John Holyoke
JOHN HOLYOKE
Young hunters filling their turkey tags
Ever since the state’s wild turkey season kicked off, it seems, every day has dawned as a turkey hunter’s dream. It has been sunny. It has been warm. And according to readers, the turkeys have been cooperative. This morning I’ll share a few tales that readers have passed along. The ...
JOHN HOLYOKE
Bucksport angler wins drift boat trip contest
Some people are lucky. Others, not so lucky. And some formerly unlucky folks who learn that the tide has changed, that their ship (or drift boat) has finally come in, simply are unwilling to believe their good fortune. That was the case Tuesday, when I informed the winner of BDN ...
JOHN HOLYOKE
Moose-permit lottery accepting applications
If you have hopes of participating in this year’s various moose-hunting seasons, it’s not too early to take the first step toward the hunt of a lifetime. In fact, if you’re among those who still send in a paper application — most applications are completed online — your deadline is ...
VIDEO
Helicopter surveys bolster moose research effort
IN THE AIR OVER TOWNSHIP 40 MD, Maine — Atop the list of things you might not want your helicopter pilot to say when you’re on your first-ever flight, and his high-powered Bell 407 chopper is midway through a catch-your-breath corkscrew turn so that he — and you — can ...
VIDEO
92-year-old skier still heeds the need for speed
HERMON, Maine — Ed Hendrickson will tell you that he has slowed down a bit over the years. He doesn’t like his slopes quite as steep. He doesn’t like the snow quite so deep. At least that’s what the friendly Brewer man will tell you. Then watch him in action, ...
JOHN HOLYOKE
Looking for snow? Head north, or to the mountains
Around these parts — these parts meaning downtown Bangor — this latest “snow event” has been, well, disappointing. Sometimes it has been a rain event. Sometimes it has been a slush event. And most of the time, it has been a nonevent. Obviously, that hasn’t been the case in other ...
Boring Bob auditions for birding reality series
By Bob Duchesne on Dec. 14, 2012, at 12:56 p.m.
It’s not every day you get a call from a Los Angeles television producer. In fact, I don’t recall it ever happening to me before. Then a month ago, I got a call from Fred Greenlee. Greenlee is a producer who does a lot of advance work on reality shows. ...
Hunters heading afield in search of moose
When hunters head out on Monday for the opening day of moose-hunting season, biologist Lee Kantar says they’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a hunt they’ll never forget. “[The first week of the season], it doesn’t get any better than that for moose hunting, anywhere that you want to go,” ...
JOHN HOLYOKE: POLL QUESTION
Active bears have caught DIF&W’s eye
Several months ago — about the time bears crawled out of their dens and started looking for some tasty grub — the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife issued a few guidelines that would help us avoid close encounters with the hungry bruins. Alas, many of us paid no ...
JOHN HOLYOKE
More readers share their camp memories
With no true “holiday weekend” in store for us this year due to a midweek Independence Day, here’s hoping that many of you have been able to string a few days together to enjoy one of Maine’s most festive times. And here’s hoping that you were able to do that ...
JOHN HOLYOKE
85-year-old camper’s tradition is a leap of faith
With summer looming and warm weather here (for now), many Mainers will pack up a pile of grub (don’t forget the marshmallows), a few changes of clothes and a fishing rod or five and head to camp. On a pond, lake or stream, these seasonal retreats are special places where ...
JOHN HOLYOKE
Dam removal a milestone for the Penobscot
BRADLEY, Maine — Some in the crowd of 300 riverside onlookers were likely disappointed on Monday morning that the dismantling of Great Works Dam began not with a bang or a breach but with the steady rat-tat-tat of heavy machinery that slowly chipped away at an aging fish way. The ...
JOHN HOLYOKE
It’s time to think about getting outdoors
Mainers don’t need much of an excuse to go outside and play. To Maine kids, a tree branch is a sword. A puddle is an ocean. A muddy path is a license to get dirty. Really, what else do you need? In truth, not much. Luckily for all of us, ...
JOHN HOLYOKE
It’s time to enter Maine’s moose permit lottery
Just last week I received an email from a friend in central Maine who wanted to know when he’d be able to log into the state’s online licensing system and apply for this year’s moose permit lottery. His timing was perfect. A couple days later I received word that he ...
VIDEO
Biologists plant Atlantic salmon eggs in Winterport’s Cove Brook
WINTERPORT, Maine — A team of fisheries biologists and volunteers tromped along the banks of Cove Brook at the end of January, burdened by hoses and backpacks, funnels and cones and coolers. More than one observer pointed out that the backpack-wearing scientists looked like they were auditioning for a role ...
JOHN HOLYOKE
Old Sugarloaf lift led to memorable run
On Saturday, officials at the Sugarloaf resort celebrated the opening of their new Skyline Quad, a four-person chairlift that replaced the Spillway East and West chairs. As you may remember, an accident on Spillway injured several skiers last year. That lift was removed during the off-season. And this bigger, better, ...
JOHN HOLYOKE
81-year-old woman spies deer from kitchen window, fills tag
For years, Virginia Mattson-Tracy enjoyed spending autumn days in the woods in search of whitetail deer. She began target shooting about 70 years ago. She tagged her first deer seven or eight years later. As years passed, the Hermon woman’s passion for hunting didn’t wane, but age did begin to ...
JOHN HOLYOKE
Readers answer age-old hunting question
At the end of a day of deer hunting, the question is simple and constant. And whether in front of a blazing wood stove at a remote hunting camp or while leaning on the tailgate of a buddy’s pickup, the day’s not complete until it’s answered. “See anything?” We ask ...
JOHN HOLYOKE
Well-known birder takes reins as BDN columnist
You’ll hear no hunting stories from me today. I’ve yet to have any close encounters of the venison kind this fall (big surprise, eh?), and there are a few important matters to address. First and foremost, I’m excited to announce an addition to our Outdoors pages that I’m confident you’ll ...
JOHN HOLYOKE
BDN’s John Holyoke launches ‘Out There’ blog
The newspaper business has changed plenty since I walked into 491 Main some 18 years ago. No longer do writers peck away at their stories and columns, then wait a couple of days to see if anyone responds via mail. Today, a word written at 9 a.m. can be on ...
Police find remains believed to be Nichole Cable, 15, in Old Town woods
Orono man charged with murder in death of Glenburn teen
LePage hopes to eliminate income tax by end of second term
Family remembers Nichole “CoCo” Cable, warns of social media dangers
Nichole Cable: In our minds, hearts
Obama’s boyfriend line
Ignore LePage politics, get to root of DHHS funding needs
Basketball season never ends for Worcesters of Washburn, a family of 1,000-point scorers
UMaine narrows candidate list, hopes to name men’s hockey coach next week
Eastport teen notches first ‘Bandolero’ racing victory
Former Dexter, Nokomis coach Pratt takes Mount View football post
Houlton makes plans for new hockey boards at Millar Civic Center
Fun, informative or just plain strange: 8 museums in Maine worth a road trip
Not even chemotherapy could quell Maine woman’s longing to be in the kitchen
Keyboardist Ray Manzarek of The Doors dies at age 74
Microsoft unveils new Xbox One game console
