Go fly a kite AND fish for stripers!

Parson's beach, at the mouth of the Mousam River, is an awesome place to take the family. The kids are sure to enjoy building sand castles, beach combing and even flying kites in the ever present sea breeze. While you are there, be sure to visit the mouth of the Mousam River and wet a line. This is one of the state's HOT SPOTS for stripers and blues. If you need to know more about tides, equipment, local bait options and how to get there check out the following website: www.flyfishinginmaine.com.

In The Tree Tops

Found this old deer stand while turkey scouting this spring and it reminded me of this poem . . . enjoy.

IN THE TREETOPS

WHO inhabits the cities of leaves,
With their streets of bending boughs,
And their green-walled houses,
cool and dim As cloisters for monkish vows?
Not monks I ween, for I hear their songs,
So merry, and sweet and gay,
And love is breathed in each swelling note
Of their rippling roundelay.
In those houses high were room for two
When first they were built there:
What hopes were woven with each soft strand
That fashioned their circle fair!
Oh happy lovers!—in safe retreat
From my prying eyes below,—
You have waked anew my heart's old griefs
From the days of long ago.

—Mary Vaughan

Western, Field. Western Field - Sportsmans Magazine of the West. San Francisco: Western Field, 1907.

West Grand Lake Expedition Huge Success

As tends to be standard operating procedure, our annual spring fishing trip to West Grand Lake was hugely successful! Family and the infamous "Duckman" all packed the remote camps at the “Thoroughfare”. Despite outlandish story telling and a reckless amount of food and beverage, we even managed to find time to do a little fishing. I have posted photos but won’t be able to share the sorted stories of lost lunkers, swamp gas, mobile outhouses, dilly beans and the $200 dollars worth of rods, reels and lures that now rest on the bottom of the lake, until I manage to find a few hours to craft the tale. Trust me it will be worth the wait!!

Mt. Katahdin Picture

This photo, of Mt. Katahdin, was taken last week at the scenic turn out on Rt. 95 North shortly after the Medway exit. Note that she is still veiled in a dress of frozen ice and snow.

"Why is it among the most glacial mountain peaks I find the greatest warmth?" By: Ivan Granger

Turkey Hunt Gone Bad

So I try not to take it personally, that my turkey calling is apparently so bad that I manage to call in Canada geese but then again if you listen really carefully my cluck, cluck, cluck does kinds sound like honk, honk, honk. To my credit, later in the morning I putted, purred, clucked and yelped in 4 hens using nothing but my mouth . . . so I guess I am not as bad at this turkey hunting as these geese would have me believe!

All kidding aside, I had a great morning watching these two “strut” around the field and they were so polite and neighborly they even stopped by to say hello to my hen decoy. Animal behavior and interaction never ceases to amaze me and every trip into the woods is an educational adventure!

Low Tech Redneck

The pictures below, of two Canada geese, were taken with my Sony 12.1 Mega Pixel Cybershot from about 200 yards away. Now before you go thinking that I have some crazy high power zoom on this little hand held camera, let me assure you I do not. While lazily watching the day slip by, during an uneventful morning of turkey hunting, I decided to try this little trick I had read about. It involves looking through a set of binoculars (Nikon Monarch ATB 8x42) with your camera (basically the low tech redneck's telephoto lens). The end product, while a little blurry, is still very cool! The system could be vastly improved with the use of a tripod (to hold the binoculars and camera steady) and a set of rubber bands to keep the camera in position. Once the camera is steadied and secured it is a simple matter to look through the camera viewfinder or other binocular lens and taking your pictures. I look forward to trying out this system throughout this hunting season and will certainly post the results!

A Sportsman's Reflection

The first gobbles start up at 5:00, appearing about a hundred miles away. A light wind is caressing the pine trees and the sound is delightful. A bone chilling rain is pouring down from the heavens but I am protected within the womb like confines of the turkey blind.

The buzz of a woodcock and the drum of a nearby grouse keep me company and a bird call, I knew long ago, serenades me with "Poor Sam Peabody, Peabody".

The collected rain, on the grass, looks delicious, like it should taste like honey. I try and imagine what someone would think if they saw me on my knees licking the lawn and smile.

The awakening flowers and apple blossoms release a fragrance that drifts lazily through the blind lulling me into quite reflection.

A red tailed hawk screams out of the sky and snatches a mouse from the meadow and then just as quickly flies away. I marvel at his speed and precision.

