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Adventures in the Woods

Adventures in the Woods

Jan 2022 24

Reflecting on my 2021 grand slam

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Hunting in Maine, Maine Black Bear, Maine Hunters, Maine Moose, Whitetail Deer, Women Who Hunt | 1 Comment | 3 min read

When I was drawn for my moose tag, I set the goal of going for my grand slam. I needed a bear, moose, turkey and deer between September and November. Now, the hunting season is over and I find myself reflecting on my 2021 grand slam and the people who helped to make it happen. Mom and Hubs managed childcare/school pick ups and drop offs and sometimes full days of babysitting so that I could be in the woods. Jeremy at Fit To Hunt went to work and helped me customize a training program that would get me into shape for walking through the Maine woods to get my moose. I would load weights into my backpack and walk for miles. Sometimes with the kids and sometimes alone. When it came time to hike those choppin's looking for a moose, I was...

Nov 2021 18

Redemption during our 2021 Moose Hunt

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Hunting in Maine, Maine Hunters, Maine Moose, Women Who Hunt | 7 Comments | 6 min read

It had been an emotional start for our 2021 Maine moose hunt. But we pushed on and had three more days before the season ended. Wayne was determined to find us a moose somewhere in Zone 2. Thursday It was rainy and cold when we headed out. The two bulls from the day before had not been shot so we planned to head back to that area. We met a red truck parked where we had seen the small spike bull. We drove on to where we had seen the bigger bull. There was a cow in the clear-cut to our right. We parked the truck and Pat and I started walking into the woods. Dad and Wayne walked parallel to us in the road. Moose sign was everywhere. But the moose were not. We left and checked multiple roads where we had previously called...

Sep 2021 22

Bear hunting can be exhausting

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Maine Black Bear, Maine Outdoors, Maine Trapping, Winters in Maine, Women Who Hunt | 2 Comments | 5 min read

I need to start by thanking my friend Staci and her husband for making this happen. They helped to get the bait site up and running. Staci was as determined as I was to get me a bear. Everyone should be so lucky as to have a hunting partner like her! The 2021 Bear Hunting Season kicks off! My limited view of the bait site Bear hunting season opened on Monday, August 30th, and trapping season opening on Wednesday, September 1st. With my trapping license and Staci and John’s help, I planned to initially hunt over bait and try trapping. The first night with the traps out, we watched as a bear tripped my trap, looked at the cable and walked away. The next afternoon, Staci and I headed out to reset the trap and sit. We adjusted...

Jun 2021 27

Going for my grand slam

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Hunting in Maine, Maine Moose, Women Who Hunt | 2 Comments | 3 min read

My son’s baseball game ended at 1:30pm. As soon as we got into the car, I clicked the link to watch names being read for the 2021 Maine moose lottery. I had 21 points going into the lottery. I watched Nate Webb, Director of Wildlife, read my brother in laws’s name. I recognized more names of people that I knew. Then, just a few pages into Deputy Commissioner Tim Peabody’s list of names, I saw mine. At the bottom of the page and before he read it, I saw my name. I was headed to Zone 2 in September to find a bull moose! It's not time to celebrate Celebratory text messages and social media messages started flooding in. I wasn’t celebrating though, I went into planning mode. We needed an outfitter. The last time that...

Jun 2021 1

Spring Turkey Hunting in Maine

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Hunting in Maine, Maine Hunters, Maine Outdoors, Turkey Hunting, Women Who Hunt | 1 Comment | 3 min read

I sprayed my clothes with permethrin and packed my bag. Staci and I planned a day in the fields hoping to get a shot at a tom or two. We hadn't been out on an adventures in a while and we needed it. I had turkeys on my trail cameras coming through a certain trail every morning. Staci's husband had seen a flock of them in a field near her home. We made a plan to start there and then head over to the Sky Condo. For May, it was hot and buggy. Temps were going to be in the upper 70s. I had to think about what was worst; sweating while walking, scouting and wearing all of my hunting clothes or black fly bites, ticks and any other crawly critter. I drank a lot of water and looked like a camo-clad Marshmallow Man. In the woods...

