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“I shot where the deer had surely been, And bark came flying—oak, not venison.” -Old Woodsman’s Couplet By V. Paul Reynolds When, during camp debates about good deer rifle calibers, somebody always says,” Yea, that .35 Remington is one helluva brush gun!” What does that really mean? Of course, that the round is big enough … Continued

By Gerry Lavigne People who sponsor and participate in coyote contests do so believing they can improve deer survival by reducing coyote populations. But can they? Research in Maine has demonstrated that predation by coyotes can negatively impact deer populations, particularly in the northern half of the state. Venison is a large portion of coyote … Continued

BY V. Paul Reynolds In Maine, a state with widely varying winter weather patterns, the deer survival equation is both simple and complex. Weather always rules. Snow depths. Protracted cold snaps. Deer wintering areas and timing of the spring green up all play a pivotal role. There are adjustments that wildlife managers and policy makers … Continued

Backshelfjan w jpeg Warden Pilots: A Special Breed Dufault didn’t have to fly. Conditions were almost impossible with poor visibility and a low overcast. In cases like this, it is the warden pilot’s call. He knows the risks and nobody, including his bosses, ever second guesses a warden pilot’s decision to stay on the ground … Continued

By V. Paul Reynolds Plaintiffs supported by the International Order of Theodore Roosevelt have sued the Maine Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in Augusta’s superior court to open all of Maine’s public waters to everyone and end the State’s practice of reserving Maine’s best fishing spots for fly fisherman only. The plaintiffs, represented by … Continued

BY Jonah Paris Just as the sport of fly fishing has its internal cohorts, like the “dry-or-die” purists, the “it’s not a bobber – it’s an indicator” crew, and the dedicated “meat-only” streamer-chuckers, ice fishermen in Maine organize themselves into exclusive groups. Hardcore cuskers and muskie-junkies are a strange and secretive bunch, often keeping to … Continued

By Mike Maynard So, I learned a new word the other day. Slobberknocker. As in, “Boys! There’s some jeezly big slobberknockers out there!” Does colloquial County-speak get any better than that? I don’t think so. I was introduced to the word while trying to nail down the story of the biggest buck ever killed in … Continued

By V. Paul Reynolds “I am over the moon about this buck.” said avid deer hunter Robbie Flint. And well he should be. His buck, which was tagged in early November at the Four Corner Store in Union, sported an incredible 27 points and tipped the scales dressed at 252 lbs! Flint is a 28- … Continued

Snared Sow: A New State Record Editor’s note: This sow bear taken this fall is a new Maine state record tipping the scales at a dressed weight of 358 lbs. The bear was harvested by Howland guide Zach LaFreniere from Wild Fern Guide Service. The big female bruin was estimated to have a live weight … Continued

By Homer Spit Day dreaming about what has been my favorite week of the year for more than 50 years – a week at deer camp- I got to thinking again about the somewhat cerebral aspect of the deer hunt. Why do we hunt? Why, specifically, do I hunt? If you have ever spent a … Continued