Grabbing a copy of the new Outdoor Life and flipping to the story about the top 200 places in the United States for sportsmen and women to hang their hats, I couldn't wait to see which of Maryland's communities made the magazine's list.
The possibilities seemed endless: Deale as jumping-off point for fishing on the Chesapeake Bay; McHenry and nearby Savage River State Forest for deer, turkey and bear hunting and Deep Creek Lake for monster bluegills; Easton as base camp for goose and turkey hunting or white perch fishing in the Miles River; Ocean City for coastal bay and deep sea fishing; Monkton and the Gunpowder River for trout fishing and bow hunting in the surrounding watersheds.
Surely the state would get points for its annual Maryland Fishing Challenge, which began Friday and runs through Labor Day. More than 60 species of fish - freshwater, tidal and saltwater - are eligible, showing off the diversity of fishing opportunities for veteran anglers and youngsters.
After thumbing through the list several times, it appeared as if Maryland had been kicked to the curb. But, no, there at No. 195, between Skowhegan, Maine, and Rutland, Vt., was (drum roll, please), Cumberland.
Huh?
Nothing against Cumberland - gateway to Frostburg - but that's Maryland's only mention? Are we not "America in Miniature"?
Editors explained that they took last year's inaugural list of 200 places and then "surveyed our readers, friends and colleagues for hidden gems we might have missed." They took into account gun laws, proximity to public hunting and fishing spots, the number of species available and "trophy" potential. They also looked at other stuff, such as cost of living, unemployment rate and commuting time.
Three of the top five are in Idaho. Only one of the top 10 is east of the Mississippi River. You don't hit an East Coast town until No. 47 (Seneca, S.C.). The six Mid-Atlantic states rate only seven spots.
Yes, this is a rant.
Kodiak, Alaska, comes in at No. 11. The town is on an island in the Gulf of Alaska and appears to have six major streets, all dead ends. In 1964, the city was hit by a 30-foot tsunami. Two years ago, a man walked into the B&B Bar and attacked patrons with bear spray. It's so cold that Navy SEALs use the area for survival training. The No. 1 fun thing to do, according to the Chamber of Commerce, is: "Walk St. Paul Harbor and look at the boats." (Other fun things are: "Walk beaches looking for bear tracks" and "Eat the fresh catch of the day," which could be your kids if you encounter a beachcombing bear).
