Larry Benoit deer hunting.

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captonion

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Anyone here ever read any of the Benoit deer hunting material or watch the DVDs?
Got it as a gift.I found most of it no BS info.Not like alot of the other stuff I have read in the past.There is plenty of good pointers for bush hunters.

What you think of the Benoit way?
 
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Benoit,isn't that the self proclaimed "Greatest deer hunter in the world":rolleyes: Tracking for eastern bucks if I recall correctly, measure buck size by estimated live weight and don't measure anything. Their techniques probably have some value for their limited application, but thats about it. I'm not impressed, but then again I'm from Saskatchewan. ;) Greatest deer hunter my azz.
Dogleg
 
I have to agree with Dogleg.. the Benoit way is a hunting system with limited applications. If it doesn't snow those lads are pooched.
Any one with a modecum of tracking ability that is in good condition can walk up a buck in fresh snow.
Whenever we have a fresh snow here during the gun season (which is rare). We get out of our stands and shoot a pile of deer... it is too easy man.
 
Im no into the tree stand thing.Not really my idea of hunting.Its like sitting and waiting for a victim.Tree stand huntind is a more limited way of hunting IMO.Also I cant sit on my ass for more than 45min.Sitting and waiting is way too boring for me.
We always get snow where I hunt so the Benoit system will work fine for me.And the bush here is alot like it is In Main where the Benoits do the most of their hunting.
The bigs bucks dont always come to you.Sometimes you gotta get out there and go to them.
 
I am sure they are good hunters, but I have also heard some negative things. Some of the deer the Benoits have shot have apparently been tracked by others, with the Benoits taking over the trail when the deer gets tired of running. Just what I heard, take it for what its worth. They do tend to rely on snow so I would agree that their tactics have limitations. However, as someone who hunts a lot in the jungles of New Brunswick (just like maine where the Benoits hunt), their strategies do have some merit for tight cover terrain. Tracking/still hunting is not for the novice, but it can work if you have the patience, persistence and woodcraft skills. If that's the type of terrain you hunt it might be worth a try. My nextdoor neighbour has 17 big deer heads he has taken over the years using still hunt/tracking tactics. One of those deer had an inside spread over 20 inches and officially weighed 292 lbs dressed weight after hanging for two days!
 
One of the guys in our camp, claiming to be familiar with the Benoits, mentioned they have moved to some mystery location in Ontario??
A few of the "lads" have tried their stalking technique, found it to be successful, but usually resulted in shooting deer a long way into the bush, requiring an arduous retreival. They've gone back to their established methods.
 
I've read various articles about them over the years. You might say you can do it and it's easy but so what?
They are very successful; why knock it? :confused:

I sure as hell am not into tracking big bucks through the Swan Hills wilderness. It's one thing to get the buck, quite another to haul the deer out!

Hell it's hard enough to bring one out 100 yards... :eek:
 
First, I don't believe they've "self proclaimed" anything. That was done by one of the US magazines in the early '70s, though the family members seem to enjoy the notoriety.

I bought one of their books, but put it down after reading about 1/3 of it. All the author did was spend page after page saying how great their approach was, without giving any particulars.

Personally, I can't stand tree-sitting or stump-sitting, and prefer more active hunting methods. I primarily still hunt but, when the opportunity presents itself, I enjoy tracking. I had hoped to pick up some pointers from the Benoit book, but got bored reading the PR blurb it seemed to be.

I may get back to it someday in case there is some substance to it.
 
There is some to learn from them.

I have read everything I can find about the Benoits. I've also seen one of their videos. It is my opinion they don't profess anything and are resonably humble. They do tag big bucks and they do it through perseverance, skill, and experince. I appreciate their willingness to try different things and share their results. I admire their ethics and how hard they hunt. "Big Bucks the Benoit Way" is a great read. It is full of usefull information, some of which I've used over the years. It was this book which convinced me to try a peep sight. It also introduced me to the advantages of travelling light. I don't track deer the way they do on a regular basis although I have done it. I often use a skill or tidbit I've picked up from them over the years.

I am an information junky. I absorb as much as I can about hunting topics and weight that information against itself and my own experiences. I try to be critical about the information and search for ways it can apply to me and the type of hunting I do. Searching for hunting information is one of the reasons I check CGN/Hunting every day. I suspect most of you are the same. For the same reasons, I also often read information about types of hunting I'll never do, such as safari in Africa.

The Benoits have thousands of hours of deer hunting experience in Maine, Quebec, and Ontario. Almost all of it is in terrain and condidtions similar if not identiacal to what many of us hunt in Ontario. They've shared most of it in a bunch of easy to read books and videos, while making a few bucks ($) along the way. I applaud them for it and wish more would do the same.:D
 
They drive and walk around after fresh snowfall looking for Big Buck tracks only....
When they cut a big track they just start still hunting on the track until a shot presents itself.
Not exactly rocket science and like I said earlier anyone can do this with a modicum of tracking skills, a GPS and radio.
I am not dismissing their success at all, these guys have shot some really nice bucks. I just think that their techniques are labour intensive and specific to the area and weather, effective sure, but definitely old school and quite simple.
 
benoits

The big thing with their method is learning to tell a big buck track from a really big doe track etc. They have excellent tracking and opbservational skills. I've read articles by/about them and I daresay it's worth learning some of their stuff. They are metis I think and hunt more like the natives of old, talk to any old Native hunter and he will tell you the same things. People who are saying it's a b.s. system are pretty short sighted.

the chef
 
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