Where are the Benoits?
 

I don't seem to hear anything about the Benoit's anymore. To me, they were the real deal as I was growing up.Stalking and tracking of some great Big Woods bucks is what they were about.I still have my signed, by Larry, original copy (1974)of "How To Bag The Biggest Buck Of Your Life".I think it's worth a few dollars!;)I also have their two newer books. What's up with the Benoits?

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

They are still around, filming their hunts now. I think they are up to volume 3 now. Each one has multiple hunting seaons on it. Check out their website. www.benoitsbigbucks.com

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

Wow...I just looked throught their photo album...that is impressive to say the least!

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

yeah its pretty amazing... but you still have to have good area's to hunt... They hunt deepwoods but they are also smart hunters and hunt were other hunters dont go.

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

IMHO, The Benoits are truly the best deer hunters in North America.
Itr's all fair chase, deep woods hunting in northern New England.

I have a few of their videos from recent years and watching how they hunt is amazing. They also take the time to explain what they are doing, why they are doing it and what they expect from it.

If your hunting style is cutting a fresh track, especially in the snow, then I highly recommend checking them out.

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

they are some great hunters!

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

They are quite the characters.

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

I think you guys need to take a serious look at their videos and see how unethical these guys are. To advocate making deer run before you shoot at them to "make deer hunting more challenging" Or to take 4 shots at a running buck after you bent your sight....."I had to compensate because I fell and bent my sight while tracking this buck."

Sorry guys, but they are extremely unethical and the last people I would call "the greatest deer hunters in North America." These guys are laughable.

Its pretty bad when a game warden tells me they have to keep an eye on them.

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

Great hunters for sure. No tree-standers... they hoof it on fresh tracks through the big woods. I think Larry is slowing down a bit but still hanging in there. All the kids / grandkids are now taking up the slack. Good luck to them.

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

They are highly skilled for sure but leave something to be desired in the ethics department. It seems wherevever they go they have a following, must have been half the state of vermont in NW Ontario this year.

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

I too think they are great hunters. I grew up in a town about 30 miles from them and our family deer camp was only a few miles from their house. On the last day of the season I would always stop to look at the bucks they had hanging. One day about 15 years ago I stopped and was looking at the deer and the door opened and Larry came out on the porch and invited me in for a coffee. The house looked like a whitetail museum and he was very cordual. We had a great chat and I now have a fully signed copy of their second book. I have a good friend who has hunted with them in Maine and Ontario and he says they are ethical and the real deal. Many people want to believe they are doing something wrong because of their success but I feel they are great hunters

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

You are mistaken sir... they are not "Unethical" Although I do agree with your statement that they are not the greatest hunters in North America.

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

So....you consider both of my examples ethical? This was what they filmed and put out there for the public. Its unethical and its a shame that people like you don't actually see this.

Sorry man, I'm not mistaken. They have hunted around me and I have seen first hand some of the things they have done.

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

Are there videos worth buying?

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

yes their vids are worth buying. I think alot of people dont like them because the benoits can do things they cant. People who hunt by them just get pissed because the benoits can get big bucks while they get scat. The benoits repesent a time when hunting was a noble sport not the marketing scam it is today.

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

Lot's of people kill big buck's every single year, they just don't have to tell you how great they are.

In thier own book written by Bryce Towsley they describe some very Questionable shooting practices:

Big Bucks The Benoit Way

P. 80 "All I could see was it's back and part of an antler, I fired three quick shots and they all hit the deer" He couldn't see the vitals but opened up anyway, UNethical

Also there is reference to one of the boy's who is prone to Gatling "as Larry put's it" with his gun. This fellow was quoted "What fun is it to shoot a deer just once".....The best in America Indeed.

I would like to sit here and Quote some more rubbish but I'm going shed hunting...

You Boys have a good weekend,

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

[/align]
[blockquote]I think its more of a regional thing here. Ive read all of the Benoit books and love every second of it. There is nothing unethical about how they hunt. It is them vs the deer. The whole "gatling" and shooting at what you can see is part of their hunting. It is not "sniping" across the bean field. They shoot at what they can see and use plenty of gun and bullet to fully penetrate the animal. They also shoot until the animal is down and never give up. They don't give up on an animal that isn't even wounded.For them the tracking never ends until they aredragging their deer out. Their style of hunting is very hard. They will take whatever shot they have inorder to help slow the animal down and leave a blood trail or kill the animal. If you have read the books you know this. If this isn't your style of hunting don't down play it. [/blockquote]

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

Its unethical for me to do those things, and aparently for you also, but how do you know it is unethical for them to do them? Ethics are personal. Poor taste for the public, yes.

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

I'm glad someone realized that all people are / can be different.
I guess we can't talk about politics, religion or hunting now??!!

Oh yeah - were in America and there is no law saying you can't shot a deer in the hoof if you want! (sarcastic humor, my favorite - ha-ha!)

Keep in mind, here in the northern new england region, we don't have deer populations or farm country with food plots to target practice on our deer. (more sarcasm)
Tracking through thick timberwoods and jumping deer is common.
I personally have nailed 2 deer on the run and passed on dozens that I didn't think was a choice "running" shot.
In the Benoit videos there are numerous times that they passed at a buck running.
Which, to me, sounds like they must have come to the conclusion that it was not an ethical attempt?
Remember we are all males / females that "may" want to juice up the story or joke about how they got there deer??!!
The picture isn't always as clear as you may think.

