While searching through one of my frequently visited forums I came upon a posts that mentioned this blog which has a four and a half minute video clip from “The Passion Of Christ”. If you have never watched this movie I highly recommend it. If you are a non Christian take the five minutes it will take to watch this video and you will see what Jesus has done for you.

What a friend I have in Jesus Christ…..

Some people might ask what this post has to do with the outdoors. I want to introduce you through this post to the man that made the great outdoors.

A week ago I answered five questions to a recent poll that was in The Maine Sportsman.

Here are five more questions for us to look at:

1. Should non residents be allowed to hunt on the first day of deer season?
I do not believe that non residents should have the right to hunt on opening day. This is a time that Maine natives can take to the woods. A special day in order to benefit those who live here. One day is not asking too much considering we pay taxes, provide jobs, and all the other everyday aspects of life by choosing to live here.

2. Would you favor the state buying northern Maine deeryards so they could be managed for the long term?
I believe that the state needs to become involved with the deeryards here in the state. Due to the cutting of such land, development, and coyotes these areas are in need of someone stepping up and focusing on the long term effects of these yards.

3. Do you believe the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM) is effective in representing the sportsman’s interest?
I do not believe that SAM represent the majority of hunters that live in Maine. In my opinion George Smith and SAM need to get in touch with the “average” person that takes to the woods in this great state of Maine.

4. Should the number of people allowed to drive deer be increased?
No. Deer driving is an unsafe situation for the most part. I have seen these drives happen from the outside and winced at the thought of how many people were involved. The current number of people allowed to “drive” deer is fine for the area that we hunt.

5. Do you believe Maine game wardens are generally doing a good job?
I personally have not seen a game warden while hunting or fishing in a long time. Does that mean they are not out there doing there job? No. I believe they do their job to the best of their ability based on the resources they have provided to them.

I would love to hear from others on these matters.

Yesterday we had a fun quiz here at Outdoors With Norm. Well the answer to the question is:

1. Wild Turkeys
2. Crows
3. Woodchucks
4. Coyotes
5. Red Squirrels
6. Porcupines

We will have follow up quizzes that will challenge you soon.

When I came upon a recent article about a golden retriever saving the life of his owner by performing canine Heimlich it brought a big smile to my face. Why? Well first off it is one of those feel good stories that I love to hear about. Secondly because I am a big fan of the golden. I own two golden retrievers.

If you are looking for a great family dog, I highly recommend a golden. My two Goldens are awesome with my two year old son. They mind very well and are fun to have around.

My retrievers are now three years old. They are a brother and sister pair. My wife had wanted a female golden ever since I met her. So two years into our relationship we decided go find a lady golden for her. After weeks of searching on my wife’s part she located one in Charleston, Maine. One Saturday morning the entire family took off for Charleston. We arrived at the house where we would look at the only little gal they had left. We looked at mom and dad, as well as previous litters. Then we went into the basement to look at our potential new family member. She was cuddled up in the back of the box all alone. An independent female, my wife loved it. Along with this cute little female, she had seven brothers left. My wife had quickly decided that this little fur ball was exactly what she wanted. One of the males was really big and light in color. He was amazingly handsome. He sat there in the puppy box staring at me. Then I made the mistake to go pick him up. He licked my ears and cuddled in. The rest is history, a quick run to the bank to get some cash out of the atm machine and we had two pups on the way home.

I am and have been currently in the process of looking for an upland bird dog, probably either a Brittany or German Shorthair to go along with the family. I am taking my time with this one and in no rush. If you are looking for a great dog to go along with your family, a golden would make a perfect match. They are awesome with kids, reliable, and all around great dogs.

Maine has recently shot down the chance at participating in hunting on Sunday once again. In a landslide vote of 29 to 4 the senate voted no. On Wednesday the house voted 112-28 against Sunday hunting.

Those who oppose Sunday hunting are cheering and happy at this outcome. What about the guy that has to work 6 days a week to make ends meet for his family? Sunday may be his only day to hunt. Is that fair to him? On the flip side what about those who love to go horseback riding, hiking, taking family walks through the woods, or bird watchers. Do these people deserve one day of the week they can feel “safe” in the woods?

It is easy to see both sides of the coin. As with any argument both sides have valid points as well as invalid points. Like I don’t believe there is a great concern for what one person called “unsafe feeling from stray bullets or arrows”. I can however understand the feeling of a family wanting to participate in an outdoor activity without running into a bunch of hunters. What about the extra money that Sunday would bring in. More licenses sold, people from “away” coming up for hunting opportunities, the extra groceries and gas needed for a weekend at camp, and plenty of extra money spent here and there.

Here are some facts about Sunday hunting in Maine put out in a by the Humane Society:

There are 520,000 Maine residents who participate in wildlife watching, and only 123,000 hunters.

