Moose, Deer, Birds, Bear, and the Sportsman’s Readers Poll!
Moose hunters head north this month, often with family and friends, to fill the tag of a lifetime. In recognition of this tradition for a lucky few, Hal Blood offers up “Prepare to Hunt Moose” in The Maine Sportsman’s October, 2024 issue. Forty-four years ago, in 1980, Hal’s father’s name was drawn in the lottery for the first season of the modern moose hunt. A lot has changed since then, writes Hal (page 32), and he’s been witness to it all.
How big is that bear? It’s a question many hunters face, as a bruin ambles into the bait site. Staci Warren, an experienced hunter and trapper, answers all your questions in “Sizing Up a Bear,” starting on page 25.
It’s upland bird season, and Ben Wyman of Bangor and Caribou has authored a tale of humility in his essay, “How to Mess Up a First Bird Hunt.” He quotes Proverbs 16:18 (“Pride goeth before the fall”), and reminds is that even for experienced hunters, there are productive bird hunts, and then there are those during which the grouse and woodcock make themselves very, very scarce.
Most of us are looking forward to the regular firearms season on whitetail, including Joe Saltalamachia, who provides a pep talk worthy of Knute Rockne, Bear Bryant or Vince Lombardi, in his “Big Game Hunting” column titled “Our Time is Now” (page 37).
Snowmobilers are an optimistic bunch, reports Mark Chinnock, incoming president of the Maine Snowmobile Association, and starting on page 40, Chinnock tells readers exactly what he and others are going to do to overcome challenges of washed-out trails and bridges from 2023 – 2024 storms. We are also due for a winter of deep snow, so tune up your machine and get ready to rumble!
All this, plus great white sharks, hunting in The County, game cameras, blood-tracking dogs, bowhunting, great letters to the editor, and the best jokes and cartoons north of Southport and south of Northport.
Questions? Contact the editor at Will@MaineSportsman.com or the office manager at Carol@MaineSportsman.com. And call (207) 622-4242 to renew your subscription, or give a gift subscription to a deserving relative or friend.
Please enjoy the month of October in Maine with family and friends. Best wishes from us all at The Sportsman.
Will Lund, editor
