Anticipation and Frustration

We are currently half way through the third week of bear season and once again no one has got a bear yet. In fact, no one has even seen one yet! Fortunately, we have a wonderful group of guys and the mood is still light. However, it is not always that way, as those who read my last blog now understand.
Every year, as the end of July approaches, guides and hunters prepare for the upcoming baiting season for bear. In Maine, we have thirty days that we can bait before the hunting season begins. At this point, leases and insurances are paid, bait has been purchased, and trucks have been serviced. Now the work begins. The placement of the bait sites have been well thought out and scouted with several of them being established from previous years.
From a guides point of view: I'm always anxious for the arrival of our first guests. Optimism abounds. I'm well rested and ready for the long days to come. My days start at 6:00am and often do not end until midnight. This year a bear was shot Monday night, however we were unable after considerable effort to recover it. Bad shot placement and/or over excitement when the bear came in we could not really tell. It is very hard sometimes and a wounded animal is one of the things that haunt me the most. Mid week came and went, no bears. The baits are working; the bears are there...but time. We like many have bought into the mass publicity of gear and gadgets and purchased over a three year period five game cameras. I have come to the conclusion that game cameras are much like fish finders; they tell you what is there but it doesn't help you get them. If anything they cause great frustration knowing big bears are coming in but not always at optimal time for hunting. By Wednesday, my alias "Blackcloud" begins lurking in the dark recesses of my mind. Big E, Peter and I start pondering what more can we do. Our policy is two bait sites per hunter, so we move them to their second sites with the great hopes that it will bring success. Thursday......my stomach starts as anxiety sets. Thankfully Friday night two hunters were finally successful and two bears are on the game pole. Not the numbers I would have liked nor anticipated, but I feel better and my nerves settle down. "Blackcloud" is held at bay.
Second week begins with a new group and revived faith. By Wednesday, two out of three have seen bear, one being a sow with two cubs and one that the hunter said he passed up because it was a small bear. To make a long story short, and for those who did not read my last blog, check it out to understand how it ended. I'm now getting wore out and ended up at the doctors office Thursday morning; or should "Blackcloud" went to the doctors.....
Week three, now midweek and no one has seen a bear yet. Bait sites are being hit and hit well, cleaning out the barrels.....but where are the bears. Game camera showed a nice bear having come in last Saturday at 6:09pm; perfect time. Other cameras show the phantoms feeding in the night. Not feeling the greatest and with 'Blackcloud" in control my nerves are frazzled and my schedule is taking a tole on mind, body and soul. The hunters we have are really great guys and their spirits are still good which helps.....a little.
From experience of having run the guide service for ten years now; it is not hard to see the disappointment on the faces of our hunters. The anticipation of hoping tonight will be the night and the discouragement when they come in at evenings end with still nothing. From a hunters point of view, or from what I believe they feel, the hunt is creating some frustrations for them as well. From a guides point of view, it seems to "Blackcloud" disastrous. It is very true that our hunters success is our success. Another low bear count also does not help when going to the sportsmens' show and being asked the number one question;"How did you do last year?" A question I hate to answer but honesty is still the best policy in my book and I reply, "not as well as I would have liked." I come to the point of racking my thoughts of what is happening and what more can we do, and what do the hunters think and what will they go back and tell their coworkers and friends. Things like that can bring the demise of a guide service. Sleep evades me and exhaustion begins. My mind works with twists and whirlwinds of what,why and how?
So with anticipation and a good amount of frustration I write this with fingers crossed that tonight will be their night.....or at the very least one happy hunter.

