Folks my age remember when Maine’s deer hunters in the regular firearms season often shot the first whitetail that offered a sure kill-shot. In those days, an old saying ruled, “If it’s brown, it’s down.”

Now that virtually every Maine ski area is in full, or nearly full, operation, thanks to a little help from Mother Nature, the arrival of what is traditionally the coldest stretch of the winter from mid-January through mid-February, and the extraordinary work of snow making crews whenever temps have allowed, perhaps it’s time to stretch your ski legs a little by exploring the rich variety of terrain and facilities that Maine has to offer.

This column is the last of three reviewing the results of the most recent Christmas Bird Counts in Maine. We’ll jump all around the state today.