And A Strong Cup of Coffee
Hunting Blog

Tomorrow kicks off youth hunt in Maine. YEAH!!! The season is finally here. And it makes me happy that I hunt on my own property because it assures me that no one can be killing my 10 pointer before I hit the woods early next Saturday. At least, as long as my deer stays around the area he has been. Its always so exciting to see the pictures in the paper throughout next week as kids who are between 10-12 it seems, post their pictures of their deer. Last year, a friend of mine's daughter shot a nice deer and her photo was in the paper. Good work Carleigh - girls and guns. I love it. Bring on the season!!!

1 week from tomorrow, I will be heading up the our hunting grounds to start the 2011 season. Yeah! There are things I need to get done before the season starts. 1. Get sick. I have been mia the past couple of days because I have been really sick. CHECK 2. Get wool jacket out. Its hanging up in my room. CHECK 3. Get warm, non-cotton clothes out. CHECK (thank you fall camping) 4. Get hand/toe warmers. CHECK 5. Boots ready. All 2 pair. CHECK 6. Guns sighted in. CHECK and DOUBLE CHECK 7. License in hunting vest. CHECK 8. Squatter out of sky condo. CHECK (so says Dad) I think that's all I need, right? Now, I sit and wait and prep and check in...

This weekend, I went with Dad and hubby to set the trail camera and put up my tree seat. Everytime Dad brings in the camera to review what we got for photos, we have to look at the photos of the 10 pointer. Clearly I have been WAY too excited because we realized that the massive buck we thought was a 10 was really a massive 8 and that the 10 pointer comes into the camera 10 minutes later. So, out of the 5 pics were thought were the same buck, it's really 2 deer! Dad thinks the 8 must have at least a 20 inches span and he called dibs. Which means I get the 10. Im very much ok with that. We will see what shows up this week. Anyways, my fail...

I have been meeting all kinds of folks thanks to my interview with Steve. And as I have had time, I have been reading other people's blogs about hunting. Yesterday, one blew my mind. I think it was because I had never tried the movie feature on my trail camera and I have yet to see photos of one deer like what Trey saw. Dad and I try to see if we have the same deer, but I have yet to see a year to year comparison that Trey has. I totally recommend checking out his blog! Also, Rick at Whitetail Woods has been awesome in helping me figure out how to get more connected. Next up is the awesome LB at Bullets and Biscuits. She is a rock star! She...

I got my Dad a trail camera maybe three years ago for Father's Day. This year, the hubby and I bought a camera for my father-in-law. We surveyed the spot where he usually is sits and looked for a good spot. In the over all scheme of things, I am a newbie hunter (9 years) but I like to think I know where to stick a camera and find some good photos. But I am at a loss. He has said that he has seen deer in the area but I did not see any sign. The land is a piece that looks like it has not been cut in 30 years or more. A small stream and some blow downs. Would you guys put it up near the stream? I would love for him to get some photos because...

The Maine Outdoorsman: Women Gone Wild - Links and Resources: Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW)  - non-profit, educational program offering hands-on workshops to adult women.  http://www.uwsp.edu/cnr... Link's from Steve's blog with some of his fav women gone wild.

The Maine Outdoorsman: Women Gone Wild: Women Gone Wild

Last week Roxanne Quimby bought even more land in the maine woods. In doing so, her acreage is now upwards of 100,000 and she wants to make a chunk of it into a National Park. This whole thing is so controversial that she has started bribing groups to support her cause. Snowmobile trails run all through the land and Quimby has offered to let those trails stay there for up to 5 years if the snowmobile groups support her in moving ahead with a feasibility plan that if the first step in creating the park. The Maine Snowmobile Association opposes her plan Its as thought she is a 5 year old and doesnt want anyone playing in her sand box; but you...

Dear 10 Point buck on my trail camera, Today is September 22. In 1 month and 1 day, Dad and I will be dragging you out of the woods. So, please enjoy the last few weeks - frolic in the woods, munch the apples under those 5 apple trees, knock up a few hoes does and enjoy the Maine weather. I have plans for you beginning Oct 30 that involve a crock pot, football and a bunch of guys (and me) yelling at the TV during a game. So until then... See you in 37 days ~E

Dad and I were putting the trail camera back out, checking the amount of apples on the trees and looking for signs of deer around the sky condo. Dad had cleared away some brush and random limbs and he cut down the tree that prevented me from shooting the deer that he shot last October. We were checking out the area and decided to get a better view - from our sky condo. There are 12 steps from the ground to the floor of the condo. I was 3 from the top when I saw what looked like poop next to me seat. Then there was another pile and another in the corner! Dad climbed up to get a look at the shooting lanes and the reminisce of our squatter....

For father's day a couple years ago, my mom and I bought Dad a trail camera. Over the past few years we have seen a set of triplets (one is super ugly/cute with a white mask around his eyes), we have seen many doe and some spike horns and a good looking 4-pointer. It is always exciting to see what is roaming around our 'spot'. This year, we have seen flocks of turkeys and a small 4 pointer with velvet still on his antlers. But over the past couple of weeks, something amazing showed up... there were 5 pictures that seemed like he was posing for the camera. 10 points, good and healthy. Dad and I are a little too excited because this buck has...