Great Expectations

I have come to the conclusion that TV has given people some unreal expectations. I'm talking about the numerous outdoor/ hunting channels and shows that show success ninety nine percent of the time. There are a few that will also show disappointment, missed shots or unrecoverable game, but for the most part in their thirty minute programs they show a happy hunter full of excitement and joy, shaking hands and holding horns or whatever the game is. However they should also state that to make the thirty minute program, it took maybe thirty hours of taping and lots of editing!! I have been approached at the sportsman shows we exhibit at by a few video crews who would like to come and video a hunt, but up to this point I have turned them down; however not for the reason I have come to conclusion here. They have wanted to bring four to six people, hunters and crew, for up to two weeks to give us a five minute promo at zero cost to them. When you are a small business as we are currently it is simply just not an option.
This morning a party of hunters left, a day early mind you, with the excuse that they have a long drive home. Well they would still have a long drive home no matter what day they left on! It did not take them two days to get here and I don't see it taking two days to get back home either. They are not from areas of recent heavy rains, high waters or floods! They left feeling let down, discouraged, disappointed and I got the feeling a little miffed at us. Two of them saw bears; one saw nothing. The two passed up the bears that they saw and I was pleased that they did as one was a small bear and the other was a sow with two cubs. That's just good hunting ethics. The other made comments that he had in the past at other guide services passed up six hundred pound bears day after day. First off, anyone passing up a six hundred pound bear, even just one makes me truly wonder "why?" As we listened to the complaints each night at the table it was not hard to understand possibly "why' he did not see a bear. "I stood the whole last hour waiting", "I thought a bear was coming in behind me and I kept looking", "I had to put my bug net on at dusk". All of that is the number one "Don't" of bear hunting from a stand: movement. It seems no matter how hard you try to explain the game, they have their own game plan. I often wonder why they bother to come to a guide service if they know more about the game than we do? It is so very true that our hunters success is our success because it is what people will judge you by. This is the hardest part of my job and one of the most frustrating! I blame much of this on TV programs that video the hunter talking to the camera in the tree, moving around, looking around and still bagging the bear or whatever. I was a hunter before I became a guide. As a guide I have sat in numerous treestands over the years; sat out with youth hunters and inexperienced hunters that did not feel comfortable to sit on a stand alone and I have observed bears, shot bears and had successful hunters get their bears. From all of that I have learned  and have tried to teach those lessons so that others may be successful too. Bears are much smarter than many think and all too many think you put out some sweets and a bear comes a running. Not so! Bears are phantoms of the woods. They walk silently and seem to appear out of nowhere. They are extremely cautious when approaching a bait site, many times hesitating just in the background. Of all the bears I have observed, only once did a bear not come in and look directly at the stand and "me". They have awesome hearing and a very sensitive nose. They know when something is amiss and if you are doing things wrong, the likelihood of seeing a bear is slim to not at all. Some may still see a bear, but it is going to be an inexperienced young bear and not the trophy animal one is targeting.
I felt bad when the hunters left this morning; reminding them that the biggest bear ever taken here was the last minute of the last night. However it mattered not what I said as their minds were made up. I know they are not going to be return guests and for one reason or another think that we did not do enough. They will not consider our own frustration of the fact that we have worked for a month before season, paid out big money for leases, insurances, bait, gas and wages along with a long list of other things that it takes to run a guide service. To them, we failed to produce.
We enjoy watching the hunting channel and shows, knowing a little more of what goes on behind the scenes. However, I would like to see at the end of the shows a statement of how many hours of taping went into the effort before the final cuts along with something like "not all hunts are successful". Of course, the trouble is, unsuccessful hunts just don't make the cut leaving viewers with great expectations that hard working guides and outfitters hate, and that is unhappy hunters.

I stand by ethics.

