Never Hunted Whitetail

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Take a walk if you want to see whiteails.
Sit still if you want to kill whitetails.
As told to me by a wise old man, with lots of nice whitetail racks on the wall.
Dont get wrong i have killed bucks still hunting, also have been waved goodbye to alot.

I'm curious as to how you heard about the Benoit family in the 80's?

.......I have read almost every issue of North American Whitetail, Buckmasters and Deer and Deer Hunting since 1985 so if its been publicized in one of those magazines then I have probably read it.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Take a walk if you want to see whiteails.
Sit still if you want to kill whitetails.
As told to me by a wise old man, with lots of nice whitetail racks on the wall.
Dont get wrong i have killed bucks still hunting, also have been waved goodbye to alot.

Cute saying, but I grew up with someone who would laugh at the idea of sitting in a tree all day waiting for a whitetail.  There were plenty of 140+ bucks hanging on the wall as well.  Still hunting/tracking is a lot more than just "walking through the woods".  I'm glad that he never brought me out in the woods to sit in a tree and call it hunting.  To me that's just "waiting".    There's a lot more to be learned by still hunting (in my opinion).  Anyone can find a game trail and sit on it for hours/days on end.

3. The Benoit family has certainly had an influence on hunters in the NE US but I have found that few are as effective as they are in using their  techniques.

That's like a guy from the east coast saying that Cameron Hanes had an influence on backcountry hunting, but few are as effective as he is.   Give me a break....

The Benoits didn't gain popularity until the mid to late 90's.  There are MANY hunters that are easily as successful at tracking as they are, they're just not looking for publicity.   The Benoits didn't start this type of hunting, they just marketed it to the hunting public.   Have you ever looked for hunters in the NE US that are successful at tracking?

I heard of the Benoit Family in the 80's and you likely didn't hear much about them before that because while hunting and whitetail have always been popular the craze didn't really begin until the 80's.

I agree the Benoit's aren't the end all be all when it comes to tracking....but when you say "MANY"..... I would say by what measure??? Unless 99.9% of successful trackers shun any publicity what so ever (which isn't highly likely considering human nature) I can say fairly confidently that there aren't a large percentage of hunters using tracking to consistently kill mature bucks.

You sir have obviously never stepped foot in the north woods of NH or Maine during the month of November.  Spend a hunting season there, then get back to me with your "fairly confident" assessment. 

I'm curious as to how you heard about the Benoit family in the 80's?

Here is an article where a guy is talking about seeing Larry Benoit in Sports Afield in 1972 and discussing Larry's 1975 book.

http://www.buckhuntersblog.com/how-to-bag-the-biggest-buck-of-your-life-book-review


Here is a photo of the Benoit family that appeared in a 1970 issue of Sports Afield.

http://www.wildernesstrader.com/Benoit%20Info/Meet%20Larry.htm

[huntnnw]

Driving around until you see one then jumping out and shooting it is always effective.  Now that’s real hunting, like the pioneers did it, only they drove wagons.

That's how they hunted Injuns, not deer.   

I learned that it is not necessary to stop the rig or even turn off the engine.... just rolling down the wiindow is sufficient. Besides we all know the deer will just stand there and look until the car door opens... 

Chris u forgot a crucial step..u first have to set your beer down

[PolarBear]

That is what those beer hats were made for, so you don't have to set it down while driving or shooting out the window.

[BULLBLASTER]

 :tung:Polarbear... that is genius! Problem solved. I almost forgot that part huntnnw!

[Kowsrule30]

No no you guys gotta practice shoot with the beer in your hand more.... It actually helps with the nerves and helps keep composure....      Plus you can always blame a miss on it.....   

[Miles]

Take a walk if you want to see whiteails.
Sit still if you want to kill whitetails.
As told to me by a wise old man, with lots of nice whitetail racks on the wall.
Dont get wrong i have killed bucks still hunting, also have been waved goodbye to alot.

Cute saying, but I grew up with someone who would laugh at the idea of sitting in a tree all day waiting for a whitetail.  There were plenty of 140+ bucks hanging on the wall as well.  Still hunting/tracking is a lot more than just "walking through the woods".  I'm glad that he never brought me out in the woods to sit in a tree and call it hunting.  To me that's just "waiting".    There's a lot more to be learned by still hunting (in my opinion).  Anyone can find a game trail and sit on it for hours/days on end.

3. The Benoit family has certainly had an influence on hunters in the NE US but I have found that few are as effective as they are in using their  techniques.

That's like a guy from the east coast saying that Cameron Hanes had an influence on backcountry hunting, but few are as effective as he is.   Give me a break....

The Benoits didn't gain popularity until the mid to late 90's.  There are MANY hunters that are easily as successful at tracking as they are, they're just not looking for publicity.   The Benoits didn't start this type of hunting, they just marketed it to the hunting public.   Have you ever looked for hunters in the NE US that are successful at tracking?

