tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20022845988704927762024-03-12T22:28:21.649-04:00and a strong cup of coffeeAn outdoor blog about hunting and exploring the woods of Maine. Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.comBlogger451125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-74211500521357453092021-03-22T11:56:00.000-04:002021-03-22T11:56:51.063-04:00Taking Turkeys to Texas<script type="text/javascript">
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</script><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BufhGfaD_g0/YFi3EuoeY9I/AAAAAAAAIlw/byawwrrDQm4lqjLruq3z83MZLafjfAI6wCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Turkey_Merrill_NSJ_5.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="347" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BufhGfaD_g0/YFi3EuoeY9I/AAAAAAAAIlw/byawwrrDQm4lqjLruq3z83MZLafjfAI6wCLcBGAsYHQ/w260-h347/Turkey_Merrill_NSJ_5.21.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">There are
a few less turkeys in Maine to hunt this year. A few months ago, Maine Inland
Fisheries & Wildlife in partnership with the </span><a href="https://www.nwtf.org/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">National
Wild Turkey Federation</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">, captured and released more than 50 birds into East
Texas with the hope of rebuilding their population.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“Eastern
turkeys are where the restocking efforts originally began,” explained Shawn
Roberts, Director of Field Operations for the National Wild Turkey Federation, “We
tried in the 1920’s but it didn’t work.
We tried pen-raised birds and that didn’t work either. The only thing
that was successful was to trap birds and relocate them to good habitat.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“We
started this current effort in the early ‘80s and we had to begin looking
outside the state to see if we could get them moved in. We didn’t want to
violate <a href="https://www.fws.gov/international/laws-treaties-agreements/us-conservation-laws/lacey-act.html">The
Lacey Act</a> so we had to come up with a way to compensate the states that
were giving up a resource either by trading other wildlife or paying them
monetarily,” said Roberts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Texas is
on the very edge of the Eastern Turkey’s natural habitat. “We live in the fringe habitat. I35 is a good marker… everything west is Rio Grande
and everything east is Eastern Wild Turkey habitat,” explained Roberts, ”In the
1800s we deforested the land and destroyed the populations of turkeys and whitetails.
So far, we have been able to bring back other populations and now, we are trying
to get the turkeys back.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“The more
birds we can release at once, the better the efforts can be,“ Roberts
continued, “Texas Parks & Wildlife identified areas that would work, but it
has to be land owner driven because we have a lot of privately owned land. The minimum
land requirement is 1,000 acres of continuous acres of habitat. We spent 4-5 years working with landowners to
put this section of land together to ensure we have the number of acres that we
needed. There are now more than 60 landowners in this initial co-operative and
we ended up with 63,000 acres.” But
getting the landowners on board and the land is not the only thing that needs
to be in place for the reintroduction to happen.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“We
segmented the land into four different co-ops to be evaluated. They have to go through
a GIS survey with the result showing no less than a 50/50 split of woods and
fields and ideally, it would be a 30/70 split.
From there, the land has to go through a habitat suitability index study
where biologists come on to the land with their criteria and they independently
rank it and then average their scores and if it’s 70 or higher, then you can move
ahead with the restocking,” said Roberts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">“This is
the first year that we have been a part of this project,” said Kelsey Sullivan,
Maine’s turkey biologist, “We started trapping them in February in Zones 23 and
17. Texas has asked us for 50 turkeys a year over the next 3 years so we are
just starting this program.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">It takes
about 48 hours from the time the turkeys are captured until they land in Texas.
“We take blood from each bird and test them so they we know they don’t have any
diseases. Those tests get to the folks
in Texas about 24 hours before the birds do so that we know all of the birds
are clean and ready to be released when they get there,” explained Sullivan.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">The
National Wild Turkey Foundation pays for the boxes and getting the birds from
one place to another as well as the birds themselves. “We pay $525 per bird,” said Roberts. The money from this project goes into a NWTF
large super foundation. “It is earmarked
to be used to support habitat and research. The money goes in there and then we
can use it for projects that we are doing for turkeys here in Maine,” said
Sullivan. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">It is a
great project that demonstrates how successful these types of programs can
be. Maine itself had to reintroduce
turkeys and now, the state is in a position that it is able to help other states
rebuild their populations. “Hopefully in
the next 5-10 years, we will have a huntable population here in Eastern Texas”
said Roberts. We shall see!<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><br />Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-32170736017406401892021-03-08T09:56:00.004-05:002021-03-08T09:56:30.787-05:00Utilizing technology to make you more aware<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Staci
and I were roaming around the woods on a piece of property that she knew. It
was snowing and we were chasing deer tracks to see if we could find some early
sheds. It was a perfect day to be out in the woods and we were relaxed and not
really paying attention to where we were going. We knew the border of the
property and we knew that if we walked long enough we would hit roads or the
bog and find our way back.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We
got to a point where we thought we knew where we were but we were not sure.
Staci got out her compass to take a waypoint to make sure we were going in the
right direction to get back to the truck. I took out my phone and turned on OnX.
Within seconds we knew where we were, where the property borders were in
relation to us and we could watch the dot (that represented us) on the map move
as we walked out of the woods and got closer to the truck.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R2NPBbMTgnI/YEY6mRECVXI/AAAAAAAAIkk/OGJ49FuN05Iy0WSUDzM3k_CMNyQKnxfZQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_4062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="157" height="486" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R2NPBbMTgnI/YEY6mRECVXI/AAAAAAAAIkk/OGJ49FuN05Iy0WSUDzM3k_CMNyQKnxfZQCLcBGAsYHQ/w238-h486/IMG_4062.jpg" width="238" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In
another adventure, my son and I headed out on a shed hunting mission. When we got into the woods, I turned on the
tracker function of OnX and we watched where we walked, how far we went and I
added a few waypoints as different things of interest popped up. It was a great
way to also see which part of the property we had searched and which ones we
didn’t.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Technology
has come a long way for hunters and there are many options to help you create
comprehensive maps to plot your stand placements, trail cam locations, bedding
areas, feeding areas, track how far and where you are going on a particular
piece of property and pattern that big buck that you are after. With apps like
OnX, you can even find out property owner information, which is incredibly
valuable if you are on a public piece of land and need or want to contact neighboring
private land owners.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And it’s not just for hunters and trappers.
