HUNTING

                        

(click to enlarge)

By almost all accounts, a great hunting season.  We had 9 bear taken for 16 hunters, all were good bear.  The Moree group from South Carolina had nearly 100% opportunity.  We look forward to their return this year.  Anyone in the greater South Carolina area should plan a trip to Moree's Sportsman's Preserve.  Take my work for it, you will not be disappointed whether you go to fish, shoot, or hunt.  The third week we had two bow hunters: Ben Bailey and Chris Eberhart.  Chris used a compound and Ben used a longbow.  Both were successful on this very challenging hunt, and will be back for more this fall.

Ken and father Musi had the good luck to pull a moose permit this year.  After a close opportunity at a record bull (in sight but the hunter could not make out the antlers through the brush)  we took a fine young bull on day three.  The two did a great job of putting the bull down right where it was hit, and we had it on the trailer in an hour.  Ken was able to alert his friends immediately by GPS signal pager that he got his bull!

Bird hunting in October was another fantastic season.  It seems that Northern Maine has had some great years in a row, when the rest of New England has suffered.  With another dry-ish June we expect to have an even better October this year.  The Lavoie/Hamilton duo have started a new generation in hunting (good job) as seen in the above photos.

The deer this year were again quite elusive, and so were the hunters, to tell you the truth!  I am sure with a few more parties in the woods we would have greater success.  The big deer are there, you just need to work at it, use your instincts, and have a little pinch of luck.  That is the way of Big Woods Deer Hunting.  The early spring that we are experiencing will help the wintered deer head out and begin feeding again.  Hope you can make it this November.

 

ICE CUTTING 2010

STATS:  360 blocks at 65# each, January 28, 2010, 18" thick (11" clear plus 7" shnow-schmuutz)

                   

(click to enlarge)

Ice cutting was smooth as silk, easy as pie, and more fun than a whiskey-barrel full of monkeys.  Please note the foray into the creative arts sculpture using the snow bars that we removed before putting the good ice away....

 

 

REED POND UPDATE

           

(click to enlarge)

The restoration project at Reed is going very well.  There are currently 1,200 fry that are healthy and awaiting reintroduction in one year.  The plan for this summer and fall calls for early trap netting and other attempts during the whole month of June to catch any remaining Charr left in the pond.  Fall stripping and spawning of the mature adults again will yield even more fry.  The chemical treatment will occur in October, and the pond will be ready for reintroduction of the original native species in the spring of next year.  Blueback Charr, brook trout, and red belly dace will all be reintroduced and we expect that they will grow well and the pond will recover to its original "fish factory" status within a few years.  

There have been many rancorous criticisms from detractors on this project, which is everyone's First Amendment right.  But I remain in the group that believes we are doing the best job that can be done.  We are ensuring that the original native species and strains will be preserved.  This was the most difficult path, with very uncertain results in the beginning.  But the future is looking very bright indeed, which reinforces this choice as the proper course.  The Nature Conservancy has been a very diligent skeptic; they are now in support. This is a very convincing testament to the scrutiny that the project can stand up to.

OK, so here's the catch.... WE NEED SUPPORT.  We are asking everyone to consider a donation to this cause, which in dollars alone amounts to well over $100k.  It will be an investment in Reed Pond's future, in support of the very limited US ecosystems where Blueback Charr are found.  Bradford Camps has donated all flying services and our cabins to the cause, and hope that you all will join us in support.  Please contact Bradford Camps to find out how you can help.  Look at it this way:  How much would you be willing to invest to ensure that in a few years you might have the best day of fishing in your life? What a thrill it will be to catch a Blueback Charr, a species caught only by a few other fishermen!

 

 

BEAR DEN PHOTO ESSAY

These photos were taken this winter when the Scientists from the DIFW spent a day finding a collared bear in hibernation with her cubs.  This is an ongoing study of bears that help the state manage our population of black bear.  Maine has become a world class expert on the management of black bear, and many other states look to us for ways to manage and study their own populations.

(click to enlarge)

                       

                   

The sow is 19 years old.  She weighs only 119 pounds, very small for a bear of her age but according to her chart is average for her, this is her 5th litter of cubs (9 total) since entering the monitoring program in 2001.  She probably had 3 litters prior to that and if her health holds out will have 2-3 more.  The crew will visit 30 dens during the winter, in the ongoing study (35 years) to manage the state's 27,000 bear.  Amazing...

 

 

BUY YOUR LICENSE ONLINE

As always we will have licenses at camp.  But you are also welcome to purchase them online, which saves our Department a fair bit of money.  Every time you buy from us the information has to be hand fed to the computer, after first deciphering my penmanship.  I feel sorry for that person.  So click on the left and go get a license!

 

 

2010 PRICING

Please note our new pricing for Flyout packages.  This is the most economical way to get to our remote waters for great fishing.  We also use the plane for fly-out hunting trips.

FISHING, HUNTING & FAMILY TRIPS (prices include all meals and lodging)			BRADFORD FLY-OUT PACKAGE DEALS   (per adult price, all amenities including cabins, meals, lodging, boats, motors )
Adults per Night	$148		2 Nights, 1 Flyout	$396
Adults per Week	$944		3 Nights, 1 Flyout	$559
Children under 18 per night	less $75		4 Nights, 2 Flyouts	$807
Family of Four, One Week	$2495		5 Nights, 2 Flyouts	$ 970
Bear Hunt, includes guide, license, & taxes	$1940		6 Nights, 3 Flyouts	$12 18
Deer Hunt, Nov, Sunday - Sunday	$795		7 Nights, 3 Flyouts	$1289
Boat, Motor, Gas per Day	$50		(Less $75/night for children under 18)
Canoes and Kayaks	n/c
GUIDE SERVICE (in addition to meals and lodging prices above) (guides may be shared by two sports max)			SPORTING CLAYS COURSE   your gun and ammo, 50 Shot per person,  $20
Bradford Camps Pro-Guide	$250
Maine Pro-Guide	$200
Deer Hunting Guide full week	$1200		FISHING GEAR RENTAL
OUTPOST CAMPS $40 / Person / Night, minimum $240 total (Fly-in only, bring your own food and sleeping bags)			Fly Rod and Gear per day  =  $25 Waders per day  =  $20

 

 

PHOTOS FROM 2009

(click to enlarge)

SNAPSHOTS

                      

  

GARDEN

(click to enlarge)

       

 

SCENIC SHOTS FROM 2009

(click to enlarge)

               

               

           

 

 

SIKORSKY SEMINAR SPLASH-IN

July 9, 10, 11, 2010;  $320 pp 

 

Once again we will host a weekend of flying, hangar talk, slideshows and movies about the history of my grandfather and his work in early aviation.  The picture at left shows the Sikorsky S-5 in flight above the deck, on hand to snatch downed pilots of the Corsairs.  I like this photo because of the fact that around 8,000 Corsairs were built at the Connecticut Vought-Sikorsky Plant in the early 1940s.  An average of 4 over per day rolled off the assembly line for quite a few years.

 

We hope that you can join us.  If you have a floatplane, you are blessed (as long as the weather is also blessed!).  Otherwise we can help with flights out of Bangor or Millinocket to camp if you want, or you can take the logging roads in.  We are only five moose away from the paved roads!

 

 

 

HAPPY SPRING TO YOU ALL!