The Maine Sportsman - February 2019 by The Maine Sportsman - Digital Edition

Sportsman The Maine

February 2019 • $4.99

Maine’s Annual

BIGGEST BUCKS CLUB ISSUE Plus Top 10 Photo Gallery Pages 42-49

Life Lessons Learned from Snowmobiling Page 23

Sebago – Ice Fishing on the Big Lake

Page 70

Which Fishing Boat is Right for You? by Bob Humphrey Page 29

Big Woods Bucks by Hal Blood

Page 41

2 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

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BOGGY BROOK OUTFITTERS Booking Guided Fishing Trips, Bear, Moose, Turkey & Deer Hunts Lodge & Cabin Accommodations Master Guide Jesse Derr 207-667-7271 ~ jdcon@yahoo.com Branch Lake, Ellsworth, ME

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�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 3

— The Maine Sportsman’s Featured Maine Sporting Camps —

Sturtevant Pond Camps

Originally known as Big Buck Camps, Sturtevant Pond Camps were founded in the early 1920s as a classic sporting camp. Situated on the eastern shore of 700acre Sturtevant Pond, the three comfortable housekeeping cabins provide guests with spectacular views of panoramic sunsets over the Diamond Peaks region of New Hampshire. The camps are ideally located to offer unlimited outdoor opportunities, whether fishing, hunting, hiking, paddling or just relaxing and enjoying nature’s beauty. For anglers, the pond offers excellent coldwater and warmwater fisheries. With a maximum depth of 58 feet, the pond holds abundant populations of landlocked salmon, but

many of the camps’ anglers target the feisty smallmouth bass that can be found along the pond’s rocky and undeveloped shoreline. Others take advantage of some of western Maine’s premier flyfishing waters. The Magalloway River is right nearby, Upper Dam Pool is within a 20-minute drive, and the lower end of the Rapid River is but a 20-minute boat ride across Umbagog Lake. But the best keep secret is the several isolated trout ponds and streams within 10 miles of the camps. Commercial timberlands surround the camps, offering excellent hunting for whitetail deer and ruffed grouse. Guide service is available on request. Our proximity to New Hampshire allows hunting parties to hunt in

both states. Paddlers can leave directly from the dock onto the pond and down the outlet to the Magalloway River. From there, they have access to Umbagog Lake, the Androscoggin River and the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge. Maine fishing licenses are valid throughout Lower Magalloway and Umbagog waters, even along the New Hampshire side. The three housekeeping cabins are fully equipped, have screened-in porches and outdoor spaces. Use of boats is included in cabin rental. For more information on the camps, go to www.SturtevantPondCamps.com, or call 207486-9308.

Leen’s Lodge We welcome this opportunity to introduce you to Leen’s Lodge, one of the finest and most highly recommended vacation spots in the state of Maine. At Leen’s Lodge, you will find that rare combination of gracious living, rest, and recreation in a rustic atmosphere. We have 9 cabins situated on 23 secluded acres on West Grand Lake and can accommodate 48 guests. We serve breakfast and dinner in our West facing Dining Lodge overlooking the lake, allowing our guests to enjoy spectacular sunsets. Located at the center of an area of many lakes and streams, Leen’s Lodge is an ideal spot with all the necessary facilities for the complete fishing or upland bird hunting experience, weddings, corporate retreats, or family vacations. Fishing: West Grand Lake is part of the

St. Croix watershed, which offers an abundance of lakes and streams, creating a fishing paradise. West Grand Lake has some of the best landlocked salmon, lake trout, and smallmouth bass fishing in Maine. We strongly recommend you obtain a guide for at least one day during your stay and enjoy a shore lunch experience. Grouse and Woodcock Hunting: Washington County offers some of the best grouse and woodcock hunting available. There is an abundance of second growth habitat and the flat terrain is hunter and hunting dog friendly. Leen’s Lodge is equipped with several kennels for your use. Corporate Retreats: Since 1958, Leen’s Lodge has hosted corporate retreats. We continue to be the annual destination for Camp Kotok, where global economists gather to discuss the world’s financial landscape. At Leen’s

Lodge, you can take away all the distractions of the common work environment and meet in the serenity of one of the quietest, most scenic destinations in Maine. Family Vacations: There is something for everyone in the family at Leen’s Lodge. You and your family can choose from a wide range of recreational activities including boating, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, or snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of West Grand Lake, hiking the many beautiful trails, or riding ATVs on the 355,000 publicly accessible acres provided by the Downeast Lakes Land Trust. Make plans now to reconnect, relax and recharge in our Paradise-among-the-Pines. 368 Bonney Brook Road Grand Lake Stream, ME 04668 Call 1-800-99LEENS www.leenslodge.com

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4 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Editorial

Celebrate the Skills and Fortune of Maine’s Biggest Bucks Hunters Welcome to the annual The Maine Sportsman “Biggest Bucks” issue – in which we list the hunters who brought home the “biggest of the big” bucks this past firearms, bowhunting and blackpowder seasons. For those who are on the list – some for the first time; others as repeat winners – this list will serve as a reminder of a supremely rewarding time spent in the woods – and for many, the deep snow – of our state. For those who are not listed, there’s some “antler envy,” of course, but more important, inspiration at the accomplishments of others, and an incentive to scout early and hunt hard in the 2019 season. In fact, congratulations are in order to all deer hunters – those on the “Biggest” list; those who harvested a smaller deer that filled the freezer; and those who got out into the fields and woods but came home without a trophy. And a word of encouragement to the last group – based on the excellent results achieved by hunters in Maine this past fall, we predict your day will come, and soon.

Time to Loosen Turkey Hunting Rules Tom turkeys have a habit that makes them especially vulnerable to poaching. When they are roosted for the night, the sound of an owl or crow call – or even the slam of a car door – often prompts the tom to reply with a resounding gobble, enabling the hunter to locate the roost. If the hunter is a poacher, the gobble response makes the tom an easy target for a .22 long rifle and jacklight. So during the depression years, turkeys were shot and killed for their meat, rather than for sport, and were nearly wiped out. But a few turkeys survived the depression years, and wildlife managers, encouraged and aided by volunteer groups like the Wild Turkey Federation, undertook the challenge of restoring the turkey population. The first efforts were met with failure. Hatching eggs, growing turkeys in pens and releasing them didn’t work. After the early failures, we learned that live-trapping wild birds and transporting them quickly to new territories did work. But biologists were wildly off the mark when they predicted that in Maine, wild turkeys would survive principally in the warmer climate of southern Maine and a narrow belt along the coast. The biologists must not have understood how tough and adaptable these big birds are, because turkeys are now found in greater or lesser numbers all over the state. In short, the wild turkey has become a remarkable success story in wildlife management. In Maine, we started out very gradually, using a lottery to limit the number of turkeys taken. We limited the areas that could be hunted, established a one-bird bag seasonal limit, permitted mornings-only hunting, opened a fall season for bow and arrow only, then a fall season open to shotguns, and established a two-bird seasonal bag limit in part of the state. Through all of this expansion of hunting opportunities, the turkey population has remained strong – too strong in the view of farmers who complain of turkey damage, and other folks who’ve discovered how much damage a turkey can do to a vegetable garden. In many regions of the state, this magnificent game bird is being viewed as a nuisance. The number of hunters who actively pursue turkeys has declined, and despite the increase in the seasonal bag limit to two birds, establishment of all-day hunting, and opening a fall shotgun season, we still have a growing turkey population. The reality is that as game managers, our biologists are extremely conservative. Sometimes, out of an excess of caution, they recommend baby steps when bigger strides are called for. We believe the time has come for the legislature to 1) allow hunters to use their big game hunting license for turkeys, rather than requiring a separate spring or fall permit; 2) eliminate the requirement that each hunter register his turkey and pay $2 at a game registration station, instead allowing on-line or telephone registration of birds; and 3) set a more generous season bag limit on turkeys. www.MaineSportsman.com

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Sportsman The Maine

ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 557 • www.mainesportsman.com PUBLISHER: Jon Lund MANAGING EDITOR: Will Lund will@mainesportsman.com OFFICE MANAGER: Linda Lapointe linda@mainesportsman.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kristina Roderick kristina@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nancy Carpenter nancy@mainesportsman.com Second class postage paid at Scarborough, ME 04074 and additional entry offices. All editorial inquiries should be emailed to will@mainesportsman.com 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