Mar 2020 5

Eagles on the trail

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods | 0 Comments | 1 min read

Reason number 3,657,935 why my Dad is the best: As we were snowmobiling, we approached a bog and three eagles with about 20 crows took off. It could only mean one thing in my book - something was dead. We circled back and walked around in the snow but the birds had left and we couldnt find anything that would resemble a meal. A part of me thinks that we were in the wrong piece of land and should have been on the other side of the bog but in our snowmobile gear, we were not going to cover a lot of ground. I was disappointed that we couldn't find what the birds were eating but I was able to get some good pictures of one of the mature eagles and the immature eagle that were flying...

Jan 2019 29

Snowshowing in the sun

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Winters in Maine | 0 Comments | 2 min read

Have you ever looked up at the sky and marveled at how blue it was? There was not a cloud up there when Staci and I packed up our snowshoes and headed into the woods to look for sheds. The recent rain had made the snow unstable and we would break through the crust and sink with every step. It wasn't the best option, but we ended up on the snowmobile trail looking for active deer crossings. Wet holes had opened up and streams were roaring. It was a perfect day to be out in the woods. The rain had made some spots icy and some soft and water logged. We had to pick and chose where we walked and how fast we could go. I was surprised when we met three snowmobilers on the trail. They were...

Jun 2018 29

New house, new wildlife part 2

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods | 0 Comments | 1 min read

I had just called in for a radio interview when I saw something land in a tree across the yard. I could tell that it was larger and lighter than the birds that are usually around. I held the phone to my ear and answered a few questions while getting my camera out, sliding the screen door open and frantically trying to snap a photo and then show it Hubs so that he could take more photos while I went back to my interview. It was a beautiful Barred owl. It flew away after sitting there for more than 30 minutes and I didn't get a chance to see where it went. A few hours later as we were getting ready for bed, we heard two Barred owls calling back and forth, one was close to the house and the other was further...

Jun 2018 22

New house, new wildlife part 1

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods | 0 Comments | 1 min read

We moved to a new house about a month ago. The second night that we were there, a doe came out from the woods. Since then, we have had three does hanging around, one of which was VERY pregnant the last time we saw her (I am hoping for twins!) They are out on the back lawn at least twice a week and one morning, I had a doe only a few yards from the house. When I threw open the curtains, she just looked at me and kept eating. If I draw a doe tag this fall, they are not necessarily safe but until hunting season arrives,, we will keep watching...

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Jan 2022 24

Reflecting on my 2021 grand slam

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Hunting in Maine, Maine Black Bear, Maine Hunters, Maine Moose, Whitetail Deer, Women Who Hunt | 1 Comment | 3 min read

When I was drawn for my moose tag, I set the goal of going for my grand slam. I needed a bear, moose, turkey and deer between September and November. Now, the hunting season is over and I find myself reflecting on my 2021 grand slam and the people who helped to make it happen. Mom and Hubs managed childcare/school pick ups and drop offs and sometimes full days of babysitting so that I could be in the woods. Jeremy at Fit To Hunt went to work and helped me customize a training program that would get me into shape for walking through the Maine woods to get my moose. I would load weights into my backpack and walk for miles. Sometimes with the kids and sometimes alone. When it came time to hike those choppin's looking for a moose, I was...

Nov 2021 18

Redemption during our 2021 Moose Hunt

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Hunting in Maine, Maine Hunters, Maine Moose, Women Who Hunt | 7 Comments | 6 min read

It had been an emotional start for our 2021 Maine moose hunt. But we pushed on and had three more days before the season ended. Wayne was determined to find us a moose somewhere in Zone 2. Thursday It was rainy and cold when we headed out. The two bulls from the day before had not been shot so we planned to head back to that area. We met a red truck parked where we had seen the small spike bull. We drove on to where we had seen the bigger bull. There was a cow in the clear-cut to our right. We parked the truck and Pat and I started walking into the woods. Dad and Wayne walked parallel to us in the road. Moose sign was everywhere. But the moose were not. We left and checked multiple roads where we had previously called...

