Now that November is here things have started to wind down for my guiding season. The weather is still pleasant and I am working on getting firewood in for the next two winters. I have it all cut up and have started to split and stack it. Hopefully I can get it all under cover before the snow piles up in the woodlot. I should be safe this week as we are forecast to have daytime temperatures in the 60's. Hmmmm maybe I should be going fishing and not working so hard on firewood! Hope that you are getting out and enjoying the fall as well!
Curious Moose!
Spending time in the North Maine Woods usually means that you see a few moose when you are traveling around. This year I seemed to see more than usual; some when I needed them most for clients to see and one that was most unusual.
I was guiding a single hunter and working the edge of an abandoned road that stretches for a couple of miles. The grouse and woodcock hunting has been very good along this stretch so I was looking forward to the morning. I had Mae the pointer out and she was working along the edges of the road. On one of her trips into the woods a moose calf came into the road about 10 yards away and proceeded to walk slowly away from us. Mae came down into the road on almost the same path and stood in the road watching the moose saunter away.
Not wanting Mae to chase the calf I called her and we switched directions for a few minutes to give the moose time to head off on his day. When we started back up the road he was still walking slowly along. Mae was no longer curious and went back to work. So there we were a young moose, a working pointer, a hunter and a guide all in sort of a parade far from any crowd.
This went on for maybe fifteen minutes before the moose decided that he was better off down in the woods somewhere else. I assume that as a calf he had just been driven off by his mother and is figuring out life in the wide world on his own. Oh and by the way there were lots of birds, we had a great morning on that road and not one bird was harmed by the hunter.
A campaign video star!
Now that he election is underway I remembered to add this to my newsletter. I was approached by a staff member from the Collins for Senate campaign and asked if I would be interested in doing a short video for their web site. Over the years I have become more moderate in my thinking and appreciate the middle of the road views of both of our Senators. Not that I always agree with them but I like their approach. After thinking it over for an afternoon; I thought why not? So we arranged a time for them to shoot the video and a few days later it was live on the web.
Can't imagine that many folks will watch and I would be even more surprised if it changed even one voters mind. Still it is nice to have been asked and the resulting video makes me think about the possibilities for the Maine Outdoors web page.
This Winter
This winter will be different for me; I will not be lobbying for conservation groups at the state legislature. I am offering a new service to other small businesses to help them set up and deliver electronic newsletters and blogs. Over the last year or so I've met a number of folks in other businesses that think they do not have time for a newsletter or are bewildered by how to set one up. This service is designed for them and will not only help with the mechanics but also offer outdoor related content to them. I will not begin the marketing on this until November so you are in on the ground floor. If you know someone needing this kind of support or someone who has had setting up an e-newsletter on their list for a long time. Please forward this message to them.
I will also be offering my seminars on running a small business for guides. The next seminar has been scheduled for the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine conference Center in Augusta on January 24, 2009. At this moment there are still spaces available. I have promised myself that I will develop a small book and a CD out of the seminar material over the coming months; speaking of things that have been on my list for a long time.
Not much time left to arrange a trip for this season!
I plan to offer trips for a few more weeks so it is not too late. In fact after the excellent fishing and good weather in November last year and October this year I am looking forward to the late fall. If you are planning to be in the area please give me a call or reply to this e-mail and let's plan to spend some time outdoors together.
