Hello All, I am producing a show and interviewing John Ford and Paul J. Fournier about their time as Maine Guides/Wardens. I want your questions... what do you want to know? You have until July 20th to post them here! Then listen to Maine Calling to see if we ask it. I will post the link to the show when it gets closer. Thanks ~E
A few weeks ago, I got my hands on an Op-Ed piece in the New York Times (thank you Steel!) that talked about the need for armed guards to protect the poaching of wildlife throughout the world, specifically in parts of Asia and Africa. The author, Elizabeth Bennett from the Wildlife Conservation Society describes these places as having seen a significant decrease in poaching once the armed guards were present. The call to action was clear; the more armed guards there are, the more animals will be saved. Clearly, it is the only way to protect them, right? As I read the article, Joan Root flooded into my mind. One of the best books I have read...
It was an amazing weekend to be outside and spend it with Dad. After breakfast and grabbing coffee (for me), Dad and I headed out into the woods to put up cameras and to mark off a wood lot that he is cutting. I bathed in deet before I went into the woods and tall grass. I didn't need a repeat of this. This little guy was not happy that we were around. He was chirping at me, would stick his head out of the pipe, duck back in, squeak some more, stick his head out... on and on until I left. Hello decent size track! So many tracks! Its a good sign. We put up three cameras. Dad picked out a new spot for us to put a seat up. All kinds of sign,...
The following is a news story that aired yesterday about the removal of one of two dams along the Penobscot river and the impact that it will have on the fish population. For audio and original publication, please click here. There are "high hopes" for the Penobscot River once the Great Works Dam is completely removed, and dismantling of the Veazie Dam begins next year. That's how Maine Marine Resources Commissioner Pat Keliher framed his remarks at a celebration along the river's banks today. Restoring 11 species of migratory fish is a big part of the dream. Hopeful signs are evident at the Veazie Dam fish trap operated by state biologists...
Recently, I have been doing some research on this topic and asking my friends on Twitter if they have restrictions like this where they hunt. If so, do they think it is an effective method for growing and creating a healthy herd. Here are some of the comments: Kentucky - No but if it's less than 3 inches, u can check as doe if I remember the regs correctly. Never been as issue for the guys I hunt with. Idaho – No, we don't have any restrictions like this. Georgia - Ga. allows counties to set antler if they desire and those that have service pt. and/or restrictions have much better bucks ! Point & spread restrictions are best. Erin, there...
A few weeks ago, I blogged about getting bit by a deer tick and the increase in the sheer number of them across the State. Last week, the BDN ran an article about the increase in illness here in Maine due to those horrible bugs. Here are some scary take aways if you live here: * Lyme sickened about 1,000 Mainers in 2011 and more than 180 so far this year * The deer tick can transmit Lyme, anaplasmosis and babesiosis. * The dog tick can carry Lyme but doesn’t transmit it * On average, 50 percent of Maine deer ticks carry disease * Ticks are less of a problem in northern counties of Maine and at higher elevations (
When I was 25, I flew into Albuquerque, rented a car and drove for two weeks. I sketched out my route and made sure to hit as many National Parks as possible. I went to Grand Canyon National Park, Zion, the Canyonlands, and Arches (I was there a few months before the big arch fell!). It was breath taking! I would hike and just stop in awe of what an amazing resource we have in our National Parks. Standing in these places and seeing the grandeur of the Parks made me so grateful to live in a country that preserves and protects places like this. I live in Maine and have Acadia National Park in my backyard. I worked on Mount Desert Island for 4...
Just out in the Bangor Daily - LePage signs bills to rebuild deer herd Kevin Bennett | BDN White-tailed deer bound across a field in Orono in October 2010. By GLENN ADAMS, The Associated Press Posted May 23, 2012, at 12:08 p.m. Print this E-mail this Facebook this Tweet this AUGUSTA, Maine — With hopes of rebuilding a deer herd that’s shrunk in parts of Maine to worrisome levels, Gov. Paul LePage has signed new legislation that implements multipronged strategies laid out in a bill that passed last year. The new laws, signed Monday by LePage, are aimed principally at two areas: restoring all-important deer yards that help the animals survive...
I found a blog post via Twitter from the US Sportsman's Alliance and US Sportsman's Alliance Foundation about the possibility of getting fired for hunting in other States and the legality of the whole ridiculous situation. The gist of the story is this: The Commish in California went to Idaho and shot a legal Mountain Lion. In California, that's illegal. When he got back, activism groups called for his resignation. As a result, there is all sorts of legislation being proposed that would prevent this kind of potential prosecution from happening. I know many of you out there hunt in different State. Do you hunt any wildlife in these States...
How could I not re-blog this? I write a blog that has the word "coffee" in the title?!?!? The Maine Outdoorsman: Maine Guide Coffee: In the annuals of recorded time, there exist a few rare and memorable icons that define a place, an individual or even a profession. For t...
