Featured Articles
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
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 … Continued
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
My name is Cody Fish. I enjoy reading the Northwoods Sporting Journal while out on my fishing trips aboard the two 80-90 foot offshore scallop boats I work on. Our trips are typically a week to two weeks long. As we steam out to the fishing grounds, or even home, I frequently find myself reading the whole journal cover to cover. Wonderful advice, tips, and stories to help me remember just how beautiful the state I call home is. I reside in the town of Union, Maine and am an avid deer Hunter and trout fisherman. I am attaching a picture of me holding the journal as I steam the boat towards Cape Cod.
- Cody Fish"