These types of apps let you mark great mushroom sites, where that chunk
of chaga was that you want to go back and get, where you found sheds, which
birds you are seeing in which locations… it is an all-encompassing way to
journal what you are seeing and finding on the property that you are on.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You
can easily become more aware of what is happening on the property when you
review the information that you have plugged in. It’s amazing what kind of patterns emerge
when you look back six months of even a year. While some of us are reluctant to
dive into technology like this, with spring getting closer it’s a perfect time
to try it out. I encourage you to see if it makes a difference in your
scouting, hunting, and hiking this fall. And then let me know. </span></span></p><script type="text/javascript">
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</script>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-13881944047401598642021-02-04T13:45:00.002-05:002021-02-04T13:45:29.334-05:00Not what you want to see on the trail camerasI missed seeing what was happening in the woods so I decided to put a couple of cameras back out to see what was roaming around. <script type="text/javascript">
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</script><div><br /></div><div>I am not a fan of this. I have had pictures of this coyote for a while now and he (I assume it's a he) is always solo. He's healthy and makes his rounds in the same area that we do during the season. And I assume that he is the coyote that <a href="https://www.andastrongcupofcoffee.com/2020/11/nocturnal-northern-borealis.html">I saw</a> while I was sitting in my stand last fall. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qFRtnNCNsd4/YBw8UESE_BI/AAAAAAAAIjM/m8MhvfnEWzsJB3ZK_qanWLlXSJk1c4d7gCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/IMG_3764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qFRtnNCNsd4/YBw8UESE_BI/AAAAAAAAIjM/m8MhvfnEWzsJB3ZK_qanWLlXSJk1c4d7gCLcBGAsYHQ/w460-h259/IMG_3764.jpg" width="460" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--NTfq9XMq3g/YBw8UB090gI/AAAAAAAAIjQ/kF9_BRbMOSYOlyxiY4dIATfObvOYZt4dQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/IMG_3765%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--NTfq9XMq3g/YBw8UB090gI/AAAAAAAAIjQ/kF9_BRbMOSYOlyxiY4dIATfObvOYZt4dQCLcBGAsYHQ/w466-h262/IMG_3765%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="466" /></a></div><br /><div>Coyotes are a part of the woods and I get that but what I don't want to find are dead deer. This is the first time that I have had pictures of the two animals so close together (timewise and location-wise) </div><div><br /></div><div>Usually, I will get deer on the cameras, then he shows up and it takes 2-3 days before the deer return. We have not had a lot of snow so the deer have not yarded up yet. Maybe that will help keep them safe for the time being. </div><div><br /></div>Let's see how the winter unfolds...<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uxhXe6cEpoc/YBw-yYqm0UI/AAAAAAAAIjg/0pqdMDgz6NMCkMvXKiVWqykfR3-CovxhACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/image0%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="261" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uxhXe6cEpoc/YBw-yYqm0UI/AAAAAAAAIjg/0pqdMDgz6NMCkMvXKiVWqykfR3-CovxhACLcBGAsYHQ/w464-h261/image0%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="464" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-55893593341345758272021-01-17T10:22:00.006-05:002021-01-17T10:25:21.741-05:00We need to stop feeding deer<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I just hit a deer, do you
want it?</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My
neighbor sent me this text during her morning commute to work. Had there been room in my freezer, I might
have taken her up on it. I had done it before when I watched another driver hit
another doe within 50 feet of where my neighbor was. It was the third deer hit
that week in the same stretch of road. Why? A landowner is feeding them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nMzIuuYpTNY/YARWxMUNoRI/AAAAAAAAIic/4cRgli9nje8cedBPgiSZ0FGFRfzCS10ogCLcBGAsYHQ/s945/Merrill_DeerCam_July2017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="945" data-original-width="945" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nMzIuuYpTNY/YARWxMUNoRI/AAAAAAAAIic/4cRgli9nje8cedBPgiSZ0FGFRfzCS10ogCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Merrill_DeerCam_July2017.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A few
years ago, I spoke with Maine IF&W’s then deer biologist about the impacts
of feeding deer. We talked about the
risk of diseases like Chronic Wasting Disease getting into the herd and
spreading so rapidly, because of the unnaturally large population being pulled
into a small area. We talked about the
biological make up of a deer’s stomach and how the food they are being fed
(grain) is not a natural food for them, especially during the winter months. We
talked about the increase in predators in those areas because of the increase
populations and of course, we talked about more deer being hit.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maine IF&W has a four-page document called, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext"><a href="https://www.maine.gov/ifw/docs/deer_winter_feeding.pdf">Living on the
Edge: Winter Feeding of Deer: what you should know</a></span></span><span style="color: #454545;">.” It lists many more examples of adverse impacts of
feeding deer including disruption of natural deer migration, malnutrition and
more aggressive deer preventing vulnerable deer (like fawns) from getting
enough food to survive. And just because
you don’t see these behaviors while looking out your window, does not mean that
they are not happening.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It infuriates me every time somebody shares the live video of
the ‘food pantry’ that we have in the state. All of those deer have been
conditioned to go there in order to get fed in the winter months. They are now
dependent on non-natural food and if the feeding ever ends, it will be years
before deer revert back to a natural feeding pattern and move to naturally
created winter yards. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If the genuine purpose behind these feeding operations is to “help”
the deer during the winter months, then there should be a way for everyone to
come to the table and create a plan to end the feeding and help deer return to
their natural feeding and wintering patterns.
We trust the biologists to do their jobs and work to create a healthy
animal population. We need to listen and
trust them when they say not to .feed deer</span><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Otherwise, we will end up with more deer suffering and unable to
survive in their natural environment. And the last thing I want is to watch
more deer suffer on the side of the road as they slowly die from their
injuries. <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><script type="text/javascript">
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</script>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-75517169765978520532020-12-28T07:56:00.007-05:002020-12-28T07:56:56.682-05:00Conservation organizations need your help NOW<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">As we plan for 2021, we know that we will not
be attending sportsman’s shows. We won’t
be able to catch up with fellow hunters, trappers and anglers and we won’t be
spending money on all of those raffle tickets.
And <i>that</i> is hurting hunting
organizations – a lot.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Many outfitters and organizations rely on
the foot traffic that these shows provide to help get reach more people which helps to draw more donations. Businesses rely on shoppers to buy the cast
iron, jackets, wooden carvings, jerky and more but we will not there to make
those purchases next year. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">And while everyone is still feeling the
pinch of the pandemic and a changing world, we need to make sure that these
organizations have what they need to continue with their mission because it is
so important to the hunting and outdoor world. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Some of the organizations that could use
your support:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">I would be remiss if I didn't start off with my organization. A couple of friends and I started <a href="https://womenofthemaineoutdoors.org/" target="_blank"><b>Women of the Maine Outdoors</b></a> with the hope of helping women and girls achieve their outdoor ambitions without worrying about a cost. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5D4qANNGf9o/XxbzN9RnOrI/AAAAAAAAIPw/_3m9_iD6aykbHw4YVlU6Q5Q9QXZsJYCEQCPcBGAYYCw/s1024/DNLUfoeV4AAtwEM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5D4qANNGf9o/XxbzN9RnOrI/AAAAAAAAIPw/_3m9_iD6aykbHw4YVlU6Q5Q9QXZsJYCEQCPcBGAYYCw/s320/DNLUfoeV4AAtwEM.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Across the world, there are stories of hunters, nonhunters, conservationists, anti-hunters and everyone else in between who loves the outdoors. <a href="https://bloodorigins.org/" target="_blank"><b>Blood Origins</b></a> in a project started by my friend Robbie Kroger with the intention of proving that we are all fighting for the same thing and that our stories connect us more than we realize. Blood Origins has a goal of getting people to donate 1 cup of coffee a month (think $5-$10 each month) to help support the vital storytelling that they are doing. I encourage you to join me in supporting them!</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">Since the 2014 referendum, the <b><a href="http://www.mainewildlifeconservationcouncil.org/" target="_blank">Maine Wildlife Conservation Council</a></b> has
continued to raise money for the war chest to ensure that when the next threat
to hunting/trapping/hunting with dogs comes along, there is money to start a
campaign immediately and spread the message of how important
scientifically-proven management is.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><b><a href="https://mta.homestead.com/" target="_blank">Maine Trappers Association</a>: </b>Trapping is always on the brink of
being threatened and we need more trappers to help educate the public on the
importance it plays as a management tool.
Supporting the MTA and considering becoming a trapper and/or teaching
trapper’s education through Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, will help to
ensure the organization stays strong. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8oCVWRc9FQ/XWPfR7Sg0-I/AAAAAAAAH4M/A_jr6XtNisoqpaml_jOGm2dLMBGT5vg2QCPcBGAYYCw/s960/Merrill_backafterthebears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="335" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8oCVWRc9FQ/XWPfR7Sg0-I/AAAAAAAAH4M/A_jr6XtNisoqpaml_jOGm2dLMBGT5vg2QCPcBGAYYCw/w446-h335/Merrill_backafterthebears.jpg" width="446" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;"><b><a href="https://www.mainesportingdogassoc.com/?fbclid=IwAR3PULrRxQWLjPY4Elb1V2yt0UjrTzIGuMXDkp1pA4DKx8Qb9a0Em8ZYBDA" target="_blank">Maine Sporting Dog Association:</a> </b>I had two successful bear hunts
thanks to guides using dogs. I have
written about the awe that comes from watching these dogs work and appreciating
them after that bear is on the ground.