Sep 2021 22

Bear hunting can be exhausting

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Maine Black Bear, Maine Outdoors, Maine Trapping, Winters in Maine, Women Who Hunt | 2 Comments | 5 min read

I need to start by thanking my friend Staci and her husband for making this happen. They helped to get the bait site up and running. Staci was as determined as I was to get me a bear. Everyone should be so lucky as to have a hunting partner like her! The 2021 Bear Hunting Season kicks off! My limited view of the bait site Bear hunting season opened on Monday, August 30th, and trapping season opening on Wednesday, September 1st. With my trapping license and Staci and John’s help, I planned to initially hunt over bait and try trapping. The first night with the traps out, we watched as a bear tripped my trap, looked at the cable and walked away. The next afternoon, Staci and I headed out to reset the trap and sit. We adjusted...

Jun 2021 27

Going for my grand slam

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Hunting in Maine, Maine Moose, Women Who Hunt | 2 Comments | 3 min read

My son’s baseball game ended at 1:30pm. As soon as we got into the car, I clicked the link to watch names being read for the 2021 Maine moose lottery. I had 21 points going into the lottery. I watched Nate Webb, Director of Wildlife, read my brother in laws’s name. I recognized more names of people that I knew. Then, just a few pages into Deputy Commissioner Tim Peabody’s list of names, I saw mine. At the bottom of the page and before he read it, I saw my name. I was headed to Zone 2 in September to find a bull moose! It's not time to celebrate Celebratory text messages and social media messages started flooding in. I wasn’t celebrating though, I went into planning mode. We needed an outfitter. The last time that...

Jun 2021 1

Spring Turkey Hunting in Maine

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Hunting in Maine, Maine Hunters, Maine Outdoors, Turkey Hunting, Women Who Hunt | 1 Comment | 3 min read

I sprayed my clothes with permethrin and packed my bag. Staci and I planned a day in the fields hoping to get a shot at a tom or two. We hadn't been out on an adventures in a while and we needed it. I had turkeys on my trail cameras coming through a certain trail every morning. Staci's husband had seen a flock of them in a field near her home. We made a plan to start there and then head over to the Sky Condo. For May, it was hot and buggy. Temps were going to be in the upper 70s. I had to think about what was worst; sweating while walking, scouting and wearing all of my hunting clothes or black fly bites, ticks and any other crawly critter. I drank a lot of water and looked like a camo-clad Marshmallow Man. In the woods...

Mar 2020 5

Eagles on the trail

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods | 0 Comments | 1 min read

Reason number 3,657,935 why my Dad is the best: As we were snowmobiling, we approached a bog and three eagles with about 20 crows took off. It could only mean one thing in my book - something was dead. We circled back and walked around in the snow but the birds had left and we couldnt find anything that would resemble a meal. A part of me thinks that we were in the wrong piece of land and should have been on the other side of the bog but in our snowmobile gear, we were not going to cover a lot of ground. I was disappointed that we couldn't find what the birds were eating but I was able to get some good pictures of one of the mature eagles and the immature eagle that were flying...

Jan 2019 29

Snowshowing in the sun

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Winters in Maine | 0 Comments | 2 min read

Have you ever looked up at the sky and marveled at how blue it was? There was not a cloud up there when Staci and I packed up our snowshoes and headed into the woods to look for sheds. The recent rain had made the snow unstable and we would break through the crust and sink with every step. It wasn't the best option, but we ended up on the snowmobile trail looking for active deer crossings. Wet holes had opened up and streams were roaring. It was a perfect day to be out in the woods. The rain had made some spots icy and some soft and water logged. We had to pick and chose where we walked and how fast we could go. I was surprised when we met three snowmobilers on the trail. They were...