I heard of the Benoit Family in the 80's and you likely didn't hear much about them before that because while hunting and whitetail have always been popular the craze didn't really begin until the 80's.

I agree the Benoit's aren't the end all be all when it comes to tracking....but when you say "MANY"..... I would say by what measure??? Unless 99.9% of successful trackers shun any publicity what so ever (which isn't highly likely considering human nature) I can say fairly confidently that there aren't a large percentage of hunters using tracking to consistently kill mature bucks.

You sir have obviously never stepped foot in the north woods of NH or Maine during the month of November.  Spend a hunting season there, then get back to me with your "fairly confident" assessment. 

I'm curious as to how you heard about the Benoit family in the 80's?

It is true that I have never stepped foot in the woods of Maine or NH during the month of Nov. It will take 2-3 years but I will take you up on that and make it a point to visit those woods during the month of November. I have always wanted to hunt Maine.

That's cool.  We can discuss this again in 2-3 years then.    Here's some advice for when you make it to Maine....

Go the last 10 days of the rifle season.
Expect to not see many deer...the population is nothing like it is in Eastern Wa.
Be the first one on the woods roads if it snows.
Find a track that is worth following.
Follow it till it ends.
Shoot the buck.
Drag it out, and head for a tagging station.


That's how it's done there.



As for the original poster...  Sorry for jacking your thread.  Advice would be to get out, do a little scouting, find some vantage points, watch areas that are being used. As it gets closer to thanksgiving week, use a grunt call and try rattling.  Sometimes one or the other will bring a buck out of hiding.   If it rains, get out there and find them.  Still hunting works, I've shot many whitetails while on the move.  Just use all methods possible, and your odds of harvesting a buck increase.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Take a walk if you want to see whiteails.
Sit still if you want to kill whitetails.
As told to me by a wise old man, with lots of nice whitetail racks on the wall.
Dont get wrong i have killed bucks still hunting, also have been waved goodbye to alot.

Cute saying, but I grew up with someone who would laugh at the idea of sitting in a tree all day waiting for a whitetail.  There were plenty of 140+ bucks hanging on the wall as well.  Still hunting/tracking is a lot more than just "walking through the woods".  I'm glad that he never brought me out in the woods to sit in a tree and call it hunting.  To me that's just "waiting".    There's a lot more to be learned by still hunting (in my opinion).  Anyone can find a game trail and sit on it for hours/days on end.

3. The Benoit family has certainly had an influence on hunters in the NE US but I have found that few are as effective as they are in using their  techniques.

That's like a guy from the east coast saying that Cameron Hanes had an influence on backcountry hunting, but few are as effective as he is.   Give me a break....

The Benoits didn't gain popularity until the mid to late 90's.  There are MANY hunters that are easily as successful at tracking as they are, they're just not looking for publicity.   The Benoits didn't start this type of hunting, they just marketed it to the hunting public.   Have you ever looked for hunters in the NE US that are successful at tracking?

I heard of the Benoit Family in the 80's and you likely didn't hear much about them before that because while hunting and whitetail have always been popular the craze didn't really begin until the 80's.

I agree the Benoit's aren't the end all be all when it comes to tracking....but when you say "MANY"..... I would say by what measure??? Unless 99.9% of successful trackers shun any publicity what so ever (which isn't highly likely considering human nature) I can say fairly confidently that there aren't a large percentage of hunters using tracking to consistently kill mature bucks.

You sir have obviously never stepped foot in the north woods of NH or Maine during the month of November.  Spend a hunting season there, then get back to me with your "fairly confident" assessment. 

I'm curious as to how you heard about the Benoit family in the 80's?

It is true that I have never stepped foot in the woods of Maine or NH during the month of Nov. It will take 2-3 years but I will take you up on that and make it a point to visit those woods during the month of November. I have always wanted to hunt Maine.

That's cool.  We can discuss this again in 2-3 years then.    Here's some advice for when you make it to Maine....

Go the last 10 days of the rifle season.
Expect to not see many deer...the population is nothing like it is in Eastern Wa.
Be the first one on the woods roads if it snows.
Find a track that is worth following.
Follow it till it ends.
Shoot the buck.
Drag it out, and head for a tagging station.


That's how it's done there.

I have heard the populations are low. Is it primarily mature forest or timber land?

[fireweed]

As for the original poster...  Sorry for jacking your thread.  Advice would be to get out, do a little scouting, find some vantage points, watch areas that are being used. As it gets closer to thanksgiving week, use a grunt call and try rattling.  Sometimes one or the other will bring a buck out of hiding.   If it rains, get out there and find them.  Still hunting works, I've shot many whitetails while on the move.  Just use all methods possible, and your odds of harvesting a buck increase.
[/quote]

OK. Thanks for the general WT advice.  Sounds like there's lots of passion out there.  I'm looking forward to it.  Anything specific for bucks in the Pearrygin?