The Maine Sportsman - February 2017

The Maine

February 2017 • $5.70

BIGGEST BUCKS CLUB

2016 Page 38

Farewell to

North Woods Law Page 4

Snowmobiling

Baxter Park’s Tote Road

Page 19

Why Men on Charter Boats get

OUTFISHED

by Women (and Kids) Page 70

2 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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Libby Outpost Camps Libby Outposts are historic remote lakeside or riverfront log cabins located throughout the North Maine Woods.

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4 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman

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New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication Readership The Maine

ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 533 • www.mainesportsman.com PUBLISHER: Jon Lund

Bon Voyage to Maine’s North Woods Law There is a scientific phenomenon called the “Hawthorne effect,” also known as the “observer effect,” which theorizes that individuals modify their behavior when they are being watched.

For the past four years, some members of the Maine Warden Service have been watched – both as they went about doing their work, with Go-Pro cameras on their pick-up trucks and airplane wings, and with microphones pinned to their uniforms; and then later, on television, with the airing of each new episode of “North Woods Law,” broadcast on the Animal Planet.

North Woods Law is now moving southwest (not just “south,” as the press releases would have you think – have they looked at a map?) and will become “North Woods Law – New Hampshire.”

“Goal Met” in Maine Maine’s Cpl. John MacDonald stated that the original goal of the cooperative project was to recruit new wardens, and since that goal had been met, the state did not renew the contract with the New York production company. “We feel it’s a good time to step away,” said Cpl. MacDonald.

The Maine show was certainly entertaining (especially when some of our readers spotted folks they recognized – on both sides of the badge), and for the most part we believe it reflected well on the personalities and the activities of the Warden Service.

However, we also agree that it’s time for the show to move on.

Before the New Hampshire version had even aired its first full episode, that state’s video preview trailer resulted in slightly-nervous New Hampshire officials responding to questions. The NH show’s advance video, released on Facebook, opens to flashing blue lights and spinning tires, and the voice-over refers to the “Wild West of New Hampshire.” An officer declares, “We are going to tighten things up right now,” just before tightening (get it?) handcuffs on a suspect’s wrists. A heated confrontation between a homeowner and law enforcement is featured, with the homeowner apparently demanding to see the evidence that gives the officers probable cause to take action. The camera pans to a battered license plate depicting the state’s “Live Free or Die” slogan.

Faced with questions about the apparently-excessive criminal investigative angle depicted on the video preview, Col. Kevin Jordan, the NH Fish & Game’s head of law enforcement, was quoted as saying, “People just need to keep in mind that the sneak peek [the preview video] was created to sell a product, and doesn’t necessarily reflect as accurately as I would have hoped what the actual show will reflect.”

Well, New Hampshire, we’ve got news for you – the whole show was created to sell a product. Television viewers are not going to sit and watch an action show with no action.

Hawthorne Effect?

The show’s experience in Maine was marked by the perception that the Hawthorne Effect came into play in at least one instance – a poaching investigation in the Allagash involving an undercover officer who was an active participant in the allegedly-illegal activities.

Many folks found it difficult to believe that the presence of cameras, microphones and a production crew ready to make a television package for viewers, did not affect in any way the approach used by the state’s law enforcement personnel.

On the whole, we believe the show’s impact was positive. For example, we saw youngsters lining up at the State of Maine Sportsman’s Show in Augusta to obtain Wardens’ autographs, so as a recruiting tool the show may pay future dividends.

However, we believe the experience has run its course.

North Woods Law is gone. Long live North Woods Law. And good luck to the conservation officers, and to the sportsmen, of New Hampshire.

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www.MaineSportsman.com

MANAGING EDITOR: Will Lund will@mainesportsman.com OFFICE MANAGER: Kelly Allen kelly@mainesportsman.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kristina Roderick kristina@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nancy Carpenter nancy@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER:Mike Moreau mike@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING ACCOUNT MANAGER:Chris Brawn chris@mainesportsman.com Second class postage paid at Scarborough, ME 04074 and additional entry offices.

All editorial inquiries should be emailed to will@mainesportsman.com Advertising and business information: Phone: 207-622-4242 Fax: 207-622-4255 Postmaster: Send address changes to: The Maine Sportsman, 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta, ME 04330 12-Month Subscription: $30 • 24-Month Subscription: $49

TABLE OF CONTENTS Allagash by Don Eno ........................................................ 68 Almanac by Will Lund ....................................................... 11 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves ........................ 66 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia ..................... 46 Bird of the Month, by Erika Zambello .............................. 13 Bowhunting by Chris “Bubba” Johnson ......................... 37 Capitol Report by George Smith .................................... 16 Editorial ................................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by William Clunie ......................... 73 Greater Penobscot Bay by Jim Lemieux ........................ 64 Jackman by William Sheldon .......................................... 58 Jottings by Jon Lund ........................................................... 7 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon ............................ 62 Kate's Wild Kitchen by Kate Krukowski Gooding ........... 57 Letters to the Editor ............................................................. 5 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour ...................................... 18 Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose .................................. 32 Midcoast Report by Tom Seymour .................................. 29 Mid-Kennebec Valley by Shawn Simpson ..................... 31 Moosehead by Tom Seymour ......................................... 60 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson ................................. 50 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie ............................... 23 Quotable Sportsman by George Smith .......................... 17 Rangeley Region by William Clunie ................................ 56 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers ................................ 53 Saltwater by Barry Gibson ................................................ 70 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth ........................ 48 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews ..................... 69 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard ................................ 44 Smilin’ Sportsman by Will Lund ......................................... 53 Smilin' Sportsman - Kids Edition by Will Lund ................... 43 Sporting Environment by David Van Wie ....................... 72 Sportsman’s Journal by King Montgomery ...................... 9 Southern Maine by Val Marquez..................................... 71 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller ..................... 52 Trading Post (Classifieds) .................................................. 74 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour .......................................... 65 Washington County by Steve Vose ................................ 36 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie................. 54 Young Maine Sportsman by Luke ................................... 43

SPECIAL SECTIONS 2016 Biggest Bucks ............................................................ 38 Boating: Modern Pontoon Boats by Will Lund ............... 33 Ice Fishing: Top 5 Lessons Learned by Will Lund ............ 26 Snowmobiling: Off-Trail Riding by Cathy Genthner ...... 19 Snowmobiling: Snowmobile Clubs by JP Falzone ......... 21 On the Cover: Desiree Benner of Friendship, ME earned her way into the 2016 Biggest Bucks club with this 210-pound 10-pointer that she bagged on November 29th in Waldoboro. The buck also scored a 150-0 in the Maine Antler & Skull Trophy Club.

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[Editor’s note: Ethan Emerson tells us that Staats, a NH regional biologist, is among New England’s best deer hunters.]

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To The Editor Good Mincemeat Hard to Find To the Editor: Can your “Wild Kitchen” columnist, Kate Krukoski Gooding, come up with a good mincemeat recipe? It’s getting harder to find quality mincemeat-making instructions. I am enjoying my subscription here in NC. Judson Spalding Durham, North Carolina [Editor’s note: We are nothing if not responsive here at the Sportsman, Judson. Kate took on your challenge – see the results in this issue.]

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Liked the December Issue To the Editor: Congratulations on an excellent December edition of The Maine Sportsman. I was impressed with the wide scope of topics, from deer hunting, cross country skiing, grouse hunting and ice fishing to the changing climate.

I especially enjoyed David Van Wie’s article on climate change and its effect on outdoor sports. Dave’s article was well-researched, full of data rather than opinion, and was supplemented by a good follow up in Lou Zambello’s article on the

effects of the warming climate and fish spawning.

No more time for denial – climate change is real and we have the responsibility to make changes in how we live and use energy to protect our environment for the generations to come.

Those future generations should be able to enjoy the woods and waters as we have.

Paul Cain Oxford, Maine —

Thoughtful Hunting Article Resonates To the Editor: I found Ethan Emerson’s article in the November issue of The Maine Sportsman (“We’re Not in Texas Anymore – Be Thankful”) to be very well written. Most of all, it sent a very poignant message to the greater hunting public that resonates with me.

The piece was insightful, and surely reflects Emerson’s enjoyment for the purity of pursuing these magnificent animals. For me it has always been about where I am and how I do it as much as what is lying on the ground after I’m done, Will Staats Lancaster, New Hampshire

A Word of Thanks To the Editor: We enjoy your state and your magazine. Please keep up the good work.

Donald and Carolyn Ransom Nicholson, PA —

Helping Preserve the Tradition To the Editor: Thanks so much for the Maine Sportsman’s recognition of my 200plus pound Maine buck.

I’ve been fortunate to shoot many bucks in the northwest woods of Maine. Your magazine is helping to preserve the Maine hunting tradition.

Gene Mallon Stormville NY —

Beach Fisherman Advised to Get a Boat To The Editor: Fishing for striped bass off the Maine coast was alive and well last summer, in a small way.

We cast cut bait exclusively off the beach at Popham – have for many years. The results from this July 1 through fall varied, but this summer was unique.

The action was spotty to steady, with the majority of bass being in the schoolie range on both tides. One devoted angler was there for six weeks and claimed to have hooked 182 stripers. I

watched him do well with artificial lures – all catch and release. We were not as fortunate with cut bait, but that was because we like to relax on the sand, chat with old friends, and feed the crabs.

We obeyed the law on 28 inches, keeping only two for the summer which became excellent chowder. Back when the old slot was in force, we kept more fish in the mid-twenty inch range. If the new length did indeed reduce the mortality, I expected the numbers and sizes to increase. That was not so this summer, but that makes sense, because growth takes time.

Maybe next year lengths will improve.

Popham isn’t fished heavily because it doesn’t regularly produce large numbers and big fish, but it does offer beauty and serenity and an occasional striped bass.

When I reported our

summer experiences to Commissioner Keliher, he replied in jest that we should be happy with what we have, or “get a boat.” That sounds like too much work.

Mike Wing Still on the Beach —

Beware of Federal Wardens in Bikinis To The Editor: I got quite a kick out of fellow columnist Ethan Emerson’s January article, “Crime of the Century.”

I have hunted, fished or trapped in numerous states and have run up on a few “types” who enforce the laws of this great land. Two that come to mind: One was a game warden in Connecticut back in the late 1970s who was too big and lazy to (Continued on next page)

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Letters to the Editor (Continued from page 5)

get out of his vehicle to check hunters. He would pull into state hunting area parking lots where pheasants were stocked, roll down the windows and yell at hunters to come over to his vehicle to show him their licenses and check to see if their birds were correctly tagged. He later lost his job.

Another was a dropdead good-looking woman in a very small bikini who was at a boat launch in S.C. talking to duck hunters and asking to see the pretty little ducks they had shot. We were coming in from fishing and witnessed an incident where a hunter had too many of one type of duck.

Guess what? She was a federal warden. That practice by the federal wardens was stopped in a local court by the judge based on allegations of entrapment.

Dave Miller Lexington TWP —

Beekeeper Appreciates New Monument To the Editor: Congratulations to King Montgomery on his coverage of the Woods &Waters monument for The Maine Sportsman.

As a native Mainer, I appreciate what he’s written. In my opinion we should support this gift of property. I never realized Roxanne Quimby’s connection was that strong for Maine via Thoreau’s writings.

I first met Roxanne and Burt when they came to my Honeybee farm in Belgrade to buy beeswax from me and other beekeepers as well. I have been a Backyard Beekeeper in Belgrade for 52 years, and I am sure Roxanne does not remember all the beekeepers she bought wax from to help start her business.

Little did I realize at that time she would become a multi-millionaire. www.MaineSportsman.com

She and Burt were simple entrepreneurial hippies at that time trying to eke out a living, and she became very successful.

I feel she has done us a great favor, like Governor Baxter, and we should be thankful to her for that effort. I have never met her son Lucas but perhaps some day I will have the opportunity.

Matt Scott Belgrade —

Lobo: the Million-Dollar Dog To the Editor: While reviewing the latest issue of The Sportsman and reminiscing with my hunting buddy about the times spent afield with good friends, good scotch, and good dogs, I recalled my favorite black lab, Lobo.

I bought him from a breeder in 1969 in Carmel Valley, California, and his AKC papers (or supporting breeding documents) attested that his sire, a field champion, was from the Kellogg kennels and the dame was from the Arden kennels.

When he was several months old I started training him by following the advice in the now-classic book “Training Your Retriever” by James Lamb Free. Lobo took to the training naturally (unlike some other retrievers I’ve had). He was an excellent student and plainly loved my efforts to channel his instincts.

As a naval aviator, my life at the time was subject to assignment to world-wide duty stations.

I was lucky enough to be sent to Chile for a few years, a country known for world-class wing shooting, especially for doves which were everywhere in the central valley now famous for growing wine grapes.

Perhaps more important from a bird shooter’s perspective were the many cornfields that were

harvested and cut back just before dove season.

Many of the land owners in those days were very generous in inviting U.S. embassy staff to stay and shoot with them over the weekends.

This provided Lobo and me numerous opportunities to sharpen our shooter and retriever teamwork skills. As I became a better wing shot, he developed into a truly great retriever; between the two of us it was not unusual to bag 30 doves in the morning and then match it again in the evening. There were no bag limits (they were considered farmland pests), and the birds were never wasted, providing meals for ourselves and the ranch hands.

During this period Lobo made some great retrieves, including numerous split doubles (one bird to my left, the other to my right). His head (already scanning the sky) would look at the sound of the safety being released, note the direction of the gun barrel, and mark the birds falling after the shots. At my command he was on the run and, if necessary (rarely), he would follow my voice instructions (“left” or “right”) and arm signals to locate difficult falls in bramble fields or ponds.

One memorable retrieve came at the end of the day when we were unloading our shotguns at the back of the station wagon. A lone dove flew by very high and fast and I snapped off a belated shot. As luck would have it I must have hit him with “The Golden BB.” He finally fell about 100 yards or more away – across a low fence, a stream, another fence, and into a bramble field.

Lobo was eager to go, so I let him, much to the dismay of my companions, one of whom said “You’ll never see that dog again.”

Lobo was off like a shot, jumped the first fence, swam the stream, jumped the second fence, and disappeared into the brambles. Several worrisome minutes passed before he emerged from

the brambles, jumped one fence, swam the stream, and jumped the other fence. His face scratched and bleeding, he presented me the bird. My buddy said “I’ll bet you wouldn’t sell that dog for a million dollars now.” He was right.

Another memory was when Lobo and I came across a boy of about twelve years old with a shotgun who looked very dismayed. I asked him what the problem was and he said his uncle and dad were not around to help him figure out how to get a quail he had shot that had fallen about 50 yards out in a small lake.

I told him my dog would get it. He looked incredulous and asked if I was kidding. Obviously he had never heard of gun dogs.

After the youngster pointed out where his bird was, I said “Dead bird” to Lobo and pointed to the water. Lobo jumped in and started swimming and looked at me for voice and hand signals until he got the bird, then swam back and brought the bird to me. I told him it was OK to give it to the boy, so he did.

The kid didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so he did a little of both and a looked at Lobo like he was Superdog.

Lobo was also good at flushing and retrieving quail and grouse, and fetched a few ducks in his time too. Now, at 73 years old, I look back on my days in the field and think of various dogs I’ve hunted with and owned. I have fond memories of all of them, but there’s the memory of one hunting buddy that was named Lobo that’s not for sale.

Not for a million dollars.

Jerry Giordano Cumberland —

Zone 1 a “Disaster” for Moose Hunting To the Editor: Let me update your readers about this past fall’s trips up north to leased T14 R8 camps and into Zones 1 and 2 for

moose hunting.

It appears the timber company is putting in 100 new roads in the Zone 2 area. I guess the company’s ultimate goal is to have a road about every 1/4 mile.

Cuts on the hardwood ridges quickly are replanted with spruce and fir...then sprayed on Year 2.

The deer and moose are definitely affected ... their feeding areas are growing future pulp and lumber. No matter what they say, deer yards have been cut.

The destruction of the hardwood up there is affecting the guiding business.

Zone 1 is a disaster. I cannot believe what I saw compared to my last hunt up there 4 years ago. I met with several guides and got the same story ... no love for the timber company nor for their supporters in the Maine Legislature – especially if the company gets its wish and gets into the mining business.

The younger generation needs to try to save Northern Maine. I hate to see what is happening. I think your readers would hear more concerns being expressed, but lease-holders are afraid of getting their leases canceled.

[Name withheld upon request] —

Animals Need Connectivity in Order to Roam To the Editor: Thank you for David Van Wie’s recent coverage (“How Did the Wildlife Cross the Road? The Staying Connected Initiative [SCI] Wants to Know”; October 2016) of our five-state, three-Canadian province effort to sustain a connected forest landscape across this 80 million-acre region.

As the author notes, “Habitat connectivity is not just for wildlife-watchers; rather, it’s critical for Maine’s culture of hunting, guiding, and other consumptive outdoor activities.”

SCI uses a multi(Continued on page 8)

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 7

Remembering Bill Townsend– An Inspiration to Conservationists Bill Townsend and I walked cautiously as shadows lengthened. We were on a path following the shoreline of the Miramachi River in New Brunswick.

We were fishing for Atlantic salmon, and the sun had shown brightly all day. The fishing had been slow. That is anglers’ code for “No strikes, no rises – nothing.” We hadn’t seen a rise, all day.

Hoping the action might pick up, we’d opted to fish in the early evening, rather than the afternoon. Our strategy had not paid off, and we were on our way back to camp. It was getting dark.

We could hear the jarring sounds of dirt bikes racing on the other side of the river.

dinners. Being practical, the camps often did not donate “two rods, three days” at the height of their season, when their facilities would already be full, but offered angling days at less-busy times, when they would more likely have vacancies.

But Atlantic salmon angling is a crapshoot, in any event, and these fickle fish might not bite when expected, while other times they bite when not expected.

A sudden rainfall and rising river levels might bring in fresh fish from the sea at an unexpected time. So, a fishing trip off the peak times could be a

Bid High, then Find a Mark The late Clinton “Bill” Townsend was a strong supporter of ASF, the Atlantic Salmon Federation, and casting for Atlantic Salmon was his favorite sport. He was good at it, and cast his fly tirelessly. If anyone in camp caught fish, it was most likely Bill.

One of ASF’s fundraising techniques was to solicit fishing dates from salmon camps and outfitters to be auctioned off at ASF fundraising

(Continued on next page)

Bill Townsend. Photo: National Resources Council of Maine

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Jottings (Continued from page 7)

memorable one. Atlantic salmon anglers have to be optimists.

Sometimes, optimistic anglers could not be found at a fundraising event, and no bids would be received for an angling trip donation. Townsend sometimes would bid on these at the end of the dinner, and then would seek out an angler with

whom to fish and to share the cost, just as a gambler might seek out a “mark.”

“Who’s Crazy?”

That year, I was the “mark,” and a taking salmon could not be found. We were headed back to camp, in the dark, somewhat discouraged.

We heard again the noise of dirtbike riders shouting with delight as

Letters to the Editor (Continued from page 6)

pronged approach to ensure a connected forested landscape. This includes science, as described in the Maine Sportsman article, as well as land use planning, community engagement, land protection, transportation mitigation, and policy.

To bring your readers up to date on the latest development – at their annual conference, held in Boston last fall, the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers signed a resolution recognizing the value of connected forests and waterways and calling for collaboration across borders to ensure connectivity.

www.MaineSportsman.com

they revved their engines across the river, and one of us said, “Listen to those crazy guys racing dirtbikes in the dark.”

We stopped walking, and both of us had the same thought. Finally, one of us said, “Who’s crazy – them, or us?”

We paused for a moment and laughed, before walking on toward camp.

Skilled Optimist Bill Townsend was that kind of optimist,

whether it was salmon fishing, improving water quality standards or dam removal. At hearings on legislation, he marshaled the facts and presented them coherently, politely, and without personalizing the battle. His dedication, persistence and patience won many battles for conservation goals.

Bill was a superb writer.

Once, we wanted to run one of his statements as an “Other Voices” piece, but it was

Nature does not adhere to the same boundaries as people. Wildlife need room to roam, cold-water fish need access to cool tributaries, and our communities benefit when forests can do their job of filtering water and mitigating floods.

Jessie Levine, SCI Coordinator TNC Canada —

New Member of the Biggest Bucks Club To the Editor: I would like to tell you how much I enjoy this magazine, The Maine Sportsman. I’m not a subscriber, but I faithfully purchase it every month on the newsstand and I have for years.

too lengthy. Our editor, Harry Vanderweide, undertook to shorten it, but later reported to me: “It’s too tightly written. I can’t shorten it.” We ran it full length.

Bill’s presence, his energy and dedication to conservation causes will be missed, but his determination and commitment will inspire others take up the traces.

We all owe Bill Townsend a debt of gratitude.

¶

I’ve hunted since I was five years old.

I’m now 53 years old and I got my first 8-point buck this past season. I’ve shot others (4 to 6 points) with a bow and firearms over the years, but never anything close to 200-pounds plus!

I shot the buck at 6:30 a.m. on November 19. It weighed 212 pounds dressed, according to Kayla at the Lamoine General Store.

I took the deer to be processed the next day at The Meating Place in Ellsworth. Biologist Lisa Bates did a tooth pull.

I’m glad that I finally accomplished my goal and have become a member of the Biggest Bucks in Maine club.

Robert Bunker Lamoine

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————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 9

Fishing the Crown of Maine I read Bill Graves’ fine column in The Maine Sportsman on sporting opportunities in Aroostook County, and I not only learned a lot, but I was also smitten with the desire to travel north to experience the size and natural beauty of The County.

Fortunately, I got a call early last summer from Bonnie Holding at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife inviting me on a fishing trip to – you guessed it – Aroostook County!

The state wanted me to go on a familiarization tour, do some fishing, take photos and write about the angling possibilities in Maine’s largest county, in hopes that others might follow me there – both Mainers and those living in states to our south.

Even during a relatively brief visit, I was able to get a sampling of June fishing. Typical of an angler’s life – so much water; so little time. But I plan to return soon.

I traveled to The County via the scenic Route 11 corridor that winds its way from I-95 near Sherman to its terminus in Fort Kent up against the Canadian

The Indian word “Aroostook” means “beautiful river,” and the Aroostook River is just that -- beautiful. All Photos © King Montgomery

border. This scenic excursion was highlighted by excellent views of Mt Katahdin and the new National Monument lands near Patten.

I noticed many streams and small rivers – all looking very fishy, even in the early stages of the drought – and the occasional pond that also held piscatorial potential.

We kept driving to our afternoon destination of Eagle Lake and historic Fish River Camps.

Fish River Lodge and a Hungry Moose A fine German Shorthair Pointer greeted us when we pulled up at the

Many gorgeous small rivers and streams cross under Route 11 from Patten to Ft. Kent, and they all look fishy.

main lodge. I knew that camp manager Tenley Skolfield guides both fishing and hunting sports, and with a bird dog such as this – GSPs are one of my favorites – she also finds plenty of partridge and woodcock in the fall upland season. Tenley also is a superb chef and hostess – I don’t know how she keeps up the hectic pace at camp from spring well into autumn.

Two hours before sunset, we strolled down the hill to the camp’s boat dock on Eagle Lake. The 18-mile long lake is the anchor feature of the 23,000-acre Eagle Lake

Aroostook County sits atop the Pine Tree State like a crown, and it’s studded with numerous outdoor gems providing year-round sport.

Public Reserved Land.

It’s located on the Fish River chain of five lakes that runs to Long Lake at St. Agatha.

Eagle is loaded with landlocked salmon, brook trout and togue. A good way to fish it in late June is slow-trolling with a lead-core line attached to a casting reel. For us it was a perfect way to fish so I could get the lay of the water, take photos, and get briefed by Tenley on the wonderful outdoor opportunities in the area, including fishing, hunting, trapping, ATVing, sledding, downhill and cross country skiing,

snowshoeing, dog sledding and nature photography.

As the sun set, Bonnie scored a salmon, and it graced my plate early the next morning along with Eggs Benedict – the former cooked by Tenley and the latter by Bonnie, who teaches outdoor cooking among her many stream and field talents. Holding, also a registered Maine guide, teaches fly casting and fishing in addition to helping sports catch fish.

She has worked extensively with Maine’s chapter of Casting for Recovery, a national program that teaches women with cancer to cast, tie flies, and catch fish as part of therapy.

After breakfast we launched a canoe for Bonnie and me, and a kayak for Tenley, on the Second Wallagrass Lake (DeLorme Map 76, D-3) near the northwest corner of the Dickwood Lake Wildlife Management Area. Watching these two guides treat me like a “sport” was good, and it was nice to see how practiced, knowledgeable and efficient they are in the field.

The two lakes, really more like large ponds, (Continued on next page)

The boat dock and several lakeside cabins are just down from the main lodge at Fish River Lodge on the banks of Eagle Lake. The lake holds landlocks, brookies, togue, whitefish and yellow perch. www.MaineSportsman.com

10 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Sportsman’s Journal (Continued from page 9)

comprise 230 acres and are fed by feeder streams and runoff. Some camps were tucked back into the wood line and were relatively unobtrusive. Landlocks and Eastern brook trout live here, and the lake has some deep spots to provide sanctuary for the fish. Several types of aquatic vegetation were visible just below the surface in some places. In short, it looked like pretty good fish habitat, so we pulled out the fly rods.

We were catching brook trout steadily when a young bull moose decided to interrupt our fishing by wading into the water and feeding near the shore line on the vegetation beneath the water.

He occasionally glanced up, just to make sure we didn’t get too close. My camera clicked constantly as Bonnie skillfully maneuvered the canoe at a safe distance.

Later that day we met up with Ben Rioux to fish Soldier Pond south of Fort Kent on the Fish River.

The river flows into Eagle Lake even farther south.

Ben works at Up North Outdoors & Online, with a retail store in Fort Kent, and with online shopping managed by Ben (www.

UpNorthOnLine.com.)

We fished near the bridge over the river on Soldiers Pond Road (Map 67, D-5), and shortly after Ben and Bonnie waded out a bit, she was fast to a fish, one of many landlocks she caught in the several hours we were there. Ben, now a regis-

tered Maine guide, knows his stuff and will make a fine fishing guide.

Fish River Lodge at Eagle Lake has 8 cabins with all the amenities, including hot and cold running water, bathrooms and showers, kitchens and electricity. See www.

FishRiverLodge.com.

Red River Camps & a Loon Family The drive from Route 11 to Deboullie Township (Map 61, A-1), an almost 22,000-acre Maine Public Reserved Land, begins in Portage on West Road.

After a mile, turn left onto the gravel logging road – you’ll see signs to various sporting camps – and drive to the North Maine Woods Fish River Checkpoint and pay the usage fee. Then follow the signs to Red River Camps, and after about 17 or so miles you’ll arrive. Keep your eyes out for two things while on the road: the abundant wildlife, and logging trucks, the latter often traveling at Warp 3.

The public lands are home to 17 gin-clear trout and Arctic char ponds ranging in size from 8 to almost 350 acres. The name “Deboullie” derives from the French “débouler,” which means “to tumble down,” in reference to the talus rock slide fields at the foot of several of the low, rugged mountains that ring the Township.

Second-generation owner Jen Brophy grew up at Red River Camps on the banks of Island Pond.

An engineer by trade, she

Shortly after Ben and Bonnie waded into the Fish River at Soldier Pond, she was fast to a fish, one of many landlocks she would catch in the several hours we were there. www.MaineSportsman.com

also is a registered Maine guide, a certified wilderness first responder, and the president of the Maine Sporting Camps Association (www.MaineSportingCamps.com). Jen is ably assisted by Chef Gloria Curtis, who previously owned and ran the Crooked Tree Lodge in nearby Portage. Both are superb chefs and wonderful hostesses – you could not meet two nicer people.

Fly fishing the Deboullie Township is unique in that, in addition to brook trout, landlocked salmon and lake trout in Togue Pond, rare Arctic char (blueback trout) are found in four of the ponds, one-fourth of Maine’s waters that hold char.

These ponds/lakes are best fished from canoe or kayak. Rods for 4 to 6-weight lines are good, and floating lines are used much of the time, but sinking tip and full-sinking lines have an important place as well.

Island Pond, just outside the front door of the main lodge, is sweet brookie water and fun to fish from a canoe. Canoes are provided to guests, and all fishing waters are not far from the camps.

There’s a cabin on the island that can be rented, and it’s spectacular. If you keep a few brookies, Gloria will prepare them for your meal, including breakfast.

We didn’t have time to fish any of the lakes except Island Pond. We managed some brookies by casting green beadhead woolly buggers toward shore, but mostly

A young Wallagrass Lakes bull moose interrupted our fishing, wading into the water and feeding on underwater vegetation. All Photos © King Montgomery

we spent the canoe time exploring and watching a loon with a nest not far from the Island Pond cabin. With her mate nearby, she left the nest briefly and went looking for a quick repast, though not straying too far from her eggs. She allowed me a few photographs before we broke off so as not to harass her. (The eggs later hatched and little loons were spotted – mother and chicks are fine.)

Jen took us on a driving tour of Deboullie, pointing out natural and geological features. A number of camping sites on the property are firstcome, first-served, and some of them were occupied with anglers and hikers. Walking trails are marked, and there is some beautiful country here in this part of the wilds of Aroostook County.

Fish River Camps has nine cabins – six “American Plan” (all meals provided) and three “housekeeping” (bring food and cook your own). The first cabins were built between1886 and 1955,

Maine DIF&W’s Bonnie Holding prepares a canoe on Island Pond just steps from the main lodge at Fish River Camps in Deboullie Township.

and all have an assortment of beds that can be rearranged according to needs. Contact Jen – she’s as hard-working as Tenley – www.RedRiverCamps.com.

Aroostook County is the Crown of Maine and it is studded with numerous fishing, hunting, and other outdoors gems. The Indian word “Aroostook” means “beautiful river,” and the Aroostook River is just that.

Aroostook is the largest county east of the Mississippi River – its land area is larger than Rhode Island and Connecticut combined. And make sure you continue to read Bill Graves’ monthly column in the Sportsman – you’ll learn a lot.

Contact Aroostook County Tourism at 1-888216-2463; www.VisitAroostook.com with questions. There is a lot of info on angling in The County at www.maine.gov/ifw/ fishing/index.htm; click on “Regional Fishing Information.”

¶

With her mate nearby, this loon left her nest briefly and allowed me a few photographs from the canoe.

—

———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 11

Compiled and Edited by Will Lund This Month Upta Camp, Part 7 –

Taking the Brook Trout Train About 12 miles from our hunting camp lies the town of Monson.

When my late father-in-law, Bill Holmbom, was 11 years old in 1937, he lived in Monson. His father, who emigrated from Sweden, managed one of the large slate mines in town.

On summer mornings, young Billy would pack up his fishing rod, hooks and worms and walk to the southeast end of town. There, at the village station, belching smoke and steam, sat Engine #3.

With only 6 miles of track, Monson Railroad was the shortest train system in the United States. It also was the last to operate, running until 1943. It was a “narrow-gauge” railway, with tracks only 2 feet apart, as opposed to standard-gauge tracks that are 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches apart.

The train’s diminutive size led to a series of nicknames, the kindest of which was “The Two-by-Six” (two feet wide by six miles long).

Less flattering were descriptions terming it “Lilliputian,” or referring to the small locomotive steam engine as “The Peanut Roaster.”

Billy knew the engineer, who was a neighbor. When the ticket-taker (the train carried slate, wood, supplies and a few passengers) was looking the other way, Bill would hop up into the cab, and the engineer and fireman (who also served as brakeman) would hide him in the woodbox.

A few miles out of town, the train would slow at the bottom of Junction Hill, and Bill would hop out. Then he’d spend the day fishing for brook trout along Ladd Brook.

At a pre-arranged time (the train took four trips in those days, matching its schedule

with the full-sized B&M train that stopped at Monson Junction), Bill would wait patiently by the track, his wicker creel full of trout.

Spotting him up ahead, the engineer would slow the train, permitting the young man to scramble aboard for the trip back to town.

Saved from the scrapyard, the 1913-era Engine #3, together with a “newer” 1918 model, Monson’s Engine #4, are now operated by the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum in Portland. A large waterfront development will require the railroad to relocate elsewhere. In November, 2016 voters in the town of Gray turned down a proposal to fund the acquisition of land in that town for the railroad, leaving the narrow gauge’s future uncertain.

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Less Fragmentation from Muzzleloader Bullets Muzzleloader bullets cause less lead fragmentation than modern high-velocity rifle bullets.

A recent study by researchers in the Oregon Department of Fisheries and Wildlife shows that compared to high velocity rifle bullets, muzzleloader 54-caliber ball and conical bullets leave less lead fragments in game meat than a modern lead-core high velocity bullet.

Earlier studies have demonstrated that

modern rifle bullets leave a significant quantity of lead fragments in game, posing health risks to persons eating game meat, and to scavengers in the wild.

For example, modern 30-’06 bullets retain an average of 57.5 per cent of their original weight, with the remaining 42.5 percent being fragmenting lead.

Muzzleloader ball and conical bullets retain from 87.8 per cent to 99.7 per cent of their original weight.

Earlier studies showed that lead fragmentation from a rifle bullet is found in a wider channel that most hunters have assumed.

Non-lead (copper) rifle ammunition is available for many common calibers, but it’s more expensive than conventional copper-jacketed lead core ammunition.