Sunday hunting has been banned in Maine since the 1880s.

Over the past few months due to being crazy busy my friend Randy and I had not talked often. So the other day I decided I would skip an email his way to see what was going on.

Let me give you a little background on Randy. Randy is a strong Christian who resides in Florida. He used to do taxidermy work, loves to hunt and fish, and is always upbeat and positive about life. Oh yeah did I mention that Randy is an amputee.

Does Randy let this keep him down, heck no. Randy has taken this twist in life and turned it around to focus on the positive. Randy has started an outdoor ministry, Broken Wing Outdoors that works to give folks with disabilities a chance to continue enjoying outdoor adventures.

Other than Randy being an amazing guy, the name of his ministry catches my attention. I remember being a kid and coming upon injured birds a few times. The majority of these critters having broken wings. The best thing about finding them was a trip with my dad to Birds Acre. Birds Acre is a place 6 miles from my house that is a safe place for injured birds to work on rehabilitation or remain there safe and sound. I remember there being several owls, ducks, geese, and a small variety of song birds. The greatest fascination to me was a bald eagle. The size of that animal was impressive.

As I was sitting and talking with God I began to think about this eagle. If that eagle had not broken its wing I never would have had the opportunity to view such a great animal that close up. The other thousands of people that enjoy the sanctuary and birds each day would miss out on that experience in their lives.

My buddy Randy has discovered this in his own life also. I hear people ask all the time, why God allows bad things to happen to good people? I do not have the answers. What I do now is that all things happen for a reason. Randy could have easily just given up. He could have blamed God and turned away from him. Randy did go through all those emotions that come along with such a sudden life change. However he continues to serve God, he continues to involve himself in activities that he loves, and continues to leave a mark on peoples lives. I know he has left an everlasting mark in mine.

Maybe your reading this devotion this morning with “a broken wing.” This could be spiritual, emotional, or physical. You may seem like there is no way out. You are about to give up or maybe you already have. Remember this eagle that has left an impression on thousands of lives. Remember Randy who continues each day to give of himself only through the strength of Jesus Christ. You can do this also.

You will notice I have added a poll on the left hand column of my blog. I am going to run this for a week to see what people think about Sunday hunting. I have covered past posts about this matter. This continues to be a controversial subject not only here in Maine but throughout the country.

Maine is one of seven states that still have a ban on Sunday hunting. In the late 1880’s Maine banned Sunday hunting for religious reasons. In today’s society the focus is on providing a “safe” day for families to be outside.

Here in Maine we have the great advantage that the majority of landowners still grant permission for the public to use their land for hunting opportunities. Of course many of these landowners have stated that they would post their land if Sunday hunting was allowed. These landowners grant the public access while asking for one day a week they can take to the woods and feel no pressure. During a meeting at the end of January it was clear the majority of people in attendance planned on keeping Sunday free from the sport of hunting.

Looking at our State’s financial matters can be a scary thought these days. Would Sunday hunting help the State in cutting into the deficit? This is a tempting proposition to help cut into the budget shortfall.

With New Hampshire and Vermont offering Sunday hunting is Maine hurting itself financially? Other New England States holding out to opening up Sunday hunting with Maine are Conneticut and Massachusettes.

Where do you stand on this matter? Let your vote be known in the poll. I look forward to finding out the results come the end of the week.

Here we are staring directly into the face of Spring here in Maine. Open water fishing is upon us. Rabbit season is at an end. Soon the flowers will be blooming and grass growing.

So as we look into Spring season how many of you can answer this question:

What are the six species that are open to hunting during Spring here in Maine?

Let me know your answers. This is open to all. Six opportunities here in the Spring, who said Maine is boring.

Answer will be given tomorrow.

The act of feeding wildlife is certainly a heated debate in most areas. There are those who completely stand against it and have some supportive arguments to back their theory. Then there are those who are on the flip side who make their voices heard.

Their was a bill recently brought before the legislation that proposed to make feeding wild animals a crime. A farmer brought this bill to the forefront with support from Fish & Wildlife Department, Wild Turkey Federation, Maine Bowhunters Association, and the Quality Deer Management Association. With all this support you would assume this would be put in place hands down. Never assume, because you would be wrong in this situation.

You will still be able to or still see people feeding deer and turkeys. This is a growing activity throughout are area. Individuals, businesses, and organizations are taking place in routinely feeding these wild animals. Why? I guess for the same reason people feed blue Jays, squirrels, and song birds. To see these animals and provide needed food when times are tough. You see in department stores, sporting good stores, and feed stores incredible amounts of products now suited for feeding these wild animals.

The State has made known the risks involved in people feeding these wild animals. They even went as far to make a video stating information on this matter. There is a main concern in the potential for disease. What about deer/car collisions? Then the fear that these animals rely on the food source, when that food source is not there will these animals find enough food in the “wild” to survive?