Almanac by Will Lund........................................................ 11 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves......................... 34 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia...................... 50 Big Woods World by Hal Blood......................................... 41 Bird of the Month, by Erika Zambello............................... 14 Capitol Report by George Smith..................................... 16 Central Maine by Steve Vose........................................... 69 Downeast Region by Jim Lemieux................................... 61 Editorial.................................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by Lou Zambello........................... 53 Jackman by William Sheldon........................................... 56 Jottings by Guest Writer, Alan Haley.................................. 7 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon............................. 51 Kate’s Wild Kitchen by Kate Krukowski Gooding........... 58 Letters to the Editor.............................................................. 5 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour....................................... 18 Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose................................... 54 Midcoast Report by Tom Seymour................................... 65 Moosehead by Tom Seymour.......................................... 59 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson.................................. 78 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie................................ 62 Outdoor Chronicle by Ed Pineau..................................... 37 Quotable Sportsman by George Smith........................... 17 Rangeley Region by William Clunie................................. 74 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers................................. 80 Saltwater by Barry Gibson................................................. 64 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth......................... 70 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews...................... 73 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard................................. 39 Smilin’ Sportsman: Adults & Kids by Will Lund.................. 80 Sporting Environment by David Van Wie........................ 38 Sportsman’s Journal by King Montgomery....................... 9 Southern Maine by Val Marquez..................................... 72 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller...................... 66 Trading Post (Classifieds)................................................... 81 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour........................................... 67 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie.................. 76 Young Maine Sportsman by Luke Giampetruzzi............ 55

SPECIAL SECTIONS

Biggest Bucks in Maine 2018............................................. 42 Boating in Maine by Bob Humphrey................................ 29 Ice Fishing in Maine by Will Lund...................................... 19 Snowmobiling in Maine by Shane Brown........................ 23 On the Cover: Fourteen year old Hunter Dunnels of Winterville shot and tagged this nice buck in Ashland during the November, 2018 regular firearms season. At the time it was the heaviest deer registered at the Ashland tagging station -- 238 pounds field-dressed. Its antlers featured 10 points and a 19-1/2 inch spread. The photo was taken by Stacy Bellanger, who teaches 2nd grade at Fort Kent Elementary School and who has provided several outstanding photographs to The Maine Sportsman, including the photo of the massive “snowy buck” that appeared on the cover of our December, 2018 muzzleloader issue.

Letters

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 5

To The Editor

Reader Agrees – Too Many Turkeys To the Editor: I read Ed Pineau’s excellent article on turkeys in the January, 2019 issue of The Maine Sportsman. I completely agree with him – turkeys have become so numerous that they are more than a nuisance. In fact, I believe they are adversely affecting the environment: • As a forester, I am concerned that every acorn turkeys eat could otherwise grow into an oak tree. • By eating acorns, the birds are in direct competition with other wild animals, such as deer, that rely on acorns. • Turkeys’ feeding

habits adversely affect ground nesting birds, including grouse and pheasants We got along fine without turkeys until MDIF&W introduced them into Maine. The sportsmen of this state should get the laws changed to protect the environment, instead of protecting the turkeys. Fred A. Huntress, Jr. - ME Poland Spring —

Search Club Discovers Answer to Age-Old “Bear in Woods” Question To the Editor: Your September 2018 issue posed the question on the cover, “Does a bear sit in the woods?” My interest level rose as I pondered this nagging, unanswered question. Many of my old (and I do mean old) hunting buddies were also intrigued, and we formed the Search for Bear-Sit (SBS) Club. From dawn to dusk, seven days a week, we scoured the woods, stopping only to take on nourishment.

Finally, the “bear/woods” question is answered!

As you can see from the photo above, our efforts were rewarded. Please feel free to share this information with your readers. Doug Henning - North Berwick, ME President, SBS Club (Continued on next page)

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6 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Letters to the Editor

At 9:00 am one morning as I was walking up my driveway, headed to the mailbox, I was pleasantly surprised to see four deer – two grown does and two yearlings – run across the driveway. It was obvious that something was chasing them, but I couldn’t see what until they got to the driveway. It was then that I could see their pursuer was a red fox. Although the deer didn’t seem too awful panicked about it, they did seem intent upon keeping about 20 yards between themselves and the fox. With about 10 inches of snow on the ground, the deer had no problems keeping a good lead. I must say that I would have never thought that a fox would run a deer. Have your readers ever heard of this sort of thing before? Len Longo - West Sebago, ME —

(Continued from page 5)

Kidney Pond Snowshoe Hare is “Keeper of the Library” To the Editor: The Maine Sportsman is one of a very few publications that I read from cover to cover. The stories are always exciting and interesting and tend to transport this ol’ Master Maine Guide from the living room to some incredible location or another in this great State of Maine. I even enjoy all the ads, too! The feature article from this past summer on Lefty Kreh brought back memories from a time when my daughter, Karen was quite young, and we got to meet and discuss fly fishing with Lefty at an LL Bean event. He was very gracious and eager to share fly fishing tips and tactics with Karen. He even posed for a picture with her, which of course made her day. On a less serious matter – back in September, I spent a few days with friends, fly fishing out of Kidney Pond Camps in Baxter State Park. The brook trout fishing was as good as I can remember, but the highlight of this trip was observing the “Keeper of the Library.” These camps have been around a long, long time, and during the very early days, the compound included a library and even a bowling alley – in fact, a few of the old wooden bowling balls are still kept in the library along with other artifacts. Anyway, in front of the library, we encountered the Keeper – a snowshoe hare that appears to live under the building, but enjoys the grasses growing around the perimeter.

So whether you’re leaving or returning from a day of fishing on one of the many remote ponds in the area, it is quite likely that the “Keeper of the Library” will be there to greet you. Our group included a six year old boy and a couple of 71 year olds, and whatever our ages, the sightings made this adventure even more special than we anticipated it would be. Rollie Brown, Brown’s Landing, Gardiner, ME —

Red Fox Running Deer? To the Editor: I had an interesting sighting mid-December that you may want to share with readers. I often have deer pass through my yard, and have a couple of resident foxes that we see in the yard all hours of the day.

More on Cougars in Maine To the Editor: A while back you asked readers to report on the presence of cougars in Maine My brother and I own 300+ acres in Farmington, and last spring we saw fresh tracks on one of our roads that were clearly from a cat. From back to front, the tracks were all of 5 inches. We are convinced it’s a cat bigger that a bobcat. Tim Plummer - Bowdoin, ME —

Kudos to King; Expert Favors Stocking Larger Salmon To the Editor: I enjoyed King Montgomery’s October article (on the Downeast Salmon Federation of East Machias), as it brought back many memories. I was a Wildlife major at U of M; BS 1962. Then a student of W. Harry Everhart in fisheries, and worked under Dick Cutting and Al Miester along with Jim Fletcher on the five Downeast rivers. Then as a Fisheries Biologist for IF&W in the Belgrade Region for 13 years, and then to then DEP as their Chief Biologist for 18 years and back to the Downeast area for 3.5 years as Project SHARE Director, and Dwayne Shaw worked for me. Dwayne has done a marvelous job for the Downeast Salmon Federation and the entire watershed areas. I give him lots of credit. He and I talked to all the salmon clubs and encouraged the creation of the watershed associations. I always advocated that larger salmon for survival and asked why the State and Feds were putting so much effort into fry stocking. Smolts are the way to go for better river specific survival with returns, and I adopt the Peter Gray principle. Thanks to King for doing a great job on the article, as it brought back old memories to this 84 year old curmudgeon. Matthew Scott Aquatic Biologist, Emeritus

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�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 7

A Shot in the Dark In 1977, Wayne Hockmeyer moved the hunting camp to Roll Dam on the West Branch, a few miles from Seboomook Lake. We set up a number of hunting areas, but by 1979, Great Northern paper company’s mechanical harvesting operations were competing with us for terrain – and winning. We needed to open up some new territory, and Seboomook Lake looked ideal. The Golden Road takes a westerly direction after it goes by Seboomook and roughly parallels its north shore. Between the road and lake was a strip of forest, ranging in width from a few hundred yards to a couple of miles. It had not been cut since the days of railroad and horse

logging. On the map, it looked like an excellent deer-hunting area. When a snowstorm fell in the last week of hunting in 1979, Wayne and I left another guide, Brad Scott, in charge of the camp and drove over to Seboomook. Our plan was to drive through the area and cut a deer track. One of us would follow that track and the other would drive until he found a second. We would each hunt our deer, look the terrain over, and mark it up on our topo maps. We agreed to meet back on the Golden Road at two o’clock. I took the first track, but could not concentrate on scouting and hunting at the same time. I soon bumped the deer, but did not get a shot off. It

was simpler to just scout the terrain and save the hunting for another day. Line of Dark Evergreens By early afternoon, I crossed a steep ridge with an ancient beech grove and a couple of hundred yards of shooting space on its far side. At the very bottom was a uniform and straight fence-like thicket of evergreen growth that had overtaken a hauling trail. The black growth almost looked like a line of demarcation. I walked down the ridge and followed the trail out, marking where it went on my map. It was a good landmark for our sports. Wayne had the same problem with hunting while scouting, but he had hit a monster track and was not going to

give up. He’s an excellent tracker, and within an hour knew he was only a minute or two behind the deer. The tracks were veering rightward up a ridge, but he left them and went straight up. Just before cresting the ridge, he reduced his exposure by getting some thick brush behind him and slowly easing forward, moving only far enough with each small step to scan a little more terrain without exposing

himself. It was an excellent set-up, as the other side of the ridge was an ancient beech grove with a couple of hundred yards of shooting space. At the very bottom, was a thicket of evergreen growth – the same set of trees I’d walked through, invisible to him. Inside the black growth, Wayne saw a white tail flicker ever so slightly. (Continued on next page)

