As fall progresses the amount of color in the leaves changes almost daily and peak foliage is a fleeting moment at best. Over the last week the color has come steadily and we have gone from a red tree here and there to more than half of the trees in bright color. This picture (click here)was taken from the boat launch on Seven Tree pond in Union. A nearly perfect fall day with hardly a breath of wind and pleasant warm temperatures made it impossible to stay indoors and get any work done.
Last week Argy and I travelled to Aroostook County. For the first time in our professional careers we were able to coordinate business trips. With any luck we will be able to travel together more in the coming months as my schedule allows. The foliage was a little further along in far northern Maine and I thought it very close to peak when I went into the North Maine Woods in the country near Libby Camps. I stopped in at the camps for lunch and a visit.
This week has been filled with folks looking to get in one last fishing trip during the great early fall weather. Next week I start guiding grouse hunters every day until November.
October!
October means grouse hunters for me and a lot of running for the dogs. One of the challenges in early fall is always clearing enough time in my day to do a little walking in the woods with each dog. I have been managing to squeeze in a couple of hours here and there over the last few weeks.
For those of you looking for a grouse and woodcock forecast. It seems like the birds did very well last spring. No there is not a bird every five feet but there are more in the mid coast than we have seen for a few falls. I have been to northern Maine to look around and the forecast there is similar.
Copper my young pointer spent the summer at the trainers but still is not handling wild birds very well. It is the hardest thing to be patient while a young dog learns the game. She had three finds on grouse one morning last week but flushed every bird by getting too close for the birds comfort. Of part of the problem is comparing Copper to Mae my five year old pointer who now has hundreds of grouse points to her credit. Mae is a pro there is no other way to put it. I put on her bell collar and walk along waiting to hear the point beep, when it goes on you can count on a bird being there. Bringing on a new team member always takes a little time and patience. Hopefully she will be a pro by the time Thanksgiving rolls around.
Downeast Drawings Notecards added to online store!
I added notecards from Downeast Drawings to the online store. I met Fred and Patricia Hartman a long time ago when judging one of the state duck stamp contests and am delighted to be working with them. Fred is a retired wildlife biologist and has been associated with Maine for over 45 years. His years of work as a biologist has enabled him to put the right detail in his wildlife art.
Puffins, loons, lighthouses, moose, bear, waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, flowers (especially lupine) and old farmhouses are just some of the things they feature. Their products are a natural fit in the Maine Outdoors store.
I like the subject matter and the way that the drawings are done. Take a look and I am sure that you will agree these are some of the best available anywhere.
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 (click here) 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 plenty of 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 someone's list for a long time.
Of course I have a number of around the house projects that are on my list and someone will need to keep the wood stove going so it looks like a busy winter ahead.
Not much time left to arrange a trip for this season!
My calendar is full until November 1st this year. But I plan to offer trips well into November again this fall so it is not too late. In fact after the excellent fishing and good weather in November last 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.
