For the past dozen years, the BDN has proudly partnered with Dan Legere of the Maine Guide Fly Shop and given away the fishing trip to remember. Each year a lucky winner and I have joined Dan on the East Outlet of the Kennebec River, where we’ve eaten like kings, caught fish like pros and enjoyed fantastic days on the water. This year, in addition to accepting printed entry blanks, we’ve opened up the contest to our valued online readers. All you have to do to enter is follow the link and fill out the form. You can also find the link on our Bangor Daily News Facebook page. This year’s trip is scheduled for Sunday, June 14. I’ll be there … will you?
You’ll find out the answer to that question right here: We’ll announce the winner of this year’s contest in “Word from the Woods.” That way, our loyal newsletter readers will get the news first. Stay tuned!
— John Holyoke
On assignment: 72 hours covering the Can-Am sled dog race
BDN photographer Ashley Conti: “When I was told I was heading to The County to cover the race, I immediately asked my co-worker Gabor Degre what to expect and the best way to cover an event this large.
“He gave me a few tips. Dress warm, bring extra batteries, follow or drive with someone on the logger roads to each checkpoint, and prepare not to sleep.
“I laughed at that last bit of advice at first. But he was dead serious. He explained I would have a blast, but I would not be sleeping.”
Hunting snowshoe hares in Maine is tough without a hunting dog
In March, as the air begins to warm and the desire to be outside grows, there are few critters that can be legally hunted. Among them is the snowshoe hare, which runs rampant in the Maine woods. But for dogless hunters, these creatures present a major challenge.
Although they have high predation rates, hares also reproduce, well, like rabbits. A doe hare could have four litters every year, filling the woods with a lot of opportunity for small game hunters.
Blog log
Out There: Hogged stones, hacks and icy tumbles: A novice curler’s diary
Long before I even started waddling around on the ice and furiously wagging my own broom — a brush, actually — I learned how wrong I was.
I will never be an Olympic curler. Not even close.
Act Out with Aislinn: 1-minute hike: John B. Mountain in Brooksville
Join Aislinn and her dog Oreo as they snowshoe to the top of a small mountain in Brooksville that offers stunning views of Eggemoggin Reach, the Camden Hills and Blue Hill Mountain.
George’s Outdoor News: Governor breaks promise, withholds funds and threatens conservation projects
Gov. Paul LePage is withholding more than $11 million that would allow 41 outstanding conservation projects to be completed — even though he promised to fund these projects as part of a deal to pay off state debts to Maine hospitals in 2013, and despite the fact that 60 percent of Maine voters approved the bonds in 2010 and 2012 that authorized this money.
On the horizon
It may be hard to believe with all the ice still clogging up the rivers, but Maine’s annual series of spring canoe and kayak races is nearly upon us. The first race in the series is on the St. George River on March 28, and paddlers are already preparing in whatever way they can. The BDN Outdoors recently chatted with expert canoeist Jeff Owen of Orono, who offered some tips on being successful in the upcoming races. We’ll be sharing that Q&A with you later this week.
To receive Word from the Woods, BDN Outdoors’ weekly email newsletter, visit bangordailynews.com/newsletters and select “Outdoors Newsletter.”
