Big Woods Buck Tracking | Deer Country

[@bigwoodsbucks1]

Great hunting with you, Mark. Come back anytime! - Hal

[@davidjordan8093]

My camp is in the west forks! So glad to see you guys hunting the big woods of Maine!!!! Thank you!!!!

[@usernamehere6061]

You're just cool, Hal. Simple as that.

[@Chad-wu4ij]

I've always wanted to visit and hunt Maine. Is it difficult to get out of state tags?

[@BdubbsVt]

@@Chad-wu4ij just go online and buy one. No lottery.

[@anthonyraye5831]

Thanks for reppin maine so well

[@nataliedeyton6829]

When Hal said “you take running shots “ and the answer was NO Hal looked as if he was thinking well you probably not gonna kill one then 😂😂😂 that look was priceless

[@michaelaudy6415]

Ha, I thought the same

[@normankaster917]

😂😂😂 yep

[@waltercheney9643]

If you can NOT feel confident taking a running shot, You need to practice more and build the confidence. I've shot 90 % of my wall hangers running.

[@josephjardine8380]

I laughed pretty hard at that one! lol

[@johnrocheleau7959]

I'm surprised Hal didn't make him take the sling off and carry his gun.

[@JL-xn3zy]

Hal is a legend. I never miss an episode of the Big Woods Buck podcast by Hal. Highly recommend it!

[@MB-rh1qd]

Absolutely insane! I’m literally 2 seconds in and absolutely excited! I’m a native Mainer. 35 years old, Hal’s name is more common table talk than salt and pepper in deer camps and hunting journals. I have several friends who’ve had the pleasure of hunting with him. Always the gentleman. Very cool! Two of my favorite hunting personalities!!!!!

[@pathfinder5804]

Nice to see someone from one of the major players in the hunting show community come and test themselves in easily “The Hardest” place to kill a big mature buck!!! Less then 3-4 deer per square mile, big elevation changes, “NO” food plots or agriculture fields and millions of acres of nothing but thick woods and logging cuts. You become a year after year successful hunter here and you are going to be able to provide food for you and your family no matter where you are!!! Big Woods hunting is very much a lost art. Hal Blood is continuing to advance the public down the path Larry Benoit blazed along with many other old timers who used to hunt like this. It’s truly an experience following a big mature buck through the big woods. He will teach the keen eyed hunter all his little tricks and secret hide outs if followed for a day or two. You will see things that you would never thought to think of and hopefully in the end you get a chance to see him and if you can close the deal it’ll be an experience you’ll never forget!!!

[@jhuntley575]

Not the hardest place to hunt deer but hard for sure

[@vinnycaruso1166]

New hampshire makes Maine look like its fucin the cornfields of iowa

[@northwoodstraditions3372]

@@vinnycaruso1166 depends where you are hunting..

[@eugenefedor8557]

I've been hunting the Northwoods of Maine on and off since my highschool graduation gift in 1987 to go to a Maine deer camp, I was hooked ever since. It takes a complete woodsman to constantly take mature bucks up there. No food plots, no bean fields. It's not a easy hunt, no guarantees up there. As Hal says " you either love it or hate it". I love it. Hal and some others ( Benoit family, Dick Bernier) have mastered the skill set. These guys , in my humble opinion are the best true deer hunters out there. I love Hals podcast, website. I hope every hunter can experience a true northwoods hunt atleast once-in-a-lifetime, and see how challenging it is, " you will either love it or hate it "

[@robgrubb420]

wow so awesome to see Hal on here he is a living legend. tracking is the best more people should do it. GO ADK and Northeast trackers!

[@codyputnam9721]

I had the privilege to go on a moose hunt assisted by Hal Blood when I was 13. Hes unmatched. Great video. I have his books as well, worth the read. I"m now a registered Maine Guide myself, and hope to know half as much as he's forgotten in my lifetime.

[@ryanlillypad]

You can't find a better teacher and human than Hal Blood. He's a legend here in Maine. So glad you came up to experience big woods tracking!