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8 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Jottings (Continued from page 7)

Wayne Shoots The shot had that sharp concussive edge that meant it was close. It had to be Wayne, so I walked back to see if he needed help. He was standing just inside the black growth, staring at the ground. He looked up as I approached and his expression startled me. His jaw was slack and his eyes seemed unfocused. He stared at me for a moment, as if trying to discern who or what I was and emphatically waved me off, then turned and walked away. Whatever had happened on that ridge, he did not want to talk about it. We met up on the Golden Road, but Wayne was sullen and told me he had to think a bit and would tell me the whole story tonight. We drove back to Roll Dam in silence. The Story After supper was cleaned up and the sports were back in their tents, Wayne told his story. He had seen the tail flicker in the black growth and knew exactly where the deer was, but could not figure out why it was suddenly on guard. He knew his approach had

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been flawless and the deer upwind. Why would it suddenly get nervous and take a camouflaged position? Generally speaking, it is not a good idea to take an immediate shot, but for a reason Wayne didn’t understand, this deer was ready to run. The buck took a step. The outline was visible when it moved, but completely melded into the background when it stood still. It moved once more, and Wayne was able to clearly make out its right rear leg, and what he took to be the curve of its ear. He was still breathing hard from the pursuit, and his arm was straining to hold the gun steady. His heart was pounding and his back was starting to ache from the blast of adrenaline flowing through his system. Worst of all, he had to act quickly before the monster buck ran. He estimated where the chest cavity should be, and took his shot. Boot Tracks Wayne was confident the deer was down – if he’d missed or wounded it, he would have seen it run and heard brush breaking – so he walked

straight down to where he knew the deer lay. Half way there, he found another set of tracks leading to the exact place where he shot into the black growth … my tracks! His brain could not process what he was seeing – could not verify what was all too obvious. He had shot me. There had to be another interpretation, he thought. It simply wasn’t possible that those were footprints; not possible he had mistaken me for a deer. As he stared at the tracks and re-thought what he saw, in his mind the flicker of a tail became a white paper towel in my hand as I sat on a stump eating lunch; the deer’s first step was me leaning over to pick up my gun; the rear leg was the gun’s stock, resting on the ground; and the curved ear was the bunched-up dark blue navy watch cap I always wore. He stumbled along following the footprints, relentlessly drawn into the black growth, knowing what he was about to find, but powerless to stop the discovery. But instead of finding me sprawled on the snow, he found the intersection of two sets of tracks – mine and the deer’s. The buck had stopped to smell them over, probably got a

The full complement of tent-camp guides pose for a rare photo. From left: Wayne (“the Hawk”) Hockmeyer; the author, Alan (“Big Al”) Haley; Mike (“Mad Dog”) Faraday (crouching in front); and Brad (“Red”) Scott (standing).

whiff of me on the wind, and became fidgety and nervous. Wayne’s shot was a clean miss, and the deer had slipped noiselessly out the back. Once Wayne saw what had happened, he was completely overcome with the humbling realization his hard-earned skill, technique and experience had counted for nothing! Like a bumbling Saturday afternoon hunter, he had lost control and nearly made an appalling error. That was when he looked up and saw me approaching. Only Time I’ve Seen Him Stunned I have known the man for over 40 years now. I rafted killer arctic rivers with him, made touch-and-go journeys across melting ice, loaded out hunting camps across Hurd Mountain Pass or down the 20-Mile Road in blizzards. In all those years, this was the only time I’d seen him stunned; the only time he ever questioned his abilities, pondered his limits or the decisions he had made. It was a lesson I have always carried with me – no matter how good you are, anyone can make an errant decision; it just depends upon time and

circumstance. Think well before you take that shot in the dark. Quick Recovery The next morning as Wayne started breakfast, I asked him what he would have done if he had walked into that dark growth and found me gutshot on the ground. He thought it over for a second, and then said he would have finished me off and buried me in a beaver bog. After all, medical help would be eight hours away so I was not going to survive it. Besides, it would only ruin the reputation of Northern Outdoors’ hunting camps. In those days, walking into the north Maine woods, never to be seen again, was not that rare. In other words, a good night’s sleep had put Wayne back in his normal state of mind. About the guest columnist: Alan Haley got his Maine guide’s license in 1976, and for the next 11 years he guided deer, bear and moose hunters for Wayne Hockmeyer, owner of Northern Outdoors. Haley worked out of remote tent camps between Seboomook and Caucmagomic Lake.

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 9

“41” and His Kennebunkport Family President George Herbert Walker Bush, known as “41” around here in Kennebunkport, died on November 30, 2018 after a wonderful, eventful life in service to our country. His lifelong devotion to American ideals and goals included being a congressman, Ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican Party, Envoy to China, Director of the CIA, two terms as Vice President under Ronald Reagan, and President from 1989 to 1993. He was our 41st president, and the father of the 44th president, George W. Bush. Our First Two Meetings My initial encounters with 41 took place when he was Vice President, and we both were conducting official duties. The first brief meeting, in the early-1980s, occurred when he and wife Barbara visited the American Embassy in Bonn, West Germany where I was a military attaché. We chatted briefly about living and working in Ger-

My short but memorable meetings with Bush 41 are but a small piece of the thousands of times the Bush family interacted with residents of the village of Kennebunkport. He and Barbara were gracious, interested, and kind with everyone they met. A man with class and compassion, George Herbert Walker Bush was also a true leader.

An anchor and dedication plaque honoring President GHW Bush placed by the citizens of Kennebunkport shown here (left) in 2014 with the Bush summer cottage on Walkers Point in the background. The same monument (right) several days after 41 passed away on November 30, 2018. It now is a memorial. All photos: King Montgomery

many, and I was very impressed how down-toearth both of them were. They made you comfortable in their presence. A dedicated angler, Bush 41 fished the waters of Southern Maine while staying at his family’s summer cottage in Kennebunkport. We chatted briefly about saltwater fishing, but not for long, because they were in such demand for more official – and certainly

Bush 41 is at the helm as Fidelity IV heads out of the mouth of the Kennebunk River with a guest for some fishing in the summer of 2008. President Bush loved to be on the water, particularly when he was fishing.

more boring – stuff. The second encounter was on March 30, 1985 at Andrews Air Force Base just outside of Washington, DC, when the flagdraped coffin containing the remains of Army Major Arthur D. Nicholson was flown in from Germany. At the arrival ceremony on the damp tarmac, and as Nick was carried from the plane by an honor guard, Bush, at the podium with TV

cameras rolling, condemned the Soviet Union for “murdering” this fine, young officer while in the performance of his lawful duties in the Soviet Zone of Occupation in East Germany. A Soviet sentry had shot Nick as he was taking photographs as part of his liaison and unarmed reconnaissance mission in the Eastern sector of Germany. I was at the solemn ceremony because

After the Fidelity IV foundered in the dense fog and shallow surf off Kennebunk’s Goochs Beach in July 2010, a bunch of beachgoers attempt to rock and push the speedboat deeper into the water, but to no avail. The author is 6th from the left, wearing solid blue swim trunks.

