I'm actually re-leveling a hunter (mainly for raid alt, but mostly because farming with a holy spec pally sucks). Leveling a hunter these days is worlds fucking different that it used to be. I haven't leveled a hunter since release, and BM spec used to suck back in those days. Back during TBC Beta, I leveled Beast Spec from 60-70 for the first time.
This is a Beast Spec build I plan on trying out for a raid or two once I get to 70.
http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=mVbh0gxRiuVoVVbRm* I personally have no love for Bestial Swiftness. I rarely travel with my pet out unless I'm in an area where I need to go short distances (like from 1 camp of mobs to another). I normally dismiss the pet if I'm out solo and not using him (or I'll be mounted and he'll poof on me)
* Before the Mend Pet changes, the 2 points in Improved Mend Pet were in Spirit Bond. But since they were only filler points, and Improved Mend Pet is more useful then it was before (don't get me wrong, it was useful...but I never used it).
* Animal Handler is awesome because of the +Hit your pet gets. 4% is no joke.
* Efficiency has saved my ass quite a few times.
This was the Marks Spec build I was using during TBC Beta at level 70 for instances and the Kara pugs I went on. It also has a lot of soloing ability in it.
http://www.wowhead.com/?talent=VxbZVVbRquGestch* Improved AOTH...I got in a debate with someone over the long term use of Hawk over Viper, and I came to this conclusion. I played a hunter for 2 years without Viper and had to learn how to conserve mana while still doing efficient DPS. While the mana regen from Viper is very very nice, the Quick Shots proc from Imp Hawk is still great to have.
* Focused Fire, 2% extra damage is great. And the 20% crit for Kill Command is nice as well.
* Concussive Barrage...with the way that Steady Shot works (gives an additional 175 damage if target is dazed) it is nice to have for soloing and for trash clears. Not a huge DPS, but meh.
* No Monster Slaying but Human Slaying. This was another thing that I got in a strange argument with someone over. Basically, look at the mob types in raid zones. There are more humanoid mobs vs Giants/Dragonkin/Beasts. TK and SCC are full of humanoids, as is BT.
And, a recommendation...Givin and I both took up Dragon Leatherworking, as the Ebon Netherscale armor is better then Tier 4 and on par with Tier 5 (even after the patch buffed all epics, because the Ebon got buffed too). If you're willing to get 250 Leatherworking we both highly recommend it.