Researchers concluded that the velocity of a bullet is a major factor in fragmentation, and lead fragments are less of a problem when shooting slow-moving round balls and conical bullets propelled by black powder.

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Maine Lingo – “Usual Manner” This term originated in the Maine Fish & Game laws. When fly-fishing became recognized as a conservation practice, and certain waters were designated FFO, it became necessary to define what was meant by “fly-fishing.” The best the Legislature could do was define it as “fishing with flies in the usual manner.”

Witty Mainers promptly adopted the phrase for many situations; e.g., “The roof leaked, so we plugged the hole in the usual manner.”

(Derived from Maine Lingo, by John Gould, 342 pages, published by Downeast Books, Camden) (Continued on next page)

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Monson Engine #3, 104 years old and still going strong today under the guidance of engineer David Oliver. Lund photo www.MaineSportsman.com

12 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————————— (Continued from page 11)

Trump Taps Avid Sportsman for Interior Secretary

by Nick Lund President-Elect Donald Trump has nominated Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke as Secretary of the Department of the Interior, which oversees national parks, outdoor recreation, energy development, and other activities on America’s public lands. Zinke, 55, is a retired Navy SEAL and an avid hunter and fisherman.

If confirmed by Congress, Zinke will take over a Department charged with managing the public lands that make up more than 20 percent of the country, including land in Maine. Rep. Zinke would oversee the National Park Service, which manages Acadia National Park and Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument, as well as the Fish & Wildlife Service and its eleven National Wildlife Refuges in Maine.

Interest groups looked to Zinke’s record in Congress for a sense of how he might run the Department of the Interior. Sportsman and outdoor recreation groups lauded the

nomination, as did fossil fuel companies, who noted Zinke’s strong opposition to federal rules limiting pollution from oil and gas facilities and support for energy infrastructure projects like the Keystone XL Pipeline.

Conservation groups were pleased that Zinke had repeatedly broken with his fellow Republicans on bills that would transfer federal land back to states, but remained concerned about his overall record on environmental issues.

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Snowmobile Registration Renewals Online Before hitting the trails this winter, make sure your snowmobile’s registration is current. ATV and snowmobile registrations run from July 1 through June 30th of the following year.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) has made registration renewal as simple as possible by offering an online application. Once the application is complete, your official registration will arrive in the mail. This online system is for registration renewals only. To access the online registration system, go to www10.informe.org/ifw/atv-snow/ —

Bill Titles Submitted by Maine’s IF&W Department The first information made available to the public each legislative session is the list of titles for bills submitted by state agencies.

Here is the list of titles of bills being submitted for consideration by Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. Summaries or actual bill language was not available our press deadline. When these bills are released by the Revisor’s office, the “LR” designations will be replaced with a different-number “LD” (legislative docu(Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

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———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 13 (Continued from page 12)

ment) number.

• LR 693, An Act To Increase the Integrity of Maine’s Professional Guide License Holders • LR 692, An Act To Clarify and Enhance Maine’s Wildlife Laws • LR 695, An Act Regarding the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund Board • LR 694, An Act To Offer Hunters over 65 Years of Age Who Have Accumulated at Least 30 Points a Guaranteed Moose Permit • LR 691, An Act To Clarify and Enhance Maine’s Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Laws • LR 688, An Act To Correct and Clarify Maine’s Fish and Wildlife Laws • LR 689, An Act To Update Maine’s Fishing Laws • LR 690, An Act To Clarify Maine’s Fish and Wildlife Licensing and Registration Laws —

Bird of the Month – Blue-winged Teal

by Erika A. Zambello

Blue-winged Teal males are among the easiest waterfowl species to identify – which I always appreciate! A white half-moon separates their dark blue heads from equally-dark bills, while brownish speckled breasts and sides meet a white and black rump. Though they are named for blue patches on their upper wings, these markings are only visible when wings are outstretched.

Blue-winged Teals have a long way to travel during spring and fall migrations. Starting from South and Central America as well the southern edge of the United States, they can make it all the way up to Canada and Alaska to breed.

However, due to their long trips, they are often some of the last birds to arrive and the first to leave.

Despite these arduous migration journeys, they can live over twenty years; according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the oldest recorded Bluewinged Teal was 23 years and 3 months old.

These waterfowl feed on aquatic insects, vegetation, grains and crustaceans. They prefer to spend their breeding months on shallow ponds, or where marshes border small waterbodies. Waterfowl are divided into dabbling and diving ducks; Blue-winged Teal are dab-

blers, dipping their head and bills underwater to find food while raising their hindquarters in the air.

Though Blue-winged Teal are popular for hunting (again according to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, between 200,000 and 500,000 are harvested every year), they remain one of the most abundant duck species in the United States. Their populations have remained stable, and are estimated to be between 2.8 and 7.4 million birds. Still, teal and other waterfowl remain vulnerable to habitat loss (wetland and pond areas), as well as pesticide use and consumption of lead shot.

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Book Review #1– Fly Fishing by the Book Reviewed by King Montgomery Fly Fishing by the Book, by Russ Cress (2016), Abel Press LLC, 5 1/2 x 8 3/4inch hardcover, 201 pages, b/w photos, $17.99 Russ Cress has written a gem of a little book on how to learn and practice the art of fly fishing. I say “little,” book because it’s not filled with a lot of fluff like so many other tomes on the subject.

After a touching dedication to his wife Colleen, a brief Foreword by friend, photographer & fly fisherman extraordinaire Rob Thomas, and a modest but interesting Introduction by the author, Cress gets into the meat of fly angling with tips and instructional anecdotes applicable to the beginner and the expert alike. Interspersed with the pure instruction are tips that you can take to the bank – they are that negotiable. The tips include some how-to and some how-not-to lessons. I always find it better and much less frustrating to learn from the mistakes of others, than from my own.

Now and then, the author gives the reader a brief story about a fishing destination or experience that is as instructional as it is entertaining and often humorous. Cress is a story-teller of some note, and it shows in the pages of his book.

Cress gets right to the point, and guides readers toward a goal: to learn to cast, fish, and have a great time on and off the water. Isn’t fly fishing all about fun – not just the doing of it, but all the neat things around the sport that entertain, teach, and give opportunities to enjoy life just a little bit more? And usually you enjoy them in beautiful places.

(Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

14 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Almanac (Continued from page 13)

Fly Fishing by the Book provides a veritable treasure trove of angling tips gleaned by the author from over decades of fishing for a myriad of species of game fish. Cress is a well-known and respected fishing guide and expert angler, who puts forth some of his considerable knowledge, expertise and counsel that applies to all of us, whether just start-

ing fly fishing or more advanced anglers that trace the evolution of their fly rod collection from split-cane, through fiberglass, to graphite and composites – like me.

Russ Cress, like most good teachers, consciously tries to learn something new/good/ better every day, and he, like my friend Lefty Kreh often has told me over the years to do, shares knowledge, not merely displays or flaunts it.

Fly Fishing by the Book is available by

emailing the author at russcress@verizon. net. Cost is $17.99 plus $3.00 shipping; Virginia residents add sales tax. The Kindle version is at www.amazon.com.

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Book Review #2– Amazing Fly Fishing In and Around our National Parks (Continued on next page)

February 2017 Hunting & Fishing Information Hunting Seasons and Rules Grouse (partridge), Quail and Pheasant season ended December 31.

Gray Squirrels season ended December 31, but they can be taken through February 28, 2017 by those conducting falconry hunts.

Raccoon, Skunk and Opposum seasons ended December 31.

Snowshoe Hare season ends March 31, 2017 (February 28 on Vinalhaven) Fox season ends February 28, 2017.

Bobcat season ends February 14, 2017.

Crow season in WMDs 7 through 29 started January 20, 2017 and runs through March 31, 2017. In WMDs 1 – 6, season starts February 4, 2017 and runs through April 15, 2017. No bag limit.

Others: There is no closed season for coyotes (daytime hunting), red squirrels, porcupines and woodchucks.

Night Hunting for Coyote: Night hunting started December 16 and runs through August 31, 2017. To avoid violating Maine’s prohibition on Sunday hunting, night hunting for coyotes must cease at midnight each Saturday, and can resume at 12:01 a.m. on Monday.

Hunting is prohibited at all times for cottontail rabbits, lynx, spruce grouse and ravens.

Spring Turkey Season runs May 1 through June 3, 2017 in WMDs 1 – 29. Limit 1

bearded turkey in WMD 8; 2 bearded turkeys in WMDs 7, 9 – 29.

In WMDs 1 – 6, turkeys hunters born in “odd” year can hunt in Season A (May 1 – May 6, 2017 and May 15 – May 20, 2017) while hunters born in “even” year can hunt in Season B (May 8 – May 13, 2017 and May 22 – May 27, 2017).

All hunters can hunt May 29 – June 3, 2017. One bearded turkey limit in WMDs 1 – 6.

Youth Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Day – April 29, 2017.

any), whether you are limited to artificial lures, or catch-and-release, and whether there’s a slot limit.

HOURS: 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset, except for migratory game birds (1/2 hour before sunrise, to sunset) and raccoons (night hunting allowed in season). See “Night Hunting for Coyotes” section above for applicable coyote rules.

Ammunition: Non-toxic shot only for migratory waterfowl.

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NORTHERN & WESTERN COUNTIES (Aroostook, Franklin, Oxford north of the Androscoggin River, Piscataquis, and Somerset) – Lakes and Ponds: Unless otherwise indicated under the appropriate county in the rule book, closed to open water fishing from October 1 to March 31. Unless otherwise indicated under the appropriate county, rivers, streams and brooks are closed to ice fishing. Waters open to ice fishing are listed with an A or a B code, which defines the winter fishing season. All other waters are closed to ice fishing. ***** Atlantic Salmon can’t be targeted, and if caught they must be released immediately.

Current saltwater fishing regulations are found at www.Maine.gov/dmr/recreationalfishing/regs-tips/index.html.

Fishing Seasons and Rules

If you are 16 years old or older, don’t forget to purchase your new 2017 license before going out fishing for the first time this year.

Go to www.eregulations.com/maine/fishing/ general-law-information/ , find the lake, pond, river or stream you want to fish, and interpret the codes that apply.

Look up the “S” (special rules) Codes. Learn the open-water season, the ice fishing season (if

SOUTHERN & EASTERN COUNTIES (Androscoggin, Cumberland, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford south of the Androscoggin River, Penobscot, Sagadahoc, Waldo, Washington, and York) – Unless indicated by special rule, Lakes and Ponds can be fished year-round, either open water or ice fishing.

Tidal Chart

Sunrise / Sunset

FEBRUARY 2017

FEBRUARY 2017

Portland, ME

Portland, ME

DATE 1 Wed 2 Thu 3 Fri 4 Sat 5 Sun 6 Mon 7 Tue 8 Wed 9 Thu 10 Fri 11 Sat 12 Sun 13 Mon 14 Tue

RISE 6:54 6:53 6:52 6:51 6:49 6:48 6:47 6:46 6:44 6:43 6:41 6:40 6:39 6:37

SET 4:54 4:56 4:57 4:58 5:00 5:01 5:02 5:04 5:05 5:07 5:08 5:09 5:11 5:12

DATE 15 Wed 16 Thu 17 Fri 18 Sat 19 Sun 20 Mon 21 Tue 22 Wed 23 Thu 24 Fri 25 Sat 26 Sun 27 Mon 28 Tue

www.MaineSportsman.com

RISE 6:36 6:34 6:33 6:31 6:30 6:28 6:27 6:25 6:23 6:22 6:20 6:19 6:17 6:15

SET 5:13 5:15 5:16 5:17 5:19 5:20 5:21 5:23 5:24 5:25 5:26 5:28 5:29 5:30

DATE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue

HIGH AM PM 1:39 1:56 2:26 2:47 3:17 3:44 4:13 4:46

5:14

5:55

6:20

7:05 8:11 9:11 10:06

7:26 8:28 9:26

10:19 10:55 11:08 11:41 11:55 — 12:25 12:40 1:08 1:24

LOW AM PM 7:44 8:10 8:35 8:59

9:32

9:54

10:34 10:54 11:41 11:58 — 12:50 1:05 1:55 2:09 2:56 3:08 3:50 4:03 4:41 4:53 5:27 5:41 6:12 6:27 6:55 7:12 7:37

DATE 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue

HIGH LOW AM PM AM PM 1:50 2:09 7:58 8:19 2:33 2:55 8:44 9:03 3:18 3:45 9:34 9:49 4:06 4:39 10:27 10:40 4:58 5:37 11:25 11:36 5:54 6:38 — 12:25 6:51 7:35 12:34 1:23 7:46 8:27 1:29 2:14 8:35 9:12 2:20 3:00 9:20 9:53 3:05 3:41 10:02 10:32 3:48 4:20 10:42 11:10 4:29 4:58 11:23 11:49 5:10 5:37 — 12:06 5:53 6:18

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———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 15 (Continued from page 14)

25 Best National Parks to Fly Fish,

by Terry and Wendy Gunn Reviewed by George Smith Apparently, as Linda and I and our kids were visiting some of our most amazing national parks, I should have had my fly rod along. Don’t I wish that this new book, 25 Best National Parks to Fly Fish, by Terry and Wendy Gunn, were available back then!

Well, not really, because those were family vacations, and later, after the kids grew up, Linda and I did fish in one of the most spectacular places – Alaska. In several trips to Montana for conferences, I also was blessed to have fished there with my friend Joe Sowerby of Montana Fly Fishing Connection, who grew up in Maine.

But let’s start with Maine. I was pleased to open the book to find that the very first article was written by my friend Bob Mallard of Skowhegan, about fishing in Acadia National Park. Bob’s article, like all the others in the book, is full of great information, from the places to fish to the flies to use to the places to stay and to eat.

And Diana Mallard’s photos are fantastic.

Terry and Wendy Gunn rounded up an impressive group of anglers and writers to author each chapter in the book. After reading about Acadia, I flipped through the book, initially checking out the national parks we’ve visited. I started with Yellowstone, because I’ve actually fished there, and was pleased to note that the place I fished is one of those featured – the Firehole River Canyon.

One thing you’ll appreciate in the book is that they also tell you about great places to fish just outside the parks. Two of my favorite Montana waters are in that category. In fact, I had a fantastic day of fishing the Yellowstone River, and two of its tributaries, above where the river enters the national park.

One of my greatest fishing adventures was in Alaska, when Linda joined me for a two-week trip. We spent time in Denali National Park and Preserve, featured in the book, but did not fish there. Our second week, however, we stayed at a remote sporting camp, Rainbow River Lodge in Iliamna, Alaska and flew each day to different rivers to fish, most of which are featured in the chapter about the Katmai National Park and Preserve.

We fished the Kamishak River three times, catching big silver salmon, and seeing a couple of dozen bears each day. They were fishing the same pools we were!

One day Linda got so tired of pulling in salmon that we boated further up river, to catch the smaller (up to 5-pound) Dolly Varden trout. If the photos in this chapter don’t immediately cause you to start planning a trip here – well, I feel sorry for you.

Terry and Wendy Gunn are well known in the fly fishing community. He’s a long-time guide, author and speaker, and the two of them have owned and operated fly shops since 1989. They have also co-hosted TV shows and – of course – fly fished all over the world.

Lucky them!

And lucky you, if you buy this book and get to fish in some of these wonderful places. And lucky me too, because of these 25 national parks, I’ve visited 18 of them, and now I have a good excuse to go back!

¶

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16 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Deer, Moose, Turkey and Bear Management Plans Facing Controversy and Conflicts DIF&W’s Big Game Management Steering Committee will be wrapping up its work on new management plans for bear, deer, moose, and turkeys soon, handing the issue off to the public. You will want to pay attention and take that opportunity to comment, because a lot is at stake.

First, let me say that we are fortunate to have an exceptional staff in the agency’s Wildlife Division, led by Judy Camuso. As the staff presented the preliminary goals, objectives and strategies for deer, moose, bear and turkeys, I marveled at their professionalism, knowledge and friendly approach to any and all questions and challenges.

The members of the Steering Committee are also an excellent group, representing key organizations throughout the state, from the Farm Bureau to the Sporting Camp Association. And of course, SAM and the MPGA are at the table.

Deer At its December meet-

www.MaineSportsman.com

The Steering Committee wants to develop a reliable method for monitoring wild turkey populations, since apparently we don’t know how many turkeys we have in Maine. ing, Steering Committee member Alicyn Smart of the Maine Farm Bureau said she’s getting lots of complaints from farmers whose crops – especially blueberries – are hard-hit by deer.

I had a private conversation with Lee Kantar, who has told me before that, in the north woods, we can’t expect large populations of both deer and moose. Lee said he’s looking at a Canadian strategy in which they manage for moose in northern regions and deer in southern regions.

I have a particular concern about Lyme disease, with a record number of cases in Maine in 2016. The plan calls for “maintaining deer densities below currently accepted thresholds for ensuring human health.”

But they don’t know what those thresholds are. And in many places, people

are not happy anymore to see lots of deer.

Members of the Steering Committee have been asking lots of questions about the deer plan’s goals, objectives and strategies, from predation by coyotes and bears to dealing with high populations of deer in some areas.

Moose The moose plan is very detailed with solid goals, objectives and strategies. But there is still a lot we don’t know.

One strategy calls for raising more money for moose research through auctions and raffles with moose permits for prizes. That is totally inadequate, in my opinion, after looking at the list of things that need to be done.

This prompted me to propose a legislative bill that I offered years ago

to direct a percentage of the money raised from the moose lottery and moose permits to moose research and management. I think I will suggest, in the bill, that all the money go to moose research and management, and see if we can draw DIF&W out to support this at a lesser level.

The agency opposed and killed my earlier bill, but it’s nice to see that they now recognize they need more money for research.

There are some interesting strategies involving moose hunting.

For example, one calls for temporarily discontinuing issuing permits for the southern Maine moose hunt in WMDs 22, 23, 25, and 26. Another would “attempt to stabilize the population near current levels over the short term by implementing an antlerless moose harvest to prevent population growth in WMDs 1 – 11 and 19.”

Turkeys The turkey plan has drawn tons of conversa-

tion and questions. Tom Doak, executive director of the Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine, summed up the feelings of his members very well, saying, “When I ask SWOAM members about turkeys, I never get a smile.”

The committee has made many suggestions for changes in the goals and strategies, including a call for reliable methods for monitoring turkey populations and trends.

Apparently we don’t even know how many turkeys we have in Maine.

I was encouraged by one strategy that called for changing the law to give DIF&W flexibility for bag limits and season frameworks. I’ve proposed legislation on turkeys that could be used to accomplish this along with several other objectives.

I got a kick out of one strategy – Identify locations with viable, unoccupied turkey habitat where the public supports establishment of turkeys.

Good luck finding anyplace in Maine where the public wants turkeys!

And the plan recognizes that we need more turkey hunters. DIF&W (Continued on next page)

—

———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 17 (Continued from page 16)

reported that only 5,000 hunters hunted turkeys in the fall this year. And I think they sold fewer than 18,000 permits overall in 2016.

Bears The bear plan emphasizes a need to increase hunter participation and the harvest of bears. That’s a very tall order. They do offer several strategies, including encouraging more deer hunters to kill bears while deer hunting. They even hope to create a YouTube video promoting bear meat as good table fare.

Having enjoyed cookbook author Kate Krukowski Gooding’s dishes that include bear meat, I can tell you it is delicious.

(See Kate’s moose mincemeat recipe in this issue of The Sportsman.)

They would also like to alter the bear hunting season framework in order to increase hunter participation and overall harvest levels, but I don’t know what they mean by this. I would be astonished if they pro-

pose a return to a spring bear hunting season, but that would be one obvious strategy. Bob Parker, a Maine guide and lodge owner, reported that the spring hunt in New Brunswick is both popular and effective.

The overall goal is to maintain the bear population below social and biological carrying capacity in all regions of the state. Tom Doak suggested that landowners would be willing to work with DIF&W to reduce the number of bears with tactics including baiting.

I’ve only touched on a few of many issues and concerns raised in these new plans. DIF&W will be publicizing the opportunity for public comments on the plans.

Please don’t miss that opportunity!

Legislation I can’t help myself. I love the legislative process. And I’ve proposed 10 legislative bills this session.

Representative Jared Golden is sponsoring my bill to create a Hatchery

Quotable

Commission to assess and evaluate salmonid fish culture facilities in Maine and associated production and distribution capabilities, opportunities, needs, and contributions to Maine’s economy. The Commission would be required to submit its report and any accompanying legislation to the Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

by January 15, 2018. No major expenditures over $150,000 could be made to repair or upgrade DIF&W’s hatcheries until the report is received and acted on.

While the Warden Service looks the other way, and often participates in them, it is illegal in Maine to charge people for a wild game dinner.

Senator Tom Saviello is sponsoring my bill to make these dinners legal.

I have high hopes for my bill, sponsored by Senator Paul Davis, that will eliminate the permit and fee to hunt turkeys, allow online and phone tagging, and expand the bag limits to three toms

in the spring season and three birds of either sex in the fall season.

DIF&W’s Commissioner informed the IF&W Committee last session that his agency would simplify the fishing rule book for 2017 and the fishing rules the following year. That seemed backwards to me. If they’d simplify the rules, the rule book would be a lot easier to understand. They also promised to work with anglers – especially the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine – in the effort to simplify the rules. But that hasn’t happened.

Representative Michelle Dunphy is sponsoring my bill to establish a Commission and charge it with returning to the legislature in 2018 with a list of recommendations that will simplify Maine’s fishing laws and rules.

Senator Scott Cyrway is sponsoring my exotic animal bill to require a permit to possess all exotic animals in Maine, and to require the owners of exotics to notify their neighbors and the Maine

the decades. This is not a one-year thing where all of a sudden, one year, something’s happened.

by George Smith Largemouth bass are being moved everywhere. Now they’re even in Old Stream—great salter habitat and the best Atlantic salmon stream left.

Nate Pennell, manager of Maine’s Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District. Ted Williams article, Fly Rod & Reel, October 2016.

— Brook trout are also native to Georgia.

But a 9-inch trout is really big here. We really enjoy catching (larger trout) in the combination of river and still water fishing we get at Libby’s.

Robert Proctor of Atlanta, talking about his love of fishing at Libby’s Camps in Maine’s north woods. Deirdre Fleming story, Sunday Telegram, April 19, 2016.

— We know that the more moose that you have over time, the more likely you’ve created a scenario where winter ticks have done really well. Our winter tick population has grown with our moose population through

Lee Kantar, DIF&W’s moose biologist.

John Holyoke story, Bangor Daily News, September 30, 2016.

— The department indicated part of the reason for scaling back (moose) permits was “to meet public demand for greater opportunities to see moose.” Say what? I’m a little surprised they consider that a valid reason, but I’m stunned that they actually came out and stated it.

Bob Humphrey, in his Maine Sunday Telegram column, October 23, 2016.

— Unfortunately, Maine has very little public land available to hunters, compared to other states. Maine has about 4.8 percent of its land available for public hunting access. (Some) western states have more than 50%. New Hampshire has 17.3%, New Jersey about 15.7%, Pennsylvania 14.6%, New York over 12%, Michigan over 20%.

John Hunt, The Maine Bowhunter newsletter, Fall 2016 — It was like a little utopia for the deer.

Warden Service if their exotic animal gets loose.

It seems incredible to me that you can be fined if your dog runs loose, but not your python!

Senator Scott Cyrway is also sponsoring my bill making it clear that it is illegal to release feral cats back into the woods.

These cats are currently being captured, neutered and cleaned up, and then released back into the wild. (See Dave Miller’s “Trapping” column in this issue for more on feral cats.)

Senator Tom Saviello is sponsoring my bill to require landowner permission to pick crops on private land, such as mushrooms and fiddleheads.

I also have bills to expand fall fishing opportunities and add new protections for our native and wild brook trout, including protection of their spawning areas.

Should be an interesting legislative session!

¶

who is leading hunts on Maine islands to reduce deer populations. Many Maine islands are dealing with the problems of high deer populations. Randy Billings story, Portland Press Herald, November 17, 2016.

— When pink came along, it just enraged me. For our clothes to have pink all over it, it’s almost like a slap in the face. Then they came out with turquoise. Well, we don’t need a special color. We want the same stuff (as men). We just want it to fit us.

Liz Walker of Carrabassett Valley.

Deirdre Fleming’s news story about pink clothing for female hunters. Portland Press Herald, November 25, 2016.

— This is a senseless act that has happened to one of our own. This simply will not stand.

Greg Sirpis, Operation Game Thief board chairman. The Marine Patrol, the enforcement branch of the Maine Department of Marine Resources, investigating the sinking of a lobster boat, offered a $2,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone involved, through Operation Game Thief, a nonprofit that operates a confidential game poaching reporting hotline. Colin Woodard story, Maine Sunday Telegram, October 16, 2016.

Phil Bozenhard, retired DIF&W biologist www.MaineSportsman.com

18 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Maine Wildlife: Red Squirrel

by Tom Seymour

“Brrrrrrr,” the trilling chatter of a red squirrel rings through the formerly-silent woods. Red squirrel confrontations are an anathema to deer hunters, since the noisy little varmint’s rattling call proclaims for all to hear – and that includes nearby deer – that an intruder has come to the woods.

Red squirrels are among the few Maine wildlife species that have no closed hunting season. Woodchucks, coyotes and porcupines make up the balance of the year-round open season critters. Why should this be? Just why (in addition to the way they tend to spoil a deer hunt) are red squirrels relegated to the “worthless” category?

Well, for one thing, the red squirrel population was never endangered, and for all practical intents and purposes nothing we can do can even begin to pare red squirrel numbers. But besides that, red squirrels have the disagreeable habit of property destruction. Those who have open sheds or barns know full well the extent of red-squirrel devised havoc.

Not only do red squirrels love shredding paper, they also delight in urinating on their finished product. Many years ago I made the mistake of storing a number of important documents in a little room of my work shed.

When I went to consult my papers I found nothing that even vaguely resembled the originals. Instead, my documents were torn apart as neatly as if they had gone through an office shredder. And of course, they had the obligatory urine added as a little extra bonus.

Other people have complained of red squirrels getting in their attics and destroying much of what they found there. Red squirrels in a house, attic, barn or storage building are never a good thing.

Tiny Treats Such destruction alone is reason enough for exasperated homeowners to take up arms against an elusive enemy. This brings to mind something that happened many years ago. Two young men in a nearby town were in the local hardware store buying .22 cartridges. I asked them what they planned to shoot and they said, “Red squirrels.” Then they went on to describe the culinary benefits of fried red squirrel legs and backs.

Never one to pass up a good meal free from nature, I immediately set out on a red www.MaineSportsman.com

squirrel hunt. My choice of a hunting spot was a ground stand used for deer on the back of my woodlot. During open firearm season on deer, red squirrels are everywhere. But on the day of my great red squirrel hunt, there was nary a red squirrel to be found.

Not one to be daunted at an unsuccessful first attempt, I made it my habit to go to the woods at every opportunity in search of red squirrels. Eventually, enough red squirrels wound up in my freezer to provide the makings of a hearty meal.

Red squirrel musculature mirrors that of the larger gray squirrel. Anyone who has ever enjoyed a meal of fried gray squirrel knows how sweet a treat squirrel is. And to my delight, red squirrels, though considerably smaller, taste exactly like gray squirrel.

So here we have a plentiful game animal (okay, that’s stretching it, but on the other hand why not call them that if we hunt them and eat them?) that has no closed season and lives in virtually all woodlands in the State of Maine. Dismissing, for this purpose, their tendency to destroy stored papers, clothing and so on, red squirrels present us with a clever animal that we can hunt year-round.

Aerial Highways Red squirrels, tamiasciurus hudsonicus, live in a variety of places, including people’s sheds and attics, holes in the ground, holes in trees and in treetop nests that they construct themselves. These nests are similar to gray squirrel nests, but considerably smaller.

When storms rage, red squirrels content themselves with relaxing in their soft, cozy nests. When the storm departs, the squirrels leave their nests and go out in the world. But that doesn’t necessarily mean coming down from their trees. Red squirrels often build two or three nests, and these are all accessible by running from limb to limb, from one tree to the next. Of course this means that the squirrel had to do some planning when choosing a nest tree, since whatever tree they choose must be close enough to another tree for the animal to freely scamper about from tree to tree via the limbs.

Red squirrels cache their food in underground chambers, in crevices in stone fences and even in the middle of brushpiles. The main thing for them is to find a place that keeps their stored food safe from other squirrels, and also to keep it dry.

I have inadvertently stumbled across places where red squirrels stored their winter’s food. Sometimes nuts and other edible wild foods are in excellent condition. When opening up one of these squirrel caches, I always do my best to restore the thing by undoing whatever damage my probing might have caused. It would bother me to know that I stole or destroyed some critter’s winter food, even if that critter was just a little red squirrel.

Red squirrels eat food from their cache ev-

ery day in winter, except for during storms.

Often, the animals find a stump or other elevated, south-facing (warm) place and use that as their ersatz “dining room.” This ultimately results in a pile of spruce cone scales.

Most everyone who spends time in the Maine woods has seen these middens. And middens is what they truly are, because they are the result of accumulated deposits over time. Our coastal shell middens are nothing more than the result of people eating shellfish at the same place over the course of hundreds of years, and depositing the shells there. So red squirrels have at least one thing in common with people – they both leave middens, and these middens attest to whatever the squirrel or the people ate.

I’m of the opinion that generations of squirrels use the same location for eating their stored food. If that were not so, then their cone scale middens would never reach the remarkable size that they sometimes do, which is up to six feet wide and two feet or more high.

Tough Customers Red squirrels are tough customers, bantam-weight fighters who back down for no one or no thing. Being territorial, red squirrels fiercely defend their 2- to 5-acre territories, and do not hesitate to fight intruders with tooth and claw. A red squirrel can easily intimidate and drive away a gray squirrel twice its size.

Red squirrels don’t just keep other squirrels, both red and gray away – they even attack blue jays when the inquisitive birds light on a limb of a red squirrel’s home tree.

It wouldn’t surprise me to see a red squirrel successfully driving a crow away – the little guys are that rambunctious.

Like any other Maine deer hunter, I have hurled various invectives at chattering red squirrels. However, it is impossible for me not to admire their more noble traits. Smart as whips, and tenacious to a fault, red squirrels are here to stay.

¶

Tenacious critters, red squirrels can easily intimidate and drive away gray squirrels twice their size.

—

———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 19

Off-Trail/Backcountry Riding in Baxter Park and Beyond

by Cathy Genthner Snowmobiling is allowed in Baxter State Park on the Tote Road (formerly called the Perimeter Road), which is not groomed. It can be considered off-trail riding, because it is not officially a snowmobile trail.

During his lifetime, Governor Baxter opposed to the use of motorized vehicle use in general in the park, including snowmobiles and motorboats, except for special and emergency situations. He passed away in 1969, and 15 years later, in 1984, the current policy was adopted, allowing sleds in limited, designated areas.

The Tote Road takes snowmobilers through

40 miles of very remote terrain in the shadow of Mount Katahdin. Trail conditions on the Tote Road are dependent on the weather, and can range from open-water puddles, to ice, to deep snow, to spotty patches of snow and dirt.

Snowmobilers must be prepared for harsh and rapidly-changing conditions, since medical or trail assistance are likely several hours away.

Travelers are advised to carry extra fuel, along with emergency supplies such as tow ropes, spare parts and food. Riders should travel in groups of two or more.

Sledders should check beforehand to

learn whether the store in Matagamon has fuel, because it will be needed for the return trip.

Itinerary Snowmobilers should always check with park headquarters before making any trip to the park. Many riders begin their trip at Millinocket Lake, eight miles away from the southern boundary. Others start to the north on the plowed portion of Route 159, about a mile from the northern entrance to the park, west of Shin Pond.

One of the best times to ride in the park is the early season, because there’s a good chance of snow cover on the trail, which is a dirt road. The

Off-trail riding can take snowmobilers to some beautiful places in the Maine wilderness, along Baxter Park’s perimeter road and north of the park all the way to Canada.

park is at a higher elevation and gets snow early in the season compared to areas with lower elevations – and once there, the snow stays later in the season, as well.

As the season pro-

gresses, the road develops a lot of moguls.

Slow Down and Enjoy the Sights The scenery is spectacular, though snowmo(Continued on next page)

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Much planning and packing goes into preparing for an off-trail trip,including bringing emergency supplies and extra gas. Hewes photo

bilers need to be content traveling only ten or 15 miles per hour because of the riding conditions.

However, there is already a 20 mile per hour speed limit for snowmobiles.

The slower you travel, the more wildlife you are apt to see. In addition, stopping from time to time along the road and turning the engine off allows you to absorb the silence of the wilderness.

You can also combine motorized transportation with “self-propelled� travel. Snowmobiling is a great way to get to areas of the park where riders can get off their sleds and put on snowshoes or cross country skis. Then they can head off into the snow, enjoying the pristine environment and enjoying the “forever wild�ness of the park.

For more information about snowmobiling in Baxter State Park, visit: www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/outdoors/ snowmobile.htm North of the Park – Off-Trail Riding During Spring Warmer weather in March and April means the snowpack gets wet and then freezes at night.

This permits easy riding off-trail on unused logging roads north of Baxter Park and all the way to the Canadian border.

Snowmobilers can go

with a guide and explore some incredible areas.

The great thing about spring sledding is that if riders step off the trail, they won’t go up to their necks in powder. It’s also unlikely that machines will get struck.

