Featured Articles
The Conversion
BY V. Paul Reynolds Ice fishing? Why would you want to do that? The north wind comes blowing in across the lake and bites into your cheeks. You are cold all the time, frozen fingers are your reward for baiting the hook and rebaiting the hook. You just get a promising ice hole going and … Continued
The Best Big Game Calibers
kellyapr By Tom Kelly The ammo/shooting industry thrives on new caliber offerings and the latest wonder bullet that has heat- seeking capabilities and scans for 10- point bucks. Many of these claims actually sell products. Marketing does in fact work. There are, however, some tried and true calibers that still do the job and are … Continued
To Catch a Poacher
By Kale O’Leary I first began writing articles for the Northwoods Sporting Journal in 2020. Over the years I have written a variety of articles covering the work of Wardens in the North Woods. My goal has always been to give a “behind the scene” look into the work and job that I am so … Continued
March: The Second February
BY Mike Maynard “April is the cruelest month…” – T.S. Eliot March. If only it were that simple. There isn’t much to recommend the month; it’s a mistake. March is a cold and empty nothingness; a malignant iceberg in the sea of winter. The kindest thing I can say about it is that it’s … Continued
Mastering the Turkey Hunt
By Stu Bristol One of my early wild turkey hunting mentors, Ben Rogers Lee warned me, “It’s not good enough to just sound like a wild turkey. You must become one.” From that day forward I adopted the slogan, “Turkey hunters are play actors; the turkey woods their stage.” Secondly, he repeated, “Turkeys will teach … Continued
Brush Gun Stories
“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
Can Coyote Contests Improve Deer Survival?
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
Maine Deer Harvest Record
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
Warden Pilots: A Special Breed
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
Suit to Ban FFO waters
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