A Big Leap for Maine Outdoors

Our winter seems to have taken a turn for the worse. After a long snowy stretch of real winter. We seem to have gone into a pattern of warmer temperatures with storms that start as snow and change to sleet, then freezing rain and eventually all rain. The ground is still white in most places but I'm sure that won't last long with a couple of these messy storms this week. The groundhog saw his shadow so we have at least six more weeks to look forward to. Of course here that is normal as ice out will not be until mid April. The last couple of weeks have been very busy for me working with the Maine Conservation School and as a lobbyist for the Maine Bowhunters Association and the Maine Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation. I hope that your winter is going very well and that you are looking forward to spring like I am so that we can get out and paddle a canoe or wet a line. 
A Big Leap for Maine Outdoors!
 
After many years in business and donating countless hours to a variety of projects I have decided to formalize my annual contributions. Beginning in 2008 Maine Outdoors will donate ten percent of profits to conservation education. The donations consist of help in making conservation education happen, trips and money.
 
As a country we have made great strides in conservation in the last century and Maine has set aside truly amazing amounts of land in the last decade. But we have been less diligent about making sure that the generations coming behind us will share our appreciation for the woods, waters and the wild things that live there. In fact we have not done a very good job of communicating how important those things are to us to the next generation. The kids coming behind us do not have the same personal experiences with the outdoors that we were fortunate to have.
 
To help combat that trend, I have been serving as the president of the Board of Directors of the Maine Conservation School for the last year. The school is focused on developing an understanding of conservation, hunting, fishing and shooting. My year has been eventful and the last month or so has been frantic, in fact I am pretty sure I put in a full 40-hour week on the school in the last ten days. More on that in the coming weeks as the results are announced. I also serve as a trustee at Unity College, a small college about an hour from here that is focused on teaching the next generation of outdoor professionals in a variety of fields.
 
Maine Outdoors donates several fishing trips each year to be auctioned or raffled by a variety of non-profit organizations usually with a conservation or education focus. This year trips are being used by Maine Public Broadcasting, Casting for Recovery, Kennebec Valley Trout Unlimited and the Maine Professional Guides Association to generate money for their programs.
 
I am serving on the board of directors of the Maine Tourism Association primarily to advance the position of Maine's guides within the tourism industry. I hope to have guides become a valued and respected segment of Maine's largest industry over the next few years. My participation in the local Union Area Chamber of Commerce has a similar goal. Together with small business seminars for guides I hope to be able to raise the respect and competence of guiding as business.
 
So there you have it an ambitious plan and a big leap for a small business that I hope makes a difference in my corner of the world. Thank you all for helping to make it possible.
 
 
The Second Sure Sign of Spring!
 
 
I was out one morning last week with the dogs and can report the second sign of springs certain arrival. The first is our lengthening daylight; the day is already a full hour longer than it was in December. The daylight is very noticeable when Argy and I walk in the mornings. It is also marked by the gradual northward progression of sunrise. It is now north of both Spruce and Pleasant mountains off to the southeast from us. Every day it moves a little further north and the day gets a little longer.
 
 
 
The second sure sign though is the singing chickadees. I count on them to start on January 21st and had forgotten to listen for them that day. This morning there it was as clear as could be in the cold air. The second sure sign that we are headed to warmer temperatures, summer weather and the guiding season. I am already looking forward to the arrival of the new Lund Alaskan and a summer of striper fishing. Now that the chickadees are singing I know that it won't be long!
 
Booking now for the coming season!
 
 
Reservations continue to come in for the coming season and it looks to be busy. In fact the week surrounding the 4th of July is nearly full. If you are planning to be in the area this year please give me a call or drop me an e-mail so we can plan a date to spend some time outdoors together.