This little story has been locked away since last season. I was sworn not to share it. It was a story I was willing to lock away forever. But, when Dad told a few people, it was like getting the ok to share it. Dad and I were in the Sky Condo the weekend before the last week of deer season. It was about 3:30 pm and we were waiting to see if any deer would come in. To look out from the SC, the left front corner has canvas around it to help cut the wind down. It can also cut down on a clear view of the woods from that direction but move about 6 inches to the right, and that small piece of woods is visible again. That is where I was sitting; about 6 inches to Dad's right. We heard a noise...
Deer season is approaching and it's almost time for Dad and I get our tree seats up. Blake Anderson at Huntertreestands.com offers this advice for the best places and types of tree stands to use to ensure you land that buck! Thanks Blake! The Sky Condo that Dad and I built. Optimized Tree-Stand Placement There are a lot of elements during hunting that are often out of your control, which can ultimately lead to an unsuccessful hunt. However if you optimize those components that are within your control, then you can quickly turn a disappointment into a great victory. Tree stand placement is one of those key rudimentary elements that will decide whether or not you end up empty handed, and there is more to it than just finding a...
A guy who works for my Dad put up a camera on some land that we own. These are a some of the best pics that he had! I would love to have two 10pt sets on my wall =) With photos like these, how can you not want to head into the woods now?!? Com'on deer season!!!
Photos from our 2 (out of 3) working trail cameras! Only one chip/camera has a working date and time stamp, but we are getting pictures so we will take what we can get =) Come on deer season!!!
I had a baby in June. While I was pregnant, the baby and I went deer hunting, ice fishing and turkey hunting and my biggest concern was making sure I had appropriate hunting clothes that fit.As deer season approaches, I am facing a whole new set of challenges. This past week, I was asked to go duck hunting for the first time with some friends in October. I eagerly said “yes!” and then started thinking about all of the details that I needed to get in order before I could actually go. With the early morning start, do I spend the night away from the baby or leave extra early? I need to make sure that the diaper bag is packed and that I have pumped enough milk for him while I am gone and that I can pump while I am away...
The temp was 102 at 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Yes, 102. Dad and I were melting but we had put this off for way too long. Here is was July and our trail cameras were not up and because they weren't, we were not seeing what sort of animals are around our hunting areas. We put up three cameras. Two by the Sky Condo (the above shot is a panoramic from the bottom of the SC) and one by my tree seat. For the first time in a long time, I was able to bathe in deet in order to prevent the ticks from finding me - as well as the mosquitoes and black flies. It was hot, we were sweaty and I stunk from all of the bug dope but it was fun. It is weird how different the woods look in the middle of the summer...
Once again, Maine finds itself facing a battle over our bear hunt. The Humane Society of America tried to get a motion to outlaw bear baiting through the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee at the State House and it fell flat. As a result (and as they threatened to do), they are trying to collect enough signatures to take the issue to the voters. The last time they did this, Mainers won out with 53% of the vote. We appreciate our biologists, bear hunters and those that make a living off of the hunting industry. Below is a blog that I wrote for the Bangor Daily News. I have included the link here so you can read the comments that people left and see how uneducated people are when it comes to...
Three years ago, Dad and I headed into the woods to get a moose. I took a week off from work and we were rocked and ready. Zone 17. In hindsight, I can see why Rick wanted to trade permits for that zone. Throughout the week, we saw one dead moose and a spot where one was gutted. That was it. It was the second time Dad had been drawn and the first time he didn't come home with some meat. At the start of the 2012 moose season, it was projected that 75,000 moose were roaming the woods. In my interview with Commissioner Woodcock, he spoke about the changes that were taking place this season that would allow more people to get their permit who had not. This past fall, my brother in law (BIL) who is a biologist for the State of Maine was...
Dads play an important role in getting the next generation of hunters interested and out in the woods. It takes almost as much skill to get the kids out there as it does to make that shot and harvest an animal. There is the concern over getting cold, keeping their attention and talking about what it means to kill (and then eat) an animal. In honor of Father's Day and all of the great outdoor Dads, I thought that it would be perfect to hear how Bryan includes his sons with his hunting and the excitement they had this past deer season when the boys were with Bryan as he shot his first buck. I have interviewed Bryan before about hunting, fishing and getting his kids involved from an early age but his dedication and his...
