Planning Your Maine Upland Experience

Maine Upland offers several ways to experience Maine’s sporting traditions:

Signature Three-Day Grouse Camp
Three nights at camp and three full days of guided grouse and woodcock hunting.

Maine Grouse Camp Weekender
Two nights and two full hunting days for guests who want a shorter traditional grouse camp experience.

Maine Cast & Blast Camp
Three nights at camp combining two full days of grouse and woodcock hunting with one full day of guided fishing.

Half-Day Fishing Adventure
Approximately four hours of guided fishing for one or two anglers.

Full-Day Fishing Adventure
Approximately eight hours of guided fishing for one or two anglers, including lunch.

Two-Day Maine Fishing Camp
Two nights at camp and two full days of guided fishing, with lodging and meals included.

Contact us and we’ll be happy to discuss the possibilities.

Guests staying at camp generally arrive after 5:00 p.m. on the evening before their first sporting day.

Once you arrive, there’s plenty of time to unpack, settle in, meet the guides and dogs, go over the next day’s plans and safety information, and enjoy dinner with us.

Please don't arrive early unless we've arranged it beforehand. The time between groups is when we're cleaning, restocking, caring for dogs, and getting camp ready to welcome you.

Departure varies depending on your package. The Signature hunt gives you the option of leaving after breakfast the morning after your last hunting day.  Those who choose the Weekender would depart after their final hunt.

For our camp experiences, your final sporting day is still a full part of your trip.

For the Weekender Hunt Package, we ask guests to pack their belongings and remove luggage from the sleeping areas before breakfast on the final morning.

That lets us begin preparing camp for our next guests while you enjoy your last day in the woods or on the water.

Your belongings can be safely stored at camp until you're ready to leave.

Coffee comes first.

After a hearty breakfast, we'll head out and generally hunt throughout the morning before stopping for lunch. Then it's back into the covers for the afternoon.

Exact schedules vary with daylight, weather, bird activity, and the abilities and interests of our hunters.

We move from cover to cover throughout the day. Grouse hunting can involve a fair amount of walking, but we can adjust the pace and terrain when necessary.

That depends on where the fish take us.

You might spend the day wading a river for native brook trout, floating the Kennebec, or fishing a remote pond from a boat or canoe.

Full-day trips generally run about eight hours and half-day trips about four hours.

For Cast & Blast guests, we may change the order of hunting and fishing days if weather, water levels, or sporting conditions make one option better on a particular day.

The real thing.

Our grouse and woodcock hunts are fair-chase hunts for completely wild birds.

We hunt young forest, alder runs, logging roads, cuts, and traditional North Woods covers throughout a large territory surrounding camp.

Grouse hunters understand that these little devils can seemingly be everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

That's part of the experience.

We scout throughout the year and work hard to put our hunters into productive habitat, but these are wild birds. Weather, bird movement, shooting, habitat conditions, and hunter mobility all affect the day.

We can't guarantee a certain number of flushes or birds in the game bag.

We can guarantee we'll work hard to give you an authentic Maine grouse hunting experience.

We strongly prefer break-action shotguns around our guides, guests, and dogs.

Side-by-sides and over-unders are both excellent choices — which one you carry is really a matter of personal preference.

A lightweight 20-gauge is ideal for many grouse hunters, although 12-, 16-, and 28-gauge shotguns can all work well.

We generally recommend No. 6 or No. 7½ lead shot, or an appropriate No. 7 non-toxic load.

If you need to borrow a shotgun or other equipment, talk to us beforehand. We'd be glad to give you one of our loaners.

Yes.  We'll give you a hat with our logo on it anyway.

Safety around our hunters, guides, and dogs is always our first priority.

Usually — and we know that hunting over your own dog can be one of the best parts of the trip.

Well-behaved bird dogs are welcome with advance approval.

Dogs must be safe around people and other dogs, reasonably controllable in the field, and current on appropriate vaccinations.

Please tell us beforehand about your dog's age, training level, temperament, and any handling or health concerns.

If your female is in heat, please let us know so that we can make arrangements for obvious reasons!

Our heated kennel building provides a comfortable place for dogs to rest. 

Dogs are generally crated or kenneled rather than allowed to roam freely inside the main camp.

That depends on the season and where we're fishing.

Our trips may target:

• Native brook trout
• Landlocked salmon
• Smallmouth bass
• Largemouth bass
• Striped bass
• Northern pike
• Pickerel
• Shad
• Panfish
• 
  

We choose waters based on the season, current conditions, guest interests, and where we believe we'll have the best opportunity.

Not at all.

We welcome anglers of every experience level and can provide both fly-fishing and spinning equipment.

If you've always wanted to learn to fly-fish, we're happy to teach you.

Yes.

Rods, reels, flies, lures, and necessary tackle are included.

Waders may be available depending on size, although guests are encouraged to bring properly fitted waders and boots whenever possible.

We'll send you specific equipment recommendations before your trip.

Full-day and overnight fishing experiences include a hearty field lunch.

When the location, regulations, fire conditions, and fishing success cooperate, we may prepare a traditional Maine shore lunch featuring freshly caught fish, hearty sides, blueberry dessert, and guide coffee.

Because a true shore lunch depends on the day's conditions and fishing success, we can't promise one on every trip.

Either way, you won't go hungry.

No — and that's fishing.

Weather, water temperature, flows, fish behavior, and seasonal conditions all play a role.

We'll choose our locations carefully and work hard to create opportunities, but no ethical guide can guarantee a particular species, number, or size of fish.

