Outdoors

Published
May 29, 2011

Birding: Studies show change hitting state’s birds

Michael Schummer, Brad Allen and Giuming Wang recently published a paper in the Northeastern Naturalist where they analyzed changes in reproductive success of Maine waterfowl. They used brood survey data collected between 1955 and 2007. The authors analyzed six species: Mallard, American Black Duck, Wood Duck, Common Goldeneye, Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser. Brood sizes declined […]
Published
May 29, 2011

Allen Afield: With too little practice, it’s easy to fall for clipless pedals

Last fall here, I wrote about my plans of buying clipless pedals for my road bicycle and learning how to use them on a trainer in the living room during the winter. That way, while I practiced getting my feet on and off the pedals, the trainer would hold the bike upright, stopping me from […]
Published
May 29, 2011

Chasing wily coyotes

Five dogs, nine hunters, 12 hours: and only a half-dozen empty tanks of gas to show for it.<br><br> This is coyote hunting in Maine, a growing activity that is considered one answer to the shrinking deer herd. <br><br> Officials at the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are so concerned with decreasing deer numbers, and so sure some targeted coyote hunting helps, they're compensating coyote hunters in some areas with gas money.
Published
May 29, 2011

Deirdre Fleming: Tough winter another twist for deer

The top hardship whitetail deer face in Maine is the lack of habitat in this rough climate. It’s the No. 1 issue listed in Maine’s Game Plan For Deer. At the northern end of its range, the whitetail deer struggle in deep snow — which Aroostook County has each and ever year and the rest […]
Published
May 29, 2011

Hunting: Two turkeys create memorable day

Cold, wet conditions had delayed the onset of spring and the wild turkey mating season by a week or two. With two weeks gone in the season, the naive longbeards had been weeded out, but the dominant toms were still tending their harems. Hope remained for those nimrods still holding tags, but that hope rested […]

Published
May 29, 2011

Outdoors Calendar

Hunter safety course, Winslow Fire Department. This is a 12-hour course. Classes are held 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Call Don Perrine at 660-6382 to register and for details. Best nature sites talk, noon Tuesday, Merryspring Nature Center. Merryspring will host Tony Oppersdorff and Kyril Schabert as they […]
Published
May 22, 2011

Mark Latti: Cool weather affects both fish and wildlife

April showers bring May flowers, but what do May showers bring? Most would say mosquitoes, but May showers or not, mosquitoes in Maine will arrive in mid-May, come rain or shine. How long they stay, well, we’ll get to that later, but steady rains in May certainly can affect hunters and anglers, much more than […]
Published
May 22, 2011

Outdoors Dispatches

AUGUSTA Homeowners urged to take steps to deter hungry bears This spring, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is encouraging homeowners to take steps to deter bears that could become a nuisance or danger. Bears recently have emerged from their dens throughout Maine and are in search of food. They are drawn to […]
Published
May 22, 2011

John Christie: Acadia carriage roads: Maine’s gift to bicyclists

It was back in the early part of the 20th century that the great philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. began the construction of a carriage road system on Mount Desert Island that resulted in a unique biking paradise available to all of us. Development took nearly 30 years, during which time Acadia National Park was […]
Published
May 22, 2011

Outdoors Calendar

Breakfast on the Dead River, 6:30 a.m. today at the Dead River Gate on the Don Fish Trail, a half-mile beyond Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery in East Orland. Enjoy an early morning walk in the Great Pond Mountain Wildlands with Connie Tuller. Expect a 2-mile moderate walk to the Dead River picnic point. Bring […]

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