I heard the shot from camp. When I heard the client’s .35 Remington boom down the ridge I smiled and waited for confirmation. The text message came in 30 seconds later; a bear was down and he was a big one. I told the excited hunter to take a breath, unload his gun and waitContinue reading “Granddad’s Gun”
Tag Archives: Hunting
Is it time to change the way we talk about hunting?
There seems to be an ever widening chasm between hunters, trappers and fishermen to some degree, and the non-sportsman populace of the American public. Is this deepening rift caused by simple ignorance of wildlife management, hyper sensitivity or is it something more sinister? I remember the early days of anti-hunting and trapping sentiment belonging toContinue reading “Is it time to change the way we talk about hunting?”
Full circle: A deer hunters journey
Hunting started the hard way for me. For my first deer hunt, Dad took me out to a friend’s house. I was 12, and I wanted to get a deer badly, but it didn’t happen that day. Tears quietly rolled down my face as the December sun set and I tried not to let myContinue reading “Full circle: A deer hunters journey”
Committee to hunters: You don’t have the right to feed your family
I have three words for the Maine Legislature’s Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife – shame on you. By bowing to anti-hunting activists and out of state interests, you have sold your own constituents down the river. And for what good cause?
Coyote Country
This past deer season was the best I can remember in years with plenty of 200 pound bucks showing up on social media and in photos tacked up by the liar’s bench in many of the small town general store tagging stations. In my local area, big bucks were hanging from game poles all acrossContinue reading “Coyote Country”
Keep your feet warm with these tips from the cold feet crowd
I recently asked followers on my Facebook page how they keep their feet warm and to name their favorite winter boot. These are hunters, ice fisherman and trappers for the most part, and if anyone knows about cold feet it is this crowd. While there were varied opinions on brand, most agreed on certain features.Continue reading “Keep your feet warm with these tips from the cold feet crowd”
How sportsmen pay the way for wildlife management
When Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Regional Biologist Mark Caron pulled into my dooryard, I was processing the front quarters of the buck I had taken a few days earlier. As he got out of his truck and grabbed his gear, I jokingly remarked that it sure took him long enough. I ribbed him becauseContinue reading “How sportsmen pay the way for wildlife management”
Gunning for Grouse
This month bird hunters are making their way into the logging roads and field edges in pursuit of that ever elusive, fighter jet of a game bird – the ruffed grouse. Getting back to these basics will help you put more birds in your bag.
Bear Gun Chest Rigs
We talk a lot about the most effective gun choices when it comes to hunting the Maine black bear. We also talk a lot about calibers and specific rifle action types. The hardiest of us talk about pistols and revolvers best equipped to match the black ghost of the Maine woods. One thing we don’tContinue reading “Bear Gun Chest Rigs”
3 common mistakes turkey hunters make and how to avoid them
You have been out at dawn and dusk for days, using a locator call to make the big toms gobble and give away their roosting trees. Countless miles have been logged walking field edges and tote roads looking for turkey sign like scratches, dusting sites and tracks. You may even be lucky enough to haveContinue reading “3 common mistakes turkey hunters make and how to avoid them”