I served almost three years, from the late 1970s into the early 1980s, as a liaison office in the little-known United States Military Liaison Mission to the Commander of the Soviet Armed Forces in East Germany. Nicholson came into this elite unit just as I was heading home to the USA, and I had met him several times before. Nick was one of the final casualties of the Cold War. (We used to say it was only “cold” to those who weren’t taking an active part in it.) A Man of the Sea Lieutenant (jg) George Bush was an 18-year old naval carrier aviator in 1944 when he reported for duty in the Pacific Theater on the carrier USS San Jacinto. He flew the TBM, a torpedo dive bomber with a crew of three that could attack ships and land targets. Of his 58-combat missions, the most memorable was on September 2, 1944 when his plane was hit by enemy fire, and he ordered the crew to bail out over the water. Only Bush survived, and he (Continued on next page)

An hour after running aground on Goochs Beach in Kennebunkport, 41’s Fidelity IV rests on the sand waiting for high tide and a tow. The Seaside Motor Inn is in the left background. www.MaineSportsman.com

10 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Sportsman’s Journal (Continued from page 9)

soon was rescued by an American submarine. (On September 2, 1944, I was about 8 months old, and my father was a pilot in the Pacific with the US Army Air Forces.) During his war years, Bush did not return to his family’s summer home in Kennebunkport. But after the war, he never missed visiting The Port, including during his times as Vice President and President. He loved Maine, its wonderful people, and the sea around him that much. When he was here, he always made time for fishing for stripers and bluefish from his boat kept moored in the protective cove on the landward side of Walker’s Point. His 38-foot Fountain Open Bow, the Fidelity IV, powered by three (yes, three) 300-hp Mercury outboards, is rigged as a fishing machine with fishing rods always protruding from the rod holders adorning the T-top like the antlers of a stately elk. The boat, piloted by GHWB, often was often seen plying the inshore waters of the southern Maine coast with an attendant high-powered U. S. Secret Service custom Zodiac inflatable boat or two following closely. Over the years, GHWB’s Fountains have

hosted fishing trips for a number of world leaders and other dignitaries, including sons George Walker Bush and John Ellis “Jeb” Bush. Daughter Dorothy “Doro” Bush and a plethora of his other children, grandchildren and assorted family and friends also enjoyed rides in the powerboat. Forty-One’s Fountain – it’s like a shortened Cigarette boat – is said by locals to only have two speeds: idle, and full-throttle. Yes, he obeyed the law and did the proper speed in nowake-zones, but when the bow of his boat cleared the jetties on either side of the mouth of the Kennebunk River, he was at near top-speed on plane in a matter of seconds. The Secret Service craft tried their best to keep up, and I noticed over the years, the escort boats seemed to have larger and larger outboards on their transoms. Several Other Times with 41 In July 2010, Elizabeth and I were on Kennebunk’s Goochs Beach along with a bunch of other folks. A thick fog had rolled in, it had cooled a bit, and visibility was greatly reduced. We had been in the water, and were leaving it to dry off when I heard a

On his birthday on June 12, 2009, President Bush 41 jumped in tandem with a member of the US Army Golden Knights parachute team onto the grounds of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Kennebunkport. He was 85 at the time! www.MaineSportsman.com

The author is shown greeting Bush 41 and wife Barbara at the 2015 Kennebunkport Memorial Day Parade. King Montgomery presented the keynote address to the crowd lining the village streets.

high-pitched motor running at high revolutions, but soon struggling as if the prop was pushing as much sand as water. A dark shape loomed seaward in the fog, and headed rapidly toward the beach, where it ran aground in the gentle shore breakers. It was 41 at the controls, flanked by his daughter Doro, granddaughter Gigi (I believe it was her), and two or three gentlemen. I waded up to the boat in the shallow water and inquired if everyone was okay, and he replied, somewhat chagrined, that yes all were fine. By then other beachgoers arrived, and a group of us tried to rock and push Fidelity IV back into the water. It was futile. The President perked up, regained his wit, thanked us, and visited with those gathered around him as he sat at the wheel of his boat. Soon the boat’s occupants were helped out and driven back to nearby Walker’s Point. Official reports later said Fidelity IV was swept ashore by a “rogue wave” as it was on a GPS heading for the mouth of the Kennebunk River, where it was seeking sanctuary from the thick fog. I remember it was not at idle-speed.

They Loved the Town; the Town Loved them Back George and Barbara almost always came to see the annual Memorial Day Parade as it wended its way through Kennebunkport and Kennebunk’s Lower Village. Chairs were set up in Dock Square next to the podium and the Veterans Monument and Garden in front of Colonial Pharmacy. In his later years, 41 was in his wheelchair, and watched the parade with Barbara seated next to him. In 2015, I was asked by the parade grand marshal at our local American Legion Post to give the keynote address on Memorial Day. I was seated with the Bushes, and visited with them before and after my speech. Lieutenant General Brent Scowcroft, USAF Retired, the president’s national security advisor during his administration, joined us, and he was wonderful, too. He has a condo in Kennebunkport, and spends some of the summer here as well. I would see General Scowcroft again once, but it was the final time I spent any time with 41 and Barbara. It was

their final Memorial Day Parade in the little town they loved. And they were loved back. In their Foreword to the wonderful history book by Joyce Butler in two volumes, Kennebunkport: The Evolution of an American Town, George H. W. and Barbara Bush wrote that coming to Kennebunkport “truly became our ‘anchor to windward’” and “where we came to escape the worries of the world, to recharge our batteries and restore our soul.” May their souls rest in-peace. ****** My short but memorable times with Bush 41 are but a small piece of the thousands of times the Bush family interacted with residents of the village of Kennebunkport. The family frequented local restaurants, churches, golf courses and shops. They were gracious, interested, and kind with everyone they met. All the folks here have Bush 41and Barbara stories that always will be cherished. A man with class and compassion, he was a true leader. They will be fondly remembered.

Almanac

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 11

Compiled and Edited by — Will Lund —

“Snapshots in Time”

Excerpts from the Annals of Maine’s Sporting Past Submitted by Bill Pierce, of the Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum in Oquossoc, Maine Maine has produced some amazing guides over the years. Woodsmen of uncanny talent and skill. What follows is a short article that appeared in the Rangeley Lakes newspaper on January 7, 1897. The piece shares just a fraction of the outdoor knowledge of Mr. John J. Wilbur, who grew up hunting, trapping and fishing in the region. He could recall a time before any significant numbers of deer were present in the Rangeleys. He also mentions the burning over of the land for agricultural purposes, and refers to the growing whitetail population destroying the “young growth.”

In his day, Wilbur achieved legendary status and was highly respected among his peers at a time when hundreds of professional guides were leading “sports” on all manner of outdoor adventures. In what follows, Wilbur regales his interviewer with some of his fox hunting experiences, and takes pride in frugally bagging five without wasting funds on ammo. Enjoy this from an authentic Old Time Woodsman, and be sure to get out and make some Outdoor History of your own!

Maine Guide John J. Wilbur, circa 1860. He trapped from Rangeley to the Canadian border, but never carried a compass. “I know the lay of the land pretty well,” he told a reporter in 1897.

A BORN FOX HUNTER

Greatest Day’s Work was Five, and Never Fired a Gun at One This reporter came in contact with the veteran hunter and trapper of the Rangeley Region, John J. Wilbur recently, and when he saw me take out my note book and pencil he immediately dropped into a muse. He filled his pipe, and after tilting back in his chair began to answer any and all my questions that I saw fit to ask him. Said Mr. Wilbur, “I killed 75 foxes during one season, ahead of one and the same dog. That was before there was any burnt land and during the days of Uncle Burke, who used to run the store. I sold all the skins to him. It was no uncommon thing to get three or four foxes a day in those times. “The highest number that I ever got in one day was five, and that wasn’t but a few years ago, either. It was over on the point. The dog started a fox, and before night I had five skins, and the best of it all was I never fired a gun. Two were driven into a tree and the other three went into holes. I dug them out and clubbed them. “It was during the season that I got the 75, I saw a black fox, and it was the only

Hard-Working Dealers Provide Maine Ice-Anglers with Baitfish by Lou Zambello Have you ever wondered where the baitfish come from that you purchase for ice fishing? The answer is from dozens of small, local

one I ever saw in all my hunting foxes. It was over by Dodge Pond. “They had baited the ground by leaving a dead cow, and I with my dog used to inhabit that part of the town frequently. I would station myself on the hill, place the dog on a track, and wait for developments. “On this particular occasion, there was a snow storm raging, and the wind was blowing hard. The dog started a red fox, and I popped him over the first thing. “On looking up, I saw a black fox scooting off in the opposite direction. It was before the breech loading guns were used. I pulled the trigger of my muzzle loader; the cap snapped. This started the fox to run harder with the dog in the rear. “I put in a new cap and put three charges in the direction of his foxship. The dog wasn’t more than 20 rods behind him, and I must have caught him, for he was bleeding bad. “I followed, but the snow covered the fox’s tracks, and pretty soon the dog came back. I hunted for two weeks after that fox, but never found him. “But I have had great sport in my day. live bait dealers across Maine. For example, New Gloucester’s Don Mooney, his father and brother catch and sell hundreds of thousands of baitfish every year. They sell them directly to customers at their own shop, or wholesale them to other sellers. Customers generally pay $4 a dozen for standard-size baitfish, but the price goes up from there for larger-sized specimens that are more difficult to catch in quantity.

