EP. 434: Chasing Ghosts - Grit, Heartbreak, and Big Woods Whitetails | Lucas Benoit

In this episode of Truth From The Stand, I sit down with Lucas Benoit—a lifelong New Hampshire deer tracker with a deep understanding of big woods bucks. We dig into the realities of hunting low-density whitetails in the rugged backcountry of New England, where every step counts and patience is currency. Lucas talks about how terrain, pressure, and age class play into buck behavior, and why spending time in the woods is the only way to really learn it.

We also get into tracking deer in snow, hunting mixed timber and swamp country, and the mental grit it takes to chase deer where seeing even one is a win. Lucas shares the story of chasing a ghost of a buck for 4 years and what it taught him about persistence, heartbreak, and how to adapt when the deer have the upper hand. This one’s packed with hard-earned knowledge from a guy who’s made a lifestyle out of chasing mature deer the hard way.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM PODCAST 434

Big woods hunting, patience and woodsmanship. The weight of it all. Trapping builds skills in reading sign and terrain. Adapting strategies for mountains and swamps. Trail cams help but don’t replace woodsmanship. Snow tracking teaches discipline and reveals patterns. The journey matters more than the final outcome.

SHOW NOTES AND LINKS:

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