Bull Moose on the Cover; Maine’s Best ATV Destinations; Snowmobiles Getting Tuned Up; Bowhunting Success and Upland Game Hunting Safety
October is moose season in Maine, and this month’s issue of The Maine Sportsman pays homage in several ways – first, by featuring famed Maine wildlife photographer Mark Picard’s cover photo, titled “Two Bull Moose with Reflection”; second, by including a great photo taken by Jody Zeisloff of two bull moose sparring antler-to-antler along the shore of Big Spencer Pond (page 23); and finally, by treating readers to a special feature in which new writer Ed Pineau describes a truck-top moose-calling structure labeled “Moose Ridah,” and recounts the trials and tribulations of last season’s moose hunt.
Upland game hunting is also in full swing this month, and to help us all keep it safe, regular contributor and Maine guide Michael Browning offers a shot-gunning piece in which the title says it all: “Don’t Pepper Your Hunting Buddy with Birdshot – How to Hunt Safely in Thick Grouse and Woodcock Cover.”
There’s still plenty of ATVing to be had, and Shane Brown (of Bangor Powersports fame) brings readers the best of the best, in his tell-all, “Five Great Destinations and Activities for ATV Riders This Fall” (page 19).
And when Shane gets on a motorized roll, there’s no stopping him, as demonstrated by his transition to early-season snowmobiling preparations, presented to readers starting on page 31 (“Snowmobiles – What’s New for 2019”). He describes in detail the latest models and innovations from Polaris, Ski-Doo, Arctic Cat and Yamaha.
And for bowhunting enthusiasts, Val Marquez presents an outstanding piece (“To Consistently Kill Deer in Maine, You Need to Micro-Manage your Bowhunting Skills,” pages 24 – 25) in which he describes the meticulous steps he takes to control scent and avoid disrupting deer with excessive on-the-ground scouting – an approach he employs successfully year after year.
These special sections are complemented by offerings from our regular monthly columnists, including JC Allard’s “Shooter’s Bench” (on military rifles converted to hunting use), Bill Graves’ “The County” (upland game and waterfowl, including his usual excellent array of photographs), and William Clunie’s “Freshwater Fly Fishing,” in which he reviews pedal-powered kayaks, that leave hands free for fishing.
So whether you are interested in a particular subject matter (like “Off-Road Traveler”) or a certain geographic region of the state (Down East, Western Mountains, Southern Maine), you’ll find some of Maine’s best outdoor writing on our pages. And don’t forget to chuckle at the “Smilin’ Sportsman” jokes, since our humor staffers get paid by the laugh.
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
Augusta, Maine
