And A Strong Cup of Coffee

Blog Posts About

Wildlife Conservation

Wildlife Conservation

Jan 2023 6

I am done shooting small bucks

By Erin M | Hunting in Maine, Maine Deer hunting, Maine Hunters, Tree Stand Hunting, Whitetail Deer, Wildlife Conservation, Women Who Hunt | 1 Comment | 2 min read

It was an emotional rollercoaster of a season. All I wanted was an eight point buck. I will save the story for another time, but it didn’t happen. But what did happen changed my whole perspective on deer hunting. After twenty years of hunting, I am done shooting small bucks. I shot my doe in the first hour of rifle season, so having the ability to shoot a doe AND a buck gave me the opportunity to keep hunting and looking for that big buck. I could sit and watch more of the does and fawns at different spots on the property. One morning, I watched a fisher running around my stand. I enjoyed being in the woods, knowing that I had a specific buck that I was after and that I had already put meat in the freezer. This season was more of...

Aug 2022 22

A breakthrough in PFAS research?

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Eating Wild Game, Hunting in Maine, Wildlife Conservation | 0 Comments | 2 min read

Last fall, an email hit my inbox alerting me that I might be hunting deer in an area that Inland Fisheries & Wildlife had flagged as a ‘do not eat’ area because of the high levels of PFAS found in the several deer that biologist had killed in the area. I've written before about the severity of PFAS and how devastating it could be. We have not heard much follow up since that time. I wonder if the area that was closed off will continue to be. Will there be more locations flagged as ‘do not eat’ areas? I am surprised that there has not been anything published that would give hunters an idea about if they should stick to their home area or try to find a new area to hunt. Maybe the assumption is that they won’t plan to hunt anyway....

Feb 2022 13

Remembering George Smith

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Maine Hunters, Wildlife Conservation | 1 Comment | 3 min read

I was trying to think about what to write about for my February article in the Northwoods Sporting Journal. Something that would be timely and start a conversation. As the topics came and went, something made me think of George Smith. It has been one year since he has passed and I starting thinking about the topics that would have him riled up and what I have accomplished in the past twelve months. There are two topics that I would love to have heard George’s take on. The first bring the Right to Food, which was passed into the Maine Constitution when we voted in November. It is the first of its kind in the United States and reads “that all individuals have a natural, inherent and unalienable right to grow, raise, harvest, produce...

Jan 2022 31

The age of my 2021 Maine bull moose

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Hunting in Maine, Maine Moose, Wildlife Conservation | 4 Comments | 1 min read

One of the most interesting things that happens after you shoot a bear or moose, is that you are asked to remove a tooth so that the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife can age the moose shot and collect age and health data. It is a part of a decades long effort to better understand the overall health of wildlife in Maine. For hunters, it is always interesting to find out how old the animal was. When I knew it was available, I immediately looked up the age of my 2021 Maine bull moose. 2021's data shows moose shot between the ages of 2.5 years old to 20.5 years old. It is fascinating to think that there are moose in this state that are twenty years old. Any guesses on how old our 2021 Maine bull moose was? Remember, he had...

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...

Mar 2021 22

Taking Turkeys to Texas

By Erin M | Turkey Hunting, Wildlife Conservation | 0 Comments | 4 min read

There are a few less turkeys in Maine to hunt this year. A few months ago, Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation, captured and released more than 50 birds into East Texas with the hope of rebuilding their population.

Dec 2020 28

Conservation Organizations Need Your Help NOW

By Erin M | Wildlife Conservation | 1 Comment | 3 min read

As we plan for 2021, we know that we will not be attending sportsman’s shows. We won’t be able to catch up with fellow hunters, trappers and anglers and we won’t be spending money on all of those raffle tickets. And that is hurting hunting organizations – a lot. Many outfitters and conservation organizations rely on the foot traffic that these shows provide to help get reach more people which helps to draw more donations. Businesses rely on shoppers to buy the cast iron, jackets, wooden carvings, jerky and more but we will not there to make those purchases next year. And while everyone is still feeling the pinch of the pandemic and a changing world, we need to make sure that these organizations have what they need to continue with...

