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Maine Outdoors

Maine Outdoors

Dec 2022 22

This is why my land is posted

By Erin M | Hunting in Maine, Maine Deer hunting, Maine Outdoors, Trail Camera Views, Whitetail Deer | 0 Comments | 3 min read

And will stay that way. Years ago, I had my first negative run in with another hunter. Since then, we have posted all of our land and we have added to the number of trail cameras that we have out in the woods. Sometimes we see vehicles driving into our food plot. In that case, I send the photos to a local police officer who finds out who the license plates are registered to. We have seen random people show up on the trail cameras almost every year. This year, we had them again and it’s getting a little old. Trespasser 2022 I sat in my stand at the end of deer season this year with my phone vibrating constantly in my pocket. When I looked, I saw a number of photos of a random person on our property. This was the second time...

Feb 2022 25

PFAS vs CWD: which will be more devastating?

By Erin M | Hunting in Maine, Maine Outdoors, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | 3 min read

Social media erupted and my inbox was suddenly flooded with emails about PFAS (Poly-fluoroalkyl substances). On Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at 5:22 PM, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife issued a “DO NOT eat advisory” for deer shot in my wildlife management zone. It was 2.5 weeks after I had shot my deer and about two weeks after I had gotten it back from the butcher and started eating it. PFAS My actual hunting property was outside of the advisory area. However, as more fields are tested, there is an impending doom that I will be in a PFAS zone. And other hunters will be in the same situation. When and if I am told that we are in a high PFAS zone, what should we do? Stop hunting all together? Eat the...

Jan 2022 16

The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund board

By Erin M | Maine Outdoors, Wildlife Conservation, Women Who Hunt | 5 Comments | 3 min read

Last week, I went in front of the joint committee of the Environment and Natural Resources to provide testimony for my nomination to the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund board. The only other time I had done this was when I testified in favor of Judy becoming Commissioner. This time, the Governor was nominating me. One of her representatives introduced me and then I had the opportunity to say a little about me. You can watch the hearing by clicking here. Joe's introduction of me begins around the 7 minute marker. My testimony is below. My Testimony Senator Brenner, Representative Tucker and members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. My name is Erin Merrill and I am here to say a few words about my nomination to the Maine...

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 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...

May 2014 21

Birds swimming in junk

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Maine Outdoors, Uncategorized | 1 Comment | 1 min read

There are few places were I live that are open and green. There are pockets of city forests or walking trails but there are no real places to get out and explore the woods and ponds. I forget that until I happen to see ducks or geese swimming in these ponds along side fast-food containers, rusty, broken hockey goals, empty plastic water bottles and plastic bags from department stores. For a city full of people who claim to be passionate about wildlife, this speaks...

Mar 2014 16

A must read!

By Erin M | Maine Outdoors, Wildlife Conservation | 0 Comments | 1 min read

If you have ever wondered what life in the Maine outdoors is like, you need to read my friend George Smith's book "A Life Lived Outdoors". It is a compilation of stories and articles that he has written over the years, so you don't need to rush through the book to get to the end of the story. This a wonderful book that allows you to read a story and set the book down and think about what you have read. I am currently dreaming about what my future camp should be like and what it will smell and feel like to step outside early on a summer morning with a cup of coffee. I am only a few stories in, but I have found myself smiling and laughing and yearning to get outside. I am keeping this book close so that I can sneak in a...

Oct 2011 6

Where are the women?

By Erin M | Maine Outdoors, Women Who Hunt | 15 Comments | 2 min read

This week, my interview with Steve at The Maine Outdoorsman went live. Steve said yesterday 200 people hit his site viewing over 500 pages. That is a lot of people reading about little ole me and hunting. Why? When I think of women who are in the general public's eye and hunt, I can think of 2 - Country singer Miranda Lambert and Sarah Palin. Why only two? Why is the female hunter such a fascinating thing? (I should probably note that I do not have cable so any and all female hunters on the hunting stations are lost to me. I'll keep it to the general public because that's what I am familiar with.) People/media were fascinated by the fact that they could get footage of Palin and her gun, shooting (and gutting) animals but I feel like...

