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Northwoods Sporting Journal

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The Northwoods Sporting Journal is Maine and the Northeast's most exciting, informative monthly sporting magazine. Featuring columns and stories from over 50 of New England's best outdoor writers, The Northwoods Sporting Journal offers fishing and hunting stories and information dealing with Maine's outdoors.

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November

The Northwoods Sporting Journal is the Northeast's most comprehensive, entertaining outdoor sporting magazine.

November Grouse

By Paul Fuller Although October is often thought of as the absolute prime month for grouse and woodcock hunting, November should not be overlooked. For your author, the big advantage of November is less foliage. You can see the birds in flight much easier than in October. Every year, I hear of more upland hunters … Continued

Essence of the Hunt

By Hal Blood The long wait is over. Deer season is upon us once again. Bow hunters have been at it for a while, but the majority of hunters hit the woods during the firearms season. Deer hunters hit the woods for a variety of reasons. For some it’s just about getting out in … Continued

Lost Hunter: The Untold Story

By V. Paul Reynolds In mid November of 1982 in Maine’s Grant West Township, a few miles East of the Greenville Airport, an experienced Massachusetts deer hunter got turned around later in the afternoon, and it began to snow. An extensive search party that included his own hunt companions, trained ground personal and search aircraft … Continued

Big Bad Bogs

By Homer Spit For me, Maine bogs have always held an allure. It may be the deer hunter in me. The buck of my dreams is always seen in a bog, ghosting its way silently on the mossy ground, weaving slowly between gnarled old cedar trees and grey, weathered deadfall. There is a dusting of … Continued

The Cross Bull

By Nathan Theriault Blessed is the best way to describe what we do. The reason we can afford to guide, and hunt is because of the sacrifices that so many have made. This realization has always kept me wanting to give back to the people who gave so much for the love of this country … Continued

Crossbows: The Purchase Decision

By V. Paul Reynolds Recently passed, Maine has a new crossbow hunting law that, is not only sweeping in scope, but makes sense. Crossbows, the use of which has been very restrictive, are now included in the legal definition of archery equipment. This is a big deal! For it means that, in Maine, all hunters … Continued

Spectacular Spring Bears

BY Erin Merrill In October, I met Jim Shockey during his stop at Cabela’s on his book tour. We talked writing, the outdoors and hunting. He invited me to come up to his Pacific Rim Outfitters on Vancouver Island and hunt spring black bears. I couldn’t say no. The gray, rainy weather reminded me of … Continued

Fly Fishing the Hex Hatch

By V. Paul Reynolds This is the time! Not next week or the week after, this week! It will be tonight at about the time the late afternoon sun slips beneath the spires of spruce on the mountain, or maybe tomorrow night, or the night after – if it’s going to happen at all. The … Continued

The Mystery of the Lost Hunter

BY Warden Kevin O’Leary Garfield Plantation, a small Aroostook County town that neighbors Ashland is the scene for one of the most puzzling and baffling unsolved lost persons case in Maine Warden Service history. Since I first heard the bizarre story behind a man who simply vanished after an extensive and exhaustive search, I have … Continued

Best Trout Lures

By Peter St. James Well, with the spring gobbler season set to end on May 31st and the Moose Lottery applications due by midnight on May 31st, we can now turn our attention to fishing. New Hampshire offers two free fishing days each year, (The first Saturday in June and The third Saturday in January) … Continued

June Fly Fishing

BY Matt LaRoche Oh! How I look forward to the month of June- it is the best month for fly fishing of the year. The water has warmed up a bit, the fish are active and the insect activity is at its peak. Landlocked salmon and brook trout will “zero in” on whatever insects are … Continued

Spring Fishing Report

Sebago Lake Region From Fisheries Resource Supervisor James Pellerin, 3/18/24 Where to fish: Most of the lakes and ponds in southern Maine experienced ice-out by mid-March, so many anglers will have already been fishing by the time this report hits the press. For early season lakes and ponds, I would suggest focusing your efforts on lake … Continued

Rifle Accuracy Thieves

By Tom Kelly Col. Townsend Whelan once said, “Only accurate rifles interest me”. Well, accuracy is one of those relative terms. It can mean different things to different people. Sub MOA or minute of angle groups are a requirement for long range competition shooters. Minute of angle translates to a 1” or smaller 3 shot … Continued

Finally, Trout Season Opens

By Gary Moore We open water trout anglers get real antsy by the end of March, often casting on the lawn and dreaming of opening day. This year that occurs on Saturday, April 13. Like so many others I will be plying the waters of local streams hoping to entice a trout to hit. As I … Continued

Atlantics: The King Clings On

BY V. Paul Reynolds “Chase the fish, boy..yer down to the backin’..chase the fish,”shouted my guide. The Medalist reel sang as the 9 weight line wound off the spool with authority. The tip of the Sage fly rod pulsated as the 18-pound Atlantic salmon lived up to its reputation, leaping and twisting above the frothing … Continued

Never Cry Wolf

By Mark McCollough It was the wee hours of the morning at the dead-end of a rutted logging road deep in the vast Ragmuff clearcut in northern Maine. A carpet of stars blanketed the moonless night. We stepped out of the truck, set up the speakers, and played a recorded sequence of wolf calls that … Continued

