Maine Hunting Articles and Blog • Page 8 of 48 • And A Strong Cup of Coffee

Hunting in Maine Maine Deer Sheds Whitetail Deer

Shed hunting in Maine

By Erin M | Mar 7, 2016 | 0 Comments | 2 min read

Staci and I found a great place to shed hunt. We knew that there were deer all around and that we would be in the right spot to find something. It had started to snow when we got there but the forecast called for heavier snow in the late afternoon. As outdoors women, we figured that we would be fine. We just started following tracks to figure out where the deer were traveling from. We headed through a field and towards the woods, looking for beds, feeding areas or yards where the antlers may have fallen off. Our plan was to walk the perimeter of the property to see what we could find. It is always a good...

Maine Black Bear

One year later: what happened to the cubs?

By Erin M | Mar 3, 2016 | 5 Comments | 2 min read

Remember this guy? I was fortunate enough to meet him last March when he was a brand new black bear. I knew that our awesome bear biologist were out checking dens and sent a message to one of them asking if they had gone to King's den yet and if the cubs were there with her. My timing could not have been more perfect; they were heading to her den the next day! Using the same technology as they did the year before, they found King under a network of cedar blowdowns. She weighed in at 156lbs - four pounds heavier than she was the year before, and looked totally healthy. Last year, King had given birth to a male and female...

The Nine Finger Chronicles

By Erin M | Feb 29, 2016 | 0 Comments | 1 min read

Dan Johnson from The Nine Finger Chronicles started doing listener reviews of bows. It was an unbiased way to hear from everyday people about what was working for them and what bows they liked or didnt like and why. As a beginner and newbie to the world of archery, I offered to review a couple of bows. It also helped that I was in the market to buy one. Dan posted what he was hoping to get for information on each bow and left it up to us. I was the first woman on the podcast and the first woman to review bows. You can listen to the podcast of Dan and me talking about the PSE Stringer and the Mission: Craze...

Hunting in Maine Whitetail Deer

Determined to take one last draw

By Erin M | Feb 24, 2016 | 1 Comment | 2 min read

I was going to get the first shot in. I put the pin on the target and released. Hubby spun around, "where did it go?" I shook my head, "I have no idea" And just like that, I was down to five arrows. We put the kiddo down for his nap and lugged our gear outside. This was the first time that we were shooting at our house and not in the archery shop. I lined up again to shoot and realized that I hadn't lined up my peep with my sight for that first shot. I tried to determine how far off my first shot had been but it was pointless. I still haven't found that arrow. I had Hubby take photos and video so that I...

Skye Goode: crazy about canines

By Erin M | Feb 18, 2016 | 2 Comments | 6 min read

One of the few good things about social media is connecting with folks who are like you in order to compare notes, get tips and tricks and share in successes. One of the coolest women that I have met is Skye Goode who is a rock-star trapper. Learning from the book "Hoofbeats of a Wolfer" by O'Gorman, Skye watched her family members as they trapped mink, raccoons and muskrats. Her uncles got into beaver and fox trapping which helped to give Skye a more complete picture of how to learn each animal’s behavior and habitat and the types of traps, lures and set ups that worked best for each. The tipping point for...

Turkey Hunting Winters in Maine

Turkeys in winter

By Erin M | Feb 15, 2016 | 2 Comments | 1 min read

These birds were making their way to the little water hole as we pulled into the driveway. There were six total that walked through, each stopping to get some water before continuing on. Just a few more months until the spring season starts!

Growing and gaining for outdoor women

By Erin M | Feb 12, 2016 | 0 Comments | 4 min read

** The following article was written for The Liberty Project and posted on their website on October 30, 2015. You can see it here. I was never paid for this article so The Liberty Project never bought the copyright. Women’s interest in hunting is growing fast, despite online harassment I never questioned the size of my gun. If Dad could shoot it, why couldn’t I? My mom said that the kick alone would send me backwards out of the treestand. I shot the 30-06 twice to get comfortable and on the third shot three weeks later, I killed a small buck that filled the freezer. I never questioned my abilities again until I...