Throughout my life thus far, I have been the kid who looks at the sun and gets a severe sun burn. I walks outside in the spring and comes back in looking like I have chicken pox. I can bathe in deet (or any other "repellant") and easily get 20 bug bites. I look like an idiot when I am outside in the summertime; at a friend's house, out by the fire, I am in jeans, sneakers, wool socks, long-sleeve shirt, sweatshirt, hat and covered in bug dope. And I will have 15 bug bites all over me the next day. I have heard it all: "You're just so sweet" (I'm not), "They like your blood type" (My blood is just as good as anyone else's!) and a bevy of...
Last week, I posted the first part of my interview with Bryan White. Here is the rest of our interview. Enjoy! What do you think can be done to promote the outdoors to more people? To get kids interested in hunting and fishing? More government funded organizations with celebrity spokespersons that are actually involved. I feel that more celebrities need to be proud of continuing their heritage and make their love for the outdoors better known. Children and adults look up to these public figures and they can play a huge role in mainstreaming the outdoor lifestyle. What would you tell someone who wants to get into these sports? I’d tell them...
The ability to connect with others about hunting is constantly amazing me. It has led me to new friends, new experiences and it has given me the opportunity to talk with people I would have never had the chance to. I have been lucky enough to ask questions and learn about how others hunt, fish and interact with the outdoors. After my interview with the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, I was looking for other people to talk to about their experiences in the outdoors and started going through who I followed on Twitter. I wanted to find someone who was passionate about the outdoors and would be really cool to interview. I sent...
It was a fantastic Maine spring weekend. A little chilly and windy Saturday morning, but the sun was out and we were outside. Fresh air and sunshine will cure what ails ya! We had a mini lawn sale in the morning, then in the afternoon, Hubby and I went on a adventure with Dad. We had important business in the woods... namely, how our hunting spots are looking and if there was any sign deer out and about. We checked out the Sky Condo and then Dad took us to a new spot that he has added to our list of places to hunt. A friend of his owns the land and Dad has been wanting to hunt on it for a few years now, but I was the stick in the mud and...
A friend of mine in DC occasionally sends me (or Tweets at me) articles that he wants my opinion on. Yesterday, it was an op-ed piece from the New York Times titled, "I Hunt, but the N.R.A. Isn’t for Me" by Lily Raff McCaulou. My buddy wanted to know, as a "lady hunter" what I thought about this. And I am curious what YOUR opinion is... are you a card carrying member of the NRA? As I read the op-ed, I agreed with many of her points, For hunters like me, hunting isn’t ultimately about the gun. It’s about wildlife and the land that sustains it and I’m a hunter and a sportswoman. I own guns, but not for self-defense but I also have to wonder...
After talking about it for a few weeks, I actually took my antlers back to my house and boiled them. It was a nice, sunny day. I had my grill going and everything was working well. The wind put out the burner a couple of times, but I re-lit it. However, when I ran out of propane, I was forced to bring it inside. With the windows and door open, I boiled this thing. I added water every 30-60 minutes to keep it boiling. Hour after hour. I thing the entire project took me about 8 hours. But when it was done, this is what I had. Its funny to look at the antlers now and see how uneven they are.I think the lines are the coolest thing. They are...
Rabid Outdoorsman and I are now members of BOW (Becoming an Outdoor Woman) in Maine. Rabid has been to one meeting and I will be attending my first at the end of June. The plan was to meet at a local watering hole and discuss how we can bring our time and talent to this organization and make it rock. Originally there was going to be 3 of us in this "meeting" but it turned into just me and Rabid so he suggested I meet him and we go fishing. I was coming from work, in amazing heels and dress clothes. Rabid didn't think pumps would be a good choice for fishing in April but I tried to convince him otherwise. However, like a good Maine girl, I...
Feels like its been a while since I posted anything on here... this is what I have been up to: 1. Conferences 2. Work (we had an amazing 1 day fundraiser then blew our $$ goals out of the water. True stat: per capita, Maine is one of the most generous States when it comes to charitable donations.) 3. Spring cleaning 4. BOSTON MARATHON!!! This is my beautiful friend Lissa. She and I started school together when we were 3. She met my hubby when they were in college and she introduced us. She is also 1 of the 3 people that witnessed and signed the paperwork when I got married. She is amazing. And yesterday, in 90+ heat (some reports said 101...
I came across this cool Q&A on Mike Hanback's website, that talks about bucks holding onto their antlers longer in the winter and what that means for the next season. Hopefully, with the mild, (MILD, no-snow, 80-degrees-in-March) winter we just ended, the deer herd had a nice, relaxing season and can get bigger and grow better antlers for this fall. But, who knows what this summer could be like... Thoughts? Do you agree with Mike?
If you have read my blog, you know I am trying to figure out how to mount my deer antlers by myself (and with Dad). Step 1 was the easy part. I had to figure out how to get the hair and fat off of the scalp. At the Sportsman's Show last weekend, I talked to a guy who runs a taxidermy company and asked him what the best way to do this was; just skin it. So, Dad doesn't know this yet, but on Easter, we are skinning my deer head. What Mom doesn't know yet, is if it is frozen or too hard to just take a knife to, the thing is coming into the house and into some warm water to loosen stuff up. Then, I can mount the antlers, hopefully. And, in a...