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What is Ross Lake Camps?
Ross Lake Camps is a remote hunting and fishing camp in the North Maine Woods, west of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, on Chemquasabamticook Lake (referred to on the site as Ross Lake). It offers guided hunts for moose, black bear and upland birds, plus lake fishing for trout and whitefish and ice fishing, with cabins and meal plans.
Who it suits
- Moose-lottery winners in Maine areas 1 and 4 who want a guided hunt in a wilderness setting.
- Bear hunters looking for bait-hunting over a large private area; the camp states it holds exclusive baiting rights to roughly 250 square miles.
- Upland bird hunters, especially for ruffed grouse, with woodcock early in the season.
- Anglers who value low fishing pressure over easy access; the camp describes the lake as lightly fished because of its remoteness.
- Groups wanting a cabin base rather than tent camping: cabins have gas lights, a cook stove, refrigerator and wood stove heat.
What to expect
This is a fly-in-style, deep-woods operation rather than a roadside lodge. The site notes the cabins began as basic outpost camps reachable only by float plane, so plan on logistics and travel time. Hunting is guided, and packages include remote bear hunts and a late-October "cast and blast" combining hunting and fishing.
Practical next step
If you have a moose permit for areas 1 or 4, or want a guided bear or grouse trip, contact the camp early with your dates and party size, and ask specifically about access (road vs. float plane), guide-to-hunter ratios, and what the meal plan covers. For broader regional context on the North Maine Woods, see North Maine Woods and for state licensing and season rules, Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.
How do I book a guided Maine moose hunt if I win a moose lottery permit in area 1 or 4?
Contact Ross Lake Camps directly to arrange a guided moose hunt: the site lists email [email protected] and phone numbers 207-227-7766 and 603-320-3208, and its guided moose hunting is aimed specifically at moose lottery winners in areas 1 and 4. The practical sequence is to confirm your permit and area first, then call or email with those details to check guide availability and reserve a cabin. Because the camp sits deep in the North Maine Woods and access is remote, booking early matters more than at a roadside lodge.
What to have ready before you call
- Your moose permit number and the zone (1 or 4).
- Your hunting dates and how flexible you are around the season.
- Party size, including whether non-hunters will come.
- Whether you want meals and cabin lodging bundled with the guided hunt.
What the camp offers
The site describes guided moose hunting for lottery winners in areas 1 and 4, cabins with gas lights, cook stove, refrigerator and wood stove heat, and meal plans. It also lists bear hunting with exclusive baiting rights over roughly 250 square miles, ruffed grouse and woodcock hunting, lake fishing for trout and whitefish, and fishing and hunting packages such as a late-October cast-and-blast. Rates and reservation details are handled through the camp's Rates/Reservations pages rather than published here.
For comparison while planning, Maine's wildlife agency Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife publishes the moose lottery rules and season dates for each zone, which is worth checking before you commit to dates.
A realistic reader scenario
Suppose you draw an area 4 permit for the October season and want a guided hunt rather than a self-guided trip. You would call the camp with your permit details, agree on dates and lodging, then plan travel to the remote camp well ahead, since the location west of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway means long drives and limited services. Decide between a guided package and a cabin-only stay based on how much scouting and field help you want; guided service is the main reason to book here rather than arranging your own lodging.
What is included in the remote black bear hunting package, and how does exclusive baiting rights over 250 square miles work?
The site does not itemize what the remote black bear hunting package contains. Its page evidence confirms that a "remote bear hunting" package is offered and that the camp holds exclusive baiting rights to roughly 250 square miles of wilderness, described as a way to give guests "a truly private hunt." How that exclusivity is enforced, how baits are assigned, and what a package includes in meals, lodging, guiding days or tags are not stated on the pages provided.
What the site does establish
- Setting: remote cabins on Chemquasabamticook Lake in the North Maine Woods, west of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.
- Cabins: gas lights, cook stove, refrigerators and a wood stove for heat.
- Services: knowledgeable hunting and fishing guides, accommodations and meal plans.
- Adjacent options: guided moose hunting for lottery winners in areas 1 and 4, deer hunting, ruffed grouse and woodcock, and lake fishing for trout and whitefish.
How to read the 250-square-mile claim
Treat it as a scale statement about how much land the camp controls for baiting, not as a guarantee of solitude. A practical way to judge it is to ask, before booking:
- How many bear hunters are in camp during your week, and how far apart are baits set?
- Are baits pre-established, and who hunts which bait site?
- Is the guide with you at the bait, or does he drop you and return?
