't attract too much attention. Especially a camo aider.. would just look like some vines blowing
@@CZcamsr1g I've often wondered about stuff like that. That's one reason I don't like to use scents and stuff. I always wonder if anything outside of the norm spooks them.
Science suggests a deer’s nearly 300 million olfactory senses make its sense of smell superior to its sense of sound and smell. No hunter that I know would admit that there was a way to be completely silent or completely invisible. So if we can’t beat their inferior senses (relative to smell), why would we think a product and regimen could keep us from being winded? Again, no disrespect meant at all. I just want everyone to think for themselves and get out and hunt!
Thanks for this video, John. Honestly, playing wind and thermals with stealth strips vs. being careless with the wind, painting your sticks, and wearing head to toe well-cared for scent lok, I will take playing the wind and being silent everyday of the week. I mean no disrespect at all, but paint smells linger so I would personally prefer playing the wind and being silent with stealth strips. Personally, I have more faith in a deer’s biology than I do in how much activated carbon a clothing manufacturer puts in the garments they are trying to sell. I think you give too much credit to your scent control regimen when the fact is you are just a good hunter who was in the tree at the right time.
I played your game for 35 years and have played the paying no attention to wind direction for the last 20 years and there is a huge difference. You are spooking deer you never see. I would never go back to playing the wind when there is technology that will alleviate it. That's a no brainer.
@@johneberhart4062 with all do respect, how do you know your not spooking deer that you never see? I am sure I spook deer I never see, but I also consistently have deer on highly pressured public land come within bow range-sometimes even bedding down within 15yds of my stand.
@@ethanchapmon1772 I guess I don't know exactly what part of the video you are referring to, but I assume it is on scent control, right? If so, I hunted the wind for 35 years and on many occasions, especially when the foliage was on and my visual wasn't very far, I would have downwind deer that I couldn't see, blow because they caught my wind and then I would never see them as they went a different direction. Now, I knew they were there because I heard them. Mature bucks however, aren't quite as noisy as curious does and subordinate bucks and they simply turn around and leave when they get wind of a hunter and many times, they are never seen. How do I know this, because on many occasions when I was having to play the wind, I would have a mature buck coming in from downwind and as soon as he caught my wind, he would just turn around and leave, giving no indication whatsoever, that he was ever there, other than me seeing him. There is no question that many times during those 35 seasons, there were mature bucks that I couldn't see, wind me and leave without me ever knowing they were coming in my direction for a potential shot opportunity. I struggle to comprehend how there can be a technology that eleviates the wind, yet the vast majority of hunters refuse to use it. To me, it's just laziness, there can be no other reason. Sure there are hunters that will never be able to have a scent control regimen that works because they are simply not detail oriented enough to do so. A proper scent control regimen that works, is not for lazy hunters that buy into all this crap that there is no way to fool a deer's nose, yet they have NEVER used it or did, and did it improperly. No hard feelings I hope.
@@johneberhart4062 thanks for the responses. Certainly no hard feelings. While I’m sure there are plenty of lazy hunters out there, I am most definitely not one of them. I exert of a lot of time and energy into access, strategy, scouting, and going deep into thick, nasty places on public land. I don’t think you were calling me lazy just because I don’t embrace the same scent control strategy that you do-at least I don’t believe you did. I hope not. We just focus on different details and put a lot of work into each of our respective strategies. I appreciate your insight and willingness to share with others, and I will certainly remain open to implementing your strategies.
@@ethanchapmon1772 No I was not referring to you on the scent control. Sometimes I just go on a tangent. But as far as spooking downwind deer that you never see with a poor scent control program, that definitely happens. And I believe that is what your original reply was about.
Hey John, another great and down to earth "good advice" video. Thank you! I was wondering how high you are able to get with your stick/aider combo. I know you like to hunt high. I'm looking to buy some one sticks and was wondering 3 or 4 sticks?
I like to get 25 feet or higher once the foliage is down and depending on the tree, at least 20 feet high with foliage in the early season. Each One stick is 18 inches and with an 18-inch aider step, that's 36 inches per stick X 4 sticks is 144 inches. With an 18-inch gap to the ground from the bottom stick, 18 inches between the next 3 sticks and an 18-inch gap from the top stick to my ring of steps, that's another 90 inches for a total of 234 inches divided by 12 is about 20 feet. If you put double step aiders on the 2 bottom sticks, that's another 3-foot which gets you to 23 feet to your feet and for freelance hunting, that is fine.
I spray paint some ratchet straps but then they smell like paint after drying, now im just trying to buy natural color stuff. Am I wrong about spray paint and long term smell?