The MSDA is a critical part of how we manage bears, bobcat, and coyotes
and if you have ever bird hunted with dogs, you should be supporting them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Oxygen;">There are so many other organizations that
rely on the support of people attending the shows each year. Since we will go another year without gathering
and seeing one another, you may want to connect with these organizations on
social media, join their memberships and sign up for their newsletters. And, if you are able, please consider making a donation. They will be so grateful. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><script type="text/javascript">
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</script>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-29808036263553551372020-12-18T03:30:00.022-05:002020-12-18T09:47:24.599-05:00From the heart<div style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Merriweather;">The emotions that go along with this are hard for any non hunter to understand. There is a literal weight of an organ that earlier in the day, beat inside an animal and the figurative weight of choosing to kill an animal to fill your freezer.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Merriweather;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Merriweather;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">There is a dedication of always wanting to be better, to be ready for the right shot at the right moment. It’s spending money on gear, clothing and licenses every year. It’s packing up and heading into the woods, when it’s dark and coming out when it’s dark, day after day, hoping to get your chance.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: left;">It’s appreciating the animal’s sacrifice and having a moment to give thanks before the work begins. Knowing that this animal will feed your family and friends for the year ahead.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">It’s not something a hunter takes lightly.</div></span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q7itZWiiiB4/X9ekbtqsV2I/AAAAAAAAIgE/wM9GgaeC2hAt6gOOpnOzRrmNhOSCN2eBwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2016/deer%2Bheart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="567" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q7itZWiiiB4/X9ekbtqsV2I/AAAAAAAAIgE/wM9GgaeC2hAt6gOOpnOzRrmNhOSCN2eBwCLcBGAsYHQ/w425-h567/deer%2Bheart.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-68773206325714824312020-12-11T04:00:00.001-05:002020-12-11T04:00:02.637-05:00Nurturing a love of natureIn the past twelve months, I've been a homeschooling teacher (temporarily), figured out how to work from home full-time and maintained a stable supply of toilet paper. We went from being out and about in the community to everyone at home. It was a lot! But one of the things we did from the start was get outside more. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wmud7HMm5F4/X9AbC-ndv3I/AAAAAAAAIfc/B26tR3zylOIt0oiA8BFK3dlJ3HXgpXlfwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1810/With%2BGrammie_Merrill_Dec2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1401" data-original-width="1810" height="329" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wmud7HMm5F4/X9AbC-ndv3I/AAAAAAAAIfc/B26tR3zylOIt0oiA8BFK3dlJ3HXgpXlfwCLcBGAsYHQ/w424-h329/With%2BGrammie_Merrill_Dec2020.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div><div>I asked people on my Facebook page for a list of items that we could search for in the woods. We had everything from birch bark and 3 types of moss to bones, different shapes of pinecones, mushrooms and beechnuts on our list. We eagerly searched the woods around our house and crossed off items. It was good for everyone’s mental health to be outside and exploring.
It made me think back to my own childhood and walking through the woods with my Grammie. </div><div><br /></div><div>Along with my sister, we would walk the woods behind her house for hours. We searched the trails that my Grandpa had made to exercise his pulling ponies. We walked the snowmobile trails. We found trees growing parallel to the ground that created a perfect seat. We watched birds, squirrels, butterflies and deer and filled our pockets with acorns, feathers, pinecones and leaves. It’s where my love of the outdoors really began.
We spent countless hours rolling down the hill next to her house. We had the biggest leaf piles around, which could be where my love of racking leaves came from! There was always something new to find outdoors and in the woods no matter the season or the current weather. Grammie was our chosen chaperone when our classes hiked Bald Mountain. If we were outside, chances are that Grammie was with us. And it was wonderful! </div><div><br /></div><div>In so many cases, it is someone’s dad or grandfather that introduced them to the outdoors. My Dad is and forever will be my favorite hunting partner but it was Grammie who really unlocked the explorer and nature lover in me. It is the foundation that had gotten me to where I am today. She is still out exploring. We’ve caught her on our trail cameras a few times!
More kids need a Grammie like mine in their lives to take them exploring and introduce a love and wonder of the woods and streams into their lives. I am blessed that Grammie is now showing my kids the wonders of the woods and the pinecones, acorns and feathers that still find their way into her pockets.
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</script><div><br /></div><div>On Wednesday morning, the snow was predicted to arrive between 9am-1pm. I was not moving from my stand. Something would be coming out to eat before the storm. I just had a feeling. </div><div><br /></div><div>The world was quiet when I settled into the Sky Condo. I heard a snap off to my left and while my initial thought was deer, there were no additional steps. As the sky lightened, I heard something walking towards me on my right side. It had to be a deer. It was still dark enough in the woods to not have 100% visibility. But, I saw a body. <i>It's either a buck or the lone doe </i>I thought. Both would be potential shooters. Then, a second body and my mind flashed back to the doe and fawn I had seen earlier in the season. I could shoot the larger doe and the fawn would be fine. </div><div><br /></div><div>They were walking towards the field. But stopped short when they got closer to me. They were between shooting lanes and lined up in such a way that I could not see them. I could hear one of them stomping. Something was not right and they were on alert. I watched one cross the shooting lane and I placed my gun in front of me and waited for one to step out from the woods. I would take the larger one. As I looked through the scope, something caught my eye - a third deer! It was making a b-line for the two other deer. It was quartering to me, leaving me no shot. </div><div><br /></div><div>The first snow flake fell. </div><div><br /></div><div>I kept my head down and looked back through the scope. The next shot I had, I would take it. I was not going to wait for a large buck. A doe popped out of the treeline and walked towards me. She was cautious and didn't like the situation. She jumped a few times and ran back in to the wood. But she never blew and never lifted her tail. I couldn't see her or the other two deer. </div><div><br /></div><div>Then, a big doe walked out. I slid my safety off and squeezed the trigger. I saw the flash of fire and smoke as well as her hunch up, half hop and half stagger-run about sixty feet into the woods. Then it was quiet. </div><div><br /></div><div>My heart was pounding. I fumbled with my vest as I tried to get my phone out. <i>Doe </i>was all I wrote to Dad. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was relieved that my season was over. I climbed down and placed my bag under the stand. The snow was beginning to fall more steadily. I was proud of my ability to shoot a nice doe. She had a long nose, thick body and would fill my freezer for the winter. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dad met up with me and walked with me to where I had last seen the deer. I was telling him about everything that had happened. The doe was laying in the trail. Even on the ground, she was a big doe. I stopped mid sentence as I got closer and my heart sank. I had not shot a doe. It was a spikehorn. Urgh! </div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuC5_pMZHFQ/X8LcpSHmruI/AAAAAAAAIaA/p9IfR9hQdjgg9J4jqETeR5N1DHeK-3qngCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/B52952DB-928F-43BD-A5D6-DE72A20FE017.