Unfortunately we have had an incident this evening during the first night of bear hunting here at the guide service. It is not completely unique to just tonight, or to just this bear season, however I was put on the spot of "did I do my job?" Well that got me to thinking.
Many years ago ( many, many years...) when the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife board congratulated me after passing my oral exam, they said to me, "Kimberley, teach them something, if they go home with nothing else....teach them. And never stop learning!" This was a day I am very proud of. First off, there are not many, and back then even less, lady guides; with even less being hunting guides. Secondly, I worked very hard, and have continued over the years to learn more, be better at what I do; I truly have never stopped learning. When it comes to bear hunting,or just bear in general; I have made a point to learn the ways of the animal. I'm a hunter first, a guide second. I believe one can not be good at just one.
Also, most know and have heard of "Big E" if you have followed any of my writings. He is my husband and has been a wonderful teacher. He learned from his Father, and brothers at a very young age and is an accomplished hunter and trapper. He and I run the guide service together with the help of a true friend who is an accomplished hunter and trapper himself and my Mom in the kitchen. Therefore it is a joint effort in a labor of love and I could not do it without them; honestly wouldn't want to!
Anyway.....tonight we had the misfortune of not being able to recover an animal. This is a situation that I hate as it puts one in an uncomfortable place.....what do I/we say? Do we say anything? Did I somehow fail?
Many years ago (again) Big E and i worked for another guide and guide service before we decided to go on our own. Every Sunday night we were all required to attend "the meeting". It was the "talk". The do's and don't and don't you dare's of hunting camp and bear hunting. Big E and I over the years have contemplated the idea that for several reasons, we too should give "the talk". I was reminded of that tonight.

I thought about it for a while waiting for everyone to get back into camp. I thought about a lot of things......So when everyone got back in, and came in for the evening buffet, I asked for a moment that everyone just listen. I had thought out what I would say and how I would say it as I didn't want to put the person in the spotlight. I figured he probably felt bad enough. I know I would! I also know what it is like to have to wait until the next morning to go and look for an animal. It is grueling! You second guess yourself. You doubt yourself. You feel sick to your stomach and you watch the minutes click by until morning.....My animal was there. I had taken an excellent shot. I had done everything right......but I thought tonight......I thought.......what if? I believe that every hunter at some point, even the pro's have been in that situation. For me though, the thought of a wounded animal that I/we can't find is still terribly hard. That"s just the way I think. Therefore I decided it was time to have "the talk". I was careful; I was kind and then I was informational. Where to place the shot;behind the shoulder and in the middle. You see black bears have very thick and long hair, so three or more inches of blackness under his belly is nothing but thin air. Bring that shot up. I explained how bears often move and lurk in behind the baits looking for motion. I told them out of all the bear I have observed over the years, only one, one time did not look straight at the treestand and at me, yet I moved not an inch nor a muscle. I shared my knowledge; I'm a Master Maine Guide.
However it seems, that possibly it was not accepted in the light that it was given. Do I think that maybe I should have said nothing??? No, I had to. Not only is it my job, but it is a matter of ethics.

What do you think?

Do we need a North Maine Woods National Park?