New Rifles

By Tom Kelly There are a couple of new rifles available from two of the major firearms companies. It’s nice to see that major companies are still designing and producing rifles for the average person. These reasonably priced rifles also include some features normally only found on much higher priced guns. The first rifle is … Continued

First Moose Hunt

By Ron Joseph In late September 1980, Maine’s annual moose hunt resumed for the first time in 54 years, but not without controversy. In 1979, the six-day hunt was preceded by several highly contentious legislative hearings in Augusta. In packed hearing rooms, the Legislature entertained passionate testimonies from anti-hunters, hunters, business owners, state senators and … Continued

Deer Season Wrap

By Ben Wilcox The 2023 deer season was maybe the most anticipated I can remember, and will go down as probably my toughest season yet. I say most anticipated because my 2022 season was really hampered by lack of mobility while recovering from major foot and ankle reconstruction surgery that summer. While I … Continued

Deer Season Snapshots

By V. Paul Reynolds. My deer season started this fall in late September during the expanded bow season. As amazing as it seems to me, this was nearly my 70th year in the Maine deer woods! Imagine. During this long stretch, only one season was sacrificed when I was serving in the U.S. Navy during … Continued

My Grand Slam

BY Erin Argraves This year’s grand slam started with my bear. I harvested a nice sow on a bait on September 6th. I shot it with a .300 win mag. I was sitting in a ground blind with my husband as we watched the bear come in. The bear was harvested in Mapleton and tagged at … Continued

Shotguns: Ford or Ferrari?

By V. Paul Reynolds Truth be told, the Reynolds small gun vault holds a half dozen guns, hunting rifles and shotguns – not a Parker or a Purdey 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 … Continued

Big Belated Buck

BY Mark McCollough It was a few days after the deer season ended, but I finally got the big buck that I had been dogging all November. I caught several glimpses of him during the deer season. In mid-November I had in my scope on him while he was chasing two does, but he turned … Continued

Hunting Small Woodlots

BY V. Paul Reynolds Most deer hunters are drawn to the big woods. Admittedly, there is nothing like the North Woods for those who like to cover lots of ground, explore new territory and get away from the crowds and posted land. But deer hunting in small woodlots, I have found, can be highly productive … Continued

Finding Trophy Bucks

By Stu Bristol One of the most common cop-outs among deer hunters is the statement, “Every deer is a trophy, regardless of size.” This is true in most cases. However, under their breath they still consider a real trophy begins either with extra wide antlers or over that magic 200-pound weight. I get asked more … Continued

Bear Meat’s Bad Rap

By V. Paul Reynolds What does bear meat taste like? If you google the question, you’ll get a variety of answers. ” It can be gamey and greasy.” “Hard to describe.” “It tastes a little like beef and a little like pork.” Over the years, I’ve tried just about every wild critter Maine has … Continued

Pa’tridge in the Pan

By V. Paul Reynolds Before me in my garage office are three books about hunting grouse (pa’tridge). These books are large ,elegant, top-shelf coffee-table books with brilliant glossy pages and generous full-page photographs of grouse, gun dogs and upland bird hunters. One of them is “A Passion For Grouse.” It is a keepsake … Continued

The Buck Moon

By Joe Judd I was reminded recently, that the full moon in the month just passed is often referred to as “The Buck Moon”! Now, I might have already known this and simply forgotten it, and perhaps you knew this as well! But all it took was a little research to remember that the “Buck … Continued

Bull Named Yukon

By Nathan Theriault Being a bush pilot certainly has its perks. Aside from acquisition cost, operating cost and of course everything that goes into achieving a Private Pilot License and maintaining it. With this investment of time and money it has helped us to put eyes on bulls many wouldn’t have ever seen. The bull … Continued

Love at First Bite

BY V. Paul Reynolds No matter how many years you visit a place like this, you do not take it for granted. Most remarkable is how this particular place has changed little in more than a half century. The fishing is almost as good as it was when I first fished it so long ago. … Continued

Muzzleloading Black Bears

BY Al Raychard Although there is little doubt that light muzzleloader bullets will kill a bear with proper shot placement, one thing I have noticed in these camp talks and discussions is the general consensus among experienced bear hunters is the heavier the bullet the better. September is just around the corner and for a … Continued

Hiring a Moose Guide

By Erin Merrill and John Floyd Hiring A Moose Guide: Some Tips Erin Merrill has hired a few guides to help her; most recently, in 2021 when she drew a moose tag. John Floyd is a Registered Maine Guide and the owner of Tucker Ridge Outdoors in Webster Plantation, Maine. Together, they discuss thoughts, questions … Continued

Last Stand at Papa’s Point

BY V. Paul Reynolds “How does a man know when he’s just too damned old to hunt elk?” I asked. “Well, sir, when he stops going.” Editor’s note: This article first appeared in the Nov.-Dec. issue of Bugle Magazine, which is published by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF). It is reprinted here with permission … Continued