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="469" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuC5_pMZHFQ/X8LcpSHmruI/AAAAAAAAIaA/p9IfR9hQdjgg9J4jqETeR5N1DHeK-3qngCLcBGAsYHQ/w264-h469/B52952DB-928F-43BD-A5D6-DE72A20FE017.JPG" width="264" /></a></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QkIMUw3MuE4/X8LcpRwe_6I/AAAAAAAAIZ8/c7i2iH9pJNApVYtUcl1CdQV-oDER41qigCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_3225.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="463" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QkIMUw3MuE4/X8LcpRwe_6I/AAAAAAAAIZ8/c7i2iH9pJNApVYtUcl1CdQV-oDER41qigCLcBGAsYHQ/w347-h463/IMG_3225.jpg" width="347" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My excitement faded but my gratitude did not. It was not my preferred choice but I had done it. I made the choice to squeeze the trigger. We would still eat well and the freezer would be full. I was grateful for the opportunity. I had spent close to 65 hours in the woods waiting for the right opportunity to take a deer. I saw a coyote, doe and fawn, a spikehorn, white flags and a thousand turkeys. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ry1lFRoyLPo/X8LcpUwQpzI/AAAAAAAAIaE/IQ760cC9qG83XcNNySsWiTKdYBdIqziggCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_3236.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="307" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ry1lFRoyLPo/X8LcpUwQpzI/AAAAAAAAIaE/IQ760cC9qG83XcNNySsWiTKdYBdIqziggCLcBGAsYHQ/w409-h307/IMG_3236.jpg" width="409" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I watched the snow build up on the deer and wished I could spend more time in the woods. Being in the woods is wonderful in and of itself, but add the falling snow and it's magical. Until next season...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-22301102428582683272020-11-29T04:30:00.001-05:002020-11-29T04:30:01.168-05:00I got buck blockedAbout an hour into my sit, I heard steps coming towards my stand. It was a beautiful morning and my heart skipped a beat with the idea that a deer might finally be headed my way. Trail camera photos showed my last remaining target buck during daylight at that stand, so I was hopeful. But as it got closer, I heard purrs, clucks and chirps. The steps turned into one big mass of noise and soon, like a movie, the woods were nothing by black blobs moving towards me. <div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h5o5J9aIRXI/X8KeJ1jrLcI/AAAAAAAAIZc/ijSyClXXVLYJ53ifFnZVuqKvVGD8lQ7aQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/134332688_Unknown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="488" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h5o5J9aIRXI/X8KeJ1jrLcI/AAAAAAAAIZc/ijSyClXXVLYJ53ifFnZVuqKvVGD8lQ7aQCLcBGAsYHQ/w366-h488/134332688_Unknown.JPG" width="366" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div><div>They set up in a shooting lane, eating acorns and moving closer, essentially blocking me in my stand. The flock would see me move and spook before I would have a chance to move my gun into a position to get a deer. I was stuck and they were coming closer. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F5f0uZTg1vE/X8LKjqahHWI/AAAAAAAAIZs/2vcX1CBPANUGLMlmrStIBD4-nELT57b1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/134332800_Unknown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="316" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F5f0uZTg1vE/X8LKjqahHWI/AAAAAAAAIZs/2vcX1CBPANUGLMlmrStIBD4-nELT57b1gCLcBGAsYHQ/w240-h316/134332800_Unknown.JPG" width="240" /></a></div></div><div>When they got bored there, they moved across three more shooting lanes and I counted them as they passed... 42. I was hearing leaves crunch everywhere around me. But something sounded too close to be a rogue turkey. I slowly turned to my right and saw a spike horn walking in the direction of the turkeys. They had successfully blended their leaf crunching with his so I didn't know he was there until he was almost in front of my stand. </div><div><br /></div><div>I had no intention of shooting him so I didn't pick up my gun but agreeing with my assessment, the buck saw the turkeys and turned and headed in the opposite direction. </div><div><br /></div><div>Another half hour passed and finally, they left (to go visit Dad in the other stand.) I sat and enjoyed the day. Birds and squirrels were busy storing food for winter. Soon, it was 4pm and time was ticking down. I continued to scan the trails for movement. </div><div><br /></div><div>Suddenly, to my right, I caught the sight of the back half of a deer headed in my direction. I swung my gun across my body and aimed down the next available shooting lane. My mind raced:</div><div><i>It's almost the end of legal time. </i></div><div><i>It will be dark when you are hauling this deer out of the woods. </i></div><div><i>What if it runs further into the woods and the coyotes come? </i></div><div><i>But if it's that big buck, it will be worth it.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I calmed my breathing and waited. I just needed it to step into the shooting lane to see what I was dealing with. I had a doe tag in my pocket. But nothing moved. The deer must have swung back towards the stream and out of my view. It was a great way to end the day-long sit. </div><div><br /></div><div>When I met up with Dad, he reported that all he had seen were the turkeys. All of these deer seem to be on lock down and we can not find even a doe roaming the woods. Well, we can but they show up on my phone every night between 10pm and 4am. </div><div><br /></div><div>Next weekend is the last weekend of rifle season... it's getting down to the wire!</div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-55176463673560554642020-11-20T04:30:00.001-05:002020-11-20T04:30:12.597-05:00Nocturnal Northern Borealis <div>My trail camera sent me a picture of a big, wide 6 pointer that was in the area where I was headed. I wondered how far he might have traveled between then and when I would be in the woods. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lcpJnkGTn7Q/X7aRC4-CSwI/AAAAAAAAIY0/CBt7NeaeSukdq4FGE-otT1mmPWX7GkTVACLcBGAsYHQ/s600/image1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="242" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lcpJnkGTn7Q/X7aRC4-CSwI/AAAAAAAAIY0/CBt7NeaeSukdq4FGE-otT1mmPWX7GkTVACLcBGAsYHQ/w430-h242/image1.jpeg" width="430" /></a></div><br /><div>It was an off morning. My son wanted to hunt but was complaining about his extra layers of clothing and how tight it made his boots. I had on 3 of my 5 layers (remember, I sit for hours and hours!) and was rushing to get him out of the door along with packing all of my stuff. I knew as soon as I walked outside that I was in trouble. I was sweaty.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qIsV4krLgos/X7aRX6VPTBI/AAAAAAAAIY8/6vZfcKBFVMA0h7eE3i1kqQj8-9wq9RFugCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/image0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qIsV4krLgos/X7aRX6VPTBI/AAAAAAAAIY8/6vZfcKBFVMA0h7eE3i1kqQj8-9wq9RFugCLcBGAsYHQ/w406-h228/image0.jpeg" width="406" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I walked to the same stand as I had sat in last week and again, I jumped a deer. It was dark and I tried to listen to figure out how far and in which direction the deer was moving. When I reached the stand, the rungs were icy from the rain the night before and the chilly temps. I carefully climbed up and listened. The wind was rustling the dead leaves in the trees. As the sun came up, drops of frost melted and added to the noise. Squirrels took up their usual job of sounding like deer. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was cold. </div><div><br /></div><div>I watched every shooting lane I could, to see if I could catch something moving. I inched my way into the corner of the stand to block the wind on my back. Every half hour, I swore that I was listening to a deer coming closer. The bushy, twitchy tail of a gray squirrel would appear and my nerves would calm. </div><div><br /></div><div>As it approached noon, I heard another rustling in the leaves. It was quieter than the others. I turned just in time to see a coyote run across the shooting lane. It was the same one I had on my trail cameras - he has a black tipped tail. I tried to call him back and watched every shooting lane so that if he turned left, I could make a shot. He was gone.</div><div><br /></div><div>The afternoon wore on and I watched about 40 turkey rush across the end of the shooting lane. They were in a hurry and I wondered if the coyote had circled around them. Or if a deer had jumped them. I watched and waited but there were no deer around. </div><div><br /></div><div>I trudged back out of the woods at dark. Week three of rifle season was over and I was not having much success even seeing deer. </div><div><br /></div><div>That night, at 6:21pm my trail camera sent me more photos. At some point, these deer are going to have to come out in the daylight, right? Right?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-57238266149679012132020-11-13T04:00:00.001-05:002020-11-13T04:00:08.659-05:00Was that a flag?Week two of rifle season was completely different than week one. I changed stands and jumped a deer as soon as I got into the woods. I've been hunting for almost half of my life now and for the first time, as I walked into the woods alone, the sound of something so close that I could not see did not send my heart beating out of my chest. Instead, I listened to see if I could keep it from running too far away by slowing continuing on to my stand. <script type="text/javascript">