If you love deer, you need to hunt coyotes

By Erin M | Feb 10, 2016 | 5 Comments | 2 min read

On January 22nd of 2015, I semi-conquered my fear of coyotes. I went with Steve to his bait pile and we called in my beautiful 37lb male coyote. My coyote from 2015 A few weeks ago, we went back to the same spot. The coyotes had been staying close to the bait pile and their well worn trail ran just behind the shack. When we got there, the wind was blowing and the temperatures were dropping. It was a lot colder than it had been last year and for some reason, I had forgotten by good hunting boots and had to wear my 'normal' winter boots which were not big enough to get two layers of socks in. Getting ready to head to the...

Hunting in Maine Whitetail Deer

2016: we become bow hunters

By Erin M | Feb 1, 2016 | 7 Comments | 3 min read

When I said that I was interested in trying out some bows, the first thing out of the guy's mouth was, "these are the only ones we have in pink or purple." He hadn't even finish the sentence when I noticed Hubby take a step back. "Good, then those are the only ones I don't want to shoot." I replied. The guy had no idea what to do or how to respond but after an awkward pause, he said that he should measure is to see what our drawn length will be. As he fumbled with the measuring tape, I wondered if it was even worth staying there. I did not feel like I was being taken seriously and it was clear that the employee was hoping he would...

Wildlife Conservation

If you want me to write for you

By Erin M | Jan 29, 2016 | 2 Comments | 3 min read

I started writing here in 2009 and have steadily watched the number of folks, like yourself, who read my blog, grow. It has been fantastic to hear from you in emails, read your comments and see you liking the Facebook page. It is my responsibility to you that I have a blog that you want to come and read. Writing is based on relationships and shared experiences and connecting with one another and I take that seriously when I post. Writing is not my full-time job. It's not even my second full-time job (mom) or third on my list of priorities (I sit on a few boards and committees) but I love it and that is why I do it. I have had...

Trusting yourself as an outdoors woman

By Erin M | Jan 28, 2016 | 0 Comments | 4 min read

** The following is an article that I wrote for The Liberty Project. It was originally published on November 16, 2015 here. I was never paid by The Liberty Project so they don't own the copyright. Why trusting yourself is key for success in the outdoors It is critical to know and feel comfortable with any situation you put yourself in. This is especially true if your goal is to bring home meat for the freezer. You need to have a level of knowledge and understanding about why you are there and what you want to accomplish. Everything about being successful in the outdoors comes from a sense of...

Hunting in Maine Whitetail Deer

The kind of deer you wish you could see

By Erin M | Jan 21, 2016 | 2 Comments | 2 min read

There was running water on almost every trail but sometimes, you just have to get on the snowmobile and ride. Last weekend Dad, Hubby and I decided to ride around and see if we could find our deer. I secretly wished to find a shed but that didn't happen. An eagle flew from a tall spruce tree as we crossed a field and headed into the woods. There were wet spots, muddy spots and running streams but we pushed on. The amount of deer tracks were incredible. Crossing the snowmobile trails, gathered around ground hemlock... our herd was having an easy winter with lots of food available with no real effort needed to find...

Adventures in the Woods Women Who Hunt

The right to hunt and be safe

By Erin M | Jan 18, 2016 | 1 Comment | 4 min read

With the Maine legislature beginning and as always there will be hunting and fishing issues that come up, I wrote this article for The Liberty Project about a bill in Wisconsin that would prevent anti-hunters from documenting hunters when they are in the woods. The article was originally posted on October 28, 2015 here. Why Wisconsin's right to hunt bill is necessary I can count on one hand the number of photos of my son on social media. You will never read the full name of the friends that I hunt with and I am more likely to take a photo of the trees than photos of an outing with my Dad. I am overly cautious for my safety and...