The disadvantage, however, is that riders can run into some bare spots.

Above the Allagash The back woods roads don’t get plowed, and the scenery is breathtaking in places above the Allagash where views from the top of hills extend into neighboring Canada.

The crust in the morning will take you places that are just out of this world.

There are no leaves to obstruct your view. It is a unique time of year to be out riding.

If you plan to do offtrail, back-country riding, do so with someone who knows the area, and do it during daytime hours. Being lost in the Maine woods can still be dangerous, even in late winter and early spring.

Temperatures during the night can drop down to 0 degrees or below, and spring snowstorms aren’t uncommon in northern Maine, even while vegetation is beginning to grow in southern sections of New England.

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———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 21

Snowmobile Clubs Provide Vital Trail, Grooming Work

by JP Falzone Through the fall, Maine’s snowmobile clubs play a critical role in preparing the trail systems for the upcoming season. Once the snow is on the ground, club members keeping those same trails properly groomed and maintained throughout the winter.

Many of these clubs have relied on a core of dedicated and passionate volunteers to contribute their free days and weekends in the fall and winter months to ensure that a fun and successful season will be enjoyed by all riders.

Countless hours go into various club activities, including fund-raising, organization of trail and bridge maintenance days, collecting of materials for needed work, and – importantly – landowner relations.

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Volunteers from the Lyman Snowmobile Club construct a new bridge along their trail system. Photo courtesty of Lyman Snowmobile Club

This winter, there has already been more snow in many areas than during all of last winter.

However, trail preparation work must be completed by club members each year, despite knowing that there is always the possibility – like last season – that the win-

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ter may produce limited snow, or not enough snow to ride on, when the cold months do arrive. “Our club put in tons of work preparing for last season, and we didn’t even get our groomer out once – that can put a real damper on things,� said Brian Dulong, Trail Mas-

ter of the Lyman Snowmobile Club. “Regardless, we really enjoy spending a lot of time outdoors working on trail and bridge maintenance, as well as such activities as building and maintaining landowner relationships throughout the year.�

Trail Work Starts in September “We start preparing for the upcoming season in September, concentrating on checking the safety of bridges and repairing broken or rotted boards where needed,�

Dulong said. “Clearing brush and downed trees also takes time. We recently had to move some trails, because a local gravel company opened up a new cell, requiring that we relocate several areas of travel.� “I can’t say enough about the character of the people who willingly give up much of their own time for weekend activities to get our trails ready for the season,� he continued. “I’ll purchase $25 gift cards to hand out to the folks who consistently show up to assist with (Continued on next page)

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Planning, logistics and physical labor combine for a productive snowmobile club work day.

Photo courtesty of Lyman Snowmobile Club

The groomer has done its job, and now it’s time to ride! Photo courtesty of Lyman Snowmobile Club

Snowmobile Clubs (Continued from page 21)

our efforts. They in turn will end up buying something like new chains for their chain saws, so in essence they are putting the money back into the club and not spending it on themselves. This speaks volumes about our club members who do support the work needed to make and keep the trails safe for all riders.�

Stellar Work Ethic Dan Bilodeau, Trail Master for the Perkins Ridge Sno Travelers, agreed with Dulong’s assessment of the type of individuals who perform these necessary chores, as well as the stellar work ethic they bring to the

table. “We certainly appreciate folks just taking the time to join our club and donate monies to our cause, but our true club heroes are the folks who volunteer to sell raffle tickets, gather supplies for bridge-related efforts, and provide the physical labor that goes into trail building and maintenance,� he said. “Most of this is done by a handful of people in every club, and we wouldn’t survive without them.� “It’s hard to get other than a relatively small core group to help out with trail work,� said Mark Boynton, President of the Blue Ridge Riders

If the Lyman trailmaster shows appreciation by giving $25 gift cards to volunteers, the volunteers use the cards to buy chain saw parts so they can keep working on the trail.

Snowmobile Club. “Occasionally we do see a new face, which is very much welcomed and appreciated. You really need to enjoy it, and like most things, some people do and some people don’t.

We start preparing our trails systems in early fall and work every weekend bush-hogging, erecting signage, and doing everything we can up until it’s time to ride.�

Adopt-a Trail Helps with Maintenance “We implemented an

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This newly-formed trail will look much different when covered with freshly groomed snow.

Photo courtesty of Lyman Snowmobile Club

Adopt-a-Trail program in our area 8 years ago, which has been a huge benefit to us,â&#x20AC;? said Boynton. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People who ride in our area sign up to maintain sections of trail from a half-mile to a mile of the system. These folks come up in the summer and early fall, clearing brush and blowdowns along their designated sections. This is one fewer thing the club has to worry about â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a great benefit to us all.â&#x20AC;?

Importance of Landowner Relations Landowner relations is also an activity on which many clubs spend a great deal of time. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maintaining good relationships with property owners is a responsibility that never stops,â&#x20AC;? said Dan Bilodeau. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For us on the west side of Lake Auburn between the Auburn Middle School and the Turner trail system, our efforts are mostly bringing older existing trails back to life, and not so much closing off access or addressing complaints. We are fortunate that our trails are not real high-traffic areas, so many private landowners are willing to work with us and open their lands for public access.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also worked closely with farmers in our area leading up to this season, engaging with both apple growers

and horse farmers to ensure access to trails stays open throughout the year,â&#x20AC;? said Bilodeau. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Individual club members also assist us by keeping entry points from their homes open to the feeder trails which link to the state ITS Trail System.â&#x20AC;?

Snowpack Brings Grooming Tasks When all the hard work preparing for the winter has been completed and all landowner relationship issues have been met on and addressed, club members wait patiently for the snow to blanket the winter landscape. Once there is sufficient snowfall, clubs tackle trail-grooming responsibilities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Grooming the trails requires great operator skills; otherwise, associated costs charged back to a club can triple,â&#x20AC;? explained the Sno Travelersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Bilodeau. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Finding someone who is committed to all the tasks associated with this activity is a challenge. The pay is fairly low, so these individuals really need to love the work and the outdoor experience it provides.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;All riders should respect and appreciate the groomersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; daily efforts throughout the riding season,â&#x20AC;? he concluded.

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â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 23

Modifying Your Snowmobile to Hunt Coyotes with Hounds I hunt coyotes during the winter months with a group of local friends that have formed a group called “Western Maine Coyote Control” (WMCC).

At certain times each of us in the hunting group gets called into action for a specific task that supports the group effort of chasing coyotes with hounds.

During one hunt, dog owner Bill Houghton asked me to round up one of the hounds that got off the track and seemed to be wandering around a trail that headed to the top of a huge mountain.

At the time, it sounded like an easy task, but I have been used to handling light, little beagles and not the bulk of a heavy coyote-chasing hound.

I encountered the big female Walker mix along the trail, and called to her to come to me. The hound looked at me like I was from another planet.

Long story short – I got the big dog up in my lap and started the snowmobile coursing down the mountain trail. Everything went fine, except whenever I had to slow down or tip the sled in a turn. At each move, the hound shifted in anticipation of jumping off my lap.

I finally made it safely down the mountain with the dog, but from that point on I have been on a mission to find the perfect way to not only transport dogs during winter hunting trips, but to make winter hunting with a snowmobile as comfortable as possible.

What modifications should you make to your snowmobile to hunt coyotes? You’ll find out when it’s time to respond to the hounds wailing out their melody.

Dog Transportation So, to begin the discussion of making hunting coyotes with hounds as comfortable as possible, let’s start with the task of transporting hounds. Coyote hunters don’t just use one hound; rather, several dogs make the job of running all day a little easier and more effective.

For transporting dogs to the woods, most hunters use some kind of dog box in the bed of a pickup truck. Some folks use plywood to build their own, while others purchase lightweight aluminum alloy boxes designed specifically designed to carry multiple dogs in the bed of a truck.

A fellow could get away with using individual plastic and wire kennels strapped in the bed of the truck – not ideal, but it would still work. In some situations this isn’t a bad idea, because the big plastic and wire kennels can also be strapped to a sleigh that is pulled behind the snowmobile.

Once a hunter transports the dogs to the woods to begin the hunt, the next transportation challenge is to move dogs during the hunt using your snowmobile.

Plenty of companies make tote sleds that are pulled behind snowmobiles, with the capacity to carry multiple dog crates and gear. While pulling

the tote sled is great, I prefer to carry a dog on a crate that attaches to the rear of the seat of a snowmobile. It’s much handier than a tote sled when you are required to weave through the woods (see photo on next page).

Upgrading Snowmobiles Many of the hunters who have become committed to chasing coyotes with WMCC have made some kind of upgrade to their individual snowmo-

biles. Most have dedicated a specific snowmobile for this purpose, and each has their own style of upgrade to make the machine perform for them.

One snowmobile modification really makes it easier to move dogs around during a hunt, and can be done my most any handyman. Cutting the seat down to about half of its size creates a platform at the rear of the sled that can accommodate a good-sized dog crate for carrying one or two dogs quite easily.

Another trend I’ve noticed, carrying a shotgun in a case on the sled rath(Continued on next page)

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I wear elbow-high leather mittens to keep warm on the sled, but when I hunt I switch to wool mittens with an opening for my trigger finger.

Off-Road Traveler (Continued from page 23)

er than over the shoulder, has also been catching on lately. The fellows have gotten pretty creative, riveting soft-shell gun cases to the hood or strapping on hard-shell cases to the main frame.

I don’t mind throwing a shotgun over my shoulder; I’ve got an adjustable sling so I can rotate the strap over my head for a secure carry while maneuvering the sled through the tricky parts of the ride.

Most all dedicated coyote hunters find the need to “camo” their sleds to make them blend in with the white, snowy background found in the winter woods. (Special

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note: Don’t park your fully-camouflaged snowmobile in the middle of the trail. If coyotes have a hard time spotting the camo’d sled, so will other trail riders.)

Coyote hunters perform various other modifications to help their hunting machine handle the rough conditions found during a highspeed chase in the woods.

Trading narrow skis for wider ones helps with floatation over the snow, and exchanging the old track for one with bigger paddles helps the sled move through deep powder.

Hunter Comfort Hunters make plen-

ty of modifications (or choose options at the time of purchase) to suit their own needs. For example, my sled has a reverse gear to help me back out of situations where other riders would be required to physically lift the rear of their sled and turn the machine around. I just flip a switch and back up.

I’ve made a few personal modifications to my own sled this year to help with the way I ride and hunt. Some hunters don’t ride the way I do, so they make their own alterations to their machines.

I had a friend install new handlebars for me on my sled, allowing me to ride in a kneeling position rather than seated. I prefer the option of riding on my knee 90 percent of the time.

Removing the back portion of the seat creates a perfect base to attach a dog crate for transporting one or two dogs. Note also the camo paint job designed to cause the snowmobile to blend into the woods. WMCC photo

Some hunters like heated hand grips, but I find them too warm in most instances. I use a cheap pair of elbow-high leather mittens that keep my hands toasty even without heated hand grips. As soon as I pull off the trail and stop to hunt, I switch to a pair of wool mittens with an opening for my trigger finger.

The sheer number of

modifications for making a hunt from a snowmobile can be overwhelming. Hunters must sort through any number of choices and decide for themselves what works and what doesn’t. The best test comes out on the trail in the woods, with the sound of hounds wailing out their coyote-chasing melody.

¶

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———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 25

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Top 5 Lessons Learned from “Ice Fishing Fails” Videos

by Will Lund

As the angler adjusted his camera, the fish flipped back into the hole in the ice, and dragged the fisherman’s brand new jigging rod, still attached, down the hole as it swam away.

So you went ice fishing all day, and you got skunked. Not only that, but you got your SUV stuck in a snowbank, you backed your snowmobile over your favorite jigging rod, and the ham sandwich you made for lunch was frozen solid by the time you got around to digging it out of your pack.

So do you sit around moping? Of course not!

You do what any serious Maine ice angler does in a situation like this – you go home and watch some “ice fishing fails” videos, to observe other fisher-

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men who screwed up a lot worse than you did.

Far more than simply shallow entertainment, these videos are actually educational tools – while most instructional films tell you what to do, “fails” videos tell you (and show you) what not to do.

So here are the top 5 lessons to learn from “ice fishing fails” videos.

1) Ice Is Slippery Well, yeah! Especially when it’s wet, ice has a near-zero coefficient of friction. Add bulky clothing and clumpy boots, and hilarity ensues.

2) Ice Can Break In the funny videos, everyone makes it safely out of the pick-up truck before the truck (or the snowmobile, or the ATV) finishes breaking through the ice and slides slowly into shallow water.

3) Gas-Powered Machinery Requires Judgment and Maturity Power augers are the center of much of the attention in “ice fishing fails” videos. What do you do if your 30-inch long, 8-inch diameter

A flooded engine is a hazard sometimes encountered during an epic ice-fishing fail. Photo Flickr

power auger bit comes unscrewed as soon as the auger breaks through the ice, so it separates from the engine and drops through the hole and down to the bottom of the lake?

If you are like the

guys in numerous videos when this happens, you stare stupidly at the hole you just made, and then quickly realize your fishing day is all done before it’s even started.

Other operators don’t (Continued on next page)

—

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Maine Sportsman â&#x20AC;˘ February 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ 27 (Continued from page 26)

lose their auger bit, but what they do lose is their grip on the power-auger handles just as the auger blades jam in the ice.

If the engine throttle is stuck in the wide-open position, the auger bit stays fixed and the motor unit spins around and around at a very fast pace â&#x20AC;&#x201C; too fast to grab with

If the ice augerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bit jams in the ice just as the operator loses his grip on the handles and the throttle sticks wide open, the motor unit spins around wildly. your hands.

Home videos depict inventive fishermen trying to slow down or stop the spinning engine using ropes, blankets, tarps and tents â&#x20AC;&#x201C; mostly to no avail.

Some of the most dramatic â&#x20AC;&#x153;failâ&#x20AC;? scenes are when folks have already made one bad decision â&#x20AC;&#x201C; for example, their extended-cab pickup is immobilized, having broken through the ice to fend-

er-level, in a spot near the shore. They promptly make another, even worse decision, such as hooking a cable to the bumper on the far end of the embedded truck, then hauling hard with

a second vehicle thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on a launch ramp on the shore.

The result is that the immobilized pick-up folds in half, up and over like a jackknife, snapping its frame in two.

4) Fish are Alive, and Have Teeth Getting a big toothy fish such as a Northern (Continued on next page)

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28 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Ice Fishing (Continued from page 27)

Pike out of a small hole in the ice without getting a finger caught on the fish’s sharp teeth, is more than some anglers can man-

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“Don’t do what I just did – that’s what happens when you drink in the morning.” (This is yet another example of one bad decision being followed by another.)

In several videos, the fisherman places a newly-caught fish on the ice, then moves to the camera to adjust the lens angle for that “perfect shot.”

Meanwhile, with a flip or two of its powerful tail, the trophy moves to the edge of the hole, then slides into the water and is gone.

In the ultimate “fail” scene in this film genre, a fellow jigs a big fish out of the hole and onto the ice, then leaves the rod

and fish momentarily as he moves to retrieve his videocam. The fish flips back into the hole, and drags the fellow’s brand new rod, still attached, completely down the hole with it as it swims away.

5) Fishermen Have a Sense of Humor Final lesson – don’t leave your rigs unattended, especially when you are with old friends and especially if the fishing is slow and folks have too much time on their hands.

Watch as one fisherman pulls his line hand over hand, until he lifts from the water … a beer bottle attached to his line.

Then another bottle, and

a third, and then finally his hook, complete with a live fish on the end.

Enjoy the pranksters in another video – one films the episode while three others quickly lift a tent-like fishing house off the ice and into the air, surprising a fifth friend, who is sitting on a Porta-Potti inside.

So send the little kids to bed (many of the fishermen’s reactions to events depicted in these videos are spontaneous, and they are therefore rated “R” for adult language), and Google “Ice fishing – funny moments and fails compilation,” and related ice fishing fail films, and prepare to be entertained and educated by those whose days spent on the ice were worse than yours.

¶

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Midcoast White Perch Lowdown February brings with it some of winterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best white perch fishing.

This month, deep holes in ponds and lakes hold large schools of white perch.

For most of my life I approached white perch fishing the same way everyone else did, meaning my tackle consisted of five ice-fishing traps and a bucket of shiners.

But then my friend, the late Bill Kief of Belfast, changed my point of view.

Bill was active in scouting and often took groups of Boy Scouts to Megunticook Lake. And instead of traps and live bait, Bill equipped his charges with jigging sticks and jigs. And guess what? The boys took lots of 11-inch perch with their jigs.

With jigs, the turnaround time after landing a fish is far less than with live bait. Consider this. No need to use a depth sounder, no bait to fish out of the bucket and place on the hook. None of that at all â&#x20AC;&#x201C; just unhook the fish, and immediately

Jigging is fast -- no need to re-bait. During a perch flurry, just haul up the fish on your line, unhook it, and immediately drop your jig back down the hole. drop the jig back down to the next hungry perch.

White perch have their off-and-on feeding habits. Fish may bite furiously for 20 minutes or so and then in an instant, the feeding flurry vanishes. Another flurry may follow, but that may not occur for hours. In the meantime, fish continue to bite, but erratically and with far less enthusiasm than during a flurry.

So while fish bite, it pays to keep a lure or bait down among them as much as possible.

Time spent unhooking a deeply-hooked fish that engulfed a small shiner would be better spent dropping a jig down immediately after releasing a fish.

Megunticook Lake Megunticook Lake was always Bill Kiefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s destination of choice when it came to whiteperch fishing, and for

good reason. It was a short walk from the boat landing on Route 105 to deep water. The other reason for Billâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fondness for Megunticook was that it was such a dependable white-perch producer.

Up until then, Megunticook never figured into my white-perch plans. But upon hearing of Billâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success at â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;gundy,â&#x20AC;? it was clear the time had come for me to try my luck. And following my mentorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advice, I visited the same area and used the same Swedish Pimple jigs that

Bill and his scouts used to such advantage.

But instead of a jigging stick, my gear of choice was a homemade jig rod and open-face spinning reel. With this outfit, it was easy to get a jig back down to waiting perch.

Over the years, my gear has undergone a slight change. I set aside the old handmade jig rod in favor of a commercially-made, graphite jig rod.

And my lures of choice changed from Swedish Pimples to plastic-body crappie jigs. Oh, the old

favorite Swedish Pimple still gets a workout once in a while, but the softer baits perform better for day-in and day-out use.

Most people seen fishing Megunticook in winter are targeting trout.

This lake produces some big browns and rainbows, as in 4- to 5-pound fish.

But to me, one trout taken in open water equals in value 10 fish taken through the ice. So while a trout may occasionally take a jig, white perch remain my main quarry when ice fishing Megunticook Lake.

For further info on ice fishing Megunticook, consult DeLormeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Maine Fishing Depth Maps booklet, which indicates (Continued on next page)

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30 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Mid-Coast (Continued from page 29)

the lake’s deep holes. Aim for 50 feet of water and you’ll be in the ball game.

See Megunticook Lake in the DeLorme Atlas on Map 14, C-3 and D-3.

Pitcher Perfect Another great, Midcoast white perch pond, Pitcher Pond, sees only a few people out ice fishing on any winter day. A rough landing on North Cobbtown Road has some limited parking. From there, anglers need to walk straight out from

the landing and cross a small, shallow lagoon.

After this, upon entering the larger part of the pond, take a right turn, and after 50 yards or so, head out to the middle.

The deepest part of the pond, something slightly less than 40 feet, is located here.

Like so many other places, Pitcher Pond has its best times. Here, perch bite most enthusiastically in the morning, and by about 11 a.m., ac-

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Largemouth bass have almost completely taken over Randall Pond in Brooks, out-competing the former white perch population for available food. tion pretty much ceases.

Besides white perch, Pitcher also contains pickerel, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. All of these other species bite at the same time and in the same places as white perch. My feeling is that these larger fish lurk around the periphery of perch schools, waiting to nab smaller fish that stray from the school.

Although it’s long and narrow, Pitcher Pond spreads out over 371 acres. At its eastern end, it connects to Knight’s Pond via a thoroughfare.

Knight’s Pond, at only 13 feet at its deepest point, rarely holds white perch, so it isn’t a good choice for perch anglers. In terms of beautiful scenery, however, it’s a real gem. Located in the shadow of 729-foot Ducktrap Mountain and surrounded by a large wetland, Knight’s Pond makes a great canoe destination when spring finally arrives.

Look for Pitcher and Knight’s Ponds on Map 14, B-4 and C-4.

Perch Gone Randall Pond

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Brooks, one of my favorite spots for big, as in 12to 15-inch white perch, has seen better days.

Once a prime destination for perch fans, the pond has not been taken over by largemouth bass, and the bass apparently have out-competed perch for available food.

Desiring some tasty perch fillets, I fished Randall Pond twice last year and caught nothing. The old places that once held loads of hefty white perch now stand barren, with nothing but a small bass here and there. In fact, while talking to a man from one of the lakeside camps, my lack of fish puzzled him. “The kids caught fish every day last summer,” the man said.

I asked him what kind of fish they caught and he said, “Bass.”

I add this bit of information so that those who might consider giving Randall Pond a try this winter could do so armed with the knowledge that white perch here are few and far between. An angler might still take some perch in Randall, but chances of success rank very low.

Another once-fruitful white perch pond, Levenseller Pond in Lincolnville, has suffered the same fate as Randall Pond, in that largemouth bass have effectively obliterated the pond’s white perch population.

However, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) has chosen to make Levenseller a “destination water” for wintertime anglers seeking brook trout.

This past fall, between October and December, DIF&W released 400 9-inch trout, 250 14inch trout, as well as 25 18-inch trout and 500 8-inch trout.

Look for Levenseller Pond on Map 14, C-3.

¶

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———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 31

Mid-Kennebec Valley Region Abuzz About Brookies A number of years ago, the State of Maine invested a bunch of money into upgrading several of its hatcheries, and anglers have been seeing the benefits ever since, especially when it comes to brook trout. This winter has already proven quite exciting for brookie anglers, as numerous waters received hefty stockings of good-sized trout last fall, and folks have had a blast catching them ever since.

Some of those fish stocked were retired brood stock from the hatcheries. The stocking reports list the length of these fish at 18 inches, but the reality is that many actually measure in the 20- to 21-inch range, tipping the scales at a whopping four pounds or better! While December and January anglers certainly harvested a bunch of these fish, plenty still remain for folks hitting local lakes and ponds this month.

Wesserunsett Lake Wesserunsett Lake in Madison (Delorme Atlas, Map 20, A-5) likely takes the prize for the heftiest stocking of brook trout this past fall in the Mid-Kennebec Valley Region (MKVR), at least in terms of total number of quality fish. This 1,446acre pond received 2,175 12- to 13-inch brookies last October and November, plus a couple dozen retired brood stock specimens that can only be described in pounds, not inches. And to top it off, the lake received another 550 brookies in December, plus 70 retired brood

In Wesserunsett, go shallow -- this writer’s biggest winter brookies come from two feet or less, including a couple of 3-pound specimens taken in a mere 10 inches of water. stock brown trout in October that would require a bigger scale to measure than the brookies!

We covered fishing Wesserunsett in open water last fall, but ice fishermen should rest assured – Wesserunsett is definitely a great destination during the winter, as well. In addition to trout, it offers bountiful populations of bass, white perch, yellow perch (great entertainment for the youngest anglers) and pickerel.

Stick to shallow water this month when targeting brookies. Anglers take most winter brook trout in five feet of water or less. In fact, this writer’s biggest winter brookies have all come from two feet or less, including a couple of 3-pound specimens taken from a mere 10 inches of water.

Norcross & Crowell Ponds While it appears Wesserunsett Lake took

the prize for the highest total number of fallstocked brookies in the MKVR, the prize for heaviest stocking rates of fall brookies goes to a couple of unheralded ponds in southern Franklin County. The 211-acre Crowell Pond in New Sharon (Map 20, D-2) received 1,150 12- to 13inch brookies this past fall, plus another 20 retired brood stock. That’s an incredible stocking rate – nearly six trout per acre!

But the champ here is Norcross Pond, a few miles southwest in Chesterville. This 122-acre pond received 925 13inch brookies in October and November, a staggering rate of almost eight fish per acre! Some folks might think those don’t sound like very big numbers, but most waters receive far lower amounts, often at the rate of one fish or fewer per acre.

Both ponds run quite

shallow.

With depth reaching just 10 feet, Crowell lacks any suitable habitat for trout during the heat of summer. Therefore, the trout fishery here is strictly put-and-take, and anglers are encouraged to keep part of their catch for a meal.

Norcross runs deeper, with a maximum depth of 24 feet. Summer temperatures are low enough to allow for some trout survival. It’s not ideal, however, since the pond lacks suitable oxygen levels in the depths during the warmest months.

Both ponds also offer bass, white perch and yellow perch to entertain anglers when the trout aren’t cooperating. And actually, plenty of folks

prefer catching these species and forgoing the trout altogether.

Small shiners in 2to 4-inch sizes fished in shallow water take the bulk of the brookies, and some anglers have luck with night crawlers as well. The small shiners also work well for white perch when fished near bottom in deeper water, but folks targeting bass will want to employ 4- to 8-inch shiners for more consistent action. Norcross does hold a population of smelts, so these lively baitfish make a good choice there. But with Norcross’ hefty population of yellow perch, opting for the pricier smelts could make for an expensive day.

Wyman Lake For folks willing to travel a bit north, Wyman Lake in Pleasant Ridge and Moscow (Map 30, C-3) offers a scenic day on the ice, as well as an impressive variety (Continued on next page)

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32 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Mid-Kennebec (Continued from page 31)

of salmonids and the opportunity to take a big fish. Formed by the Wyman Dam on the Kennebec River, Wyman Lake covers 3,146 acres and boasts depths that reach an incredible 140 feet.

The big attraction of Wyman Lakes for anglers lies with its diversity of fish species. Salmonid enthusiasts have the rare opportunity to take five different species here, including salmon, togue, brook trout, splake and the highly-prized rainbow trout. In the past year alone, the lake has received stockings of 2,000 splake, 1,500 brook trout and 500 landlocked salmon. Natural reproduction supplements the brookie and salmon populations and entirely sustains the togue and rainbow trout

populations, as neither have been stocked here in many, many years.

Besides salmonids, Wyman also boasts excellent fishing for large smelts and decent angling for smallmouth bass, white perch and yellow perch. Both the bass and white perch populations have grown in recent years as these species have become more established following illegal stockings of both elsewhere in the Kennebec watershed.

Fishing on Wyman is feast or famine. It boasts a reputation for being a “slow” lake, but regulars keep coming back because of the variety of species and the opportunity to take trophy fish.

The large volume of water gives all the species plen-

Wyman Lake offers five different species of salmonid -- salmon, togue, brook trout, splake and the highly-prized rainbow trout. ty of options for avoiding angler offerings and the generous forage base ensures some specimens get old and big.

A word of caution, though. Because of the dam, strong currents pull through the lake and can create dangerous ice conditions. The water intakes are fairly deep, lowering the risk somewhat during the coldest spells, but Wyman has dangerous ice conditions in certain areas for the entire winter. Use extreme caution when venturing forth on the lake, especially when riding snowmobiles or ATVs!

¶

MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ The American Red Squirrel The native range of the American Red Squirrel (tamiasciurus hudsonicus) stretches across the conifer forests of Canada, southern Alaska, coastal British Colombia, and the United States from the Rocky Mountains east to the Atlantic coast. The only area of the United States devoid of red squirrels is the Pacific Northwest, where their territory is eclipsed by the Douglas squirrel.

Scientists studying red squirrels have determined that over 50% of their diet is comprised of white spruce seeds. Red squirrels pile consumed seed cones in piles called middens. These piles can sometimes get quite large, encompassing more than a meter in diameter. Red squirrel territories may contain one or more middens.

When not aggressively eating, red squirrels busily work collecting white spruce

Ross Turcotte of Madison shot this big-racked deer on November 12, 2016. The 8-pointer weighed 216 pounds -- another “Biggest Buck” club patch for Turcotte.

p t c

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by Steve Vose

cones, buds, berries and even mushrooms.

Red squirrels store food in centralized caches where they can be easily accessed throughout the long winter months when food is less readily available.

Red squirrel females usually produce one litter each year. In some years, reproduction is skipped, while in other years females may breed twice. Scientists surmise that availability of food, the overall health of the population and other environmental factors may affect these patterns. R a r e l y nesting below ground, Red Squirrels more commonly nest in the branches or cavities of spruce trees.

Litters range in size from 1 to 5 young.

Pink and hairless at birth, baby squirrels are completely dependent upon their mothers until they finishing nursing at 70 days.

After 125 days, red squirrels have reached their adult size of approximately 9 ounces.

In the harshness of nature, red squirrels experience severe mortality, with only

Questions 1. What is the native range of the red squirrel?

2. How often does the red squirrel breed?

3. How big are red squirrel litters?

4. What percentage of red squirrels survive their first year? www.MaineSportsman.com

—

about 22% surviving to one year of age. Those fortunate enough to beat the odds and survive to one year of age, typically live to 2.5 years. Red squirrels in captivity have been recorded as living as long as eight years.

5. What do red squirrels eat?

6. What are piles of red squirrel consumed seed cones called?

7. How old can red squirrels live in captivity?

Answers on Page 63

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Modern Pontoon Boats Designed for Versatility

by Will Lund I remember seeing a pontoon boat for the first time on Lake Cobbosseecontee in the mid-1970s.

Known universally as â&#x20AC;&#x153;party boats,â&#x20AC;? the early models featured shiny aluminum pontoons, basic square railings along the edges and what appeared to be miscellaneous lawn furniture and loose coolers placed around the plywood deck.

Usually powered by an outboard in the 25-horse range, they

In the 40 years since pontoon boats first appeared on Maine lakes, they have undergone a design and construction revolution. were great for putt-putting slowly around the lake, but they handled like square swim floats, and were not designed for high-speed use.

However, in the years since they first appeared on the scene, pontoon boats have undergone a design and construction

revolution. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s craft feature either two or three pontoons specially designed to bring the boat easily up on plane. The boats have LED lighting, screenable â&#x20AC;&#x153;privacy areasâ&#x20AC;? complete with a Porta-Potty, a canopy for protection from the sun and a â&#x20AC;&#x153;sport archâ&#x20AC;? be-

cause, well, because sport arches look cool.

Built-in coolers, rod holders, drink holders and top-of-the-line stereos complete the package, while power options range from a â&#x20AC;&#x153;mereâ&#x20AC;? 60-horse single outboard to 29-foot models equipped with twin 400 horsepower en-

gines and retailing for north of $150,000.

For Us Regular Folks Over-the-top boats notwithstanding, there are many models available for us regular folks, and the good news is that technological and design advances have trickled down from the expensive boats to the affordable ones. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The big change Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen over the years is (Continued on next page)

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34 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Today’s boats feature LED lighting, screenable privacy areas, sport arches, coolers, rod holders, drink holders, top-of-the-line stereos, and even massive twin outboards.

Pontoon Boats (Continued from page 33)

increased versatility,” said Rob Brown of Clark Marine in Manchester, ME. “Not long ago, it was common for folks to have two separate vessels – a larger-engined V-hull for waterskiing, tubing and getting down the lake fast; and a pontoon boat for when you wanted to take the family and guests out for an evening

cruise. Now, pontoon boats can haul skiers and water toys. Big, power-tilt outboards can get you to your destination as fast as you need to get there. And pontoons now have ‘lift fins’ built in, to get the boat quickly up on the surface of the water for better fuel economy and improved handling that rivals V-hulls.”

Clark Marine’s best-seller is a 21-foot model powered by a 115-horse outboard.

It sells for less than $30,000, speeds along at 35 mph and has enough torque to get a 200-pound slalom skier up on his ski from a water start.

Also gone are the days of ponderous acceleration and wide turns. Brown says it’s now possible to turn sharp enough to snap a determined 16-

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A middle pontoon on the so-called “tri-toon” boats adds stability and maneuverability. Photo courtesy Rob Brown

year old off a water tube towed behind the boat.

“Tri-Toon” While twin-pontoon models are the most popular, some boaters opt for the stability offered by a three-pontoon version, known as a “tri-toon.”

The third pontoon increases the weight of the boat, and also its stability and ability to handle rough water.

The added central chamber allows a balanced configuration for a large fuel tank and a stern motor pod. It increases the flotation, with the greater buoyancy allowing for a heavier load of passengers and gear.

Three-hull boats were gaining popularity before the mini-recession of the early 2000s, which caused buyers to opt for less-expensive boats. However, recent improvements in the economy may help bring back the market for tri-toons.

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Trailering Initially, most buyers of pontoon boats were shore-dwellers who could float their vessels into the lake in the spring, leave them at the docks all summer, and haul them out in the fall. However, Brown says that today, a full 20% of current buyers do not own shore frontage, but trailer their boats to and from public launches.

Loading a pontoon boat on a trailer is a relatively easy task – no harder than with many similar-length V-hulls, according to Brown. Specially-fitted, carpeted beds cradle each pontoon, such that if the trailer is backed down to the correct level, the boat can be powered gently on or off using a small amount of engine thrust. There is a “sweet spot” in terms of the angle of the trailer, and the most common problem is actually that the trailers backed are too far underwater for the beds to correctly hold the pontoons in position.

