Bob Smith stepped into the Maine woods on a November afternoon in 1997 and never came back. His wife heard a single gunshot. Then... nothing. What followed was the largest ground search in the history of the Maine Warden Service. Investigators found clues—a set of boot prints, a strange arrow in the dirt, even a dead moose nearby—but none of them led to Bob. As the search dragged on, rumors surfaced: out-of-state hunters who left early, a story about an accidental shooting, and people who may have known more than they said. Was Bob Smith the victim of a tragic accident… or something far more deliberate?

Want more Blood Trails? Check out the Case File.

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Bob Smith stepped into the Maine woods on a November afternoon in 1997 and never came back. His wife heard a single gunshot. Then... nothing. What followed was the largest ground search in the history of the Maine Warden Service. Investigators found clues&mdash;a set of boot prints, a strange arrow in the dirt, even a dead moose nearby&mdash;but none of them led to Bob. As the search dragged on, rumors surfaced: out-of-state hunters who left early, a story about an accidental shooting, and people who may have known more than they said. Was Bob Smith the victim of a tragic accident&hellip; or something far more deliberate?
Want more Blood Trails? Check out the <a href="https://www.themeateater.com/series/blood-trails-case-files">Case File</a>.
Follow Blood Trails on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/blood-trails/id1848185680">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3WRqMmdRVZ3MjOZb0uK0ob?si=e9a15992ce65400a">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIQv7voZWHy4_K5Yu3T9pgFXpFzQDiCsf">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-blood-trails-301855865">iHeart</a>, <a href="https://www.pandora.com/podcast/blood-trails/PC:1001110258">Pandora</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/85c4a194-a3e7-435c-bd54-9f8653bce49b/blood-trails">Amazon</a>.
Connect with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.themeateater.com/people/jordan-sillars">Jordan Sillars</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.themeateater.com/">MeatEater</a>
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Blood Trails is a new investigative podcast from MeatEater, hosted by writer and journalist Jordan Sillars. Each episode digs into true crime stories from the world of hunting and fishing—cases where the woods and the water became the backdrop for violence and mystery. From missing hunters deep in public land to poachers turned killers and fishing trips gone fatally wrong, Blood Trails uncovers the moments when outdoor life collides with the darkness of the human heart. But this isn't repackaged Wikipedia. Each story features original reporting you won't hear anywhere else, expert insight from detectives and hunters, and first-hand accounts from the people who were actually there. For true crime listeners looking for something new—and outdoorsmen who know the thrill and risk of time afield—Blood Trails exposes the stories left behind in the tracks. If you’re a fan of Dateline, Criminal, or Bear Grease but want your true crime set in the wild places you know, this podcast is for you.

Blood Trails is a new investigative podcast from MeatEater, hosted by writer and journalist Jordan Sillars. Each episode digs into true crime stories from the world of hunting and fishing&mdash;cases where the woods and the water became the backdrop for violence and mystery. From missing hunters deep in public land to poachers turned killers and fishing trips gone fatally wrong, Blood Trails uncovers the moments when outdoor life collides with the darkness of the human heart. But this isn't repackaged Wikipedia. Each story features original reporting you won't hear anywhere else, expert insight from detectives and hunters, and first-hand accounts from the people who were actually there. For true crime listeners looking for something new&mdash;and outdoorsmen who know the thrill and risk of time afield&mdash;Blood Trails exposes the stories left behind in the tracks. If you&rsquo;re a fan of Dateline, Criminal, or Bear Grease but want your true crime set in the wild places you know, this podcast is for you.

Blood Trails

Ep 2: The Search for Bob Smith

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ac953506-e225-4b69-8d1d-b4340127ab46/transcript