[@nadroj9224]

My family and I have a deer camp in Vermont, hunt like this every year, Hal and the Benoit’s are the legends for this type of stuff. Been trying to get Steve or any MeatEater crew out there for years to show off this type of hunting, nothing beats it.

[@Unhinged29]

the one good thing about deer hunting in Vermont, if you can hunt here, you can hunt anywhere

[@nadroj9224]

Absolutely, it’s more taking your gun for a walk than it is hunting anyways

[@Wild-nc1vz]

If I was single my profile on a dating sight would read “must enjoy taking your rifle for long snowy walks in the woods” 😂

[@Bill.Mazariego]

As a native Mainer and consistently following the meateater crew and the big woods bucks crew very glad to see this video come out, don’t give up Mark like Hal says the law of averages will catch up, great video!!

[@isaacmackenzie6139]

Super funny watching an out of stater try and hunt somewhere other than a foodplot or agriculture😂 “I don’t take running shots”. Might wanna learn bub.

[@andrewsbbq]

Funny having a farm hunter used to bean and corn deer go hunt northern forest. Deer pop and size are humbling. Mark did a good job conveying the challenging differences

[@stevepate952]

Being formally from MI I miss hunting the big woods in the snow. And I actually appreciate the fact you produce videos with no harvest. Shows how real and hard it can be. Cheers-Steve

[@PETRptAwyURsword]

I never comment on anything, but have to say I love whenever Meateater does anything in Maine, even if they get skunked. I was born and raised here and it means something to me to have our state noticed for its legends like Hal. North Woods deer are real athletes and truly wild. I’d tell Mark what they told me: “No one can take a Maine buck away from you.”

[@jamesbernardin4052]

I know Hal personally and have guided for him. He is the 100 percent real deal, no fences, no gimmicks, just hard core genuine deer hunting in the north country.

[@deanwilber69]

Good to see the meat eater crew in my neck of the woods. Hal blood is hands down the best deer tracker alive in the state of maine hands down. I only ever met him once but my old roommate Tara used to work for Hal at cedar ridge in Jackman maine. Love hunting big woods. Been waiting to actually have snow during gun season to test my skills at tracking. I've hunted for 20 years but still have alot to learn

[@iancarpenter5488]

Tracking Bucks in northern Maine has to be one one the hardest hunts on the planet. Deer density is low and the country in rough and unforgiving. the forest is so dense your likely to spook the deer before you even see it. It's amazing Hal is as successful as he is.

[@skeetermalcolm1655]

You have to love Mark's theory,blind and deaf deer , I'm with you brother, loving the series

[@whitemountainbucktrackers2499]

Welcome to the Northeast MeatEater! It's a humbling experience hunting our big woods. Great video showing the end result of most days spent in our woods. "Not for the weak or fainthearted" - WMBT 🤙🦌

[@thegreeninvasion5511]

Amen!!

[@PatchMountainOutdoors]

Hal's introduction couldn't have been worded any better. He is truly a living legend among Maine Whitetail hunters.

[@jackiekinner3826]

So true. I’m British and know of him.

[@crookedbrookoutdoors2758]

As a Mainer I love this. Grew up hunting the big woods with my dad and I too fell in love with the challenge of finding he one deer within a huge landscape. Great episode guys.

[@michaelreinke4774]

I really love to see this. This is very reminiscent of here hunting deer and elk in Northwest Montana. Where you can pick up a track, find a crossing spot, bed, etc. But you are completely at the mercy of chance when finding these animals, and that you’ll have the chance to get a shot at one. Bow or rifle. When Mark said 4 days, 34 something miles and 0 deer, I knew exactly what he was talking about. But, sometimes, just sometimes, the work and effort pays off. And all of a sudden there’s a nice buck directly in front of you.

[@SlipMahoneyBowery]

I hunted this way in the Adirondacks for years. It’s working for it for sure.