Our camp sits on 57 acres in Maine's Upper Enchanted Wilderness, approximately eight miles from pavement.

It's a traditional off-grid sporting camp surrounded by grouse covers, trout waters, and tens of thousands of acres of working forest.

The main camp includes comfortable sleeping areas, woodstoves, a bathroom with a hot shower, towels, bedding, and limited laundry facilities.

Electrical service is supplied by generator.

We have a cell booster that may improve an existing cellular signal, but there is no dependable Wi-Fi and cell service cannot be guaranteed.

For a lot of our guests, that's part of the appeal.

Our overnight sporting packages include meals as described with each package, generally including:

• Arrival-night dinner
• Breakfasts
• Field lunches
• Post-hunt or post-fishing dinners
• Snacks are always available

Food is an important part of grouse camp.

Depending on the trip, meals might include steaks, roasted chicken, salmon, wood-fired pizza, wild-game dishes, hearty sides, and homemade desserts.

Please let us know about allergies, dietary restrictions, and strong food preferences when booking.

We're happy to make reasonable accommodations but remember that we're eight miles off pavement — last-minute substitutions aren't always possible.

Yes, in moderation.

Alcohol may be consumed only after hunting, fishing, firearms handling, driving, and dog work have ended for the day.

No alcohol may be consumed before or during sporting activities.

Unsafe or intoxicated behavior will not be tolerated.

The basics include:

• Shotgun
• Appropriate ammunition
• Blaze-orange vest or jacket
• Blaze-orange hat
• Waterproof hunting boots 
• Quality rain gear
• Brush-resistant hunting pants
• Shooting gloves
• Warm layers
• Wool or synthetic socks
• Small daypack
• Personal medications
• Eye protection
• Hearing protection
• Personal toiletries

Maine weather can change quickly. A beautiful October morning can become cold, wet, windy, or snowy before the day is over.

Good boots and good rain gear are worth bringing.

We recommend wool and synthetic clothing rather than cotton.

We'll provide rods, reels, flies, lures, and necessary tackle.

Guests should generally bring:

• Quality rain gear
• Weather-appropriate layers
• Hat
• Polarized sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellent when appropriate
• Personal medications
• Personal waders and boots when applicable
• Comfortable footwear
• Small daypack or personal bag
• 
  

We'll send additional recommendations based on the particular fishing experience you've booked.

Grouse hunting can involve considerable walking on uneven logging roads and through thick young forest.

Fishing may involve wading, climbing in and out of boats, walking to remote water, or navigating uneven terrain.

You don't need to be an athlete, but please be honest with us about mobility limitations, balance concerns, health considerations, or your preferred activity level.

We can adjust many trips to accommodate our guests, and advance notice helps us choose the right covers, waters, and pace.

Your trip will be led by experienced Registered Maine Guides who know these woods, waters, covers, dogs, and equipment.

Maine Upland is intentionally a small and personal guide service.  The owners are always present.

The guides sitting around the dinner table with you at camp are the same people who will be sharing the woods and waters with you the next day.

After booking, we'll provide the information you need to prepare for your trip, including:

• Booking confirmation/receipt
• Directions to camp
• Detailed packing and gear list
• Meal information
• Required waivers
• Hunting or fishing license information
• Arrival instructions
• Package-specific information

Please download or print your directions before traveling to camp.

Cellular service becomes limited as you approach camp, and GPS and mapping apps aren't something you want to depend on once you're well into the North Woods.

Please let us know in advance about allergies, medications, significant medical concerns, mobility limitations, or anything else that could affect your safety or comfort during the trip.

We're not being nosy — it simply helps us plan responsibly and take better care of our guests.

No.

Guests are responsible for purchasing the appropriate Maine hunting or fishing license and required permits before arriving.

Maine regulations and license fees can change, so please check current requirements before your trip.   IFW Hunting & Fishing Licenses | Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (informe.org) 

Guests should carry their licenses while participating.

Contact Maine Upland with:

• Your preferred dates
• Number of guests
• Package you're interested in
• Hunting or fishing experience
• Any special considerations

Once we've confirmed availability, we'll send you the booking information and deposit instructions.

A 50% deposit is required to reserve your Maine Upland trip.

The remaining balance is due at the conclusion of your trip.

Because our season and available camp dates are limited, deposits are non-refundable.

We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance that specifically covers hunting or fishing trips, illness, travel interruption, and other unexpected circumstances.

If Maine Upland determines that weather, water conditions, fire danger, or another safety concern makes a trip unsafe, we'll work with you to reschedule or provide an appropriate trip credit.

Normal rain, cold, wind, changing water conditions, difficult hunting, or challenging fishing conditions do not automatically constitute a cancellation.

That's part of spending time outdoors in Maine.

No.

Gratuities aren't included in our package prices and are never required.

They are certainly appreciated when you feel your guides and camp staff have provided exceptional service.

Maine Upland isn't intended to feel like checking into a hotel and hiring someone to put you on birds or fish.

We want it to feel like grouse camp.

Good dogs sleeping after a long day. Boots drying by the stove. Coffee before daylight. A good meal at the end of the day. Stories around the table. Wild birds, wild fish, and a few days spent in a part of Maine where cell phones don't matter very much.

We can't control the weather, the grouse, or the fish.

What we can promise is thoughtful preparation, professional guidance, honest effort, good food, and genuine Maine hospitality.

That's the Maine Upland experience.

Questions? Give us a call.

Maine Upland Guide Service
207-250-9517
www.maineupland.com