For most of us, it has been 11 months since last deer season wrapped up. Come Saturday morning, opening day for Maine residents, we’ll all be ready to go.
There is one matter to take care of before we head into the woods, of course: Where are we going to eat?
Luckily, a number of civic organizations are willing to help us answer that question. From Presque Isle to Stockton Springs, groups have been preparing to welcome hunters — and hungry non-hunters, for that matter — to their annual hunters breakfasts.
Eggs? Check. Pancakes? Probably. Bacon, sausage and home fries? Of course. All you have to do is wake up early, set course for one of these handy spots and eat your fill.
Heck, once you finish up, you might even feel like heading into the woods to spend a day trying to fill your tag. Or you might be so full that you feel like heading home to take a nap. The choice is yours.
These breakfasts are truly for the early birds — legal shooting hours begin at 6:42 a.m. Saturday, and organizers of these feasts have taken your hunting plans into consideration. The flip-side? Sleep in late, and you might go hungry.
Here then, are your opening day options — and a few advance notices for those who really like to plan ahead.
Opening day feeds
— In Bucksport, the Bucksmills Rod and Gun Club will be feeding hunters from 4 to 9 a.m. at their clubhouse, 359 Bucksmills Road. The price is $4 for children under 12, $8 for adults. For more information, call 469-2195.
— In Corinna, hunters are invited to stop by the Corinna Fire Department at 37 Exeter Road for a breakfast being held from 4 to 8 a.m. Adults will pay $7, kids age 12 and younger pay just $5. A rifle raffle also will be held.
— In Dexter, you’ll want to head to the Dexter Grange, 6 Church St., from 5 to 9 a.m. Kids 5 and under eat for free, 6- to 11-year-olds pay $3, adults pay $6.
— In East Millinocket, you can fill up at the East Millinocket Fire Station, from 5 to 8 a.m. The breakfast fees — $6 for adults, $4 for junior hunters — will be used to fund scholarships, fire prevention efforts, a smoke detector program and a children’s fun day during Summerfest. For more information, call 746-5355.
— In Hartland, the Hartland-St. Albans Lions Club has you covered: Their breakfast will run from 5 to 8 a.m. at the Grace Linn Methodist Church on Commercial Street. Breakfast will cost $6.
— In Howland, Penobscot Valley High School will hold its annual breakfast from 5 to 8 a.m.
— In Limerick, the Maine Life Gate Church will feed hunters from 4:45 to 7:30 a.m. at the church, 19 Foss Road.
— In Milo, the Three Rivers Kiwanis will hold the Milo-Brownville hunters breakfast at Kiwanis Headquarters on Gerrish Road. Hours are from 5 to 10 a.m. Adults eat for $8, kids age 12 and younger pay just $2.
— In Old Town, one of the area’s biggest hunters breakfasts will return for its 65th year. The Old Town Rotary will stage the event from 4 to 8 a.m. at Waterfront Park. The fee is $5 per person or $15 for families. Kids under 12 can eat for $2.50.
— In Presque Isle, hunters will gather at Grant Memorial United Methodist Church, 79 Fleetwood St., from 4:30 to 8:30 a.m., for a breakfast to benefit the church’s youth group. Fees are $6 for adults, $4 for children 12 and younger.
— Also in Presque Isle, the Presque Isle Fish & Game Club will host a breakfast from 4 to 8 a.m. at the clubhouse on Parsons Road. Admission is $7 per person.
— In Stockton Springs, American Legion Jerry W. Dobbins Post 157 will stage a breakfast from 4 to 8 a.m. at Sandy Point Community Club on Route 1. Adults eat for $7; kids under 12 pay just $3.
A bit of bad news
Hunters who have grown accustomed to a pair of breakfasts will have to make other plans this year.
First up, In Millinocket, organizers of the annual American Legion breakfast have announced their event has been canceled this year.
And second, in Dedham, hunters who’ve historically stopped by the Dedham School on opening day should also make other plans. The school will not stage a breakfast on Saturday. Plenty of hunters from Holden and Dedham, as well as Bangor-area hunters heading out Route 1A, have traditionally made the breakfast an opening day tradition. Plan accordingly.
Planning ahead
If you’re one of those hunters who likes to know where their next meal is coming from — and the meal after that and so on — here’s some good news: Organizations already are planning for events that won’t be happening on opening day. Here are a few options on coming weekends:
— In Glenburn on Nov. 7, the Glenburn Lakeside Riders Snowmobile Club will hold a breakfast from 4:30 to 8 a.m. at the Glenburn Community Club.
— In Holden on Nov. 7, the Eastern Maine Snowmobile Club on Levenseller Road will serve breakfast from 4:30 to 8:30 a.m.
— In Hampden on Nov. 14, the Hampden VFW breakfast is set for 5 to 9 a.m. at the VFW on Canoe Club Road.
— In Charleston and Parkman on Nov. 14, two breakfasts are scheduled to benefit Highview Christian Academy athletics. One is at Charleston Elementary School and the other at McKusick Gymnasium in the old Parkman Elementary School. Both run from 4:30 to 10 a.m.
— In Atkinson on Nov. 21, a breakfast will be held at Atkinson Methodist Church from 4:30 to 8 a.m.
