In October 2023, I met Jim Shockey during his stop at Cabela’s on his book tour. We talked writing, the outdoors and hunting. He invited me to come up to Pacific Rim Outfitters on Vancouver Island and hunt spring black bears.  I couldn’t say no. When I stepped off the small plane at the Port […] The post Black bear hunting on Vancouver Island appeared first on And A Strong Cup of Coffee ..read more

As the 2024 hunting season kicks off, I can not believe that it has been a decade of hunting bears in Maine! I remember planning the initial meeting at Cabela’s and inviting every hunter I knew in the greater Portland area.  I wanted to prove that there were plenty of people who were passionate about […] The post A decade of hunting bears appeared first on And A Strong Cup of Coffee ..read more

I leave my trail cameras out all year long.  Photos of coyotes, deer, porcupines and racoons show up on my phone. But in the spring, those first trail camera photos of babies, cast off yearlings and bucks bring early season excitement to all of us.  There is a fun uncertainty of what animals will show […] The post Trail cameras bring early season excitement appeared first on And A Strong Cup of Coffee ..read more

The last thing you want to think about when you are chasing animals through the woods, is wither or not you can physically do it.  There are a lot of things that I can not control on each hunt but the one thing I can control was how healthy I am.  So, when I saw […] The post Are you Fit to Hunt? appeared first on And A Strong Cup of Coffee ..read more

When the International Order of Theodore Roosevelt met this spring in Arizona, they spoke about the need for constitutional amendments to help protect our hunting rights. They were focused on Florida and a few other states. I thought of New Jersey and their on again, off again bear hunt.  And I thought of a conversation […] The post Will constitutional amendments protect hunting? appeared first on And A Strong Cup of Coffee ..read more

I listened to the ravens, crows and turkeys fight over the morning’s gut pile. I was still giddy about my success as I climbed into the treestand, almost within sight of the Sky Condo.  Motion to my right caught my eye and I saw a deer feeding on acorns. I lifted my rifle and peered […] The post Two big bucks in one day appeared first on And A Strong Cup of Coffee ..read more

I have hunted deer for more than half my life. Every season is different and I learn or observe new things all the time. It is how you get better and more proficient. This season, the lesson blew my mind and will stick with me for every hunting season to come. During the 2022 season, […] The post The trick to hunting: always be learning appeared first on And A Strong Cup of Coffee ..read more

My phone showed 4am. There were photos from the cell cameras.  With one eye open, I started scrolling and saw one of the big bucks.  He had been in the same spot days earlier and had made a 5 hour loop.  I had 3 hours to get in my stand. I took two steps away […] The post The end of my deer hunting goals appeared first on And A Strong Cup of Coffee ..read more

I skim the hunting Facebook groups for photos of amazing deer during hunting season. My favorite are those of successful female hunters.  I love the photos of incredible deer that are what (almost) every hunter’s dreams of taking.  This past season, I found a female hunter with an incredible buck and a fantastic name! Erin […] The post New hunter shoots dream buck appeared first on And A Strong Cup of Coffee ..read more

Seven trail cameras with my name on them are strategically placed on our property. Most I keep out year round to track which animals are moving through.  Once deer hunting season gets closer, Dad puts his cameras up and we have a pretty good idea of which animals are around and who thinks they can […] The post Should trail cameras be illegal? appeared first on And A Strong Cup of Coffee ..read more