Outdoors

Published
October 13, 2012

Allen Afield: Observations and lessons while growing up in woods, fields

In childhood, my whole family hunted deer, grouse, squirrel and hare. My father concentrated on deer and dabbled with grouse and hare, and my mother chased deer and squirrel, the latter since we had oak stands by home to attract these gray rodents. Naturally, those critters interested me. In my pre-teens, I hunted all four, […]
Published
October 13, 2012

Birding: Under the surface, diving birds adapt and do their work

Last weekend I took my marine ecology students on a trip to Cobscook Bay. One of our activities was a whale watch off Head Harbour on Campobello Island. Birds were abundant, with lots of Northern Gannets, Sooty Shearwaters, a few Manx Shearwaters, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Common Loons, many Bonaparte’s Gulls and even a few Atlantic Puffins. […]
Published
October 13, 2012

Hunting: In duck blind, a symphony for the senses

We paddle quietly in near darkness, illuminated clouds casting just enough light to make our way upstream. Low branches hang eerily over the water, and my eyes begin playing tricks. An upright branch seems to move, and suddenly the morning stillness is broken by the piercing banshee scream of a great blue heron launching from […]
Published
October 7, 2012

A mission to foil the milfoil

Some good may come from a nuisance plant as conservationists work to compost what's despoiling Maine's lakes and ponds.
Published
October 7, 2012

Allen Afield: Among reasons shooters like a .22 rifle: a nice fricasseed squirrel

Most hunters own a .22 rimfire rifle — and for good reason. For starters, novice shooters can easily master the mild recoil, and in fact, this rifle has virtually no kick. Period. That feature helps them learn to shoot this small caliber accurately, but folks can also buy inexpensive ammunition for guilt-free target practice, worry […]

Published
October 7, 2012

Hunting: Deer season not just about the kill

Hunting is a game of chance. The rules of the game are established to ensure that the quarry has a reasonable chance of eluding its pursuers. Looking at the most recent harvest figures (the comprehensive data set available is from 2010), that seems to be the case. What are your overall odds of success? In […]
Published
October 7, 2012

North Cairn: Gathering the fruits of discovery

A lot of friends are calling from back home to see if the time has come for U-pick apples here in Maine — an excellent pretext for a visit to my cabin in the fall — but the truth is we’re still working on corn. Down the road a piece is Pineland Farms in New […]
Published
October 7, 2012

Kid Tracks: Outside beckons even as nights grow longer

This is the time of the year when my family has no time for our usual outdoor adventures. It’s all about the kids’ school schedule and their 4-H livestock activities. But a month of primarily indoor activities gives us a new motivation to find time in our busy schedule to get back outside. Here’s a […]
Published
October 7, 2012

Carey Kish: Exploring Vaughan Woods

Three miles of wide, well-used trails crisscross the park-like forests of Vaughan Woods Memorial State Park, a 250-acre tract on the Salmon Falls River in South Berwick, offering hikers hours of exploration and a window into the natural and human history of the area. The park was bequeathed to the state in 1949 by Elizabeth […]
Published
October 7, 2012

Canoeing: In Wilton lies a perfect paddle spot

For magnificent mountain scenery and prolific wildlife viewing, consider a visit to Wilson Pond in Wilton this autumn. Wilson Pond has many camps along its shoreline, but this time of year things are quiet. A 6-mile circumnavigation of the pond will take about four hours, given lots of stops along the way. The large public […]

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Outdoors