Dec 2020 11

Nurturing a Love of Nature

By Erin M | Wildlife Conservation, Women Who Hunt | 0 Comments | 2 min read

In the past twelve months, I've been a homeschooling teacher (temporarily), figured out how to work from home full-time and maintained a stable supply of toilet paper. We went from being out and about in the community to everyone at home. It was a lot! But one of the things we did from the start was get outside more. I asked people on my Facebook page for a list of items that we could search for in the woods. We had everything from birch bark and 3 types of moss to bones, different shapes of pinecones, mushrooms and beechnuts on our list. We eagerly searched the woods around our house and crossed off items. It was good for everyone’s mental health to be outside and exploring. It made me think back to my own childhood and walking...

Nov 2020 3

Some Shane Mahoney Inspiraton

By Erin M | Wildlife Conservation | 0 Comments | 1 min read

Yes, this is an older video but the message still rings true; "...they have concluded, in agreement with us, that yes, sportsmen and women and the activity of hunting, done in a sustainable manner operates as a conservation mechanism the world over..." On this polarizing election day, let's focus on what we can agree on. Conservation efforts, traditions, and the importance of understanding and working for social and biological carrying capacities for all animals in an effort to maintain the resource for generations to come.

Show Me More Articles

Jan 2023 6

I am done shooting small bucks

By Erin M | Hunting in Maine, Maine Deer hunting, Maine Hunters, Tree Stand Hunting, Whitetail Deer, Wildlife Conservation, Women Who Hunt | 1 Comment | 2 min read

It was an emotional rollercoaster of a season. All I wanted was an eight point buck. I will save the story for another time, but it didn’t happen. But what did happen changed my whole perspective on deer hunting. After twenty years of hunting, I am done shooting small bucks. I shot my doe in the first hour of rifle season, so having the ability to shoot a doe AND a buck gave me the opportunity to keep hunting and looking for that big buck. I could sit and watch more of the does and fawns at different spots on the property. One morning, I watched a fisher running around my stand. I enjoyed being in the woods, knowing that I had a specific buck that I was after and that I had already put meat in the freezer. This season was more of...

Aug 2022 22

A breakthrough in PFAS research?

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Eating Wild Game, Hunting in Maine, Wildlife Conservation | 0 Comments | 2 min read

Last fall, an email hit my inbox alerting me that I might be hunting deer in an area that Inland Fisheries & Wildlife had flagged as a ‘do not eat’ area because of the high levels of PFAS found in the several deer that biologist had killed in the area. I've written before about the severity of PFAS and how devastating it could be. We have not heard much follow up since that time. I wonder if the area that was closed off will continue to be. Will there be more locations flagged as ‘do not eat’ areas? I am surprised that there has not been anything published that would give hunters an idea about if they should stick to their home area or try to find a new area to hunt. Maybe the assumption is that they won’t plan to hunt anyway....

Feb 2022 13

Remembering George Smith

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Maine Hunters, Wildlife Conservation | 1 Comment | 3 min read

I was trying to think about what to write about for my February article in the Northwoods Sporting Journal. Something that would be timely and start a conversation. As the topics came and went, something made me think of George Smith. It has been one year since he has passed and I starting thinking about the topics that would have him riled up and what I have accomplished in the past twelve months. There are two topics that I would love to have heard George’s take on. The first bring the Right to Food, which was passed into the Maine Constitution when we voted in November. It is the first of its kind in the United States and reads “that all individuals have a natural, inherent and unalienable right to grow, raise, harvest, produce...

Jan 2022 31

The age of my 2021 Maine bull moose

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Hunting in Maine, Maine Moose, Wildlife Conservation | 4 Comments | 1 min read

One of the most interesting things that happens after you shoot a bear or moose, is that you are asked to remove a tooth so that the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife can age the moose shot and collect age and health data. It is a part of a decades long effort to better understand the overall health of wildlife in Maine. For hunters, it is always interesting to find out how old the animal was. When I knew it was available, I immediately looked up the age of my 2021 Maine bull moose. 2021's data shows moose shot between the ages of 2.5 years old to 20.5 years old. It is fascinating to think that there are moose in this state that are twenty years old. Any guesses on how old our 2021 Maine bull moose was? Remember, he had...

