Continuity makes show a reunion for many

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After a 70-year run, the Eastern Maine Sportsman’s Show has become a pretty well defined event.

There are changes from year to year, but there’s enough continuity so that visitors feel right at home as they make their way down the aisles.

And for those of us who spend hours at the University of Maine field house in Orono each year as exhibitors, it sometimes seems like a reunion.

It’s a chance for us to catch up with people we know, people we used to know and people we’ll know for years to come. And it’s not all work – far from it. Truth be told, one of my favorite parts of the show is getting the chance to amble aimlessly, check out the booths and chat with old and new friends.

If you missed this year’s show, here’s a quick tour of the aisles, from one man’s perspective.

Let’s start with Jim Carter. That’s appropriate, seeing as that for the past several years (due to the geography of the show), he has been the first exhibitor I see as I make my way toward the BDN booth.

Carter, who owns Munsungan Hunting & Fishing Club, is always fun to talk to and always has plenty of tales to share. This year, he was eager to talk about a new book, “Bound for Munsungan,” which was written by Jack Ahern.

The book is an interesting study of Carter’s neck of the woods, and I recently began reading it in hopes of sharing a few thoughts after I finish.

Carter is one of those guys who combines two seemingly at-odds traits perfectly: He’s crusty, yet friendly … and he loves to talk about the outdoors.

One of the hits of this year’s show was the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife booth, which features a “Wall of Shame.”

That display contains mounts of animals that were confiscated from poachers and serves to illustrate the problems facing all outdoors enthusiasts.

I enjoyed spending time talking with Bill Pierce, the DIF&W’s marketing guru, as well as game warden Kevin Adam.

And every time I wandered by, Pierce or the wardens or biologists on duty were busy talking with interested folks.

A new addition this year: The Coastal Conservation Association had a booth, and two friends – John Kirk and Dave Huntress – spent a lot of time telling people what the organization is all about.

The fledgling local chapter is planning a striped bass tournament on the Penobscot River which will run from June 21 through July 26, and Huntress said many anglers seemed interested in taking part.

Some friends from Fort Kent headed down on short notice to let Bangor-area sports know about their annual international muskie derby, which will be held Aug. 15-17.

The entourage said they had a great time, although there were a few problems.

Chief among them: They didn’t realize how many people would express interest in the tournament and gave away 1,500 leaflets on Saturday alone.

A quick trip to a local office supply store and they were ready for Sunday.

At the National Wild Turkey Federation booth, I learned that it’s entirely possible for a guy to play both parts of “Dueling Banjos” with a mouth call. Amazing but true. And I’ve got the tape to prove it.

Representatives of the Maine Bowhunters Association were on hand to teach kids how to use a bow, and many waited in line to try their hand at the sport.

The folks from Leonard’s Mills living history center were on hand with videos and information about their offerings, and enthusiastically explained their ongoing project to restore a steam-powered Lombard log-hauler, which will eventually be a feature attraction at the Bradley facility.

And over at the BDN booth, we had a lot of fun, met a lot of great people and watched as hundreds of folks signed up for the sixth annual “Win a Drift Boat Trip” contest.

For everyone who stopped by to say “Hi,” thanks. And for those of you I guaranteed a drift boat trip … well, I seem to have overextended myself a bit and made more guarantees than our guide, Dan Legere, can hope to fulfill.

But keep your fingers crossed. We’ll let you know who actually won the trip in a couple of weeks.

Nature abounds … even in town

Visitors to Maine often remark on the natural beauty that the state possesses … and which some of us locals might begin to take for granted.

But there’s plenty to see, and each time I fall into a bit of a rut, and begin to forget why I love my home state, something happens to refresh my memory.

That’s what happened on Monday as I traveled east on I-395 from Bangor toward Brewer.

A large bird soared over the highway, and when it turned, I saw a flash of vivid white. Another glimpse (I didn’t dare stare, lest my rubbernecking cause a multi-car pileup) proved that it was, in fact, a bald eagle.

Now, eagle sightings aren’t all that rare in Maine any more, and I know for a fact that you’ve got a good chance of spotting one down near Bangor’s scenic wastewater treatment plant … not far from where this one was soaring.

Still, it brightened my day considerably.

Yes, Bangor is a small city, with the benefits (and woes) that come with the territory. It’s still nice to see evidence that the wild places we love are still within a short drive … or a short flight, if you’re an eagle.

jholyoke@bangordailynews.net

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