In the realm of wildlife management, we have come a long way since the days of Aldo Leopold, the American father of enlightened wildlife stewardship. Leopold in his writings and teachings warned about the destructive impact that industrial progress and technology was having on America’s wildlife. In fact, wildlife planning, protection and well-funded conservation efforts […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Book offers insight into grouse hunting, the outdoors
Art Wheaton is the “perfect storm” kind of guy to write a classy, keepsake book about hunting the king of game birds. For a lot of reasons. Art, a son of the late Downeast guide Woodie Wheaton, cut his teeth on grouse and gun dogs. He and his family moved to Forest City (near Princeton) […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Despite lack of tally, deer permits on the rise
The scolding took place more than 20 years ago, when I was press officer for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. “Hey, Paul, you’ve got to be kidding me! It’s March and you guys still don’t have the tally on last fall’s deer kill?” asked the New England outdoor editor of a national […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Is it time for a spring bear hunt?
My wife, Diane, half-whispered and half-yelled at me: “Paul, come downstairs quick.” Standing in the shadows of the half-light by the kitchen window, she was pointing out by the bird feeder. A large black bear was standing on all fours not 15 feet from the sliding glass door on which it had slathered its drool […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Bidding a fond farewell to the "Boy" Scouts
In the twilight of my life, the Boys Scouts of America — its teachings, its values, and the fun of it all — still evoke a warm glow in my overflowing storehouse of special memories. Everything about the scouting experience left me the better for it. We wore the uniform proudly, as we did the merit badges […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Second Amendment remains necessary
If you have followed national issues at all, you may have learned somewhere along the way that even the hallowed U.S. Supreme Court Justices are not immune to all of the foibles, personal biases and character flaws that are the hallmark of the human condition. It is for this reason that our way of life […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Veazie Salmon Club arises from near extinction
In the 1980s and early 1990s, in May and June, you could catch a fresh run of Atlantic salmon on the Penobscot River. And you could play your king of game fish within eyeshot of downtown Bangor. As a result, salmon clubs popped up along the river banks like ostrich ferns. Those were heady times. […]
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Outdoors in Maine: UMaine-Orono a wellspring of promise
The New England Outdoor Writers Association (NEOWA) is a large group of outdoor writers and photographers that promotes wildlife conservation and professionalism in outdoor communication. Each year, NEOWA awards significant scholarships to a wildlife major from all six of New England’s land grant universities. The hope is that these wildlife majors will go on to […]
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Wheaton named 'Legendary Maine Guide'
In 2009, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, in conjunction with the Maine Professional Guide’s Association ( MPGA), did a wonderful thing. They created the Wiggie Robinson Legendary Maine Guide Award. It was fitting that Robinson was the first (posthumous) recipient of his namesake award. The idea was to select annually a deserving […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Something about that boat life
The sun-drenched Florida Keys, with its cobalt skies, swaying palm fronds and gliding pelicans got under my skin more than 40 years ago. As a Maine Naval Reservist, official orders sent me down there more than once for a two-week training tour at the Key West Naval Air Station. Later on my daughter married a […]