- What happens if a bear is wounded — is tracking included?
- Which license, tag and lottery requirements apply to a nonresident bear hunter?
For comparison, other Maine hunting operations describe their packages in similar broad terms; Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is the authoritative place to confirm season dates, license and tag rules before you rely on any camp's description.
A useful next step is to request the written package sheet and the week-by-week hunter count for your preferred dates, then compare those answers against the license rules.
How do I get to Ross Lake Camps, and what are the cabin amenities like for a remote North Maine Woods stay?
Access is part of the remote experience at Ross Lake Camps: the camp sits on Chemquasabamticook Lake in the North Maine Woods, west of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, and the site directs guests to a dedicated Directions page rather than describing the route on the homepage. The cabins were once float-plane-only outposts; the site says they are now reachable by other means but does not spell out road or boat access, so confirm the current route, meeting point and vehicle type with the camp before booking.
Cabin amenities
According to the site, cabins include gas lights, a cook stove, refrigerator and a wood stove for heat. Meal plans are mentioned alongside the accommodations. That combination suits hunters and anglers who want a dry, warm base without full hotel services: you get refrigeration and cooking equipment, but lighting and heat are fuel-based, so plan for lantern-style light and bring layers for cool nights.
Practical next step
Call or email the camp with three questions: the exact driving directions and last stretch of road, whether you need a high-clearance vehicle, and what to bring versus what the meal plan covers. For wider regional context on the North Maine Woods, see North Maine Woods.
What fishing opportunities are available at Ross Lake, including trout, whitefish, and muskie, and do I need a guide?
Ross Lake Camps presents Ross Lake (Chemquasabamticook Lake) as a remote North Maine Woods fishery with open-water trout and whitefish fishing, ice fishing, and separate muskie fishing, with guides available but not stated as mandatory. The site describes open-water fishing as a "virtually untapped resource" because of the lake's remote location, and lists "trout and whitefish" as the main lake catch. Muskie has its own page, so treat it as a distinct pursuit rather than a guaranteed part of a general lake trip.
Matching the fishing to your trip
| Opportunity | What the site says | Practical use |
|---|---|---|
| Open-water trout and whitefish | Fantastic lake fishing; lightly pressured due to remoteness | A general lake-fishing stay, especially for guests who want quiet water more than a trophy hunt |
| Ice fishing | Listed among camp activities | A winter visit; confirm season timing and ice conditions directly with the camp |
| Muskie | Separate muskie fishing page | A targeted trip for anglers chasing muskie specifically, not a side activity |
| Guided fishing | "Knowledgeable hunting and fishing guides available" | Optional support, useful for first-time visitors to unfamiliar water |
Do you need a guide?
The site says guides are available; it does not say they are required. For a reader deciding: skip a guide if you already know the lake or are comfortable reading new water and bringing your own boat and gear. Hire one if this is your first trip to the North Maine Woods, if you are targeting muskie, or if you want local knowledge of where trout and whitefish hold. Because access is remote, a guide also shortens the learning curve on logistics as much as on fishing.
A concrete scenario
An angler wanting a combined trip could use the camp's "Cast and Blast" late-October package, pairing upland bird hunting with fishing, then add a guided day if muskie is the goal. Before booking, ask the camp which species are realistic for your dates, whether boats or motors are provided or need to be brought, and how ice-fishing gear is handled in winter. For broader regional context, compare with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife on seasons and licensing.
When is the best time to hunt ruffed grouse and woodcock at Ross Lake Camps, and what does the late October Cast and Blast package cover?
For ruffed grouse and woodcock at Ross Lake Camps, aim for the early upland season—generally late September into early October—when, according to the camp, the grouse hunting is at its best and early season also brings large numbers of woodcock. If you can only pick one window, choose the early season for mixed-bag bird hunting; later in October the action shifts toward grouse and the camp's Cast and Blast offering.
The late October Cast and Blast package is described on Ross Lake Camps as a hunting-and-fishing package; the site does not spell out its exact inclusions, day count or pricing, so confirm those details directly with the camp before booking. In practice, expect a combination of upland bird hunting and lake fishing—Ross Lake is noted for trout and whitefish—which suits a hunter who wants variety rather than a single-species trip.
A useful way to decide:
- Early season: best odds for woodcock alongside grouse; ideal if birds are the priority.
- Late October Cast and Blast: better if you want to pair grouse hunting with fishing and don't mind fewer woodcock.
Next step: ask the camp for the Cast and Blast itinerary and what licenses and gear you need to bring, since those specifics aren't listed on the site.
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