Getting the Moose Out

BY V. Paul Reynolds 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 lb. carcass out of a tangled clear cut to the nearest accessible road can be a … Continued

Hitting Those Grouse

A grouse – by any other name, pa’tridge, biddie, or thunder chicken – is no easy target. In fact, this game bird’s ability to escape and evade the best of wing shooters is legendary. Outdoor writer Jim Harrison writes about the grouse hunt: “Surely it is a dream world: the nearly thundering flush and the … Continued

The Ideal Deer Rifle

By Bob Noonan When I was in high school back in the 50s I was a big fan of outdoor writer Jack O’Connor. He said the .270 was the ultimate deer cartridge, and that was gospel to me. When I turned 16 Dad let me buy a used .270 Remington 721 bolt for $75. That … Continued

Good Trout Ponds

By V. Paul Reynolds I was asked recently which ponds were my top selections  for Maine  trout ponds. With over 500 lakes and ponds in the North Maine Woods, there are certainly a lot of places to fish and over the past 30 years I have had the good fortune to try many of them. … Continued

June Fishing Tips

Fishing? It is coming on strong, as it always does in June.. Truly, Maine is a sport fisherman’s paradise. Get out and wet a line. Here are some tips from the experts, the state fisheries biologists. Region A – Sebago Lakes Region “We were conducting our bass electrofishing surveys last week and bass are actively … Continued

Tips for Summer Bass

By Bill Decoteau Mike Delvisco is one of the most educated bass anglers I know and his simple approach to establishing bass patterns is a sure fire way to increase your confidence in locating as well as landing more bass……especially during the heat of summer! “Many times during the hottest days of summer the majority … Continued

Wild Trout Vs. Native Trout: Is There a Difference?

Photo courtesy of Libby Camps By John Bolland The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) is committed to protecting and enhancing its native and wild brook trout populations. This was clearly evident at last year’s Eastern States Brook Trout Initiative in West Virginia, where representatives from all states from Maine to Georgia met … Continued

Deer Management 101

By V. Paul Reynolds Interestingly, success rate for antlerless permit hunters is close to 30 percent. According to Gerry Lavigne, this higher success rate is due, in part, to the illegal practice of party hunting, and if hunters were to cease this illegal activity the state could double the number of antlerless permits they issue. … Continued

Bowman’s First-Kill Delayed by Uninvited Moose On the Make

The bull immediately started walking in my direction. He didn’t stop until he was five feet from the base of the tree. He was so close I thought he was going to step on my bow. The alarm went off with its usual abruptness at 3:30 A.M. As I climbed from bed I wondered what … Continued

The Phantom Salmon of Fording Rock

Simmering, I handed the rod over to the one-armed man. “Go ahead, old codger,” I said to myself, “show me something.” The number twelve WhiteWulff fluttered in the air and settled as milk down on the center riffle of Landing Pool. Grandfather’s amber Edwards’ Quadrate was poised. Three feet of mended drift brought the expected … Continued

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