Sooner or later in our lives, most of us contemplate our own mortality. Those of us who really love the deer woods tend to use the number of deer seasons left as yardstick of our days. It is said, though, that most deer hunters go through stages, and tend to lose their ardor for the […]
outdoors in maine
Outdoors in Maine: Looking at local candidates' views on gun
As a rule, my editors prefer that the Maine outdoor beat steers clear of politics. And they are right, most of the time. But when the body politic begins trifling with our Second Amendment rights, should an outdoor writer just walk away? Tough to do because gun rights and taking a gun to the woods […]
Outdoors in Maine: Breaking down Maine's gun laws
When it comes to the legality of openly carrying a handgun in Maine, or concealing that handgun, questions abound. When is it legal to carry a loaded, concealed handgun? Is a permit required? Is there a legal distinction between so-called open carry and concealed carry? How do you get a permit? What if you are […]
Outdoors in Maine: Getting a downed moose out his the hard part
The biggest eye-opener for most first-time moose hunters is after the animal is down. This is when the real work begins. As we all know, moose are large critters, very large, and getting a 1,000-pound carcass out of a tangled clear cut to the nearest accessible road can be a tall order. During the first […]
Outdoors in Maine: Crossbows gaining respect, being used more
Although crossbows have never held a lot of appeal for me, I have hunted with a borrowed crossbow in the deer-rich state of Maryland. For me, it just seems awkward to carry while still hunting, and it doesn’t have the visual appeal of conventional longbows, recurves or compound bows. As a hunting device, it is […]
Outdoors in Maine: Blood trackers crucial to finding wounded animals
Most big game hunters are mindful of the fact that there is an ethic associated with the kind of shots taken in the harvesting of wild animals. In general, running shots, head or neck shots are low percentage shots that push the bounds of ethical choices by the hunter. The odds of wounding an animal […]
Outdoors in Maine: 'Behind the Cast' provides funny view of fishing adventures
It seems like everybody is writing a book these days. And there is nothing wrong with that – especially if you like to read. Fact is that most mature human beings who have lived life, shared adventures or just a canoe or a campfire, have tales worthy of ink. The trick, of course, is knowing […]
Outdoors in Maine: Struggling for clarity from new deer plans
Every 15 years the Maine fish and wildlife department commits itself to a big game management plan. The idea, as with any plan, is to establish an organized approach toward achieving goals and objectives. The 15-year plan that existed before the new 15-year plan, which was adopted this spring, was clear and straightforward with respect […]
Outdoors in Maine: A breathtaking, jaw-dropping trip to Banff
Banff, that fabled alpine village in the midsection of the Canadian Rockies, has been on my wife Diane’s bucket list for many years. Flying to Salt Lake City, we rented a car and drove to Butte and Great Falls, Montana, on up to Calgary, Alberta, and then West into Banff National Park. This was not […]
Outdoors in Maine: The legend of unsung hero 'Uncle Tim'
Uncle Tim Pollard was a game warden’s game warden. At least that’s the impression you’ll get if you read a tattered, faded clipping of an article from the Maine Sunday Telegram circa 1926. At that time he was the longest-serving game warden in Maine history. A Dover-Foxcroft native, Pollard, or more precisely, Game Warden Captain […]