The scolding took place more than 20 years ago, when I was press officer for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. “Hey, Paul, you’ve got to be kidding me! It’s March and you guys still don’t have the tally on last fall’s deer kill?” asked the New England outdoor editor of a national […]
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Posted inLocal Sports, sj-web
Outdoors in Maine: Is it time for a spring bear hunt?
My wife, Diane, half-whispered and half-yelled at me: “Paul, come downstairs quick.” Standing in the shadows of the half-light by the kitchen window, she was pointing out by the bird feeder. A large black bear was standing on all fours not 15 feet from the sliding glass door on which it had slathered its drool […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Bidding a fond farewell to the "Boy" Scouts
In the twilight of my life, the Boys Scouts of America — its teachings, its values, and the fun of it all — still evoke a warm glow in my overflowing storehouse of special memories. Everything about the scouting experience left me the better for it. We wore the uniform proudly, as we did the merit badges […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Second Amendment remains necessary
If you have followed national issues at all, you may have learned somewhere along the way that even the hallowed U.S. Supreme Court Justices are not immune to all of the foibles, personal biases and character flaws that are the hallmark of the human condition. It is for this reason that our way of life […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Veazie Salmon Club arises from near extinction
In the 1980s and early 1990s, in May and June, you could catch a fresh run of Atlantic salmon on the Penobscot River. And you could play your king of game fish within eyeshot of downtown Bangor. As a result, salmon clubs popped up along the river banks like ostrich ferns. Those were heady times. […]
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Outdoors in Maine: UMaine-Orono a wellspring of promise
The New England Outdoor Writers Association (NEOWA) is a large group of outdoor writers and photographers that promotes wildlife conservation and professionalism in outdoor communication. Each year, NEOWA awards significant scholarships to a wildlife major from all six of New England’s land grant universities. The hope is that these wildlife majors will go on to […]
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Wheaton named 'Legendary Maine Guide'
In 2009, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, in conjunction with the Maine Professional Guide’s Association ( MPGA), did a wonderful thing. They created the Wiggie Robinson Legendary Maine Guide Award. It was fitting that Robinson was the first (posthumous) recipient of his namesake award. The idea was to select annually a deserving […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Something about that boat life
The sun-drenched Florida Keys, with its cobalt skies, swaying palm fronds and gliding pelicans got under my skin more than 40 years ago. As a Maine Naval Reservist, official orders sent me down there more than once for a two-week training tour at the Key West Naval Air Station. Later on my daughter married a […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Arctic charr restored to Reed Pond
The American Fisheries Society recently presented the fisheries division of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife with a national award for cutting edge work in the restoration of the native Arctic charr to Big Reed Pond in Piscataquis County. Although the project was the work of many biologists and funded by a wide array […]
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Maine's annual moose lottery is now open
The 2018 Maine Moose Lottery application process is officially open to Maine residents and non-residents alike. No longer are mailed applications acceptable. Applications must be filed online. The deadline for submitting applications for the moose lottery is May 15, and must be posted no later than midnight on that date. In 2016, 54,893 hunters applied […]