20. Post season scouting open timber on state land in Michigan, with poor stand locations and rubs.

[@toddlentner1708]

If you want to learn about hunting whitetails, this is your man. You won’t see this on TV shows. Well done, John.

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Thanks and you won't see this stuff on TV because they NEVER, EVER hunt pressured properties and wouldn't have the first clue how to do so. That is just a fact.

[@nickycochran1706]

Glad to finally know the difference between white and red oaks. I am slowly watching all of your videos in order because I can’t stand to bounce around.

[@Bavariandecent322]

These last two years I have been hooked on Eberhart and Dan Infalt. I am embarrassed to say I thought I knew what I was doing for the last 28 years... but really had no clue. Last Feb, March, April I did all my scouting... picked out my stands and hunted them once. Week 3 of this years archery smoked my largest buck ever. Thank you guys !

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Congrats on your largest buck to date - Joe

[@mattboyden4297]

I love the props to us average Joe's and the digs towards TV hosts ❤

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Just the FACTS and that is a fact.

[@brooks8656]

This is something you would never see on one of those big tv shows. You could watch one of these videos and gain more information, than you could watching hours of the tv guys. Thanks John for the vid.

[@stephenkutney9626]

Nice and true video. If you leave stands on state land in New York State you will never see the stand again.

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Thanks

[@markcrisp3324]

I couldn't agree more with you on this video....Been deer hunting forever. I have taken 15 record book class deer from public lands and not one of them came from an open timber area like this one. I take a lot of mature bucks and my areas are very seldom ventured by other hunters, Love he fact you explained the acorn issue as well most have no ideal. I have a friend runs a TV show he does what he has to for the show.....But trust me he know all this stuff. Good Job on this video Ill keep looking at more I have to teach youths how to get in out of the wood safely today starting with old school.......Compass and maps....lol

[@HockeyTownHooligan5]

I would be honored and embarrassed if my stand was featured on this video lol. Great teaching moment for who’s ever stands these are.

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Actually there would be no reason for one of those hunters to be embarrassed because they likely just didn't know any better.

[@Deedeedee214]

One stand was a climber. Nobody leaves both halves of a climber that high, except....what if the climber is a memorial stand for a lost relative?? Whatcha think 🤔

[@paulwakefield1015]

I could watch these all day long!!!

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Thanks and we are going to get better at getting more of them posted.

[@raymonddancer9181]

Wow finally a video that explains how it works in MICHIGAN. I hunt Public Land here as well and finally in the last 10 years do exactly what y'all do...! Great video thanks for sharing.

[@sauerkrautjr]

This is amazing free knowledge. So glad I found this channel, as somebody who didn't grow up hunting. Thankfully I have some great mentors to hunt with, but for classroom-type knowledge this can't be beat.

[@markadams5285]

Great video, simple, understandable, precise, accurate! Absolutely enjoyed it. Keep them coming!

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

That's the plan.

[@jimpeterson3806]

I absolutely love the challenge of hunting public land here in Mid Michigan. Yes, it can be a PITA many times with other hunters messing up your hunts etc but that's to be expected. When you do connect with a decent buck(2.5 years +) it's a feeling of accomplishment that you'll never get hunting cream of the crop private parcels. Great videos...keep them coming!

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

It's not only Michigan, Pa, WV, Va, NH, NY, and several others are severely pressured on most of their public lands.

[@stevenl4494]

@@eberhartoutdoors4219 Absolutely. I hunted in VA years ago......almost 0 public land in areas and it more approximates MI than everywhere else.

[@HolezGT]

I grew up hunting public land and small parcels in Missouri with my dad and uncle. I can relate to you 100%. With all of your success I love that you share your ideas and experiences.

[@alexhoeksema9752]

Awesome video. John is probably the most knowledgeable deer hunter that I have heard

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Lots of great hunters out there that nobody has ever heard of, but thanks for the nice remark.