I’d rather hunt them ahead of a dog than to trap them. Since the land has been burned over it is not so easy to get them. Fur bearing animals of’ all kinds are scarcer. I have trapped clear to the Canada line and I could stick an axe up, and when I came back, I could come out where the axe was, and without the aid of a compass. I never carry one with me. I have lived here ever since I was 5 or 6 years old and know the lay of the land pretty well.” Mr. Wilbur says that deer are destroying the young growth, and one would not believe it unless he had been in the woods. They are gaining fast. He is doing some trapping, but on account of rheumatism has not been fox hunting as yet. He says he is all right now, and as soon as snow comes will start out. He has killed probably 25 bears in his time, and his likeness, seated beside a recently captured one, has recently been given by several sporting papers. May he be able to hunt many years to come. Different species can be used to bait ice-fishing lines, but the most common and effective are smelt, golden shiners and suckers – although in a pinch, others like larger blacknose dace can be used. The easiest time to catch baitfish is early in the winter, when ponds have just frozen over and the baitfish are still active. Later in the winter when ice thickens and snow cov(Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

12 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Almanac (Continued from page 11)

ers the ice, light and oxygen levels drop, and the bait aren’t as easy to tempt into traps. The critical element for bait dealers is to find bodies of water with abundant bait to catch and sell. Modest-sized ponds with minnow populations are ideal if they don’t hold predatory fish that eat the baitfish, and if the ponds are deep enough so they don’t winterkill. Don says that when too many predatory fish are around, they chase the minnows away from the traps. Bait dealers are justifiably secretive about their prime ponds, because it can be a competitive business and poaching someone else’s prime pond is not unheard of. The process to catch baitfish in the winter is to cut holes in the ice with a chain saw, toss a good-sized minnow trap filled with bait to the bottom, wait several days, return, free the trap from the re-frozen ice, and haul it to the surface.

Don then places the baitfish caught into a basket with an open mesh bottom that floats in the water. Minnows that are too small to sell, swim through the holes, escape and grow larger. Don has to sort the bait, put back species he doesn’t want (black-nose dace, small bullheads, and the like), and keep the golden shiners and suckers. Traps that produce good hauls are re-baited and dropped back down the hole, while traps that come up empty are moved to better locations. Dealers who specialize in smelt typically catch smelt in open water with nets, or capture them in small streams when they spawn in the spring. Bait dealers must keep their catch alive until they can be sold, and typically use big tanks that are chilled and oxygenated. Other dealers use their own small ponds, where they can release their quarry and quickly recatch them when they need to. Remember, if you fish with live bait, do so only on waters where it is legal, and never release live minnows in any water where they do not already exist. —

Meet Maine’s Newest Wardens:

Game Warden Camden Akins

This net contains a mix of small fish of varying sizes, including golden shiners, blacknose dace and bullheads. Lou Zambello photo

Game Warden Camden Akins grew up in Winslow, Maine. Akins was introduced to the outdoors at a very young age by his grandparents. It didn’t take long before he began hunting and fishing. Akins also spent a great deal of time riding ATVs and snowmobiles with his grandfather and step dad. Warden Akins graduated from Winslow High School in 2011. He then attended Unity College, where he graduated with honors and received a B.S. in Conservation Law Enforcement in 2015. During his time at college, Warden Akins developed a passion for duck hunting as well as trapping.

Game Warden Camden Akins During his freshman year of college, Warden Akins joined the Unity Volunteer Fire Department, where he attended the basic fire school as well as more advanced courses. Warden Akins began his career in law enforcement working as a reserve police officer for Old Orchard Beach Police Department in the summer of 2013. From 2014 to 2016, he worked as a Deputy Game Warden in Naples, Greenville and York County in the summers. During the summer of 2015, Akins completed the Whitewater Guide training. In the summer of 2016, Akins was offered a full time position with the Warden Service, and attended the 31st Basic Law Enforcement Training Program at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Warden Akins is currently assigned to the Mt. Desert Island district. —

1970 “Outdoorsman’s Almanac” Provides Historic Perspective by Jon Lund

A 1970 issue of the Maine Outdoorsman’s Almanac came to our desk recently. It was the predecessor publication to The Maine Sportsman magazine. It carried advertising for no fewer than (Continued on next page)

February 2019 Sunrise/Sunset Portland, ME

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

RISE 6:55 6:54 6:52 6:51 6:50 6:49 6:47 6:46 6:45 6:44 6:42 6:41 6:39 6:38

SET 4:54 4:55 4:56 4:58 4:59 5:00 5:02 5:03 5:05 5:06 5:07 5:09 5:10 5:11

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

RISE 6:36 6:35 6:34 6:32 6:30 6:29 6:27 6:26 6:24 6:23 6:21 6:19 6:18 6:16

SET 5:13 5:14 5:15 5:17 5:18 5:19 5:21 5:22 5:23 5:25 5:26 5:27 5:28 5:30

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�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 13 (Continued from page 12)

seven different brands of snowmobiles, only two of which survive today. They were: • Arctic Cat, with its slide- rail suspension, still featured today • Ski-Doo, with over 75 dealers • Skiroule, which listed 27 dealers • Snowbug, had an aluminum frame and body, and • Rupp Snow-Sport, Boa-Ski , and Snowjet In 1970, Maine had 27 ski areas, with facilities ranging from rope tows to T-bars. In that year, a combination hunting and fishing license cost $7.25. There was no hunting season for wild turkeys. Hunters were not required to wear hunter orange in 1970, and state law did not require hunters to take any sort of safety course. The bag and possession limit for salmon, trout and togue was 8 fish (12 in Aroostook County) or 7-1/2 pounds, unless the last fish caught exceeded the weight limit. The bag limit for Atlantic salmon was two fish. The L.L. Bean salesroom in Freeport was open 24 hours daily, 365 days per year. Some things don’t change.

Firearms rights groups immediately pledged to fight the rule in court before the ban goes into full effect in about three months. The rule would classify firearms modified with a bump stock as machine guns, meaning they would no longer be available to the general public. The rule requires current owners of the device to destroy them or turn them in to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives by March 18, 2019. —

Cruel and Unusual Punishment?

Judge Sentences Poacher to Year in Jail; Requires that he Watch “Bambi”

According to a CNN story, a convicted poacher named David Berry, Jr., who faced a long litany of fish and game charges following a 9-month investigation in Missouri that snared more than 14 suspects and resulted in 230 charges, will spend a year in jail. In addition, Lawrence County Judge Robert George ordered that Berry watch the 1942 Walt Disney movie “Bambi” once a month while he’s incarcerated. In the 1942 animated classic, hunters kill

Bambi’s mother. Berry was found to have shot multiple deer, taking only their heads and antlers, and leaving the rest of the animals in the woods. —

Electrically-Heated Sleeping Bag

So here’s the deal: You arrive at the hunting camp at 10 p.m. on a cold November night. The temperature outside is 10 degrees, and the temperature inside the cabin is, well, 10 degrees. You could 1) fire up the Ashley woodstove, and wait about four hours for the cabin to warm up; or 2) put an overnight maintenance amount of wood in the stove, then turn on your electrically-heated sleeping bag, and climb in to instant heat. The folks at PDG Summit Gear tell us 10-degree temperatures would not even pose a challenge to their new bag, since at -20 degrees Fahrenheit, the bag will heat to 137 degrees F interior temperature! The half-pound lithium power pack is small enough to fit in your palm, and it will also charge your cellphone overnight. The sleeping bag is washable, and the

—

Trump Administration Announces Bump Stock Ban According to Reuters News Service, the Trump administration signed a final rule on December 18, 2018 to make bump stocks illegal.

(Continued on next page)

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14 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Almanac (Continued from page 13)

battery will last nine hours while providing 90-degree heat. I want one. For more information, go to PDGSummitGear.com. —

Some Maine Bird Populations Rising; Others Falling by Nick Lund, Maine Audubon

Are there certain birds you remember being more common in Maine a few decades ago? Are there birds you see now but never used to? A coalition of groups led by the state Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is working to figure out how Maine’s bird populations are faring, as part of its “Maine Bird Atlas” project. Though bird censuses are supposed to occur every 20 years, the last statewide count in Maine was conducted more than 35 years ago, between 1978 and 1983. To catch up, DIFW has partnered with Maine Audubon, Biodiversity Research Institute, the Maine Natural History Observatory and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to run a new atlas between 2018 and 2022. Volunteer citizen-scientists will drive the collection of data. Birders from all over the state are encouraged to submit incidental bird sightings, or to adopt one of more than 4,000 survey blocks—about 9 square miles each—mapped out across the state. Adopting a survey block requires more intense scrutiny to identify as many of the breeding birds inside as possible. When complete, the Maine Bird Atlas will provide a wealth of information about how individual bird species are faring in the state. However, we don’t need to wait until 2022 to get insights. Other sources, such as annual Christmas Bird Counts and the atlases from nearby states, can help us understand the changing fates of some species. There are certainly some species much more common in Maine than in years past. The biggest winner—and this is good news for sportsmen—is the Wild Turkey. Hunted out of the state by the early 1800s, it was just in 1978 that Wild Turkeys were reintroduced by state biologists. Just a few years later, the first Maine Bird Atlas recorded them as breeding only in

York and Waldo Counties. We all know that’s no longer the case. Wild Turkeys are now seen all over the state, and the annual hunt, which began in 1986 with just 500 permits, has expanded in season and scope to accommodate some 18,000 hunters each year. Another big winner is the Bald Eagle. The pesticide DDT and other factors reduced the state’s Bald Eagle population to just 14 pairs in 1969. The first annual Maine Audubon Bald Eagles of Merrymeeting Bay trip found just a single bird.