John, i have a question pertaining to the scent control info you sent me. QUESTION: I sourced the complete line of Icebreaker Merino base layers for this season, used on Ebay. I sweat a lot. Could I wear my Academy Sports 2.0 warm weather Polyester moisture wicking base layer under my jacket to the tree, and once up the tree put it in a freezer bag and then don the scent free Icebreaker Merino base layers as i need them ? Just worried about too much sweat wicking into my Scentlok jacket on the way to my tree from the polyester base layer, it wicks really well. Otherwise I'll get a 2nd Icebreaker 200 and wear one in and then switch in the tree. thanks
Absolutely and I do that all the time. I also have a couple Icebreaker merino wool SS/T-shirts that are paper thin and I will wear them in under my Slok jacket and then swap out in the tree with something heavier once my body cools down and put the T in a zip lok. Absolutely great plan.
@@johneberhart4062 Thanks, my Eberhardt saddle hunting pants will be here Friday to join the Saddle jacket that i got a couple weeks ago. I'm really excited about hunting in those this year!!!
You just keep thinking that Biguy and hunting the wind as I did for 35 years. I happen to know better. Maybe not 100%, but definitely enough to not pay attention to wind direction and I know that for an absolute fact.
@@johneberhart4062 you without a doubt have some sort of cross contamination. Nobody is “ scent free” . Period. How about sending me some of your free scent lok gear to try!
@@Briguy933 That is your naive opinion as you sir, have never tried it properly and it's quite obvious you buy into the lazy way of hunting. Just hope you hunt good enough ground to kill like the hunters you drink the Kool Aid from do.
@@johneberhart4062 if you get downwind of a deer 🦌, they will smell you. Your breath alone will give you away to a smart deer. It's still good to minimize your scent as much as possible but I don't get crazy OCD about it like I used to.
@@KeepinYouUp07 You are 100% WRONG and I am positive because I've been doing it now for over 20 years and never get winded. Please don't insult me or call me a liar and respond on my site with things you know nothing about. Keep it on the site you likely visit more frequently and buy into the rhetoric.
Hi John I keep all my stuff like aiders and sticks in air right totes away from my scentlok, but after washing all my stuff in scent free detergent would it be worth it to put pine branches in them or is it an unnecessary step? thanks
Adam, never put pine boughs in anything unless you're always hunting in pines. Having pine odors in areas where there are no pines throws up a red flag to mature bucks in pressured areas. I always try to never have any foreign odors in the area.
Jonathan, I never knew carabiners were an issue with noise. I've never had any issues with them. What issues and when would they make a noise. They are always against fabric (ropes).
What modifications have you made to your ESS saddle? Do you have a video on that? I’m having issues when climbing with the two panels separating. The clips come apart very easily. My inner panel will be down by the behind my knees by the time I get to the top climbing. I decided to use a bungee with a ball on end to help hold together. Will see if it works out. I tighten saddle strap as tight as I can, but I guess my waist is bigger than my butt these days.
1st throw out those clips, 2nd when you’re walking with the saddle on have it above your waist. More so in the small of your back or even a bit higher. Tighten the belt and you should be fine.
@@tatetimmy I one stick with my 2 panel treehopper, and it scared the hell out of me when it dropped below my waist the first time. I found that the trick was to make sure that the waist belt and leg straps were tight and keep as much tension as possible on it during the climb
Sorry, and while the beast sticks are a great stick, they are definitely not the best. Not as light and don't hook up as easily. I would say they are equivalent to the Skeletor sticks though. About the same weight.
I own Beast sticks too but i dont think they are the "best" as far as stacking or carrying on a stand. I think XOP and Lone Wolf are winning in that regard.
So you say you are going to "wash" the aiders and only handle them with your scent lok gloves... Couldn't you do the same to the stealth strips? My opinion is I'd rather just use stealth strips, play the wind and be confident that I won't have the clinking of metal on metal. Seems like an attack on stealth strips for no apparent reason. I find it funny how you think you can be so scent free but the minute you step out of the shower and dry off you start to smell like human, let alone climb a tree. Also what about your clothes, just imagine how many people have touched your clothes before you purchased them. Do you have a separate washer and dryer for just washing your clothes in scent free wash? Do you wear your scent lok gloves when you pull them out of the washer and dryer? How do you get to your hunting areas? I'm assuming a vehicle, did you wash the inside of your vehicle to not cross contaminate?
Yeh they did get recalled and way less than 1% were bad and they were fixed and sent back very quickly. I've been a rep for over 30 years and have had many recalls on products, they get fixed and returned, what's your point? They are the lightest weight and easiest to use stick on the market.