The Green Drake Hatch

Matt LaRoche The green drake is one of the most geographically widespread mayflies in North America and an important part of the food chain in clean unspoiled lakes and ponds. Have you ever been on a wild brook trout pond during the green drake hatch? If so, you are probably still talking about it! … Continued

Furnace Brook Knives

By V. Paul Reynolds Although Vermonter Scott Hawley made his living crafting fine furniture, making things out of iron -blacksmithing – always held a fascination. Hawley’s Dad was a machinist and his grandfather was a blacksmith by vocation. Around 2008, Hawley was asked by a friend to fashion a hunting knife for him. On the … Continued

Summer Fishing Spots

By Al Cowperthwaite The first of July usually is prime time for the green drake hatch and larger fish in these waters become as aggressive then more than any other time of the season. With all the rainfall in June, water levels are above normal for the month of July. Canoeing should continue into the … Continued

Best Spring Trout Flies

BY Bob Leeman My dear friend, Bill Bowdoin, a longtime fly fishing buddy from Brewer, now long-since passed away, was a more avid trout caster than I—and that’s saying something! It’s a long story how we met, but too long for this article. But after we continued to fly fish together for brook trout, we … Continued

Wives Who Hunt

By V. Paul Reynolds Wives Who Hunt Probably not a politically correct title for an article in a post-modern, gender-confused culture, right? After all, many women – married or not – simply take up hunting because they want to, not because their significant other sparked their interest, or brought them along in the blood sports. … Continued

Two Warden Tales

By Kale O’Leary As we approached a house on the north side of the road, I watched as the brake lights came on the pickup truck and it came to a stop on the paved road. I slowed down and waited to see what was about to unfold. When it comes to investigating wildlife crimes … Continued

Spring Fishing Plans

By V. Paul Reynolds My all time most memorable trout fishing experience in the park was at Center Pond. No lunkers, but incredibly fast action on respectable brookies. Although the Florida Keys has become my winter retreat until April, my daydreams beneath the swaying palm fronds and soaring pelicans had already begun in February to … Continued

The Redemption Bear

BY John Floyd There is nothing more disheartening than when a client misses a bear. The time invested in setup, the anticipation and expectations on a bear stand with good bears coming in suddenly crashes in flames with the missed opportunity. It happens. On the opposite end of the emotional spectrum, there isn’t a much … Continued

Tying the Barnsie

By Bob Leeman While fly casting for landlocked salmon at Grand Lake Stream a few years ago, I spotted a good-sized fish waiting for a morsel to float by, while hiding behind a sunken boulder across the flow. My first offer was a Bob’s White Marabou Muddler fly, flicked to the upper current just above … Continued

Hastie’s Hut

By V. Paul Reynolds “There. Right there on that point. I’m gonna build a camp there,” my ice fishing buddy exclaimed as we drove our snowsleds up and down the south shore of Seboeis Lake. It was February of 1967. I was a young man just out of the Navy and back in Maine, … Continued

Spring Gobbler Secrets

By Stu Bristol Are there any “secrets” left to learn about spring gobbler hunting or has everything been written, using the same old tactics with a new twist? Wild turkey hunting legend, Ben Lee told me this way back in the early 1970’s, when literally no one in New England had a clue how to … Continued

Ice Fishing Hotspots in Maine

From Fisheries Resource Supervisor Jim Pellerin Where to fish in January: For the earlier part of the season, December through mid-January, anglers should target smaller-medium sized waters (<1,000 acres). Waters in this category generally have safer ice, and in this part of the state many of the larger waters like Thompson Lake, Kezar Lake, Great East … Continued

The Gregarious Grouse

By David Minton Any upland bird hunter will tell you that the Ruffed Grouse, aka partridge here in New England, is one of the hardest upland game birds to hunt. It can fly through the densest woods and conifer forests, takes off when the hunter is least ready to make a shot (stepping over … Continued

Survival: Deer Hunt Gone Bad

BY Mark Cote When we arrived at our Anticosti deer camp it rained a lot overnight. My plan for the first day was to hunt the coastline on the East side of the territory, which meant crossing the Martin River by ATV. Nobody has been able to hunt there for weeks so I knew it … Continued

The Bear Buck

By Ben Wilcox The conclusion of hunting season is a time to look back at the successes and failures of the past year. In my computer I list the deer I killed and note any important lessons. While doing so, I saw my PA public land 8 point listed and recalled the crazy story that … Continued

The Togue Hunters

By Stu Bristol These men and women are a rare and hearty breed, for sure. They travel Maine from end to end, in snowstorms, ice and rain, sometimes for hours at a time in a single day. Armed with modern ice fishing gear they search for the Togue (Lake Trout) honey holes looking for … Continued

Kids: Pickerel Passion

BY V. Paul Reynolds I know of no better way to get kids hooked on fishing than to expose them to an action-packed pickerel pond on a sunny day in late February of early March. They say first impressions are lasting. Not so, though, with fish. Take the chain pickerel. By rights I should loathe … Continued

Blackpowder Mistakes

By Al Raychard Sometimes we take things for granted, or just neglect to do things which in the pursuit of whitetails with a muzzleloader can prove a major mistake. I dare say most muzzleloader hunters these days hunt with in-lines and load up with one of the available blackpowder substitutes. There are good reasons … Continued

