Half way down the mountain a creek crosses the road. Approaching the creek, I could tell that the dirt-covered ice was making this horse skittish. At the creek’s edge, Hillary put on the brakes. Author’s note: This is part one of a three-part column series about my recent elk hunt in Colorado. Not until I […]
outdoors in maine
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Outdoors in Maine: A visit to Nine Mile Bridge
This abandoned steam shovel rests in the woods not far from where Nine Mile Bridge once spanned the St. John River. (Photo by V. Paul Reynolds) Although Henry David Thoreau’s book about his venture into the Maine north woods, “The Maine Woods,” is one the well-known books of its genre, “Nine Mile Bridge,” by Helen […]
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Outdoors in Maine: The moose hunt
For many Maine moose hunters lucky enough to get drawn, a moose permit is a once-in-a-lifetime affair. Such was the case with my middle-aged friend Greg Goodman, who has been trying for that permit since he was a young man. Knowing that I had had some experience in the moose woods (and perhaps that I […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Bird hunters: Stay safe, wear orange
It probably should please me that in more than 50 years of upland bird hunting and big game hunting, I have been shot only twice: once, long ago, while duck hunting at Merrymeeting Bay, I took a BB shower from another hunter across the water; later, while fussing with my lawnmower behind my Hampden home […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Last stretch of Boarstone hike is a real bear
“You wimp,” Diane said. “I don’t believe this. The summit is just over that pile of rocks. I’m telling you the view is 360 degrees. It’s fantastic.” “Nope,” I said with conviction. “This is far enough. I ain’t goin’.” “But we have come all this way,” she said, more pleadingly than with scorn. “Look,” I […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Word getting out that hunters are conservationalists
There are good reasons for those who care about such things to fret about the future sustainability of our American hunting heritage. Recently, in an address to the members of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) – an iconic leader in modern wildlife conservation- — well-known conservationist, Shane Mahoney, talked about the future. Some of […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Leeman's the name, outdoors writing has been the game
Maine fishing writer Bob Leeman, alias “Mr. Trout,” has decided to put away his pen. Leeman has been writing a fishing column for the Northwoods Sporting Journal for almost two decades. His debut as an outdoor writer was a half century ago, he recalls, when he started writing an outdoor column called Wildlife Corner for […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Even pilots are humbled by flying
Grandiose delusions are not unknown to me. As a young man, the challenges of a Navy carrier pilot appealed to me — until I joined the Navy and saw how inherently dangerous it is to land a jet aircraft on the pitching deck of an aircraft carrier on a dark and stormy night. No thank […]
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Outdoors in Maine: 20 years of fly fishing mentorship
This month the Penobscot Fly Fishers (PFF) celebrated its 20th anniversary. The Bangor-area fishing club held a banquet for members and guests at a local events center. Following dinner and a social hour, PFF President Ed Dailide offered some opening remarks. Charter members of the organization were recognized as well as past presidents. The anniversary […]
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Outdoors in Maine: Avoid the cardinal sin of boat safety
How does that saying go? “Fool me once shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on me?” Why is it that some of us never learn from our mistakes? In my book, “Backtrack,” chapter four is titled “The Lightning Thing.” Here is an excerpt: A few years ago, in early September, I tried to outrun […]