Contradictory information which makes no sense. Not using Stealth Strips because they "hold scent" but then using nylon straps because you can "wash the straps in scent lock detergent" and then use scent lock gloves to handle the aiders is illogical. You can also use those gloves if you are so inclined, to handle the stealth stripped sticks, keeping them in a scent free environment if you feel that is needed. It is critical to be silent , especially when hunting "highly pressured mature bucks" as you know. Your illogical approach in this matter clearly illustrates bias. Stealth Strips are outstanding additions to any surface which might make noise be it a stick, stand, or carabiner.
They definitely will attract their attention, Dan Infalt has a video of a deer noticing a long tail of a tree strap blowing around and the deer noticed it, looked up following the sticks up the tree right to the hunter....... spooked and ran
I'm a public land hunter so I have to be mobile. I really like Beast sticks with steath strips. Never had an issue. I don't set up where a deer will walk right to the base of the tree. I don't buy the scent control bunk either. To many people shoot giants every year with none.
John you have been helping lots of hunters for a long long time. You share a lot of hard earned info, and you always have. Best to you, and your family. And a giant THANK YOU!!
Thanks Robert and good luck to you as well.
Thanks Robert
Hello John , thanks for helping educate all of us on many aspects of hunting. Just a tip before painting the sticks wipe down with a chemical de gloss for maximum adhesion
Clanking sounds spook deer
just as much as scent, I prefer to use stealth strips. Appreciate your channel John.
Your a great guy john. I don’t know if you get told enough. Thank you. For all of your advice and knowledge that has worked for you over the years. I’d love to get the chance to meet you one day. I’m taking my scent control to a new level thanks to you and people like Jim ward. REAL KILLERS. Keep doing you and F the haters.
Thanks and the haters don't bother me because I know they are simply lazy hunters. If they are lazy and successful, that tells me they are hunting really good property unlike what most hunters have access to. There are so many CZcamsrs and guys that hunt managed properties and pawn it off as something different. When I see anyone over a food plot, I know it's not public or free permission.
That makes a lot of sense. Pretty don’t kill. Those black sticks would easily get picked here where I live in Ky. After painting they blended right in to the tree
Lol just had a very nice mature buck spook on video after looking straight at my camera on a scrape, all the other bucks didnt care. Wish he was there yesterday morning when i was there..😂
You are true GOLD. I can’t thank you enough for all you sharing.
Thanks Mark
Not knocking the video because I do think the over obsessed even though they may eliminate a 1/500 encounter happen because of something like this, I can say your ability to stay still and hunt silent and with the wind will make the hunt. I have several of your books and it’s your hunting ability, willingness to go where others won’t, and deer knowledge that is impressive. Again, I am sure this procedure would not hurt anything and takes minimal time, but if the average joe hunted half as well as you I doubt this will be an issue.
Roy, I'm sorry but I sort of have to disagree and you. When you said 1/500 chance, that meant that there is a chance of a mature buck sighting the black sticks and in my opinion, the odds are much higher than that depending on what type of property you're hunting. To me, there is no question that the amount and type of hunting pressure an area receives, affects the daytime deer movements more than any other factor, PERIOD and a bunch of small odds things, eventually adds up to much higher odds. I gave my son some serious crap yesterday because he went in and hung a camera at a location we both hunt and I asked him if the autumn olive had grown up over the summer to possibly block a shot to the main transition runway and he said the chutes had grown 6 feet high over the summer. I assumed that as long as he was there that he would have cut the chutes and he said he hadn't. That means another trip is required and that is soooooooooooo unacceptable to me to make another intrusive entry to cut stuff that should have been cut when he was there. That one simple thing about having a second intrusion could possibly make the difference between a buck passing by in daylight or not. Little things add up. It's like taking a bunch of minor details which are small small fractions in terms of odds, eventually they add up to a whole number and a missed opportunity and over a hunting career, makes up a lot of missed opportunities. I like that you are not afraid to come at me and question me with good questions, it makes it better for everyone when these questions are answered and that they come up. Good luck Roy
@@johneberhart4062 valid point.
Hey John. I killed a doe opening day yesterday in NJ in the middle of a transition zone between bedding. A 4pt and spike came by before her. I am doing a full scent control regiment this year with scentlok pants, jacket, mask and gloves; and rubber boots. Using my EES and in the tree 2 hours before daylight. 13 yard shot on her quartering away she went 90 yards. I read the book you and Chris wrote "Bowhunting Whitetails" this summer. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I now have prepped locations in transition zones, funnels, and mast trees; where before I wasn't really hunting, I was baiting. I wont ever bait again. Learning to actually hunt has been so rewarding.
