Wednesday, August 3, 2016

I am back, 2016 season

Sorry I have been away for so long. A Lot has been going on in my personal life. I won't bore you with all of the details. But one is worth mentioning. I was awarded the Rocky Freida Award by the Bethel Chamber and the Maine State Senate for my work with young hunters and especially with my volunteer guiding for Hunt of a Lifetime. Huntofalifetime.org
 
The 2015 moose season was successful state wide, however, our zone the success rate was only 51%. 18 out of 35 bull tags filled. This is evidence that the winter ticks are doing a job on our moose population. The number of tags has been cut dramatically and cow tags are only being issued in zones 1-4. Last year 14 year old Cole Dubois harvested a beautiful bull, see pictures on my website. He is now hanging in their man cave. This year, as luck would have it, Cole's Grandpa Bob pulled a cow tag in zone 3, the Eagle Lake area way up north. We are planning our trip now, and fellow guide Moe Hart and myself will venture up the week before to get the lay of the land. We hope to get in some great grouse hunting as well.

Bears bears everywhere. We have been visited twice this year by a 400 lb class bear. And our neighbors have seen a two year old tearing down their bird feeders. I suspect the dry weather has effected their food supply and has been driving them toward food sources close to homes. Their have been over 500 nuisance bear reports, one of which broke into two trucks in the same family and destroyed the interiors. I predict an excellent bear season here in the western mountains.
 
Fishing is slow, in fact, Howard Pond is still two feet down from lack of rain this season. The warm weather has the fish down deep.
 
I am becoming a Proguide for Engle Coolers. If your not familar with them, they are the longest lasting ice holding coolers on the market. Visit them at Englecoolers.com
 
Well, that pretty much catches you up for now. Stay tuned for more hunting adventures this season.
 
Jeff