The Hunter’s Moon

By V. Paul Reynolds Many sportsmen count the November deer hunt as the highlight of all of their outdoor passions. It is a special time. Frosty mornings and quiet moments in a tree stand with hand warmers, a thermos of hot coffee mixed with the anticipation of a big buck in the cross hairs is … Continued

Buck Fever

BY Tom Kelly We have all heard the term, “Buck Fever”. Most of us have at one time or another even experienced it. This malady doesn’t just afflict deer hunters. In fact, I have frequently seen experienced deer hunters become victims of target panic when they see their first bear in the woods sneaking into … Continued

Legendary Maine Bucks

BY V. Paul Reynolds Maine has long been famous for its “monster” whitetail bucks. Of course, the most fabled of these is the 1955 Horace Hinckley buck, a big-toed bruiser that field-dressed at a jaw-dropping 355 lbs! No other buck has since come close to this famous buck,when it comes to sheer weight. But weight … Continued

November Grouse

By Paul Fuller Is November the new October? With climate change, everything changes. Let me explain. As I’ve written many times in this column, there are two ingredients that control a grouse life: food and shelter. Conifers are the main source of shelter for the ruffed grouse. And, that source of shelter remains … Continued

Bucks: The Big Woods Mystique

By Hal Blood September signals that fall has arrived in the north country. By the beginning of September, they have the red tinge that will soon be the spectacular foliage that adds to the beauty of the woods. Frost is eminent and I have seen it in late august as well. September the transition month … Continued

Hunting: Ethical Choices

BY V. Paul Reynolds In the realm of deer hunting, what is the definition of “fair chase” anyway? Fair chase, as defined by the Boone and Crockett Club, is the ethical, sportsmanlike, and lawful pursuit and taking of any free-ranging wild game animal in a manner that does not give the hunter an improper or unfair … Continued

SAM Saves Deer Yards

By V. Paul Reynolds August 23 at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer, David Trahan, the executive director of the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM), was the guest speaker at a Deer Yard Forum hosted by some Bangor area state Republican legislative candidates. Gerry Lavigne, a retired state deer biologist and wildlife consultant for SAM, joined Trahan … Continued

Warden Pilots

By V. Paul Reynolds Sooner or later, most career game wardens place themselves in harm’s way in the line of duty. The same can be said for game warden pilots who often are called upon to assist, from the air, in coordinated ground searches for missing persons. More often than not the weather is nasty, … Continued

Mean Seeds

By Paul Fuller The prairies are calling. I believe it was Bing Crosby who gave us this lyric: Home, home on the range, where the deer and antelope play. I’ve been getting many inquires recently about hunting the prairies. I’ve written many times about hunting the prairies in this column, however, one issue I haven’t … Continued

Moose of the Slash

BY Mark McCollough In the deep woods of northwestern Maine, it is known as “The Slash.” Maine’s 292-mile border with the province of Quebec is not impressive, just a 40-foot swath cut through the spruce, fir, and cedars. Most power line rights-of-way are wider. About every half mile or so is a waist-high boundary monument … Continued

Henry Arms Celebrates 25th Anniversary

By V. Paul Reynolds This year Henry Arms is celebrating its landmark 25-year celebration as one of the country’s largest long gun manufacturers and the leading lever action maker. Anthony Imperato Henry Repeating Arms Founder and CEO Anthony Imperato took his first step into gun making by taking out a home equity loan in 1993 … Continued

One Night in Alaska

By Dave Willette “Shoot that bear! Shoot that bear! Be quiet and get on that bear.” Those were the exact words of my outfitter/guide Chet Nettles, owner of Alaskan Guided Hunting, and it was the culmination of a long and strange journey. This Brown Bear hunt was originally scheduled in the Winter of 2020 as … Continued

Fall Backwater Brookies

By Stu Bristol With striped bass still off the beaches in numbers and fall lakes and ponds heating up again, why would any angler in his/her right mind head into the backwater streams in search of a limit of five brook trout? Here in southern Maine anglers are spoiled with the amount of fishing opportunities … Continued

Fly Fishing Summer Bass

By Al Raychard For many fly fishing enthusiasts trout are the name of the game. I’m a big fan of the various members of the “trout” clan, too and have been fortunate to travel from the remote fly-in regions of Labrador, Quebec and Alaska to the high altitude ponds in the Rockies to … Continued

The Forgotten Fendler Legacy

By V. Paul Reynolds It seems, for whatever reasons, one of Maine’s most fascinating and uplifting woods lore adventures has faded with time. In Maine, July 25th is Donn Fendler Day. Governor Paul LePage claimed it so in July of 2014, 75 years after a skinny 12-year old New York boy survived an incredible 9- … Continued

Summer On the Allagash

By Gil Gilpatrick Canoeing the Allagash in mid to late summer is usually great time of year for it. The weather is more dependable than at any other season. When I was asked, it is the time I most recommended for a group of friends or a family trip. The bugs, though never completely absent, … Continued