That is absolutely awesome and you have to admit, much more rewarding to get a free range deer with no gimmicks or over bait.
@@johneberhart4062 @John Eberhart It's been the most rewarding experience and I have you to thank for it. Thank you for always calling out those bullshit fantasy land hunters hunting 1000 acre managed properties passing up bucks until they get to killing age and size. Killing them from redneck blinds on the edges of fields. Idk how they call themselves hunters. Lol. I am hunting NJ public land and its covered in briars and thick.
I paint everything. Usually using brown, black, and light gray. I paint them at least a month ahead, leave them outside and have never had a problem. As a matter of fact, last year I had pinned my stand, which isn't exact most times, and I walked past it, turned around and there it was!
Them sticks actually disappeared when you painted them. Very nice..
To each is own. As long as a person is getting out in the woods and keeping hunting alive. Idc what camo or not he thinks about or wears or paints.
Thanks for the pointers
I ordered some the skeletors. I don’t mind the weight vs the one sticks. Tired of carrying heavy climbers for miles to set up
Doesn't the paint stink like hell? What about the fabric on the aiders collecting scent?
I can't speak about the material collecting scent as I have zero experience with such a thing however I've used the same brand of paint in a different color on my platform. The odor dissipates within a few hours.
Paint smells and takes a couple months to get rid of the smell by having outside and I forgot to mention that on the video. I did mention it in a couple replies on this post. When handling sticks with bare hands, you put human odor on the stealth strips that are made of fabric and hold odors.
I always paint my ladder stands just to help them blend in a little as to not spook deer that may be moving through that are not familiar to those woods. But I disagree with no stealth strips. I want everything as quiet as possible!
If you handle stuff properly, there is no noise.
@@johneberhart4062 yah, but you know how easy it is to accidentally "click" something together. Great content. I do pretty much everything u do...... including a mommy wagon of death!!
Hi John Thank you for another great video and great information. Why doesn’t Tethered paint their sticks in the first place? I sure they would listen to you being on their staff. They could offer several different camouflage patterns and the custom could chose. It would be another great selling point for their product! Thanks again.
Attractive cosmetics sell products. What you do after the purchase is up to you.
Mr. Eberhart, how do you store your sticks inside of your van, do you keep them outside or inside of specific container. Also if those aiders are made of fabric material they will pick up and cary scent. Thank you for sharing your best practices….
Love your stick to the basics approach to hunting
True hunting is basic hunting. I hate where hunting has gone where with money, you can kill big bucks. That never used to be the case.
@@Brian-R Do you have any clue as to how many opportunities you miss out on by hunting the wind, I do and it's a lot.
@@Brian-R I do, none. Used to all the time and I would hear them blow.
Hey John! Have you had any issues with the aiders moving in wind and alerting deer?
From what I've read, deer actually see Grey's, tans, better than red. Color sight is different for deervin comparison to humans. From what I've red deer see blues even as we see reds. My thought is to us they blend better, but not to a deer. I think one sticking is the best method to try to avoid any foreign object that a deer knows shouldn't be there! Thoughts?
why would the stealth strips hold any more scent then the amsteel rope used to hold it to the tree, or the aider you’re putting in them?
No paint. Just use stealth strips.
I love all of your videos and appreciate the wealth of knowledge that you share. You really helped my decision to try saddle hunting last year, and I love it! There’s nothing like being able to doze off in my 2 panel haha (tree hopper recon sling). I’ve thought replacing it with the ESS when the time comes. But what I found interesting was when your were talking about modifications to it. Are they just basic personal preferences? Or as part of Tetherd’s pro staff, have you given input for changes in future releases?
No need to get an ESS if you have the TreeHopper 2-panel as they hunt exactly the same. The modifications can't be put on a commercial saddle due to liability issues. As soon as a saddle is modified, the warranty is gone as is the liability from the company. Mods are for the guys that have got used to the saddle and want to streamline it for easier use.
You can hand wash stealth stripped sticks and let them hand dry. That's what I do and haven't had an issue
I agree that you can hand wash stealth strips and let them air dry outside. It's just much simpler to just paint the sticks and wipe them down with a scent free wipe if needed. Much less chance of having odors on your sticks.
@@johneberhart4062 I get your point. I know it's just one more thing to take care of, but it's worth it to me to not have my sticks clang around
@@mikeguy9668 Whatever works for you Mike is great. I just throw out what has worked for me over the years on likely the most pressured whitetails in the country, and if a hunter wants to do it, that's there call. No hard feeling from me either way.
