About Merchant Camps and Lodge
Our History
At Merchant Camps and Lodge, we've been providing high-quality hunting experiences for over 25 years. Our founder, Ralph Merchant Jr, has been providing hunting expeditions for over 32 years. We've grown into a trusted name in the outdoor industry. We're proud of our history and our commitment to providing the best experience and service to our customers.
registered maine guides
Ralph Merchant III
Ralph Merchant III
Ralph Merchant III
Ralph Merchant III
Ralph Merchant III
Originally from New Hampshire, Ralph moved to northern Maine to be part of the family business.
Ralph currently holds his Registered Maine guide license in Hunting and Recreation.
At Merchant Camps and Lodge, Ralph has been providing high-quality outdoor guided hunts for over 20 years.
An expert bear hunting guide in Maine, Ralph is a huge
Originally from New Hampshire, Ralph moved to northern Maine to be part of the family business.
Ralph currently holds his Registered Maine guide license in Hunting and Recreation.
At Merchant Camps and Lodge, Ralph has been providing high-quality outdoor guided hunts for over 20 years.
An expert bear hunting guide in Maine, Ralph is a huge asset to the team. His services are included in our bear hunting packages.
Kenneth Dooley
Ralph Merchant III
Kenneth Dooley
From New Hampshire, Ken earned a Bachelors of Science in Conservation Law Enforcement from Unity College in Maine (06).
Ken currently holds his Registered Maine guide license in Hunting and Fishing.
With 20 years experience fly fishing remote ponds of Maine for brook trout and years of experience hunting bear and upland game at Merchant C
From New Hampshire, Ken earned a Bachelors of Science in Conservation Law Enforcement from Unity College in Maine (06).
Ken currently holds his Registered Maine guide license in Hunting and Fishing.
With 20 years experience fly fishing remote ponds of Maine for brook trout and years of experience hunting bear and upland game at Merchant Camps and Lodge, Ken is a huge asset to the team.
Grandson of the founder, Ralph Merchant Jr., Ken has been involved with Merchant Camps and Lodge for 30 years.
Merchant Camps and Lodge is planning to have guides available for spring fishing trips. Ken will plan a huge role in this expansion.
David Ross
Ralph Merchant III
Kenneth Dooley
From Maine, Dave earned a Bachelors of Science in Conservation Law Enforcement from Unity College (06) and has worked in the Conservation Law Enforcement field for over 18 years.
Dave holds his Registered Maine guide license in Hunting and Fishing.
He has over 20 years experience fly fishing remote streams and ponds in Maine. Dave is also
From Maine, Dave earned a Bachelors of Science in Conservation Law Enforcement from Unity College (06) and has worked in the Conservation Law Enforcement field for over 18 years.
Dave holds his Registered Maine guide license in Hunting and Fishing.
He has over 20 years experience fly fishing remote streams and ponds in Maine. Dave is also an experience trapper.
Merchant Camps and Lodge is grateful to have Dave on the team. With Dave‘s knowledge in trapping we are planning to offer trapping experiences in the future.
History of the business - Ralph Merchant Jr. -
Founder, Ralph Merchant Jr. (right) and his wife Judith Merchant
History of Merchant Camps & Lodge - Ralph Merchant Jr.
Back in the spring of 1992, Ralph Merchant and a business partner purchased an old trapper's lodge with two cabins on the Fish River. The camps were located 13 miles in the North Maine Woods coming from the Fish River gate, Portage Maine.
With no running water and many repairs to do, Ralph and his good long time friend Bob Burroughs went straight to work! Among many laborious tasks, the two of them were able to supply water from the Fish River, in order to provide the camps with water for cooking and showers. An outhouse lived on the edge of the property.
With the passion to start a bear and deer hunting business. Ralph hired a guide, Ivan Porter. With repairs completed and guide secured, they began guiding hunts that fall. That first year, they harvested four bear and eight deer with their clients.
Ivan porter was a retired game warden, that lived in Ashland, Maine. Ivan was a local legendary guide. He owned and operated the Machias Camps for many years. Which were known as the largest bear hunting outfit north of Patten, Maine. Ivan became a good friend and mentor of Ralph's. He was full of knowledge, stories and experience that had anything to do with hunting, trapping or fishing in the great north woods of Maine.
In 1995 Ralph sold his portion of the original camp on Fish River, to lease a camp on the Second Musquacook Lake (T11 R11 WELS). The new location suited better territory and means of a more "wild" experience. Still working and mentoring under Ivan Porter.
Ralph and his brother-in-law, Warren Muzzey and friend, Bob Burroughs, would drive up from New Hampshire nearly 7 hours away every weekend with their trailer full of bait for 4 weeks, or longer to prepare for the season. For 3 years Ralph ran his business from this leased camp.
In 1996 Pearly Eastman and his wife built a lodge with 3 cabins by hand using only a power saw located on the Reality road just before the Six Mile Gate. A building Ralph would notice as he passed through to Second Musquacook each season. Ralph admired the structure and location.
Then in 1998 Ralph approached Pearly and offered to buy that lodge and 3 cabins. Pearly agreed but there was a large problem. The structure was on leased land currently grandfathered to stay, however a transfer of ownership made it so the buildings would have to move.
That didn't stop Ralph, he went on to purchase 4 acres of land at 99 hacker farm road in the Garfield Plantation along with Pearly's lodge and 3 cabins. The buildings had to be moved from the Reality Road location just outside the Six Mile Gate, to their new home in Garfield.
The move took three days, a Tractor-trailer, public service moving power lines, chainsaws, and an overnight stay at the local variety store parking lot. The final day the structures were jacked up on their trailers to fit over a bridge on its final journey and resting place.
In 1999 that lodge opened for hunting season and is now known as Merchant Camps & Lodge.
Early Bird Special - Guided Bear Hunt 2025
It’s not too early to book your 2025 Guided Bear Hunt. Book with deposit before Jan 1st to receive a 5% discount.
This hunt includes: Maine Guide(s), 6 night stay, 5 days of hunting, all meals, lodging, tax, and use of our facility. Guides will assist in recovery of the harvest and game care is available.
* Does not include transportation in and out of the North Maine Woods, hunting license(s), butchering, credit card fee (if paying with card) or any gate fee's
$800 dollar deposit due at time of booking to secure the promotion. Contact us today for more details.