What are your thoughts on the matter? I guess the only advantage I see is not for the animals but for those who enjoy watching these animals. I enjoy watching wildlife as much as the next guy but at what expense.

I’m not talking about the regular bills that each of us have to pay each month. Of course there is the tax day that happens on the 15th. I’m talking about our legislature and the many bills that effect outdoor enthusiasts that will be happening during April. These bills are sure to promise lots of lively debate.

Take for instance the bill that proposes bounties on coyotes with the money coming from a $1 increase in hunting license fees or extending the firearm season for deer one week in the southern part of the State. Then there is the bill that says it would be alright for a dog owner to retrieve a hunting dog from posted property without posted landowners permission. There’s bills looking at giving out any deer permits ranging from youth to senior citizens, how about the allocation of 250 moose permits to residents who have never been drawn in the permit process, or a complimentary moose permit for disabled veterans. The bill that is proposing that October archery hunters deserve a two deer limit.

All these issues mean a lot to outdoor enthusiasts here in Maine. Each Friday you can find a list of upcoming hearings and work sessions on legislation of interest to sportsmen on SAM’s website.

Of course the legislature will be wrestling with issues such as a new two year budget, tax relief, education reform, and health care. The hunting, fishing, trapping, and firearm bills will remain low key in most cases. This is why it is important for sportsmen to speak out and let their legislature know what is important to us.

Do you think it was by chance that Jesus chose a bunch of fishermen to be his disciples? We see in Matthew chapter four in verses 18 through 22 how Jesus chose four of these fishermen to follow him. Verse 19: “And he said unto them “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
We see Peter and Andrew immediately throw their nets to the side and follow Jesus. Verse 21 talks about another set of brothers who were fishing with their father, James and John. Jesus called them and again they immediately left their fishing boat and dad to follow Christ.

Here in Maine opening day for fishing is now two days away. I am guessing I am not alone in saying I cannot wait. I have been looking forward to open water fishing and Spring for several weeks now. I can recall many times sitting in my living room day dreaming about casting that line out there in hopes of landing a trout.

Those who do not get into ice fishing have had to wait a long time to get out there and enjoy the sport of fishing. If you are not one who passes the long winter months with tying flies or building rods it can seem like opening day will never arrive. So we spend all winter waiting in anticipation of April 1st.

It has “officially” been Spring now for a little over a week. To me as well as a lot of folks in our part of the country, Spring begins with open water fishing season. Spring time is such a great time of year. You have fishing, green grass begins to sprout, trees begin to bud, and those who enjoy gardening begin to plant their veggies or flowers in hopes of harvesting them later on.

As Spring is upon us I want us to think about our Christian walk. I personally am going to focus on starting new things as Spring does each year. Although as the gardeners who plant in the Spring and wait for their harvest come fall, we as Christian need to realize that the harvest time is now for us. The Bible tells us in Luke 10:2 “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” This describes todays Church and Christians very well. It is no big secret that 10 percent of the Church does most of the work. This world is ready for harvest, people are out there hurting and in need. We as Christians have the answer. We need to share that answer, which is Jesus Christ.

You might ask, Norm, how do you know that? The Bible tell us. John 4:35 “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest.” The Bible clearly tells us this world is ready for harvest. People before us have sowed the seed. We are called to reap that harvest. As we reap there are those of us who will sow that seed behind those that reap.

Think of the person that you believe would NEVER want to go to Church or become a Christian. Their life appears to be fine, they have the money, good looking wife, great kids, nice cars, and all the toys that we can imagine. Even though their life appears to be all intact and going well they are missing the most important factor of life, Jesus. Give them a try. Plant that seed so down the road someone can harvest it.

As Spring and fishing season comes upon us here in a couple days, take this time to refocus or focus our life on what God would have us do for his kingdom. Become fishers of men, Christ as he did with his disciples is calling you to follow him. You can still fish..don’t worry. Following him means nothing more than releasing control of your life and listening for his guidance and direction in your life.

Maine is considering an apprentice license for hunting. This would focus on those 16 years and older. This would allow anyone that has not yet completed a hunter safety course the ability to hunt for one year. Apprentices would need to hunt with someone that is 18 or older and who has completed a hunter safety course. After their first year they would need to participate in and pass a safety course.

There are many other States who have already implemented an apprentice program. In fact there have been 12 states that have a program already in place. Fifty percent of these States have collected research and found that the apprentice license has made a significant increase in the amount of licenses sold after the initial first year. Along with Maine there are a few states currently considering this issue; California, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Oregon.

I know with those who I am in contact with on a regular basis do not support such a bill. What are your thoughts on an apprentice program? Will this be a chance to increase involvement for this great sport? Are there adults out there who would utilize this one year license to find out if they are interested in pursuing a safety course and further licenses? Would you support an apprentice program or not?