For the past several weeks, I’ve been hearing the same reports many of you have: The deer on Interstate 95 are running amok as they feed on the remnants of an ongoing logging operation.

From Argyle to Benedicta, trees on a 58-mile stretch of the highway are being trimmed back in order to cut down on wildlife-vehicle collisions.

That logging has had an opposite effect in the short term, however. Hungry deer have moved onto the median and shoulders of the highway, and many have been struck by vehicles.

On the way back from the Presque Isle Fish & Game Club Sportsman’s Show, I got a chance to see exactly what people have been talking about.

If you haven’t traveled that stretch of road recently, let me assure you that the stories you’ve been hearing can’t do the scene justice.

The deer are everywhere.

On the return trip, ABC-7’s Dave Simpson and I counted 76 deer in that 58-mile stretch, and were sure there were plenty more that we just didn’t spot.

On the trip north that morning, we saw only 14 deer, but didn’t hit the road until 10 a.m. We began trekking back south at 5 p.m., and wound up in the middle of the logging operation just before dusk.

Not great planning, perhaps, but it was quite impressive.

For a guy with a proven track record of not seeing deer (at least during hunting season), the scene was simply amazing.

During the show, a Maine guide told us he’d hit the highway at 5:30 a.m. and saw at least 100 deer within a mile of the Medway/Millinocket exit.

At first, I was skeptical. After our trip to Bangor, I’m a believer.

And, it should be stated firmly, the situation is potentially dangerous.

We idled back to about 55 mph for much of the trip, and others seemed to be following suit.

But travelers on that stretch of I-95 need to realize that the Department of Transportation’s warnings are serious: There are hundreds of hungry deer out there, and many are very close to the highway.

Even while traveling at a reduced speed, we recognized that the reason we didn’t hit one was more due to luck than skill.

Many won’t be as lucky, and recognizing the risk – especially near dawn and dusk – is the least we can do.

Moose callers cash in

One highlight of the Presque Isle show is the annual Maine State Moose Calling Contest, whereby young and old alike step up to a microphone and channel their inner Bullwinkle.

I was pleased to serve as one of the judges again this year, and had the difficult task of choosing between seven talented callers.

This year’s winner was Simon Noel of Estcourt, Quebec, who made the 21/2-hour trip with his dad, Remi, and walked away with $250 for his efforts.

Simon Noel competed in the contest a year ago, but finished out of the money. This year, he said he tinkered with his approach a bit.

“I’ve been practicing the male call a lot and that’s probably what clinched the first place for the judges,” Noel said through an interpreter. “It’s a basic call that I use during the moose hunt.”

Remi Noel finished second and walked away with $150, while Jerald Reed of Chapman, a perennial contender in the contest, took third and won $100.

The show itself was a huge hit, with one entire aisle dedicated to children’s activities.

Among the offerings: A popular laser rifle range hosted by the Maine Winter Sports Center, a fly tying station, an archery range, a catch-and-release trout pond and a massive climbing wall.

Organizers have taken full advantage of their new digs in the beautiful Gentile Building, including a kayaking demonstration in the pool.

Going Outdoors on YouTube

It was just a matter of time, I suppose, before someone got the bright idea to put a “Going Outdoors” segment on the Internet for everybody to watch.

And thanks to Tony Consiglio at WVII-TV in Bangor, that’s exactly what’s happened.

Responding to repeated requests from former WVII reporter Heather Wilson, who has since moved to Massachusetts, Consiglio uploaded one of our favorite segments to the popular YouTube Web site.

The clip lasts 2 minutes, 24 seconds, and features a trip Wilson and I took last year.

Wilson was preparing to leave Maine after nearly two years at WVII, and had yet to see a moose. We set out to change that … with amusing results.

If you’re interested in checking out the clip (and perhaps learning a bit more about what this ‘Going Outdoors’ segment is all about) you can do so by going to YouTube and searching for my name, or for “Heather goes moose hunting.”

jholyoke@bangordailynews.net

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