Catch and Release or Kill

By Josh Reynolds For the modern fly-fishing angler, there is controversy afoot. It seems that the social and political polarization of the past few years has threatened to pollute a sport that I love. In the angst-ridden world of social media, throughout the internet of fishing blogs, in the pages of traditional fishing magazines and … Continued

Understanding Fly Lines

By Bob Leeman Are some of these lines better than other flylines? Actually, despite differing in color and price, a (WF) weight forward floating flyline will do what they say they do-that is, float better and perhaps longer, if coated. The Question Do you really know how many kinds of flylines are available to anglers … Continued

Green Lake: A Special Fishery

By V. Paul Reynolds Among those Maine anglers who talk and ponder such things, the Arctic charr is getting a fair amount of attention these days. This cold -water native Maine fish has a Laurentian lineage, which means that its ancestors date back to the Ice Age. In the U.S, there are just 12 waters … Continued

Spring Fishing Allagash Lake

By Matt LaRoche It is that time of year again. Time to tie a few new trolling flies, put some new line on that spinning reel and plan a fishing adventure. A spring fishing trip to Allagash Lake is a real wilderness expedition that you will remember for a lifetime! Allagash Lake is the … Continued

Overhauling the Maine Deer Hunt

By V. Paul Reynolds Last fall in this column I reported: **** “Clearly, the any-deer permit system needs a thorough overhaul. Through a legislative order, a stakeholder group has been assembled and is conducting meetings this fall and winter to address the issue. No doubt there will be a public input period once the group … Continued

Maine’s Wild Trout

BY Bob Mallard Having recently written about wet-lining ponds, it reminded me once again just how unique and special Maine’s wild native brook trout ponds are. Nowhere in the nation is there a bigger inventory of self-sustaining native trout, charr, or salmon lakes and ponds. It is a kind of experience found in very few … Continued

Trout Season Opens

By Gary Moore Open water trout anglers get really antsy by the end of March, often casting on the lawn and dreaming of opening day. This year that occurs on Saturday, April 9. Like so many others I will be plying the waters of local streams hoping to entice a trout to hit. As … Continued

A Close Shave

By V. Paul Reynolds This event is true. The names have been changed. It took place on a deer hunt in northern Canada. There was some snow on the ground, and more coming. Bill, with his rifle slung over his shoulder, was driving a four-wheeler along a river bed. As directed earlier by a hunt … Continued

Turkey Woods Tips

BY Stu Bristol “Turkey hunters are merely play actors; the “Turkey Woods” their stage.” I penned that slogan for my call making business back in 1983. That’s when I began making turkey calls for friends and relatives. Each time I head out in search of a longbeard I remind myself of that truism. Obviously … Continued

Kings of the Yukon

By Jeremiah Wood Alaska rivers teem with salmon throughout the summer. Or at least they used to. An alarming decline in salmon runs in recent years has brought massive changes to the way subsistence, sport and commercial interests operate. The king salmon, a local name for the species commonly referred to as chinook, has been … Continued

The Rarest Eagle

By Mark McCollough Maine bird-watchers started the year with the sensational arrival of an exotic Russian visitor. A Stellar’s sea eagle was sighted in late December and early January in Georgetown and Boothbay Harbor. By the time of the publication of this article, it may take up residence in Maine or be anywhere between California … Continued

The Golden Retriever Man

By V. Paul Reynolds Fly fishermen are no dummies. At a fly shop, a bright, buggy-looking fly may wind up in the angler’s shopping cart, but it had better perform out there on the water. Sometimes it does; sometimes it doesn’t. Yes sir, the proof is in the pudding. These days Maine fly fishermen flock … Continued

The Cigar-Tractor Man

By Jonah Paris During my UMaine days, a small group of us obsessed over panfish throughout the winter months. While many students drained their savings on smelts and raced off to Cold Stream, Schoodic, and Moosehead every weekend in search of salmon and trout, we usually opted to stay closer to Orono. For a couple … Continued

The Rarest Mushroom

By Bud Utecht When people stay at Buckhorn Camps they come for many reasons; relax, explore nature, fish, hunt, and North Maine Woods adventure. One such adventurous guest requested a father/son kayak trip around Jo Mary Island and that’s just what we set out to do. Right away we saw four otters playing in the … Continued

Sunday Hunting: Is There a Compromise?

By Josh Cottrell Sunday hunting in Maine. It is a popular topic among hunters, especially in the fall. Hunters feel like they are being robbed of a day to be in the woods hunting. Non-hunters believe they are preserving a day to be in the woods not worried about hunters. This topic has been hashed … Continued

Shadowing a Big Buck Hunter

By Brian Connor Rick Labbe is the most unassuming, kindest hardcore deer slayer you will ever meet. At 5’8” he doesn’t have the imposing frame of a lumberjack—which is a job he did plenty of before building a successful construction company—but what he lacks in build he more than compensates for in lean, efficient, boundless … Continued

The New Marlins

By Tom Kelly Most folks know by now that Ruger Manufacturing purchased Marlin Firearms in the Remington Bankruptcy proceedings last year. The question has been, when will we see new Marlin products from Ruger, and will they still be Marlins. Well, the wait is over. The first new Marlin rifles rolled off the proverbial line … Continued

