The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is asking, with a straight face, that Maine hunters transport the gut piles of their dressed game out of the woods and deposit in local landfills.

In general, if you can figure out what time of the month the rut is at its peak, you stand the best chance of catching a buck.

Most seasoned deer hunters, even those of us who have never tagged a 200-pound buck, have nevertheless seen or jumped big deer that were later described at deer camp as the Hartford Elk.

By whatever method, those of us who hunt grouse in October in Maine find similar rewards.

At this level of sightings, the passing of time may help us resolve the inconsistencies surrounding cougars or mountain lions.

The long grouse season starts Sept. 26, and experts seem optimistic it will be a good one.