Safety First As in any power sport that combines kids, adults, fun and machinery (for example, snowmobiles, ATVs and jetskis), use and operation of pontoon boats call for caution and discretion.

In fact, because of the temptation to perceive pontoon boats as “party boats,” the risks may be even greater, requiring extra levels of precaution.

In short, it’s important to remember that operating under the influence (OUI) laws in Maine are equally applicable to cars and trucks, ATVs, snow machines and boats. With respect to pontoon boats, many of (Continued on next page)

www.MaineSportsman.com

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———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 35 (Continued from page 34)

which can accommodate 10 to 12 passengers, and which feature coolers, drink holders and sound systems, it’s extremely important for one of more adults to remain in complete control.

Rob Brown said he gets most concerned when he sees pontoon boats underway – many at high rates of speed – with adults or children standing up, or with legs dangling through railing or over the bow. All passengers should be seated securely when the boat is moving, he said, because of the possibility that the boat may lurch or stop, either due to an engine problem or if the hull, lower unit or prop strikes an obstruction.

So the captain of the vessel – either him or her – must remain in command and control, and must be responsible for the safe operation of the watercraft.

A careful operator must also understand

Pontoon boats are versatile, and many owners use their vessels for fishing. Photo courtesy Rob Brown

that while a pontoon boat is stable and has great carrying capacity, it also cannot handle swells or rough water like a V-hull boat. “These boats don’t like big swells,” said Brown, so operators who use them in protected rivers or bays should ordinarily resist the temptation to head for open salt water.

Bling Available Among the final trends noted by Brown is the interest in making the boats look as attractive as possible.

One indication is the increased use and popularity of stainless steel or shiny chrome corner piec-

es and trim.

Another is the installation of colored LED lights – both exterior and interior – in order to see and be seen. The better-quality lighting packages are specifically designed to avoid adversely impacting the operator’s night vision.

“Stereo systems now come with their own speaker lights,” said Brown. “If buyers want some bling, manufacturers and dealers are ready and willing to deliver it to them.”

¶

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36 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

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Fast Yellow Perch Action Puts Excitement Back into Ice Fishing By the end of an extremely long day suffering through cold temperatures, without even a wind flag to show for a “monumental effort,” I was beginning to question why I had even decided to come on this particular ice fishing trip. As predicted, the temperature fell steadily throughout the day, and as the sun dipped below the horizon a bone-chilling north wind kicked up spin drift, further hampering the laborious task of picking up ice traps and trekking the mile back to the truck.

To say I was disheartened by the inactivity of the day may have been an understatement, and while the sport is called “fishing” and not “catching,” it was painfully obvious, as I trudged through the blinding blizzard, that something fundamental had changed in my understanding of the sport of fishing from when I had been a child.

At some point in my road to adulthood, I had come to believe that catching BIG fish was more important than catching LOTS of fish.

Through a Kid’s Eyes I was three years old when Dad took me ice fishing for the first time on a small body of water in Washington County called Vose Pond (DeLorme’s Atlas, Map 37,

C-1). This small pickerel pond sits just a short snowmobile ride from my childhood home, and hot fishing action was always guaranteed. Throughout my youth, I enjoyed many such outings with my family, ice fishing on various pickerel and perch ponds throughout Down East, including some of my fondest memories ice fishing Conic Lake (Map 36, C-5).

As I grew older, however, I began to evolve beyond this “childish” view of ice fishing, and instead of desiring to catch lots of fish, I decided it was more important to catch one big fish or perhaps none at all, if that was the price needed to catch a trophy. This practice to suffer through long, cold hours of fishing for that one glimmer of hope at a trophy continued for years, until that bone-chilling day, trudging through that blizzard, when my childhood memories of ice fishing transported me back to a time when ice fishing wasn’t about a trophy fish – it was simply about catching tons of fish.

Learning from my Kids Helping me along on this renewed path are my two children, who at 8 and 10 are simply not going to enjoy sitting on the ice for hours without some degree of excite-

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ment. This means that in order to provide for them a fun day of ice fishing, they need some degree of diversion, and that means catching LOTS of fish.

Fortunately, finding lots of fish isn’t a problem if one isn’t picky about the type of fish they are targeting.

Washington County contains many bodies of water that breed healthy yellow perch and pickerel populations, and anglers looking for a fun day need only fish these waters to be practically guaranteed non-stop action. Last season, the tribe and I fished one particular yellow perch filled body of water and logged 135 flags!

While every flag certainly did not yield a fish, we caught enough yellow perch where by the end of the evening I was tired of cleaning them!

Speaking of cleaning perch, this chore has always been one that I certainly did not relish until I researched perch-cleaning methods on the Internet. Google “How to clean a perch is 10 seconds” for an interesting video on how to quickly prepare freshly caught perch for the frying pan!

How (and How Deep) to Fish A social species, yellow perch often travel in large schools, making fishing for this delectable treat exciting once an-

t c

p i A f fi e Two yellow perch caught last winter by the author. Note that the upper fish lacked the normal black bar coloration pattern. A fisheries biologist told the author that that occasionally yellow perch lack these bars, but it’s extremely uncommon. Vose photo

glers locate them. Rarely taken from water more than 30 feet deep, yellow perch prefer living in shallow waters, so targeting areas with water less than 30 feet is necessary.

Begin by cutting a lot of holes, as this helps to quickly determine where the perch are hiding. Jig a hole for 5-6 minutes, and then move to the next.

If using ice fishing traps, start with lines set at different depth, and once the fish start hitting, adjust lines to best target the same depth at which fish are biting.

Because perch travel together, one hole can quickly yield multiple hook-ups. Once a flag goes up, a caught fish is immediately placed on the ice, and using a jig pole the angler drops a small lure down the hole.

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Schooling perch quickly hit the jig and are rapidly pulled out and iced. This really saves on live bait, especially when the perch are voraciously feeding!

Where to Find Perch Yellow perch are a relatively diminutive species of game fish, so anglers shouldn’t expect to catch many fish over 5-8 ounces. Occasionally, healthy perch waters will yield large adults weighing 10 ounces, but this is much less common.

Any yellow perch over 1 pound is a real beauty.

Always be on the lookout for any fish that will beat the monstrous 1 pound 10 ounces behemoth taken out of Worthley Pond in East Peru – it currently stands as the state record.

Many Washington County waters contain healthy yellow perch populations. Here is a listing of some of the most prolific: Barrows Lake, Bowles Lake, Fulton Lake, Greenland Pond (Big), Fifth Machias Lake, Otter Lake, Upper Oxbrook Lake, Pickerel Pond, Possum Pond, Rand Lake, Roaring Lake and Sucker Lake.

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Straight, Offset & Helical– The Real Twist on Fletching Most folks understand the vanes on an arrow are present to help stabilize its flight. The technical term for this is called “fletching,” which more generally refers to any structure added to a projectile to aerodynamically stabilize its flight.

As a noun, fletching refers—collectively—to the fins or vanes on an arrow, each of which is known as a fletch. And although commonly expressed in archery, the terms is also frequently used for darts and skyrockets (yes, rockets have fletching, too!).

And one thing any avid bowhunter or archer has experienced while practicing is a broken nock or ripped fletching from flinging one arrow into another while practicing. Fortunately, insert nocks are cheap and can easily be pulled and replaced. But fletching – not so much.

Learning how to fletch an arrow can take a bit of time and practice, but it’s well worth the effort as it saves time and money by not having to bring arrows to the local archery shop to pay them to do it. It also allows us to tinker with different types of fletching, from longer vanes to short; higher profile to low; plastic to feathers; as well as the different aerodynamic designs, such as straight, offset or helical.

Even better, we can personalize our arrows with all different colors and patterns that fletching companies offer.

If readers don’t know how to fletch their own arrows, head to your local pro shop for a lesson.

There are a few relatively cheap tools needed (a fletching jig and glue), but the technique is fairly simple to learn. Once

comfortable with the process, you’ll be making creative arrows in no time.

The Skinny on Production Arrow Fletching Most manufactured arrows we buy at local shops come with either standard or high profile vanes made of soft, flexible plastic. (The days of feathers are long gone, except for those folks who shoot traditional style, using long or recurve bows.) And more often than not, the premade arrows we buy are fletched straight.

Straight fletched arrows are the fastest flying vane configuration because there is little air resistance as the fletching orientation does not make the arrow rotate in flight; thus, no energy is lost to the spinning of the arrow. However, at longer distances or with higher profile broadheads, straight fletching becomes less stable. And less stability translates to less accuracy. It’s similar to why pitchers and quarterbacks, when throwing a ball, incorporate spin.

Offset – the Slightly Better Choice The alternative to

straight fletching is obviously one which makes the arrow rotate in flight.

A common possibility when purchasing production arrows at local shops are “offset” (right offset or left offset) fletching. Technically, in offset fletching, the vanes are still glued straight onto the arrow shaft similar to straight fletching, but they are secured such that they do not run parallel to the shaft. That is, the vanes are turned slightly to either the left or the right as you look straight down the shaft from the front.

This type of setup promotes some arrow spin, which offers better broadhead stabilization and a better arrow flight through moderate distances. The issue with offset is the air resistance while spinning. Because the vanes are straight but set non-parallel to the shaft, this causes more air friction in flight, thus slowing arrow speed. In and of itself this is not a huge issue, but from an aerodynamic standpoint, if there is even a minute flaw in one of the fletches, the result can be gross inaccuracy in the shot.

Unfortunately, most

production arrows feature vanes already attached that are either straight or offset. But the reality is—for those taking longer shots—these two types of fletching can cause accuracy problems because they fail to properly stabilize non-expandable broadheads over longer distances.

When using field points while practicing, there may be little to no noticeable difference; however, when using broadheads at longer distances, straight and offset fletching can cause “wind planing” wherein the vanes or broadheads actually steer the arrow.

The result can be wild inaccuracy.

The Boat Propeller The last method to fletch arrows is to glue vanes on the shaft in a helical pattern, which is the king of spin when it comes to aerodynamics.

Helical vanes are secured to the shaft similar to the offset method in that they’re not parallel to it, but also in a spiral pattern, similar to the shape of a boat propeller. This causes more air friction and some loss of arrow velocity, but is by far the

most accurate fletching style at longer distances thanks to consistent spiraling. The increased spin actually stabilizes arrows so much so that if there are flaws in the fletching or the arrow has a high profile broadhead on it, there’s a good chance the shot will still be relatively accurate.

A simple test to see this is to take three arrows, one fletched with straight vanes, one with offset and the last with helical orientation. Put a pencil or pen hole in one fletch on each arrow and shoot all three arrows at the same target 30 or 40 yards downrange. The straight arrow could end up anywhere. The offset arrow will hit low due to increased air friction in flight, but it will also likely hit left or right due to wind planing from the torn fletch. The helical fletched arrow will be slightly low due to air friction; however, it will still likely be right on target because the increased rotation compensates the flaw in the vanes, thus no windage effect. It’s akin to shooting a round through a rifled barrel, then shooting a slug at the same distance through a smooth bore. At close range, they both may be close, but at longer distances, the rifled round will be leagues more accurate than a slug.

Lastly, it’s important to know that one can fletch any style with any vane. It’s not necessary to purchase a special vane when fletching. Rather, the method of applying straight, offset or helical vanes is performed through the fletching jig.

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ABBOTT ABRAHAM ADAMS ADAMS ALLARD ALLEN AMES ANGER JR ARBIGE ARBIGE ARSENAULT AUDY AUGELLO BAKER BARNES BARNES BARNETT BARTON BASSETT BATES BATTY BATTY BEANE BEAULE BECKUM BECOTTE BEDARD BELANGER BENNER BENNETT JR BENWAY BIRMINGHAM

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TYLER JEFF JACOB COLEMAN LOGAN BRAD CHRISTOPHER PAUL DEREK JACOB BRIAN EVERETT BILL BRUCE JOSEPH RICHARD JEFFREY JACK JIM MICHAEL JOHN DAN ADAM DENNIS JOSH ALEXANDER BOB TIMOTHY STANLEY JOSEPH COTE GEORGE CHRISTOPHER BRENDA RICHARD JACOB RICHARD JOHN KENNETH LINWOOD EDWIN WILLIAM JESSOB

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ADDISON E MILLINOCKET HOULTON LEWISTON CALAIS WAITE STOCKHOLM WINTER HARBOR CONTOOCOOK MILFORD CUMBERLAND KINGFIELD W GARDINER N WATERBORO MONROE PERKINSVILLE LINCOLN LONDONDERRY HUDSON MORETOWN OLD TOWN SHELTON CUTLER CLIFFORD TWP WATERBORO BUXTON HOLBROOK PRESQUE ISLE PRINCETON EDGECOMB TOPSHAM KNOX HOLLAND SEBEC THORNDIKE CHARLESTON E MILLINOCKET SMITHFIELD W ENFIELD PITTSFIELD COREA CASCO BELFAST STANDISH GORHAM E BRIDGEWATER MILLINOCKET LINCOLN TURNER NEWBURGH N BERWICK SANFORD HIRAM MADISON GREENLAND SANFORD PROSPECT HARBOR KISSIMMEE ST. AURELIE MADISON PALMYRA SEDGWICK UNION BIDDEFORD AUGUSTA NORRIDGEWOCK EAST MACHIAS MADISON CAPE ELIZABETH WATERVILLE VASSALBORO SCARBOROUGH PATTEN LINCOLN BLUE HILL BOOTHBAY HARBOR

ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NH NJ ME ME ME ME ME VT ME VT MA VT ME CT ME PA ME ME MA ME ME ME ME ME MA ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME MA ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NH ME ME FL QC ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME

ADDISON E MILLINOCKET HAMMOND DEXTER FOWLER DYER TWP. STOCKHOLM MILBRIDGE PARKERTOWN TWP ELLSWORTH EAST MOXIE TWP BIG MOOSE TWP. W GARDINER N WATERBORO WALDO CARRABASSETT VALLEY WEBSTER PLT LANG TWP EUSTIS T3 R5 NBKP WOODLAND AURORA TRESCOTT T6 R7 ADAMSTOWN ABBOT PLEASANT RIDGE PLT WESTFIELD PRINCETON WALDOBORO INDUSTRY KNOX ROCKWOOD SEBEC TROY CHARLESTON E MILLINOCKET NEW PORTLAND ENFIELD PLEASANT RIDGE PLT GOULDSBORO CASCO BELMONT HARRISON GORHAM ATTEAN TWP TROUT BROOK TWP CARROLL LEEDS NEWBURGH BERWICK YORK BALDWIN NORRIDGWOCK T4 R9 WATERBORO HANCOCK T8 R9 T6 R19 WELS SKOWHEGAN PALMYRA WESLEY UNION BIDDEFORD AUGUSTA NORRIDGEWOCK MACHIASPORT STARKS CARRABASSETT VALLEY UNITY VASSALBORO NEW GLOUCESTER T5 R8 LINCOLN T3 R9

216 225 222 202 216.5 202 242 200 224.3 216 200 231.5 202 200 214 234 219 213 219 206 221 224 206.4 208 209 213 212 203 229.5 232 210 204 202.5 203.5 208 207 210 222 225 206 210 210 212 210 206.8 210 210 203 204 203 234.8 202 215 208 224.5 207.8 225 241 216 205 216 240 201 203 205 200 202 210 227 220 205 201 204 201 240 200

11/17/16 11/21/16 11/8/16 11/9/16 11/17/16 12/3/16 11/14/16 11/22/16 11/8/16 11/10/16 11/17/16 11/14/16 10/29/16 11/8/16 11/8/16 11/8/16 11/11/16 11/17/16 11/14/16 11/21/16 11/17/16 11/12/16 11/15/16 11/25/16 11/12/16 11/9/16 11/15/16 11/8/16 11/12/16 11/17/16 11/9/16 11/26/16 11/16/16 11/18/16 11/5/16 11/9/16 11/12/16 11/9/16 11/3/16 11/26/16 11/21/16 11/5/16 11/19/16 11/7/16 10/1/16 11/17/16 11/23/16 11/12/16 11/5/16 11/8/16 11/7/16 9/30/16 11/1/16 11/5/16 11/17/16 11/10/16 11/11/16 11/19/16 11/21/16 11/5/16 10/29/16 11/14/16 11/17/16 10/29/16 11/12/16 10/29/16 11/23/16 11/19/16 10/29/16 10/29/16 11/5/16 11/12/16 11/15/16 11/9/16 11/9/16 11/12/16

FUNDY OUTFITTERS

Trophy Bear Hunting in New Brunswick, Canada Guided Spring and Fall Bear Hunting Trophy Whitetail Deer • Moose • Grouse •ATVing

Come join us and enjoy the Outdoor Experience of a Lifetime!

Malcolm “Mac” Rossiter New Bruswick, Canada 506-887-2113 • www.fundyoutfitters.com www.MaineSportsman.com

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———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 41 FIRST

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GREGOIRE GRIFFIN GRIMES GROSS GUSHEE HAMMOND HARDISON HARDY HARRIMAN HARRIS HARRIS HATCH HAWKES HEATH HEATH HEBERT HEBERT HELMS HENDERSON HERGER HESSELTINE HEWETT HIGGINS HIGGINS HINKLEY HOLBROOK HOLBROOK II HOPKINS HOSMER HOUSEL HOWES HUGNEY HUOT INNELLA IRELAND IRVING JACKMAN JANDREAU JANKE JOHNSON JOHNSON JOHNSON SR JORDAN KEIPER KELLEY KENNEY KENNEY KIBBY KIEFFER KILCOLLINS KILMER JR KIMBALL JR KITTRICK JR KLUCHNICK KNAPP KOMENDA LACHANCE LADD LAFLAMME LAFRENIERE

MICHAEL DUSTIN MATTHEW ROBERT RAYMOND MICHAEL FLOYD PAUL GERALD JEFF BRANDI JASPER GARY SHAWN KYLE PALMER BRIAN CHRISTOPHER DALE GERALD STEVEN TRAVIS DONALD MICHAEL RIAN SAWYER STEPHEN BLAINE SCOTT JEFFREY ISAAC GREGORY TRISTAN BOB ANDREW ROBBIE KEVIN PETER KARL JEREMIAH DAN ROBERT PHILLIP LAWRENCE PETE NATHAN SHAWN RAYMOND ROBERT ROBERT DAVID WARREN THOMAS LUTHER BRUCE LARRY BRANDON STEVEN ROGER ZACK

MONTGOMERY CARIBOU BERWICK MAPLETON UNION AUBURN WALTHAM S STRAFFORD UNION WOOLWICH CHESTERVILLE DEXTER WINDHAM BUCKSPORT TOPSHAM LIVERMORE FALLS PRESQUE ISLE MILLINOCKET E BUCKSPORT JONESBORO BUCKSPORT FARMINGTON HINKLEY WINSLOW NEW SHARON HARTFORD HARTFORD FT MYERS HAMPDEN BOONSBORO ASHLAND PHILIPSBURG LYMAN MATAMORAS LYMAN CARIBOU JAY ASHLAND BIRMINGHAM STROUDSBURG PLAINFIELD S GARDINER EDGARTOWN MOOSE RIVER PITTSTON TURNER NORWAY NEWPORT CARIBOU FORT FAIRFIELD CLIFFORD NEW GLOUCESTER MILLINOCKET GORHAM KITTERY PLT RED HOOK ENFIELD BYRON ARUNDEL HOWLAND

VT ME ME ME ME ME ME VT ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME FL ME MA ME PA ME PA ME ME ME ME NJ PA CT ME MA ME ME ME ME NH ME ME PA ME ME ME ME NY NH ME ME ME

PLYMOUTH CARIBOU PATTEN WADE WASHINGTON WELLINGTON WALTHAM MAGALLOWAY WASHINGTON DRESDEN CHESTERVILLE SANGERVILLE T6 R18 WELS BUCKSPORT TOPSHAM LIVERMORE PRESQUE ISLE GRINDSTONE-MEDWAY HANCOCK JONESBORO BEDDINGTON LEXINGTON CATHANCE TWP PITTSFIELD NEW SHARON BYRON BYRON GREENVILLE HAMPDEN WEST FORKS ASHLAND KINGSBURY ALFRED T6 R8 LYMAN CARIBOU FAYETTE ASHLAND SHERMAN WILLIAMSBURG BALD MT TWP S GARDINER RANGELEY BIG W TWP PITTSTON GREENE NORWAY GRAFTON WOODLAND FORT FAIRFIELD T6 R7 NEW GLOUCESTER MILLINOCKET MAGALLOWAY SANGERVILLE WESLEY ELM STREAM TWP BYRON VIENNA HOLDEN

213 225 222 242 208 214 201 219 212.7 233 239 202 204 208 212 214 216 200 212 225 225 211 200 202 208 202 281.5 263 232.6 225 229 200 209 230 221 212 204 225 202 208 243 205 205 211 230 203 200 226 241 246 215 200 250 200 232 204.8 229 214 206 208

LAGASSE LAKIN LAMONT LAMONTAGNE LANE LANGONE LAPIERRE LAW LEACH LEBOEUF LECLAIR LEGASSIE JR LEIGHTON LEIGHTON II LEMAIRE LEVEILLE LEVESQUE LEVESQUE LIBBY LIBERTY JR LOCKE LOUGEE LOWELL LOZIER MACDEARMID MACHOS MADORE MALLON MARCOTTE MARTEL MARZ MASCHINO MATTHEWS MAXWELL MAYNARD MCALPINE MCCABE MCCARTHY MCCUE MCCUE MCKIRRYHER MCLAUGHLIN MCLELLAN MCNALLY MESERVEY MESSIER MICHAUD MICHAUD MICHAUD MICHAUD MICHAUD MICHAUD MIELE MILLER MILLER MINEO MINER MINTS SR MITCHELL MOORE JR

CHAD PAUL WALTER THEODORE GREG MATTHEW PAUL JOHN GLEN H JAMES SCOTT RAYNOLD SHAWN GARY ALAN JAMIE NORMAN STERLING TREVOR DANIEL DENNIS ERIC DAVID NATHAN BRODIE GREGORY PETER GENE TROY TIMOTHY FRANK STEVEN DANA ANDREW JONATHAN BRUCE ALBANY WYATT ROBERT SEAN GREGORY KEVIN AMY JEFF HUNTER JOSH TYLER BRIAN JOHN GERALD LANCE MICHAEL TINA CONRAD NICHOLAS BLAISE CASSONDRA JOSEPH KENT KEVIN

EASTON N HAVERHILL LINCOLNVILLE THETFORD MOOSIC WILMINGTON BERWICK BYRON PRESQUE ISLE WENHAM MEDINA S PORTLAND SEBAGO STARKS JACKMAN KENNEBUNK BIDDEFORD WASHBURN WINDHAM WINDHAM EAST RYEGATE BETHLEHEM CHARLEMONT BAILEYVILLE ALNA STRATTON ARUNDEL STORMVILLE WELLS ALFRED NEW SALEM NEW GLOUCESTER S PARIS LEE PRESQUE ISLE MATTAWAMKEAG NEW SWEDEN MACWAHOC WILMINGTON BANGOR E WALLINGFORD MEDWAY FORT FAIRFIELD RAYMOND PALMYRA GREENBUSH HERMON MILLINOCKET CLINTON DETROIT ASHLAND PRESQUE ISLE PERU HANOVER DOVER FOXCROFT BETHLEHEM E BALDWIN CORNVILLE JAY LYNDONVILLE

ME NH ME CT PA MA ME ME ME MA OH ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME VT NH MA ME ME ME ME NY ME ME MA ME ME ME ME ME ME ME MA ME VT ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME PA ME PA ME ME ME VT

EASTON EUSTIS LINCOLNVILLE MAGALLOWAY KINGMAN THE FORKS BOWDOIN COLLEGE GR. BYRON PERHAM CORINNA UPPER ENCHANTED TWP T10 R6 OTISFIELD STARKS SANDWICH ACADEMY GR. HOWLAND THE FORKS WADE GORHAM UPTON ROCKWOOD BIGELOW TA R10 E MACHIAS ALNA LANG TWP MT CHASE JIM POND TWP WELLS GARLAND AMHERST NEW GLOUCESTER S PARIS LEE WADE MATTAWAMKEAG NEW SWEDEN KINGMAN WYMAN CORINTH JIM POND TWP MEDWAY EASTON T1 R7 WELS PALMYRA GREENBUSH ORRINGTON T3 R7 WELS CLINTON DETROIT NASHVILLE PLT WADE BYRON GREENVILLE GREAT POND N. WATERFORD PARSONSFIELD BRIGHTON T2 R3 NBKP T17 R12

207 225 241 236.8 222 213 230 218.2 204 222 210 260 206 207 224 220 240 218 212 216.5 220.5 243 210 223.8 210 225 220 209 201 228 202 211 205.4 218 206 200 269 201 203 204.4 200 220 229 200 214 244 217.4 205 202 203 230 202 206.6 200 206 207 211 204 219 218.9

The Maine

11/22/16 11/9/16 11/17/16 11/19/16 11/18/16 10/29/16 11/19/16 11/15/16 10/31/16 10/29/16 10/29/16 11/23/16 11/23/16 10/31/16 11/8/16 11/11/16 11/19/16 11/24/16 11/12/16 11/11/16 11/8/16 11/25/16 11/11/16 11/15/16 11/19/16 11/22/16 11/14/16 11/4/16 11/19/16 11/12/16 11/15/16 11/5/16 11/7/16 11/24/16 11/24/16 10/29/16 11/7/16 11/25/16 11/14/16 11/16/16 11/1/16 11/2/16 11/5/16 11/5/16 11/14/16 11/9/16 11/18/16 11/5/16 11/22/16 11/11/16 11/3/16 11/16/16 11/1/16 11/18/16 11/26/16 11/18/16 11/1/16 11/12/16

TAXIS RIVER OUTFITTERS www.taxisriveroutfitters.com

Want to See Your Trophy Photo Published in The Maine Sportsman?

Send it to us along with all the details and it may be published in an upcoming issue!

10/31/16 11/22/16 11/3/16 11/4/16 11/18/16 11/17/16 11/14/16 11/10/16 11/24/16 11/12/16 11/14/16 11/5/16 11/18/16 11/11/16 11/22/16 11/11/16 11/12/16 11/14/16 11/7/16 11/26/16 11/23/16 10/31/16 11/21/16 11/8/16 11/19/16 11/10/16 11/15/16 11/14/16 11/1/16 11/4/16 11/17/16 11/3/16 11/10/16 11/25/16 11/11/16 11/22/16 11/25/16 11/16/16 11/17/16 11/23/16 11/15/16 11/17/16 11/15/16 11/17/16 11/21/16 11/5/16 11/11/16 11/14/16 11/19/16 11/25/16 11/25/16 11/28/16 11/8/16 11/8/16 11/22/16 11/17/16 11/11/16 11/11/16 11/8/16 11/8/16

MAINE ANTLER & SKULL TROPHY CLUB #38 & #39 BIG GAME AWARDS BANQUET TROPHIES ENTERED FROM 2015 & 2016 SEASONS Augusta Civic Center Auditorium - Augusta, Maine

Saturday - April 29, 2017

$30.00 per ticket Speaker Buffet Dinner Raffle Items

Larry Davidson

506-369-7105

Spring Bear Hunt Special Call for Details!

www.mastc.info

4 Hour Drive

All seating is reserved & tickets must be purchased prior to banquet date.

Please request all tickets with a single order to ensure your group will sit at the same table. Eight chairs per table.

Anyone is welcome to attend.

Email: production@mainesportsman.com Mail: 183 State Street, Suite 101 Augusta, ME 04330 Photos to be published at Editor’s discretion.

Not all photos may be published.

Historic Log Cabin Rentals ~ Cabins Open Year Round Restaurant & Bar in New Lodge Restaurant & Bar Hours: Thu 4-9 • Fri & Sat 12-9 • Sun Brunch 9-3

teapond@sportingcampsmaine.com • 207-670-3009

www.SportingCampsMaine.com

Joe Vigue Castle Hill, ME

David Ferrari Bridgewater, MA

Darren Compton Greeley, PA

Largest display of Maine Deer, Bear, Moose & Turkey Anywhere in Maine!!

Please make check or money order payable to MASTC and send to 56 Gray Rd, Palmyra, ME 04965 · (207) 756-5469 · mastc3@gmail.com

www.MaineSportsman.com

42 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————————— FIRST

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MORIN JR MORRISON MORSE MORSE MOYNA MUNROE MURPHY MURPHY MURRAY MYERS NESBIT NEVELLS NEWELL JR NICHOLAS JR NICHOLS NORWOOD NOTTINGHAM ODONE O'DONOGHUE O'NEAL OLSEN OUELLETTE OUELLETTE PADELFORD PAGANO PAGE PALMER PALMER PAPSADORA PAPSADORA PAQUETTE PARADEE PARFITT PARK PARROTT PATTERSON PAULES PAWLIKOWSKI PEASLEE PEEL PELKEY PELLAND PELLETIER PELLETIER PETERS PETERSON JR. PHILBROOK PINKHAM PLANTE POIRIER POITRAW JR POLVINEN POMEROY POTTER POTVIN III PRAY PRIME RAYMOND RAYMOND REMEIKA REYNOLDS RHODES RICH RICHARDS RICHARDS ROBINSON ROBINSON ROBINSON ROBINSON ROLBIECKI ROSS ROTONDI ROULEAU ROYER RYAN SARGENT SARGENT SAWTELLE SCHAFER SCHOFF SCOTT SCOTT SEALANDER SEWALL

JAMES ALEXANDER ALLAN GREGORY MARK STEPHEN PATRICK KEITH CAMERON DUANE TROY MELINDA JOHN PETER BILLY MARK BRIAN BRENNA JOHN RYAN KYLE CODY JAMES SCOT KEVIN DEANNA CARTER FREDERICK MATTHEW MICHAEL RANDY IAN BRIAN SHARON TIMOTHY SHANE KIP CHRISTOPHER GARY CHRISTIAN DONALD CALE ANDREW JASON SANDY WAYNE JOSH GREG NICHOLAS MARJORIE JOHN ADAM CHARLES DREW RICHARD ERIC DANA GLENN BOBBY PAUL KEVIN JAYDEN ERIC NICK WILLIAM BRYAN KATELYN DANIEL STEVE KEN BENNETT CHARLES MATTHEW RODERICK NATHAN JARED GREGORY THOMAS MARK RYAN HAROLD GEORGE WILLIAM GARY

PARKMAN BAILEYVILLE SURRY ST ALBANS BLAIRSTOWN ORRINGTON STATESVILLE WOOLWICH PEMBROKE SABATTUS SANGERVILLE DEER ISLE MEDFIELD CARMEL RUMFORD TRENTON SHERIDEN APPLETON S THOMASTON DRESDEN PITTSBURG MILLINOCKET E MILLINOCKET TROY DURHAM DRESDEN PALMYRA WATERVILLE CARIBOU RUMFORD COLEBROOK STOWE CUMBRLAND NORRIDGEWOCK MORRISVILLE LIMINGTON BOWDOIN SOUTHAMPTON NEW GLOUCESTER FAYETTE MOLUNKUS BRISTOL WOODLAND HERMON GUILFORD ST ALBANS FORT KENT BUCKSPORT BIDDEFORD SACO ASHLAND HEBRON FAIRFIELD CTR WINDHAM AUBURN PORTLAND S CHINA CARIBOU MILLINOCKET RUMFORD COLUMBIA MACHIAS SKOWHEGAN FARMINGTON SANDY RIVER PLT WARREN GARLAND SOLON ROCHESTER FREEMAN TWP ETNA ATHENS WILLIAMSTOWN BETHEL BANGOR ELLSWORTH EDEN ALBION WILLIAMSTOWN S BERWICK ALBANY TWP NEWTON CARIBOU MONTICELLO

ME ME ME ME NJ ME NY ME ME ME ME ME MA ME ME ME MT ME ME ME NH ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NH VT RI ME VT ME ME MA ME ME ME VT ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NH ME ME ME VT ME ME ME VT ME NJ ME ME NJ ME ME

PARKMAN BAILEYVILLE SURRY ST ALBANS T8 R9 ORRINGTON T8 R18 AURORA CUTLER MONMOUTH SANGERVILLE LOWER ENCHANTED FLAGSTAFF TWP SANGERVILLE ANDOVER WALTHAM T1 R4 NBKP LIBERTY OWLS HEAD WILSON MILLS JACKMAN T1 R9 WELS E MILLINOCKET TROY UNION BLANCHARD PALMYRA BEAVER COVE T18 R10 ALLAGASH T17 R4 WELS UPTON WYMAN BRADFORD MERCER TIM POND LIMINGTON T14 R12 PITTSTON ACADEMY ANDOVER FAYETTE MOLUNKUS HOLEB WOODLAND HERMON SANGERVILLE CHARLESTON T15 R12 BUCKSPORT BIDDEFORD BURLINGTON ASHLAND AUBURN UNITY PLT ATHENS OXBOW TWP STARKS PLYMOUTH TWP T1 R4 NEW SWEDEN MILLINOCKET RUMFORD CHERRYFIELD WESLEY MADISON INDUSTRY TOWNSHIP C ROCKPORT GARLAND SOLON SEBEC TOWNSHIP E WILTON ATHENS STRATTON MASON TWP SEBOOMOOK TWP ELLSWORTH T4 R18 NBKD ALBION DEBLOIS S BERWICK NEWRY T8 R9 WELS CARIBOU MONTICELLO

