Bears in the Woods; ATVs on the Trail; Stripers in the Ocean; and Deer Meat on the Grill – It’s a Great Month to Be in Maine!
There’s no doubt about it – Mainers are seeing a lot more bear in these days, and not just in the woods, but also at the bird feeders and on back decks. Youth Bear Day was August 25, and the general season started August 27.
We here at The Maine Sportsman celebrate bear season with our September, 2018 issue featuring an impressive cover photo accompanied by a metaphysical question (“Does a Bear Sit in Your Woods?”). Inside, readers will find Part 2 of Bill Graves’ bear-baiting tutorial (page 21), news of bear hunting possibilities in Central Maine, courtesy of Steve Vose (page 54), and Val Marquez’s description of the increased numbers of bear sightings (and complaints) emanating from Southern Maine (page 62).
ATVers must keep track of a long list of rules and regulations, and our resident expert on the subject, Shane Brown, lays down the law on helmets, legal driving ages and much more in his article titled “Maine ATV Rules and Laws – Commonly-Asked Questions,” starting on page 17.
The weather is cooling, but as Barry Gibson makes clear in his Saltwater Fishing special starting on page 24 (“Live-Lining Stripers is Fun and Effective”), the fish are still biting in the harbors and off the coast.
Our wonderful chef, Kate Krukowski Gooding, comes through again this month with a winner of a dinner – Grilled Venison Steak – and the recipe and good-enough-to-eat photo are found on page 46.
And there’s more:
· Wound a deer and need help recovering it? As described by Joe Saltalamachia (“Big Game”), call Suzanne Hamilton and her short-legged, long-haired and sharp-nosed dachshund.
· Got a new hunting pup and want to know how your dog stacks up against the competition? Follow along with JP Falzone as he takes his young Italian Spinone, Nunzio, through the NAVHDA skills and instincts testing (page 27).
· Got some coin in pocket, and want a new center-fire from a quality outfit (Franchi) known heretofore for their shotguns? Learn all about this new firearm in Col. J.C. Allard’s “Shooter’s Bench,” starting on page 57.
With cooler water temperatures, trout and salmon head back into the shallows, according to our experts William Sheldon (“Katahdin” and “Jackman”), Lou Zambello (“Fresh Water Fly Fishing”) Tom Seymour, Tom Roth and others.
And when folks get to page 63, they will be rewarded with the award-winning output of our team of joke-writers and cartoonists.
We hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as our columnists and editorial staff enjoyed assembling it.
If you’ve got something to say, write us a short letter to the editor (providing photos, if you’ve got them), and email everything to Will@MaineSportsman.com.
Give us a call at 207-622-4242, and talk with office manager Linda Lapointe. Subscribe or renew your subscription, either on the phone or using the “Subscribe” link at our website, www.MaineSportsman.com. Keep in touch as a Facebook friend.
And thanks once again this month to our informed readers, to our many distribution outlets and to our loyal advertisers.
Will Lund, editor
Will@MaineSportsman.com
Augusta, Maine
