Kim Kardashian tried to kill the Internet this week by posing for photos of … well … I won’t mention. We here at the BDN did the same thing by telling you the story of the 8-point buck that turned out to be a doe. As you might guess, thousands of readers clicked on the story to hear the tale, and to see pictures of the large antlered female deer. While that story was developing, I spent some time in the woods, enjoying a week of vacation. I’d like to tell you that I emerged victorious, with my deer tag filled and my freezer full of venison. Of course, you know better than that: My trips afield were full of squirrel encounters … and that’s about it. No worries. Remember that old saying about the man who keeps receiving lemons? I’ve got my own take on that: Give a man squirrels, and he’ll make a column out of it. (Again). Have a great week, and make a point to get into the woods and have some fun. Squirrels not included.
— John Holyoke
Hunter in Sebec bags 8-point doe
A hunter staying at The Rockin P Sporting Lodge called the lodge Saturday morning to say he had just shot an 8-point buck, but upon closer inspection, the buck turned out to be a rare antlered doe.
Book documents state’s rich fisheries management history
Ask for a list of the state’s most swashbuckling, adventure-packed professions, and “fisheries biologist” may not show up.
But 96-year-old Roger AuClair of Rockwood, who retired from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife in 1985, has stories to tell — like about the time he hitched a ride with a warden pilot to a remote pond he wanted to survey, and things didn’t work out exactly as planned.
Blog log
Out There: Deer season diary: Selfie with a Squirrel
For the past dozen years or so, I’ve spent plenty of November days in a particular patch of woods in the rural Maine town of Otis.
Theoretically, I’ve been deer hunting.
Actually (since deer rarely join me on my annual adventures), I’ve been squirrel-watching.
Periodically, I’ve written columns about my interactions with the same squirrel.
At least, that’s my story.
Act Out with Aislinn: 1-minute hike: Vassalboro Wildlife Habitat
The 330-acre Vassalboro Wildlife Habitat, owned and maintained by the Kennebec Land Trust, features two trails: the 1-mile Alewife Amble Loop, which travels to the shoreline of Webber Pond, and the shorter Virginia Rail Trail, which leads to a cattail marsh where wood ducks and other birds are frequently seen.
On the horizon
In Saturday’s print pages (available much sooner at bangordailynews.com), John will share a boatload of hunting stories with you. Big deer. Big deer shot by young hunters. Deer tagged by a husband-and-wife couple who are both in their 80s … and a cool deer-hunting tale in which no shots were fired, but a father and son emerged from the woods with memories that will last a lifetime. Also, John sat down with Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife deer biologist Kyle Ravana, who shed a bit more light on the recent 8-point doe story.
To receive Word from the Woods, BDN Outdoors’ weekly email newsletter, visit bangordailynews.com/newsletters and select “Outdoors Newsletter.”