215 201.5 203.8 210 223 204 240.5 232 232.5 227 213 220 208 209 241 200 206 212 202.4 231 206 200 200 209 236 237 224 206 206.4 218 227 213 202.5 200 226 208 267 225 201 233 202 211 222 202 205 241 224.5 200 202 204 208 200 203 225 230 241 235 216 200 218 211 224 226 203.9 220 200.3 206 204 245.5 240 226.3 205 217 205 261 205 210 214 212.6 205 216.5 205 210 200

SHAW SHAW SHEWOKIS SIROIS SLEEPER SMALL SMART SMITH SMITH SMITH SNYDER SOUSA SPENCER ST JEAN STACEY STAPLES STEELE STEPHENS STEVENS STOWELL STREAMS STUART STURGEON STYMIEST SULLIVAN SULZER SWALLOW TABOR TEBEAU TEDFORD THERRIEN THIBAULT THIBEAULT THOMPSON THOMPSON THOMPSON THOMPSON THURLOW TIBBETTS TILTON TOMILSON TRASK TURCOTTE TURNER TURNER TURNER TURNER TUTTLE JR VAIRO VANSOLETTO VERNEY WADLEIGH WAKEM WALKER WALKER WALKIEWICZ WALLACE WANSOR WARD WARE WASHBURN WEBSTER WEEKS WHITE JR WHITNEY WILLIAMS WILLIS WILSON WILSON WINCHESTER WINTERS WISE WOOD WOOD WORTHLEY YAHNEL YEO ZABEK ZUBIATE

ANDY PAUL MICHAEL GREGORY WILLIAM LAWRENCE FRED GLENN CODY GREGORY FELIX MARK BRADLEY DOUG JUSTIN JON ERIC JAMIE DYLAN BRIAN RAYMOND KEVIN MICHAEL SCOTT MIKE JAMES LOGAN ROBERT DONALD RICHARD RODNEY JASON MAURICE TROY WALKER THOMAS TIM DENNIS DANIEL JEFF ZACHAREE BRUCE ROSS JESSICA DARREN JACOB ERNEST MATTHEW JAMES HOWARD BRETT WILLIAM MATTHEW BRYCE DONALD ROBERT JAMES BENJAMIN WALTER CARROLL RICK PAUL WAITE STEPHEN MICHAEL TIMOTHY TROY WARREN SHAWN SCOTT KIRK JESSE MICHAEL DARRYL ROBERT CHRISTIAN JAMES RICHARD MICHAEL

RUMFORD TURNER PLANTSVILLE NORRIDGEWOCK ISLAND FALLS LEWISTON PRESQUE ISLE LYMAN GREENVILLE BARING PLT RICHFORD AUGUSTA HIRAM FOSTER HIRAM FARMINGTON SUDBURY WOODLAND WELLS LONDONDERRY MILLINOCKET LEBANON CORNISH KENDUSKEAG GORHAM KEMPTON OAKFIELD SMITHFIELD BURLINGTON MEDWAY LIVERMORE FALLS WALDOBORO OLD TOWN FREEPORT VASSALBORO BUCKSPORT LEBANON NEW PORTLAND CHESTERVILLE RICHMOND LINCOLN BRADLEY MADISON TURNER CHARLOTTE PRESQUE ISLE PALMYRA GREENVILLE INWOOD FRANKLIN NEWCASTLE MADISON WOODLAND BETHEL BETHEL W CHATHAM MILBRIDGE PORTER GREENVILLE SKOWHEGAN DURHAM VERONA ISLAND JEFFERSON JAY WOOLWICH SIDNEY HERMON GREENVILLE N YARMOUTH LAGRANGE LEVANT GALLOWAY MONSON NEW SHARON PERU CLINTON BANGOR W SPRINGFIELD LEWISTON

ME ME CT ME ME ME ME ME ME ME VT ME ME RI ME ME VT ME ME VT ME ME ME ME ME PA ME ME VT ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NY VT ME ME ME ME ME MA ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NJ ME ME ME ME ME MA ME

LETTER E TURNER T1 RE NBKP MADISON CRYSTAL PLEASANT RIDGE TWP T10 R3 WATERBORO TAUNTON & RAYNAM AC. PRENTISS PLT PITTSTON ACAD. TWP SANDWICH AC GR T2 R1 BROWNFIELD EUSTIS PARSONSFIELD T3 R4 ASHLAND ASHLAND T5 R20 COMSTOCK TWP PENOBSCOT ACTON CORNISH CORINTH LILY BAY TWP SAPLING TWP SMYRNA ANSON TIM POND MEDWAY COBURN GORE WALDOBORO OLD TOWN POWNAL VASSALBORO STOCKSTON SPRINGS LEBANON LEXINGTON CHESTERVILLE SIDNEY LINCOLN HOLDEN SKOWHEGAN HARTFORD COOPER WASHBURN PALMYRA BIG MOOSE TWP ARGYLE

222.6 202 206 218 204 220 201 202 228.5 200 213 205 203 232 202 204 210 219 212 254 205 219.4 203 212 219 235.5 247 213 225 225 212 212.3 208 222 205 218 212.8 209.5 210 225 211 225 216 205 202.4 224 225 223 205 205 205 235 209 213.5 232 205 202 223 205 200 228 200 204 212 207 216 224 206 201 200 206.5 206 247 200 220 220 201 213 202

GUNS WANTED Th

12/9/16 11/26/16 11/17/16 11/22/16 11/14/16 11/5/16 11/9/16 11/14/16 11/12/16 11/29/16 11/17/16 11/23/16 11/23/16 10/29/16 10/29/16 11/12/16 11/25/16 11/7/16 11/4/16 11/14/16 11/28/16 10/31/16 11/15/16 11/12/16 10/29/16 11/10/16 10/29/16 11/22/16 11/11/16 11/24/16 11/9/16 11/3/16 11/12/16 11/12/16 11/12/16 11/2/16 11/19/16 11/16/16 11/24/16 11/29/16 11/24/16 11/14/16 11/5/16 11/11/16 11/12/16 11/5/16 11/16/16 11/1/16 10/29/16 11/26/16 11/5/16 11/7/16 11/21/16 11/11/16 11/19/16 10/29/16 11/17/16 11/17/16 11/24/16 10/29/16 11/16/16 10/22/16 11/12/16 11/12/16 11/26/16 11/5/16 11/5/16 11/9/16 11/17/16 11/4/16 10/29/16 11/18/16 11/3/16 10/29/16 11/14/16 11/10/16 11/23/16 11/19/16 11/19/16 11/5/16 10/31/16 11/8/16 11/15/16 11/22/16

NEWCASTLE FAIRFIELD WOODLAND BETHEL GRAFTON CONCORD CHERRYFIELD PORTER T12 R13 WELS JOHNSON MTN TWP NEW PORTLAND VERONA ISLAND MILO STARKS JONESBORO JOHNSON MT TWP MISERY GORE TWP GREENVILLE N YARMOUTH BRADFORD BEAVER COVE DOVER FOXCROFT OXBOW PLT LEXINGTON TWP CANTON CANAAN CLIFTON DENNISTOWN NEW VINEYARD

11/7/16 11/29/16 11/7/16 11/17/16 11/25/16 11/22/16 11/15/16 10/29/16 10/29/16 11/25/16 11/22/16 11/26/16 10/22/16 11/22/16 10/29/16 11/11/16 11/30/16 11/18/16 11/23/16 11/3/16 11/8/16 11/8/16 11/12/16 11/26/16 11/5/16 11/17/16 10/22/16 10/29/16 11/9/16 11/4/16 11/17/16 10/29/16 9/23/16 10/29/16 11/5/16 11/7/16 11/12/16 12/3/16 11/3/16 11/18/16 11/25/16 11/10/16 11/12/16 11/2/16 11/18/16 11/19/16 11/23/16 11/12/16 11/10/16 11/17/16 11/16/16 11/1/16 11/24/16 11/1/16 11/12/16 11/22/16 10/31/16 11/15/16 11/26/16 11/16/16 11/5/16 11/1/16 11/10/16 11/5/16 11/25/16 11/30/16 11/19/16 11/17/16 11/19/16 10/31/16 11/12/16 10/31/16 11/17/16 11/21/16 11/9/16 11/7/16 10/29/16 11/14/16 11/25/16

Congratulations to All 2016 Biggest Bucks Club Members!

DON’T FORGET! STATE OF MAINE SPORTSMAN’S SHOW

Always Buying, Selling & Trading New & Used Firearms

March 31-April 2

— Special Orders Always Discounted —

Tickets $8 at Door or $5 in Advance

WOODMAN’S SPORTING GOODS

427 Main Street, Norway, ME

www.MaineSportsman.com

OPEN: Tue–Thu 9AM–5PM Fri 9AM–6PM • Sat 9AM–3PM

207-743-6602

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Augusta Civic Center

See page 39 for advance ticket order form or visit Show.MaineSportsman.com

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———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 43 183 State Street, Suite 101 Augusta, ME 04330

The Young Maine Sportsman with Luke Giampetruzzi An Introduction to Different Home Away Types of from DuckHome Decoys

Twitter: @LuckyLukesFlies LuckLukesFlies@juno.com

1) Wing spinner decoys I have seen a lot of wing spinner decoys out in the field and in people’s duck gear. The question is: Do they work? I have seen them work really well.

On cloudy days, it’s good to tuck them into the brush or off to the side where the ducks can’t land. That way, when ducks are a long ways away, they will be able to see some movement but they won’t know exactly where.

I’ve heard if ducks are not committing to your spread, you can try turning the wing spinner on when they are a long distance away, and shutting if off when they come in close. Those decoys are expensive, but I’ve heard good reviews.

Later in the season, ducks and geese become nervous. These birds have seen and heard it all. When things like these happen and with the increased popularity of spinning wing decoys, more ducks and geese are exposed to them during the season. Therefore, these decoys might not

be as effective toward the end of the season as they were at the start.

That’s because many of the ducks, especially if you are hunting in areas where hunters are concentrated, will associate the decoys with a loud BANG! One last thing to keep in mind – don’t shoot your decoy if a duck comes to land, because they are expensive to replace.

2) Confidence decoys I have seen confidence decoys to be really effective. A confidence decoy can be like a herring or coot – all it is, is a species often seen with waterfowl. It adds more realism to the spread.

Ducks flying over have probably seen a lot of spreads with just ducks, but what a lot of people don’t think of is that ducks will be seen with a lot of different species. You will obviously scare away any other species like herring coots and water birds.

Confidence decoys put a new twist on your spread. I have actually seen ducks landing in close to plastic flamingo

lawn ornaments.

3) Flocked Heads Flocked heads make a decoy head look very lifelike. A flocked decoy head is a painted head, but before the paint dries the painter covers the head in colored powder. It makes the head look realistic.

You can buy them like, this but it’s much cheaper to do it yourself.

I don’t know many people who use flocked heads on duck decoys – personally I don’t think they matter too much on ducks – but they look really good on geese.

4) Super Magnum Decoys A magnum decoy is an oversized decoy. They work well if you don’t have that many decoys.

And they can also be seen from long distances, but other than that, they really have no more attracting power than regular decoys.

5) Weighted Keels These can be really helpful when throwing decoys out, since some decoys hit the water sideways. Without weighted keels, the birds are on

The author holds a brace of drake mallards, the results of an effective spread of decoys. Jake, described by Luke as an “awesome” duck hunting dog, looks on.

their sides and you have to go over and fix it in your canoe or using a decoy adjuster.

Make weighted keel decoys by drilling a hole in the keel and filling it with sand. Then just fill the hole back up with silicone.

6) Jerk Cords If there is no wind, jerk cords can be your best friend. A jerk cord is a string attached to about three decoys. You tie a bungee cord and a weight to the far end of the set, and a string that attaches the decoys together. A

long end extends to the blind.

When you are in your blind you can create all the ripples you want.

I like to put a feeder decoy on the string, too. When ducks are circling and they don’t see ripples or movement, that could be enough to let them know there is something up with your spread. If you ever watch live ducks, you’ll see they are constantly moving, so do what you can to make your decoys act like swimming ducks.

The Smilin' Sportsman Youth Edition

¶

Q: What’s the best time to go to the dentist?

A: Tooth-hurty.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Q: Why did the shark keep swimming in circles? A: It had a nosebleed.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Guest at a restaurant: “I refuse to eat this roast beef. Please call the manager!”

Waiter: “That won’t do you any good – he won’t eat it either!”

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Q: Which bees produce milk?

A: Boo-bees.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Q: What do you get when you cross a bear with a skunk?

A: Winnie the Pooh.

Kids! Send your best hunting & fishing stories, and your favorite jokes, to the editor at will@mainesportsman.com www.MaineSportsman.com

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Remington Leaves the Pack Without Looking Back A .35-caliber Model 14 Remington in good condition would make a great first deer gun for a young hunter.

Before the First World War, lever-action rifles dominated the hunting and sport shooting market. Lever guns

by Winchester, Marlin and Savage made the transition from blackpowder to modern smokeless propellants in a handful of calibers, capturing the bulk of firearms sales in the process.

Bolt-action rifles were rare in the first two decades of the twentieth century. It was not until the mid-1920s that they began to sell in great numbers.

Prior to the Great War, the few bolt-actions in the woods came from Spanish-American War surplus Krag-Jorgensens

or expensive imports from Europe, such as Austriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mannlicher and Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mauser. A very few straight-pull bolt-action rifles made by Ross Rifle Co. of Quebec City in Canada trickled across the border between 1907 and the start of the war in 1914.

Flocking to adopt smokeless gunpowder, hunters in Maine and all across America bought Winchester Models 1894 and 1895, Marlin Models 1894 and 1895, and Savage Model 1899s by the tens of thousands. In the five years from 1895 to the turn of the century, these lever-actions pushed almost every other hunting rifle out of the

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Advancements inspired by the military in the .30-40 Krag, and a bit later in the .30-â&#x20AC;&#x2122;03 and .30-â&#x20AC;&#x2122;06 Springfields, would eventually impact the sporting market but would not overtake the sales of lever-actions for almost three generations.

In that pre-war period and extending into the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Roaring Twenties,â&#x20AC;? shooters who desired something other than a lever-action saw few options on store shelves. To the credit of their designers, some of these alternatives to levers proved bold, stylish and sound innovations.

Different Direction Facing this juggernaut of modernization, designers and decision makers at Remington Arms Company of Ilion,

The century-old Remington Model 14 remains a viable choice for Maine deer hunters, so long as it is made for the .35 Remington cartridge.

New York chose not to offer another lever action rifle. Flushed with the longtime success of their single-shot rolling block hunting and target rifles, they opted to leap ahead, employing new technologies and mechanical advancements. They decided to avoid head-to-head competition with the flood of lever guns coming from Savage, Marlin and Winchester.

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twentieth-century technologies, and in the process captured a different segment within the sporting market. That corporate decision to skip the lever action market remains very much a part of Remingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s approach.

John Browning designed a semi-automatic rifle that Remington released in 1906 as the Model 8. Built around four new cartridges, the .25 Remington, .30 Remington, .32 Remington, and the .35 Remington, the Model 8 attracted a small but devoted following, including L.L. Bean himself. But only 60,000 rifles were made, spread over 30 years of production.

The Model 8 had open sights and a fiveround box magazine, and carried a 22-inch barrel shrouded in a recoil spring housing.

After waiting six years for sales of the Model 8 to pick up, Remington turned to designer John Pedersen to come up with something to challenge the Winchester Model 94.

Pedersen would go on to (Continued on next page)

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———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 45 (Continued from page 44)

some fame during World War I when he invented the Pedersen device for the military that turned the 1903 Springfield rifle into a full-automatic sub-machine gun. But first, he created the Model 14 for Remington.

Slide Action Thinking they could pull some market interest away from Winchester in 1912, Remington released Pedersen’s nofrills, mechanically operated slide-action rifle in the same four calibers as the older Model 8. They called this one the Model 14.

The rifle weighs six pounds and has a 22-inch barrel. A carbine version called the Model 14R has a shorter 18½-inch barrel and a straight grip stock rather than a pistol grip.

The Model 14 has the same five-shot capacity as the Model 8, but fits them into a spiral magazine tube located under the barrel. The spiral is a safety feature that prevents bullet tips from touching the primer on the next cartridge ahead

In the early 1900s, despite the popularity of leveractions, Remington chose to introduce slideactions and semi-automatics. in the tube.

The magazine rides forward with the slide to permit loading directly into the tube. A knurled screw on the left side of the receiver allows the rifle to be taken down for transport or storage.

Remington expanded the offering in December of 1913 by coming out with the Model 14½.

This version has a longer, 22½-inch barrel and features a ten-round magazine to accommodate short .38-40 and .44-40 Winchester cartridges.

Carbine versions of the Model 14½ have an 18½inch barrel, a pistol grip stock, and accommodate eight rounds in the magazine.

The variations of the Model 14 attracted shooters who were interested in owning something different than the ubiquitous lever action. Even with the 22-inch barrels, woods hunters found the Model 14 agile and

handy. Enough hunters liked the Model 14 to induce Remington to evolve it into the Model 760 from 1952-1980, and the Model 7600 from 1981 to the present.

Next Generation A little while ago, one of the regular readers from the western mountains of Maine wrote to ask me what I thought about the Model 14. He often writes with good suggestions and ideas, and also straightens me out when I write something erroneous. In this case, he wrote to say that he wants to find a Model 14 for his daughter’s first hunting rifle. He wants a rifle suitable for her and then to pass down to the other children coming up.

The question sent me scrambling. Not familiar with the Model 14, I had to do some homework. My conclusion is that the rifle would make a fine first hunting rifle—if you can find one in good condi-

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tion, and the one you find is in the .35 Remington caliber.

Barnes’ Cartridges of the World describes the .25 Remington as a “barely adequate deer cartridge.” The .30 and .32 Remington cartridges are rimless versions of the .30-30 Winchester and .32 Winchester Special. Both are good deer cartridges, but along with the .25 Remington are thoroughly obsolete, and are no longer factory loaded.

The .35 Remington is another matter. It is

often overlooked and ignored, but remains a better, more powerful deer and black bear cartridge than the .30-30. Still readily available, the .35 Remington makes an outstanding cartridge for most Maine applications.

A Model 14 in decent shape and chambered for the .35 Remington would make every bit as viable a hunting rifle today as it did in 1912. As fans of the progressively more modern Model 760 and 7600 will say, a slide-action Remington makes an excellent rifle for the woods of Maine and beyond.

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46 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Cabin Fever Got You Down?

Prepare Now for Next Deer Season!

When my old GPS unit finally died last year, it took seven years’ worth of rub, scrape and stand locations with it to the great iCloud in the sky.

The swamp was drier than I’d ever seen it. The drought of 2016 may not have been good for the farmers in Waldo County or for people’s wells, but it was providing me with some exceptionally good hunting opportunities.

In years when the area receives normal rainfall, deer rarely crossed this end of the swamp.

Instead, they traveled the edges along the timber on the east end. This year, the swale grass grew taller than normal, and well-worn deer trails crisscrossed the four acres of grass and alders my stand looked over. I knew it was the perfect spot to ambush a good buck with my rifle.

I hung a stand over the dried up beaver pond at noon, went home to shower and returned to hunt that afternoon.

The deer were coming to this pool every day. The drought had literally made this one of the only sources of water in the area. Normally fifty yards long, twenty yards wide and three feet deep, the beaver pond was now a mere puddle of twenty feet long and six inches deep. Large tracks in the mud confirmed at least one adult buck was visiting daily.

I saw two deer late that afternoon.

An extremely large doe cautiously made her way in to drink. I took lots of great pictures on her way to the water. When she was just ten yards from quenching her thirst, something in the swale grass caught her attention. I saw the buck as he walked quickly from left to right 90 yards away. I surmised he was a decent two year old sixpoint (he was better than that – see my 2016 gun kill). Even with my rifle, I doubt I could have shot him until he hit the edge of the timber. Shooting lanes needed to be cut before firearms season opened.

Surveying the area around the stand, it dawned on me. Many of my stands were in need of some TLC. I’d neglected them for the last four years because of my success. I’d picked up a few new tricks during that time. These would certainly boost my chances of connecting with a big buck. I knew it’d be a while before I had the chance to start these projects.

Lots of Work to Do! Well, I was right.

November and December were extremely busy –

60-hour weeks, Saturday bird hunting, Sunday church service and football games didn’t leave me time to do what I wanted to do. Only now, in late January and early February, can I get into the woods for any length of time.

My list of things that’ll make 2017 an amazing deer season is long. I want to clear three new shooting lanes on that swamp stand. If a great buck decides to cross the swamp like that 6-point did, I’ll see him early, have an opportunity to size him up and make a shot before he disappears into thick cover.

At one of my early season archery stands, multiple apple trees need to be further released from the sun-choking fir trees on their south and east side. Pruning the apple trees dead wood and water sprouts, then fertilizing them in April, will help produce future bumper crops of apples that’ll make this stand irresistible during early archery season. My plan is to use the fir trees I cut down to build a wall that’ll funnel deer to within 12 yards of my stand if they want to dine on the ripe fallen fruits.

Entry and exit trails

A formerly-large beaver pond near the author’s stand dried up during the drought of 2016. Thousands of tracks in the mud and the heavily-used runs indicated this water was one of the only places for deer to drink for nearly a mile. Photo Saltalamachia

on each of my stands need to be trimmed. Sneaking in and out silently significantly increases my chances of tagging wary bucks, especially on those ultra-calm mornings when you can hear mice and voles moving in the leaves yards away. Not only does trimming trails help keep things quiet – it also reduces the places scent can be deposited along the way.

I purchased a new GPS last September when my old DeLorme GPN-60 died, taking seven years’ worth of rub, scrape and stand locations with it to the iCloud in the sky. My new GPS is an improved unit I look forward to filling with last season’s rubs, scrapes, trails, stands and property lines.

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If the snow isn’t deep in February, I can mark almost everything but the scrapes. It’ll take a while for the patterns to pop out from the screen like they did on my old unit, but I know the properties well enough that it’s just an inconvenience and not critical to my success.

Of course February is also a great time to go shed hunting. Though finding a fresh shed from a great buck doesn’t mean he’ll be around the following fall, it does mean he made it through the deer season. In my area, we have plenty of coyotes and experience fairly severe winters from time to time, but the long gun season is the number one killer of our buck population. Could the owner of that shed live on a neighboring farm outside of the winter months?

Absolutely possible, but it’s still awesome to find a shed, especially one from a really nice buck.

February is a time when I ice fish for crappie, trout and salmon as much as possible. However I’ll (Continued on next page)

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———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 47

This month I plan to cut shooting lanes to my stand, trim entrance/exit paths, and prune the nearby apple tree to produce future bumper crops of fruit.

(Continued from page 46)

gladly give up a few days here and there to get this deer hunt prep work done. In fact, the longer I wait to do these things, the guiltier I feel.

Hard work, deliberate effort, scouting and preparation have increased my success rate significantly. On years when I’ve been lazy and reverted to my ways of old, I’ve not enjoyed the

same success. February might be cold and nasty at times, but working hard on things that’ll make next deer season better will surely warm me up.

¶

This large doe came to drink at the water hole on the first afternoon the stand was set. Photo Saltalamachia

Follow-up to Last Month’s Big Game Hunting Column–

Joe Wanted Feedback on Proposals for Radical Changes to Deer Hunting Rules; He Got It! Editor’s note: In his January “Big Game” column titled “If You Were in Charge at DIF&W ….”, Joe Saltalamachia made several proposals for how he would increase the number of big deer in Maine by changing the state’s whitetail deer hunting rules, if he were given blanket authority.

His suggestions included: 1) No rifle hunting during the November rut in the southern third of the state; 2) An early, two-week muzzleloader season and expanded archery opportunities; 3) A delay in the firearms season to the first two weeks of December; and 4) Youth Day rules all season for those younger than 16.

He invited feedback, and got it. A sampling is found below.

— To the Editor: I just read Joe Salty’s article in the January issue of The Maine Sportsman. I rarely if ever respond to articles, but this really piqued my interest.

Although I do agree with him and his ideas, I’m quite sure that most hunters would feel like they were losing their traditional rut season hunts, and there would be an outpouring of opposition to his proposal.

I do think his proposals would help in increasing the size of Maine’s deer herd and also that more adult bucks would be available in subsequent seasons if the new

rules were imposed. However, I don’t think that we can ever come close to the numbers of quality deer that are produced in those Midwestern states.

The reason is that the habitat in those states is so unlike the habitat we have here in New England. The big agricultural tracts of land offer incredible habitat. Even more important, deer find nutrition out there that you only find in spotty areas here in the east. I think that is the real difference between here and the mid west.

Lou Gagnon Strafford, NH — To the Editor: It’s a good thing Joe has no influence on the Maine deer hunting dates. I think that Western air has done something to his brain. His fictional article in The Maine Sportsman is just that – fiction.

Because he is a bow hunter, he presents that as the only way to hunt deer. Maybe bow hunters should have a 12-month season!

Bow hunters lose 35% – 40% of the deer they attempt to harvest, and he wants them to have more chances!

He calls bow hunters “hunters”; I call them deer “slayers,” and they should not be allowed to hunt deer with a bow in the State of Maine. It seems Joe believes hunting deer with a rifle is a

crime.

I hope he stops writing for The Maine Sportsman, because his articles are too far-fetched.

Signed: “An Avid Rifle Deer Hunter” — To the Editor: Looks like Joe Saltalamachia hit this one out of the park the latest Maine Sportsman.

To be accepted by the hunting community, IF&W would have to fully explain the reasons for the changes, and those changes should not be made without lengthy advance notice. This would be much better than just putting out the new rules and that’s that.

I also think that shotgun-only would be a good idea in some areas, like Southern Maine. In some sections of Maine – rarely is a shot over 50 yards made, so a slug gun would be perfect for those areas.

That was a good thought-provoking article. Tell Joe to keep up the excellent work!

Wayne Dengler — To the Editor: I thought Joe’s ideas for managing deer were interesting. But I’m sure he knows the major stumbling block with ideas like those is that about 150,000 deer hunters only hunt deer in November and have no interest in other opportunities.

It’s always surprised

me that so few hunt with muzzleloaders. A lot of them don’t even care if they shoot a big buck – they are happy to shoot anything.

Tell Joe to keep up the great writing!

George Smith Mt. Vernon — To the Editor: Great article by Joe Saltalamachia. I would love to see bigger deer.

My kids and I let immature deer walk all season.

I wish others would consider doing the same.

We just have to remember we all hunt differently and for different reasons. I enjoy the time spent with my kids, not just a kill. We all could have shot deer if we wanted but we passed on small deer in hopes of a better deer next year.

Can’t wait to see other readers’ comments.

Fred Nevells — To the Editor: Regarding Joe Saltalamachia’s suggestions, I say “Different strokes for different folks.” My Dad and I pass on lots of small bucks that some others would gladly shoot, and all the power to them.

Some folks only have a couple chances to hunt.

What I don’t like see creeping into our hunting landscape is this Midwest attitude about “trophy” hunting and trying to “breed” bigger bucks.

Midwest “hunting” is

joke compared to hunting the thick woods of Maine with much lower concentrations of bucks. A deer hunter in Maine has to hunt, while a deer hunter in Illinois merely has to choose.

Justin Gushee — To the Editor: Just read Joe’s article in the Sportsman – now how do we make it happen? All of it, plus add Sunday hunting while we are at it!

My boss at work lives in NH where the seasons run similarly to Joe’s proposal. He shoots more and bigger deer than any of the Maine guys in the office and he is a fair-weather, not very hard-core hunter. So it works. How do we make the IF&W people change it?

I haven’t harvested a deer since I was 13 (the last time I was able to hunt in the snow). I blame it on the shift in weather patterns and difficulty tracking without snow cover.

Joe’s suggested shift in rifle season brings snow back into the mix... just sayin’!

Name withheld at reader’s request Saco, Maine — To the Editor: I really like the ideas Joe Salty had on “changes.” Add in some antler restrictions and he would (Continued on page 49) www.MaineSportsman.com

48 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Big Fish on Tom’s Agenda This Month Now that pike are here, anglers should make the best of the situation. The fact is – a big pike is fun to battle on the ice.

With ice conditions better this year than last, area anglers are getting out on the hard water and targeting big fish. Togue and pike top the bill for large fish in this region, and there are a few places to go after them and consistently take decent-size fish.

Ice formed early in the region. I was driving around Poland on December 11 and I saw one anxious angler checking the ice on Middle Range Pond (DeLorme Atlas Map 5, A-3). He cautiously crept out a few feet from shore and chiseled a hole, indicating there was about an inch of clear, transparent ice.

I pulled alongside the lake and chatted with him briefly. We both agreed winter had come earlier this year – a boon for ice anglers.

I then drove over to Worthley Pond, also in Poland and was surprised to see anglers quite a distance from the launch area. There wasn’t enough ice for me to comfortably venture out and see how they were doing, but they had flags set and seemed comfortable on what I expect was marginal ice.

By February, the ice will be thick. That’s when I really get fired up to get out there, and when I do, its big fish that I target.

Sebago Lakers Sebago Lake (Map 5, C-1) is Mecca for togue anglers in this region.

While I’d prefer to have more salmon to target in the spring, togue are here to stay and some of them attain mammoth size. So while salmon angling is closed during the winter, you might as well go af-

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ter lakers and have some fun.

Sebago’s lake trout are commonly found in the two- to three-pound range, but bigger ones get caught with good frequency. Anglers who know the lake and spend time moving to the fish fare the best.

I coined the term “jigging-on-the-move” a few years ago as a way to describe my togue-angling habits on the lake. I use a snowmobile with dogsled attached and start out in Jordan Bay with a test hole. I drill it, clear it out and check it with my portable fish-finder to ascertain depth and see if there are any fish around.

I then lower my job rod, usually using a Swedish pimple lure tipped with sucker tail or a piece of shiner and jig for 30 minutes or so. If I don’t have

The author shows off a typical Sebago Lake togue, which he took while jigging through the ice. Roth photo

a strike, I move. It’s that simple.

I keep a shack on Sebago so I have a place to warm up and cook a meal.

The kids love spending a day on the ice. They play in and out of the shack, and ride the snowmobile, but do very little fishing.

That’s fine, but you’ll find me jigging in the shack

Gene Bahr MASTER FISH CARVER Sebago, Maine • 207-647-5238

• Pop-up shack, ice auger, and traps for rent; call ahead • 2 miles of groomed x/c ski trail, 1.5 miles of groomed snowshoe/ walking trail and 4 miles of additional trails • Park and Ride snowmobile access to Southwestern Maine • Remember, the park is open to hunting; special rules apply

Entrance Gate Closed Tuesday and Wednesday Call park for more information at 207-998-4104 26 State Park Road • Poland, ME Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry www.MaineSportsman.com

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while I’m there. I’ll also throw out a few traps when I’m based at the shack, but in my experience, on the lake, jigging out-fishes traps exponentially.

If I do set traps, I like to vary my depths from no shallower than 30 feet to around 60 feet. I will sometimes use sea-run smelt that I catch at one of the commercial smelt camps on the Kennebec River. Other times I will use large shiners or small suckers.

I have had good luck jigging few feet from a set trap. I surmise that the swimming action and smell of the baitfish coupled with the attraction of an active jig lure is too much of a temptation for any laker cruising by. Occasionally we even take a cusk during the daytime.

Auburn Region Pike The Lewiston-Auburn region has a number of bodies of water where (Continued on next page)

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———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 49 (Continued from page 48)

Northern pike have been illegally introduced. The ramifications of illegal stocking are huge. More sought-after fish species can be wiped out, angling opportunities for kids with pan fish can be impacted, and stocking efforts can be ruined.

There’s no doubt illegal stocking is wrong, but now that it has happened, anglers need to make the best of it and target these fish. The fact is, a big pike is fun to battle on the ice or with rod and line.

For pike in this neck of the woods, there are three top spots: Taylor Pond in Auburn (Map 11, E-4), the Androscoggin

River (Map 11, D-5) and Sabattus Pond (Map 12, E-1). Each produces some whopper pike, now that more than a decade has passed since their illegal introduction.

Taylor Pond; Andro River Taylor Pond has no public access, so unless you enter the pond on a snowmobile trail, you will have to obtain permission to park and access the ice. A few years ago I was fortunate to have access and kept a shack on the pond. We had fun catching bass and pike, as well as feeding the pike to an eagle that lived on the pond. It was enjoyable to watch him swoop down on the ice and partially

Letters Responding to Joe (Continued from page 47)

be spot on.

I do, however, think that most Maine hunters will not like his ideas at all. We shall see with the responses received. Maybe by spring he can do another article to let us know.

I really do believe we need to do something. I like to stalk, so rifle season in December would be great. Not saying I wouldn’t try hunting earlier with a smoke pole because I do enjoy that season as well, when I haven’t already tagged.

I’m not really a bow hunter, but New Hampshire is only a short drive so maybe I would venture there with long gun in November.

Great article – hope Joe get the responses he’s looking for.

Rob Brooks Master Guide — To the Editor: I agree with Joe Saltalamachia – Maine should change the deer season. I have thought so for some time.

I believe his take on the issue is right on the money. I have been a gun/bow hunter for more than fifty years. I also hunt other states, and am familiar with their management programs.

I recently started hunting in our neighboring State of Massachusetts, and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of mature bucks. Massachusetts does not allow rifle hunting during its short firearms season, which is held after the rut.

