ALCES ALCES, the Maine moose, is one of the most popular attractions to the Moosehead Lake Region.  While you are here there is no better way to see, photograph, and learn about Maine's moose than spending a morning or afternoon with Master Maine Guide Mark Patterson.  All trips are customized to meet the goals of your party and you will not be asked to share your trip with other vacationers.  Keeping our trips small and personal we are better able to achieve your goals and help make lasting memories of your vacation.  Our moose searching grounds are off the beaten path where solitude and peacefulness helps keep these animals relaxed.  Between the end of April and the beginning of November looking for moose is what we specialize in.  Spring and Summer we prefer to find our moose via canoe when they visit the water in the morning and evening to feed and escape the flies.  During the fall when love is in the air we will have to switch our techniques to calling, using scent, visual clues and searching by truck to improve our odds of finding one of these monster bulls the photographes have been searching for.
Our moose trips are more than just seeing a moose, but a learning experience about these amazing animals.  Life cycles, feeding habits, breeding season, the moose hunt, and many moose tales will make the driving time very informative and enjoyable.

3-4 hour trip for those who would rather keep their feet on the ground.  Come help your guide search the wilderness for the elusive moose while learning why these massive members of the deer family do what the do.  Because all trips are custom we can combine this trip as much or as little hiking as you want.  During this trip we can quietly sneaking into a number of remote ponds, visit Ripogenous Dams and the violent waters of the Crib Work on West Branch of the Penobscot River, pay our respects at the B-52 crash site to our fallen members of the arm services, or just cruise the North Maine Woods, just to mention a few options.   

This is when we find the Bulls and the third week of September is normally the peak fall colors.  The middle of September through the middle of October is the breeding season for moose and is the best opportunity for photographing the males.  The bulls have been growing their antlers for fighting and display since early spring and now is the time the show them off.  We use calling, scent, and visual clues or call these monsters to us or at least distract them for us to get some great photos.  By far the best time of year for photographers search for the big bull shot

If you are interested we can do it, but you are much more likely to see moose in the summer.  Come dogsledding for the dogs.

FOOTWEAR: There is usally no reason to get your feet wet, but sturdy footwear is recommend because just may need to walk on uneven, rocky, muddy, or slippery terrain depending on weather and location.
CLOTHING:  Light natural colors (browns, kaki, greens), avoid bright, loud colors; we are in essence hunting these animal and the better we blend in the more relaxed the animals will stay.  Long sleeve shirts and pants will allow you to be more comforable if the bugs are out or the temperature drops.  Dress warmer than you think you need, you can alway take stuff off.  A brimmed hat or sunglass can be a must, remember this is morning or evening so the sun will be closer to the horizen than overhead.
RAIN GEAR:  Trips are more enjoyable if you are comfortable.  The old saying in Maine is that if you don't like the weather wait a minute.  This is true, driving just 20-30 miles north or south can put you in a different weather.  The weather reports are also very inaccurate in our area.
CAMERA:  Check your battery level or bring extra batteries or film.  Nothing is worse than having a chance at the picture of a lifetime and a dead camera.
HAIR SPRAY, COLOGNE AND PERFUME:  Not recommended, most animals use their nose more than their eyes and an unnatural smell can be a costly give-a-way.

Few things can be more relaxing, rewarding, and frustrating than fly fishing.  Practice does make perfect, but there are a number of tricks that can help just you get started or get rid of bad habits.  Within a couple of hours I can improve your casting technique, distance and presentation, also recommend a few flies that work well in our area.