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.

The Upper Damariscotta River Region is one of immense natural beauty, a scenic landscape of bays and islands, salt marshes and mudflats, rivers and streams. Bordered by hills, fields, and forests, the Damariscotta River is a nutrient-rich tidal estuary that is home to a diverse array of marine life, birds and animals.

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.

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.