I believe most hunters would like to harvest a mature buck, but many will settle for anything brown, which will cause considerable resistance to change.

I enjoyed Joe’s take on the issue and

eat the fish, before flying off with the rest, perhaps feed a mate or young.

Taylor Pond is shallow and weedy, perfect habitat for the marauding pike that cruise the lake in search of prey. We fish with large, live shiners. The fishing is sometimes slow but we usually manage to catch a few pike.

The Androscoggin River forms a slow-moving pond above Gulf Island Dam, known as Gulf Island Pond. Several islands dot the area, providing shelter for fish from the current.

The “pond” section of the river freezes quickly.

Pike have adapted well to the river, and some real

lunkers are caught every year. Again, live bait such as shiners or dead sea-run smelt work well.

Anglers can access the river from several snowmobile trails that are found up and down the Androscoggin, or they can park by the boat launch at the end of east Waterman Road and enter the ice from there.

Sabattus Pond Finally, Sabattus Pond is perhaps the busiest spots for pike angling, but it produces a ton of fish each year, along with some big ones. Being close to town with easy access, Sabattus fills up quickly with shacks and anglers. The pond is relatively shallow so it freez-

congratulations to him on his deer!

Everett Parker — To the Editor: Just read Joe’s article in the January copy of The Maine Sportsman. I agree with him completely.

I too have hunted Iowa, and took a real nice buck with my bow this fall. I also have hunted Ohio and several other states. Even northwestern Ontario seems to do a better job with their deer herd than Maine.

I have lived in Maine all my life and am 65 years old. I own and operate Camel Brook Camps LLC. We at one time had some of the best deer hunting in the country. Now I pretty much shut down during November.

I hope Maine Fish & Wildlife reads his article. We need to do something different.

Jean Leblanc Camel Brook Camps LLC Fort Kent, Maine — To the Editor: As always, I enjoyed Joe’s article in The Maine Sportsman about what he’d do if he ran IF&W for a day.

Southern Maine is certainly holding its own with regards to deer populations.

My old stomping grounds in Dixmont showed great promise – perhaps because I moved away! An area resident suspected of taking deer out of season moved away, and as John Ford of Brooks noted, “I hope the wardens in Texas know what’s coming!”

I bow hunted three evenings only but saw 11 different does. Unfortunately I didn’t get back there at all the rest of the season but as I said earlier, I spent a week up north. My brother tagged out, but the area continues to deteriorate. I noted only one buck tagged in 2015 in T14 R8 ... the one I shot! Sad story for sure.

es early, too.

Many anglers set traps, then jig to stay busy, doing quite well on the pond. The water body also provides a good white perch fishery in the pond, so chowder-makers often target these fish with smaller bait.

Anglers can access Sabattus Pond easily from the launch on Lake Street.

No matter where you choose to target big fish, this region has plenty to keep you busy. Always assess the ice condition before venturing out, especially on rivers.

Good luck and many flags!

¶

Joe’s ideas are indeed radical, but lots of hunters up north have been saying for years that killing the big boys during the rut has contributed to the decline. I hate to not have a chance at another big boy, but I sure would like to at least see a deer up there!

As a bow hunter since 1983 and black powder hunter for many years more opportunities in those seasons are most welcome.

I want to read his article again...Bet he already has some feedback. And congrats to Joe on a great Iowa deer Ben Brown West Ossipee, NH — To the Editor: I like Joe’s article suggesting new hunting laws for Maine. I hunted Pennsylvania over 10 years and see how well their threepoint law made a difference. They have their seasons about like you suggested. I think it’s a great idea, but like he said, it would be hard to get everyone on board.

Darren Dunnells Winterville, The County — To the Editor: I believe Joe is on the right track with his deer season proposals.

A few years ago, Bucky Owen tried to do the same thing with fishing in the state. For the most part, I think his idea is working.

I’m sure a lot of people will be upset or disagree with Joe’s proposals – part of the “Not in my backyard” syndrome. And it would be painful for a few years.

I also think the Legislature should not be able to regulate the hunting and fishing seasons. That should be up to the game biologists.

Fred Ponko Scarborough

¶

www.MaineSportsman.com

50 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

A Hunter’s Ethical Responsibility to Track Down Wounded Game Part 1 of 2 How far would you follow a wounded buck?

“The real work begins after you pull the trigger.”

Many of us have heard this before, but how true is it?

Many of us now “hunt” in areas where we can back the truck right up to the deer—where there is little to no dragging involved. And if not the truck, then at least a four-wheeler.

After the game is successfully in the truck, though, there is still plenty of work…for me, anyway. The deer has to get hung up to cool, then skun out, then quartered up, then cut up and ground up, then packed up, then frozen and distributed, then the remains have to be taken somewhere and discarded (or watched for coyotes), then (if it’s a big one) the cape has to be tanned, the manikin has to be ordered, and it has to be mounted. Not to mention all of the cleanup that has to take place after all of this.

But many of us don’t do this work ourselves.

We bring the animal straight to the butcher.

The next time we see it, it is neatly wrapped in a hundred blocks of white freezer paper in easy-tocarry cardboard boxes or coolers. And the rack and cape are wrapped up in garbage bags for easy transportation to the taxidermist, who will do all the messy work. Then the next time you see it, it will be ready to hang on the wall.

But you can’t do any of this if the animal isn’t recovered. www.MaineSportsman.com

Real Life Not Like a TV Show Hunting shows on TV do a great job of avoiding the reality of what happens after you pull the trigger. We rarely see any of the aforementioned work, and only get a few glimpses of blood-trailing. Having heard stories from people I know, I worry about how much serious effort goes into following up on game after a shot.

The horror story that unfortunately happens at times—especially with young, inexperienced hunters—is that if the deer doesn’t fall within sight, then: Darn, I must have missed! These are just a small few, though (I hope). There is a fairly significant population of hunters who will follow a good blood trail, but as soon as the terrain gets tough, and the blood sparse, they conclude: It’s probably not a fatal hit; I’ll just try to shoot another one, I guess. Or, It wasn’t a big one anyway.

These attitudes disgust me. We, as hunters, are under constant attack and scrutiny of our “barbaric” actions—we can’t fuel the flames by allowing potentially fatally wounded game to go unharvested and to waste.

That’s just blood sport.

Admittedly, there are times (and they have happened to me, too) when you’ve done about all that you can do and you just are not able to recover the animal. These are sad times full of regret, guilt, and insomnia. There are many more times,

though, where a little determination and hard work—along with a deep ethical devotion—pay off big time.

This season, guys out of our deer camp shot four 200-pounders, plus several other smaller bucks, including my own. One of these deer stands out, not just for its size, but for the story of its recovery.

How far would you follow a wounded buck?

Ed’s Story Begins On Wednesday afternoon, Ed had still-hunted his way up his favorite ridge to a place where he could overlook a large bowl that the deer historically pass through. He had already seen several sets of monstrous buck tracks, where a deer had passed through multiple times cruising for does. Ed decided to take a stand and overlook the bowl for a bit on the chance the buck might be back through.

Several minutes later, he looked over his shoulder to see a rack cresting the sidehill. Ed pivoted to use the tree next to him as a rest, and got the crosshairs on the deer.

Just as the deer was about to clear himself of the obstacles between himself and the muzzle of Ed’s .25-06, the deer perked to full-alert. Ed, “knowing what the buck was about to do [i.e., bolt], and just how fast the deer could do it,” instantly pulled the trigger.

The buck disappeared.

Tracking the Wounded Buck Ed quickly made his

On the same morning that Ed Samson fired at his buck, starting a tracking session that lasted into a second day, his buddies from the same camp were achieving success in their own hunts. Here, John Wright admires a 205lb., 8-point buck that the author’s dad, Brian Emerson, helped him track. Brian Emerson photo

way to the edge of the slope, fully expecting to see the deer either lying there dead or stumbling down through the steep, open hardwoods. He saw neither.

He took up the trail, which wasn’t hard to follow, as the deer was running on three legs and continuously plowing the earth with his chest, not to mention the amount of blood littering the white snow.

In the course of about a mile, he came across several beds completely saturated with blood.

The best he could figure is that given the face-on/ slightly quartering-to angle of the shot, he must have broken one of the shoulders and possibly done other damage as well.

After some grueling debate, he decided that since it was already late in the afternoon and the deer had gotten up out of

bed each time, but was obviously hurting, he should leave the deer be for now. There wasn’t any new snow scheduled for the night, and he would easily be able to resume the track in the morning.

The deer would likely bed down again, he reasoned, and perhaps, with no-one to bump him out, he would stay bedded and would either stiffen up to the point where he would be unable to get back up, or would succumb to its wounds overnight.

“Short story, long,” as Ed says, at 5:30 the next morning, he and my dad resumed where Ed had left off.

Fully expecting to have the ordeal over with within a couple hours, they had no idea what they were in for.

Look for the conclusion of this true story in the March, 2017 issue of The Maine Sportsman.

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52 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Feral Cats and Wildlife Felis silvestris catus is the scientific name for the domestic (or house) cat, whose closest relative is the species felis silvestris lybica, the African Wild Cat. Cats were first domesticated in Egypt about 4,000 years ago. Today’s common house cat is athletic and can reach running speeds of up to thirty miles per hour for short distances. A cat can vertically jump from a stationary position high enough to clear a seven foot fence.

Those not residing with humans are known as feral cats.

The official State of Maine definition of a Feral Cat is “a cat without owner identification of any kind that consistently exhibits extreme fear in the presence of people.” The dictionary defines feral as “relating to or suggestive of a wild beast, not domesticated or cultivated, or having escaped from domestication and become wild.” A proposed definition of a feral cat for the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery is “a cat that is unapproachable in its free-roaming environment and is capable of surviving with or without direct human intervention, and which may additionally show fearful or defensive behavior on human contact.”

Connection to Trapping One may wonder what this has to do with trapping. In years past, here in Maine and elsewhere, house cats over a certain distance from a building were considered feral and could be legally www.MaineSportsman.com

Feral cats can rightfully be considered an invasive species that does great damage to populations of native birds and small mammals.

dispatched. The Maine Hunting & Trapping Law booklet years ago listed that such action could and should be legally taken. In addition, their fur had value and could be legally sold along with other wild furbearers.

The fur was used in coats, gloves, hats, shoes, blan-

some parts of Asia to eat cat meat, and it is estimated that approximately 4 million are consumed annually.

Bird Killers In today’s world, feral cats do extensive damage in the wild. We all love our house cats, and many of us keep them indoors

prey, such as rodents and birds. In a recent review published by Nature Communications, the group quantitatively estimated that in the forty-eight contiguous United States, free-ranging cats kill one to four billion birds, and six to twenty two billion mam-

In the past, feral cats could be legally trapped, and their fur was used in coats, gloves, hats, shoes, blankets and stuffed toys. kets and stuffed toys.

The utilization of their fur is no longer allowed in several countries including the United States, Australia and most of the European Union.

In the United States, their meat had never been of any economic value, but in other countries they have been and still are eaten. As recently as 2014, signatures were gathered to outlaw the consumption of cat meat in Switzerland. It has long been common in

and do not allow them outside of the home. We can thank “kitty litter” for that. This allows us to keep our cats in the home safely and without odor.

Vehicles and wild predators take a toll on domestic cats when they are allowed out of doors.

Our wild fisher are well known cat-killers, as are fox and coyotes.

Today the feral cat is a common sight afield in many states. It has long been known that they kill huge numbers of small

mals, each year. They are likely the single greatest source of anthropogenic mortality for U.S. birds and mammals.

The study also notes that free-ranging domestic cats have been introduced globally and have contributed to “multiple wildlife extinctions” in isolated areas such as on islands.

Cats – Hunters of the Northeast While hunting, fishing and trapping here in Maine and in other states

I have frequently seen feral cats stalking prey while far removed from dwellings of any type.

Over the years, I have seen feral cats catch various birds and small mammals.

One year while I was hunting deer from a stand in Connecticut, I watched seven different cats hunting along the same stone wall in the middle of Pachaug State Forest. When I was squirrel hunting in the same area I watched one catch a snake.

As a youngster trapping muskrats in Cumberland Center, I watched as a cat caught and killed a cottontail rabbit along the railroad tracks near Tuttle Road. Back then, there were many cottontail rabbits in southern Maine. Today they are a species of real concern because of there are only a few hundred left in York and Cumberland Counties. The feral house cat can only hurt the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s efforts to restore populations of New England Cottontail rabbits.

I once watched a cat try to take a long tailed weasel, which the cat finally decided was not a wise move and broke off that engagement. While fishing in South Carolina years ago I watched a cat kill two young nutria (river rats) before the mother appeared on the scene.

Most feral cats in Maine are found along the coast and in the southern parts of the state. Further inland, most cats in the wild are taken by other land predators and (Continued on next page)

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��������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 53 (Continued from page 52)

raptors.

I know of one feral cat that showed up at a camp in Carrying Place Town TWP. It was wild, and despite being fed daily, it would not get near people for several months. It finally entered the camp thorough an open door to eat, and much later started interacting with people. Clearly it was a pet that had been dumped out “up in the woods” by someone, and it was lucky enough to survive for a long time before being re-domesticated.

Smilin’

Outdoor Pets Also Damaging It’s not just feral cats that are at issue – outdoor pet cats also kill their share of birds and small mammals. How many people have had their outdoor house cats bring home trophy birds and small mammals? I have even heard people brag about what wonderful hunters their cats are.

A 2007 report found that there are about 37 million U.S. household-owned cats. While many are kept indoors, many are also allowed to

Sportsman

As a youngster trapping muskrats in Cumberland Center, I watched as a cat caught and killed a cottontail rabbit along the railroad tracks near Tuttle Road. go out of doors.

Current Maine law sets forth procedures for the disposition of cats caught by animal control officers or those brought in by individuals, as well as the acceptance and disposition of those cats by animal shelters.

In addition, certain organizations try to deal with the issue of feral cats. These organizations “Trap, Neuter and

Return” (TNR) them to the wild. These groups in Maine are primarily located in the southern part of the state, where feral cats are most common. The organizations claim that it has been proven the most humane and effective method for controlling free-roaming, stray and feral cat populations.

While this is likely true, it does not reduce the

damage to wildlife caused when those cats are returned outside. However this issue is looked at, the toll on our birds and small mammals by feral cats (which can rightfully be considered an invasive species) is unacceptable, and needs to be publicly addressed.

¶

Send your best hunting & fishing stories, and your favorite jokes, to the editor at will@mainesportsman.com

The vain fellow walked into the Greenville dentist’s office. After a preliminary exam, the doctor announced: “You need a crown.”

“Finally,” replied the patient, “someone who understands me!”

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• A guy went into the Greenville barber shop for a shave. The barber placed a wooden ball in the customer’s mouth, to stretch his cheeks for a closer shave.

“But whaf iff I ’wallow iff by mistake?” the fellow asked.

“No problem,” replied the barber. “Just bring it back tomorrow, like everyone else does.”

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• A New York financial manager was riding his snowmobile along ITS 85 near Greenville, when he veered off the trail to avoid a moose and his sled hit a tree.

Another rider close behind witnessed the accident, and used his cellphone to call for medical care. Then he helped the injured man lie down on the snow, put a rolled-up jacket under his head and covered him with a wool blanket.

“Are you comfortable?” asked the worried bystander.

The injured New Yorker shrugged and said, “I make a living.”

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• The Aroostook County judge was presiding over a contentious boundary dispute.

“Before we start this trial,” he said, “I want to resolve a preliminary matter. Yesterday, the plaintiff gave me $10,000 to rule in his favor.

Today, the defendant gave me $12,000 to rule in his favor.”

“So make things fair,” the judge concluded, “I am returning $2,000 to the defendant.”

www.MaineSportsman.com

54 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

WMMC Hunters Put the Chase on Coyotes I made a rookie mistake – I was fiddling with the GPS, and while my attention was diverted, the coyote went running by.

Bill Houghton, owner of several excellent coyote hounds, instructed me to position myself on a snowmobile trail about a mile from where the dogs first started chasing the coyote. I hopped on my sled and raced to the spot he mentioned, climbing up the snowbank to an elevated position overlooking the edge of a swampy mix of hardwoods and evergreens.

As I stood at my designated location and listened, the hound’s excited barking came closer. I tightened my grip on the Benelli M-4, 12-gauge shotgun. I have the handy, light shotgun outfitted with a tactical sling from Viking Tactical (VikingTactics.com) that keeps it at the ready.

I made a rookie mistake…while fiddling with my GPS unit, I failed to spot the running coyote, and it passed by me before I could get a good shot in. I did try and hit it with a “last ditch” effort, but knew that I missed the bolting coyote the minute I touched the trigger.

This wasn’t the first time I have missed a shot at a running coyote, and I’m sure it won’t be the last – but it still really ticked me off. I should have been paying attention to the woods rather than my electronic equipment.

I had to laugh it off and chalk it up to another lesson learned. I love hunting coyotes, and even the days with mistakes like this still keep me coming back to the woods. www.MaineSportsman.com

Deer Connection The Houghton family, and others we hunt coyotes with, all hunt deer in this same region. In my opinion, taking coyotes out from the woods around here has improved the deer hunting, upping our odds of bagging a whitetail during the deer season.

Just this past season one of our coyote hunters, Troy Houghton, took another big buck from some of the same woods where we chase coyotes. Then, in the same area, Troy’s dad, Bill, and fellow hunter Brandon Elliot each took another fine buck. I believe that is what you call a “direct correlation” between controlling the coyote numbers and increasing the whitetail population.

I’ve also noticed that snowshoe hare and grouse populations never suffer too much in this region. Our dedicated group of coyote hunters (see our Facebook page under Western Maine Coyote Control) takes about 30 or more coyotes each winter, and this doesn’t leave many coyotes left to ravage game animal populations in this area.

Western Maine Coyote Control (WMCC), started by Carthage hounds man Bill Houghton, operates on money out of our own pockets, donations from kind individuals, and plenty of volunteer work by members and friends. Most of these folks understand the important work involved in managing coyote numbers to help a declining deer herd.

This group of dedicated coyote hunters really appreciates the donations and volunteer work. They know it all helps to take the burden off individual members.

But even if these coyote hunters didn’t have support from outside, they would still chase coyotes with hounds through the mountains of Western Maine. That’s because they love the sport and also want to help the deer herd.

Coyotes Hunting WMCC doesn’t charge a membership fee to join, and encourages hunters to come up to this area and help us hunt coyotes.

Some folks have hunted with us once and then keep coming back, enjoying a chance to spend a day chasing coyotes with hounds when ever they can break away from their scheduled routines.

Over the years, I have noticed several other hunters who come up hunting once but then never show up again.

They visit our Facebook page and enjoy the comments and information offered there, but for some reason don’t get a chance to come up again to hunt again.

I believe some of this has to do with the failure on their part to fully understand what will be involved in hunting coyotes with hounds in the snow-filled mountains of Western Maine.

Be prepared to spend a full day hunting hard in rigorous winter conditions. Chasing coyotes with hounds, a mixture of hunting and what I

We believe reducing the number of coyotes in the Western Mountains has improved the whitetail hunting, and here’s proof -- Bill Houghton (left) and son Troy Houghton with Troy’s 10-point, 205-pound buck for 2016. Photo courtesy of Troy Houghton

call “violent snowmobiling,” is not a sport for the weak-hearted.

Some days, our group hunts hard and takes two or three coyotes. Other days we hunt from dawn until dusk without ever seeing a coyote. This is the nature of the beast, and real hunters understand that even though the ultimate goal is a dead coyote at the end of the day, in reality, we all just enjoy spending a day in the woods with the hounds and hanging out with our hunting buddies.

Coyote Equipment Requirements for hunting coyotes with WMCC, minimal but important, keep our group safe and legal. We strictly adhere to the laws and regulations set forth by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife – inattention to safe gun handling and ethical hunting are not tolerated.

The group also only allows the use of shotguns –preferably 12-gauge, with number four buckshot. After chasing a coyote all day long, we don’t want someone taking a pot-shot with a rifle at a moving target. A load

of number four buckshot works great on running coyotes, making sure the chase ends by definitely stopping the speedy coyote.

Snowmobiles are used to position hunters where coyotes cross trails, so wear the proper gear for trail riding in cold temperatures. The hunting goes from standing still for hours and watching a crossing, to jumping on the sled and repositioning in a hurry, to running with snowshoes through a maze of thick brush as quickly as possible.

Heavy trail snowmobiles will work on a hunt like this, but a better sled would be a lighter machine that can easily handle deep powdery snow.

One slip off the trail with a big, heavy sled will bury it – and nobody wants to stop a hunt and spend the time it takes to dig out a huge snowmobile.

Long story short – get a good snowmobile and learn how to ride it, get a fast-handling shotgun, and come up to chase coyotes with our fine group of coyote hunters in the snowy mountains of the Western Maine Mountain Region.

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56 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Coyotes, Hare, and Awesome Snowmobiling Keep Folks Coming Back Once again this year, I’ll be hunting coyotes around trails leading to deer yards in the Oquossoc/Rangeley Region. I normally hunt over bait, but this year I have been calling to see if I can cover more areas.

What a pleasure it has been traveling this region’s scenic back roads and picturesque snowmobile trails. I can hardly pass the huge evergreens and hardwoods, covered in layers of sparkly snow, without gasping in amazement at the visual feast provided by the natural world.

While sneaking around the trails in search of deer-killing coyotes, I often run into other animals that reinforce

the wonderful notion that the best days afield don’t have to come with a full game bag at the end of the day. Just “being out there” completely satisfies the primal urge that drives me to get outdoors as often as possible.

During my jaunts in and around the Rangeley and Oquossoc Region, I have noticed an increased abundance of whitetailed deer this year, as well as plenty of sign of burgeoning coyote population that always follows the wintering herds.

One day, while driving along a snow-covered logging road, I thought I saw a snowshoe hare hopping down the road ahead of me, but it turned out to be two bobcats that

stopped and stared at me sitting in my truck. Another time, a huge bull also stood and stared at me in my truck from only fifteen yards. I also got to watch a speedy ermine dart across the trail I was walking on, completely white except for the pitch black band at the tip of its tail.

Coyote Numbers I don’t think anyone has ever tried to count the numbers of coyote in this region. One thing remains a solid fact though – hunters can shoot as many coyotes as they like, helping the deer while at the same time not permanently hurting the overall coyote population.

To effectively protect wintering deer, hunters must take as many coyotes from the deer yards as possible. Predators stick with a good thing, and a pocket of woods full of starving and weak white-tailed deer means an easy meal ticket for coyotes during the cold winter months.

Set up downwind of any deer yard in this region, use the proper call at the right time, and wait. Female coyotes come in heat sometime during February, so calls that mimic vocalization

Although they’re hard to see, three deer are in this photo. They bolted soon after I spotted them. Clunie photo

during this event bring the best results in the second month of the year.

Major deer yarding occurs throughout the town of Oquossoc (DeLorme Atlas, Map 28, E-3) and Rangeley (Map 28, E-5). Hunters respect residential home and business owners, and only hunt in the big woods surrounding the yarding areas within the towns.

Hunting too close to residential and commercial areas is both illegal and unethical.

Another big yarding area in the Wilson’s Mills (Map 27, E-5) area pulls wintering whitetails from the big woods around Aziscohos Lake.

Once again, don’t set up too close to homes along Route 16. Get off the pavement and travel the gravel roads to the outlying areas surrounding

the actual deer yards.

Hare Habitat Snowshoe hare numbers remain fine in this region. Give a hare a frozen swamp for winter cover, and they’ll thrive even in the coldest conditions.

Finding a frozen, hare-filled swamp to hunt in the Rangeley Region won’t take long.

Check the DeLorme Atlas once again, and notice where Boy Scout Road (Map 28, E-3) takes off from Route16, north of Oquossoc. This gravel road gets used as Interconnected Trail System (ITS) 84 during the winter months.

Follow this snowmobile trail north and west from Oquossoc to the Maine and New Hampshire border, and check (Continued on next page)

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—

———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 57

Moose Mincemeat: A Family Tradition Mincemeat recipes have been around for a long time. This recipe is based on one from the 1909 White House (President William Taft in office) cookbook, as well as my mom’s, Nana’s, Aunt Lisa and Great Aunt Mae’s Moose River recipe box.

If you have never tried mincemeat before, make half a recipe with your favorite sweetness – Allspice for sweeter or cardamom for not as sweet. I also like to use Northern Spy apples – their tartness is perfect balance-for me. We had a Northern Spy tree when we

lived up on MDI, along with 7 other varieties – so lucky!

This recipe is very rich. It’s delicious when engulfed in a pie-crust, spread on toast. When it’s paired with a good beer or wine, that’s all the better!

• 8 cups moose, venison, bear or beef, chopped and cooked in game stock • 8 cups Maine Northern Spy Apples, chopped small • ¼ pound suet • 1 stick butter • 3 cups brown sugar • 4 cups raisins • 2 cups molasses • 3 cups fresh apple cider (from Sarah Coleman in Moose River, ME)

Combine cooked moose with all other ingredients in large stockpot and simmer on very low heat for 4-5 hours. Can in jars or refrigerate for up to 2 weeks (if it doesn’t all get eaten before that).

• 1 cup game stock (or beef) • 1 tablespoon cardamom (most use Allspice, which is sweeter)

• • • • •

1 tablespoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon nutmeg 1 tablespoon salt ½ cup apple cider vinegar ½ cup Port or Brandy

Notes: Northern Spy apples originated in New York around 1800, and are of unknown parentage. These apples are tart and great fresh or for pies. They ripen in late October.

(I like Vanilla Brandy-Cuantra Y Tres – It’s readily available)

Rangeley Region (Continued from page 56)

out the miles of swampland along the way.

Not too many folks hunt hare from this trail – they just speed by on their sleds. When a hunter does find frozen lowland filled with bunny tracks, pull well off the trail and park the sled out of the way of the speedy trail riders.

If a hunter works it just right, they can hunt their way along ITS 84 in the morning, take a lunch break in the woods, and make their way back to Oquossoc for an evening meal at one of the many fine dining facilities there. What an awesome way to spend a winter day.

Many of the best swamps to hunt won’t be located right off the ITS trail. Look for the numerous tote trails that intersect the main snowmobile trail. Folks don’t ride their sleds on the tote trails, but that shouldn’t

stop a determined hunter from snowshoeing in and hunting from these remote logging paths.

Sled Trails The Rangeley Region boasts 150 miles of meticulously-groomed snowmobile trails, with two major Interconnected Trail System (ITS) routes meeting at the east end of town (ITS 84 and ITS 89).

Most of the businesses in Rangeley and Oquossoc can be easily accessed from the ITS trails or smaller connecting trails that lead into the towns. Running a sled from lakeside lodging to restaurants and shops in this town is the norm; casual winter dress often involves some kind of snowmobiling garb.

Many snowmobiling travelers trailer their sleds up to Rangeley or Oquossoc and use the area as a base for trail riding into the northern reaches of Maine’s western mountains, or across the border into Can-

ada. Some riders don’t go any farther than the fine system of local trails that surround Rangeley Lake itself, and the connecting trails right in town.

Bald Mountain Camps (BaldMountainCamps.com), one of the many camps in this region that offers trail-weary sledders comfortable, high-quality dining, also includes lodging in the rustic charm of a late-nineteenth century sporting camp. The excellent food replaces calories lost to cold-weather trail riding, and riders who lodge at the historic set of camps get the added nostalgia of rooming at an establishment with a wonderfully-storied past.

The trails at Bald Mountain Camps connect with ITS 84, and provide easy access to the whole region via snowmobile. This, as well as several other outstanding lodges in the region, keeps outdoors enthusiasts coming back year after year, from one season to the next.

¶

www.MaineSportsman.com

58 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ���������������������������������������������������

Doubling Down on Hares and Coyotes “Coyotes live their whole lives hungry … and die hungry,” goes an often-quoted eulogy for Jackman Region coyotes.

And for the most part, it’s hard to find anyone willing to dispute that simple statement.

These four-legged

predators spend most of their time trying to silence the sound of an empty stomach. In fact, most coyote calls appeal to their constant need to find their next meal.

Interest in coyote hunting has skyrocketed in recent years, resulting

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in an avalanche of opinions and tactics from an army of “yote” hunters.

It only stands to reason that all this “research” would give rise to an assortment of strategies designed to outsmart this cagey predator.

The fact that standard deer hunting gear crosses over flawlessly into the world of wild dog hunting makes it relatively inexpensive for whitetail hunters to jump into the sport. And, with the deer season already in the books, why not venture out for some fastpaced coyote hunting?

During daylight hours, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) estab-

lishes no closed season on coyotes. They do designate a season for night hunting of coyotes that runs from December 16th through August 1st. A small additional fee secures the night hunting license.

The majority of coyote hunters use a combination of bait and calling to lure the four-pawed one into harvestable range. A growing group of huntsmen have trained domestic dogs to chase down their wild cousins with an eye on connecting with a coyote on the move.

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cerning when, what and how to get the attention of these woods-smart canines.

The reason many take to the field this month in particular has to do with love. Yes, towards the middle of February coyotes seeking a mate start to “pair” up with each other.

This gives Jackman Region coyote hunters a slight edge, as romantically distracted coyotes get nudged off their game enough to take that one extra fatal step. It’s often a game of inches won or lost by the tightest of margins.

As an added bonus, a mistake by one coyote of-

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ten translates into a mistake by two coyotes. The opportunity to double-up on a coyote hunt requires quick thinking and fast, accurate shooting. It’s unlikely the second coyote hangs around long after the first projectile roars towards the primary target.

It makes sense for hunters to “pair” up in order to benefit from this very real possibility. With two shooters executing a safely-crafted plan, the chances of a “double” go up dramatically.

Double Bunnies Hare hunters also take advantage of snowshoe hares “pairing-up” towards the end of this month. Yes, Lepus americanus, colloquially known as the snowshoe hare, also obeys that inner urge to pair up with a mate.

Hare hunters in the know take full advantage of a season that opens October 1st and runs all the way to March 31st.

They also know that two rabbits in the pot feed

more people than a lone hare served as the main course.

I’ve had the most success hunting these long-footed speedsters by hiring a guide who specializes in rabbit hunting with hounds. Even with the hounds, getting a hare securely in my game pouch has proved challenging.

Rabbit hounds do a wonderful job of locating hares and getting them up and running. Why not have two hares on the move and hopefully headed my way? February rates as a great month to try “doubling-up” on bunnies.

Snowshoes Anyone?

All this talk of “pairs”

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reminds me of one important piece of gear both coyote and hare hunters must have when venturing into the Jackman Region forests this month – a pair of snowshoes.

Toward the end of February, the snow starts to settle a bit, but venturing off-trail still requires a pair of snowshoes. A set of hiking poles really helps too. The only downside of using poles that I see is the need to carry my firearm by means of a sling instead of at-theready.

After arriving at my targeted spot, I simply un-sling my gun, hunker down and listen for the dogs. For deep snow, using the poles far out-

Coyotes pair-up this month, giving Jackman Region “yote” hunters a better chance to double-down while hunting these cagey critters. Photo Josef Pittner

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(Continued on page 61)

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60 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Long-Awaited Salmon Season Begins on Moosehead Lake February 15 marks the beginning of ice fishing for salmon on Moosehead Lake. Because of this late start for salmon, many anglers put off fishing Moosehead at all until the 15th.

Many hope that eventually the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) will schedule a more lenient season and allow anglers to keep salmon beginning January1. But for now, February 15 remains the season opener on salmon.

Last year’s ice fishing was fraught with complications caused by poor ice conditions resulting from the unusually mild winter. In contrast, indications at press time point to this season being an “old-fashioned” winter, a/k/a a normal winter in Maine. Ice formed early in December and got progressively thicker

into January, so pending an unforeseen change we will enjoy plenty of solid ice this season.

With that heartening prognosis, hardwater anglers can plan on finding solid footing and lots of salmon. A fall fishing trip out of Rockwood showed salmon quite evenly spread out – we did not fine one particular spot that was measurably better than others. If that holds true in February, it means that people can hope for success on most deepwater sections of the lake.

Planning Checklist People in central and southern Maine can usually get through the winter with a standard-length ice auger. But that often isn’t enough when fishing Moosehead in midwinter.

For that reason, it pays to bring an extension bit.

This allows the auger to

tap into water well before the motor bottoms out on the ice.

And for proper tackle, spools on ice-fishing traps should be filled to the maximum with good, sound line. The chances of taking a lunker salmon, togue or brook trout are good on Moosehead in winter, and the last thing anyone needs is to lose a trophy because of a compromised line. So check those lines and also check traps for soundness. It will pay off in dividends when you’re out fishing.

Live smelt, as most hardwater anglers already know, make the best bait of all. And for those who don’t wish to transport a bucket full of smelt all the way to Moosehead, don’t worry, because local shops around the lake offer smelt for sale. In fact, selling smelt for bait serves as a regular source

The author’s suggested tackle and gear assortment for salmon fishing on Moosehead Lake. Seymour photo

of seasonal income for many folks around the lake.

But sitting and waiting for a flag to fly can become a bit monotonous when fish aren’t feeding.

So to add excitement, I suggest bringing a jigging rod and some ice-fishing lures. That old reliable ice jig, Swedish Pimple, takes fish in winter. But pimples aren’t the only tool in the ice-fisher’s box.