Dec 2022 22

This is why my land is posted

By Erin M | Hunting in Maine, Maine Deer hunting, Maine Outdoors, Trail Camera Views, Whitetail Deer | 0 Comments | 3 min read

And will stay that way. Years ago, I had my first negative run in with another hunter. Since then, we have posted all of our land and we have added to the number of trail cameras that we have out in the woods. Sometimes we see vehicles driving into our food plot. In that case, I send the photos to a local police officer who finds out who the license plates are registered to. We have seen random people show up on the trail cameras almost every year. This year, we had them again and it’s getting a little old. Trespasser 2022 I sat in my stand at the end of deer season this year with my phone vibrating constantly in my pocket. When I looked, I saw a number of photos of a random person on our property. This was the second time...

Feb 2022 25

PFAS vs CWD: which will be more devastating?

By Erin M | Hunting in Maine, Maine Outdoors, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | 3 min read

Social media erupted and my inbox was suddenly flooded with emails about PFAS (Poly-fluoroalkyl substances). On Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at 5:22 PM, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife issued a “DO NOT eat advisory” for deer shot in my wildlife management zone. It was 2.5 weeks after I had shot my deer and about two weeks after I had gotten it back from the butcher and started eating it. PFAS My actual hunting property was outside of the advisory area. However, as more fields are tested, there is an impending doom that I will be in a PFAS zone. And other hunters will be in the same situation. When and if I am told that we are in a high PFAS zone, what should we do? Stop hunting all together? Eat the...

Jan 2022 16

The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund board

By Erin M | Maine Outdoors, Wildlife Conservation, Women Who Hunt | 5 Comments | 3 min read

Last week, I went in front of the joint committee of the Environment and Natural Resources to provide testimony for my nomination to the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund board. The only other time I had done this was when I testified in favor of Judy becoming Commissioner. This time, the Governor was nominating me. One of her representatives introduced me and then I had the opportunity to say a little about me. You can watch the hearing by clicking here. Joe's introduction of me begins around the 7 minute marker. My testimony is below. My Testimony Senator Brenner, Representative Tucker and members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. My name is Erin Merrill and I am here to say a few words about my nomination to the Maine...

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 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...

May 2014 21

Birds swimming in junk

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Maine Outdoors, Uncategorized | 1 Comment | 1 min read

There are few places were I live that are open and green. There are pockets of city forests or walking trails but there are no real places to get out and explore the woods and ponds. I forget that until I happen to see ducks or geese swimming in these ponds along side fast-food containers, rusty, broken hockey goals, empty plastic water bottles and plastic bags from department stores. For a city full of people who claim to be passionate about wildlife, this speaks...

Mar 2014 16

A must read!

By Erin M | Maine Outdoors, Wildlife Conservation | 0 Comments | 1 min read

If you have ever wondered what life in the Maine outdoors is like, you need to read my friend George Smith's book "A Life Lived Outdoors". It is a compilation of stories and articles that he has written over the years, so you don't need to rush through the book to get to the end of the story. This a wonderful book that allows you to read a story and set the book down and think about what you have read. I am currently dreaming about what my future camp should be like and what it will smell and feel like to step outside early on a summer morning with a cup of coffee. I am only a few stories in, but I have found myself smiling and laughing and yearning to get outside. I am keeping this book close so that I can sneak in a...

Oct 2011 6

Where are the women?

By Erin M | Maine Outdoors, Women Who Hunt | 15 Comments | 2 min read

This week, my interview with Steve at The Maine Outdoorsman went live. Steve said yesterday 200 people hit his site viewing over 500 pages. That is a lot of people reading about little ole me and hunting. Why? When I think of women who are in the general public's eye and hunt, I can think of 2 - Country singer Miranda Lambert and Sarah Palin. Why only two? Why is the female hunter such a fascinating thing? (I should probably note that I do not have cable so any and all female hunters on the hunting stations are lost to me. I'll keep it to the general public because that's what I am familiar with.) People/media were fascinated by the fact that they could get footage of Palin and her gun, shooting (and gutting) animals but I feel like...