The bird’s rebound after banning DDT and passing protective legislation has been incredible, and birders along on the 50th anniversary Bald Eagle trip, run this past September, spotted 47 different individuals. More than 730 occupied nests were observed this year in a state-run survey, and the bird has been removed from the Endangered Species list. Not all birds are faring well, however. Grassland birds are in major decline, in Maine and throughout New England. As long-grass farm fields disappear and are replaced by development or woods, birds that rely on open areas for food and shelter are disappearing, too. American Kestrels, a sharp little falcon, nimble Tree Swallows and the Bobolink, an animated blackbird, are noticeably absent from many of their former spots. When it’s completed, the Maine Bird Atlas will paint a fuller picture of how more than 250 bird species are faring across the state. Check back in 2022 for the final report. —

Birds of the Month:

American Crows vs. Ravens by Erika Zambello Temperatures had plunged to single digits when my family and I unlocked our cabin on Kennebago Lake to celebrate the week off between Christmas and New Year’s www.MaineSportsman.com

Eve. We had skiing, snowshoeing and sledding planned for the next few days atop the deep, dazzlingly white snow drifts. But first, we had to clean house: a little red squirrel had somehow become trapped in one of the side bedrooms, freezing to death during extra frigid temperatures. As soon as we discovered the unfortunate form, we threw it out into the snow-covered front yard, expecting a coyote or other predator to make off with it during the night. Turns out, we didn’t have to wait that long. Within minutes, an inky-black form spread its wings from a nearby tree, dive-bombing the carcass and making off with the squirrel through the woods. Just like that, they both were gone. But was it an American Crow or a Raven? Crows and Ravens are very similar. Both are inky black from head to foot; both are relatively large; both squawk and chortle; and both are very intelligent. However, subtle differences do set them apart. “Generally, the best field mark is looking at the tail shape,” explained Doug Hitchcox of Maine Audubon, “an evenly-lengthened ‘fan’ on American Crows, and a wedge shape on Common Ravens. The best way to think of it is a crow’s tail feathers all being the same length, while a raven has longer central tail feathers.” Ravens are larger in general, but Doug offered that size can be difficult to judge. If you have time to observe them, behavior can be helpful in making a determination: “Ravens tend to do a lot more soaring, and have a slow, shallow wing beat, while American Crows are more purposeful and seem to always be going from point A to point B with a wing-beat that looks more like they are rowing a boat.”

Ravens like this one have wedge-shaped tails (American Crows’ tails are straight across), and ravens are generally large than crows. Erika Zambello photo That settled it – the bird had the wingbeat of a Raven, and it left us all with the impression of just being large. Every winter when we return to Kennebago, we’ll listen for their rough calls in the distance.

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 15

First Annual Maine Sportsman Youth Writing Contest

The contest opens February 1, 2019, and closes May 15, 2019.

The contest is open to boys and girls in New England, in grades 6 – 12.

The written entries should be no longer than 500 words, and must relate to one of the following outdoor topics: fishing; hunting (including sporting dogs); sporting firearms; snowmobiling; ATVing; trapping; boating or canoeing; taxidermy; conservation; or archery. Submissions must consist of non-fiction narratives or essays – there is no poetry division in this contest, and no fiction division.

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Submissions must be original works, and must have been written within the past year. Submissions from students in grades 6 - 8 will be entered in the Junior Division; grades 9 - 12 will be entered in the Senior Division.

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Additional prizes or recognitions may be awarded.

Junior Maine winner: $100 Senior Maine winner: $100 Junior New England winner: $100 Senior New England winner: $100

March 29–31, 2019

Winning submissions, and selected additional submissions, will be published in The Maine Sportsman magazine. Submit entries in an email or as an attachment to an email. Send entries to Will Lund, editor, The Maine Sportsman, at Will@MaineSportsman.com, and include the words “Youth Writing Contest” and the writer’s last name in the email caption. Include your contact information, age, your age and your grade in school, the name of your parent or guardian, and the name of your English or writing teacher. Submissions can also be made through your schools.

You will receive an acknowledgment that your submission has been received.

Questions? Contact the editor at Will@MaineSportsman.com.

Good luck to all contestants!

Thousands of outdoors-minded folks will gather at the Augusta Civic Center for an entire weekend of everything outdoors March 29th–31st. There truly is something for everyone: over 100 exhibitors, kid zone, demonstrations, seminars, taxidermy, art, photography and carving contests, and LOTS MORE! Tickets at the Door: Adults $8, Kids 5-12 $6 (Under 5 Free), Active Military & Seniors $6, 3-Day Bracelet $15

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16 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

George Offers Advice to DIF&W I’ve offered many suggestions for improvements at the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, to our new Governor and DIFW Commissioner as well as legislators. In the December issue of The Maine Sportsman, I told you about my hope that the department will finally receive a guaranteed amount of public funding. This month, I’ll share with you some of my other suggestions.

and visit with Bill from time to time. Today, you must check in downstairs, wear a numbered badge around your neck, and the door upstairs is locked, so you only get in when someone notices you standing outside the door. It’s time to unlock that door! 2) Turkeys Twice in recent years I lobbied for bills to expand the bag limit and eliminate the fee and permit to hunt turkeys, which are included in the big game license. DIFW opposed those bills, but the legislature did agree to expand the bag limit and reduce the fee. Originally, DIF&W

1) Unlock the Door In the good old days, anyone could walk into DIF&W and meet with staff. Commissioner Bill Vail’s door was always open. My Dad would go in

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thought turkeys could only survive along our southern coast, but today they are statewide. I even see them in the north woods. And very few hunters hunt turkeys. I’ve known quite a few who quit turkey hunting because in the spring, you’re hiding in the bushes, and you are covered in deer ticks. Only about 16,000 hunters pursue turkeys in the spring, and only 5,000 in the fall. I saw turkeys everywhere this fall (including 26 on our lawn), but did not see a single turkey hunter. Finally, DIF&W has decided we have too many turkeys, but their solution is to try to recruit more turkey hunters. That will not work. I suggest that we eliminate the fee, so anyone with a big game license can hunt turkeys, and we substantially increase the bag limit so those who do enjoy turkey hunting can take more of them. 3) Fisheries The fisheries division should be reorganized to match the wildlife division, with species specialists and a teamwork approach. The wildlife division works very well,

but the fisheries division is a disaster. For example, the wildlife division worked with advisory groups to craft an exceptional new wildlife management plan. The fisheries division started working on a new plan at the same time, but eventually got rid of its advisory groups and stopped working on the plan. This reorganization is a priority of many of us who’ve worked on fisheries issues for decades.

dies, so why can’t we try to save some of them? Also, moose have become a very popular item for tourists, but I’ve been told that some businesses have given up their moose tours because they couldn’t find a moose to show their customers. I have photos of our kids, when they were young, at our north woods camp, standing on the lawn surrounded by moose. But in the last three years we’ve only seen one moose a year there.