Flutter Fishing While Swedish Pim-

ples and similar jigs have considerable heft, other well-documented fish-catching lures rely upon their light weight in order to attract salmonids and other game fish.

Mooselook Wobblers, for instance, are light and offer little resistance when trolled. But when cast, as in open-water fishing, or jigged while ice fishing, wobbling spoons flutter as they sink down in the water column.

(Continued on next page)

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��������������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 61 (Continued from page 60)

And it is at that time, while slowly fluttering down, that such lures offer the most visual appeal to nearby fish. This is best done with no added weight, since even a single split shot can alter a spoon’s flutter-ability.

So if salmon fishing, as we may presume most people will have on their minds starting on February 15, try setting out smelt-baited traps, but reserve one line for jigging. Also bear in mind that salmon, especially in winter, don’t necessarily hang in deep water. Instead, they often cruise just beneath the ice, searching for the errant smelt. Knowing this, adjust your jigging methods accordingly.

Try letting out no more than three or four feet of line (but don’t forget to also add whatever line is needed to compensate for the depth of the ice hole) and closing the bail on your reel. Then jig by quickly raising the rod so the lure comes almost to the bottom of the ice hole, and then letting the lure gently settle, fluttering as it goes. Be particularly attentive in watching the line as the lure settles, because it is at this time that a strike will likely come.

When it comes to color patterns, several years ago Mooselook Wobblers in the Wonder Bread pattern were top dog among favorite Moosehead Lake salmonid killers. Then Mooselook came out with a spotted spoon with flu-

Jackman

(Continued from page 59)

Another “Tool” When innovators like Johnson, Bombardier, White and Eliason started experimenting with putting internal combustion engines on various toboggans and sleds, they started an industry that today’s modern outdoorsmen take full advantage of.

Those early snowmobiles, without the benefit of Maine’s iconic Interstate Trail System (ITS), originally appealed to hunters and fishermen looking to access prime hunting and fishing during the long winter

orescent polka dots, and these were extremely effective. But now Mooselook has a new kid on the block. These are Mooselook Wobblers #53, and they are salmon killers.

Number 53 has an orange/yellow top and a silver back. But that’s not all. The yellow and orange are marked “UV,” meaning that they practically glow in the dark.

And while it’s not entirely dark beneath the ice cover, it’s dark enough to energize the UV property of these remarkable lures.

These new Mooselook patterns should already have hit dealer’s shelves by the time this issue of The Sportsman is on newsstands. I’d recommend buying several, since the first wave may

well get scooped up in their entirety within a short time.

Deer News While most people’s thoughts center upon ice fishing right now, it’s always uplifting to hear some good news regarding the region’s deer herd. Jamie Brown of Indian Hill Trading Post in Greenville recently sent me their deer-tagging records for the 2016 season.

Now let’s review the outstanding results.

Indian Hill tagged a total of 126 deer, three of which were does and 20 were bucks over the 200-pound mark.

The largest buck was a 263-pound, 12-point monster.

Jamie says this is the first time since a string of consecutive bad winters

months.

While the ITS provides thousands of miles of recreational riding throughout Maine, a select group of hardy individuals still view snow machines as the best way to selectively penetrate deep into the forest where coyotes and hares roam.

Snowmobiles have come a long way since their early beginnings, and so has the ITS. After riding a newer machine this past winter I suddenly realized how hard it was to keep my 1971 Jay-Hawk from tipping over. In fact, it spurred me to upgrade to something 30 years newer.

The ITS serves coyote and hare hunters

took their toll on the deer herd, that the tagging station registered over 100 deer.

For many years, the Moosehead Region was famed for its big bucks.

Hunters came from all over the country to try for these big-antlered deer.

And while this present winter has all the earmarks of a normal winter, it isn’t supposed to be severe. So here’s hoping the Moosehead region in on the path to slowly but surely regain its longheld reputation for growing trophy deer with trophy racks. That’s a good thing to ponder while standing on the ice, jigging for salmon and watching for flags to fly.

¶

well. Because both of these species move extensively at night, it makes sense to log some early morning miles looking for tracks crossing the winter highway. When scouring for tracks, fresh snow makes for a bigtime advantage.

This motorized help gives hunters the best of both worlds – quick access to prime hare or coyote country along with the ability to park the sled off-trail and continue the adventure with a pair of snowshoes snuggly strapped to a pair of L.L.Bean boots.

It seems like things run in “pairs” during the month of February.

¶

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62 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Katahdin’s Cross Country Ski Trails Tempting Bill “Here, see if anybody wants this pair of cross-country skis,” said my good friend Bernie Derjue.

“They’re old, but in good shape,” he continued.

“Okay, I’ll ask around,” I replied, knowing that at 86 years old, Derjue probably wasn’t planning too many more winter forays.

I once had tried down-hill skiing 40 years ago. After renting skis and receiving some quick lessons, I headed down the mountain. Perhaps it wasn’t the best of condi-

My first and only ski adventure 40 years ago ended in embarrassing disaster, as I slid down the hill on my back, tangled in skis that wouldn’t release. tions, as the man-made snow looked like a sheet of ice to me.

During the lesson portion of the event, our instructor deftly demonstrated how to ski across the mountain, execute a turn and ski back to the other side. He explained this zig-zag pattern would get us safely to the bottom without building up too much speed.

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Disaster My first turn ended in disaster. I found myself balled up in a knot with bindings that refused to release, sliding down the mountain looking skyward. When I reached the bottom of the hill, a kind gentleman came over and freed my boots from those tangled-up skis.

Highly embarrassed, I returned the rental gear and declared that I would never strap on another set of skis. Over the last 40 years I’ve kept that

promise, instead opting for the slower but safer-feeling snowshoes.

I know downhill skiing and cross-country skiing rate as two completely different animals, but the bad experience kept me off any type of long blades attached to my feet.

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playground. It’s a graceful sport that when executed in pristine country lets the world simply slide by.

Last year while snowmobiling, I stopped to watch a middle-aged gentleman gliding along the edge of a field. With a small backpack snuggled to his back, he seemed to move effortlessly. It made a favorable impression on me, but the declaration made 40 years earlier quickly surfaced.

NEOC Trails The folks at the New England Outdoor Center (NEOC) have tapped into the popularity of cross-country skiing by building and grooming what it refers to as “world class Nordic ski trails.”

From their lodge, patrons can access these first-class trails. Because they do a great job catering to this group, I wondered if a beginner might fit in. Fortunately, after viewing their trail map online (www.neoc.com), it became apparent they have miles of trails labeled “Beginner.”

The trails themselves, designed by Olympian John Morton, feature a healthy mix of changing elevations engineered in the shadow of Black Cat Mountain. Along with the beginner trails, NEOC also includes a healthy dose of intermediate and expert courses for those looking for a more serious challenge.

Northern Timber Cruisers The Northern Timber Cruisers Snowmobile and (Continued on next page)

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———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 63 (Continued from page 62)

Cross Country Ski Club (www.NorthernTimberCruisers.com) also maintains trails specifically dedicated to travel by skis. While the club does not charge a fee, they do accept donations to help offset maintenance costs.

The very popular “Bait Hole Trail” has a parking area on Route 11 just three miles south of Millinocket. It’s well worth the time to go online and review the map detailing this very flexible trail system.

Because the Bait Hole Cross Country Ski Trails consists of a series of interconnected loops, snow wanderers can easily plan an itinerary that matches their skill-set and available time. The map does a good job of labeling the mileage for each section of the trail.

This winter sport requires a certain amount of physical effort. Folks looking to dive into cross country skiing need to make sure of their physical conditioning. Expect to reawaken some muscles, especially in the legs, if those limbs haven’t seen rigorous action in a while.

Size Nine Those skis Derjue dropped off sat idle in the corner for a few months.

We offered them to a lot of different folks but had no takers. They came with a nice set of skiing poles and all but had no shoes.

One day I asked Derjue if he had the matching cross country skiing shoes. A few days later, a set of size nine shoes in perfect shape appeared on my door sill.

“Gee, I take a size nine,” I thought.

Separating Skis from Snowmobiles Winter wanderers can also park at the Northern Timber Cruisers Clubhouse located north west of the town of Millinocket on the Baxter State Park Road and access another set of trails specifically dedicated to cross-country skiing.

The club makes the extra effort to keep these trails separate from the snowmobile trails, so skiers can enjoy the area without the complications of the internal combustion engine. The club expends a lot of time, energy and resources catering to the cross-country skiing crowd.

The clubs website documents the characteristics of each section

of the various trails. Visitors would do well to review this information before shoving off.

East Branch SnoRovers Club The East Branch SnoRovers Club (www.

EastBranchSnorovers. com) also maintains a solid 10-mile run of trails that start at the SnoRovers clubhouse on Hathaway Farm Road in Medway.

Access points to this trail system include the previously mentioned clubhouse, and the Schenck High School in East Millinocket.

Baxter State Park For day skiers, Baxter State Park (BSP) allows cross country skiing in parts of the park. The BSP website has a map of the Baxter ski trails. This area serves as a more backcountry experience, due to the lack of grooming.

The park has a set of winter rules and recommendations that should be followed. Any winter

John Fox of Ellsworth and granddaughter 7 year-old Maeve Philpot with 8-point, 175-pound buck on opening day.

The Katahdin Region caters to cross country skiers, featuring miles of trails dedicated to the self-propelled sport.

expedition carries extra risk, and cross country skiers need to take extra precautions.

Many of the trail runners I have observed have at least a small backpack cinched tight to their back. It makes good sense to carry some basic winter survival gear, along with some nourishment.

Also, it’s very important to stay hydrated, which means bringing along some liquids.

The management at BSP discourages solo expeditions, recognizing the age-old logic of safety

2. Red squirrels usually produce one litter per year, but in some years reproduction is skipped, while in other years females may breed twice.

¶

Glenn Daigle of Madawaska shot this northern Maine buck November 5, 2016. The 10-pointer weighed 237.8 pounds.

MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ ANSWERS 1. The native range of the red squirrel stretches across the conifer forests of most of Canada, the southern Alaska, coastal British Colombia, and a wide majority of the United States from the Rocky Mountains east to the Atlantic coast.

in numbers. A call to the park headquarters (207723-5140) can help clarify any questions left unanswered by the website (www.baxterstateparkauthority.com).

When I slid down that icy mountain some 40 years ago, I was young and foolish. Somewhere along the line I turned old and stupid. I’m going to strap those size nine shoes on, clip into those skis and give the “Bait Hole” trail a go.

Wish me luck.

From Page 32

4. Only about 22% of red squirrels survive to one year of age.

5. Red squirrels eat tree buds, berries, seeds, acorns and even some types of mushrooms.

6. The piles of seed cones consumed by red squirrels are called middens.

7. In captivity, red squirrels have been known to live to eight years old.

3. Red squirrel litters range in size from 1 to 5 young. www.MaineSportsman.com

64 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Florida Saltwater Fishing vs. Maine Ice Fishing The thermometer hovered at an agreeable 72 degrees. It was just the type of February weather when most Florida anglers want to go salt-water fishing. Fortunately, my wife, Donna and I had spent a few weeks each year for the past decade on the Gulf Coast in Dunedin, Florida. Much of our time there had been spent visiting the typical “snow bird” attractions.

However, last year I happened to meet a retired teacher, Earl Elkowitz, from Michigan, who also shared my passion for fishing. Even though I had purchased a one week salt-water license a few years ago, I had only caught a few spotted seatrout (cynoscion nebulasus) from the dock of the condo we had rented.

Earl had been vacationing in Dunedin and had fished for spotted seatrout, a/k/a “gator” trout for the past four decades. After realizing that we both couldn’t wait to go fishing, we decided to gather up our fishing equipment, purchase shrimp for bait and drive over to the Dunedin Causeway.

From our first cast to our last cast three hours later, we experienced non-stop fishing. Earl, I have to say, out-fished me. We ended up catch-

Florida and its “gator trout” are fine for a brief February vacation, but I wanted to get back for ice fishing in Hancock County. ing dozens of pinfish and several 10- to 12-inch gator trout each. Hopefully, I’ll do better than Earl this February.

The Sunshine State is fine for a February vacation. However, I wouldn’t want to miss ice-fishing on any one of a dozen or more game-fish water in Hancock County, even in sub-zero weather.

One memory that warms my heart even on the coldest of winter days took place a couple of years ago on Toddy Pond.

Ice anglers pinpoint the location of this pond by referring to Delorme’s Atlas, Map 23.

A Cold Toddy A frigid, windless Sunday a couple years ago found me trudging along the snow-covered ice on Toddy Pond. Setting up tip-ups was difficult because the holes ice fishers had drilled on Saturday had frozen solid.

The emerging sun broke over the icy horizon on Second Toddy Pond. I had finished setting my five Heritage ice traps and retreated to the evergreen-shielded warmth of the shoreline.

This lake trout is typical of those caught through the ice in many Hancock County lakes and ponds. Lemieux photo www.MaineSportsman.com

I set up my temporary camp, started a small fire for heat, and waited for a fish to inhale my bait.

The flag closest to me popped up. After seeing an olive-brown flash race by the ice hole several times, I started the 15-inch brown trout’s head up through the hole. I carefully clipped the 6-pound test Arctic Ice Line, releasing the brownie back into the pond.

My flag-flying excitement continued throughout the morning. I caught and released two more 12- to 14- inch brown trout and jigged a 16-inch splake by using a 1/6 oz., silver-orange, Do-Jigger with a piece of shiner attached to the hooks.

According to Jimmy Conary of East Orland, most of the fish caught run about 12 inches long; however, a few older-class splake in the 16- to 18-inch range are caught each winter. This pond also harbors 8- to 12-inch white perch, and good-sized smallmouths.

Second and Third Toddy have traditionally been known as a warm-water fishery; how-

My friend Earl Elkowitz, holding a Florida spotted trout.

ever, Region C fisheries personnel stocked 1,000 12-inch brown trout again last fall. And those stockings will continue into the future – according to Region C Fisheries biologist, Greg Burr, “At Toddy Pond we are stocking 450 salmon, 1,000 brown trout and 1,000 splake.

These stockings together with wild togue are making for some good diverse fishing opportunities.”

Second and Third Toddy are each about two miles long. Several locations on the east shoreline provide good habitat for splake and brown trout.

More Game-Fish Possibilities Jacob Buck Pond, a 190-acre water in Bucksport (Map 23, D-20) also offers quality ice fishing each February. According to avid Jacob Buck Pond fisherman Nick Osborne of Bucksport, splake and brook trout are the preferred species; however, anglers also catch salmon and pickerel.

One hundred 14inch brook trout were stocked in this water in 2016. Consequently, folks should experience some exciting winter angling.

Additionally, folks might catch some of the older class splake brook trout or salmon.

Biologist Burr reported: “At Jacob Buck Pond we continue to stock splake and brook trout annually and salmon once every four years.”

Special regulations on Jacob Buck include a onefish limit on trout, with a minimum length of 14 inches. There is no size

or bag limit on pickerel or bass.

Winter fishers can gain access to Jacob Buck Pond by driving out the Jacob Buck Pond road to Barbour drive. Parking is available at the public boat launch area.

Green Lake Green Lake, another outstanding salmonoid water, attracts quite a few anglers this month (Map 23, C-5). Folks often have good luck fishing for salmon off Jellison Brook.

Fishing around the nearby islands or close to the shoreline can also provide fast action.

Biologist Gregg Burr reports: “At Green Lake we continue to stock salmon every year and togue every other year.

This program produces good salmon fishing and opportunities for large togue.”

Trophy lake trout are often caught in the eastern part of this lake.

Hard-water anglers fish for togue in water depths of 45 to 50 feet. Lakers in the 4- to 8- pound range are often part of a day’s catch.

Northeast of this area lies “The Narrows,” where the majority of game-fish anglers drill ice holes. This region also harbors a well-established population of bass, white perch and pickerel.

According to avid Green Lake angler Kevin Faucher of Brewer, togue were very responsive last winter. Kevin mentioned that he had his best luck icing hefty togue and silver-sided salmon in February. Access to Green Lake can be gained by following Route 1A east from Ellsworth.

¶

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———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 65

A Case for Poor Man’s Downriggers or Sinker Droppers Winter gives fans of open-water trout fishing plenty of time to assess tackle condition and consider future strategies.

For me, one of those strategies involves using a contraption sent me by John Burgess of Northport, a big fan of trolling for trout.

This device takes the place of a downrigger.

Well, in fact it is a downrigger, but not the type that comes to mind when thinking of downriggers.

This one attaches to the line rather than having the line attach to it. Does that sound crazy? Well, it’s crazy like a fox, in that anyone with a workbench and a wire-bending jig can make one of these in a few minutes. And according to John, it works well.

John says the device hails from the San Francisco Bay area where people fish for salmon near the Golden Gate Bridge.

The device, variously called “sinker dropper” and “poor man’s downrigger,” uses a weight that slips off when a fish strikes. Let me explain exactly how it works.

Weight Quest Before reading the following, it will help to study the accompanying photo carefully. The “U”shaped section faces up in order to slip some kind of weight over it. The top swivel attaches to the line coming from the rod, and a leader attaches to the bottom swivel. When a fish strikes, the device tilts, thus dropping the weight from the “U”shaped piece.

So here’s the problem and the challenge – these devices were originally designed to use (and therefore drop to the bottom) lead weights.

However, I would never suggest that Maine anglers use lead. First off, we don’t want lead cluttering the bottom of our lakes and ponds. We have already taken action in this state to prohibit the use of even small pieces of lead in sinkers. And from a more prosaic viewpoint, the cost of lead would greatly outweigh any benefit accrued from using that metal as a weight in a poor man’s downrigger.

And that, according to John Burgess, poses the one big problem associated with this clever device – almost everything anyone can think of to use as a weight would constitute some kind of littering.

So what can we use that would not be a detriment to our waters?

John said he is counting on me for an answer.

Well, I’ll give my thoughts but also, I’ll count on readers to devise the ultimate solution and then get back to me on it.

One thought I had involves using a small stone from the shoreline, and fastening it to the device using natural-fiber.

So what’s the best way to tie up a rock? Anyone who has ever lost an anchor and was forced to devise an ersatz anchor from a stone will remember how difficult it is to tie a rope to a stone so that it doesn’t slip when dropped overboard.

The best approach I’ve found is to approach the task as if you were tying ribbon around a gift package. First lay out a length of manila twine and place the stone on top of it, approximately in the middle. Then bring the twine up and around and then, holding both ends of twine, criss-cross

them on top. Then flip the stone over and tie off the twine ends, leave enough on one end to form a loop.

This loop would then hook to the U-part of the downrigger.

Manila, and other natural fibers, will eventually decompose underwater, thus addressing any environmental concerns. And another fistsized stone here and there on the bottom shouldn’t bother anything, either.

The Test As anyone might imagine, I can’t wait to test out my poor man’s downrigger. But one thing that comes to mind before setting out on the water is what rod to use?

A too-light rod won’t have sufficient strength to hold the weighted sinker dropper. And a heavy, too-stout rod defeats the purpose of downrigger fishing.

After all, when a fish hits and the sinker drops, a medium-weight rod will suffice, since the weight is gone and the weight of the sinker dropper is negligible. So this means that future users of this device should go through their rod collections and try rods that seem to best suit this single purpose.

And if all rods fall short of the goal, then it’s time to head to the dealer and shop for the perfect rod for sinker-dropper fishing. Besides that, if I am any judge of horseflesh, no angler in Maine will ever feel put out over needing to buy a new rod.

In fact for most of us, any excuse at all suffices to send us to sporting goods stores in search of new rods, reels, lines and lures.

So there we have it, the lowdown on poor man’s downriggers, or

“Poor Man’s Downrigger” -- can you help Tom figure out an effective, all-natural weight system?

sinker droppers, whichever you choose to call them. Here is one final note. John Burgess says that if the rig hits bottom, the sinker might drop off, so it pays to keep an eagle eye peeled to a fish locator screen while fishing, and noting depths as you go.

John uses his sinker dropper while trolling, and he also has good luck drifting. I wish everyone well who decides to try this inexpensive and (almost) foolproof device.

Big Ones The big ones come out in February – big togue, that is. The truth of the matter is that anywhere in Maine we go togue fishing, February probably affords us the best opportunity to land a whopper specimen.

But for those accustomed to holding a rod and reel in hand rather than watching ice traps for flags to fly, the modern-day jigging rods give us the perfect solution.

My rod, which is labeled “medium,” has enough bend to allow even smaller fish to give a good account of themselves. And the graphite composite nature of the blank has the strength required to make it through a battle with a truly large fish.

My method of jigging requires first, drilling as

many holes as possible, in various depths. In my case that’s not as many holes as I’d like, because I use a hand-cranked ice auger. Gas-powered units are heavy to carry, and it hurts my arthritic back to lug them.

But no matter, just drill as many holes as possible, the purpose being to allow the angler to go from one hole to the other. Oftentimes, a single hole will give up the most bites. But even that farthest-away hole, the one that hasn’t produced anything all day, may in the end yield a mighty togue.

For lures, the old airplane lures still work, but the trio of treble hooks hanging from them makes them dangerous to handle. One set of trebles, please, suits me fine.

The venerable Swedish Pimple also stands as a must-have togue-jigging lure. And next, I suggest trying a Li’l Jake lure. This serves as a togue killer during the open water season, and the manufacturer recommends it as an ice-jigging lure as well.

So good luck this season, and again – if you come up with a satisfactory sinker for the sinker dropper, please let me know.

¶

www.MaineSportsman.com

66 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Visit Urban-Edge Waterways for Quick Simple Ice-Fishing Trips Early season ice fishing opportunities have been almost non-existent the last couple of years throughout Aroostook County due to mild weather and extensive rain during December and even well into January.

This winter, however, frigid temps and early snow in late November had ardent anglers drilling ice on many smaller ponds and lakes by December 10th. Four to six inches of solid ice was the norm, with fishing conditions and ice thickness improving each chilly evening.

Thus far it’s been the small to moderate-sized waterways, particularly the urban-edge frozen gems, yielding the most consistent results while receiving only moderate attention. I see no reason for that to change drastically, so how about visiting a few close-to-home spots this month.

A Twofer Trip When safe depths of ice finally formed last winter, rain showers were more prevalent than snow storms, and many lake surfaces resembled

town skating rinks – bare and glare! I left home in Presque Isle using Route 1 to Robinson where I picked up longtime outdoor buddy, Tom Tardiff, and his gear, then on to Houlton where we swung onto I95 for a quick jaunt to Ludlow. At the exit, we looped onto Route 2 east for a short hop to Cochrane Lake. This petite pond lies right beside the highway offering easy access.

Snowmobiles aren’t really necessary to explore Cochrane, as good fishing can be enjoyed just out from shore all around the lake. Tom and I were pleased at the bare surface, and what snow remained did not exceed knee-depth – so there was certainly no need for snowshoes.

The exuberance was short lived. I grabbed the heavy metal ice spud and began shuffling a twostep waltz about 20 feet from shore to ascertain ice thickness. Suddenly my two-step became a Fred Astaire tap dance (if he had used a sharp metal chisel as a cane), and just as quickly I was crawling on hands and

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knees back to shore after parting company with the ice spud at some point.

Finally gaining my feet on solid ground I noted Tom bent over, back to me, his entire body shaking. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a coughing fit, but at least he kept a straight face when he turned and inquired if I was hurt.

“Only my feelings and well-padded south end,” I growled, rummaging through my pack basket for ice cleats. Lucky I hadn’t donned my backpack of tip-ups and gear, grabbed the bucket of live bait or auger and headed out! After that morning, the ice creepers go on first thing if there’s any ice showing. You CAN teach and old dog new tricks (other than tap dancing) – so learn from my mistakes.

Small minnows, especially golden shiners 2 to 3 inches long, are very attractive to the wide variety of fish finning about.

There are pickerel, perch, and some good-sized brookies, and – albeit rare – a few brown trout have survived, some exceeding the five-pound mark.

An abundant number of splake are stocked each year, and some have grown to 20-plus inches, providing great action on a handline. Besides setting tip-ups out, I always use Swedish pimples and small jigs to keep interactive, and I highly recommend newbies try this as well. While the inlet and outlet yield regular action, I like the shallow 4- to 8-foot depths of the southern cove and fish in 8-12 foot depth in the wide cove above the western inlet. With a maximum depth of only 33 feet, fish can be locat-

Small urban edge lakes and ponds are abundant throughout Aroostook, offering easy-to-reach sites for short outings. Here, Caleb Ward, Matt Brown, Amos Ward and Isaac Ward enjoy a family-and-friends trout bonanza on a favorite spot less than 30 minutes from home.

ed and caught just about anywhere on Cochrane.

Cross the Road When planning a full day of fishing, I visit Cochrane, due to the two-for-one option of just walking across the road for a change of venue.

Bradbury Lake is only half the size of its next door neighbor, and offers splake as well as brook trout. So if fishing becomes slow at Cochrane or you simply desire a change of scenery, it’s just a short snowmobile ride or a bit longer on foot or snowshoes.

With a maximum depth of 45 feet, much of the waterway and better fishing spots are 6 to 15 feet deep. A total of four brooks enter or leave Bradbury Lake, and fish tend to congregate near these creek mouths.

Worms have proven to be the best bait at these 3- to 6-foot shallow locations.

For deeper water, small shiners work fine, and I have also hooked the occasional fish hand jigging lures that flutter, such as a D.B. Smelt.

There are actually at least eight small- to medium-sized lakes in the A-1 grid of Map 53 in De-

lorme’s Atlas, all within a 15 minute drive of each other. Despite being in a triangle with Oakfield, Ludlow and New Limerick at the points, the petite ponds are often passed over in favor of more prosperous lakes such as nearby Drew’s and Spaulding. Being able to visit dual locations easily in one day makes for a more interesting outing, greater fish variety and increased chances of success. Try a twofer day on these rural frozen gems – easy to reach and simple to fish, they won’t disappoint.

Trout Near Town For central Aroostook ice drillers, especially those in Presque Isle and several nearby villages, Arnold Brook Lake continues to offer action and close availability. If you only have a half day or a few hours before work, this is the most convenient spot you can imagine. I’ve even seen guys drive out on the lunch hour, punch in a couple of holes, set out tip-ups and munch on a sandwich while tending traps from the warmth of their truck.

(Continued on next page)

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k y d , d u r , s h e s s r

(Continued from page 66)

Generously stocked with brook trout each fall, most 14-inch size, but a bunch of 17- to 18inch beauties as well, any flag might signal a 20inch speckled-side brute over two pounds. Use Chapman Road off Main Street, then onto Niles Road until you spot the sign for this great manmade lake. A well plowed road and large parking area are maintained all winter, and local sportsmen even plow paths

onto the lake surface for convenience. Check DeLormeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Atlas, Map 65, section E-1 for an overview.

Busy but seldom overcrowded, Arnold Brook remains a wonderful urban edge waterway where you can introduce youngsters and novice anglers to the sport of ice fishing. Outings can be tailored short enough not to be boring and frigid, but long enough to enjoy a few flags, fun, friends and even a shore lunch

with hot chocolate. Early season tends to be faster fishing, but visitors thin as the winter progresses.

Madawaska Lake My compilation of easy-to-reach, simple-tofish winter waterways wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be complete without my northern favorite, Madawaska Lake.

Local fisheries biologists set out several years ago to create a better cold weather destination out of what was formerly a rather mundane summer

fishery, and boy has it been a success. Opening late, February 15th, for a shortened season and fall stocked with nearly 2,000 trout in the 14- to 17-inch range, this lake is well worth a visit.

Anglers can drive right to the shoreline â&#x20AC;&#x201C; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s less than 100 yards from Route 161 (peruse DeLormeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Atlas, Map 68, E-4), and shoreline-hugging roads are kept well plowed. This is another case of just wading or snowshoeing, depending

on current snow depth, 50 to 100 yards onto the lake to set out tip-ups. The brookies are everywhere, and Madawaska Lake is another great destination for new or novice winter fishermen. A snowmobile will allow exploration of the entire lake but is not a necessity.

Good fresh bait, family and friends, and a bit of patience will combine to produce a memorable outing.

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68 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Snowmobile Adventures On and Off the Trails When it comes to mid-winter fun, a great many Mainers are on skis. Those skis could be going a leisurely 5 miles an hour on a cross country track, or closer to 40 miles per hour down an alpine slope. The fastest skis, though, are those located a few inches away from a speeding band of hard rubber, nestled underneath a modern snowmobile.

With 14,000 miles of trails, the state offers a wide variety of snowmobiling options. From restaurantand motel-hopping to deep woods

adventures, the Maine woods delivers. And with an early start to the season, enthusiastic riders and local club volunteers are eager to make up for last season’s atrocious conditions.

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There is no snowmobiling allowed on NMW plowed roads. Riders must also be cautions around active logging operations and popular

winter recreation spots, like lodges and crowded ice fishing locations.

The freedom that offtrail offers, though, is worth the effort. More and more visitors are requesting off-trail packages from Maine Guides and sporting camps. Perhaps the sometimes-crowded ITS trails (and, frankly, unsafe speeds found on some of those trails) are pushing some riders to look at the slower pace of exploring the unbroken snow.

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when they are enveloped in a cloak of silent white.

Sometimes they seem smaller to me, and at other times much larger than in summer. The rhythmic lapping of waves is replaced with the crunch of snow under foot. The murky depths beneath the keel are hidden from view.

During one trip on sled, out to the Deboullie Pond area (DeLorme Atlas Map 63, A-1), I was struck by how much more the ponds stood out in the landscape in winter. My friend and I had traveled out along the north shore of Togue Pond and then snowshoed to the top of one of the hills separating it from the other ponds in the area. The view north revealed massive wide open and white patches among a sea of a different kind of white. Winter scenery is reason itself, to get out and off the trails, even if it’s just for a short day-hike.

Angling For Some Winter Fun For winter fishing enthusiasts, the big woods has lots to offer, even if trips to the best places may be a bit tricky or take a while. Togue, salmon and whitefish are all popular targets on the bigger lakes. Trout, while often feast or famine through ice, can be pursued on small lakes and shallower waters.

But, the biggest fish you can pull through ice are muskie. Only found in the upper St. John River watershed, these invaders have established themselves in the food chain and in the hearts of fisherman in search of landing big fish. The last two state record musky were caught in open water up north.

A 48-inch, 33-pound musky landed on the St. (Continued on next page)

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———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 69

Ski Width Determines Practical Use in Maine’s Winter Woods Were cross-country skis under your Christmas tree this year? Are they still sitting unused in the barn or garage?

Then you have come to the right place!

Cross-country, or Nordic, ski packages make fantastic gifts. Any item that contributes to getting us outside and active during the long winter months is appreciated by the recipient. But while skinny-skis appear to be a much simpler and less-expensive purchase than that of their downhill cousins, they do need to be matched to the skier, conditions and terrain.

How Skinny is Skinny?

Despite the nickname “cross-country” – and despite the advertising images of folks skiing effortlessly out their back door – most modern Nordic skis are specifically designed for a machine-groomed surface.

Machine groomers typically create two different kinds of Nordic trail surfaces – one on top of the other.

The first is a hardpacked powder base about eight feet wide. Ideally, it will be just soft enough to offer some traction and

just hard enough to avoid sinking in. Then, inside this groomed strip will be two continuous, parallel ski tracks set a couple of inches down into the hard-packed snow. These tracks are close together and exactly parallel to each other.

If you own, or recently purchased, skis less than 2 inches wide, your new boards were intended to be used exclusively on this type of groomed surface. Trying to use them elsewhere is likely to be an exercise in frustration.

In the so-called “classic” style of Nordic competition, your skis will remain primarily inside the parallel tracks as you pole, kick and glide around the groomed course. If you own “skate” or “freestyle” skis, propulsion is created by pushing off the side of the ski like a skater and then gliding forward on the packeddown surface.

For this type of Nordic skiing, competitive racing hugely influences the equipment and techniques. My teenage daughter and son spend endless hours every week training and racing on groomed surfaces for their high school Nordic team. I sometimes think

The Allagash (Continued from page 68)

John River in 2010 is current record holder.

That fish pushed a 48-inch, 31-pound fish from the top spot. That fish was caught in September, 2009 on Glazier Lake.

Big fish can be landed through the ice too. The trick, though, is to find safe water to do it from. As muskie are more of a river fish, not all of their habitat is safe to travel on, with river ice always a dangerous proposition, and some of it even closed to ice fishing. Up north, though, parts of the St. Francis River, which separates Maine from New Brunswick and Quebec, Canada, includes lakes that provide safe passage and fishing opportunities.

that the type of skiing that they do is so different from mine, it seems like a completely different sport.

Back-Country Skiing is Completely Different If your new skis are closer to three inches wide, you have the equipment for travel that doesn’t require trail groomers and set tracks.

These skis not only provide more flotation on fresh snow – they also often have partial metal edges that allow more control on irregular surfaces. These backcountry models will also more likely be paired with higher and better-insulated ski boots.

With this equipment, multi-day trips on ungroomed backcountry terrain are possible. Baxter State Park, the Maine Huts & Trails system, and the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Maine Wilderness Lodges all become possibilities.

In Baxter, no grooming whatsoever is done by park officials. The occasional snowmobile passing on the perimeter road is the only motorized track that skiers will encounter. The AMC and Maine Huts have both

groomed and un-groomed trails – but the frequency and quality of the grooming are less precise than your local ski area. Often the trail is “broken out” with a snowmobile, and the only regular maintenance is the travel by earlier skiers.