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</script><div><br /></div><div>It was warmer than the week before which meant sitting for 12 hours would be much more bearable. I settled into the stand quieter than I normally do, knowing that the deer was not too far away. There was a slight breeze coming from behind me and I shifted a few inches to use the wall to block it from carrying my scent downwind to the deer. </div><div><br /></div><div>The woods were quiet and I always marvel at the period of time where the world is black and white. Geese started honking in the cornfield nearby. Crows and Bluejays started calling. Gray squirrels gathered acorns. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cl430PR_lWM/X6lV6zyEhfI/AAAAAAAAIX8/X77JgCxHQ2gljolHl3Hz46uOgEFrbZThgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/B595CF84-FA82-4848-A24D-AB05B2AF08A8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="681" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cl430PR_lWM/X6lV6zyEhfI/AAAAAAAAIX8/X77JgCxHQ2gljolHl3Hz46uOgEFrbZThgCLcBGAsYHQ/w383-h681/B595CF84-FA82-4848-A24D-AB05B2AF08A8.JPG" width="383" /></a></div>I spot of brown in front of me caught my eye. I lifted the gun and peered through the scope. A small buck. Trees blocked me from taking a shot, even if I had wanted to. He disappeared behind a cluster of thick brush. I watched, hoping he would emerge in a shooting lane. As I watched, I heard crashing to my right and saw two doe. Their tails were up as they crossed the roadway. I swung my body and again, lifted my rifle. It was a doe and fawn. They were following a trail that gave me a perfect shot, but they were angling at me and I did not want to take a chest or neck shot. I watched as they continued over the knoll. </div><div><br /></div><div>Looking back towards where I had last seen the buck, nothing moved. I relaxed a bit and was grateful to have seen deer. A tinge of regret at not shooting the doe had be questioning my decision. </div><div><br /></div><div>A burst of movement in front of me jumped me. Two more deer were there with tails waving. One was blowing. Had they winded me? </div><div><br /></div><div>Orange emerged from the woods. Dad! </div><div>Never one to sit, he had circled around me to see if he could find something. He had no idea the commotion he had caused. </div><div><br /></div><div>We decided to move to a different stand. I left my pack and jacket and walked through the woods to one of our stands. I couldn't go more than 100 feet without seeing a fresh scrape. Where were these bucks? </div><div><br /></div><div>I crested a hill in time to see a deer bound off in front of me, her tail up but she did not blow. I watched her as I continued towards her. I had only been to this seat once before and there had been snow on the ground with a path to follow. I kept an eye out for the doe but also for the stand! I cut into the woods from the trail a little early and watched her tail come up again. She was making a large circle around me. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_FbEZevjyNk/X6lV64X9QnI/AAAAAAAAIX4/hnairesNK8M9rmh_onsz9h5GdEMauYnKACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/475AF006-B0C6-4408-AE1E-BF617D74EACD.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="644" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_FbEZevjyNk/X6lV64X9QnI/AAAAAAAAIX4/hnairesNK8M9rmh_onsz9h5GdEMauYnKACLcBGAsYHQ/w362-h644/475AF006-B0C6-4408-AE1E-BF617D74EACD.JPG" width="362" /></a></div>I finally found the stand, climbed up and snuggled my gun against my body. A part of me missed sitting in the small, metal stands, totally exposed. </div><div><br /></div>Dad met me about an hour later without any luck. Together, we walked back to the trail. He headed home to get lunch and I headed back to the stand to hunt all afternoon. <br /><br /><div>No tags were filled and almost exactly six hours after I walked out of the woods, one of my target bucks walked in my tracks, heading towards the stand. Well played. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here is hoping week three will bring the rut and some daylight movement! </div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-18087180851180969292020-11-03T11:14:00.001-05:002020-11-04T11:49:48.298-05:00Some Shane Mahoney Inspiraton<p>Yes, this is an older video but the message still rings true; "...they have concluded, in agreement with us, that yes, sportsmen and women and the activity of hunting, done in a sustainable manner operates as a conservation mechanism the world over..." </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="466" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pzqErT6RVyk" width="560" youtube-src-id="pzqErT6RVyk"></iframe></div><br /><p>On this polarizing election day, let's focus on what we can agree on. Conservation efforts, traditions, and the importance of understanding and working for social and biological carrying capacities for all animals in an effort to maintain the resource for generations to come. </p><p><br /></p>
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adult-onset hunter.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I started when I was
twenty after watching Dad hunt every fall and deciding that I wanted to see
what it was all about – and that killing your own meat was not a bad thing. If
you had asked me (or dad) to imagine what the next decade and a half would be
like, I guarantee you neither of us would have pictured this!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">As I write this, I have
just hung up the phone with Taylor and Mark Drury. Throughout deer season, I
will be writing up all of the Drury family hunts that will be featured on
<a href="https://deercast.com/app/feed">DeerCast</a> (make sure you have the app or the website bookmarked!) I am also going
to continue interviewing hunters from across the country and Canada that have
taken amazing deer. Just like last year when I got to f<a href="https://deercast.com/app/feed/item/18519">eature Wayne Bernier</a> from Allagash Adventures after he dropped his amazing 200lb, 20 point buck with
a 31 inch spread!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GeRQBrDhwhA/X2o269fFEhI/AAAAAAAAITs/4__hhXvLYDcxFeJBtDeBnDiqyQQBZew7gCLcBGAsYHQ/w300-h400/WayneBernier_MaineBuck.jpg" title="Wayne Bernier" width="300" /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">The fact that I get to do
this blows my mind. I get to share a mutual love and excitement over hunting
with so many people and no matter what our politics are or what our family
looks like, we are connected by our drive to put meat on the table, protect our
management practices and collect stories of our hunts to share.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">Our community is like one
big family. Sometimes we fight amongst ourselves
but when push comes to shove, I would like to think that every deer hunter
would support every bird hunter and every bear hunter would support every fly
fisherman and every coyote trapper would support every moose hunter because no matter
what, we are a community of passionate outdoor folks that care about the
wildlife that we hunt and fish and trap.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">This year has been like
no other and yet the one thing that we can all look forward to is our desire to
get into the woods and waters and enjoy hunting season, scouting trips and the changing
seasons. I can not wait to get into my
treestand and take those first few minutes to relax and listen to the woods
around me. My son will be coming out
into the woods with us for the first time and I hope that the deer are moving.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">May we all have an
enjoyable hunting season that results in great stories and meat in the freezer!
