BANGOR DAILY NEWS • September 1, 2024
Tom Winland, 47, decided more than a year ago that he wanted to hunt for a bear. He chose Maine because it is legal to hunt bear over bait. He chose Dead North Adventures in Perham as an outfitter for lodging and guide services. Then he built his own rifle. Although the old-style gun is more common in Ohio, it’s rarely seen in Maine for hunting big game. Maine has a muzzleloader deer season, but most hunters use more modern technology such as in-line guns that have a percussion system for igniting the gunpowder rather than sharpened flint. “A trophy for me is getting a bear with a gun I created. Taking the bear with a 400-year-old technology [makes it] special,” Winland said.