[@andyleblanc1564]

Hal and Meat Eater together ! I’m at a loss for words…

[@FISHUNTREECOUNTRY]

I bought Hal's book Big Woods Bucks when it first came out. Had the pleasure of also meeting Richard Bernier in Kenora in 2019 while my buddies and I were there for a hunt trip. Took some knowledge and advice, and got on the biggest buck sign that I have ever come across... over and over that trip.

[@JJ_MTB_15]

Awesome that you came up and gave it a try

[@paparomesoutdoors711]

Hal is a legend and one hell of a great guy! Awesome video

[@AGirlFromMaine]

Welcome to Maine! Where we continue to torture ourselves every November! Waiting on the first snow to fall, walking miles upon miles to not see one deer ALL SEASON! 😅 Glad you were able to experience a small bit of it, hope you return for a longer period of time! 🦌

[@WallabieMcDee]

Don't forget "Where doe go into heat because it's cold"

[@Rjmclean34]

Been waiting along time for this to happen! The best teacher you or I or anyone in that matter to ask for awesome what a legend

[@derekbaumgartner5343]

This makes me feel better actually seeing one of these Midwest guys try out the northeast. I always hear this is some of the most difficult hunting but I thought that's just something the northeast guys tell themselves. I'm in central NH myself but it's similar, we can hunt on Sundays here tho 😃

[@aaronrider4051]

My congratulations. Here in the Quaker State, we just got 3 Sunday's after much resistance. Hopefully someday we have Sunday hunting year round.

[@bryanmejia1844]

I love hunting gear as much as the next guy. But it is nice to see the older, really experienced guys just going out with flannel - and jeans electrical taped at the cuff 👍🏼

[@brianrobbins3499]

Your lucky to have Hal for the day in the North woods

[@CMMC-zb1gw]

Really enjoying these episodes. It’s always fun to see how other parts of the country do things.

[@jasonrichards3373]

So good to finally see Hal on meateater. He’s a legend here in Maine. Hope you guys come back for more

[@chanceburchick5362]

This was uploaded right as I went on my lunch break at work. Talk about clutch timing.

[@patrickbranon5444]

Being from Vermont, this episode has made me day. Have been wanting to see one of these hunting shows try an cut it in the north east territory. Awesome job keep it up

[@bushleague3472]

Yeah, I'm from northern Alberta but I hunt much the same way. My wife is always impressed with the Meat Eater guys on TV, but she's actually a pretty good still hunter herself. I sometimes remind her "Put those guys in the timber and my money's on you being the better hunter".

[@billp6312]

Great video. I’d love to hunt with Hal. I cracked up when you said you were looking for a blind and deaf buck. Me too.

[@maviedanslevent]

Anyone with a free-range conure in his cabin sharing about still-hunting deer in big timber ought to be the best deer hunter in America.

[@chucker625]

MeatEater and The Hunting Public should do a collaboration. That would be super fun to watch!!!!!

[@deannakoa3]

Hal blood is a North American legend hes the liam neeson of the woods hahah . I love to hunt with Hal he reminds me of my grandfather and how great deer hunter he was. Im probably the last of that kind of deer trackers . I remember my grandpa teaching me how to track Deer and bear in the big woods. Hal blood is the man he is a big time educator . Ive met him 2x in my life was a nice man in person

[@JimBowSlice]

Only one person that could be a better teacher and that's Lannie Benoit. Iykyk... Mark I'm a Michigan boy like you and tracking a big woods buck like these guys has become a bucket list over states like Iowa.

[@mikecunningham4272]

The best part is that he goes home with nothing often the outcome here in Maine but those days that are successful are what make it all worth it

[@danieljarosz5140]

Been looking forward to this the most.

[@steveming2197]

It's crazy how short these episodes come out after all the editing and production. Hearing the full stories last year on the podcast and all that doesn't seem to make the cut on this video series is tough. I love the details from the podcast and understand everything can't be produced into this series, but there's just so much more about these hunts that aren't getting shown. I really like watching the series, but wish we could somehow still get more of the story here.

