Bear issue gets national exposure

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As the election that will help determine Maine’s bear-hunting future approaches, groups on both side of the issue are trying to get their views out in the public eye.

Opponents of the referendum – which would ban trapping bears and hunting them with hounds and bait – may have achieved a coup this week, as their message was carried to hunters across the nation.

Peter Brown, co-owner of Extreme Dimensions Wildlife Calls in Hampden, checked in this week to say a TV show he is the executive producer of featured bear hunting, and included a request for help from Maine hunters.

Brown produces “Phantom Calls Chasing the Dream,” which airs three times a week on The Outdoor Channel.

In this week’s episodes – which already have aired twice – Brown’s spring bear hunt in Saskatchewan is documented. Also included is an interview featuring Brown, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine executive director George Smith and Maine Bowhunters Association president Jeff Hopkins.

In that segment, Smith states SAM’s case against the referendum, and he and Brown ask for help from interested viewers.

Seeing as how The Outdoor Channel has 35 million subscribers, many of whom likely share the views expressed by Smith, the TV show could generate some much-needed support for referendum opponents.

The latest episode of “Chasing the Dream” will air again on The Outdoor Channel at 10 p.m. Friday, and Brown expects it to be shown again during late September or early October.

Brown’s company manufactures Phantom Digital Game Calls, which pay off quickly on his Saskatchewan hunt.

Brown may or may not be able to take advantage of the opportunity he’s presented in the video … I’ll make you tune in to find out.

What I will tell you is this: If you do tune in, you’ll undoubtedly be impressed by the footage of some burly Saskatchewan bears.

Watch this space in the weeks ahead, as Brown and I hope to sit down and talk more about Extreme Dimensions and its products and philosophy.

I received a cryptic, unsigned e-mail message a while back that dealt with fish … and Alaska … and left me thoroughly confused.

Who sent it? Why? And would I ever find out the answers to those questions?

A week ago, while sampling the sausages and onion rings at the Bangor State Fair, an old friend sidled up and asked if I’d received his (intentionally) odd dispatch from the north country.

As it turns out, the mystery e-mailer was Phil Pushard of Brewer, who (if you tend to drive too fast) you may have met … after handing the longtime state trooper your license and registration.

Pushard and I grew up in the same Brewer neighborhood, and though we don’t see much of each other nowadays, we still run into each other often enough to relive the good ol’ days.

Now that Pushard is back home (and now that he has had the chance to tell me enough fishing tales to get me dreaming), I can tell you he had a fantastic time.

When I saw him at the fair, Pushard still seemed a bit giddy about the trip (though, for all I know, he may well have just stepped off the Zipper or some such gut-wrenching ride). After re-reading the phantom e-mail, I realized that in comparison, he had mellowed quite a bit.

Pushard, you see, is a very, very avid angler. How avid? Well, let’s just say that some folks have told me he probably waxes his well-outfitted fishing boat more in a year than most of us wax our cars … ever.

“I’ve caught every kind of salmon, char, sockeye, king, and have seen more big ol Brown bears that you can throw a rock at,” he had written. “I’ve caught Grayling, rainbows and even a few white fish, just like at home. My best rainbow was 26 inches and just over 6 pounds. My king I kept was 31 pounds and 41 inches. It’s goooooood to be me.”

Even before I knew who sent the e-mail, I believed that last sentence. After hearing about the trip in person, I wish I’d tagged along.

Coming up: Yesterday I had the chance to take advantage of an opportunity I think many of you may be interested in exploring.

L.L. Bean in Freeport offers four different “Walk-On Adventures,” which are designed to introduce people to outdoor activities they may have never tried.

Each program covers a specific activity. The choices: kayaking, fly-casting, archery and clay shooting. The best part: Each adventure costs only $12, and you don’t have to make reservations weeks in advance. Just walk in, sign up, and have fun.

My fiancee and two future stepdaughters spent the day in Freeport “researching” the programs, and left impressed with the experience.

On Saturday I’ll tell you more about the program, and may give some suggestions for spicing up that back-to-school shopping trip with a well-deserved activity break.

John Holyoke can be reached at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net or by calling 990-8214 or 1-800-310-8600.