4) Moose Lots of moose are being killed every winter by ticks. Lee Kantor, the well-respected moose biologist at DIF&W, believes that eventually the population will be reduced to a level where ticks will not be such a problem. That is not a satisfactory solution for me. I have suggested setting up feeding stations in the winter to bring the moose in and to spray them to kill the ticks. Lee does not think this will work, but I think we should try it. After all, they can land in a helicopter and put a collar on the moose so they can track it until it

5) Deer We failed to protect deer wintering areas in the north woods and western Maine, and the deer herd was lost, along with lots of nonresident hunters. DIF&W is now managing the north woods for moose but not for deer. This has been a disaster for our outdoor industry – particularly sporting camps. In southern Maine, and all along the coast including on the islands, concern over Lyme disease has caused people to be unhappy to see lots of deer in their neighborhoods. In the late 1990s,

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(Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 17 (Continued from page 16)

Monhegan had the highest per capita cases of Lyme disease. They tried lots of things to solve the problem, none of which worked. So I supported them in their efforts to get a permit to kill all the deer. That was controversial, but when they did it they eliminated Lyme disease. In the last three years, they’ve had one case of Lyme each year, with the ticks being delivered by songbirds. (But no – I’m not suggesting we kill all the songbirds!) DIF&W has been trying to help reduce the deer population in some places, but their strategy is not working. For example, in Eastport, in each of the last three years, they put up tree stands and placed hunters in them trying to shoot 100 deer each year. But they’ve only managed to shoot 20 deer each year. Similar results in other places convinced me that the only real solution is to let hunters, during their hunting seasons, shoot more deer. 6) Marketing DIF&W used to work with the outdoor indus-

try, including guides and sporting camps, to market hunting and fishing in our state. But they don’t do that today. I wrote a book, at the request of Down East Books, about Maine sporting camps, many of which are failing. When I asked them what their greatest challenge is, many said the loss of hunters and anglers. The camps that are open in the winter, serving snowmobilers and cross-country skiers, are doing better. For example, at Claybrook Mountain Lodge in Highland Plantation (east of Kingfield), the Drummond’s most profitable business used to be deer hunting. Today, deer hunting is their least profitable business, while their most profitable business is cross-country skiing. They also hold two wonderful birding weekends in May, which Linda and I have enjoyed for several years. It is critical that DIF&W work with the industry to market hunting, fishing, and other outdoor activities in Maine.

Quotable

Sportsman

by George Smith

“It was like Christmas came in November for this little guy. It’s a good thing that there was a snow day [from school] the day after, because he didn’t sleep much that night. Though the deer only dressed out at 65 pounds, it was a trophy deer for him.” Bill Brosseau of Troy, talking about his 5-year-old son Max, who shot a deer. John Holyoke story, Bangor Daily News, November 20, 2018 — A month ago, the BDN asked readers what they thought of the open-access policy and whether it should be changed. Of those who responded, 54 percent said they thought the state should change its laws to favor land-

The author believes that in certain areas of Maine, especially along the coast, deer are overpopulated and their numbers should be reduced. Photo © Aaron Walter Smith, Ashland; maineman333@outlook.com

owners and for those who would use land they don’t own to gain permission in advance. Another 24 percent of respondents wanted no change at all. And finally, 22 percent did not take a position either way, but did express concerns. John Holyoke story, Bangor Daily News, December 8, 2018 — When Ronald McAlpine of Jacksonville, Florida, hunts for white-tailed deer in his home state, he can shoot as many as he wants. Florida has no bag limit. So why does he come each fall to Maine, which has had a bag limit of one deer for almost a century? “That’s something people down South talk about – the bigger deer in Maine,” McAlpine said. “Most people would like the opportunity to hunt in Maine.” It’s a common refrain. Out-of-state hunters say the allure of bigger bucks and the challenge of hunting in uncrowded woods bring them to Maine.

Deirdre Fleming story, Portland Press Herald, November 17, 2018 — Christine Barnes’ hunting partner on opening day of deer season this fall was very different from years past. But in many ways, she treated him like any other. As Barnes walked slowly through the woods of southern Maine, she spoke to her son, Connor, in a whisper, asking him what he thought about the forest. She told him he was being good, staying quiet. For his part, Connor seemed curious. He smiled and took in the surroundings, but he also slept a lot. After all, Connor is only 7 months old. Christine Barnes hunted with him while he was perched in a baby carrier on her back. Hunting with children is a long-standing tradition in Maine, an opportunity to introduce them to wildlife, the woods and firearm safety at a young age. Deirdre Fleming, Maine Sunday Telegram, November 11, 2018 www.MaineSportsman.com

18 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Maine Wildlife: Gray Squirrel

by Tom Seymour

What a time to be a gray squirrel hunter in Maine! The gray squirrel population has exploded throughout much of the state. Gray squirrels have become commonplace, even in areas with only minimal squirrel habitat. Gray squirrels, Sciurus carolinensis, were never a popular game animal in Maine, mostly because their overall numbers were low, making it hard to locate huntable populations. Ironically, significant numbers of gray squirrels were always present in municipal parks and cemeteries – places perpetually closed to hunting. Gray squirrels have a great affinity for acorns, which explains why they frequent oak stands. Also, squirrels are primarily arboreal and as such, build their nests in holes in trees, or where that isn’t possible, construct leaf nests high up in the forks of tree branches, especially oak trees. Early mornings and late afternoons in early October see squirrels busily hopping from one branch to another, cutting acorn-laden twigs, barking and chattering as they work. Instead of gathering acorns directly from the tree, gray squirrels cut twigs and limb tips, and after a sufficient quantity of these acorn-bearing twigs build up on the ground, the squirrels descend to gather their bounty. It’s easy to spot signs of gray-squirrel activity by noting the cleanly severed twigs on the ground near oak trees. Robber Squirrels In fact, knowing how to read this sign, I was able to solve a local mystery this past fall. A lone apple tree behind my house had suffered deer damage years ago, and it took quite a while to recover. But the deer attacked it again, setting apple production back for several more years. Seeing my despair over this, a neighbor remarked that as soon as the tree grew tall enough, deer wouldn’t be able to reach the tender branches, and apple production could begin in earnest. And so for the last few years, my apple tree has begun to reward me with a handful of apples each year. This year’s crop was greatly diminished during the June drop and after that, only two apples remained. These I monitored daily, waiting for them to fully ripen before harvesting. www.MaineSportsman.com

Tom’s solution for squirrel overpopulation? A tasty stew! Then one day, just as the apples were almost ready to harvest, they were gone. Who or what could have done this? A bear would have broken branches as it climbed up the tree, so it wasn’t a bear. And living back off the road, I had few visitors, and of those, no one would have taken the apples. Then one morning, walking out to re-assess the situation, the answer appeared on the ground in front of me – there were several cleanly-cut twigs, a certain mark of gray squirrel presence. So when a neighbor called, wondering how her apples could have disappeared overnight, I was able to assure her that the culprit was about 18 inches long, gray and with a bushy tail. A gray squirrel or gray squirrels had cleaned out not only my neighbor’s apple trees, but also trees of other landowners in the area. Squirrel Future A television news item this fall explained that because this was a bounty year with more than ample food, gray squirrels had risen to the occasion and expanded their population. That sounded true to a point, but it didn’t fully comport with all the squirrels that had filtered in to Maine over the last few years. My Peterson Field Guide to Mammals says gray squirrels “formerly emigrated in great masses when populations were high.” Indeed, I have heard past tales of great mass migrations of gray squirrels, with thousands of them swimming across major rivers during their journey.

Well, I wonder if many of the gray squirrels happily eating Mainers out of house and home are “from away,” the result of a great gray squirrel exodus from some other state or region. But just having an increased gray squirrel presence doesn’t necessarily imply that it will remain this way forever. After all, Maine has no more oak trees now than before the squirrel irruption. But perhaps the critters have found that they can happily exist on what other foods Maine has to offer. And unfortunately, that menu includes fruits and nuts. Besides that, I’m convinced that squirrels were able to somehow thwart my electric fence and nibble green beans along the edges of my raised-bed gardens. Scattergun or Rimfire Population Control Sometimes, though, we study things to death rather than taking advantage of the situation and just enjoying it. Maine will surely have a significant number of well-distributed gray squirrels next season, meaning that hunters can gear up to take advantage of the bounty. Sitting in an oak woods or perhaps along the edge of an apple orchard in the late afternoon, puts hunters in place to clean up on marauding gray squirrels. So get that .410-gauge shotgun ready for some fast action early next season. Squirrel Stew The first gray squirrel-based dish that comes to mind, especially for people who have never eaten squirrel, is squirrel stew. Folklore and literature have popularized squirrel stew, giving it a well-worn patina – a dish people enjoyed in simpler times past. But squirrel stew remains as tasty and nourishing as it did in Daniel Boone’s day. Indeed, recent surgery saw me consigned to my recliner, unable to get up and do much of anything. A friend, knowing of my plight, brought a still-steaming bowl of squirrel stew and placed it in my lap. Having subsided upon frozen foods, the kind heated in a microwave oven, this stew was to me, ambrosia. Besides that, all the ingredients in the stew, from potatoes to carrots, onions to green beans, came from my friend’s garden. Anyone can do the same, though and if needed, all the ingredients except for the squirrel are available at the market. Any stew recipe will do, and if you can make a palatable beef stew, just substitute quartered gray squirrel. Gray squirrel hunting can be challenging and rewarding. And the rewards don’t end after the hunt, because the sweet flesh goes well in so many dishes. I hope you give it a try.

