Go Wild on This One | Knowledge & Wisdom

The coveted patch is simple enough—red and green with the emblem of a pine tree in its center—but it proclaims its wearers to be the stuff of legend: Registered Maine Guides. Years ago prospective guides just needed to prove outdoors expertise to a local game warden. Today they face a few more hurdles, including choosing a specialty (hunting, fishing, etc.), passing an oral exam, and scoring at least 70 percent on a written exam of about 200 questions. Think you’ve got what it takes? Try your hand at a few test questions from years past.

1. Manmade objects on a topographic map are shown in black. (A) true; (B) false

2. A bench mark tells the elevation of a location. (A) true; (B) false

3. The back azimuth of 40° is: (A) 200°; (B) 180°; (C) 120°; (D) 220°

4. An example of a rimfire cartridge is a: (A) 30.06; (B) 12-gauge shotgun shell; (C) 22 cal.; (D) .357 cartridge

5. In order for a bow to be legal for archery hunting, it must be capable of shooting an arrow: (A) 200 yards; (B) 150 yards; (C) 100 yards; (D) 50 yards

6. Which of the following is a streamer fly? (A) Montana; (B) Alexandra; (C) 9-3; (D) Muddler

7. It is most important in cold weather at high altitude to keep up your intake of: (A) protein; (B) water; (C) salt; (D) carbohydrates

8. Burn blisters indicate: (A) first-degree burn; (B) second-degree burn; (C) third-degree burn; (D) a burn that is not serious

9. On a day hike away from your campsite, a camper falls and injures his arm. You should: (A) Assist him in walking back to camp, splint his arm there, and get him to medical aid; (B) Carry him back to camp, splint his arm there, and get him to medical aid; (C) Splint the arm before moving the camper, assist him in walking, and get him to medical aid; (D) Do not move the camper; go get medical aid

—Adapted from “Could You Become a Maine Guide?” March 1987

ANSWERS: 1-A, 2-A, 3-D, 4-C, 5-B, 6-C, 7-B, 8-B, 9-C