First I apologize for this posting being a bit belated. It is extremely busy this time of year for us with Bear season rapidly approaching and also, I wanted to see how the meetings were reported in the local papers as well to be able to give a complete perspective on this subject.
A little background information. In 2000-2001 I was a correspondent for a couple local papers and covered most of the subjects dealing with the outdoors and such activities in the region. At this time, many will remember the organization RESTORE: The North Maine Woods, which was attempting to bring about the creation of a National Park which encompassed the North Maine Woods, Telos region, Baxter State Park, and the Golden road beginning at the area we locals call the "dike", which is where Ambajesus and Millinocket Lakes converge. The total acreage was to be 3.1 million acres, with Baxter Park encased within it's borders. Also at this time, I would like to note that both paper mills were still operating so the economy was still good in the region. The group RESTORE was a Boston based activist organization of which Roxanne Quimby was a board member. This group was literally drove back to Boston with opposition from the region and things quieted down with people figuring the threat had been defeated. Quimby resigned from the board, stating at the time that their agenda was not the same as her own. Shortly afterward she began purchasing large parcels of land, blocking roads,taking out bridges, cutting off access, terminating camp leases, and encroaching on peoples lives and livelihood.This also included a major part of the Maine Snowmobile Associations ITS trail system linking Millinocket and East Millinockets trails to Bowlin Camps (which is a whole story in itself) and the Sherman/Patten region. This did not abode well with the locals and towns in the region which set the stage for many protests and even threats to Quimby. She retaliated in a manor that only made her image even worse and many folks went around with stickers on their vehicles stating "Ban Roxanne". Quimby stated at the first meeting that I attended in Millinocket in May that these attacks as she called them angered her deeply and she could not understand why she became the hated tyrant. However her retaliation certainly did not help her cause nor her image.
Since that time, Millinockets paper mill closed its doors and recently so did the mill in East Millinocket. Quimby, who had attempted to go over our heads had approached our Senators in Washington D.C. for support of her proposal to place the 70,000 acres she had accumulated on the eastern border of Baxter State Park and the eastern shore line of the East Branch of the Penobscot River to the National Park Service, to create a National Park.Our Senators for once did the right thing informing her that the only way they would ever consider supporting her efforts was if the local towns that would be affected supported it as well. Hence the meetings began. She also thought that since the mill closures, the towns and their people would welcome her with open arms like some kind of savior. Not so. Never to be underestimated the people of this region are strong, resilient and very set in their ways, and in fact a little hostile to anyone coming from away.
The most recent meetings have been to try to rally support for a feasibility study on the proposal of her lands to be turned over to the National Park Service and the creation of a Park. The study is meant to show all the pro's and con's of the proposal which Quimby feels will bring new life and employment to an area in desperate need of an economic boost.
This brings me to the last and most recent meeting I attended at the Medway Middle School, which was set for the purpose for the Town of Medway to bring to a vote approval or disapproval of the feasibility study with the school board (of which I have no idea why they are involved ) and the towns selectmen having already stating their support. At this time Millinocket has sent them packing with a no vote. East Millinocket has not yet joined the movement with their selectmen stating they will not give approval or speak for the towns people without the peoples support. Medway did pass approval for the feasibility study, the only ones thus far.
Now, this brings to question, do we need a National Park? In light of the current financial despair of our Nation and the fact that the National Park Service does not have enough funding to truly take care of the National Parks already in existence, how does one ethically propose the creation of yet another National Park? It would take millions to create a road system, campgrounds, and Ranger stations and whatever it is that would be needed to appropriately maintain and run a National Park. That fact alone in my opinion should be a resounding "no"! But still, do we really need another park??? I don't believe we do.
We have Baxter State Park with the majestic Mount Katahdin reaching towards the heavens smack dab in the middle. It is estimated on average that 70,000 visitors come from all over the world to visit the park. It is, depending on which way one wants to look at the, either the beginning or the end of the famed Appalachian Trail. Quimby, stated from reports from the National Park Service, that National Parks have up to three times more visitors on average yearly. However, you are talking about National Parks like Yellowstone, Glacier, the Grand Canyon, ect. This land that she proposes, although beautiful in it's own right, would only be playing off Katahdin which is already within the borders of the State Park. Oh but State Parks do not draw enough visitors; are not well known enough so Quimby says. My opinion? We could fix that, right? Why Not?
There used to be an organization called MAGIC, which was supposed to promote and attract businesses and economic growth to the region. They failed. Why? I don't know all; the details. However, would it not be in the greatest interest for another organization or committee to be created to do the job and this time, do it right? All we really need is to open some doors and a lot of eyes. Too many years have gone by with the dependency of the local paper mills to take care of us. Too many are opposed to opening the area to year round tourism wanting to keep the area, "our little secret". Times have changed and if one does not want the National Park becoming a reality even someday, they need to change as well.
Now, 70,000 visitors to Baxter Park alone is a wonderful thing, but why does the area continue to waste away? That answer is plainly visible just driving down main street in Millinocket. What does one see? Insurance agencies, a little cafe and empty storefronts with the only life at the end with the Pellitiers restaurant and the Schoodic Inn. On Central Street, the Penobscot Plaza which once housed a big department store and movie theater among other stores still sets empty with the IGA supermarket on one end and a Dollar Store on the other. What do tourists want?? Places to shop, things to see and do! We need to breath life into our communities before we can ever really thrive. We need to market our Park. Our region is so very rich in many ways with the lakes, ponds and rivers. It is an outdoors enthusiasts extravaganza provided by good ol Mother Nature and we need to open our eyes, hearts and minds to that fact. We don't need a National Park, or Roxanne Quimby to save us, we can save ourselves with some good old fashioned ingenuity.

Moving right along..

