Maine Freelance hunt

[Dave Church]

Heading to Maine the middle of October to have a long weekend with old Navy buddies and chase some birds. The guys said we have the grouse hunting covered but I was wanting to throw some effort at the ducks while I'm up that way. Jeff Reardon gave me some great advice and I was wondering if anyone has done any freelance hunting in the Lincoln area. I will be flying up in a friends private plane so I am a little limited on what I can bring.....maybe a call, gun, and a few dekes. I have use of a boat or two, just wondering if anyone had just picked a winding stream/marsh area and took off walking with any luck or if someone could point me in a general direction. I will be the only water fowler in the group and don't mind putting some miles under my boots.


Dave

 

[Jeff Reardon]

Dave, in addition to the info I pmed, your comment about winding stream marsh rings a bell. You might want to check out Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. I have not hunted it, but I have fished Sunkhaze Stream, and if you want winding marsh, Sunkhaze has it in spades.

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sunkhaze_meadows/
http://www.sunkhaze.org/

For appropriate historical reference, you should hunt out of an old wood-canvas canoe, and you can pick one up down in Old Town for a mere $9K.
http://www.oldtowncanoe.com/canoes/classic_wood/otca_16/

You may do better on a used boat via Ebay, and the varnish and paint will be dulled a bit with age to take the shine off. LOL.

 

[Dave Church]

Thanks Jeff, the canoe will be perfect. I wont have room to haul it back so I will just leave it along side a local lake or burn it upon completion of the hunt. I should probably find a fine pipe, an expensive double gun, a blue blood retriever, and some high quality waxed canvas hunting clothes (all of which will be left behind because of space on the return trip) to make this a hunt that I shall never forget nor be able to pay off.
I did some (google earth) scouting and have found some local lakes that have winding streams that connect to lakes (either going to or coming from) that might be fun for jump shooting. I have also investigated a couple of guide services that might be able to put me on birds. All less expensive ideas and suggestions will also be considered.


Dave