[@mimike2640]

Thanks for taking the time to give us these tips. I hunted open timber for years until the last three years in Michigan. Amazingly enough I have shot my largest 6 bucks in the last three years (all on edges of swamp's/rivers). Keep the videos coming I appreciate everything your teaching.

[@nemideergoon1844]

Where you from?

[@mimike2640]

@@nemideergoon1844 Southwest Michigan

[@jamesmartin7282]

I really liked hearing your thoughts about that land as you walked it. I'll keep your advice in mind when I scout in 2-3 weeks. I hunt 225 acres of private land that was incorrectly managed for hunting. However it does border public land on the north, south and part of the west boundary. High pressure and trespassers are a problem

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Thanks and always look at a property as though the amount of hunters on it are trying to kill YOU. That perspective will make you gravitate to areas offering security cover for daytime movements.

[@flatlanderoutdoors2549]

Another great vid, that patch of timber looks like what I’m used to on PA public 😂 thanks John I never stop learning from your vids, look forward to the next one.

[@jesseflores7790]

Thanks for all the information. Look forward to watching the rest of your videos.

[@blairfritz3798]

John you are my mentor brother, keep the vids coming great info

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Thanks Blair

[@Chalz108]

Wow the audio quality was excellent 👏

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Especially compared to the last video that we are going to repost because the audio sucked.

[@halfstep67]

It's mind blowing to see that many stands so close together. Here in southeast Missouri, I hunt on public ground and see very few stands and I am always looking. And the majority of stands I see are from rifle season. We have several large tracks of national forest land but most of it is low hunting pressure during bow season. We just don't have a large deer population and don't have a lot of big bucks.

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Missouri is very low pressure compared to Northeaster states.

[@halfstep67]

@@eberhartoutdoors4219 Upper Missouri has the better hunting and sees more pressure but down here in SEMO, we don't have any pressure except during the 2 weeks of gun season. We have large tracks of the Mark Twain National Forest that makes for plenty of room but attracts a lot of hunters during gun season. But bow season is low pressure.

[@KingdomEvangelism]

So glad there are leaders teaching others how to hunt. Bless you brother especially for teaching about the food sources and how to recognize them. Love it. #DogetotheMoon

[@skylars4335]

Great info and video, John!

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Thanks

[@Deedeedee214]

John, consider that many of these stands may be rifle only, if not opening weekend only rifle hunters. Also, the 2 stands facing one another, one may have been a memorial.

[@michaelsmallwood1409]

Thank you very much for all your information!

[@JasonGrizzleOwlteacher]

Thank you for this fantastic information.

[@dustingardner222]

Lots of good information thanks for the video John. I picked up ur ess saddle; looking forward to changing it up this year.

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Let me know if you have any issues.

[@dustingardner222]

@@eberhartoutdoors4219 I’m about to order my lineman and tether can you tell me what would be better the 8mm or 11mm I’m about 215lbs if that makes a difference.

[@bowhunter9288]

John definitely has this down to a science. Super impressed. Hey, I bet you cant stand that governor you got though. Scary woman! Lol

[@indianapublicland7429]

Ive seen big bucks make sapling rubs and huge rubs. I seen little one hit trees like that but not start them.

[@fromontario6954]

Nice scouting tips! Public land in Michigan looks a lot like public in southern Ontario lots of stands and blinds in weird places. I learned a couple years back from Jon to go to where everyone else isn’t. Go to where you would hide if you were being hunted.

[@ChilcoteForestryServices]

Im drooling over those white oaks!

[@ronmacdougall9612]

Man oh man,I can’t believe they put stands up and leave them like that.I went scouting already and I’m kind of confused this year.I had several young bucks and a couple mature bucks around but no sign as in scraps and rubs what so ever,usually they tear it up big time.They came to my mock scraps which was two of them and got photos of them.I found recently where a couple mature are bedding but no rubs anywhere.

[@tybrouwer7620]

Amazing knowledge, awesome video and channnel.