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...

Mar 2021 22

Taking Turkeys to Texas

By Erin M | Turkey Hunting, Wildlife Conservation | 0 Comments | 4 min read

There are a few less turkeys in Maine to hunt this year. A few months ago, Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation, captured and released more than 50 birds into East Texas with the hope of rebuilding their population.

Dec 2020 28

Conservation Organizations Need Your Help NOW

By Erin M | Wildlife Conservation | 1 Comment | 3 min read

As we plan for 2021, we know that we will not be attending sportsman’s shows. We won’t be able to catch up with fellow hunters, trappers and anglers and we won’t be spending money on all of those raffle tickets. And that is hurting hunting organizations – a lot. Many outfitters and conservation organizations rely on the foot traffic that these shows provide to help get reach more people which helps to draw more donations. Businesses rely on shoppers to buy the cast iron, jackets, wooden carvings, jerky and more but we will not there to make those purchases next year. And while everyone is still feeling the pinch of the pandemic and a changing world, we need to make sure that these organizations have what they need to continue with...

Dec 2020 11

Nurturing a Love of Nature

By Erin M | Wildlife Conservation, Women Who Hunt | 0 Comments | 2 min read

In the past twelve months, I've been a homeschooling teacher (temporarily), figured out how to work from home full-time and maintained a stable supply of toilet paper. We went from being out and about in the community to everyone at home. It was a lot! But one of the things we did from the start was get outside more. I asked people on my Facebook page for a list of items that we could search for in the woods. We had everything from birch bark and 3 types of moss to bones, different shapes of pinecones, mushrooms and beechnuts on our list. We eagerly searched the woods around our house and crossed off items. It was good for everyone’s mental health to be outside and exploring. It made me think back to my own childhood and walking...

Nov 2020 3

Some Shane Mahoney Inspiraton

By Erin M | Wildlife Conservation | 0 Comments | 1 min read

Yes, this is an older video but the message still rings true; "...they have concluded, in agreement with us, that yes, sportsmen and women and the activity of hunting, done in a sustainable manner operates as a conservation mechanism the world over..." On this polarizing election day, let's focus on what we can agree on. Conservation efforts, traditions, and the importance of understanding and working for social and biological carrying capacities for all animals in an effort to maintain the resource for generations to come.

Show Me More Articles

Enjoy these Wildlife Conservation articles

Jan 2023 6

I am done shooting small bucks

By Erin M | Hunting in Maine, Maine Deer hunting, Maine Hunters, Tree Stand Hunting, Whitetail Deer, Wildlife Conservation, Women Who Hunt | 1 Comment | 2 min read

It was an emotional rollercoaster of a season. All I wanted was an eight point buck. I will save the story for another time, but it didn’t happen. But what did happen changed my whole perspective on deer hunting. After twenty years of hunting, I am done shooting small bucks. I shot my doe in the first hour of rifle season, so having the ability to shoot a doe AND a buck gave me the opportunity to keep hunting and looking for that big buck. I could sit and watch more of the does and fawns at different spots on the property. One morning, I watched a fisher running around my stand. I enjoyed being in the woods, knowing that I had a specific buck that I was after and that I had already put meat in the freezer. This season was more of...

Aug 2022 22

A breakthrough in PFAS research?

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Eating Wild Game, Hunting in Maine, Wildlife Conservation | 0 Comments | 2 min read

Last fall, an email hit my inbox alerting me that I might be hunting deer in an area that Inland Fisheries & Wildlife had flagged as a ‘do not eat’ area because of the high levels of PFAS found in the several deer that biologist had killed in the area. I've written before about the severity of PFAS and how devastating it could be. We have not heard much follow up since that time. I wonder if the area that was closed off will continue to be. Will there be more locations flagged as ‘do not eat’ areas? I am surprised that there has not been anything published that would give hunters an idea about if they should stick to their home area or try to find a new area to hunt. Maybe the assumption is that they won’t plan to hunt anyway....

