Outdoors
The BDN outdoors section brings readers into the woods, waters and wild places of Maine. It features stories on hunting, fishing, wildlife, conservation and recreation, told by people who live these experiences. This section emphasizes hands-on knowledge, field reports, issues, trends and the traditions that define life outside in Maine. Read more Outdoors stories here.
When Maine became a state in 1820, logging, potato farming and lobstering were the backbone of the economy. As the decades passed, the Pine Tree State became known for its outstanding hunting and fishing opportunities.
By the early 1900s outdoor enthusiasts and celebrities were visiting from all over the world to hire guides and outfitters to pursue big and small game, sea and puddle ducks, Atlantic salmon and landlocked salmon and trout. When Canada geese and wild turkey came into the picture in the last few decades, popularity grew further for resident and visiting sportsmen.
My dad was an avid outdoorsman and introduced me to cast-and-blast sporting ventures from a very young age. I remember having to stand on the old International truck’s passenger seat, leaning on the dashboard to see through the window to help look for partridge as we drove woods roads. It was well before vehicles had seatbelts. He was a wonderful mentor and I’m so thankful for the decades of outings we shared afield and afloat.
Unfortunately, a nationwide decline in hunting sports and license sales over the last 20 years has taken place, notably even here in Maine. Our forefathers often depended on hunting birds and big game to fill the winter larder and feed the family year-round. I don’t think the family traditions and hunting heritage have altered, but the need has perhaps declined.
Changing lifestyles, work demands and smaller families, as well as increased anti-hunting pressure, may all have contributed. Along with many other hunters, I find it a cause for concern.
Thankfully, there are still local and state clubs and organizations promoting shooting sports, as well as family mentors to teach, guide, promote and nurture our hunting heritage.
Then, to buoy my spirits, I get to share the story of the Cushman clan of Mars Hill and their astonishing big-game season. It helped restore my faith in the next generation of Maine outdoorsmen.
During last year’s spring turkey, bear, fall turkey and deer seasons, Garrett Cushman and his three sons — Carson, Ethan and Connor — managed to tag 16 big-game animals. They also accounted for dozens of ducks, geese, partridge and rabbits to stock the freezer and feed the family. Imagine if one of them had been drawn for a moose permit.
Garrett and Amanda owned and operated a successful embroidery, trophy and awards business in Presque Isle for years. Their sons worked with them or for local farmers whenever school and extracurricular sports allowed. Despite long hours and busy schedules, the family still found time to hunt together whenever possible.
Connor, 13, needed his dad along for every outing, which mostly meant short, intense hunts before and after school. After striking out on youth day, Connor got the family’s remarkable season underway by tagging a spring gobbler on opening day. Ethan followed a few days later after calling in a pair of toms. Garrett eventually connected with a bow after several close encounters that kept birds just out of range, and Carson completed the family’s spring turkey sweep a few days later.
Black bear season opened in late August with Garrett and the three siblings each tending their own personal bait sites for a month before opening day. Having practiced all summer with his compound bow, Carson was determined to bag a bruin with it. His first opportunity to hunt came on the second day of the season, and he wasted no time. A good shot as dusk was closing in sent a big bear running off into the woods. A heavy blood trail soon dwindled to drops, and family and friends were called into the dark night to aid the search.
Once the bear was located and the celebration ended, the work began. The bear was so large it had to be dressed before the group could transport it from the thick brush and heavy timber to a two-track where the ATV waited. It was past 2 a.m. when the bear was hoisted onto certified scales. It dressed at 376 pounds, putting its live weight at more than 450 pounds.
Late the next afternoon, trying to stay awake in the treestand after the previous night’s excitement followed by a day at work, Garrett got a bow shot just before dusk. His black bear topped the scales at an estimated live weight of 299 pounds. Next on the agenda was spending a few outings over a bait barrel with Connor. After a few no-show hunts and visits from bears they deemed too small, Connor finally connected with a well-placed rifle shot on a 165-pound bruin.
Conveniently sandwiched between bear and deer season, Aroostook County’s WMD 6 now features a 45-day fall turkey season intermingled with upland bird and waterfowl opportunities. Along with numerous successful grouse, duck and Canada goose hunts, all four members of the Cushman clan filled their fall turkey tags. By then, the family’s total stood at 11 big-game animals, and without a moose permit, all that remained was deer season.
Garrett was lucky enough to draw a doe permit and wasted little time filling it with his compound bow, making a spectacular 80-yard shot on a doe that dressed at 135 pounds. Later he added a heavy, symmetrical six-point buck. Connor tagged a doe during youth weekend, Carson took a 191-pound seven-pointer and Ethan closed out the season with a five-pointer.
In just over six months the father and three sons tagged 16 big-game animals, dozens of ducks, geese and grouse, several rabbits and a couple of coyotes. Not a bit of meat went to waste as they gifted dozens of friends and family members with tasty steaks and roasts after filling their own freezer for the winter.
Maine’s hunting heritage lives on in the Cushman clan, along with true sporting spirit. Such a season of 16 big-game animals for one family, including several real trophies, may have happened before in Maine, but I’ve never heard of anything like it in my 70-some years. It certainly strengthens my faith that a solid hunting foundation is being built for the next generation.