Jun 2018 29

New house, new wildlife part 2

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods | 0 Comments | 1 min read

I had just called in for a radio interview when I saw something land in a tree across the yard. I could tell that it was larger and lighter than the birds that are usually around. I held the phone to my ear and answered a few questions while getting my camera out, sliding the screen door open and frantically trying to snap a photo and then show it Hubs so that he could take more photos while I went back to my interview. It was a beautiful Barred owl. It flew away after sitting there for more than 30 minutes and I didn't get a chance to see where it went. A few hours later as we were getting ready for bed, we heard two Barred owls calling back and forth, one was close to the house and the other was further...

Jun 2018 22

New house, new wildlife part 1

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods | 0 Comments | 1 min read

We moved to a new house about a month ago. The second night that we were there, a doe came out from the woods. Since then, we have had three does hanging around, one of which was VERY pregnant the last time we saw her (I am hoping for twins!) They are out on the back lawn at least twice a week and one morning, I had a doe only a few yards from the house. When I threw open the curtains, she just looked at me and kept eating. If I draw a doe tag this fall, they are not necessarily safe but until hunting season arrives,, we will keep watching...

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Enjoy these Adventures in the Woods articles

Jan 2022 24

Reflecting on my 2021 grand slam

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Hunting in Maine, Maine Black Bear, Maine Hunters, Maine Moose, Whitetail Deer, Women Who Hunt | 1 Comment | 3 min read

When I was drawn for my moose tag, I set the goal of going for my grand slam. I needed a bear, moose, turkey and deer between September and November. Now, the hunting season is over and I find myself reflecting on my 2021 grand slam and the people who helped to make it happen. Mom and Hubs managed childcare/school pick ups and drop offs and sometimes full days of babysitting so that I could be in the woods. Jeremy at Fit To Hunt went to work and helped me customize a training program that would get me into shape for walking through the Maine woods to get my moose. I would load weights into my backpack and walk for miles. Sometimes with the kids and sometimes alone. When it came time to hike those choppin's looking for a moose, I was...

Nov 2021 18

Redemption during our 2021 Moose Hunt

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Hunting in Maine, Maine Hunters, Maine Moose, Women Who Hunt | 7 Comments | 6 min read

It had been an emotional start for our 2021 Maine moose hunt. But we pushed on and had three more days before the season ended. Wayne was determined to find us a moose somewhere in Zone 2. Thursday It was rainy and cold when we headed out. The two bulls from the day before had not been shot so we planned to head back to that area. We met a red truck parked where we had seen the small spike bull. We drove on to where we had seen the bigger bull. There was a cow in the clear-cut to our right. We parked the truck and Pat and I started walking into the woods. Dad and Wayne walked parallel to us in the road. Moose sign was everywhere. But the moose were not. We left and checked multiple roads where we had previously called...

Sep 2021 22

Bear hunting can be exhausting

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Maine Black Bear, Maine Outdoors, Maine Trapping, Winters in Maine, Women Who Hunt | 2 Comments | 5 min read

I need to start by thanking my friend Staci and her husband for making this happen. They helped to get the bait site up and running. Staci was as determined as I was to get me a bear. Everyone should be so lucky as to have a hunting partner like her! The 2021 Bear Hunting Season kicks off! My limited view of the bait site Bear hunting season opened on Monday, August 30th, and trapping season opening on Wednesday, September 1st. With my trapping license and Staci and John’s help, I planned to initially hunt over bait and try trapping. The first night with the traps out, we watched as a bear tripped my trap, looked at the cable and walked away. The next afternoon, Staci and I headed out to reset the trap and sit. We adjusted...

