Lugdon Lodge is a family owned and operated four season lodge offering guided hunting, children's adventure camps and cabin rentals.
Come experience Maine, the way life should be!
Tourism, Hospitality, & Outdoor Recreation students spent a day at Lugdon Lodge ice fishing and dogsledding.
13 students from different University of Maine campuses, from USM to Machias and of course UMFK, joined us last week for an insiders peak at running a four-season lodge during the coldest season of the year. We had beautiful weather! Thankfully we had just enough ice to set a few traps on Eagle Lake, right off the shore at camp, and just enough snow in a nearby field so everyone had a chance to MUSH!
The class split into 4 groups. Dad (Ed) took 3/4 of them to the ice to drill holes, put up the shelter and set some traps. A couple of the students had their own traps and jig poles, too. Unfortunately, no fish were harmed – good thing we weren’t relying on the students to put lunch on the table. Instead, Mom (Marion) made biscuits, chocolate chip cookies and whoopie pies. Dad made moose stew and baked beans.
Mom, Zander and I took 1/4 of the class at a time out on the dogsled. With barely enough snow, there wasn’t much braking material, so we only hooked up 4 dogs each run, but it gave the students a chance to each drive once around the field. Just long enough for the fear to turn to exhilaration. Just long enough to feel the power of the huskies. Just long enough to fall in love with the dogs and want to come back for more! We invited the students to come back to try again once we have more snow. I hope at least a few take us up on the offer. I love sharing the experience of dogsledding with newbies. If YOU want to come dogsledding with us, Call Mom. Dad, Mom, and Zander have worked hard clearing trails and it looks like we FINALLY have enough snow to run!!
Middle of November Marion and I decided to hunt behind Mert’s Pond. For those of you who aren’t from central Maine, Merton was Marion’s brother and while he wasn’t much of a housekeeper, his lawn, garden and swimming pond were always immaculate. Our kids and dozens of others learned to swim there and a few of the nieces and nephews hunt there on occasion. Every year, on the 4th of July, extended family gather to remember that “The Fourth is The Fourth!”
Anyway – back to the hunt. We had been over to the Pond the prior afternoon and found quite a lot of fresh sign on the flat between the brook and the ridge. Marion decided to sit in one of Mike’s tree stands where he had put in a food plot several years ago. I went up along an old skidder trail to where we would be out of each other’s shooting ranges. I set up the pop up blind and trimmed out my shooting lane and settled in for a nap. At about 4pm, after a good nap, I stood up, stretched and got the kinks out so I could get serious about the last bit of daylight. At 4:20 I saw a bit of movement by the brook, got my gun up, pulled into my shoulder just as a small deer stepped into the shooting lane. Cocked the hammer, put the red dot just behind the shoulder and squeezed the trigger – CLICK – I had not jacked on into the chamber. As I hunkered down jacking one in as quietly as possible, a BIGGER DEER took one step from behind a tree, presenting her head, neck and about 10 inches of her shoulder. I put the red dot as close to the tree as possible and squeezed the trigger! Down she went! She was kicking quite a bit, so I scrambled out of the blind for the finishing shot. As I was going down the steep hill, she got up. I threw the rifle up to my should and down I went – sliding down the damp hill on my ass. She went down again after about 10 yards, and Up I got. I shot her again.
I was using the Henry my son Dustin and his wife Michelle got me, they knew it was one I had wanted for a long time and knowing I’d never buy it for myself – so they got the first picture – My gun laying on the deer.
Next message was to my nephew Mike – he was hunting nearby and had told us earlier he would be dragging crew. After shooting lite ended, I went to get my gutter – Marion. By the time she was done gutting, Mike and his buddy Bert were there to drag!
While headed out Sly Brook this morning on the way to clean the Sullivan baits, Marion & I saw a bright bold rainbow.
Rainbow seen from Rt 11 – looking over the Fish River Valley – taken some time this spring – didn’t get a shot of the rainbow we saw.
We went directly to the Mud baits as they were the furthest out. As we got back on the Sullivan and headed for the Dechaine, we saw three deer, all bald.
From there to VB-11 was very uneventful. On VB-11, a pileated woodpecker was making some noise. Near Crazy Bear, I saw a partridge fly up into a tree. We drove by and got out, but before either of us could get a shot, it waved good-bye. That may have been a good thing, cause it might have been the last bird in Northern Maine.
Did get a chance to look over a couple sites Manny put in new this year. Was very impressed with the way he laid them out and how tight his ground blinds are.
The traffic was heavy in the woods – saw 6 or 8 vehicles. Beginning to think it’s time to head further North.
Spent the day cleaning bait sites – it was quite relaxing, even though I had to work alone today. My partner spent the day with Charlotte & Wylder, Courtney’s youngest two.
Granddaughter Charlotte, down to her lodge, showing off partridge last fall!
Saw 8 deer, no horns. But nice to see them. Been seeing deer most days now. All does and little ones. I did see one bird, but felt like I was part of the Biddeford crew as my feet went up and my ass went down just when I tried to shoot! Guess the ditch was a little slick from the the snow covered leaves. Was reminded of the Biddeford Boys again when I went to my knees in the mid at No Idea Bait.
Ladies of the Lodge are hosting the first annual Wild Women’s Week June 25 to July 2.
Fresh air, sunshine and adventure await! Each day you will have adventure and relaxation opportunities. There are rivers to canoe and kayak, mountains to climb, lakes to swim in, campfires to sit by – You should be here, with the Ladies of the Lodge this summer to do it all!
Ladies – It’s been a year, hasn’t it? Let’s have a summer to remember!
Women 18 and up – Wild Women’s Week is adventure camp for YOU!
Details are coming soon, but mark your calendars for June 25 – July 2. Join us at the Lodge for a week with days full of outdoor adventures and nights full of campfires!
This year has been tough. Finding the perfect outdoor family adventure doesn’t have to be! A weekend Dogsledding Adventure 2021 at the lodge can provide a safe getaway with a once in a lifetime experience. Arrive Friday afternoon and stay until Sunday evening. Your family/group have a clean, private cabin where you can make your own meals and warm up in between adventures. The only contact you have with others is outside, socially distanced, while we guide you on Dogsledding Adventures!! Other guided winter activities are also available. Weekend Dogsledding Adventures start at $650 for 4 people. We follow and enforce all state and CDC guidelines concerning safe gatherings.
Sly Brook Adventures is now the Non-Profit 501(c)(3) side of Lugdon Lodge! The campers this summer will be our first Sly Brook Adventurers! Who is ready for a week of adventures making memories that last a lifetime?
There are still openings for:
Adventure week – July 14-19 – full of archery, fly fishing, kayaking, mountain climbing and more! ($300)
All Aboard Allagash Adventure – July 21-26 – 2 days at the Lodge and 3 days in the Allagash Wilderness Waterways! ($400)
Lugdon Lodge 