Wow it seems like I have hardly had a moment for myself lately. Therefore, I will take advantage of this moment! Since the visit of our good friend Outback Bob we have been extremely busy with preparations and plans. We have finally met with an architect to begin designing the new lodge. Big E and I are somewhat in agreement of our visions and expressed them to the architect. His initial sketch was not exactly what I had in mind, but he is going to work out a couple designs, and we can go from there; it will be a better start than Big E and I arguing. However before we even need to worry about that, there is a lot of ground work to be done. The lot had to be logged, and currently an excavator and bulldozer are destumping, smoothing and setting in the driveway. Next will be a well which we have already contacted a well driller and met with him also at the site. Sometimes, I just have to take a step back though, as it is all so overwhelming to me at times. In the meantime, we still have this years upcoming bear season rapidly approaching with many preparations going on with that. We have two new lots for bear sites this year and we have to go tomorrow and GPS the sites; looking everything over to see what will need to be done for treestands, bait placement and cleaning trails.
Of course while all this is going on, so is life at the Lyons residence which has had some serious ups and downs. "Isn't life just grande??" Well, I do believe it is for the most part and another saying,"whatever don't kill ya, will only make ya stronger!"
We also have taken a little time to try to enjoy ourselves as well. We have gone on a couple 4 wheeler rides and fly fishing at our little piece of Heaven; Nesowadnehunk lake.I also had the absolute pleasure of taking a couple out kayaking on the Penobscot River along with a few other ventures onto the waters. We have been seeing several baby turkeys running through the tall grass in the fields, however not many partridge. We have also seen a few moose, deer, bear and fox along out travels which is always a special treat.
I have personally enjoyed a fire in our fire ring with silhouettes of moose and trees dancing about with a cozy glow along with gorgeous sunsets coloring the mountain and the sky, to moonlight casting it daylight light glow. Just take a moment with me; imagine and enjoy the wonders of the Lord and Lady!

It is hard to believe that June is almost over and the 4th of July is just around the corner. Time really does fly when you have so many things to do and having some fun on top of it all.
We finally got to take our good friend Bob Sauer-Jones, AKA Outback Bob, from the Adirondacks to Nesowadnehunk Lake fly fishing for native brook trout. It was a beautiful evening and the hatch was on the water with trout feeding very well. So well, that they were not taking the flies we presented like I had hoped they would. June is generally an awesome time for a lot of action on the water. However we have had a strange Spring thus far and well into the beginning of summer with heavy rains and cool temperatures. I still had a wood fire going just a week ago in the house to take off the chill! All in all, though, it was an enchanting evening and Bob had quite a few hits and caught one too!! Which made me feel much better as I missed several hits due to inattentiveness. I was enjoying the scenery, or would hear a rise, turn to look where it was, missing a hit in the process. Oh well, I can't say that I really care on that one as I was just happy to be floating around in my kayak taking pictures and enjoying our company.
Progress on the lot is very slow which is good and not so good. We need the area where the lodge is planned to be cleared so that we can get a better idea exactly where it will set to begin putting in a road to it. The good part is that by being a bit slow, we are really able to control the cut as we don't want is completely cleared. It is both exciting and overwhelming all at once. I like the idea of getting things moving in that direction, but there is always so much to do right here. We have to get the third cabin finished so it will be ready and taking inventory on the bait situation. We picked up a new lease this year that we have wanted for some time. It is much closer than a lot that we leased last year over to Webster Plantation which proved to be too far out. We would take hunters out and had to sit in the trucks until hunting time was closed, pick up hunters and bears and head back to home base often not arriving back until 9:30pm. That really made for some seriously long days. The new lot is in Medway, and happens to be lands that we are familiar with as it is in Big Es old stomping grounds. Therefore we need to take a few days to GPS the bait sites and look things over more closely for placement of stands.
Over all, there is much to do, but we want to get some fun in in-between, after all as they say, all work and no play makes........ well you know!