[@robertlocke7711]

I enjoy scouting never a wast. Last two week of October first two November look for large scraps. That have deer poop on it an a licking branch. In those same areas you pointed out around the edges in cover. You will kill big bucks. Great video thanks for doing these.

[@bryansorrows2693]

Absolutely loved the fact you took the time to identify the differences in the oaks. I had to learn how to scout public land when i joined the military with very little to no teaching prior to and have had to do a lot of google searching because nobody ever talks about vegetation identification or types of trees or even really breaks down why they hunt specific food sources. Maybe that would be a good video for you to talk about as well.

[@shannonblane]

Great content. Right to the point.

[@EncouragingChristFollowers]

Id say a majority of those stands are rifle stands and they chose those spots because they are so open and they can see a long ways for a rifle shot. I from Michigan and I know several people who have that mind set and would do that.

[@brianfoughty9006]

The number of stands is mind blowing… I see a handful on public around here in Ohio but never clustered like that

[@MichiganGreatOutdoors]

This is a great video, I think if more michigan hunters watched this they could see what they are doing wrong!

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Thanks

[@SuperChloeGymnast]

John, fantastic video! Thank you for making these teaching tools. When you do your review on tacks and markers look at “Firetacks”. They are the best I’ve found for hunting especially the 4D and 3D ones as they reflect so much better at almost any angle and going around corners. So superior to the standard white, brown, and orange flat reflective tacks that we have all used for so many years. Check em out and let us know what you think! Stay safe, Rob

[@TenPointTyrone]

Speak for yourself Never have never will learn to navigate

[@normankaster917]

Lol I wish I knew the hunters that placed the stands so I could hear them complain about how you critiqued their setup. And how they can't eat antlers, and this is why they're hunting, the way they're hunting, the location they are hunting and so on. Proper woodsmanship is the key to hunting success in any form, knowing the lay of the land, prevailing winds, thermals, hunting pressure, and so on are the things that are going to make a hunter successful. Time in the woods is the one way to fully understand all the aspects. No TV show can teach you that. So I say to all the hunters wanting to be better and more successful is to get out there and learn something from your surroundings.

[@joshc407]

What I would give to, to be able to sit down with this legend and look at a map and have him explain to me spots he believes we should scout, AND THEN GO SCOUT! It’s so easy to THINK you know where to scout but I’ll be honest, i highly doubt I am looking in the right spots. Would love to have John show me the ropes a little

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Go to workshop and you can

[@Edwinthe7th]

Question about scent control. So I understand the way you use scentlok and unscented detergent on clothing and soft items. How do you control scent on things like your bow, saddle, and ropes that you can not wash? Or is that not a concern?

[@underdogoutdoors]

Pennsylvania is a mega high pressure state, in the past few seasons Pennsylvania has definitely improved with mature bucks popping up where they never used to be. Is Michigan that much more pressured? There's obviously a drop in hunting pressure in PA over the past 20 years, although it's still high on public land.

[@HockeyTownHooligan5]

Southern Lower peninsula is very pressured but has bigger deer but there’s less public land, the more north you go you get decent pressure but less big deer. The upper peninsula is very low pressure but VERY few deer, period. Heavy snow kills, wolves, less agriculture all make for low deer populations in the U.P. It’s a tough state to hunt.

[@HockeyTownHooligan5]

I will add that they opened 7 counties in the northern lower peninsula to antler point restrictions and I’ve heard that it’s had some success.

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Michigan is a 2 buck state whereas Pa. is a 1 buck state and Pa. has APR. Pa. has similar pressure (about 50K fewer bowhunters) but they are killing far more mature bucks than Mi. due to 1 buck and APR.

[@zm1199]

Although all the other info is more important, my favorite part is at the 8:00 mark. Thank you john!

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

I meant that statement from the bottom of my heart.

[@GROUNDEDHUNTING]

Great video

[@CDNsportsman9]

John what reflective tacks do you use for entry and exits? A video on this would be great!