[@tomwinterfishing9065]

Yeah, I’d like them to be longer. 45 minutes would be great! I love meateater, so the more the better IMO. It’s the best media ever👌

[@johndyer9232]

Yeah, the quality if these justifies 45 min- 1 hr easily. Especially tracking with Hal Blood.

[@steveming2197]

@@johndyer9232 agreed. The podcast after Mark got back from Maine last year when he had Hal on was a masterclass in buck tracking in the snow. Wish more of that could have made it onto the you tube show

[@MrMut3r]

@@steveming2197 what episode # was it?

[@steveming2197]

@@MrMut3r Episode 497 I believe

[@mtnman6942]

I like the fact that he isn’t packing a rifle when you two are hunting together. He’s letting you harvest a buck, if saw one 👍

[@valdius85]

A lot of us feel the same as you in this episode 😄 For me being tired from walking in the forest is well worth the try.

[@coryblake5623]

Some awesome learning experiences for you with all these different types of hunting… loving this series… I loved that line about walking in corn flakes…. I’ve had plenty on hunts where I’ve described my entrance as ‘ walking on bags of potato chips”…. Hilarious… keep it up Mark

[@lukepeters891]

As a michigander I have always loved the big woods hunting here in Michigan

[@I.G_NL]

Darn these videos are always so relaxing. Also, congrats on 1 million subscribers!!

[@pablokozdras81]

Mam takie same odczucia

[@gamedinnah]

I’m proud to have become part of continuing the tracking tradition. The number of stories that end in no horns far exceed the stories that do. Keep following those tracks Mark, it’ll work out sooner or later 👍🏼💪🏼 Let me know when you need help dragging- don’t you dare cut that thing up!! 😂

[@taylortaylor1288]

I thought he was going to punch you for asking dumb questions. 😂

[@chrismason8106]

I did to 😂😂 he was getin sick of him talkin so much 😂😂

[@thehikingrealtor6812]

4 days....30+ miles....zero deer....FINALLY an honest hunter. Telling it like it is. The Adirondacks is brutal to hunt but man it keeps you coming back. When you get a buck its a feeling unlike getting one anywhere else!

[@thegreeninvasion5511]

It’s a good thing Hal is a guide… He’s used to catering to hunters who show up with enough gear to get us through a season and need to carry it all everyday! Wool✔️gun✔️bullets✔️water✔️compass ✔️”Game on” 100% concentration all the time. Never know when you’ll stumble into one…

[@jeff_doyle]

Hungry for more…the way most tracking days end. Great to see Hal on here.

[@perryrushton1512]

Mark : are you worried about the wind at all Hal' ??.... Hal : can't do nuthin' 'bout it,, it's all around us.... 😉 lol 😂 Classic Hal'....Honesty,, straight to the point,, 👍. Great video guys A+

[@cgsoutdoors_professor3883]

I recommend reading Hal’s book Hunting Big Woods Bucks; he goes into details how to look for the proper signposts for tracking

[@nickjohns1192]

I'd love to see meat eater do an episode in Ireland after our red and sika deer and what a balls it is and youl see how good you lads have it in the USA.

[@erichweil3953]

Great episode. Hal blood is amazing. Glad to see you guys come east. Just need to keep that red and black going. I’m an upstate NY hunter that gets into the adks often. Read all of Hal’s books and listen to his podcasts as well as meat eater.

[@JH-wk9gw]

I understand that mark doesn't want to take running shots but when you are trying new things and tactics you have to either immerse yourself or jump off the ship.

[@nataliedeyton6829]

Yeah Hal looked at him like well you better just pack it up then 😂😂😂

[@TheSketer333]

I love that you guys finally came up here to New England

[@cbrochu22]

There really is just something about hunting big woods bucks in Maine. You just can’t beat the feeling of tracking and walking while knowing a monster buck could be over the next ridge or down in the next valley. The part that makes it so great, is that it is so hard. Idk exactly how to describe it but it’s like a drug

[@bhoran1152]

My grandfather told me about a buck he shot in northern Michigan that was so big he had to go get a local farmers plow horse to drag it out. I grew up in Michigan’s upper peninsula.

