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Northwoods Sporting Journal > Articles > Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Penobscot’s First Bear Story

By Steve Pinkham Scarcely had the beast’s feet landed in the tracks which I had so kindly vacated for them, when the dog, executing a skillful flank movement, fell suddenly on his rear, with a fury which completely turned his attention from myself and gave me ample time to ascend the tree, from the summit … Continued

Growing Bigger Bucks

By V. Paul Reynolds The Maine Department of Fish and Wildlife (DIF&W) recently issued a press release encouraging fall deer hunters to pass on the young bucks thus enabling our deer population to comprise larger and older bucks. To this end, hunters no longer need to pass on a doe while holding out for that … Continued

Maine Moose Lottery: Is It Fair?

By V. Paul Reynolds In Maine, the annual chance drawing of a permit to hunt moose is a high profile event. For most big game hunters, the permit is a ticket to the hunt of a lifetime. The odds of being drawn are formidable. This year about 75,000 resident and nonresident applicants entered the drawing … Continued

The Ruttin’ Season

By Laurine Wilson Alas, tis time for mortal men
 To bellar and drink, we fear.
 The air is sharp hauled in their lungs
 And all their piss runs clear.
 They shout and sing, and belch their drinks,
 Stumble round in frozen ruts.
 Call down the moon, push all about,
 And scratch their hairy butts.
 Now, … Continued

Hunting Yukon Moose

By Polly Mahoney When I lived in the Yukon we hunted moose every year for our year’s supply of meat. We would often give away one front quarter to a friend in need as this would have been enough for the two of us to eat. If we were not lucky enough to get a … Continued

Shotguns: Ford or Ferrari?

By Homer Spit Truth be told, my small gun vault holds a half dozen guns, hunting rifles and shotguns – not a Parker or a Purdy among ‘em. To admire a classic collector’s gun, or bring it to shoulder, is always pleasurable. But I don’t turn green with envy, or look back with regret that … Continued

Best Moose Guns

BY Tom Kelly   Well, it finally happened! I have finally been fortunate enough to have been chosen for a moose permit. It is to be an antlerless permit in Zone 4 at the end of October. I have guided hunters on moose hunts. I hunted with Hal Blood when I was producing the S&W … Continued

Moose Hunt Preparation

By Homer Spit Question: What’s more exciting than winning a million dollars in Power Ball? Answer: Winning a moose hunting permit in the Maine Moose Lottery. If you are one of the lucky 2,080 moose permit winners for 2017, a word to the wise: plan ahead for your fall hunt. I mean REALLY plan ahead. … Continued

First Deer Contest Winner

WINNER OF MY FIRST DEER CONTEST!!! My First Deer To my chagrin, as the blast reverberated, the whitetail whirled and vanished. While I attempted to conceal my disappointment, we thoroughly inspected the doe’s initial position. Editor’s note: This is the winning entry in Northwoods Sporting Journal’s My First Deer Contest. This winner will receive $100.00 … Continued

The Big Eddy Drifter

By V. Paul Reynolds Izaak Walton in his iconic angling book, The Compleat Angler, made the observation that even if you spend a lifetime casting flies upon the water, fishing and fish behavior can never be “fully learnt.” Persistence and patience will not deliver full mastery of angling success and a total understanding of trout … Continued

Reader Feedback

The Northwoods Sporting Journal is the largest hunting & fishing magazine in the Northeast.

"Just want to complement all of you on an excellent magazine. I have my subscription sent to my office and have found that clients grab the Northwoods Sporting Journal first over the dozen or so other magazines in our waiting area.
I have enclosed subscriptions for myself and five friends that I think will enjoy your magazine. I especially like the Outdoor News sections for keeping up to date with statistics and changes going on in the state."

Jay Deane

"I used to subscribe to several outdoor magazines in the past until one day I picked up a copy of the NWSJ at LL Bean in Freeport, Maine. After reading the journal I have to say I never subscribed to any other outdoor magazine. The journal had it all and the thing is it only gets better every month! The articles are informative and very well written by what I consider experts in the field. I have to say if one does not subscribe to the journal or picks up a copy of the journal “they do not know what they are missing!” Unfortunately, I am not a resident of Maine but after reading the journal I feel I know more about your great state than my own regarding the opportunities of hunting and fishing, very good writers."

Tony Ostrowski

"Good morning, I have to write this…because your magazine deserves it.  Every couple last winters my family has gone up to Maine after Christmas for a couple days.  This always coincides with a stop at KTP, where I buy a copy of your magazine. Well, this Christmas I asked my kids for one gift, a subscription to NWSJ. I’m 57 years old, I grew up cutting and chopping cords of wood every year for my family’s two vermont castings stoves, and fishing and hunting extensively. especially loved tying my own flies and selling them in my local Connecticut hardware store when I was 12.  When not doing those things I was salivating over field and stream, outdoor life, fin and feather, you understand…those were great mags, but I don’t like how they’ve changed over the years…they’re selling to the masses now, not to who I think is their core audience. You guys are different, and good different.  You’re old school.  You actually do not care what people think of what you’re writing, and that reeks of important values like HONESTY, COMMON SENSE, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, AND KNOWLEDGE. Your articles are SO good that I refuse to read more than one at a time.  no joke; I leave each issue open on my kitchen table, and read one article a day.  Why? Because every single article is fantastic!  I don’t want to ruin the digestion of the last one by reading the next one too quickly…yes, you guys are that good. So here it is, my first feedback; you have the best outdoor magazine I have ever read..and will continue to read it till I can’t read. "

Alexander Pflomm

"I enjoyed reading Ms. AuClair’s article on Mount Katahdin. 
I had also enjoyed the mountain and knife-edge trail twice when I was in my late 40s - early 50s. It’s an unbelievably beautiful environment. The quiet is God-like. Thanks very much. Keep up the great reading. I look forward every month to the Sporting Journal."

Warren Seddon