When a few of us headed into the woods for our traditional weekend of bird hunting and moose-watching, I thought the story I’d tell readers would revolve around the hunting itself. That’s not what happened. In fact, I never really got around to sharing the fact that although we saw plenty of birds and shot a few, we were shut out in the moose-watching department. Instead, I decided to talk about the hunting camp itself, and how traditions form, friendships are made, and imminent change can sometimes offer us the best opportunities of all. The people in this feature really matter to me. They’re great guys, and are some of the most generous, authentic Mainers you’ll ever meet. I’m lucky to call them my friends. That, I thought, was a tale worth sharing. I hope you liked it.
— John Holyoke
Hunting camp traditions: Memories remain even after the camp door closes
Do what you will to the rustic camp Earle Hannigan has shared with his brother for the past 44 years — that’s what he tells the next generation.
Make improvements. Get rid of the outhouse. Put in running water, if you feel you must.
Just leave the weathered white door — the one that opens into the camp’s main living area — alone.
Please.
We’re always thinking ahead here at the news. Sometimes it’s a bit depressing. Like when we’re thinking about winter stories when we haven’t hit Halloween yet. But it’s our job, and we’d like you to help out, if you’d be so kind. We’re planning our next BDN Maine Outdoors magazine, and one of the stories will be about building an outdoor ice rink. If you have some experience in this arena, please share your knowledge and photos with us by emailing athibodeau@bangordailynews.com by Oct. 24.
Blog log
Act Out with Aislinn: 1-minute hike: Precipice Trail in Acadia National Park
Zigzagging up the cliffs of Champlain Mountain, Precipice Trail is known as the most challenging and dangerous trail in Acadia National Park. Join BDN Outdoors reporter Aislinn Sarnacki as she climbs up metal rungs and scrambles over boulders on this unusual hiking trail.
Out There: 50 best places to fly fish the Northeast featured in book
Ever sit around a campfire with some fishing buddies and start brainstorming new places to wet a line?
Sure, we all have.
That’s how some of us end up with our fishing “bucket lists.” We listen to our pals, hear their tales, and say to ourselves, “Someday, I’ll go.”
Bob Mallard, owner of the Kennebec River Outfitters fly shop in Madison, has recently published a resource that could spur many more of those conversations.
Called “50 Best Places, Fly Fishing the Northeast,” Mallard’s book will likely emerge as the go-to guide for fly anglers willing to travel a few miles in order to get to special spots.
On the horizon
Saturday is Youth Deer Day — a day set aside for the state’s junior hunters — and we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for cool stories to share. John is writing a feature story on the day itself, which will appear before hunters head into the woods, and he’s planning on stopping by a tagging station or two on Saturday to see if he can catch up with some successful young hunters. If you see him at Bob’s Kozy Korner in Orrington, be sure to stop by and say, “Hi.” And if you’ve got a tale to tell, all the better.
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