Craft Workshop

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Posted on 10th July 2011 by Don Burnett in Events

Louise had a great day yesterday with 7 ladies from the Bridgewater area who turned the #9 Lake Outfitters lodge into a craft room.  Tables were added, chairs moved and coffee cups and plates lined up.  Louise made a scrumptious blueberry breakfast cake and all made themselves at home in the kitchen.  They were led by Sue Watson from Presque Isle.  She has a strong following and we expect more than the “7 Bridgewater” ladies for our next workshop to be held in October. 

So what is a “bird house fence”?  Great question that many had including me.  Essentially it is a picket fence with top of fence posts cut at 45 degree angles.  On these cut angles are smaller cut boards (1”x5”) that are nailed on.  The smaller boards give the illusion of a roof line of a bird house.  Very tricky and cleaver.  Each participant had to nail and glue all the parts together and then paint all the components wild earthy colors.  Very interesting and very neat.  Our lodge now smells like a paint booth.  I hope it dissipates before the hunters come in with their scent lock clothing.

The next #9 Lake Outfitters craft workshop will be in October and with so much enthusiasm among the 7, I suspect Louise will have 14 the next time.   Check out our web sight blog for more details www.9lakeoutfitters.com

MOOSE PERMITS

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Posted on 23rd June 2011 by Don Burnett in Moose Hunting

In and effort to help the Maine brocolii farmers, the Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife developed a “Controlled Moose Hunt” specifically designed to harvest the moose browsing (and destroying) brocolli fields.

This year 100 permits where allocated to a drawing, similar to the regular moose lottery.  These permits were given to only Maine Registered Guides and farm land owners.  10 guides were chosen using the lottery system.  Each of these guides are given 3 cow permits.  The permits cannot be used by the guide.  They must provide the guide service to the hunter that obtains one of these 3 permits.

The guides will be given specific direction in a meeting to be held later in July and more details will be outlined in a following blog so stay tuned.  In the mean time please call us on our cell phone to make inquires or express your interest in obtaining one of these permits.  Call 802-738-3877

Craft Workshop

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Posted on 8th June 2011 by Don Burnett in Events |Uncategorized

CRAFT WORKSHOP

#9 Lake Outfitters (Louise Merrill) will host and Sue Watson will be instructing a craft workshop on a bird house fence.  Sue is from Presque Isle and has been providing craft workshop instruction for the past 4 years.  She is very talented, very easy to understand and has a fantastic sense of humor.  She has a great following because everyone has a great time and her classes are very informative.

The bird house fence workshop will be on July 9 starting at 9AM.  You must call to make your reservation soon (her classes fill quickly).  Please call Louise Merrill at 207-429-9632 or her cell phone 802-738-3877.

All supplies will be provided but you should bring your basic tools (small hammer, screwdrivers, pliers etc.).

#9 Lake Outfitters is in Bridgewater.  Traveling South on Route 1, turn left on Boundary Line Road just after crossing the bridge on Route1.  Traveling North on Route 1, turn right on Boundary Line Road just past the large, white community building on the right.  #9 is exactly one mile from route 1 on the left.  Plenty of parking and the lodge has numerous of tables and a lot of work space.

Come have fun with Sue and Louise

BEAR’S NOSE

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Posted on 1st June 2011 by Don Burnett in Bear Hunting

According to Dick Scorzafava in this bi-monthly Bear Hunting magazine, scent control is the most important factor in hunting black bear from a stand (along with sitting still).  The bear’s ability to smell is fantastic and one of their best defenses.  Our first bear taken last year is a testament to Dick’s observation.

 It was hot the first week of hunting last year in northern Aroostook County, Maine.  Steve, from South Carolina, was somewhat quite but the few comments he made in his southern drawal indicated he was a hunter.  He sited his rifle in on Monday morning with precision.  I was very confident he could hit what he was aiming at.