I have also finally put down to paper the first chapter of the story that has been rattling around in my head. I have a few, but one in particular seems to keep coming to the front. All to often, it hits me when I trying to go to sleep. My muse has a sense of humor that keeps me up all night. I always say, 'Oh that's good, I'll remember that", but it never sounds as good in the morning, therefore I have give in, and just got up and let in flow onto paper. The Outdoors publication that I was writing for has fallen on hard times and got wrapped up in a divorce and bankruptcy court. So I have had some time on my hands to put my writing in other directions, which is now proving to be a good thing.However, I'm not going to say too much about the story as hopefully, the suspense will make folks want to read the book when it is finally done!!!!

Looking ahead....

As with many businesses, one must always be looking forward. Doing so often comes with apprehension and even fear. Will it succeed, and at what expense. One never knows what the future holds or what the roll of the dice may produce. Here in the Katahdin region there is much despair among the people. The largest local employer, being the paper mills have ceased operations and laid off it's workers. The Millinocket mill was closed due to operating expenses beyond its profit in 2008, and in April of this year, the current owner shut down operations in the East Millincoket mill, laying off over 400 men/women. Over the years so many businesses have closed their doors leaving empty buildings and storefronts, and of course eliminating even more jobs. As they say, the trickle down effect can be devastating. The towns that paper made; the towns that made paper. It is our heritage and our history. Too many wish for another industrial father so to speak to come, reopen the mills and save the towns. I however do not believe that will happen and I feel very sorry for those who continue to mourn that loss. However as with all losses in life, one must go on....Be strong!!!

There is life after loss and I truly believe this region will once again thrive, but in a new way. We need to take in our surroundings and realize Mother Nature gave us all the greatest gift and that gift will bring a thriving community back to life!! Here in the Katahdin region we have beauty and it abounds all around us. Baxter State Park is the center of this jewel with the majestic Mount Katahdin always visible on the horizon. We have lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. There are gorgeous vistas that create a feeling within that is hard to explain. A few years ago now, I set out to climb the mighty Katahdin. I chose the Chimney Pond trail and when I reached a point on the trail known as Blueberry Hill I stopped for a moment. When I turned around to look out over my path, I experienced a feeling of total awe. As I said, it is hard to explain, but it is a feeling that I wish everyone to experience. That moment when you realize how lucky you are to be alive and the privilege of being able to gaze out over the land is breath taking. I have always heard the saying that life is not the breath you take, but the moments that take your breath away and that was truly one of those moments, and yet I was only just beginning. We are so blessed to live in a place that can take your breath away around every corner, and with each experience may it be that early morning misty ride in a kayak on the serene Penobscot River, or white water rafting down the rapids of the West Branch. It can be watching a baby deer, still in it's spotted pajamas bouncing happily behind Momma, or laughing at the comical gate of a moose trotting down the Golden Road. It may be catching a native brookie on a fly rod or jigging a massive togue. Maybe it will be sitting in a treestand and seeing the phantom of the woods suddenly appear in total silence. Or maybe it is just watching the sunset blaze its pallet of colors beyond Katahdin to then leave a starry sky that may dance with the ghostly images of the northern lights. This is my Katahdin and it is only a very small piece of what one can experience for themselves. This is the gift we have been given and it is the life breath of what will be when it is all said and done.

We are venturing into a new era for ourselves here at Ktaadn Guide Service, Outfitter and Camps. We are in the process of taking the next step to bigger and better and brighter things to come. We are in the very early process of designing our new lodge on the new lot that I have mentioned before and taken so many pictures of the mountain range from. It is overwhelming and even sometimes scary as is many steps one takes in their lives. A leap of faith!!! I will have my new kitchen and dining area! We will have a big room for our guests to sit in front of a fireplace, look at the bears, moose, deer and other critters, but best of all, to look out and watch the sunsets of Katahdin. The new lot is located directly on an ATV trail that we will also link to the ITS snowmobile trail systems to be a full service all season destination. Whether one wants to come for hunting, fishing, trapping, kayaking, canoeing, ATV riding, mountain biking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, mountain climbing or just simply enjoying the peace and quiet, we will be here at the end of each day to enjoy a delicious meal and just simply relax in our little piece of Heaven among friends. It is an exciting adventure this thing called life!