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
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</script>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-1395360185766018162020-08-04T04:30:00.000-04:002020-08-04T04:30:00.681-04:00The Blood Origins Project<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2_bU6csQW4/XxbzvjaXMaI/AAAAAAAAIP0/MsXkTnb8xzwtcI00RPEmji0kxuInvwXRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1024/DNLUfoeV4AAtwEM.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h2_bU6csQW4/XxbzvjaXMaI/AAAAAAAAIP0/MsXkTnb8xzwtcI00RPEmji0kxuInvwXRwCLcBGAsYHQ/w500-h250/DNLUfoeV4AAtwEM.jpg" /></a></div><br />"I was looking for a narrative that described who we are as hunters,” my friend Robbie Kroger explained to me, “Essentially looking for an authentic truth about who we are. I couldn't find it. So we built it with Blood Origins.” If you have never heard of Blood Origins, set aside a solid hour and watch the videos on their website or YouTube, featuring some of the most influential people in the hunting world. People like <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Will Primos</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Cuz Strickland</a> and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Jim Shockey</a> all share a small piece of their story and the how and why hunting was so important.<br /><br />Robbie has more than 30 unique stories from hunters, nonhunters, men, women, veterans, young and old and each one is a personal look into the importance of hunting and conservation. “It is about our community, and conveying the truth around hunting” said Robbie. <br /><br />The fact that Robbie and I even connected is a testament to the power of the hunting community. As a native South African, American and Mississippian, Robbie was determined to show just how connected we all. As a born and raised Mainer, I really took notice when fellow Mainer Britt Longoria was featured in Season Four of Blood Origins. Many people know Britt through her father, Joe Hosmer, who served as one of the Board Members for Maine’s Fish & Wildlife Conservation Council, during the first black bear hunting referendum in 2004. Britt’s story is an incredible one, marked by attacks she faced after a photo of her with a leopard she had killed went viral. I highly recommend you <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">watch her video</a>!<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4DjUgozTm7I/Xxbx1ckMgMI/AAAAAAAAIPg/txgjAO6UXtUuZutAZ8_DU3k-g7UJvOOogCLcBGAsYHQ/s819/80876240_594563798041295_6472171267284795392_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4DjUgozTm7I/Xxbx1ckMgMI/AAAAAAAAIPg/txgjAO6UXtUuZutAZ8_DU3k-g7UJvOOogCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/80876240_594563798041295_6472171267284795392_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><font size="2">Britt Longoria and her father, Joe Hosmer</font></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div>I asked Robbie what he had learned since he started doing this. “Everyone has a unique story. But there is a connected thread among all of us because we hunt. And when we start expressing that story in a truly authentic, emotional, transparent way then you will be surprised how many people it resonates with, including non-hunters,” he said. And he is right. So many of my friends and colleagues do not hunt but they understand why I do and most people will not turn down a meal of wild game (unless it’s beaver, then they get a little leery.) <br /><br />Blood Origins recently evolved into a 501(c) 3 with the goal of education and telling our stories. Stories about why hunting is necessary and how hunters are a key element of a country’s economy. Robbie’s international connections help him find hidden diamonds across the world who’s stories are worthy of being told and highlighted. He also finds injustices that are happening to the resources we hunt and brings it to light. The most recent example are the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Tahr culling in New Zealand</a>. <br /><br />As Blood Origins continues to shed light on the connections that we share, I had to ask Robbie who he wanted to interview in the future, “There are so many mainstreamers that hunt. Huge names that hunt that are afraid to say it because of fear of the backlash. One individual that has been quite open with the fact that he hunts is Chris Pratt. Along with Justin Timberlake and James Hetfield, they are huge names that hunt - if only they could show it in our way through the Blood Origins lens, then we would convert a whole new generation of people to thinking hunting was cool.” And that could be the most important aspect of all of this – bringing in new hunters and educating a new generation about the benefits of hunting and conservation.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8b43-O5CM2Q/XxbwvbLlqAI/AAAAAAAAIPU/Wyi2j70Sb4YXaPK_5i9HZJuCZ3aodSUswCLcBGAsYHQ/s943/RobbieKroger_JanaWaller_BloodOrigins_Merrill_Sept%2B2020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8b43-O5CM2Q/XxbwvbLlqAI/AAAAAAAAIPU/Wyi2j70Sb4YXaPK_5i9HZJuCZ3aodSUswCLcBGAsYHQ/w369-h400/RobbieKroger_JanaWaller_BloodOrigins_Merrill_Sept%2B2020.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><font size="2">Jana Waller and Robbie Kroger</font></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />We need more projects like this to highlight conservation efforts and hunting. More people like <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Jana Waller</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Braxton McCoy</a> and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Mette Petersen</a> to share their ‘why’ and we need to listen, support and spread the word. The next time you want to remember why you love hunting and being outside, pull up Blood Origins on their <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">website</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Instagram</a> and watch the videos. I guarantee that you will be nodding in agreement and maybe you will even find yourself tearing up. Because, as they say ‘it’s in the blood.”<p></p>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-61533832957116480232020-07-08T08:44:00.001-04:002020-07-08T08:44:15.864-04:00Maine's Moose problem<i>Do we have too many moose? too few? </i><div><i>are hunters killing the correct number to ensure a healthy social and biological carrying capasity? </i><div><i><br /></i></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lidoxBu27OE/XwWxhcXwx5I/AAAAAAAAINs/7d8lTv-Tpxw-AJcm242CsN8GgaJLy5Q1wCK4BGAsYHg/s640/99179168_Unknown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="469" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lidoxBu27OE/XwWxhcXwx5I/AAAAAAAAINs/7d8lTv-Tpxw-AJcm242CsN8GgaJLy5Q1wCK4BGAsYHg/w625-h469/99179168_Unknown.JPG" width="625" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><font size="2">A young moose in spring (c) And A Strong Cup of Coffee<br /></font></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><font face="inherit">These questions are asked every year around the time that hunters have to apply for a permit and when the drawing actually happens. Maine's moose are iconic and hunters have gone decades applying for a permit without being drawn. I am currently on year 18 of not being drawn. But the allure of walking through the crisp, fall air and seeing that bull moose step out into a clearing, keeps people applying year after year after year. </font></div><div><font face="inherit"><br /></font></div><div><font face="inherit">A <a href="https://www.pressherald.com/2020/07/07/biologist-pitches-new-study-to-aid-maines-moose-herd/" target="_blank">proposal by Maine's moose biologist, Lee Kanter</a> is seeking to test a small population of moose to see if by lowering the population of moose, the winter tick problem will decrease. On the surface it makes sense; less anaimals means less disease. Something has to change if we want to keep the herd healthy and growing. Winter ticks have been a huge concern for years and now may be a perfect time to see if something can be done to make a difference. </font></div></div></div><div><font face="inherit"><br /></font></div><div><font face="inherit">Hopefully it will work! </font></div><div><font face="inherit"><br /></font></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-47265268919145712462020-06-21T14:11:00.000-04:002020-06-21T14:11:26.842-04:00Millinocket Moose<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr3XvAFnSTw/Xu-iJ80ojhI/AAAAAAAAIMU/iiuv6LF5p1wwO0SNNIA_VxLDfYIQmo8MACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/129610816_Unknown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr3XvAFnSTw/Xu-iJ80ojhI/AAAAAAAAIMU/iiuv6LF5p1wwO0SNNIA_VxLDfYIQmo8MACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/129610816_Unknown.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I woke my
son up at 1:40 in the morning so that we could be in Millinocket by 4 AM. I
have made it a point this year to take advantage of local Maine guides who are
struggling because of the cancellations from out-of-state hunters and anglers. Many
guides and outfitters have great discounts on trips and as a local, I am happy
to take advantage! We had been in quarantine for 12 weeks at that point and it
was leading up to my son’s birthday. So at 4am, we met up with Paul Sannicandro
of </span><a href="https://www.moosewoodsguideservice.com/" style="font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">Moose Woods Guide Service</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> to go on a moose safari. </span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The weather called for rain but we were
determined to find a few moose before the storms rolled in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With bug spray, binoculars, cameras and face
masks, we headed out on the Golden Road to find some moose. We didn’t
have to go far before Paul spotted a young bull. Excitedly and quietly, we hiked
close to the edge of the pond to get a better view. The sun was just starting
to crest the trees and illuminate the snow on the peak of Katahdin. It was one
of those moments that makes you take a deep breath and just be grateful - even
amid the swarm of mosquitos.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="background: white;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Paul helped
my son snap a few pictures with his camera and let him try out his moose
