The great thing about living in Downeast Maine is the amazing opportunities it presents to those who enjoy being outdoors.  These activities range from hiking to hunting and everything in between.  You have the mountains, the beach, fields and woods.  There are many bodies of water that offer some great fishing from trout to bass.  Unlike most of the United States and many parts of Maine there are still loads of land to hunt on.  We however do see more and more land being posted.  There are many reasons for this in my mind.  One being the trend of people “from away” moving in and posting their land up.  The other being the enormous amount of buildings going up throughout this area.  My little haven of land around my house could at this point almost be considered a “shotgun” only area due to so many new places being put up.  One of the other reasons, which is sad in my mind is due to us….the sportsmen and women.  Whether this be due to using and “abusing” the land…ruining it for everyone.  Or people making poor choices.  I heard an old guy talking the other day.  He said a gun shot very close to his house sounded off.  The next thing he knew an outbuilding was hit by a stray bullet.  He has a significant amount land and said his family has allowed “free” use of the land for many generations.  He told me that he was sad to do it, but he was going to post his land.  I spent some time talking with him over a cup of coffee and told him he had every right.  I know I immediately just made some enemies right there.  This guy is not posting his land because he’s some animal rights activists.  He is concerned for his wife’s and his well being.  He also told me that he would allow people to use the land if they asked for permission.  He just wanted to know who was there and to let them know the “safe” areas to hunt and shoot.  This is a hot topic amongst many sportsmen right now.  Whether we like it or not this is the trend.  So, what do you and I do.  I figure there’s two options.  We can sit back and complain about it and watch the land disappear.  Or we can secure land for our use and future use.  You see I have a son that is almost three.  My main concern at this point in life is to make sure he has places to fish and hunt.  That is what I’m doing.  Guys like I talked about that posted their land but are more then willing to let me and my son hunt there.  Take the time to get to know the landowner.  Respect their wishes, after all it is their land.

The other way of securing that future for our kids is another touchy subject in the outdoor world.  The fact that “leasing” land is a major option.  You see this throughout many states, Texas being the major one.  I remember living in  Texas and some of those ranches that “lease” out their land make some big money off that.  I am not saying that I want to see that happen in Maine.  I don’t want to have to pay several thousand dollars to hunt.  I do however have no problem paying someone a few hundred bucks to secure acres to hunt, fish, atv, snowmobile, etc…  There’s lots of people in this region of Maine who struggle financially.  I figure it’s a win/win situation.  I get a certain amount of acres that I’m guaranteed to use.  In return the owner gets to know who is hunting on their land.  They get a say in where and what I use for a weapon.  Plus, maybe the “lease” amount is enough to cover their taxes that they struggle with at the end of each year.

Like it or not this is the future for Maine.  I also realize most of us don’t have loads of money to drop into leases.  That is one of the reasons why I am in the foundational stages of starting a downeast Maine “outdoors club”.  This will allow a bunch of us to gather together and secure land for our use but more importantly, the use of land for our kids.

What are your thoughts on this matter?