Celebrating our Official State Animal – the Moose
If you were deciding which species should be designated Maine’s official state animal, there’s little doubt you would decide it should be the moose – thereby arriving at the same conclusion as our state legislature. As a matter of fact, you’d need look no further than our state seal – you know, the one with the moose resting under the pine tree. In the words of writer Neal McLaughlin, “[N]o other creature so clearly reflects Maine’s geography, history, and identity.”
As moose hunters fortunate enough to be selected for a permit crisscross Maine’s northern and western counties in search of a trophy, The Maine Sportsman’s October, 2026 cover photo – showing a truly majestic bull – is intended to convey our best wishes for a successful hunt.
And for those readers who enjoyed our September hunting dog pictorial, we’ve got more dogs for you! “Everyone thinks they have the best dog – and none of them are wrong,” wrote W.R. Purche in Canine Commandments. So enjoy six more pages of “best dogs” in our most recent issue.
Now that Expanded Archery season is fully underway, we cover bowhunting from all angles, starting with Troy Frye’s excellent historical analysis (“Maine Archery Seasons, 2010 – 2025,” p. 15),followed by Jake Mowry’s “Hunting with Traditional Archery Equipment” (p. 16), and wrapping up with Joe Saltalamachia’s deer-hunting tutorial, “Why All the Fuss About Crossbows?”, p. 53.
Speaking of deer, don’t miss Nate Fenderson’s “Are Suburban Bucks Harder to Hunt than Big Woods Bucks?” (p. 28), Staci Warren’s “Hunting Power Lines” (p. 57), and Ethan Emerson’s “The Deer We Found Yesterday (p. 75).
And in recognition of the start of upland game season, we provide readers with plenty of grist for the mill, with Tom Seymour’s “American Woodcock” (p. 17), Blaine Cardilli’s “The Art of Calling Fall Gobblers” (p. 37), William Clunie’s “Bird Hunting Season” (p. 41), and Jim Andrews’ “Is Road-Hunting for Grouse Ethical?” (p. 61).
All this, plus a new record crossbow bear, knives, guns, traps, exciting letters to the editor, and the best cartoons found anywhere west of East Millinocket and north of South Berwick.
Finally, mark your calendars for Easter weekend, 2027 for the 45th Annual State of Maine Sportsman’s Show, at the Augusta Civic Center (and if you’re a returning vendor, reserve your spot now, or lose it to the long waiting list!).
Once again this month, we hope we’ve met our goal of exceeding your expectations.
Write us at Will@MaineSportsman.com with questions or comments. Enjoy!
