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Cranford ring of steps and T's - John Eberhart

John Eberhart

John Eberhart

Well-Known Member
Vendor Rep
Joined
Apr 1, 2014
Messages
700
I just hung up the phone with Dennis who owns Cranford and he's going to try and get me a prototype of his ring of steps by March so Bobby Boswell and myself can show them at the 3 shows I will be doing seminars at and will have a booth at with a mock up tree and a Kestrel.

Dennis will also be making 6 inch unpainted T's and if you want to get any just call Cranford and request the T's that John uses. The paint on the T's can potentially make a noise when the lead moves on it, where as if the T's aren't painted they never make a squeeking noise when the lead moves on it.

Shows are:

Outdoorama in Novi Michigan
Ohio Deer & Turkey Expo in Columbus
Akron Outdoor show in Akron Ohio
 
Thanks for the update John. I am just getting into saddle hunting so I look forward to the Cranford ring of steps as a platform option. I am unfamiliar with the T's. What are they and how are they used? Thanks.
 
KartShot said:
Thanks for the update John. I am just getting into saddle hunting so I look forward to the Cranford ring of steps as a platform option. I am unfamiliar with the T's. What are they and how are they used? Thanks.
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T screw and tree step versions.
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Looking forward to seeing them.

Poly, steel, or aluminum?

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
Very very new to the saddle game.... but have had success simply hitching to the tree.

Benefits of this T system?
 
RatMe said:
Very very new to the saddle game.... but have had success simply hitching to the tree.

Benefits of this T system?
Click to expand...
Big trees that can't accommodate a conventional tether.

Cons. Safety compared to a conventional tether.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
Ah I see. I can also imagine if you are on private you could have many of these set up. Show up, lock in, and be ready to go.

In the Eberhart photo the tether appears to be a tad low. Wouldn't this restrict movement around the tree to some extent?

Thanks for the answers!
 
RatMe said:
Ah I see. I can also imagine if you are on private you could have many of these set up. Show up, lock in, and be ready to go.

In the Eberhart photo the tether appears to be a tad low. Wouldn't this restrict movement around the tree to some extent?

Thanks for the answers!
Click to expand...
I bumped another thread for you.

http://www.saddlehunter.com/community/index.php?threads/1073/

Johns T screw method

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Thank you for the additional information. I'll likely stick with the tether for convienance and because I hunt public land where you are unable to drill into the tree directly.

That said, I continue to be fascinated by the different nuances of the saddle hunting world.
 
KartShot said:
BassBoys
Click to expand...

OK BassBoys, that hybrid hooked to that tree looks like one I had made. That means I must know you but I can't tell by your picture. Can you send me a private message of who you are.

By the way, your set-up looks PERFECT!
 
RatMe said:
Thank you for the additional information. I'll likely stick with the tether for convienance and because I hunt public land where you are unable to drill into the tree directly.
Click to expand...

RatMe

You have to be creative and that's what's so awesome about a harness, the options are endless. You could easily use a ratchet strap and put something on it for your lead to drape over or your could run your lead under the strap before tightening it up and then run it to a second ratchet.

Just sitting here I thought of another way on public land to hook up the lead. Make a separate lead strap that interchangeable on your bridge that's very short with a loop on caribeaner on the end (would have to figure out the length) and either hook the caribeaner to the ratchet strap before tightening or put the loop on the ratchet before wrapping around the tree and tightening it.

There are so many easy ways of getting around issues.
 
Thank you all for the responses.

I hunt in Maine and to say these techniques are unique to common practice would be a huge understatement. The looks I get, especially in urban settings, is an absolute riot.

Honestly the creative aspects of this are it’s own hobby within itself.

I really like the second idea, using heavy duty ratchets and being able to clip in with a short modified tether (lead). In a perfect world, many ratchet setups could be left at various locations.

Thanks again,
 
John Eberhart said:
OK BassBoys, that hybrid hooked to that tree looks like one I had made. That means I must know you but I can't tell by your picture. Can you send me a private message of who you are.

By the way, your set-up looks PERFECT!
Click to expand...

John, I believe that photo was from the thread where @Maustypsu was showing us your setup after your visit last December. Correct me if I’m wrong @BassBoysLLP
 
RatMe said:
In the Eberhart photo the tether appears to be a tad low. Wouldn't this restrict movement around the tree to some extent?
Click to expand...

The lower tether has a lot of benefits over a high tether. It's more comfortable, the lead isn't in your way when you draw your bow with a directly to the side shot, and you can lean forward to put less pressure on your lower back and to fall asleep with your head on the lead. A high lead (arms length as shown in some videos) has a lot of issues and is why a lot of hunters that purchased saddles way back when, sold them as they were very uncomfortable because they made you sit upright with your body actually leaning away from the tree which is very tough on the back. I'm positive of this because I've spoken with a couple hundred saddle users that were ready to sell their saddles because they were so uncomfortable and lowering the tether made a huge difference amongst a couple other things.

The only times I tether a bit higher is when the diameter of the tree is big enough where I need more than 6 steps on the ring. In such cases the lead wraps around the tree as my body moves around the tree for a shot opportunity and I need the additional length of lead to move several steps to either side. I also raise each step about an inch and a half higher than the last when I put them in so that as the lead wraps the tree and pulls my body upward, the steps make up for the lead raising my body.
 
I’ll wager this tether height issue is what I’ve had going on with my sit drag this year. I never thought the issue could be related to tether height because 99% of videos have it at that height. I thought it had more to do with the spread of the bridge.

A good reminder to experiment and not resort solely to what I watch or read.

Thanks for taking the time to respond
 
I really enjoyed your seminar in Columbus last year, looking forward to attending again and seeing the new cranford steps.


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John Eberhart said:
The lower tether has a lot of benefits over a high tether. It's more comfortable, the lead isn't in your way when you draw your bow with a directly to the side shot, and you can lean forward to put less pressure on your lower back and to fall asleep with your head on the lead. A high lead (arms length as shown in some videos) has a lot of issues and is why a lot of hunters that purchased saddles way back when, sold them as they were very uncomfortable because they made you sit upright with your body actually leaning away from the tree which is very tough on the back. I'm positive of this because I've spoken with a couple hundred saddle users that were ready to sell their saddles because they were so uncomfortable and lowering the tether made a huge difference amongst a couple other things.

The only times I tether a bit higher is when the diameter of the tree is big enough where I need more than 6 steps on the ring. In such cases the lead wraps around the tree as my body moves around the tree for a shot opportunity and I need the additional length of lead to move several steps to either side. I also raise each step about an inch and a half higher than the last when I put them in so that as the lead wraps the tree and pulls my body upward, the steps make up for the lead raising my body.
Click to expand...


I never really enjoyed using a saddle until I talked to John and he told me to go with a low hook up tether.... I've never turned back since the day I tried it.
 
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