[@jackiekinner3826]

Oh man did Hal throw some ‘you a douchbag’ looks Marks way!!

[@robertchamberlain452]

WELCOME TO MAINE MARK. NOTHING LIKE WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS AND FINDING THAT "BIG BUCK" YOU`VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT ALL YEAR. IT WAS MY PRIVATE TIME AND BEST HUNTING YEARS OF MY LIFE. HUNTING THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. TRY AGAIN & GOOD LUCK.

[@forgerat]

I’m loving this deer country content

[@bushleague3472]

Late to the party, but totally pumped to see you guys give timber hunting some attention. I feel like on the show Steve tends to sideline whitetail because the typical WT hunt isnt great TV or an epic adventure. Head into the big timber, stay mobile, and add some topography... white tail hunting becomes as high quality an adventure as any other game animal.

[@TMAC-adventures]

Meat eater back again baby. Bow season this weekend in Texas! Let’s go!

[@tomwinterfishing9065]

Hehe, did you see that cheeky bird scuttling about in the background in Hal’s cabin? 😝

[@afg-hf6zj]

When he said do you have one last nugget of advice for me I thought Hal was gonna say learn to shoot fast, and at running deer, and get a Remington pump, and take the sling off 😂

[@TheBowhunterinNB]

I am in NewBrunswick Canada , Maine to just to the south . This is very similar to the way my grandfather and uncles would hunt the big woods . I have spent most of my hunting up a tree with a bow , but this season I am going to boots on the ground walk some big woods and try my luck

[@MtnLife-sv9fu]

Keep after it brother, keep on keepin on...

[@brentthebloodhound]

I love Hal Blood. Hes the best hunter this century. Next to Fred Bear.

[@underdogoutdoors]

Awesome experience, getting a deer is a bonus.

[@usnairframer]

"4 days, 30+ miles, no deer. " Welcome to Maine!

[@BLAM777]

Bear hunted with hal before Definitely a good guy.

[@jasonrichards3373]

For reference on how good these guys are at tracking, watch “ the Brutus buck” or Lee Libby’s film “Lee” on the big woods bucks channel. Also Rick labbe is also a legend in these parts. The big woods bucks channel is full of gems

[@DogTown192]

I love that the blueing is worn off his rifle but you know it’s been treated well. Whenever I see a person with a gun like that I know they are a serious hunter.

[@HillDogTV]

Hal is a Legend. Bush Stalker

[@teelorp8306]

Old timer so casual about a running shot lol

[@ADVENTURESOFBZ]

I love how Mark always says "I don't really know what I'm doing". 😂😂😂. Bro you're freakin mark Kenyon. Of course you know what you're doing!!! Maybe haven't hunted in these places but you definitely know what you're doing!! Looove this series!!! Absolutely real hunting!! Fellow Michigander, you know what you're doing brother!!🤘🤘👊🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲

[@zachdavis712]

😂 yeah right lmao

[@thegreeninvasion5511]

Not here he doesn’t!

[@zachlupold5760]

You can pretty much forget killing a buck that way if you won't shoot them running. Also why the giant backpack? Hal probably has a sandwich, a knife and a drag rope.

[@jimsweat7963]

I always used a little bell when tracking a bunch hook the little bell on your belt after tracking for a couple of miles put a paper towel in the bell around the clabbler the buck will be listening for the bell and then you can slip up on him

[@_eimine_]

It's good to know that even accomplished hunters have "days" like that.

[@fayaazalibhai4665]

I'm here for the parrot at 3:50

[@Spiffy303]

Very surprised he didn’t tell you to ditch the scope, rifle sling, and giant back back. Hard to shoot a running deer with you gun on your back.

[@jonister1767]

The bird at 3:50 on his couch threw me off

[@danweippert2966]

Id like to see an episode with Mark hunting Northern California blacktail.