[@Shockstar76]

In my 7th year of bow hunting in WI I'm guilty of setting up by Oaks not thinking about the whole picture. I have learned a ton from you. I was going to ask if you currently use a rachet with the ring of steps? I'm looking to do that but with the woods whisper quiet in the late season it seems like that would be super loud.

[@frez777]

So funny hearing how hard it is to hunt Michigan "mature bucks". I always just thought it was me

[@iana1989]

Hi John, thanks for these videos. They are incredibly helpful. How close to other hunters are you willing to set up at a spot? Would you be willing to set a stand at a spot with good security/sign but also other stands or blinds nearby to it? I'm finding this a lot in my post-season scouting.

[@michaelmccrory383]

How about that entry and exit route and flashlight video he mentioned has that been made yet or not?

[@rogerramjet7567]

Just amazing how pressured hunting in Michigan is. I live in Gaylord. My issue is with the management. Kansas everyone has to apply for a buck tag. Doe tags are over the counter. Last time I hunted there I was seeing a dozen eight points a day. Average. Great management there. Their gun hunt was after the rut. The ten points I saw were all broken up. I did not kill a buck. Management. The key. Controls the pressure as well as the deer population. Not so in Michigan.

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Michigan has it's fair share of large privately owned or leased managed properties where the hunters take mature bucks every year. Every high hunter density state does.

[@matthewwillis2389]

John, do you put out any cameras on any of the parcels you hunt once you find out where you’ll set up? Or is it soley putting boots on the ground and going off of sign/food/bedding/etc…

[@charlesvaughan534]

Not sure why a 3 1/2 wouldn't use the edge. Not big enough rubs, cover not thick enough or something else? I would think that they would cruise in the cover down wind of feeding does.

[@Grimey84]

Whoever disliked is most likely the owner of these stands. 🤣 Johns record speaks for itself. His books have made me a better bow hunter, I am planning on taking his class next year as im from Michigan. Glad to take in anything you have to offer for free though 😎, will be taking on the challenge of killing a mature buck on public land next year.

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

We don't mind the haters - Joe

[@dustylewis8692]

Can you imagine if the owners of each of those stands showed up at the same time on opening day

[@caseyhepler2806]

Charter a small airplane and scout from air seems like a time saver?

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Not really as I did that back in the late 80's and just like looking at an aerial, you can't tell much about pressure or cover until you put your boots on the ground. TV guys can because they hunt where deer move at will with no pressure and there are a ton of mature bucks.

[@mikemitchell9157]

Would never leave a stand in Michigan my uncle did once went to hunt got half way up the tree and a black bear pops its head over. Perched about 25 ft in his stand

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Back in 2010 when I went in to hunt public lands on the first 2 mornings of bow season, all my stuff had been stolen and I went home without hunting. Theft is to be expected if you leave anything of value that is easy to steal and carry off.

[@mikemitchell9157]

@@eberhartoutdoors4219 amen to that. I'd rather deal with the black bear than theft

[@Eaaatlife]

Hey that’s my tree stand! Lol

[@stevenl4494]

Michigan, to me, sounds badly mismanaged insofar as mature bucks. I know that in Maryland (last I checked) a vast majority of public land is put in agriculture, annually. And there's tons of it. They hold some very big bucks, so John would have a field day. However the season is waayyy different. Between September and Thanksgiving is BOW ONLY, with only 3 days of muzzleloader during the lull. After Thanksgiving they give you a couple of weeks for shotgun/slug (90% of the State) Rut is bow only, which is why they can survive and get old. I've hunted public land (hard to reach areas only) where deer don't bother looking up. And that's a surreal experience. Lastly, can't shoot a buck without 3 points on one side.

[@franklinfx]

They need to ban leaving stands in trees, they're all over the place here....pop up blinds too

[@colbykinney5633]

Maybe thats the same guy setting up stands for a bunch of different winds😂

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

No, typically if a hunter is setting up for different winds he sort of has a clue what he's doing and obviously because these were all in open timber, they didn't. I doubt any 2 stands were from the same hunter as they were also all different.

