The first thing I noticed crossing the New Hampshire line on my return to Maine was that the landscape had gone all Wyeth in my absence: Gray and moody — and harsh.

Ask the people you know how they prefer to hunt deer. I’d venture to guess most hunt from a stand, whether an elevated platform or merely a favorite stump. Next you’ll find the walkers, folks who prefer to move through the forest intent on intercepting an unsuspecting deer. It’s a low percentage option, but a fairly popular one, particularly among more casual hunters.

The coastal community around Camden lost a great friend and outdoor ambassador earlier this month when Jeff Kuller was killed by a falling tree on Nov. 4. He left behind a unique recreation area and an appreciative ski community, as well as a wife and two children.

Whitetail hunters have two huge strikes against them for the next 1 1/2 weeks, and here’s why:

Are you looking for a bit of adventure in your life? Does a marathon or even a triathlon seem a bit too easy for your tastes? Well, you aren’t alone. A new breed of races built around obstacles, high stakes and sometimes-dangerous conditions has grown in popularity in recent years. Indeed, there are a number of these races to pick from here in Maine.

The season opener of deer season across much of the U.S. ranks as an unofficial holiday for hunting families, and in the past, at least one state closed schools on that day. Yup, whitetails meant that much to the culture.

Upland-bird hunting for central and mid-coast Maine woodcock and grouse once appealed to me in a huge way, and one allure began with lots and lots of action. It was unbelievable at times.

In childhood, my whole family hunted deer, grouse, squirrel and hare. My father concentrated on deer and dabbled with grouse and hare, and my mother chased deer and squirrel, the latter since we had oak stands by home to attract these gray rodents. Naturally, those critters interested me.