[@akaSUPERMAN]

Me too, especially since I just got back from 8 days out with an empty tag lol

[@danweippert2966]

@@akaSUPERMAN Brother you and me both. Im not giving up though. I think the problem I had was I was too high. Tried 3400 feet in elevation to start, then worked my way down to 2100 feet where all the doe were. Didnt see 1 buck. Trying a new area this weekend where ive been told they are everywhere. Good luck man!!

[@akaSUPERMAN]

@@danweippert2966 do some research about whether the herd is resident v migratory. Not too many massive storms or frigid cold to push the deer down yet. Good luck!

[@jscancella]

It's having a mentor like this that is missing from my area. Last time I tried to sign up and get a mentor like hal, he already had 20+ people he was mentoring. If you really want hunting to continue, we need more mentors that are willing to share with those of us who didn't grow up in a hunting family and have ZERO clue what they are doing.

[@nicholasclara5570]

You make a great point. Hal and others have books out that can definitely point you in the right direction.

[@jscancella]

@@nicholasclara5570 unfortunately learning from a book will never be the same as learning from a person in the woods.

[@normankaster917]

Read the book's, watch the videos to get the basics of what needs to be done.... Then you, get out and try what you have put together from reading and watching the information that's been made public. You will learn what works and what don't really quick. I've been hunting my whole life thanks to my dad making it a priority, to me hunting isn't about getting the biggest set of antlers, it's about getting that very needed food for the family, not for this winter, but for the next one.... And with that being said, that first winter will always be the hardest and something you will never never forget. If your hungry enough, you will figure it out.

[@jscancella]

@@normankaster917 I assume you posted to try and help me, and I appreciate that. Unfortunately this just isn't practical advice. Name another sport where this is the advice given? For example, if you want to learn Piano, would you tell someone to read books and just keep trying to play piano until it works? No, that would be crazy. There is simply no substitute for an in person mentor. I have been out hunting for 6 years now, reading books, watching videos, and trying - but still have nothing to show for it.

[@wasidanatsali6374]

I’ve tried to help some of my boys’ friends who didn’t have a father or hunting mentor. Frankly, it was hard to teach them anything because most of them already knew everything. There was this one kid that use to hunt with us. He was humble, paid attention, hunted hard, and never whined about conditions. He would be standing out in the driveway with his gear ready when we pulled up at 4AM to pick him up. That kid was a pleasure to take hunting. He’s an excellent deer hunter today. Not because of anything I taught him but because he has a real love of deer hunting. Having a mentor is very helpful but that kid was so determined, there was never any doubt in my mind he was going to become a great deer hunter whether he had a mentor or not.

[@stephencarmichael5156]

It's good the capture just how often people think you can track Bucks in Maine and get one every time. It's not as easy as it looks on video. The biggest bucks will take you all around the woods and play games with you it takes years to master then you run out of years.

[@bmriverrat11]

Hal is absolutely legend here in Maine my buddy Eric guides for him I've indirectly learned so much from these Northern Maine Guides if you have an opportunity check them out and if you get a Moose permit you can't go wrong with them !

[@flywiseman]

Great vid

[@njcranes]

What's in your backpack? Camera gear? Never seen someone pack more than an AT thru hiker on a day's deer hunt. Love to see a pack breakdown video.

[@jeffboutilier5075]

I can't imagine tracking with a giant backpack on.

[@stevencooney9236]

You could have done it if you had more time. You were in a great part of the state. Plus you went from interviewing and being a bit overwhelmed to hunting by the end of the video because you believed you could close the deal. You put yourself in the game. Doesn't matter if you are green or new to it. Good video. 👍

[@skipheald7300]

Real Maine hunting . That’s why they don’t do deer hunting videos in Maine! Might go 2 wks and not see a deer! It’s very rewarding to catch up with one!

[@nickchernoby1508]

Drive by stacked logs just passed best spot

[@stevehardwick1578]

One thing I would say is ditch the sling when tracking. They can jump up at any time and you need to be ready to take a split second shot.

[@Kristopherkok]

Surprised this one made the cut.

[@Kentril2112]

Great hunt Mark. If you ever want to get after some Manitoba white tail, I can put you onto some monsters.