Northern Maine Wilderness
The rising sun creeps through the tall pines, just where
the Appalachian trail ends and true northern wilderness
begins. A rabbit thumps nearby in the fresh, and still
falling, snow. Leaves from the maple and birch trees
have long been buried. The forest is silent, among the
quietest places of all, and the snap of a twig can be
heard for what seems like miles. A moose grazes next
to a snow-powdered shrub. There is no running, here.
Everything moves by the inch, as soft as possible; the
frigid air is the only thing that quickly cuts through the
trees. Puffs of heat form at the ends of the moose’s
nostrils. He is massive, but so gentle. A creature with
immense power…a trophy. The calls of a ruffed grouse
cause him to look up from his meal. In the sky, visible
through a small break in the trees, the moose sets his
gaze on the bird attempting to fly into the treetops to
escape its fate. The bullet is faster than the grouse’s
wings, and he lets out a final muffled drum. The commotion here is out of place, and the moose knows that.
He recedes into the still darkness of the trees. Their
trunks begin to camouflage him. His warm breath fades
out of sight. His antlers blend in with the branches. The
wilderness guides him to the safety of its deepest parts
as he watches the grouse fall from the sky. A low thud
and the sound of clicks and cracks can be heard in
the not-so-far off distance. Perhaps the puffs of hot air
have disappeared, for the moose is holding his breath.
Listening, waiting, and ready to charge.
Head up to Maine if you’re in search of something challenging, both for the terrain and colder weather, as well
as the animals you seek. One surefire way to explore
the northern wilderness and have a successful hunting
trip all in one is by hunting the ruffed grouse. Maine
is one of the best places to find ruffed grouse, as the
forests are large and productively managed, thus providing the best grounds for a grouse habitat, as well as
an ideal area for hunting.
To get the full experience, you’ll want to camp out in
the woods (if you’re brave enough!) and set up shop for
2-4 days. You’ll need a hunting license anywhere you
go, but for grouse, you just need a small game hunting
license. These permits cost between $40-$60 for the
season. If you’re planning on camping out without the
use of guide services, we recommend that you bring a
GPS and a back-up laminated paper map of the area,
just in case. So many hunters and adventures get lost
in the wilderness each year, so it is better to come prepared and be safe, rather than sorry.
30 Summer 2016 Adventure Outdoors
Maine and surrounding areas of the northern woods
have it all when it comes to outdoor adventures.
There are hundreds of different campsites and lodges
to choose from, and a ton of guide services if you’re
looking for a vacation-inspired hunting trip or a guaranteed harvest. Remember to check with the services
you’re considering to see whether or not they have
private hunting grounds, or if they go out with gear
just as any experienced hunter in the area would. The
deeper into the woods you travel, the more likely you
are to make a kill. Just be sure to pack enough food
and water for double the amount of time you plan on
spending at your site, that way if you run into trouble,
you’ll be prepared.