Anticosti Hunts: New Options

By Mark Cote In last month’s edition of Northwoods Journal I announced the acquisition of the Safari Anticosti territory. Since then, the level of excitement is off the charts at Sepaq Anticosti! The new lodges, cabins, another airport, and most importantly, Safari employees joining the Sepaq organization brings many more opportunities to clients of both … Continued

Mythical Maine Creatures

BY Mark McCollough Jet-black darkness and a fearsome January wind slithered through the cracks in the logging camp. Wool socks and leather chopper mittens steamed by the pot-bellied stove. Their acrid stench mingled with the belches and farts from yet another meal of pork and beans. Kerosene lanterns flickered dimly at either end of the … Continued

Grace in the Deer Woods

By V. Paul Reynolds A veteran game warden once told me that his career had taught him that, like the general population, most sportsmen are polite and law abiding, but there is that 10 percent that just don’t give a damn. My experience is that hunters all harbor different values or perceptions when it comes … Continued

The Legend of Sneaky Pete

By John Floyd It was a cold and crisp November morning, late in the firearms season when I mounted my stand. The ladder steps were frosted over and the metal slick as I ascended the fifteen feet to my perch. A hard frost had come in overnight and as I looked up through the tree … Continued

The Whitetail Flag

BY Mark McCollough I am a dyed-in-the-wool still hunter – always was, always will be. My father taught me this type of deer hunting when I was a small lad. “Know the wind, and always choose to hunt a piece of woods so the wind is in your face. Take one careful step forward. Stop … Continued

Opening Day

By Jonah Paris Opening day of deer season is a landmark in the Maine sportsman’s year. Rifles have been sighted in. Clothes are carefully laid out the night prior. The pack is stuffed with essentials: compass, GPS, knife, lighter, flashlight, license, rope, game tags, an apple, and a few chocolate bars. The weather forecast has … Continued

Back Seat Shooters

By V. Paul Reynolds Four cow elk answered the call. On cue the elk emerged from the aspens and began to mill about along the edge of the small creek that meandered through the wide open drainage. Nothing but tall sweet grass between us and the elk. But it was a long shot. Wife, in … Continued

New Deer Rifles

By Tom Kelly It’s that time of year again. The time of year we all wait for. I am of course talking about hunting season. The days are cooler, the nights are getting chilly, and our thoughts are consumed with filling the freezer with venison and hanging a big rack on the wall. Most of … Continued

Grouse Hunting Basics

By Paul Fuller Due to last year’s outstanding grouse season, I’ve never had so many emails asking about grouse hunting. Plus, most of the major grouse camps are booked for this fall. You can separate yourself from the maddening crowd by being just a little smarter about your approach to grouse hunting. Here’s … Continued

Moose: Shot Placement

By V. Paul Reynolds A big target, a moose. What do you aim for? There have always been different schools of thought on this question. Wives tales abound. Moose are Maine’s largest big game animal by far. Bulls have been known to top the scales in excess of 1,000 lbs! Because of their sheer size … Continued

The Venerable 30:06

By Tom Kelly All of the bear species have been taken with a .30-06, moose, elk, bison, musk ox, wolves, coyotes, and every species of deer have been dispatched. Was this the optimum choice for each of these animals? Perhaps not, but nonetheless, it did the job. The Round There is an old saying … Continued

Big Moose Tactics

By Nathan Theriault You have been drawn for a once-in-a-lifetime moose tag. Or maybe, second, third or fourth. If that is the case, you are extremely lucky or blessed. There’s nothing wrong with a little of both, if it gets you a tag. However, being lucky alone does not work so well today with filling … Continued

Good News for Maine Deer Yards!

By V. Paul Reynolds There is very good news for Maine’s whitetail deer. LD 404, an Act to Preserve Deer Habitat, a deer-yard protection measure is a done deal! Not in all my years in reporting on the Maine outdoors can I recall a single legislative initiative with such potential to salvage Maine’s … Continued

Results of Maine Deer Hunter Survey

Edited by V. Paul Reynolds The Northwoods Sporting Journal received 59 responses to its deer hunter survey. These responses have been collated and are reported below. Although the statistical validity of this survey may not comply with scientific protocols, it does lend some anecdotal insights into what Maine deer hunters are thinking and … Continued

Tips for Bear Hunters

By John Floyd In recent years, the smartphone and social media have by far saved more bears during the bait season than any other factor. No matter how emphasis I put on this, I still have clients, season after season, getting caught banging away on their phones instead of being still, focused and quiet. … Continued

Game Wardens Needed

By Kale O’Leary With openings in virtually every corner of the State of Maine, I encourage anyone who has ever thought of pursuing this career to reach out to your local Warden, inquire about meeting to have a coffee or even ride along for a day to learn more about the job. The Maine … Continued

Spruce Mountain Sasquatch

By Robert Spearin Up on Spruce Mountain, down there on Route 9, There’s a place that’s forgotten by man and by time. It’s a ten acre place where no one has gone, With some cliffs and a cave and it’s own little pond. And a cloud always hides it so no one would know That … Continued

The Lowly Togue

By V. Paul Reynolds In the lineup of Maine’s game-fish inventory, our togue (Lake Trout) is the black sheep of the family among salmonids. In the frying pan, compared with a pan-fried brookie or a poached landlocked salmon, the togue is not memorable table fare. Togue have remarkable longevity, some living up to 20 years. … Continued

Deer Yards: Can We Save Them?