[@JDye-youtube]

I also realize that not everyone is out to kill a trophy buck, and there’s nothing wrong with that. We shouldn’t disparage other hunters just because they hunt differently, maybe with different objectives, than we do.

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

You're correct J. Dye and I said that in the video. Many hunters don't know what they are doing or just want to kill A deer and that is absolutely wonderful in my opinion.

[@marillahills91]

I'm bad ass 😍 took years to figure it out but I tag out every year with a bow on state land northern michigan big plus is buying a saddle

[@tyler1671]

Never understood why they ban baiting ted laid it flat to em with the science behind it although I feel it isn't fair chase if I wana feed deer on a part of my property and not hunt anywhere close to it i shkukd be able to

[@kevinsheridan2432]

In Ny public your supposed to remove your stands by the end of season, but that’s a lot of work. People are to lazy to remove them

[@RobKingRC]

I do most of my bow hunting in Jackson county Michigan..

[@centralmiallouthunting4602]

John let's be honest if what we do was easy and shooting old nice bucks where easy and every guys could shoot one would you even do it no thats why you keep scouting hiking and hunting as you my friend shoot some of the nicest big mature bucks from mi state land

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

You are absolutely correct!

[@pensnut08]

I find that flagging and it comes with me.

[@markheidema3699]

Some of these guys watch too many deer hunting shows and think they can duplicate the same setups and using them on state land in MI. I just doesn't work this way.

[@George-ro6bw]

Maybe they’re not deer hunters but a group out looking for Sasquatch.

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Hey, maybe they are spring stands and they sit and wait for Morels to pop up.

[@mormegilthurin5421]

Visit Dan's e bay store for good deals on used stands.

[@mikecarey207]

👍

[@brickmason4410]

So the morale of this story is this... If your hunting in Michigan.. and a bow hunter "trophy" hunter, and 1 in a hundred is 3 years old, you might want to find another line if work... You could literally spend your entire life simply preparing to kill a trophy animal.. If it was me I'd go where the odds are better..

[@HouseBladeDesign]

He designed a killer saddle

[@andrewcarr7919]

Man Im glad I don't live in Michigan that has got to be a huge morale killer walking out into the woods and seeing 7 stands in less than 300 yards

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

It just let's us know not to hunt there. From that point we would look for more cover and less hunter activity.

[@elncalls]

Exclusively hunt public land in Michigan. Killed many bucks in all kind of cover, but lately corn-knobs have made it very difficult to do so. Especially the kind of hunters who setup 2 tree stands right next to each other and think they are going to film “big bucks on public land”. Give me a friggin break and stick to getting a lease. Also douche bags who think they own every spot on public land because they go there every night after work is ruining the deer movement. Really erks me to see no one going out and taking down their stands.

[@usernamehere6061]

"I've never been here before" Also: "This wasn't flooded... (oops)... I don't think..."

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

i found that property 2 weeks before we shot that video and stopped to take a peek then for a whole 15 minutes. other then that it was private the year before and we did not have permission. you can tell when places are flooded or not.- Joe

[@usernamehere6061]

@@eberhartoutdoors4219 You can. So what does that have to do with my comment?

[@mitchellshirk2533]

My recommendation is trust what the man says about the acorns and do not eat them, because I have done exactly what he described and they both taste like 💩!!!

[@eberhartoutdoors4219]

Yea, neither is great, but the whites are edible whereas the reds are not.

[@mitchellshirk2533]

@@eberhartoutdoors4219 that's like saying liver is edible but why eat it when you can have a ribeye 😂 great video!

[@lukeb.572]

All those giant ladder stands make me cringe

[@indianapublicland7429]

No 1 1/2 old making a rub like that fact!!!!

[@calhiser8265]

Most likely gun hunters in those stands.

[@lisaannaallen6283]

if a 2.5 or 3.5 year old was what i had to hunt i would not go!!!!!!!