And A Strong Cup of Coffee
Hunting Blog

2.4 BILLION dollars comes into Maine thanks to folks like you and me. I contribute directly to the 200 million that is brought in every year in connection with deer hunting. In this article, Bob Humprey gives an over view of impact that our hunting and fishing industry has on the economic health of the State. Each year, I have paid $27 to renew my hunting license. This gives me the right to shoot a buck, of any size, during the season. If I want to put in to get a doe permit, its a free process but its a lottery, so no guarantee. Then, assuming you shoot a deer, you pay $5 to tag it. They take your name, license number, where you shot...

I like to be in my own little bubble when it comes to the possibility that my deer might not be perfect and instead, could have E.Coli or a number of any other gross things that I dont like (food illnesses, ticks etc). I was wondering what I could post before the weekend came and I found this article: kids getting sick from harvesting, butchering and eating their class project. It makes me happy that I enjoy well cooked meat - no pink. I know, I run the risk of it being more like a hockey puck than a juicy piece of meat, but its a risk I am happy to take, especially when I read articles like...

I found this link a couple weeks ago and thought it was really interesting. The idea that shooting guns is as relaxing as yoga is one I could back. I am not a yoga expert and really not a gun expert, but I totally agree that the adrenaline rush you get from shooting is relaxing and relieves stress. I think about the endorphins that are released while hunting, the excitement and the high that comes from a successful hunt. Even when I was sitting in my seat waiting (and waiting), I could feel the rush and muscle memory of shooting the gun and I think it did bring on a sense of a 'runner's high' that would help keep me warm while I sat in...

I got this book for Christmas. I asked for it. I saw it mentioned on a blog that I follow and put up a notice that it would be a great Christmas gift. I got it and started reading it, hoping that it would get better with the next chapter. I really wanted it to be good. To talk about the excitement of the hunt, the anticipation... I am still waiting. I am about half way through the book and struggling to actually enjoy it. I understand and appreciate the idea of someone getting back to how we all use to eat - hunting and gathering. I have read books about people moving from the big city to the country to farm, to hunt, to get back to...

Ok all - I need a new pair of wool pants. The pair I have now are my dad's old ones, gray and wonderful but a little short (and as you can see, I like to play in the snow). Where should I look to get myself a new pair?? Ideally, another pair of gray pants. Thanks!

Since starting my hunting career, I have built 2 tree houses (the most recent one dubbed the Sky Condo), sat in a sketchy tree seat and had Dad pimp out a tree seat, from which I shot my doe and my 10 pointer this year. This is the first place I ever sat alone in the woods. Its off the corner of our property. I was terrified and prayed that no deer would walk by. It is someone's stand that has been there for 4+ years. Its a little wobbly, has that one bar that goes in front of you, and the ladder is about 7 inches wide. Dad would leave me here for just a couple of hours while he walked around. I would wish the time away because I had no...

I recently discovered this wonderful blog by Willard. His post today made my stomach turn. Not because of the photos - those are amazing - but because of what the photos are of; deer killed for their antlers and tenderloins. Here is the actual blog post. The whole idea of people killing deer for their antlers blows my mind. I have heard of Rhios and elephants being killed for their horns and tusks but a whitetail deer... killing any animal just for sport, I think it wrong. Keeping the population in check - yes. If the hunters in Willard's post didnt want the meat, why not donate it to food pantries?!?! I did a quick Google search for...

As a funny follow up to Steve's blog about coyots, I was going through photos for my Dad's album (every year that we get a deer, I add more pictures) and found these. Dad found this deer last year when he was out walking around and I was in my seat. It was, as you can see, a nice 8-pointer that had been taken down by the coyots. When Dad told me about it, I asked to go see it (Im weird). The deer was in a grouping of trees. Its nose was gone, as was the lower half of the body. A beautiful deer that would have been a nice tag - taken down by coyotes. After lunch, we took the saw back into the woods with us and cut off the antlers. One,...

Again, thanks to Twitter, I came upon a blog post in which the author talks about a boy getting shot in Tennessee. He gives some tips for hunter safety that had me thinking. Here are the tips: 1. Never walk in heavy brush with your gun loaded. 2. Never fire unless you are sure of your target and there is no chance of someone being beyond your target. 3. Never climb into your stand with a loaded firearm or hoist up one that is loaded. 4. Always carry your firearm muzzle upward especially when hunting with a friend. Muzzle down is never a good idea even though it’s pointed away from people you may accidentally get dirt in the barrel and...

While paroozing my Twitter feed, I came across this little article posted by the Huffington Post. Here are the opening few lines: Montana wildlife regulators suspect more and more people are faking disabilities to take advantage of privileges granted to disabled hunters, so they want to remove one of those perks in hopes of curbing abuse. Permits to hunt from a vehicle, called PTHV permits, are given to Montana hunters with certain disabilities certified by a doctor, chiropractor, nurse or physician's assistant. The permit allows a disabled person who can't get around without assistance to hunt from a self-propelled or drawn vehicle. In...