By David Trahan It is hard to believe, but at one time northern Maine was a world-renowned destination for adventure seeking whitetail deer hunters on a quest to harvest 200+ pound bucks. Any Sunday during the November deer season, trucks and cars would pour out of northern Maine with big bucks tied to the top … Continued

What Flyline and When

BY Bob Leeman Are some of these lines better than other flylines? Actually, despite differing in color and price, a (WF) weight forward floating flyline will do what they say they do-that is, float better and perhaps longer, if coated. The Question Do you really know how many kinds of flylines are available to anglers … Continued

Game Camera Buck

By Bud Utecht With the camera set to video, I was able to watch him thrashing the branch above him and paw at the scrape. Now I was pretty thrilled that he had been there and it was boosting my long- gone confidence in this spot. I have read a few articles recently, even … Continued

The Fabled Fisher

By Bud Utecht Winter and spring seem to be the best times to get pictures of fisher. This is the time they travel great distances in search of food. Mustelids, my favorite group of wild animals. Who are these creatures? Mink, Marten, Fisher, Otter, and Weasel. These creatures are very misunderstood and quite … Continued

Famous Trolling Flies

By Bob Leeman During those early years of streamer fly designs, there were many recognized creators of new streamer fly concoctions. Even today, the avocation of creating and fly tying continues to increase in popularity. Most of Maine and New England’s lake and trollers and streamer fly assemblers would remember Carrie Stevens, noted creator of … Continued

The Early Hatches

By Matt LaRoche The Hendrickson hatch is the first hatch of the season on the river. It usually occurs on or about Memorial Day weekend. I worked on the West Branch of the Penobscot as Park Manager of the Penobscot River Corridor for over 20-years. During those years, I had the opportunity to … Continued

Talking With Turkeys

By Stu Bristol A wise old southern turkey hunter once told me I would begin to learn about wild turkeys the first day out and it would take the rest of my life to try and learn the rest. After nearly five decades of chasing wild turkeys and killing more than my share, it’s … Continued

Streamer Size Matters

By Ben Rioux What many anglers fail to realize is that when it comes to smelt imitation (or really any imitation patterns for that matter), size plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of any pattern. April marks the traditional start of open water fishing in the state of Maine, but as I’ve noted in … Continued

North Woods Wet Flies

By Bob Romano In addition, many of the northern New England rivers and streams are characterized by fast-running rapids and runs, preventing fish from closely examining insects. Anglers traveling to northern New England may be surprised to find that although there is a time and place to cast dry flies, on most days, fishing under … Continued

Return of the King

BY V. Paul Reynolds There is one angling odyssey, however, that is above all others, a fishing experience that for me eclipses in a profound way the other outstanding fishing experiences. As a fisherman, I have been blessed. In more than 60 years of dedicated recreational angling, many memorable fishing adventures have come my way. … Continued

Legendary Maine Bucks

By V. Paul Reynolds Maine has long been famous for its “monster” whitetail bucks. Of course, the most fabled of these is the 1955 Horace Hinckley buck, a big-toed bruiser that field-dressed at a jaw-dropping 355 lbs! No other buck has since come close to this famous buck, when it comes to sheer weight. … Continued

The 16 Gauge Resurgence

By Tom Kelly The resurgence in lighter, sleeker shotguns has prompted some of the major shotgun manufacturers to introduce some newer versions of the 16 gauge in the last few years. The 16 gauge was another victim of the magnum craze. It seemed like for a while if it didn’t have a 3” or 3 … Continued

The Legacy Lives On

By V. Paul Reynolds & Sam Huston Averill “Blackie” Black of Bangor passed on recently at 93. He was a brother-in-law and long-time hunting and fishing companion, a teller of tall tales round the campfire and a founding member of the Skulkers of Seboeis, a hunting club to which I am a member. … Continued

Electric Snowmobiles

By Rod Fraser Let’s breakdown the comparisons between the Taiga and the other big brand gasoline-powered snowmobile models so you can determine if an electric sled would be a good choice for you. To those of you who routinely read my column, thank you very much for your support! You may remember back in … Continued

The Mystery of Big Bog

By Kale O’Leary In the spring of 1923, closure was finally brought to the case, or so they thought, as the bodies of Brown and Johnson were discovered in the water at Big Bog. One man was found in the Dam, while the other was found downstream. Throughout the fall and winter of 1922, … Continued

The Grouse Blunder

By V. Paul Reynolds A number of years ago when I was a working newspaper editor, the silent unsung heroes of the newsroom operation were the “copy editors” on the copy desk. These word and fact sleuths did not wear green eye shades or elastic arm bands, but they were meticulous and detail oriented … Continued

Black Powder Opportunities

By Josh Reynolds Yes, while the rut is winding down, the bigger, dominant bucks are still looking to breed in December – just like us, when the testosterone is still flowing. They are still on the hunt. The nicest deer I’ve ever shot happened during muzzleloader season, but before that, I was still a fan … Continued

The Mystery of Bog Bog: Part II

By Maine Game Warden Kale O’Leary According to a newspaper article published in an unknown newspaper from November of 1938, Chief Warden Brown and Warden Johnson hiked from Caucomgomoc Lake on November 12th and arrived at Loon Lake the following day. I was a brand-new Game Warden, attending the Advanced Warden Academy in the spring of … Continued

The Ammo Shortage

By V. Paul Reynolds During the first half of this year, nationwide firearms sales increased by 95 %! Between January and July of this year, 5 million Americans bought their first gun. FBI background checks on potential gun buyers are 72% higher than last year. Have you tried to buy any ammunition lately? Good luck. … Continued

November Grouse Great!

