I have been contacted to speak at the University of Maine and by a couple of new guides about opportunities in guiding. All are extremely hopeful that the outdoor exploration part of Maine Outdoors is a huge success. I will have to tell them (again) that even though canoe trips and nature exploration are where I started there is little if any money to be made there.
This season my gross income from that part of the business will not even begin to pay for one of the canoes I bought last spring, let along the advertising and overhead it takes to run a small business. Before you dismiss me as hopeless understand that the North Maine Woods is also seeing a significant drop in summertime visits (canoe trips).
I would also comment that my son worked at a nonprofit delivering these types of trips for far less than the minimum wage (how do they get away with that) and the organization is struggling; proving to me that my experience is not unique.The tourism folks in our state and many others have touted for years that the non-hunting and fishing outdoors is where the money is. Not in mid coast Maine!
When will Maine wake up to that fact that hunting and fishing are what supports the outdoor economy and Maine Outdoors and stop wasting resources trying to promote something that delivers no value?
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The value of wildlife. .
Well Don, I guess we at NEOC better through in the towel and hit the bread line..... Wait a minute we seem to be flourishing in the space you write off? I'm puzzled and disappointed that you appear to pit hunting and fishing against more passive use of our wildlife resoyrces . By the way, I believe birding supports 35 billion, yes that's billion in spending annually. I'm glad to support hunting and fishing and hope your narrow poor experience with the softer side of guiding doesn't cast to large a shadow!
Matt, I agree that it should
Matt, I agree that it should be different but for 20 plus years I have believed it would change for me. After the big effort and expenditure on the canoe trip you helped with this spring and a better year last year on nature trips I expected a lift . It is at best disappointing and fortunately I have other activities to rely on. I do not disapprove of anyone making a go of the nature based trips and will continue to offer them at Maine Outdoors but if we are planning a rural economy on that aspect only I see at least some trouble ahead.
I only want recognition that guiding anglers and hunters have a significant place in our plans moving forward. At this point I am not getting that sense of the conversation.
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