Locomotion Instead of Recreation Long before it was a recreational sport in Maine, skiing was a means of locomotion. The Finnish and Swedish immigrants who brought their skiing heritage to the state in the late nineteenth century were practical folks. They had been skiing for generations, and groomed trails were unknown to them. Their boards were wide, heavy and made of wood rather than space-age polymers.

Those early Scandinavian settlers sometimes used a single pole – something like a canoe pole – to push themselves along. Most backcountry skiers today use the traditional two-pole system with large baskets for poling through soft snow.

I’ve learned that adjustable-length trekking poles are the best option for remote ski trips. At full extension, the poles

Beau Lake and Glazier Lake (DeLorme’s Map 66) are really clefts in the landscape that the St. Francis River happens to pass through, rather than true lakes. But, they are big and deep, which means large portions of them offer safe travel by foot and snowmobile in the winter months.

Togue, Cusk (Burbot) and Whitefish Glazier is accessible via ITS 92. There are no limits on muskie, but you can only keep two togue through the ice on Glazier.

Some especially active spots are the mouth of the Red River, on the western shore, and where Goss Brook comes in on the east side. Local experts say that whitefish can be particularly plentiful at Goss outlet.

Cusk, also known as burbot, are another winter target for angers. These bottom feed-

are long enough for deep, un-packed snow travel.

They can be shortened for skiing on groomed or partially-groomed trails.

Far End of the Spectrum At the far end of the spectrum of backcountry skiing is off-trail bushwhacking through completely unbroken snow.

In semi-open wooded areas with an adequate snow base, this can be quicker than snowshoes.

Downhill diagonal glides across steep slopes are much quicker than plodding along on snowshoes.

And uphill climbs are not much worse in deep powder on skis as opposed to webs. It’s the closest thing we can experience to actual “cross country” skiing.

L.L. Bean and a few other retailers now carry stubby, five-inch-wide skis for this niche market. The ski bindings attach directly to ordinary winter boots just as snowshoes do. Indeed, the skis are marketed as a compromise between snowshoes and traditional Nordic skis. My Finnish ancestors would be proud.

¶

ers taste more like ocean fish, but make for good eating. St. Froid Lake, south of Eagle Lake, has been known to offer up some sizable cusk.

Using pin smelt or small shiners is a common method of ensuring some strikes from trout and salmon under the ice. A jig head, such as a Swedish pimple, on the bottom, with bait hooks above that, has long been a favorite among ice anglers.

When it comes to February in Maine, some people may hunker down, cozy under down comforters or wool blankets. For those of us who enjoy the outdoors and don’t mind cold weather, getting out and about makes winter not only bearable, but extends our opportunities to enjoy all the woods has to offer.

¶

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70 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Things I’ve Learned in 45 Years of Saltwater Guiding Most kids would rather watch a squid in the live well than try to catch a fish.

I’m on the email list of a daily fishing news service called “The Fishing Wire.” A while back, it contained an interesting article written by Capt.

Charlie Phillips of the Florida Guides Association.

Capt. Phillips listed some of the things he’s learned as a guide over the years, and it got me to thinking about some of the things I’ve learned as a guide here in Maine.

So, with a tip of the hat to Charlie, I’m going to build on a few items of his that we actually share, and add a bunch of my own. Here they are, in no particular order: The Clients • A complete novice to fishing will normally outfish the more experienced

anglers on any trip.

• Women and kids generally pay far more attention to the fishing technique instruction from the skipper or mate than men will, with the result that they routinely outfish the adult males.

• The more experience your angler claims he has in saltwater fishing, the more frequently he’ll hang up on the bottom.

• The loudest and most obnoxious guy in the group will generally get seasick and throw up.

The scrawny little fellow he relentlessly picked on all morning (usually nicknamed “Weasel” or “Teeny” or something like that) will normally catch the largest fish and have the most enjoyable time.

• The jovial guy who steps aboard in the morn-

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ing and announces “We don’t care if we catch anything or not, we just want to have a nice day on the water!” actually wants to load up the fish box.

Your Boat and Crew • Your outboard motor will only act up the day before you have an important charter. Or on a Saturday afternoon.

• Your live-well pump will always die at the beginning of a trip, never towards the end.

• A competent, personable, and gregarious crewman – especially one with a good sense of humor – is without exception a captain’s most valuable asset.

• Although they won’t ask, all women really want to know when they first step aboard is if you have a private “head.”

Bathrooms matter.

• Why marine gas at the dock costs 50 cents a gallon more than the same brand of gas at the station down the street is one of the unsolved mysteries of all time.

• Don’t approach the dock any faster than you want to hit it.

The Fish • When you finally think you’ve figured out the tide-to-tide pattern of striped bass in a particular area, the fish will do something completely different.

• When you know exactly where the stripers will be for tomorrow’s charter, there will be another boat there first thing in the morning.

• The minutes never race by so fast as when you can’t catch any mackerel for bait, and you shortly have to hit a

Women routinely out-fish men aboard charter boats, according to the author, because they are better at listening to advice offered by the guide.

specific spot a half-hour away where the tide will be right to catch a striper.

• Kids are way more interested in the bait swimming around in the live well (especially if there’s a squid in there) than they are in catching fish.

Back to the Clients • Known as the “Kennebec Rule of Thumb,” the more expensive your client’s fly rod and reel outfit is, the less competent he is at casting.

• The more a new customer insists that those in his group are “experienced” or “avid” fishermen, the more likely they’ll turn out to be dubs.

• When your charter group toasts each other with beers or shots as you leave the dock at 6:30 am, there is a 68% chance that there will be some sort of unpleasant incident before the trip is over.

• A father who claims that his five-year-old will be “just fine” on the boat all day is either delusional or lying to you.

• If a charter customer tries to switch a spinning reel’s handle from the left side to the right himself, there is a 16% chance the

handle will get dropped overboard.

Weather • If you call your charter party the night before and suggest they postpone the trip due to a weather forecast of high winds and rain, the next morning will turn out to be warm, flat, and sunny.

• Lightning in the distance causes the bravest of skippers to want to cut the trip short and head back to the dock.

The Job • People don’t think you actually “work.” After all, you simply go fishing – what’s so difficult about that? And what’s with these $300 charter fees, anyway? You’re just out having fun on the water!

• Even on your worst day on the water, you’re still the dream of some guy at a desk in an office cubicle in a city somewhere.

• Some of your regular charter customers will end up as lifelong friends.

• Every bite, every hookup, every fish, is earned. Nothing is given away.

¶

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———————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Maine Sportsman • February 2017 • 71

Cougar Sightings Continue in Southern Maine When you look into a cougar’s eyes, it’s a sight you won’t soon forget.

Such was the case with Doris and me on the Gile Road in Alfred on October 11, 2016. It was dusk.

There was just enough daylight to see the road well, but we had already turned on our car’s headlights.

The cougar was standing in the road looking at us. As I slowed the car down, the cat walked into a nearby driveway and stood there glaring back at us – its eyes showing emerald-green in the headlights, unlike any other animal’s eyes I’ve ever seen.

I estimate it weighed around 90 pounds. Overall, the cat’s hide appeared darker then the tawny-colored cougar I’ve seen at Gray Animal Park in the past, or in photos or on television.

The cougar’s back and its hind end were brown; the rest of its body was lighter, although my vehicle’s headlights may have altered the colors slightly. Its tail swept down to the ground and then slightly up at the tip. The animal’s head was quite square, with typical cat ears.

Not My First Sighting I experienced another cougar encounter ten years ago while bowhunting deer on a mountain behind my home in Shapleigh. This sighting was not as clear-cut as the above, but for sure, it was a cougar. I was still-hunting. At mid-day I meandered downhill and settled on a log for a snack.

With bow with arrow resting along side, I devoured a sandwich and drank a bottle of water. I arose to resume hunting, took a couple of steps away from the log

and was startled to see two deer bolting across a sun-filtered clearing, with one leaping at least 6 feet.

But then I realized it was not me that had spooked the deer, because I saw another animal running after them.

It was about the same color as the deer, but I noticed right away it was not running like a deer.

I nocked an arrow but the deer were too far away for a shot.

A few minutes later the pursuing animal returned and stopped behind a tree, glaring at me before moving off along the ridge.

It was a cougar.

My head was spinning with excitement. It took several minutes for me to regain my composure and work out a plan to follow the two deer for a possible shot.

I then followed a faint wood road, not in the direction the cougar took, but in the direction the deer had taken. I circled around and peeked over a hill, and soon spotted the two panicky deer, standing and watching their back trails, much too far for a shot. In a few minutes both trotted nervously off.

Reports of local cougar sighting in southern Maine are becoming quite common. Scott Lindsay, Regional Biologist for DIF&W, gets 12 or more cougar sighting reports from Bethel to Kittery each year. He feels many more aren’t reported. For example, I never reported my two sightings.

Forensic Evidence Two confirmed cases that offer proof cougars are in – or have been in – Maine. The first was about 80 years ago, in 1938, when a cougar was

killed along the Maine/ Quebec border.

A far more recent sighting occurred in 1995, having been reported

by Rosemary Townsend while she was walking on Ram Island Farm in Cape Elizabeth. Hair samples taken from barb wire was analyzed and found to be consistent with that of a cougar.

In June 2011, a cougar was hit and killed by a car on a road in Milford Connecticut. Using DNA studies from scat samples taken in South Dakota, Michigan and Lake George N.Y., researchers determined the big cat had traveled 1,500 miles – all the way from South Dakota. This wild cougar had traveled east until it was struck by the automobile in Connecticut.

If the animal had turned east when it reached upstate New York, it could just as easily have reached Maine.

To avoid inbreeding, instinct drives both male and female cougars to disperse far away from their birth dens, searching out their own territories. Male cougars travel up to 100 miles, while females roam between 20 and 50 miles. Prior to the big cat that traveled from South Dakota to Connecticut, the previous documented record for travel was a male mountain lion found 640 miles from where it was born.

Recently, the US Fish and Wildlife Service issued a report declaring eastern cougars extinct.

I’m not sure of the difference between an eastern cougar and western cougar, but to me, a cougar is a cougar. Regardless of what the Feds say, here in southern Maine, cougars slink around homes hunting dogs and cats. I

Could this cougar be in Maine soon? It’s only 800 miles away, in Illinois, a much shorter trip than the 1,500 miles traveled by a mountain lion that walked from South Dakota to Connecticut in 1995. Photo by NaturesFan

have also seen a photo of a cougar eating dog food on a deck located in Kittery. To me this means that like coyotes, these “extinct” cougars are adapting to their environments.

Deer-Killing Machines According to Laura Prugh, Assistant Professor of Quantitive Wildlife Sciences at the University of Washington, a cougar is basically a 100-pound killing machine that has millions of years of evolutionary history as a specialized predator. Prof.

Prugh states that cougar are experts at preying on deer, but they will occasionally attack livestock and even people.

Prof. Prugh estimates if cougars establish territories in the northeast, then over a 30-year period cougars could reduce Eastern deer population densities by 22 percent.

According to studies, a single cougar can kill more than 40 deer a year.

In the past century, 21 people have been killed by cougars in the U.S. and Canada. In my opinion the situation is similar to problems posed by bears – when cougars prowl near homes, it be-

comes a safety issue. Animals deprived of natural food sources become hungry and disoriented, and therefore unpredictable – which can lead to an unhappy ending for mankind or its domestic beasts.

We know cougars are here in southern Maine, but are they residents or are they tourists? Can cougars breed and survive in the Pine Tree State? Is there a chance a female would make it all the way to Maine, and establish a territory here?

Have cougars migrated into southern section of Maine where there is abundant food sources, such as deer, pets and livestock? Is the presence of cougars a dark secret that officials would prefer to keep from people so not to cause concern?

I hope someone captures a wild cougar, then brings it up to Augusta to show the biologists at DIF&W, and then to display to the lawmakers in session at the State House. That, and only that, would put a definite end to the debate whether there are cougars in Maine.

¶

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72 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Ocean Acidification: Climate Change’s Evil Twin In the most recent Sporting Environment column, I discussed the many ways climate change is affecting our forests, wildlife and outdoor sporting experiences. Even with occasional deviations in short-term weather patterns (such as the sub-zero temperatures and snowfall Mainers experienced in mid-December this winter), we continue to see record monthly and seasonal average temperatures that are disrupting land-based and freshwater ecosystems.

This month’s focus is on changes in the coastal marine environment.

Warming temperatures and a separate but related problem – ocean acidification – are both having profound, negative impacts on coastal ecosystems and the many fish species that inhabit our coastal waters.

Both of these phenomena are caused by an increase in carbon dioxide in our atmosphere from the combustion of fossil fuels. Without immediate, aggressive reductions in CO2 emissions, we can expect to see major changes in our coastal resources, affecting our sporting opportunities and the livelihoods of Maine people who depend on the bounty of Gulf of Maine ecosystems.

Ocean Acidification Climate change, and the continued warming of the Gulf of Maine, receive a great deal of attention in the popular press. But ocean acidification, which is caused by excess carbon dioxide being absorbed into seawater, is causing equally worrisome, but less understood, impacts on marine life.

The concentration of CO2 in our earth’s atmowww.MaineSportsman.com

Already, Maine oyster hatcheries are required to treat seawater because it is too acidic for oyster larva. sphere has risen by 30% in the last 100 years, from around 295 parts per million in 1920 to 404 parts per million today. Even with this remarkable increase in atmospheric CO2, scientists have calculated that about a third to one-half of the total amount of CO2 that has been released from fossil fuel combustion and deforestation has been absorbed by the oceans.

Yes, that’s right. Only about half of the CO2 that humans release actually stays in the atmosphere, where, as we know, it acts like a blanket, trapping heat from the sun that would otherwise reflect back into space. About 22 million tons of CO2 gets absorbed every day in our oceans, which cover over 70% of the planet.

In the same way that oxygen gets dissolved in water for fish to breathe, CO2 is absorbed because of the “differential pressure” of CO2 in the air compared to seawater.

CO2 mixes from the surface into deeper layers from wind and currents, and when colder and more saline water sinks beneath warmer water.

This might sound like good news. Without the ocean functioning as a “sink” for absorbing and storing carbon dioxide, our climate would be warming even more quickly than it already is.

But here is the problem: when CO2 dissolves in water, the seawater becomes more acidic.

The CO2 in water turns to carbonic acid – thus lowering the pH of ocean water. (This is what happens when CO2 is added to water in the making of seltzer and other carbonated drinks.)

Effects on Shellfish Marine life has evolved over hundreds of millions of years in salt water that has been consistently “basic” over the millennia– with a pH above 7. (The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Below 7 is acidic; above 7 is basic.

Each digit in the pH scale represents a factor of 10, so a change of pH from 6 to 5 means 10 times more acidity.)

In the past 100 years, ocean water has dropped in pH from 8.2 to 8.1, which is actually a 25% increase in acidity.

Striped bass, which feed on lobster, crabs, zooplankton and other shellfish, will be affected by ocean acidification. Kevyn Fowler photo

The increasing acidity – caused by human activity – has been shown to inhibit the formation of shells in oysters, shrimp, lobsters, clams and many planktonic organisms.

The oyster industry in the Pacific Northwest has reported that acidic seawater is killing oysters during the larval stage during the critical period when young oysters are forming their first shell covering. Higher acidity in the seawater dissolves the carbonate in the new shell as fast as it can form.

Some oyster hatcheries reported almost 100% mortality when the pH from seawater reached a critical point. Here in Maine, oyster hatcheries have to treat seawater because it is too acidic for oyster larva, according to a 2015 report in the Portland Press Herald.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) found evidence that sea snail shells are dissolving from acidic seawater in the north Pacific.

Ocean acidity varies in different locations based on ocean tempera-

ture, upwelling and currents, so fortunately, so some areas are affected less than others. Still, ocean acidification is a serious concern, because shellfish are a critical link in the food chain as a primary food source for many finfish species, including striped bass, cod and haddock.

Less Is Known Locally According to the University of Maine and the Northeast Coastal Acidification Network (NECAN), little is known about the consequences of ocean acidification for marine fisheries in the Northwest Atlantic. A recent literature review found only 24 studies conducted on the effects of acidification on crustaceans in the Northwest Atlantic, with only two published on the American lobster.

Following a 2007 study of ocean chemistry along the New England coast, researchers at Woods Hole Laboratory noted that two main factors contribute to the Gulf of Maine’s vulnerability to acidification: cold, fresher water from the Labrador Current, and the high volume of fresh water from rivers and streams flowing into (Continued on page 74)

Scientists are just beginning to study the effects of ocean acidification on crustaceans, including Maine’s iconic lobster fishery. David Van Wie photo

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â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D;â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Maine Sportsman â&#x20AC;˘ February 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ 73

The Challenges of Fly-tying Into Our Golden Years As I age, fly tying gets more difficult â&#x20AC;&#x201C; manufacturers seem to be making the hook eyes smaller every year; and the lights around my vice get dimmer.

Serious fly tying begins for me in February, although I usually try to locate all my fly boxes sometime in the late fall so I can look through them and see where my fly patterns have been depleted.

After the fishing season ends, I find fly boxes of all shapes and sizes in pockets of various fishing shirts and pants, under the seats of my Rangeley boat, in cup holders and glove compartments of at least two fishing vehicles, and on random shelves and bureaus at camp.

Most of the time, they belong to me, but not always.

Getting Older I will hit my 60th birthday this year, and it occurs to me Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve have undertaken this annual ritual of organization and fly pattern replenishment for more years than seem possible.

Fly tying does seem more difficult now than it used to be. Manufacturers seem to be making the hook eyes smaller every year. I used to be able to thread a size-16 hook without any problem, but now I need glasses or even a magnifier. Also the lights around my fly-tying desk get dimmer every year. I am going to have to ask my wife if she is playing a joke on me by replacing the bulbs with lower wattage types.

There is no question that my fishing buddies are getting older and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to remember specific patterns like they used to. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to tie up a fly pattern that we discovered last year, but

a recent conversation went something like this: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hey Dave, what was the body material on that fly that we did so well with last June on that river?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;What trip was that?â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;You knowâ&#x20AC;Śthe river we fished with whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;shis-name. Remember we caught a bunch of trout in that pool that was either upstream or downstream from that bridge? I think it was during a hatch or maybe a rainstorm.â&#x20AC;?

Despite all of that information, my buddy, Dave, was no help at all. We did save the last remaining fly of the hot pattern that day to use as a sample, but I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remember where I put it for safekeeping.

Tying Desk This year, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even start organizing my tying desk until January.

Whatever your feelings about our new US President, he has been an endless source of news every day, and I have been distracted by watching and reading the latest events instead of sorting through my nymph hooks to see if I need to buy more.

When beginning my winter tying, I always start with streamers because they are the easiest patterns for me, given the hundreds Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve tied over the years. Then as I get back into a tying rhythm during the next few months, it is time to move on to more difficult patterns, until by late April, I am attempting size-18 Comparaduns.

Streamer patterns that imitate baby brook trout are always winners because all trout are cannibals and always looking to make a meal out of

Brook trout this size will readily eat smaller trout. Dick Spencer photo

their brethren. A brooktrout imitation makes a great searching pattern if you are not sure where the fish are or what they might be feeding on. You can cover a lot of water quickly by casting and retrieving a streamer

(Continued on next page)

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steadily, and usually trout will at least flash at the fly and give away their location.

New Patterns Here are a couple of useful baby brook trout patterns that may be new

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74 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Here are a couple of very effective BBT (baby brook trout) patterns that may be new to you.

Fly Fishing (Continued from page 73)

to you. Both have a Hornberg look to them. Tie up a few and give them a try next year.

The first is called the “88” and it’s a favorite of New Hampshire anglers, although I don’t see it used much by Mainers.

Because of its wire body and slim profile, it sinks to the bottom. The 88 might imitate a variety of aquatic foods, but because of its red and green body, I think it suggests a baby brook trout.

Here are brief tying instructions although you can go online to get more detailed descriptions.

• Hook: 6 XL Size 8 • Thread: 6/0 Uni-brown • Body: back 2/3 of hook shank - red microwire,

front 1/3 of hook shank - green microwire (26-30 awg). Coat with clear finish or cement.

• Wing: Lemon wood duck feather fibers (or the equivalent) • Collar: Grizzly hen soft hackle Another pattern comes to us from the vise of Charlie Shadan, owner of the Evening Sun Fly Shop in Massachusetts.

I call it Charlie’s BBT (baby brook trout) Hornberg. I have experimented with this fly extensively and it is deadly, even on water where the resident trout have seen a fly or two.

• Hook: Size 6-10 Orvis Muddler hook or similar streamer hook

Sporting Environment (Continued from page 72)

the Gulf. These factors increase the Gulf’s sensitivity to ocean acidification because cold, fresh water more readily absorbs carbon dioxide, leading to faster rates of acidification.

Fastest Warming on the Planet The Gulf of Maine is already warming faster than any place on earth, matched only by an area in the north Pacific near Japan. Surface water temperatures in the Gulf of Maine have risen at twice the rate of the global average. Warmer water temperatures are pushing the home range of many species northward, and changing migration patterns.

Marine organisms in the Gulf must adapt both to changes in sea chemistry/ acidity and to warming sea temperatures.

• Thread: 6/0 black Uni-thread • Tail: Red fibers • Body: Silver tinsel • Underwing: Dyed soft hackle tips - orange and yellow • Wing: Four natural mallard flank feathers • Collar: Grizzly hen soft hackle • Note: The mallard feathers are tied Hornberg style – two on each side of the hook – and not covering the underwing completely.

When you sit down at the vise this winter, experiment with these two patterns and test them next year.

Fly-fishing Shows Another great winter fly-fishing-related activity is attending fly-fishing shows and fly shop special events. Almost every major fishing retailer,

Top fly is Charlie’s BBT (Baby Brook Trout) Hornberg.

(Note: Collar can also be tied with grizzly hackle.) Bottom fly is the “88.” Lou Zambello photo

Trout Unlimited chapter, fly shop and fly-tying club sponsors some sort of event during the late winter, starting with the New England Fly Fishing Show in Marlborough, Massachusetts in late January. Attending these events and visiting with the exhibitors, fly tiers, authors, guides and gurus staves off spring fever for at least a day.

Last but not least, please take a moment

Unfortunately, no studies have yet assessed the combined impact of ocean warming and acidification in the Northwest Atlantic.

Gulf of Maine shrimp stocks, for example, have been hard-hit by warming ocean water, but we don’t know how much the shrimp are affected by acidification. The shrimp fishery remains closed, and other species that feed on shrimp are surely affected. Whether shrimp and other shellfish can adapt to these changes in their environment remains to be seen.

Longer Term Concerns Basic chemistry tells us that, as the ocean absorbs CO2, its ability to store additional CO2 will diminish. This means that, unless we can make drastic reductions in fossil fuel combustion and deforestation, global warming may accelerate as seawater absorbs less CO2, leaving more in the atmosphere.

THE DEADLINE FOR MARCH’S ISSUE IS FEBRUARY 1. ALL LINE CLASSIFIED ADS MUST BE PREPAID. www.MaineSportsman.com

¶

Immediate Action Needed In 2014, the Maine Legislature established the Commission to Study the Effects of Coastal and Ocean Acidification.

The Commission’s 2015 bipartisan report included unanimous recommendations to monitor and investigate the effects of ocean acidification on Maine’s commercially-important species, and to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

The 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, signed by over 190 countries, is a critical framework for global action to reduce CO2 emissions. It’s important for sportsmen and our political leaders to support this global agreement, and to work with industry to invest in carbon-free technologies. The health of the ocean’s resources requires immediate action by all nations, including the United States.

GUIDE SERVICES Subscribers may place one free 20-word classified ad per month, limited to three months. Items for sale must include a price. Real estate ads must include an address or location.

The regular rates are $15 for up to 20 words and 50¢ for each additional word. Include a black and white photo for an additional $10. Check, money order, MasterCard, VISA (Credit or Debit) and AMEX are accepted.

You may submit your ads by: • Phone: 207-357-2702 • E-mail: classifieds@mainesportsman.com • Mail: 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta ME 04330 • Website: www.mainesportsman.com

this winter and send me an email with some feedback regarding this column. We enjoy hearing from you – that’s why our email addresses are right there at the top of our columns. So, take a moment or two, and tell me what you like about this column, what you want improved, and what topics you believe should be covered.

TOP-WATER SMALLIES Remote waters, day trips and overnights. Shore lunches. Fly, Spin, Bait.

May-Oct. Eastern Maine.

207-796-2342. bcgillespie@myfairpoint.net

¶

CAMPS/ CABINS FOR RENT LAKEFRONT CABIN Lakefront cabin on the Little Narrows Basin of Upper Cold Stream Ponds in Lincoln, 4-season cabin w/cable, internet, kayaks, canoe, access to ATV & snowmobile trails. Depending on season, can (Continued on next page)

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be rented nightly, weekly or monthly. More info & pictures on Craigslist under Vacation Rentals/ Lincoln. Call Tate 207794-4208.

PARKMAN, MEBUCKS CROSSING WMD 17 Rental Cabins.

Turkey, deer, moose, upland game. All amenities included. Great ratesnightly, weekly, monthly. $75/night for two people.

Call: 207-277-3183.

ROCKWOOD, ME ON MOOSE RIVER Two well equipped, 2 bdrm camps with access to ATV & snowmobile trails, and boating into Moosehead Lake depend-

ing on the season. Please check us out on TripAdvisor or Call Rose or Dave 207-534-0222. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

views. Asking $190,000 FMI call Al Yates 207890-1926.

25 ACRES LAKEVILLE, MAINE Deeded access to 5 lakes & ponds. Nice forest -not cut over. Small Cabin, Great Hunting, Fishing.

Snowmobile, ATV & Hiking trails. $35,000. 207589-4726. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

FOR SALE

BY OWNER ELLIS POND VARIETY Turnkey Restaurant, Gas station, Convenience, Plus More! Located on approx. one acre, Rt. 120 W., Roxbury, Me. Call Dennis 207-357-1617. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

VINTAGE MOTORCYCLE Looking for pre-1980 vintage motorcycle, scrambler, enduro, or off-road motorcycle. Have cash will travel. Text 207-7124303.

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See page 39 for advance ticket order form or visit Show.MaineSportsman.com

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; FOUR-SEASON GETAWAYS â&#x20AC;&#x201D; LEXINGTON TOWNSHIP

WANTED DEER/MOOSE ANTLERS Buying any size deer & moose shed antlers/ racks or antlered skulls.

All grades bought by the pound. 802-875-3206.

LAND FOR SALE GOFF BROOK ROAD, RUMFORD ME 367 +/- acre wooded lot.

Gated access. Beautiful

SALEM TOWNSHIP

Camp in the pines on 5+/- acres. 2 bedrooms, 1bath, garage and other outbuilding, furnished. Metal roofs, propane and wood heat, full septic and well, larged screened in porch. $115,000

Well off the beaten path, dead end road, camp with BBQ pit, porch and 1.8 acres. Enjoy the outdoors! $39,900

More Camps and Land Available. Call Janet Peruffo at

CSM REAL ESTATE

207-265-4000 â&#x20AC;˘ e-mail janet@csmrealestate.com 259 Main Street, Kingfield, ME â&#x20AC;˘ www.csmrealestate.com

CAMP FOR SALE Great Pond Road â&#x20AC;˘ Aurora, ME 322 acres on Beaver Pond.

Well, septic, generator, sleeps 8, fully furnished, full bathroom and fu kitchen. Trout and wild game. $250,000 For More Info Call 207-584-2004

- Quiet area close to I-95 or downtown Lincoln, 1.9+/- acre lots, \HDU URXQG URDG IDQWDVWLF IURQWDJH Ă&#x20AC;VK KXQW DQG SDGGOH WKH PDMHVWLF Penobscot River HDFK

Lakeville $79 DQG VQRZPRELOH WUDLOV deeded access to several lakes one EHLQJ /RPEDUG /DNH ZLWKLQ ZDONLQJ GLVtance, low taxes, 30 acres, 1,170â&#x20AC;&#x2122; along Dill Valley Road. $19,900

Lincoln 'HHG ULJKWV WR &ROG 6WUHDP 3RQG VQRZPRELOH DQG $79 WUDLOV EHGURRPV EDWKV IDPLO\ URRP ODUJH URRPV KXJH GHFN RYHUORRNLQJ SULYDWH \DUG RI WKLV acre lot on Go Devil Road

Lincoln- 4 lakes in one direction, all of &ROG 6WUHDP 3RQGV LQ DQWKHU DFUHV Ă&#x20AC;HOG HOHFWULFLW\ DYDLODEOH FRUQHU frontage on Transalpine Road and Folsom Pond Road. $19,900

Lincoln 6QRZPRELOH DQG $79 WUDLOV QHDUE\ DFUH ORW HOHFWULFLW\ DYDLODEOH GHHS ZDWHU IURQWDJH DFFHVV WR (JJ DQG &DULERX 3RQGV RZQHU Ă&#x20AC;QDQFLQJ ¡ along Long Pond. $65,000

Enfield DFUH FRPPHUFLDO SDUFHO 3HQREVFRW 5LYHU QHDUE\ HOHFWULF RQVLWH KLJK WUDIĂ&#x20AC;F FRXQW PDQ\ DYDLODEOH XVHV GRXEOHZLGH XVHG DV RIĂ&#x20AC;FH IURQWDJH along Route 2. $59,000

Lincoln 6XUYH\HG OHYHO JURXQG QLFHO\ ZRRGHG DFUH ORW GLUHFW $79 DFFHVV WRZQ PDLQWDLQHG URDG HOHFWULFLW\ DYDLODEOH FRUQHU ORW RQ Half Township Road. $16,900 Lincoln 3ULYDWH DFUH ORW H[FOXVLYH ODNHIURQW QHLJKERUKRRG HOHFWULFLW\ DYDLODEOH \HDU URXQG PDLQWDLQHG URDG ¡ along Mattanawcook Lake

TWO ACRES OF LAKEFRONT LAND FOR SALE with a beautiful view. On Great Pond in Franklin, ME. This is a sparsely WVW\SH[LK SHRL VÉ&#x2C6; [OL NYPK ]LY` WYP]H[L location, yet 8 miles from Walmart, Home +LWV[ THU` V[OLY HTLUP[PLZ /PNOS` KLsirable for Hunters, Fishermen, Snowmobilers and ATVers. This lot comes with a deeded ROW for direct access to Sunrise Trail, an old statewide railroad track.

The road/driveway is in, the soil test is done and it has been surveyed. Ready to NV 7YPJLK [V ZLSS H[ Email: macusmc@wwsisp.com

Fishing & Hunting Moosehead Rockwood, Maine (Moosehead Region) FOR SALE BY OWNER All season easy access to Moosehead Lake. Year round log cabin a must see with a warm wood interior and only 100 yards from Kineo Landing and the public launch. Skiing on Squaw mountain is just 10 minutes away.

Springfield DFUH SDUFHO JRRG KLJK ground, outdoor recreational area, close WR FROG DQG ZDUP ZDWHU Ă&#x20AC;VKLQJ ORWV RI RWKHU RXWGRRU DFWLYLWLHV IURQWDJH DORQJ Moores Road Reed Plt. DFUHV Ă&#x20AC;HOGV IDUP SRQG VWRFNHG ZLWK WURXW JDUGHQV SDYHG GULYH ODUJH EDUQ EHGURRP IDUPKRXVH KDUGZRRG Ă RRUV JDUDJH ZLWK Ă&#x20AC;QLVKHG URRP DERYH VLWHG RQ Old Road. $149,900

SPORTSMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PARADISE

Sleeps 8 comfortably. Wood stove with newer 275 Oil tank, deep drilled well, 110 electrical service, cablevision, cedar log wood shed, mostly furnished with vintage hand-hewn beds and much more. If you have ever been to Rockwood, Maine you have likely driven by just beyond Kineo Landing.

R E A L

E S T A T E

5 LAKE STREET, P.O. BOX 66, LINCOLN 207-794-2460 www.cwalakestreet.com E-mail: cwa@cwalakestreet.com om

1-800-675-2460 Call any of our brokers to work for you!

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tateâ&#x20AC;? Aylward ................ 794-2460 Peter Phinney.................. 794-5466 Kirk Ritchie...................... 290-1554

FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION FORMATION ON OUR PROPERTIES VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT CWALAKESTREET.COM

Yearly Taxes $284.76. Easy maintenance and always year round access.

Private approved septic. $189,900 Contact Owner Walter at 508-737-1776

MONSON: Abutting Appalachian Trail 15 miles south of Moosehead Lake, start of 100 miles Wilderness. 40 acre lots, 35 mile panoramic views of lakes and mountains.

Gated gravel road 5 miles to village. Just 3/8 mile on local snowmobile trails to Lake HeIYVU MVY NYLH[ PJL Ă&#x201E;ZOPUN TPSLZ I` [YHPSZ [V the Village, 1 mile to ITS 85. Starting at $1250 WLY HJYL ^P[O V^ULY Ă&#x201E;UHUJPUN KV^U

FMI Call 207-343-2797 or Visit Greyledgelodge.com www.MaineSportsman.com

76 • February 2017 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————

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Come in and check out our extensive selection of new and used long guns firsthand – available from over two dozen manufacturers. We can also special order firearms, ammunition, optics and more. Contact our firearms experts at usedguns@llbean.com or call 207.552.7728.

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