Fundamentals of Fly Fishing

By: Joe Bertolaccini

By Joe Bertolaccini Fundamentals of Fly Fishing ” I have tried to present, in a logical manner, a common sense approach to fly fishing fundamentals. Included are chapters on rods, reels, fly lines and leaders, useful knots, as well as a detailed discussion of hooks and flies with colored photos. In addition is a comprehensive … Continued

Building Turkey Calls and Owl Hooters

Stu Bristol is a widely recognized pioneer in New England wild turkey hunting and restoration. He was inducted into the New England Wild Turkey Hunting Hall of Fame in 2019. This book features step-by-step, easy to understand call-building from basics instruction to custom building. Learn how to tune and operate the various calls. Work with … Continued

The Duck Hunters

By: Dave O'Connor

By Dave O’Connor Duck season was due to open the following morning. We were late getting out of work and slightly tired when we got to Home Base, the hunting camp in the backwaters of Merrymeeting Bay. That something was wrong was easy to see, the door was open, the lock smashed. The old … Continued

Maine Turkeys: Less Conservative Hunt Plan

By Brad Allen To all my wild turkey hunting and watching friends out there I’d like you to know that the Department’s wild turkey management program is right on track. First, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) spearheaded restoration activities back in the 1970s with the support of many individuals associated with the National Wild Turkey … Continued

Overlooked Fishing Laws

By John Floyd As open water fishing season begins, it’s a good time to review the new Maine Fishing Laws handbook and any new rules and laws in effect this year. While bait rules and bag limits get a lot of attention, it’s also a good idea to brush up on existing general fishing laws. … Continued

The National Eagle Repository

By Mark McCollough Life as a bird rehabilitator is not always pleasant. On a day in May, Marc Payne and Diane Winn at Avian Haven said good-bye to an old friend. A month previous, an adult bald eagle was found floundering on the shore near Mount Desert Island. It did not resist capture by Warden … Continued

Hunting Winter Coyotes

By Justin Merrill In the event you do venture out to howl in a coyote this January or February be prepared to sit at least an hour or longer. Dress for the occasion. Pick your spot carefully. Contrary to what some people believe, coyotes are extremely social animals. Anyone that spends over 460 hours … Continued

Why Try Brand

By Dave O’Connor “So you’re trying to be like Herself, just a bit of downright cussedness that runs to your core?” He was ugly. I suppose in looking back on it that he was probably right to think that I was selling him down the drain. It wasn’t that I made a practice of it, … Continued

Corn Not Meant for Man

By Dave O’Connor In states where dairy farming is important the corn crop is often tied to a lot of small farms. The acreage devoted to this valuable crop is some of the best on the farm. In New England, and many other locales, the raccoon is the number one pest to keep under control. … Continued

The Fly Rod

By Bob Cram Lawsuit turned beet red. Sputtering he jumped into the seat of the Navigator and slammed the door. Through the open window, he glared at Joe. Joe pulled the Jeep to the side of the dusty road and we both looked out over the small beaver pond on Keeper Brook. “It’s right beside … Continued

Reader Feedback

The Northwoods Sporting Journal is the largest hunting & fishing magazine in the Northeast.

"Just want to complement all of you on an excellent magazine. I have my subscription sent to my office and have found that clients grab the Northwoods Sporting Journal first over the dozen or so other magazines in our waiting area.
I have enclosed subscriptions for myself and five friends that I think will enjoy your magazine. I especially like the Outdoor News sections for keeping up to date with statistics and changes going on in the state."

Jay Deane

"I used to subscribe to several outdoor magazines in the past until one day I picked up a copy of the NWSJ at LL Bean in Freeport, Maine. After reading the journal I have to say I never subscribed to any other outdoor magazine. The journal had it all and the thing is it only gets better every month! The articles are informative and very well written by what I consider experts in the field. I have to say if one does not subscribe to the journal or picks up a copy of the journal “they do not know what they are missing!” Unfortunately, I am not a resident of Maine but after reading the journal I feel I know more about your great state than my own regarding the opportunities of hunting and fishing, very good writers."

Tony Ostrowski

"Good morning, I have to write this…because your magazine deserves it. Every couple last winters my family has gone up to Maine after Christmas for a couple days. This always coincides with a stop at KTP, where I buy a copy of your magazine. Well, this Christmas I asked my kids for one gift, a subscription to NWSJ. I’m 57 years old, I grew up cutting and chopping cords of wood every year for my family’s two vermont castings stoves, and fishing and hunting extensively. especially loved tying my own flies and selling them in my local Connecticut hardware store when I was 12. When not doing those things I was salivating over field and stream, outdoor life, fin and feather, you understand…those were great mags, but I don’t like how they’ve changed over the years…they’re selling to the masses now, not to who I think is their core audience. You guys are different, and good different. You’re old school. You actually do not care what people think of what you’re writing, and that reeks of important values like HONESTY, COMMON SENSE, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND KNOWLEDGE. Your articles are SO good that I refuse to read more than one at a time. no joke; I leave each issue open on my kitchen table, and read one article a day. Why? Because every single article is fantastic! I don’t want to ruin the digestion of the last one by reading the next one too quickly…yes, you guys are that good. So here it is, my first feedback; you have the best outdoor magazine I have ever read..and will continue to read it till I can’t read. "

Alexander Pflomm

"I enjoyed reading Ms. AuClair’s article on Mount Katahdin.  I had also enjoyed the mountain and knife-edge trail twice when I was in my late 40s - early 50s. It’s an unbelievably beautiful environment. The quiet is God-like. Thanks very much. Keep up the great reading. I look forward every month to the Sporting Journal."

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