@@johneberhart4062 I follow a strict scent control regiment that I credit mostly to you. But I also try to be as quiet as possible. I hunt in oklahoma and the deer here are very educated to say the least, so I try to check as many boxes as possible. It's alot to keep up with, but I'm pretty serious about it
John, quick question. On a breezy day do the aiders sway in the wind? If so, does that factor in for you with spooking deer? Thanks for the videos and tips.
Of course they do and yes that motion can spook deer be it from motion or noise.
I see a few comments here that John is obsessing over the color of those sticks, and that such a small detail would only matter 1/500th of the time, that a hunter need only “stay still and hunt silent and with the wind”. First of all, if you think John is letting the wind dictate his stand position, you’ve not been paying attention. The obsession with scent and use of ScentLock clothing how John defeats the deer’s nose so that he can sit in the best place to kill a deer, not in a place dictated by the wind.
As for the attention to sight detail, I’ll just pass along two stories from my own hunting experience that prove John’s point. Once in CT I was in a tree that I had just climbed using screw in steps. Back then I did not paint them flat gray, but left them the dark green with a sheen direct from E-Z Climb. A deer walked straight to my tree so no shot, but I expected it to walk past and give me a broadside. What happened was that the deer saw the lowest step and keyed right in on it, then saw the next one, then its eyes and head moved step by step up that tree till it spotted me. At that point it did a panic drop, spring and dash. Don’t tell me deer don’t know what belongs and what does not.
Another year, in MA, I climbed a thick hemlock tree to get some bearings in a thick swamp. The branches were tight and went to the base so I put my longbow against a sapling about 10 yards from the tree and climbed the branches. I was up about 20ft in the thick stuff when a doe walked in. She was not walking toward my longbow. Her path was 10-20 feet off to the side, but she caught sight of it in her peripheral vision and swung her head right at it. She walked toward it, stomping her foot from time to time. I think deer do this when curious, suspicious, but not frightened, to see if they can get a reaction. She got within 5 feet and decided that was enough. She backed up and walked carefully away. Now this was a wooden limbed longbow; nothing but a stick and a string. She didn’t wind it I’m sure cause she never made that wide nose sniff motion deer do when they catch something they don’t like. She didn’t blow. She just snuck away. All that just because she saw my longbow leaning against a tree.
Those are two true stories. If you think John is just blowing smoke up your butt to make CZcams bucks think again. This guy is the real deal. As far as Whitetail deer hunting there is nobody alive today his equal in knowledge, skill and demonstrable success. Ignore his advice please. Leave the deer in the woods for those of us who follow him to hunt.
Thanks Ben, much appreciated and you certainly know.
Adding anything to the deer woods is like moving furniture in your own living room, those animals notice it, see it and will be wary of it...😉
What is the significance of 69 might I ask? If I’m correct in my thoughts, people need to go into 69 scent free, otherwise things can get nasty rather quickly. No way I’m going to my stand with a tuna can smell altering my thought process.
😂😂 it’s the episode number🤦♂️
Gulf is correct, the vid #, also the year I graduated
Hey John I've bought several of your books and I believe you are one of the best hunters in North America but I paint all my stands and have to leave them outside for at least 3 months to get the paint smell to go away. Also I don't see a difference between human scent attaching to the stealth strips vs the straps on the aiders. Not being a jerk but if I can smell the paint I'm sure the deer can. This being said, I do appreciate your videos.
You're correct and I answered the question about paint in a reply earlier on this video. I said it takes a couple months of being outside, so I totally agree and should have mentioned it in the video. The aider straps on the sticks get washed in scent free detergent in my washtub and I have a complete video on that process and then the sticks are only handled with ScentLok gloves on. If you had a large enough washtub, you could wash the entire sticks with stealth strips and aiders.
@@johneberhart4062 thanks John I appreciate the reply
@@johneberhart4062 "If you had a large enough washtub, you could wash the entire sticks with stealth strips and aiders."... Exactly! Then you would have the hugely beneficial addition of being far more quiet.
@@tomkarrow8208 That is correct as long as you always handled the sticks with SLok gloves on thereafter.
Tethered one gen 2 sticks have a recall due to sticks cracking.
I don’t get why these companies don’t sell them in grey, brown, or camo.
Great question and the answer is, most hunters want things that are cosmetically attractive at selling distance.
Bruh, if you can handle your clothes, you can handle stealth strips
Nope, I have to wear clothes, I can choose to not use stealth strips.
Everyday living should be lived with that mentality of function over fashion. If something doesn't function it was a waste of time and money
Can you do a video of you going up a tree and setting up the saddle scaffold? Always been very interested in seeing how you set up for a public land hunt quietly and efficiently
Pretty sure he’s got that video out if you’d look
I don't have a full video of that and will have at some time and now I like the TreeHopper strap on ring of steps better than the Cranford. So they will be in that video.