 At our meeting on Sunday evening I told all the hunters that we would have lunch about noon on Monday and head out to the bear stands about 2.  After sighting in their rifles, we had lunch.  Steve jumped in the shower with his scent free soap.  I later found out he also brushed his teeth with scent free tooth paste. Coming out of the shower he asked me if it was ok if he changed his clothes at the truck when we reached his stand.

In a scent lock bag he had his scent lock hunting clothes to include his gloves, neck-up and head gear.  As hot as it was he was going to wear it all.  Only after undressing and redressing in his hunting clothes was he ready to walk into his stand.  He told me when he pays to go on a hunt he wants to ensure he does everything in his power to ensure he has a good time and sees game.

 I walked him to his stand and helped him get settled.  I sprayed the area with Wildlife Management scent free, put more bear bait out, sprayed bacon scent from Bear Scent, LLC, cut a few branches that he wanted out of his way and I was gone.  He shot his bear earlier than any of the other hunters in 2010.

He explained that 2 cubs and a sow came up from behind him, nose into the wind.  The 2 cubs actually climbed through the bottom 2 rungs on the ladder stand.  The fourth bear came in from from the same area as well and chased the sow and 2 cubs away.  The fifth bear came in from the same direction, behind him and was taken with one shot.

There was a breeze that day and all the bear came into the breeze right under Steve’s stand to reach the barrel of food.  None of them scented him.

 I personally wear scent free clothing.  I don’t think it is magic and I don’t think it is 100% effective but I do believe it gives me an edge.  I strongly agree with Dick.  Steve has helped promote the whole issue of scent lock clothing does help.

MOOSE & MORE

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Posted on 31st May 2011 by Don Burnett in Moose Hunting |Uncategorized

One of the activities Louise and I like to do is take a slow ride along some of the back woods logging roads in the evening.  But this year we have been busy this spring working around the lodge and camps, new flower garden, top soil, bush and tree planting and miscellaneous repairs.

 Yesterday was our first day to take such a ride.  We saw 6 moose – 4 cows, 1 bull and 1 huge moose we could not really get a good look at.  These moose sightings were in one of the areas that we saw a lot of moose in last year.  I personally don’t think the 500 permits given out last year had a huge impact on our moose population.  We have also seen 3-4 moose on the interstate, mostly north of Sherman Mills.

We also saw a nice deer on our ride yesterday.  Again, in the same area that we saw a lot of deer activity last year.  We could not tell if it was a buck but it was nice size.

The rabbit population is also as strong as it was last year.  We lost count after 6

We also saw a red fox pup.  First time I have ever seen one.  Strange that it seem to be by itself.  It crossed the road in front of us and hung out in some freshly cut tree tops peeking at our truck.

The woods in northern main, Aroostook County are certainly alive with wildlife.

MOOSE HUNTING ENTHUSIASTS

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Posted on 29th May 2011 by Don Burnett in Moose Hunting

 I hope you put in for your moose permit.  If not you will have to wait until next year.  The last day to put in an application was May 13.  We are starting to see moose again this year in the same places they were last year.  It looks like the 2011 moose hunt will be super again this year. 

If you are lucky enough to get drawn,  consider #9 Lake Outfitters as your host.  We will provide guide support or you can do your own thing.  Our cabins are very reasonably priced.  You can do your own cooking or Louise can fix one or all your meals.  The only warning I can give you is – you may want to come back from the woods early just to get another helping of her delicious pie!  In any event – good luck to all those who put in for a moose permit.  And good luck filling your tag if you were luck enough to be drawn.

EYE CONTACT

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Posted on 29th May 2011 by Don Burnett in Deer Hunting

EYE CONTACT

 Everyone talks about eye contact – between people; the boss, the audience, peers, subordinates, girl/boy.  But hunters should remember this when hunting as well.

This past year I broke eye contact with an 8 pointer and filled my tag!