Adventures in the Woods Scat and Tracks Winters in Maine

Snowy animal tracks

By Erin M | Jan 14, 2016 | 9 Comments | 1 min read

Dad, Hubby and I headed into the woods to see where all of our deer are. We found them but we also found some cool tracks in the snow. Can you tell what they are? Look at all of those drag marks! Straight line of tracks Two by two tracks Can you see those nail...

Neighborhood deer

By Erin M | Jan 11, 2016 | 1 Comment | 1 min read

My neighbor feeds the deer in the winter so when I was cleaning out my fridge and found that I had a dozen apples that needed to get tossed, I decided to throw them on the back lawn to see if the deer would find them. Within a few hours, I noticed these two munching happily. The third doe that appeared was not nearly as oblivious to me standing in the kitchen watching them. She stomped her foot a few times and kept watch while they all ate. I watched them and took pictures until they walked into the softwoods and it was too dark to see them. I had turned off the kitchen light and taken off my white sweater so that I could...

Hunting in Maine Whitetail Deer

The 2016 deer season starts now

By Erin M | Jan 7, 2016 | 1 Comment | 2 min read

When it is sunny out and there is snow on the ground, it is hard not to want to be outside. Last weekend, we brought in the trail cameras and tried to figure out where we should be hunting for the 2016 season. It is never too early to start prepping for the next season! I pulled up to where we normally park and as we got out of the car, there was nothing but deer tracks all around us. Big, little, going in both directions... all kinds of tracks. Only a couple of feet from the roadway with this bed. I stood in the bed and snapped another photo of the beds around it. I posted that picture on our FB page and asked...

Hunting in Maine Whitetail Deer Women Who Hunt

New year, new plan: Mission big buck

By Erin M | Dec 22, 2015 | 0 Comments | 1 min read

There is no snow on the ground and the temperatures have been in the 50s instead of the teens or 20s. As a result, our deer herd is having a great time getting lots of food without the worry of snow, freezing temps or that coyote that is (still) around. Dad still has the trail cameras out and we are getting some encouraging pictures. I didn't bother copying the ones of the coyote, but he is still around and solo. But these are always good to see and it means that we will need to change things up for next season if we are going to outwit this deer. I believe he is about 3.5 or 4.5 years old and knows how to avoid...

Hunting in Maine Whitetail Deer

To bow or not to bow

By Erin M | Dec 16, 2015 | 5 Comments | 2 min read

Mentally, I am not ready to hunt with a bow. I am confident in my rifle to know that I can drop a deer dead in its tracks. I have seen the damage that my 150 (or 180) grain bullet can do to the inside of a deer and I am comfortable with that because I know that the deer did not know what hit it when I squeeze the trigger. Maybe that sort of shot is possible with a bow but from what I have seen on tv and with other hunters posting on social media, it is more likely that the deer will run off and die, assuming that it is a good shot. I have also seen far more bow hunters talk and post about how they have lost a deer than my...

The end of deer season is for the birds

By Erin M | Dec 12, 2015 | 1 Comment | 4 min read

The last few days of hunting season were eventful in the wrong ways. Just to the right of the stick is a deer track in the leaves. In order for my mom to prepare and cook what she needed to for Thanksgiving dinner, I stayed home to watch O while Dad and Hubby went out for a few hours. In the afternoon, Hubby stayed home while O took a nap and Dad and I went out. The woods were quiet and calm. We didn't even see a squirrel. Thanksgiving night, O got sick; throwing up sick, which for a two year old is a scary thing. We made the decision to not hunt on Friday morning in case he still didnt feel good. I have...

Hunting in Maine Whitetail Deer

The Orange Army

By Erin M | Nov 30, 2015 | 2 Comments | 1 min read

I am a proud member of the Orange army. I never really thought about it until I became more involved with the online hunting groups. So many of my buddies on social media have posted over the past couple of weeks about trying to get a deer and getting out of the woods before the orange army comes in. There are trail cam pics being posted with spike horns or crotch horns with a note about the likelihood of the deer being shot by the orange army. Allow me to tell you what this proud member does when she puts on her orange. She is looking for food to feed her family. She proudly carries her rifle into the...

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