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

Let me start by saying I respect the Benoits big time! They produce Big buck consistently in the Big woods, you have to give them credit for that. Until you have hunted the big woods ofMaine, NH, etc., and produce like they do I don't thinkyou havethe right to criticize. And simply stating that I heard they game wardens have to keep an eye on them w/o proof is to quote T.O, "It's Just Not Fair."

Now for the funny part. When Larry started out it was green wool and open sights. They denounced scopes and gadgets and fancy camo patterns. Now even they have fallen prey to sponsors. Camo, scopes, I even see by some of the pictures they are using different fiearms other than the old trusty pump. I guess I would do the same. LOL!!!

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

I had a gut feeling something was not right about these gents.How you been Dan?

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

Where are they? Where they've always been, in VT spending the fall hunting. I think what happened is they "tried" the go the show and seminar etc route and didn't like it. I went to a seminar they did and they just seem like backwoods boys who just love hunting, they didn't seem comfortable talking infront of groups of people. They aren't the "polished" presenters etc that some are in the industry.

As for the ethics? Well much of that probably is rooted in jealousy. About the only "story" I've heard is the "must" mistake and shoot does, but no proof.

I've seen two of the videos and in all honestly, thought they were a waste of money. Due to the way they hunt its almost impossible to show the deer they are about to shoot. You see them tracking thorugh the woods, you MIGHT see a flash of brown, then "bang" hunt over. You then see the dead deer. Not all that fun to watch, at least in my opinion. they ARE a riot to talk to 1 on 1 though.

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

If they arent using the ol faithful pumps now then lemme guess.... they are using some kind of T/C Encore or Pro Hunter? :D

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

If the first was directed at me, believe me, I have the right to criticize.

I never said I "heard" the game wardens have to keep an eye on them, a game warden told me that themself.

Its funny, only JoeRE answered my question about myexamples. Funny no one else will.

Benoits=unethical.....period.

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

Hey Tony, I've been great.....just busy as hell doing sportshows, ice fishing in Canada and getting ready for the busy summer at camp.

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

So taking a shot at a running buck is unethical you say..... That statement is laughable. Do you understand that you just called a good majority of all gun hunters(heck...even some bow hunters) across the US unethical as thousands of hunters do it every season. :eek: Guys that run deer with dogs...deer drives which is probably legal in more states than it's not. Think all of these folks take shots at standing deer the majority of the time? LOL All of this is just you pushing your beliefs/thoughts on others. Nothing to do with the Benoits.

As far as "A" game warden telling you that they "have to keep an eye on them", laughable as well. Complete hearsay. I'm sure game wardens "keep an eye" on a lot of people every year. Unless they are charged for something, they have done nothing wrong. You know...that whole innocent before guilty thing. LOL

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

Xtec.....I like you, but you and others need to read a little slower and closer.

First, I never said taking a shot at a running buck is unethical. If you can do it and make a good shot, great, I have. Here's the MAJOR part you missed, as well as others.........

If you seriously think those two examples are ethical, you would not be welcome in my camp. Seriously, knowing you bent your sight and then trying to compensate while taking 4 shots at a running deer......KNOWING YOUR GUN IS OFF.....that's ethical? [&:]

Here we go, back to the game warden incident......hearsay? Right from the wardens mouth? You can take that how ever you want, I know the wardens in the area well and I don't take what they say lightly.

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

Fair enough and my bad. But still....part of my point stands, of course from the outside looking in. I have seen a large amount of their shows and I don't get the impression nor have I seen them intentionally do the things you say. But again, watching their hunting shows is what I know of them. If they do what you said on a consistant basis, then I would agree with you whole heartedly. We ALL have skeletans in the closet and I'm sure one point in time the "unethical" tag would be slapped on all of us for something.

I love watching the Benoits and here's why....

They(at least from the surface and TV) seem to be good old boys. They don't look or act like they have more money than God and that it flows out of every hole in their body. A guy looks at the land they hunt and you have the feeling that you could hunt their too, so you can relate with them. Most of the shows today, the guys are hunting on such prime land through out the Midwest that at least I know unless I shelled out 5K+, there is no way I'm ever hunting that type of unpressured ground. I don't have to watch 86 ads per half hour show about scentblocker, mossy oak, bad boy buggies, antler king, mathews, etc.., etc.., etc.., etc... It gets old. But I suppose not too much anymore, gotta love TIVO so I can fast forward through it all. LOL

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

I wonder how many remington pumps and autos have been sold over the years because of the Benoits. Millions, no doubt. I wonder if they ever made any money off of that. I was even on the bandwagon for a few years, but eventually I realized that I was carrying around a fence post with a crappy trigger. I guess you can't argue with success though, lotta deer been shot with em.

RE: Where are the Benoits?
 

I have met the Benoits and read all their books,I have seen one of their video's.I have the highest respect for any hunter who can consistently track and kill big bucks! It is in my opinion the most difficult form of rifle huntingthere is.
I do agree with Dan though.It was the video that I saw when Lanny spoke about purposely getting a buck running to increase the challenge.I immediately lost respect for him! To do something like that is total BS and shows no regard for the animal.
Knowingly hunting with a rifle that is off is equally as irresponsible! Terrible behavior!