The second day of Maine deer hunting, 2010 was an ok day.  A little warmer than I like but it was not raining.  A little breezy.   Ed (my good friend from New Hampshire) and I headed up the mountain just before day break.  I knew exactly where I was going since Louise and I had scouted this area weeks before for a hunting group that cancelled at the last minute.

Louise and I found hookings, beds, scrapes and droppings high up on the mountain and a return trip found additional sign.  I like hunting mountains with flats or shelves and it was on these flats that we had seen the most sign. 

I reached my destination about an hour after the sun came up.  I was actually sitting next to one of the beds we found weeks earlier.  After sitting for 2 hours and not seeing anything I decided to do some still hunting.  Some hunting friends think I move too slow but I have had a fair amount of success hunting this way so I will not change due to peer pressure (the last time peer pressure got to me I traded my Honda VTX in on Harley Davidson street glide!).

I was just breaking over the edge of a flat when I thought I heard a buck grunt.  I froze and listened. Nothing. So I pulled my own grunt call out and blew.  I waited a few minutes and blew it again.  It was then that I realized what I heard was the rubbing of some trees.

I continued my slow climb and now was on top of the flat.  Looking to my right higher up the mountain and in a stand of blow downs about 75 yards was a buck standing broadside looking right at me.  It was about 11:30.  I don’t know if he was bedded there or what.  I was holding my rifle with my right hand down at my side.

About 8 years ago I missed a buck on Moose Mountain trying to out-draw him as he was looking directly at me.  My shot was probably 15 yards behind him.  Same scenario:  eye to eye contact with my rifle held in my right hand down at my side.

This Moose Mountain experience immediately came to mind and I was determined not to make a quick draw.  Instead I decided to turn away from this buck.  Leaving my feet still planted, I turned my upper body at the waist and had my shoulder blades looking at him.  As I turned I raised my rifle and pulled the hammer back.  When I got it up to my shoulder, I slowly turned back to where I had seen the buck.  It was tough to turn completely around and keep the rifle tucked hard into my shoulder.  I had to actually hold my rifle away from my shoulder a few inches to be able to line up my scope on this big boy without moving my feet.

When I got him in the cross hairs he had not moved one inch.  He was still looking right at me, the same way he was when I broke our eye to eye contact.  I don’t know if it was my grunt call that held him in curiosity or the Wild Life Research scent that I had put on a felt pad tied to my boot, but he was still there.

I was surprised when my gun went off which is always a good sign.  The buck immediately dropped.  The only thing I could see was his antlers sticking above one of the blow downs.  It was a great feeling to fill my Maine deer tag but disappointing that I could not hunt the upcoming muzzle loader season that I was looking forward to.  You can’t have it both ways.  Bottom line was I had a nice 8 pointer, 182 pounds and I owe it to a tough experience from years past and breaking eye contact, as hard as it is.

Has anyone out there had similar eye contact experience?  Give me your comments and input.  Hunt safely, never give up (as good friend Dan would say), be patient and good things will happen.

TROUT FISHING

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Posted on 28th May 2011 by Don Burnett in Fishing

Trout fishing anyone!  People fishing off our bridge caught at least 2 nice trout on Thursday.  The water level has come down and we are now seeing folks fishing on the Whitney Brook and Prestile River.  The Whitney, which runs through our land behind the lodge, runs into the Prestile just before the border crossing, about ½ mile from the lodge.  Check out Map 59 in The Maine Atlas. 

We had a down pour late yesterday and last night so the brooks and rivers are once again high but with all the snow gone the water levels will be down in a day or two.

 Give us a call (207-429-9632 – leave a message with phone #) to stay at one of our cabins.  You could literally roll out of bed and fish the Whitney.  Add your fishing comments and experiences for all to enjoy and build on.

First

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Posted on 26th May 2011 by Don Burnett in Uncategorized

This is Don’s first blog which really says nothing.  But Adam is helping me and this will be used a lot by #9 Lake Outfitters in the future.  Picture is our 3rd week group of bear hunters for the 2010 season.