@@johneberhart4062 Why do you like the Tree Hopper steps better than Cranford ring of steps? Just curious because I bought Cranfords based on your recommendation. Thank you
@@garyfuhrman9468 Gary, the Treehopper steps are made of a high quality plastic so they are lighter and quieter and they nest together when not in use. The Treehopper ring of steps is new and wasn't around when I mentioned the Cranford steps. The Cranford's work great, just heavier, and a bit noisier.
Another excellent video. John, how long of a time frame do you recommend between the time you paint your sticks and when you hunt with them??
A couple months being in an outside shed or anything with an overhang to keep out of the weather. If it's going to rain, I will put them in the rain and then let them air dry and put them back in the shed.
Hi John, thanks for the videos and all of the great info. I have a question. Are you concerned about the aiders blowing in the breeze and attracting the attention of deer? If so how do you handle that ?
I know I'm not John, but my unsolicited thoughts are that if the aiders are blowing in the wind, everything else should be too. Lol. Hopefully wouldn't attract too much attention. Especially a camo aider.. would just look like some vines blowing
@@CZcamsr1g I thought about that. I was just thinking the aiders may not look natural.
@@butch5511 Ya i hear you. Guess we'll just wait for him to respond LOL
@@CZcamsr1g I've often wondered about stuff like that. That's one reason I don't like to use scents and stuff. I always wonder if anything outside of the norm spooks them.
I doubt if everything else is blowing in the wind aiders will be a giveaway to a deer.
Science suggests a deer’s nearly 300 million olfactory senses make its sense of smell superior to its sense of sound and smell. No hunter that I know would admit that there was a way to be completely silent or completely invisible. So if we can’t beat their inferior senses (relative to smell), why would we think a product and regimen could keep us from being winded? Again, no disrespect meant at all. I just want everyone to think for themselves and get out and hunt!
Thanks for this video, John.
Honestly, playing wind and thermals with stealth strips vs. being careless with the wind, painting your sticks, and wearing head to toe well-cared for scent lok, I will take playing the wind and being silent everyday of the week. I mean no disrespect at all, but paint smells linger so I would personally prefer playing the wind and being silent with stealth strips. Personally, I have more faith in a deer’s biology than I do in how much activated carbon a clothing manufacturer puts in the garments they are trying to sell. I think you give too much credit to your scent control regimen when the fact is you are just a good hunter who was in the tree at the right time.
I played your game for 35 years and have played the paying no attention to wind direction for the last 20 years and there is a huge difference. You are spooking deer you never see. I would never go back to playing the wind when there is technology that will alleviate it. That's a no brainer.
@@johneberhart4062 with all do respect, how do you know your not spooking deer that you never see?
I am sure I spook deer I never see, but I also consistently have deer on highly pressured public land come within bow range-sometimes even bedding down within 15yds of my stand.
@@ethanchapmon1772 I guess I don't know exactly what part of the video you are referring to, but I assume it is on scent control, right? If so, I hunted the wind for 35 years and on many occasions, especially when the foliage was on and my visual wasn't very far, I would have downwind deer that I couldn't see, blow because they caught my wind and then I would never see them as they went a different direction. Now, I knew they were there because I heard them. Mature bucks however, aren't quite as noisy as curious does and subordinate bucks and they simply turn around and leave when they get wind of a hunter and many times, they are never seen. How do I know this, because on many occasions when I was having to play the wind, I would have a mature buck coming in from downwind and as soon as he caught my wind, he would just turn around and leave, giving no indication whatsoever, that he was ever there, other than me seeing him. There is no question that many times during those 35 seasons, there were mature bucks that I couldn't see, wind me and leave without me ever knowing they were coming in my direction for a potential shot opportunity. I struggle to comprehend how there can be a technology that eleviates the wind, yet the vast majority of hunters refuse to use it. To me, it's just laziness, there can be no other reason. Sure there are hunters that will never be able to have a scent control regimen that works because they are simply not detail oriented enough to do so. A proper scent control regimen that works, is not for lazy hunters that buy into all this crap that there is no way to fool a deer's nose, yet they have NEVER used it or did, and did it improperly. No hard feelings I hope.
@@johneberhart4062 thanks for the responses. Certainly no hard feelings. While I’m sure there are plenty of lazy hunters out there, I am most definitely not one of them. I exert of a lot of time and energy into access, strategy, scouting, and going deep into thick, nasty places on public land. I don’t think you were calling me lazy just because I don’t embrace the same scent control strategy that you do-at least I don’t believe you did. I hope not. We just focus on different details and put a lot of work into each of our respective strategies.