Jun 2021 27

Going for my grand slam

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Hunting in Maine, Maine Moose, Women Who Hunt | 2 Comments | 3 min read

My son’s baseball game ended at 1:30pm. As soon as we got into the car, I clicked the link to watch names being read for the 2021 Maine moose lottery. I had 21 points going into the lottery. I watched Nate Webb, Director of Wildlife, read my brother in laws’s name. I recognized more names of people that I knew. Then, just a few pages into Deputy Commissioner Tim Peabody’s list of names, I saw mine. At the bottom of the page and before he read it, I saw my name. I was headed to Zone 2 in September to find a bull moose! It's not time to celebrate Celebratory text messages and social media messages started flooding in. I wasn’t celebrating though, I went into planning mode. We needed an outfitter. The last time that...

Jun 2021 1

Spring Turkey Hunting in Maine

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Hunting in Maine, Maine Hunters, Maine Outdoors, Turkey Hunting, Women Who Hunt | 1 Comment | 3 min read

I sprayed my clothes with permethrin and packed my bag. Staci and I planned a day in the fields hoping to get a shot at a tom or two. We hadn't been out on an adventures in a while and we needed it. I had turkeys on my trail cameras coming through a certain trail every morning. Staci's husband had seen a flock of them in a field near her home. We made a plan to start there and then head over to the Sky Condo. For May, it was hot and buggy. Temps were going to be in the upper 70s. I had to think about what was worst; sweating while walking, scouting and wearing all of my hunting clothes or black fly bites, ticks and any other crawly critter. I drank a lot of water and looked like a camo-clad Marshmallow Man. In the woods...

Mar 2020 5

Eagles on the trail

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods | 0 Comments | 1 min read

Reason number 3,657,935 why my Dad is the best: As we were snowmobiling, we approached a bog and three eagles with about 20 crows took off. It could only mean one thing in my book - something was dead. We circled back and walked around in the snow but the birds had left and we couldnt find anything that would resemble a meal. A part of me thinks that we were in the wrong piece of land and should have been on the other side of the bog but in our snowmobile gear, we were not going to cover a lot of ground. I was disappointed that we couldn't find what the birds were eating but I was able to get some good pictures of one of the mature eagles and the immature eagle that were flying...

Jan 2019 29

Snowshowing in the sun

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Winters in Maine | 0 Comments | 2 min read

Have you ever looked up at the sky and marveled at how blue it was? There was not a cloud up there when Staci and I packed up our snowshoes and headed into the woods to look for sheds. The recent rain had made the snow unstable and we would break through the crust and sink with every step. It wasn't the best option, but we ended up on the snowmobile trail looking for active deer crossings. Wet holes had opened up and streams were roaring. It was a perfect day to be out in the woods. The rain had made some spots icy and some soft and water logged. We had to pick and chose where we walked and how fast we could go. I was surprised when we met three snowmobilers on the trail. They were...

Jun 2018 29

New house, new wildlife part 2

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods | 0 Comments | 1 min read

I had just called in for a radio interview when I saw something land in a tree across the yard. I could tell that it was larger and lighter than the birds that are usually around. I held the phone to my ear and answered a few questions while getting my camera out, sliding the screen door open and frantically trying to snap a photo and then show it Hubs so that he could take more photos while I went back to my interview. It was a beautiful Barred owl. It flew away after sitting there for more than 30 minutes and I didn't get a chance to see where it went. A few hours later as we were getting ready for bed, we heard two Barred owls calling back and forth, one was close to the house and the other was further...

Jun 2018 22

New house, new wildlife part 1

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods | 0 Comments | 1 min read

We moved to a new house about a month ago. The second night that we were there, a doe came out from the woods. Since then, we have had three does hanging around, one of which was VERY pregnant the last time we saw her (I am hoping for twins!) They are out on the back lawn at least twice a week and one morning, I had a doe only a few yards from the house. When I threw open the curtains, she just looked at me and kept eating. If I draw a doe tag this fall, they are not necessarily safe but until hunting season arrives,, we will keep watching...

Show Me More Articles