Families of Maine hunters will be eating plenty of venison this winter, as nearly 30,000 of those hunters successfully filled their tags. Nathan Bieber, the state deer biologist for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, said a total of 28,314 deer were tagged by hunters using bows and arrows, crossbows, rifles and muzzleloaders this year. That total is considered “preliminary,” and could be adjusted if new data becomes available.

The Foxcroft Academy boys indoor track and field team opened the 2019-20 Penobscot Valley Conference/Eastern Maine Indoor Track League season on Dec. 21 at the University of Maine, scoring three points to finish seventh among eight schools.

Whether hunting in Colorado High Country or the Maine North Woods fir forests, you always keep a close eye on the weather. In some cases weather vigilance can make the difference between being comfortable or uncomfortable – or downright miserable, or even in harm’s way.

The basics of the Dexter boys basketball program for generations -- disciplined offense and assertive defense -- were on full display Dec. 21. The Tigers yielded just seven field goals to Bucksport and defeated the Golden Bucks 62-20 at Guiski Gymnasium.

But Mount View and other Little Ten Conference Class D North schools, including Washington Academy of East Machias and Houlton, also are reportedly among those considering the eight-player option. That would change the dynamics of 11-player competition in that conference considerably

The Forest Society of Maine welcomes Nordic skiers of all ages and abilities to enjoy the trails, this winter, at Nickerson Tree Farm. Located behind the Moosehead Lake Region Visitors’ Center -- just a few miles south of town -- the tree farm offers a 2.3-mile network of looping routes that will be groomed throughout winter, as conditions allow.

Upcoming sporting events around the region.

Two men from southern Maine will assume key leadership roles in the Maine Sports Hall of Fame beginning in January. Former television broadcaster Bill Green and Brian Corcoran, the chief executive officer of Shamrock Sports & Entertainment, are set to help guide the organization.

You winterize your boat. You winterize your house. Heck, you even winterize yourself, grabbing a pair of gloves and a hat before heading out to work in the morning. But I’ll bet you do a less-than-impressive job winterizing your fly-fishing gear at the end of a season. That’s OK. Many of us are the same way.

Brunswick High School boys basketball coach Todd Hanson reached a milestone, earning his 300th career victory as the Dragons scored a 47-40 victory at Yarmouth. The Dover-Foxcroft native is in his 24th year at Brunswick, his only head coaching stop.

Difficulty: Moderate.

This past deer season a 7-year-old deer hunter made the front page of the Bangor Daily News – above the fold! She had a reason to  smile. With the help of her grandfather, the young girl had bagged a trophy buck that will earn her the right to wear a Biggest-Bucks-in-Maine patch.

Here are 10 girls basketball players to keep an eye on this season across the five North classes.

The 46th Maine Soccer Coaches All-Star Banquet was held Dec. 8 and many local players were recognized.

Upcoming sporting events around the region.

Fisheries conservationists from around the country will converge on Bangor in August, as Trout Unlimited will stage its national annual meeting in the Queen City of the East Aug. 19-23, 2020. Hundreds of volunteers are expected to attend, learn about conservation efforts that have succeeded in Eastern Maine and discuss coldwater conservation issues with their peers, as well as staffers, scientists and partners from state and federal agencies.

Dexter Regional High School and Foxcroft Academy were both well represented on the 2019 all-conference team for the Little Ten Conference (Class D North).

1. Mattanawcook A 181, 2. Bucksport A 145, 3. PCHS A 121, 4. Dexter A 120, 5. Caribou A 102, 6. Dirigo A 82, 7. Madison A 62, 8. Fort Kent A 53, 9. Washington Academy A 42, 10. Old Town 39, 11. Penobscot Valley 32, 12. Calais A 20, 13. Dirigo B 20, 14. Washington Acad. B 13, 15. Bucksport B 8, 16. Madison B 7, 17. PCHS B 7, 18. Washington Acad. C 3, 19, Mattanawcook. C 3, 20. Fort Kent B 3, and 21 Woodland 3.