According to the Bangor Daily News, Donald Trump Jr. and his partners recently purchased a big tract of hunting territory in northern Maine. Although I believe the story was entirely accurate, several commenters perceived it as a negative for Maine. I disagree.
This land was purchased after Don Jr. had a successful moose hunt in Maine a few years ago. I feel this transaction demonstrates the high quality and value of Maine hunting land. It makes me delighted that Don Jr. and his friends deemed Maine suitable for such an investment.
Maine faces various challenges when competing for hunters from other states, but it also has several advantages that lure hunters here. One of the most serious issues I see is a lack of Sunday hunting, with marketing coming in second. While Don Jr.’s purchase has not yet had an impact on Sunday hunting, it is an instant benefit to our combined national marketing efforts.
Don Jr. is the ultimate hunting celebrity for a sizable portion of the country, including the vast majority of hunters. He travels to the world’s top hunting grounds in search of the most valuable game. That implies something to a middle-class hunter with enough spare income to go on one hunt per year.
It means that they may see Don Jr.’s photos and posts and decide to come to Maine for a bear hunt, enter our moose lottery, or, for the more affluent hunter, buy a lodge tag, which helps keep Maine sporting camps in business.
Don Jr. and I seem to agree that Maine is the way life should be. Maine’s hunting business does not have the luxury of choosing who promotes Maine’s prospects. However, the guides I’ve spoken with are all thrilled that Don Jr. will be spending more time here.
I understand that there are many strong feelings on both sides of the aisle following this election; please set those aside and focus on the wonderful light that this casts on Maine as a whole. Don Jr. and company might have bought land anywhere in the globe, but they chose Maine. That is a compliment!
Don. Jr.’s political opponents should comprehend that you are losing rural America more and more with each election cycle. This purchase is likely to make rural Mainers feel seen. They believe that finally, someone recognizes their home as valuable and worth their effort and money.
They sense an emptiness when they see how much attention and plaudits southern Maine receives, as if Portland is the younger sibling who gets all of mom and dad’s attention while they go to work to help put food on the tables. I feel that northern Maine has always been and will continue to be the throbbing heart of our state.
The people who live there are the lifeblood that keeps us going. Don’t blame them for being pleased that Don Jr. is giving them positive attention. No, show them some of the same positive attention.
I’ll close what is likely an unduly optimistic essay with a word of caution for purchasers. We see people from all over, including other nations, come in and close off the land. They install posted signs, gates, and remove culverts. These folks frequently do not even live on the land they own, yet they would deprive families of their ancestral hunting grounds. They are typically cruel, unneighborly, and unconcerned about our conventional way of life.
I don’t anticipate Don Jr. and his partners to go this path, but I understand if they wanted to control access to their property. I hope they make at least some of it available for deer hunting. And, hey, Moose Maine Kids would love to manage a couple bear sites for our program participants!