For many, firing up the chainsaw is a simple way to trim fallen trees or put up a cord or two of firewood in preparation for the harsh winter months.

For 16 college students heading to Orono this weekend, it’s more than that: It’s competition.

On Saturday eight two-person teams will head to the University of Maine for the National Game of Logging chainsaw skills competition. The event will also feature a competition between eight individual landowners, including two from Sweden.

Teams representing UMaine, Wisconsin, and Penn State will compete in the collegiate event, which begins at 9 a.m. in the Steam Plant parking lot on Stillwater Ave.

The morning will feature “arena events,” which involve a series of activities requiring the participant to make precision chainsaw cuts.

Beginning at 1 p.m., the top finishers from the morning events will participate in a tree-felling competition. That event involves making calculations and proper cuts to make a “tree” (actually a large wooden pole) fall on a target.

The prize for the top collegiate finisher is a $1,000 scholarship.

This is the ninth national collegiate competition, and the first hosted by UMaine. UMaine students have won three of the previous eight competitions, including two of the last three.

Free chow? You bet

This time of year, all kinds of civic clubs and organizations are gearing up for deer season and a yearly Maine tradition: hunters’ breakfasts.

The Bangor Elks Club is no different, except for one thing: At this one, everyone eats for free.

According to organizer Clarence Brown, the club targets the breakfast at young hunters, though everybody will eat for free. Hunters are encouraged to bring a youngster with them to the feed, which runs from 3:30-8 a.m. at the Elks Club on Odlin Road.

Brown is the chairman of the Bangor Elks’ youth activities committee.

OK. OK. You’re wondering how a club can afford to break the “no-such-thing-as-a-free-lunch” rule? It’s pretty simple (even disregarding the fact that it’s a breakfast, not a lunch).

Longtime NEWS outdoors writer and artist Tom Hennessey donates a print that is raffled off, Brown explained. That pays for the feast. In addition, the National Rifle Association has traditionally sent representatives to the event with hats and brochures.

Bucksport to discuss archery

Area sportsmen who are interested in bowhunting for deer might want to pencil in Nov. 14 on their calendar.

On the agenda for that night’s Bucksport Town Council meeting: the possibilities of an expanded archery season.

As state officials explained Wednesday at a Sportsman’s Forum in Bucksport, the state doesn’t undertake measures like the expanded archery season unless a municipality indicates that it’s interested in that happening.

The meeting will be a way for sportsmen to let the town know their opinions on the matter.

Turkey shoot set for Sunday

A final reminder for shotgunners: The Pushaw Lake Snowmobile Club will host a turkey shoot from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on the Whitmore Landing Road on Sunday.

Registration fee is $1 per shot, and prizes will be available for all sizes of shotguns. All ages are welcome.

To submit an item for publication in the Outdoor Notebook, send e-mail to jholyoke@bangordailynews.net, fax to 990-8092 or mail information to Outdoor Notebook, Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor, Maine, 04402-1329.