call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the bull didn’t respond, Paul
assured him that it was because the moose couldn’t hear him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We watched the bull eat and wade through the
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My son asked a lot of questions
and talked about the outdoors, things he learned from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Wild Kratts</i> and how he had perfected his moose call. Paul was
fantastic and made sure to keep the conversation going with a very talkative
(almost) seven-year-old. He commented on and appreciated his love of the
outdoors and willingness to get up in the middle of the night to come and look
for moose.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We went to
two different ponds and each time there was a larger bull moose that was closer
to where we were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My son snapped more
photos. We were able to get some great pictures and watch an amazing sunrise. We
were the only people on the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We saw
waterfalls, parts of the Appalachian trail, signs for Baxter State Park and
were able to talk about hunting and fishing and the importance of people seeing
these natural places.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white;">The rain began to move in mid-morning and we
decided to end our adventure a little early. After being up for almost nine
hours, a nap was in store.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we said
our goodbyes, Paul handed my son a biography of Theodore Roosevelt, wished him
a happy birthday and told him to keep exploring the wild places.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We need
more guys like Paul. We need to support and promote the work that they do and
continue to nurture the love of the outdoors in the next generation. It was a
fantastic trip filled with great stories, bull moose and a breathtaking
landscape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can not wait to go back. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-33987039855718840812020-06-03T04:30:00.000-04:002020-06-03T04:30:11.683-04:00Front yard birdingWe have known since we bought the house, that there were owls around. I frantically flagged down Hubs when I was on the phone being intereviewed and saw one land on a dead tree across the backyard, so that we could get some pictures. We hear them at night calling to one another and occasioanlly, we hear them in the morning when we take the dog out. There is two, maybe three nearby. <br />
<br />
Since we have been at home for weeks, I have found myself going for walks during the naptime. On this particular day, the sun was shining and I was headed towards the mailbox when I heard an owl hoot. It was close. I spun on my heels, ran inside and grabbed my camera. I told Hubs to come with me and help me find this owl.<br />
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We did. He spotted it first and I tried to be as quiet as possible (on a bed of dried leaves) to get some photos of the sleeping owl. Eveneturally he got annoyed by me and flew justa few trees away. We didn't follow up but smiled at the fact that we could see him and watch him for a few minutes.<br />
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</script>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-36847519908122805932020-05-21T08:48:00.000-04:002020-05-21T08:48:11.071-04:00Finding sheds in the Maine woodsI noticed the black against the white trees, "moose!" I called out to <a href="https://www.schanzsguideservice.com/" target="_blank">Lee</a>. Eating along the side of the logging road, she was spooked by our approaching truck and disappeared into thick sapplings before I could take a picture. I took it as a good omen that today would be productive.<br />
<br />
Snow in May is not unheard of in Maine but the few inches that had fallen the night before, would not make shed hunting an easy task this morning. I was still excited and the break from quarantine life was welcomed. The fresh Maine air can reset anyone's state of mind.<br />
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We walked down old skidder trails and split up to cover more ground. Snow fell from the higher branches as the sun began to rise. I had been walking for just a few minutes when Lee came to find me and had me backtrack on to the road that he had been on.<br />
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"Walk right down this trail and look inside the tree line" Lee instructed me. He had already found the first shed of the morning amid two inches of snow and blazing sun. I walked slowly and looked for a piece of what could be an antler. It was easy to spot. The entire antler looked like it had been placed up against the side of a tree. It was last year's shed and we were on the board before 8am!<br />
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Throughout the morning, we would pick old trails, split up and walk. The sun grew warmers and the snow continued to melt away. I continued to look for antlers within the tree line, in the paths and in any smaller trails that broke away from the main trail that I was on. <br />
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A few times, Lee would bring me to a spot that he had scouted and tell me that there was a shed nearby. After decades of being in the Maine woods as a <a href="https://www.schanzsguideservice.com/" target="_blank">guide and outdoorsmen</a>, he was a pro at spotting antlers in a piece of thick growth or in marshes. Luckily, each time he said that there was a shed nearby, I could find it. <br />
<br />
On our way back to the truck before lunch, we walked along a stream. Mid-sentence, Lee stopped. He didn't say anything. I looked around. In front of us was an unusual green arch. It was partially in the water and covered with moss. I dug it out. The antler was large and a piece of the palm had been snapped off. "Bears will do that," Lee explained, "just like porcupines and mice, they want to get the minerals that are in the antler." We added it to our pile.<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">I tried not to overthink things as I searched. I looked for white against brown. On a side trail, something caught my eye. It was bright white and hidden under some softwoods. It was not an antler but deer bones that had been bleached by the sun. I grabbed them and kept looking for sheds. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The hours passed and we had collected two new sheds, two old moose sheds and one old deer shed. A decent haul for a day in the woods. And I was able to learn a few tricks and tips as I walk my property looking for deer sheds. </span></div>
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</script>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-17248194258905679092020-05-13T16:58:00.000-04:002020-05-13T16:58:14.389-04:00Chronic Wasting Disease in Maine<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If
you had asked everyone in the room to vote right then and there, I would bet
that supplemental feeding of deer would have been made illegal. The room was
packed with people at the Augusta Civic Center, listening to a presentation by
Dr. Krysten L. Schuler, Wildlife Disease Ecologist at Cornell Wildlife Health
Lab about her research on Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and what is being done
in the 26 states currently impacted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">CWD
is caused by a mutated protein that are found in prions. Deer shed prions
through bodily fluids and once in the soil, CWD can stay there for months if
not years. The worst spreaders of the
prions are those big, adult bucks that we all covet. CWD is fatal and in the
same family as Mad Cow Disease. The Centers for Disease Control describes
Chronic Wasting Disease saying, "It may take over a year before an infected animal develops symptoms, which can include drastic weight loss (wasting), stumbling, and other neurological symptoms." It also recommends that people not consume deer that have tested positive for CWD.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mp294Uia5Rw/XrxeVDM1DfI/AAAAAAAAIIw/9UhC1xY5KTspjntBrVuogRfrplOAfZgwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/17-CWD-Mike-Hopper%252C-Kansas-Dept.-of-Wildlife%252C-Parks-and-TourismCMYK_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="750" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mp294Uia5Rw/XrxeVDM1DfI/AAAAAAAAIIw/9UhC1xY5KTspjntBrVuogRfrplOAfZgwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/17-CWD-Mike-Hopper%252C-Kansas-Dept.-of-Wildlife%252C-Parks-and-TourismCMYK_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7); color: #535353; font-family: "Proxima Nova W01"; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Chronic Wasting Disease Mike Hopper, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Dr.
Schuler described the potential spread of CWD like this: if a deer eats or
drinks from an area that is heavily populated by other deer, the fluids can
come into contact with other deer who can also be infected. Also, if a deer with CWD lies down and dies
in a corn field, those prions get absorbed into the soil. A year goes by and corn grows in that same
field and gets cut. That corn can have
CWD in it because it carries the nutrients that are in the soil. The corn gets bought and transported to other
states or other areas of the state and then could be used to feed deer in
winter months. A deer comes along and
eats the corn. Then guess what…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A
recent study done by UMaine asked people across Maine about their thoughts on
deer and deer feeding. When asked to
rank their thoughts on threats to the deer herd, 73% answered that Chronic
Wasting Disease was not really a big threat. How scary!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">IF&W
currently tests a small sample of deer and moose killed every year. In episode
5 of the Fish & Game Changers podcast, Katie Yates, Public Outreach
Specialist for the Department interviews wildlife biologist Sarah Boyden. “During
hunting season, we sample specific towns for CWD. The towns either have a big deer feeding
operation or they have a deer farm and both of those things increase the risk
of Chronic Wasting Disease” said Sarah Boyden.