I appreciate your insight and willingness to share with others, and I will certainly remain open to implementing your strategies.
@@ethanchapmon1772 No I was not referring to you on the scent control. Sometimes I just go on a tangent. But as far as spooking downwind deer that you never see with a poor scent control program, that definitely happens. And I believe that is what your original reply was about.
Hey John unrelated but what's your thoughts on the V site have you tried it?
Hell of a deer hunter, need a lot of practice painting 😬
Hey John, another great and down to earth "good advice" video. Thank you! I was wondering how high you are able to get with your stick/aider combo. I know you like to hunt high. I'm looking to buy some one sticks and was wondering 3 or 4 sticks?
I like to get 25 feet or higher once the foliage is down and depending on the tree, at least 20 feet high with foliage in the early season. Each One stick is 18 inches and with an 18-inch aider step, that's 36 inches per stick X 4 sticks is 144 inches. With an 18-inch gap to the ground from the bottom stick, 18 inches between the next 3 sticks and an 18-inch gap from the top stick to my ring of steps, that's another 90 inches for a total of 234 inches divided by 12 is about 20 feet. If you put double step aiders on the 2 bottom sticks, that's another 3-foot which gets you to 23 feet to your feet and for freelance hunting, that is fine.
I spray paint some ratchet straps but then they smell like paint after drying, now im just trying to buy natural color stuff. Am I wrong about spray paint and long term smell?
John, i have a question pertaining to the scent control info you sent me. QUESTION: I sourced the complete line of Icebreaker Merino base layers for this season, used on Ebay. I sweat a lot. Could I wear my Academy Sports 2.0 warm weather Polyester moisture wicking base layer under my jacket to the tree, and once up the tree put it in a freezer bag and then don the scent free Icebreaker Merino base layers as i need them ? Just worried about too much sweat wicking into my Scentlok jacket on the way to my tree from the polyester base layer, it wicks really well. Otherwise I'll get a 2nd Icebreaker 200 and wear one in and then switch in the tree. thanks
Absolutely and I do that all the time. I also have a couple Icebreaker merino wool SS/T-shirts that are paper thin and I will wear them in under my Slok jacket and then swap out in the tree with something heavier once my body cools down and put the T in a zip lok. Absolutely great plan.
@@johneberhart4062 Thanks, my Eberhardt saddle hunting pants will be here Friday to join the Saddle jacket that i got a couple weeks ago. I'm really excited about hunting in those this year!!!
Nothing is scent free!!!
You just keep thinking that Biguy and hunting the wind as I did for 35 years. I happen to know better. Maybe not 100%, but definitely enough to not pay attention to wind direction and I know that for an absolute fact.
@@johneberhart4062 you without a doubt have some sort of cross contamination. Nobody is “ scent free” . Period. How about sending me some of your free scent lok gear to try!
@@Briguy933 That is your naive opinion as you sir, have never tried it properly and it's quite obvious you buy into the lazy way of hunting. Just hope you hunt good enough ground to kill like the hunters you drink the Kool Aid from do.
@@johneberhart4062 if you get downwind of a deer 🦌, they will smell you. Your breath alone will give you away to a smart deer. It's still good to minimize your scent as much as possible but I don't get crazy OCD about it like I used to.
@@KeepinYouUp07 You are 100% WRONG and I am positive because I've been doing it now for over 20 years and never get winded. Please don't insult me or call me a liar and respond on my site with things you know nothing about. Keep it on the site you likely visit more frequently and buy into the rhetoric.
Hi John I keep all my stuff like aiders and sticks in air right totes away from my scentlok, but after washing all my stuff in scent free detergent would it be worth it to put pine branches in them or is it an unnecessary step? thanks
Adam, never put pine boughs in anything unless you're always hunting in pines. Having pine odors in areas where there are no pines throws up a red flag to mature bucks in pressured areas. I always try to never have any foreign odors in the area.
How, if at all do you quiet your carabiners?
Jonathan, I never knew carabiners were an issue with noise. I've never had any issues with them. What issues and when would they make a noise. They are always against fabric (ropes).
Now they smell like spray paint!!! 😅
Why use paint when u can spray scent killer on it?
He is looking to take care of the black "visuals", not take care of odor. I highly doubt scent killer would get rid of the black color and the sheen.
TPX, the paint is to have them match the color of the tree.
