Around the Lodge Table: Brian Glidden Talks Bear
- 18 hours ago
- 4 min read
There’s a certain moment that happens at a place like Libby's Lodge & Canty's. It’s usually after supper. Plates have been cleared. Coffee cups, or something a little stronger, are back in hand. The conversation starts to shift. That’s when the stories come out.
In this episode of the Libby's Northwoods Podcast, that moment is shared between lodge owner Travis Libby and his guest, Brian Glidden as they talk bear.
Watch Episode 3 of Libby's Northwoods Podcast:
Every good Northwoods story starts with someone who’s spent real time in the woods.
Brian Glidden brings that kind of perspective to the conversation. He's someone who understands the rhythm of life in northern Maine and the experiences that come with it.
As he and Travis talk, it becomes clear that this isn’t just storytelling for the sake of it. It’s lived experience shaped by time outdoors, time in camp, and time around the kinds of people who make the Northwoods what it is.
About Brian Glidden
For Brian Glidden, the North Maine Woods isn’t just a place to visit—it’s home. A lifelong resident of Patten, Maine, Brian has spent 77 years living the kind of life most people only get a glimpse of during a hunting trip. He started hunting with hounds as a child and has since chased bear with dogs across seven different states, building a depth of experience that only comes from decades in the woods.
I have always told anybody that's hunted hounds, if you can run and tree bear in the state of Maine, you can run and tree them anywhere.
Along the way, he also worked in the logging industry, even in the days when a team of horses was used to pull logs—an era that shaped both the land and the people who worked it.
Images by Brian Glidden: goat used to train hounds, trophy black bear with hounds, 720 lb black bear, flesh wound caused by bear, working with draft horses
Where the Stories Come From
In the North Maine Woods, stories aren’t something people try to create, they’re something that happen over time.
They come from:
Early mornings heading out before daylight
Long days tracking, scouting, or waiting
Close calls, unexpected moments, and lessons learned the hard way
At Libby’s Lodge & Canty's, those experiences stack up season after season.
Hunters arrive to hunt for bear, moose, or turkey—but what they often leave talking about are the moments in between.
The conversations.
The laughs.
The stories they heard (and the ones they’ll tell later).
The Northwoods Way of Talking Bear
What makes this episode stand out is how natural it feels.
There’s no script. No forced structure.
Just Travis Libby doing what he does best—talking bear the way people talk in the woods.
That means:
A little humor
A little straight talk
And a whole lot of authenticity
It’s the same tone you’d hear sitting at the lodge table, listening in as the conversation moves from one story to the next.
And that’s exactly why it works.
More Than Just Hunting
For people who have never been to a place like this, it’s easy to assume the experience is all about the hunt. Anyone who’s spent time at a true Maine sporting camp knows better. The hunt is just part of it.
The rest is:
The people you meet
The guides who know the woods inside and out
The shared experience of being somewhere remote and real
This episode captures that side of the experience—the part that keeps people coming back year after year.
Why These Conversations Matter
There’s something important about preserving these kinds of conversations. The North Maine Woods has a long history, shaped by generations of:
Guides
Wardens
Loggers
Hunters
While the landscape stays much the same, the stories risk being lost if they’re not shared.
That’s what makes the Libby’s Northwoods Podcast different. It isn’t just about hunting. It’s about capturing the voice of the Northwoods—the people, the humor, the perspective, and the way of life that defines this part of Maine.
The Experience Beyond the Hunt
At Libby’s Lodge & Canty's, that tradition is still very much alive. Guests don’t just come for a trip, they come for an experience that includes:
Time in one of the most remote and wild regions of Maine
Access to experienced guides with deep knowledge of the woods
And the kind of atmosphere where stories are just part of the day
It’s not something you can manufacture. It’s something that’s built over time and shared with everyone who walks through the door.
Watch the Full Conversation
This vlog post only scratches the surface of the conversation.
To hear the full episode including the stories, humor, and real Northwoods perspective, watch this installment of the Libby’s Northwoods Podcast, hosted by Travis Libby.
It’s the closest thing to pulling up a chair at the lodge table without actually being there.
Experience the North Maine Woods for Yourself
Stories like the ones shared by Brian Glidden and Travis Libby are part of everyday life at Libby's Lodge & Canty's.
Whether you're planning a bear hunt, a moose trip, or just looking to experience a true Maine sporting camp, the memories you make here go far beyond the hunt itself.
From time in the woods to time around the lodge table, it’s an experience that keeps people coming back year after year.
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