When asked about deer who are infected, Boyden explained that deer “don’t
get symptomatic until the end of the disease and that’s when we start to see
them not acting right. They are thin,
not eating, they don’t seem alarmed by anything but they can carry it for two
years, spreading it around so we are upping our sampling now to pick up any
adult roadkill.” Since 1999, more than
9,000 deer have been tested, which equates to about 450 per year. Maine harvests between 20-30k deer a year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">IF&W
deer biologist Nate Bieber said that the CWD response plan that the Department
is working on will go into effect when a deer tests positive in Maine. This means that when there is a deer that is
reported as being sick, killed and then tested, something will happen. A deer carrying CWD could be hit by a car or
shot by a hunter and no one will immediately think that it should get tested. And that is the scary part. We won’t necessarily know how many deer have
gotten sick if one of the deer that regularly goes to one of those supplemental
feeding stations is the one that tests positive. One deer eating out of those corn/grain bins
could cause every deer who eats there to get sick. Maine’s deer herd is already hurting due to
predation and our harsh winters. Well-meaning people think that they are
helping deer when they provide supplemental food sources during the winter
months but they are actually doing the opposite. One of these feeding
operations could be the cause of CWD coming in and spreading throughout not
only the deer herd, but also the moose herd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Maine
currently has no formal regulations when it comes to supplemental feeding but
it does suggest that people not do it. At Dr. Schuler’s presentation, someone in the
audience asked Nate Bieber about Maine’s plans to push for more restrictions on
feeding. His response was disappointing; “the state plans to continue to
maintain the current practices and monitor deer that are killed” he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Luckily,
there are researchers like Dr. Schuler and organizations like the National Deer
Alliance and Quality Deer Management Association that ARE closely monitoring
the spread of CWD and have suggestions on what every hunter can do to help stop
the spread of this and keep our deer herd healthy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</script>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-82136218330960167282020-03-05T04:00:00.000-05:002020-03-05T04:00:02.791-05:00Eagles on the trailReason number 3,657,935 why my Dad is the best: As we were snowmobiling, we approached a bog and three eagles with about 20 crows took off. It could only mean one thing in my book - something was dead. We circled back and walked around in the snow but the birds had left and we couldnt find anything that would resemble a meal. A part of me thinks that we were in the wrong piece of land and should have been on the other side of the bog but in our snowmobile gear, we were not going to cover a lot of ground. I was disappointed that we couldn't find what the birds were eating but I was able to get some good pictures of one of the mature eagles and the immature eagle that were flying around.<br />
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</script>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-28452252938924947882020-02-20T10:08:00.000-05:002020-02-20T10:08:03.014-05:00Healthy Coyote coming throughI still have a few trail cameras out to see what the deer are up to. I have gotten pictures of the big buck that is around and most recently, I got these pictures. Normally, I wouldn't be too freaked out but now that we have a dog, it is a little unnerving. Add that this camera is about 50 feet from our lawn and less than 100 feet from our front door... I hope that this one is just passing through.<br />
<br />
(Sidenote: I put new batteries in this camera so the date and time are wrong BUT I walked in front of it so it would take my picture and I could figure out what the actual time and date were: 7am Saturday morning.)<br />
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</script>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-27244764468824966112019-12-31T16:19:00.000-05:002019-12-31T16:19:44.298-05:00Dropping antlersThe plan was to shoot does from the property. The only out was the big buck that we had been tracking. Hubs was the first who successfully shot a doe in the afternoon of opening day of rifle season. Having sat through almost all types of weather conditions and some single digit temps, I shot a doe minutes before legal time at the end of the season.<br />
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Dad decided to muzzle hunt since the woods would be quieter and maybe that buck would be lulled into a false sense of security. For two weeks, Dad walked through the woods and finally, in the same the spot that I had shot my deer, he saw a big, healthy looking doe. As the afternoon light was fading, he made his way over to the deer.<br />
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There was some relief as he evaluated the animal. We were again fortunate that we filled all of our tags and our freezer would be willed with venison for the year ahead.<br />
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Dad set his jacket and gun down and prepared himself to gut the deer. It was not a doe. Although grateful for the meat, Dad had been set from the start that he was not going to shoot a buck. We were going to do some herd management and only take big bucks. This was probably a crotch horn or 6 pointer.<br />
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He got it out of the woods, tagged it and called the butcher. Which is where I met him the next morning.<br />
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The butcher explained that it looked like the side with the dark red fell off naturally. Mind you, Dad shot this deer on December 14th. This side had the skin adhered to the skull and it looked more like a scab than anything. </div>
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The butcher thought that this side had been broken off. There were no internal injuries so a possible vehicle collision was ruled out. Maybe he was trying to fight another buck or... we don't really know. It was bright red and the skin moved all around the skull. I could move it back and forth across the opening where the antler had been. It was very weird.<br />
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Dad was bummed that he had shot a decent young buck but had that buck had even one antler still on his head, he would still be in the woods and Dad would have eaten his tag. <br />
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Instead, we are fortunate to have three deer in the freezer this year. <br />
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We are already preparing for next season. There are shooting lanes to clear, stands to fix up and more time to spend in the woods.<br />
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Here is to 2020!<br />
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</script>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-5856151448796887722019-12-20T06:21:00.000-05:002019-12-20T06:21:00.234-05:00Wrapping up my big buck huntThe 4th weekend of deer season was a bust as I had to take my kiddo to a birthday party for a classmate. I (half) jokingly told him that from now on, when he meets a new friend, he needs to ask them when their birthday is and if it is during hunting season, he can't be friends with them.<br />
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Week 5 had me in the woods for up to 5 days. I headed in on Tuesday afternoon and sat but nothing was moving. The big buck had started showing up only at 10:30pm or 3am on the cameras. He had not been seen during the day since the third week of the season.<br />
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On Wednesday, Dad and I planned to be in the woods for the full day. We packed sandwiches and snacks and headed into the woods. We had a strategic plan for which areas we would hunt and where I could be and where Dad would be. Dad ended up jumped a few deer and I jumped one as a moved from stand to stand. No shots were fired though and we planned for Thanksgiving morning and the snow that was moving in.<br />
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The next morning was cold and the snow was crunchy. To make things worst, the snow was sticking to the trees and our stands. Half of my shooting lanes were blocked by over-hanging limbs. It was windy as well. I doubt that there were a lot of other hunters out in the woods with us but we had to be out there every chance we had to make sure that we could increase our chances of seeing something. The pressure was also on to add more meat to the freezer. Dad and I both had doe tags in our pockets. <br />
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On Friday, we had some choices to make. The snow had turned hard and the wind was putting the temps down near single digits. It was cold and the rifle season was close to ending. We tried tracking the buck but could not find fresh tracks. A lot of the deer that we had seen earlier in the season seemed to have disappeared. We agreed that if we were lucky enough to see a doe that we would fill the freezer.<br />
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Friday evening's sit was frigid. The wind blew into our blinds from the northwest. I squeezed into the corner of the stand so that I could watch the field and the shooting lanes. As it started to get darker, I saw her step out from behind an evergreen tree. She was munching on the bushes along the ridge. The snow in the blind was frozen and my boots crunched every time I moved. I slowly changed my position and moved my gun so I could take a good shot.<br />
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It seemed like forever before the rifle fired. I watched her stand there, saw the burst of fire and then she jumped. There had been another deer with her that ran back over the ridge. I watched as she ran a few feet and dropped. My hands were shaking as I sent mom a text to let her know that we would be late. Dad smiled as he emerged from his stand in the woods.<br />
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There is a gratefulness and emotion behind every shot. We will have more meat to feed our family and we helped with the population management of our little herd. It was not the big buck that I was after but I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to harvest this doe.<br />
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</script>Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00358748384502045678noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2002284598870492776.post-49240596036235519972019-11-04T10:08:00.001-05:002019-11-04T10:08:56.761-05:00Opening day in the woodsWelcome back!<br />
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Saturday kicked off Maine's rifle season for deer hunting and I made a point of sitting in my stand for the whole day. I packed a lunch, some water and snacks and climbed up at 6am. It was a perfect day to be in the woods. The sun was warm, the breeze was at a minim<br />
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About an hour after legal time, this spike horn walked down the path that I had walked down. He smelled the wind but either couldn't smell me or couldn't figure out what I was. He wasn't spooked and he stayed around for a few minutes before continuing on his way.<br />
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I basked in the sun and kept my eyes peeled for any mid-day movement. I had three large does skirt the treeline in front of me but I let them pass so that I could continue my search for the big buck that I am after. <br />
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Legal time ended at 5:53pm and I climbed down and met up with Dad and Hubs. We had a beautiful doe that Hubs needed to tag and bring to the butcher. We have fresh meat heading into the freezer.<br />
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There is snow in the forecast and I am eager to return to the woods and my quest for the big buck.<br />
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