Feb 2022 13

Remembering George Smith

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Maine Hunters, Wildlife Conservation | 1 Comment | 3 min read

I was trying to think about what to write about for my February article in the Northwoods Sporting Journal. Something that would be timely and start a conversation. As the topics came and went, something made me think of George Smith. It has been one year since he has passed and I starting thinking about the topics that would have him riled up and what I have accomplished in the past twelve months. There are two topics that I would love to have heard George’s take on. The first bring the Right to Food, which was passed into the Maine Constitution when we voted in November. It is the first of its kind in the United States and reads “that all individuals have a natural, inherent and unalienable right to grow, raise, harvest, produce...

Jan 2022 31

The age of my 2021 Maine bull moose

By Erin M | Adventures in the Woods, Hunting in Maine, Maine Moose, Wildlife Conservation | 4 Comments | 1 min read

One of the most interesting things that happens after you shoot a bear or moose, is that you are asked to remove a tooth so that the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife can age the moose shot and collect age and health data. It is a part of a decades long effort to better understand the overall health of wildlife in Maine. For hunters, it is always interesting to find out how old the animal was. When I knew it was available, I immediately looked up the age of my 2021 Maine bull moose. 2021's data shows moose shot between the ages of 2.5 years old to 20.5 years old. It is fascinating to think that there are moose in this state that are twenty years old. Any guesses on how old our 2021 Maine bull moose was? Remember, he had...

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...

Mar 2021 22

Taking Turkeys to Texas

By Erin M | Turkey Hunting, Wildlife Conservation | 0 Comments | 4 min read

There are a few less turkeys in Maine to hunt this year. A few months ago, Maine Inland Fisheries & Wildlife in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation, captured and released more than 50 birds into East Texas with the hope of rebuilding their population.

Taking Turkeys to Texas

Dec 2020 28

Conservation Organizations Need Your Help NOW

By Erin M | Wildlife Conservation | 1 Comment | 3 min read

As we plan for 2021, we know that we will not be attending sportsman’s shows. We won’t be able to catch up with fellow hunters, trappers and anglers and we won’t be spending money on all of those raffle tickets. And that is hurting hunting organizations – a lot. Many outfitters and conservation organizations rely on the foot traffic that these shows provide to help get reach more people which helps to draw more donations. Businesses rely on shoppers to buy the cast iron, jackets, wooden carvings, jerky and more but we will not there to make those purchases next year. And while everyone is still feeling the pinch of the pandemic and a changing world, we need to make sure that these organizations have what they need to continue with...

Dec 2020 11

Nurturing a Love of Nature

By Erin M | Wildlife Conservation, Women Who Hunt | 0 Comments | 2 min read

In the past twelve months, I've been a homeschooling teacher (temporarily), figured out how to work from home full-time and maintained a stable supply of toilet paper. We went from being out and about in the community to everyone at home. It was a lot! But one of the things we did from the start was get outside more. I asked people on my Facebook page for a list of items that we could search for in the woods. We had everything from birch bark and 3 types of moss to bones, different shapes of pinecones, mushrooms and beechnuts on our list. We eagerly searched the woods around our house and crossed off items. It was good for everyone’s mental health to be outside and exploring. It made me think back to my own childhood and walking...

Nov 2020 3

Some Shane Mahoney Inspiraton

By Erin M | Wildlife Conservation | 0 Comments | 1 min read

Yes, this is an older video but the message still rings true; "...they have concluded, in agreement with us, that yes, sportsmen and women and the activity of hunting, done in a sustainable manner operates as a conservation mechanism the world over..." On this polarizing election day, let's focus on what we can agree on. Conservation efforts, traditions, and the importance of understanding and working for social and biological carrying capacities for all animals in an effort to maintain the resource for generations to come.

Show Me More Articles