The turkeys don't seem to want to corporate but the show provided by the flora and fauna lifts my spirit and moves my soul.

Why do we hunt? You might just as well be ask, why do we live or for that matter exist at all? An outdoors man is permanently and deeply connected to the wild places of this earth and a flame of passion burns deep within his heart.

Squirrels Molest Turkey Decoy

I had been wondering every couple days I had to go out and reset my turkey decoys. It was a mystery to me that the inanimate decoys always seemed to be lying down on the job. As I began reviewing the photos from the game camera, it quickly became apparent that the red and gray squirrels were having a great time climbing all over my turkey decoys! Well, it certainly gave me a chuckle so I wanted to share a few pictures.

Maine Guide Update (Hunting)

With all of the activity of 2010 turkey season, I had yet to inform the blogosphere that before April ended I successfully completed my final licensure and testing requirements for my Maine Guide “HUNTING” registration. I can now lead and get paid for hunting related activities in the state of Maine, as well as “RECREATIONAL” activities of which I was previously registered. All that remains now, for me to complete to fulfill my Maine Guide dream, is to complete the “FISHING” portion of the examination. I currently have not set a specific date for this to occur but am interested in completing before the spring of 2011. Knowing my passion for the outdoors I will probably grow wrestles and complete well before that date!

I also have paid my dues to the Maine Professional Guides Association to be part of their membership. If there are any Maine Guides out there and/or members of MPGA please drop a comment, as I would be interested to see if there are others Guides or association members out there reading!

In the hurricane of my excitement, I purchased several items through IFW and Maine Guide Supply. Both these locations sell some VERY cool guide related equipment and supplies, including patches, hats, vests, tie tacks, packet knives, coffee cups, shirts, etc. If you are in the market to get some new guiding gear they have all the stuff, including very cool hats (with green patches) in Mossy Oak and “green” guide patches, perfect for adding to your turkey vest!

Turkey 2010 (Game Camera Video)

Finally managed to catch my first turkey on my Moultrie Game Camera and what a BEAUTY!. After investing 5 weeks monitoring the camera, this mature tom finally walked by and tripped the 4 sec. video segment. Even though it is a short video and the bird quickly moves out of frame, you are still able to clearly see that this is a truly magnificent turkey. Thanks for watching and good luck turkey hunting!

Turkey 2010 Updates

The 2010 Maine turkey season is currently underway! So far, several family and friends have stopped by the house to try their luck at shooting the majestic eastern wild turkey. Despite hearing many birds on the opener, yesterday was eerily quite. Huge crowds of sportsman hit the fields in droves for the opener, causing a sizeable disturbance in the patterns and behavior of the flocks. This obviously made for difficult hunting yesterday for the visiting New Hampshire cru and that old curmudgeon Lenny who watched several birds run screaming away from his decoys. For the turkey hunter, looking to bag a bird, Thursday and Friday promise to be great days to get into the woods. Typically, there is a huge drop off in the number of people in the woods near the end of the first week as many try to get some much needed sleep after day early mornings getting up at 3:00 AM.

I have seen some beautiful mature birds during my scouting outings, including an absolutely HUGE double bearded bird that I will be pursuing on Thursday and Friday morning. Saturday will be my first full day (till 12:00pm) in the woods and will be joined by family on this outing. Depending on how Thursday and Friday go, I may even be talked into pulling out the bow, as long as the weather conditions and birds corporate. The Old Man will be attempting to take his first turkey with his new compound bow and to assist him with this endeavor I have patterned several birds working the property along fairly regular travel corridors.

New this season is a chance to shoot an additional bearded bird if you purchase a “2nd turkey tag” for $20 dollars. For many, this change in the law that provides a great chance to shoot a turkey for the table and then hunt, if you desire, for a truly trophy class bird. For those looking to spend some time glassing fields and likely spots, it is quickly apparent that there are some really nice birds out there strutting around. If I had to give one word of advise, it would be “walk”. By putting some miles between you and the “road hunters” you will quickly find unpressured birds. We continue to be fortunate in this state, that much of our property continues to be largely unposted. For both the resident and non-resident hunter, please make sure to respect landowner property by continuing to be considerate and asking permission when and where possible.

Turkey season has only just begun, so if you don’t yet have your bird you soon will! Just remember to remain positive, get off the beaten path and bring PLENTY of bug dope! Good luck everyone!