For those lucky enough to win a coveted permit during the the annual state-run lottery, Monday was a holiday of sorts. That’s the day that 1,050 hunters headed into the woods on the first day of the first six-day moose-hunting season of the year. BDN visuals editor Brian Feulner and I hit the road at 5 a.m. and sped north toward Ashland (and beyond) and ended up meeting a pile of happy hunters. The moose hunt has become a grand Maine tradition, drawing friends and families together on adventures that they’ll never forget. Brian and I were lucky that day: We got to head into the woods and call it “work,” and we had the opportunity to share some great tales with BDN readers. All in all, another fantastic day in Maine.
— John Holyoke
How the fatal New Jersey bear attack relates to Maine’s Question 1
A fatal black bear attack on a hiker in New Jersey last week is striking a chord in Maine, where Question 1 on November’s ballot asks voters to decide whether to ban three forms of bear hunting practices — baiting, dogs and trapping.
Youths cash in on opening day of moose hunt
One teenager celebrated his 15th birthday by shooting his first moose. Another lucky hunter was just 13. And yes, there were more than a few adults tagging their moose at Gateway Variety in Ashland on Monday. Despite a warm start to the season, the state’s busiest moose-tagging station lived up to its reputation.
Blog log
“While we cling to the free-access tradition, and work hard to maintain good relationships with private landowners in order to sustain that tradition, it is clear to me that Maine farmers and others, in the future, will be looking for new profitable enterprises like those described in [a 1950s] USDA brochure.”
Act out with Aislinn: 1-minute hike: Leonard’s Mills in Bradley
How about taking a hike with some historic meaning? Aislinn writes: “Established in 1960, the Maine Forest and Logging Museum at Leonard’s Mills is an authentic reconstruction of a logging and milling community in the 1790s. Located on about 400 acres on Blackman Stream in Bradley, it was once the site of an early pioneer settlement, identified by the remains of a stone dam and the foundations of several houses.”
On the horizon
Why not make plans to take part in this year’s Great Maine Outdoors Weekend, which kicks off on Friday and runs through Sunday? More than 100 events and activities are planned across the state, and you can find one close to home at the Great Maine Outdoors Weekend website. Also: If you’re an upland bird hunter, your season begins on Wednesday. In the coming days, we’ll share some thoughts on prospects for this season from the state’s biologists. In the meantime, have fun in the woods, and be safe!
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