By Paul Fuller Late season grouse hunting can be very productive. Although October provides us with the beauty of fall, it’s not necessarily the best time to hunt grouse. If the ground is fairly snow free, November can be an exceptional time to pursue the “King”. Why November? What makes November an ideal time to hunt the … Continued

Lever Guns for Deer

By John Floyd The biggest drawback in the past when hunting with a lever gun has been ammunition. Most guns used a tubular magazine which meant having to load only round or flat nosed bullets like the .30-30 Win and .45-70 Govt. When most folks think of lever action rifles, the first thing that comes … Continued

Best Maine Deer Guns

By V. Paul Reynolds Recently on my statewide Sunday night talk radio program, Maine Outdoors (on the Blueberry Broadcasting Network), I chatted by phone with John Floyd. He is a guide-outfitter and gun writer for the Northwoods Sporting Journal. Floyd had agreed in advance to focus his comments on one of the most hotly discussed … Continued

October: The Sportsman’s Gift

By Dennis Jensen The month of October is a gift, a gift of memories and the gift of today. Sitting at the desk, staring into the vertical, empty white space on my computer, I am trying to come up with a good topic for, arguably, the most challenging month of the year, at least for … Continued

Sneakin’ a Peek

By V. Paul Reynolds The happy angler with all the hookups could simply smile back, like Betty Lou, at your nervous query and with a smile say, “I’ll never tell.” Or even worse, “It ain’t none of your business, Bub.” More than enough books have been written about fly fishing to fill the shelves … Continued

Gunning for Grouse

By John Floyd This month bird hunters are making their way into the logging roads and field edges in pursuit of that ever elusive, fighter jet of a game bird - the ruffed grouse. Getting back to these basics will help you put more birds in your bag.

Bucky Owen: A Good Guide

By Mark McCollough One of Bucky’s outgoing graduate students took me aside and confided, “Here is the secret of surviving as Bucky’s graduate student. Bucky will have 10 ideas. Your job is to figure out which one is the best!” If you are fortunate, you will meet generous people in life who will take … Continued

Tactics for Big Moose

Message from the Editor

The Sporting Journal’s “New Normal” Some sage once said that in life “change is the only constant.” How true that is. The Covid-19 era underscores the profound nature of change like nothing we have seen in many years. Uncertainty, confusion, and anxiety have seemingly combined to put fear as the central emotion that seems … Continued

The Cougar Sightings

By V. Paul Reynolds For almost as long as I have been writing about the Maine outdoors, this fascinating question has persisted: “Are there mountain lions (cougars) in Maine?” In a way, the elusive and mysterious cougar has become somewhat of a Maine folklore icon, the Maine equivalent of Bigfoot in the Pacific Northwest. … Continued

Cougars: Are They in Maine?

By V. Paul Reynolds The question persists. More than 25 years ago, as editor of the official magazine for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W), the same question was addressed by me in an article that sought to dig deep and find credible answers. At the time, despite a number of … Continued

Fishing Small Runs

By Al Raychard I grew up in a time when much of southern Maine seemed a lot less crowded, when you knew your neighbors and a kid could walk to his friend’s house a mile or so down the road and home again in time for supper without fear or mothers worrying about a … Continued

Libby Camps Open for Business

By Ben Rioux Libby Camps has been around since 1890, and during those 130 years we’ve endured our fair share of hardships from pandemics to depressions to world wars and everything in between. Regardless, it goes without saying that Covid-19 and recent events weigh heavy on our lodge, guides, and guests. We look forward every … Continued

Maine Turkeys: Less Conservative Hunt Plan

By Brad Allen To all my wild turkey hunting and watching friends out there I’d like you to know that the Department’s wild turkey management program is right on track. First, Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) spearheaded restoration activities back in the 1970s with the support of many individuals associated with the National Wild Turkey … Continued

Overlooked Fishing Laws

By John Floyd As open water fishing season begins, it’s a good time to review the new Maine Fishing Laws handbook and any new rules and laws in effect this year. While bait rules and bag limits get a lot of attention, it’s also a good idea to brush up on existing general fishing laws. … Continued

The National Eagle Repository

By Mark McCollough Life as a bird rehabilitator is not always pleasant. On a day in May, Marc Payne and Diane Winn at Avian Haven said good-bye to an old friend. A month previous, an adult bald eagle was found floundering on the shore near Mount Desert Island. It did not resist capture by Warden … Continued

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