Ever wonder what it’s like to run a general store at the heart of Maine’s big woods hunting culture? In this episode, Joe, Lee, and Rick sit down with Ryan Cowper, owner of the Flagstaff General Store in the Stratton–Eustis region.Ryan and his family have built a true community hub, serving food, renting cabins, and operating one of the busiest deer tagging stations in western Maine. Last season alone, they tagged nearly 300 deer, along with countless bears and moose, making the store a crossroads for hunters, locals, and travelers alike.From tracking big-bodied bucks to the legendary stories that pass through the tagging station, Ryan shares his deep ties to the hunting culture of Maine’s western mountains. He also opens up about his own hunting journey, from shooting his first spike horn at 13, to chasing bulls with a coveted Zone 4 moose permit, to the hunt where everything went wrong.Topics covered in this episode:🏪 Running the Flagstaff General Store & its role in the community🦌 The stories (and characters) that walk through a busy tagging station👣 Maine’s tracking heritage and how Ryan approaches the woods🛶 Hunting, cabins, and life in the Stratton–Eustis area🎯 The big shed he found, and the big miss that still haunts him🍂 The passion, laughter, and traditions that make Maine’s hunting culture uniqueThis mix of hunting stories, heritage, and real-life community perspective is one you won’t want to miss!💦Don’t forget to pre-order a bottle of TRUE ESTRUS, grab your doe estrus for this season:🔗https://thetruenorthlifestyle.com/shop/ols/products/true-estrus🦌 Preserve your trophies with Peak TaxidermyJeff at Peak Taxidermy takes pride in creating high-quality mounts that honor your hunt and last a lifetime.🌐 Website: https://www.peaktaxidermy.com📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peaktaxidermy207👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Peak-Taxidermy-61572674926781/If you’re in the Winterport or Greater Bangor, Maine area, consider Jeff your go-to taxidermist. Be sure to follow him on Instagram and Facebook, and check out his site to see his incredible work!🎣 Support The True North Lifestyle by shopping with Northeast Troller!👉 https://northeasttroller.com/discount/TTN💥 Use code TTN at checkout for 10% off your order.If you’re looking for trolling gear for trout and salmon — spoons, flashers, dodgers, downrigger releases, live bait rigs, and more — Northeast Troller has you covered.⸻🏠 Looking to buy or sell land, a home, or camp in Western Maine?Gary Williamson is our trusted real estate guide.📞 Call/Text: (207) 364-5326🔗 https://www.cassiemason.com/about/julia-gary-williamson🏕️ Four Seasons Rentals: https://www.fourseasonsrealtymaine.com⸻🛠️ Shoutout to Taylor Walker!🎙️ Taylor continues to crush it behind the scenes, making this podcast possible.🔪 Check out his handcrafted knives and tools at Walker Knife Co:➡️ https://walkerknifeco.com🔥 Built with pride. Ready for the woods.⸻🧭 Stay Connected & Live The True North Lifestyle:📺 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TrueNorthLifestyle👕 Gear: https://thetruenorthlifestyle.com/shop🌐 Website: https://thetruenorthlifestyle.com📖 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BC7Yrdq1f/?mibextid=wwXIfr👍 Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/share/16597WbQ3B/?mibextid=wwXIfr📸 Instagram: @thetruenorthlifestyle⸻🎯 Interested in sponsoring a future episode?Reach out at 📧 [email protected]

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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