And A Strong Cup of Coffee

A blog about hunting, fishing, trapping, foraging and taking on new adventures in the woods of Maine.

And A Strong Cup of Coffee

A blog about hunting, fishing, trapping, foraging and taking on new adventures in the woods of Maine.

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Hunting in Maine, Maine Deer hunting, Maine Hunters, Maine Outdoors, Trail Camera Views, Wildlife Conservation

Should trail cameras be illegal?

Seven trail cameras with my name on them are strategically placed on our property. Most I keep out year round to track which animals are moving through.  Once deer hunting season gets closer, Dad puts his cameras up and we have a pretty good idea of which animals are around and who thinks they can trespass on our land and not get caught. But in recent months, more states have banned the use of trail cameras questioning their use and wondering if trail cameras should be illegal? The cameras have helped us know which animals are around but, they have not helped me shoot an animal. It doesn’t guarantee me a successful hunt. It can be more frustrating knowing which deer are around that I am not seeing. However, in some states, the use of trail cameras is considered unethical and they have...

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Checking trail cameras

Other Recent Articles

ConservationHunting in MaineHunting Tips and TricksMaine MooseMaine OutdoorsWildlife Conservation
What you want to know but are afraid to ask your guide

What you want to know but are afraid to ask your guide

When I was drawn for my moose permit, I hired a guide to help. My friend John Floyd is a Registered Maine Guide and the owner of Tucker Ridge Outdoors in Webster Plantation, Maine. After talking about what I wish I had known and what he wished his clients knew, we decided to publishour conversation. Here we discuss thoughts, questions and concerns about hiring a guide. EM: A moose hunt can be an expensive hunt. There are a lot of things that can factor into the week you spend in the woods. ...

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Adventures in the WoodsHunting in MaineMaine HuntersMaine MooseMaine OutdoorsWildlife Conservation
What to bring on a moose hunt

What to bring on a moose hunt

Congratulations! You won a moose permit.  Now, the work begins. Assume you are going to spend six days in the woods and choppings of Maine.  Those hours away from camp are spent searching and walking and driving.  It might not sound as exhausting as it was but…you are toast at the end of the day. In order to be as parepared as possible, here are the things that I packed for my hunt: Too many clothes. I packed every piece of hunting clothing I owned. I packed more socks than I could ever...

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ConservationHunting in MaineMaine OutdoorsWhitetail DeerWildlife Conservation
The awe of a fawn

The awe of a fawn

Last August, I had the opportunity to get a fawn that had been hit by a car. I called the warden, got a tag and it was off to the taxidermist. Maybe a little morbid, but unless you are willing to use a tag to shoot a fawn, there are few ways to aquire the young deer. This week, I brought it home to my office. The woman who did the taxiermy work did an incredible job on the fine details. The fawn's eyes, lashes, ear hair and whiskers are exact. It is amazing to look at the small body and the...

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ConservationEating Wild GameHunting in MaineMaine Black BearMaine HuntersMaine MooseWomen Who Hunt
The best wild game dinner

The best wild game dinner

Hunters are always asked if they eat the animals that they hunt.  Bear is one of the most asked about animals. After I accomplished my grand slam, I offered to host a wild game dinner for people to try some of the meat that I had hunted.  My friend, Candace agreed to be my chef.  The result was some of the best wild game dishes I have ever eaten. Candace and I picked out the cuts that I had and built our menu around that.  It was an incredibly hot day here in Maine, so that altered a few of...

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Hunting in MaineMaine Deer huntingMaine HuntersWhitetail DeerWomen Who Hunt
The shot that will haunt me

The shot that will haunt me

In December 2021, my grandfather passed away. Weeks before, I jumped him when I came bursting into his house to tell him and my Grammie that I had shot a buck and had completed my Grand Slam. He laughed at my overzealousness but hugged me and told me how proud he was of me.  We made a deal hours before he passed away that he was going to deliver me an 8 point buck since I have yet to shoot one.  I held on to that belief all through the year. Dad and I obsessed over trail cam photos...

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Why The Name?

Because everything is better with a strong cup of coffee – especially going out on a hunt.


If you’ve ever gotten up at 3am to head out in the turkey woods or sat in a tree stand deer hunting in Maine when it’s 4 degrees outside then that strong cup of coffee can be a critical piece of the hunt.

We hope you enjoy And a Strong Cup of Coffee at whatever hour you have time to read, and we hope the coffee is strong. 

Author Erin Merrill

Meet The Author

Erin started deer hunting with her Dad when she was 20 and soon found herself spending as much time as she could in the woods and fields hunting deer, bear, and turkey. 

Erin is a registered Hunters Safety Instructor with Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and has given lectures and been interviewed a number of times on the challenges and opportunities for women in the outdoors. 

In addition to And A Strong Cup of Coffee, Erin is also currently a writing contributor for Northwoods Sporting Journal and a senior writer for Drury Outdoors’ DeerCast. Her work has also been featured in Downeast Magazine

In an effort to get more women and girls outside, Erin co-founded and is the president of Women of the Maine Outdoors

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