What modifications have you made to your ESS saddle? Do you have a video on that? I’m having issues when climbing with the two panels separating. The clips come apart very easily. My inner panel will be down by the behind my knees by the time I get to the top climbing. I decided to use a bungee with a ball on end to help hold together. Will see if it works out. I tighten saddle strap as tight as I can, but I guess my waist is bigger than my butt these days.
YES he does, here you go czcams.com/video/sQTOg3B_5QA/video.html
1st throw out those clips, 2nd when you’re walking with the saddle on have it above your waist. More so in the small of your back or even a bit higher. Tighten the belt and you should be fine.
@@lindbergd24 yea. I’m not walking with it. I’m put it on at the tree and climbing. Im tightening it as tight as I can. Tks for comment
@@lindbergd24 the leg clips I’m assuming you’re referring to? Replace them with something else or get rid of completely?
@@tatetimmy I one stick with my 2 panel treehopper, and it scared the hell out of me when it dropped below my waist the first time. I found that the trick was to make sure that the waist belt and leg straps were tight and keep as much tension as possible on it during the climb
Sorry..beast are best
Sorry, and while the beast sticks are a great stick, they are definitely not the best. Not as light and don't hook up as easily. I would say they are equivalent to the Skeletor sticks though. About the same weight.
You would say that, when your sticks are free.
I own Beast sticks too but i dont think they are the "best" as far as stacking or carrying on a stand. I think XOP and Lone Wolf are winning in that regard.
So you say you are going to "wash" the aiders and only handle them with your scent lok gloves... Couldn't you do the same to the stealth strips? My opinion is I'd rather just use stealth strips, play the wind and be confident that I won't have the clinking of metal on metal. Seems like an attack on stealth strips for no apparent reason. I find it funny how you think you can be so scent free but the minute you step out of the shower and dry off you start to smell like human, let alone climb a tree. Also what about your clothes, just imagine how many people have touched your clothes before you purchased them. Do you have a separate washer and dryer for just washing your clothes in scent free wash? Do you wear your scent lok gloves when you pull them out of the washer and dryer? How do you get to your hunting areas? I'm assuming a vehicle, did you wash the inside of your vehicle to not cross contaminate?
Those aiders will move in the breeze.
The 2 step aiders will if windy, singles don't move unless it's really windy. If it's really windy, I use all single aider sticks.
Those sticks got recalled do too steps shearing.
Great mastery of the English language
Yeh they did get recalled and way less than 1% were bad and they were fixed and sent back very quickly. I've been a rep for over 30 years and have had many recalls on products, they get fixed and returned, what's your point? They are the lightest weight and easiest to use stick on the market.
Recall means we rushed to market without safety testing. Garbage.
Point is there are better sticks. I.E. Beast sticks. No recall. 0%.
Contradictory information which makes no sense. Not using Stealth Strips because they "hold scent" but then using nylon straps because you can "wash the straps in scent lock detergent" and then use scent lock gloves to handle the aiders is illogical. You can also use those gloves if you are so inclined, to handle the stealth stripped sticks, keeping them in a scent free environment if you feel that is needed. It is critical to be silent , especially when hunting "highly pressured mature bucks" as you know. Your illogical approach in this matter clearly illustrates bias. Stealth Strips are outstanding additions to any surface which might make noise be it a stick, stand, or carabiner.
I worry the bottom aiders blow around in the wind, movement can spook a deer.
They definitely will attract their attention, Dan Infalt has a video of a deer noticing a long tail of a tree strap blowing around and the deer noticed it, looked up following the sticks up the tree right to the hunter....... spooked and ran
@@MexicanMovie I would think so, not being used to movement in a spot, then seeing an aider blowing around.
If it's really windy, I use all single aider sticks. I actually try not to use sticks any more than I have to. But I do use them.
Bottom line, Eberhart is a killer. His wall speaks
Thanks Reed and there are lots of good hunters out there, I just have a big mouth and like to help others.
Whats an ESS?
It's my Eberhart Signature Saddle and it's sold through Tethrd Nation. 2 panel saddles are hands down the most versatile and comfortable.
John Eberhart has forgotten more about hunting than the other CZcams “experts” will ever know.
Thanks Russell and there are some good CZcamsrs out there, you just have to sift through the rubble.
@@johneberhart4062 👍
That's a lot of paint
??????????????????????
Those sticks are the most recalled sticks in the market. Nice try.
Stop pushing these sticks that break. It’s bad for your credibility.
That is a really dumb response that doesn't deserve a reply.
He lost credibility when he said “I don’t worry about wind because I wear carbon”
@@RM-ub4sl No, you just have zero clue what you're talking about! Do some research as opposed to drinking Kool Aid.
Tethered took a ideas from real saddle people and rushed garbage to the market and signed you. Thanks