Enjoy these Maine Outdoors articles

Dec 2022 22

This is why my land is posted

By Erin M | Hunting in Maine, Maine Deer hunting, Maine Outdoors, Trail Camera Views, Whitetail Deer | 0 Comments | 3 min read

And will stay that way. Years ago, I had my first negative run in with another hunter. Since then, we have posted all of our land and we have added to the number of trail cameras that we have out in the woods. Sometimes we see vehicles driving into our food plot. In that case, I send the photos to a local police officer who finds out who the license plates are registered to. We have seen random people show up on the trail cameras almost every year. This year, we had them again and it’s getting a little old. Trespasser 2022 I sat in my stand at the end of deer season this year with my phone vibrating constantly in my pocket. When I looked, I saw a number of photos of a random person on our property. This was the second time...

Feb 2022 25

PFAS vs CWD: which will be more devastating?

By Erin M | Hunting in Maine, Maine Outdoors, Uncategorized | 0 Comments | 3 min read

Social media erupted and my inbox was suddenly flooded with emails about PFAS (Poly-fluoroalkyl substances). On Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at 5:22 PM, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife issued a “DO NOT eat advisory” for deer shot in my wildlife management zone. It was 2.5 weeks after I had shot my deer and about two weeks after I had gotten it back from the butcher and started eating it. PFAS My actual hunting property was outside of the advisory area. However, as more fields are tested, there is an impending doom that I will be in a PFAS zone. And other hunters will be in the same situation. When and if I am told that we are in a high PFAS zone, what should we do? Stop hunting all together? Eat the...

Jan 2022 16

The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund board

By Erin M | Maine Outdoors, Wildlife Conservation, Women Who Hunt | 5 Comments | 3 min read

Last week, I went in front of the joint committee of the Environment and Natural Resources to provide testimony for my nomination to the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund board. The only other time I had done this was when I testified in favor of Judy becoming Commissioner. This time, the Governor was nominating me. One of her representatives introduced me and then I had the opportunity to say a little about me. You can watch the hearing by clicking here. Joe's introduction of me begins around the 7 minute marker. My testimony is below. My Testimony Senator Brenner, Representative Tucker and members of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. My name is Erin Merrill and I am here to say a few words about my nomination to the Maine...

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 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...

May 2014 21

Birds swimming in junk

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Maine Outdoors, Uncategorized | 1 Comment | 1 min read

There are few places were I live that are open and green. There are pockets of city forests or walking trails but there are no real places to get out and explore the woods and ponds. I forget that until I happen to see ducks or geese swimming in these ponds along side fast-food containers, rusty, broken hockey goals, empty plastic water bottles and plastic bags from department stores. For a city full of people who claim to be passionate about wildlife, this speaks...

Mar 2014 16

A must read!

By Erin M | Maine Outdoors, Wildlife Conservation | 0 Comments | 1 min read

If you have ever wondered what life in the Maine outdoors is like, you need to read my friend George Smith's book "A Life Lived Outdoors". It is a compilation of stories and articles that he has written over the years, so you don't need to rush through the book to get to the end of the story. This a wonderful book that allows you to read a story and set the book down and think about what you have read. I am currently dreaming about what my future camp should be like and what it will smell and feel like to step outside early on a summer morning with a cup of coffee. I am only a few stories in, but I have found myself smiling and laughing and yearning to get outside. I am keeping this book close so that I can sneak in a...

Oct 2011 6

Where are the women?

By Erin M | Maine Outdoors, Women Who Hunt | 15 Comments | 2 min read

This week, my interview with Steve at The Maine Outdoorsman went live. Steve said yesterday 200 people hit his site viewing over 500 pages. That is a lot of people reading about little ole me and hunting. Why? When I think of women who are in the general public's eye and hunt, I can think of 2 - Country singer Miranda Lambert and Sarah Palin. Why only two? Why is the female hunter such a fascinating thing? (I should probably note that I do not have cable so any and all female hunters on the hunting stations are lost to me. I'll keep it to the general public because that's what I am familiar with.) People/media were fascinated by the fact that they could get footage of Palin and her gun, shooting (and gutting) animals but I feel like...