How one Maine family’s 16 big-game harvest restored my faith in the state’s hunting heritage

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • July 23, 2026

By the early 1900s outdoor enthusiasts were visiting Maine from all over the world to hire guides and outfitters to pursue big and small game, sea and puddle ducks, Atlantic salmon and landlocked salmon and trout. When Canada geese and wild turkey came into the picture in the last few decades, popularity grew further for sportsmen. My dad, an avid outdoorsman, introduced me to cast-and-blast sporting ventures from a young age. Unfortunately, a nationwide decline in hunting sports and license sales over the last 20 years has taken place. The story of the Cushman clan of Mars Hill helped restore my faith in the next generation of Maine outdoorsmen. During last year’s spring turkey, bear, fall turkey and deer seasons, Garrett Cushman and his three sons — Carson, Ethan and Connor — managed to tag 16 big-game animals. They also accounted for dozens of ducks, geese, partridge and rabbits. Maine’s hunting heritage lives on in the Cushman clan. ~ Bill Graves