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 19

Norridgewock Angler Combines Passions for Ice Fishing, Photography by Will Lund

Sunrise, East Pond; December 26, 2018. Photo © Jonathan Wheaton

Jonathan Wheaton of Norridgewock has been doing a lot of ice fishing this winter. “The season got off to a great start,” he reported recently to the Maine Sportsman. “Unlike in recent years

when warm early-winter weather prevailed, we had single-digit temperatures at Thanksgiving, and by the first week in December we were cautiously venturing out onto the ice in ponds and

coves.” Wheaton does much of his ice angling on East Pond in Smithfield. “It was catch-and-release until January, and then we got down to business,” he said. “For bait, we

used shiners caught on fixed lines.” “Most of our catch has been largemouth bass and brown trout,” he said. “I have a new, sharp chisel, and since the ice was only about a foot thick,

it was easy to cut holes. And we stayed warm in a stick-built 6’x8’ shack we constructed two years ago.” Stunning Photos But as passionate (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

20 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Ice Fishing Special

as Wheaton is about ice fishing, he has a second, less-common skill – taking great photographs from the vantage point of the quiet, early-morning ice. “I have always been an early bird, and as any good sunrise/sunset photographer will tell you, getting sunrise pictures doesn’t mean showing up at sunrise – it means getting there well before, and scoping out the scene before the scene presents itself,” he explained.

(Continued from page 19)

How early? “I arrive in the dark,” he said. “I wrap my faithful fishing companion – my dog – in a blanket, put him on the wheeler with me and head down to the pond. I get a fire going in the woodstove to keep him warm, get the traps in the ice and then start thinking about my photography options.” Although he’s received no formal photography training, he has an instinct for great composition and lighting. As a

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result, his work has been featured on a past Maine Sportsman cover (in warmer weather, wearing a plaid shirt, casting out into a mill pond), and he earned high awards at the State of Maine Sportsman’s Show photo contest. He has saved his pennies in order to purchase quality equipment, and he knows how to use it. “I am currently shooting with a Canon 5d Mark IV with various lenses,” he explains. “For photos taken before the sun is up, I’m shooting long exposure – typically 215-seconds plus – with a wide-angle lens to capture everything from the stars in the night sky to the glassy ice in the foreground.” “Morning has always been my favorite time of the day,” Wheaton con(Continued on next page)

— The Maine Sportsman —

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�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 21 (Continued from page 20)

tinued, “so I like to be prepared for it. Usually I am the first on the ice, and it’s a wonderful feeling.” Does he have any advice for beginning photographers who want to improve? “Just get out there and do it,” Wheaton suggests. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions – you will make friends with other photographers, and by sharing information and comparing your approaches, both of you will learn.”

Red Sky at Morn, December 29, 2018; Photo © Jonathan Wheaton

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22 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

ATTENTION ICE ANGLERS These are the only species of fish that may be used as bait in inland waters in Maine:

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�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 23

There Must Be 50 Ways to Wreck Your Sled by Shane Brown In my line of work – power sports mechanics, repair and maintenance – I see a lot of wrecked sleds. Some are wrecked on the outside; others are wrecked on the inside. Let’s take a look at the most common ways Maine riders can wreck their sleds, thereby turning their snowmobiles from sleek, fast machines to immobile fiberglass, metal and rubber backyard ornaments.

Remember, if you are riding off-trail through the woods in deep snow, you may hit something solid and wreck your sled. In other words, by riding into the unknown, you risk hitting the unknown! Method #1 – Oil (or lack thereof). Oil is a factor in many mechanical disasters. If you’re running a two-stroke engine, you need to add oil to an injection tank for the sled to self-mix and burn in order to keep the engine lubricated (In vintage sleds, oil is added di-

HANDLE THE

rectly into the fuel). If you forget to add oil, the story will always end badly. First, it’s a friction problem. That friction problem quickly devolves into a heat problem, at which time the internal parts of the snow machine begin to melt and

TOUGHEST TASKS

fuse together. That leads to what we in the business call “performance issues” (the sled won’t move), and it’s an expensive fix. But avoiding this situation is not difficult! There are rows and rows of warning lights on the dash that are there to

notify you that the oil is low or that the engine is heating up. But some riders never read their owner’s manual and don’t know the significance of the lights, or they see the lights and ignore them, or they just don’t notice them! Oil issues also crop up with 4-stroke engines, although not as frequently. With 4-strokes, riders need to avoid running the engines out of oil. So learn to check the oil lev(Continued on next page)

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24 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Snowmobile Special (Continued from page 23)

Hurry to Your Local Yamaha Snowmobile Dealer for Details! JACKMAN Jackman Powersports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 jackmanpowersports.com

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TOPSHAM Woody’s Performance Ctr. 70 Topsham Fair Mall Road 207-729-1177 woodysyamaha.com

Offer available on approved purchases of new 2016-2019 Yamaha Snowmobiles made on the Yamaha Credit Card issued by WebBank, member FDIC. Subject to credit approval as determined by WebBank. Offer valid 1/1/19 through 3/31/19. Available to cardholders of the WebBank Yamaha Card. Account must be open and current to be eligible for this offer. Promotional 0%, 3.99%, 6.49% or 13.49% APR with Minimum Payments of 1%, 1.34%, 1.55% or 2.13% respectively of the purchase price balance, based on your creditworthiness, are effective for 36 months from the transaction date. Thereafter, you will be charged your standard APR 15.99%-23.99%. Minimum Interest Charge $2 per month. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH CUSTOMER CASH OFFER. † Customer cash offer good on select models between 1/1/2019 through 5/31/2019. See dealer for additional customer cash available on prior year models. 2

el, and read in the manual about the recommended oil changing schedule – you always check oil levels and change oil regularly on your truck, so just learn to treat your snowmobile at least as well. Method #2 – Forgetting to check your sliders for wear. Your sled is equipped with sliders or Hyfax – these are simple parts, but they are what we call a “wear item,” and you’ve got to keep an eye on them. Sliders are essential – they allow the track to spin freely between the aluminum rails. The danger of forgetting to check the sliders is that you can wear through the track or the aluminum rails. There is no set amount of mileage that will automatically result in a need for replacement; rather,

that depends on your riding conditions. That’s because the Hyfax or slider is lubricated by the snow, so if you use your sled during a winter that’s icy and without much snow accumulation, you will wear through your sliders more quickly. To prevent problems, therefore, remember to keep an eye on them. If you spot a thin area, or if they are wearing unevenly, then have them replaced. Ignoring worn sliders will result in permanent damage that will be costly to fix. Method #3: Striking an Immovable Object. This next method of wrecking your sled might seem obvious, but every winter, we see it happen – a rider decides to go off trail, then decides to go fast, and sooner or later the rider hits a stump, (Continued on next page)

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LEWISTON Central Maine Powersports 845 Main Street 207-689-2345 centralmainepowersports.com

LITTLETON, NH Littleton MotorSports 515 Union Street 603-444-5003 littletonmotorsports.com

OQUOSSOC Oquossoc Marine Inc. 87 Carry Road 207-864-5477 oquossocmarine.com *Offers vary by model. Offers valid on select new 2016 – 2019 Polaris snowmobiles purchased between 1/1/2019 - 2/28/2019. Minimum Payments required. Offer may not be combined with certain other offers, is subject to change and may be extended or terminated without further notice. All rebates are paid to the dealer. The Promotional Limited Warranty consists of the standard 12-month factory warranty plus an additional 12, or 24 months of additional promotional limited warranty coverage for a total of 24 or 36 months of warranty coverage. Any additional warranty coverage after the initial 12-month factory warranty is subject to a $50.00 deductible per visit. Valid at participating Polaris Snowmobile dealers only. Model & year exclusions apply. See your local dealer for details.Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. Program minimum amount financed is $5,000 and 0% – 10% down payment required. Sales tax, registration fees, and dealer fees not included. Minimum Amounts Financed, Interest Charges, and penalties for accounts non-current, may apply. Financing promotions void where prohibited. Valid at participating Polaris dealers only. Always wear an approved helmet and eye protection. Observe all state and local laws. Respect the rights of others. Ride within your capabilities. Allow extra time and plenty of distance for maneuvering. Do not perform stunts. ©2014 Yamaha Motor Corp, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 25

The

Before you ride your machine or someone else’s, learn where the oil tank is located and what the level should (Continued from page 25) be. Make sure someone has some extra oil along on the trip, because many internal engine problems start out as oil problems. Pay attention to warning lights on the dash that signal low oil or rising engine heat. Shane Brown photo

pole or rock. Now, riding off-trail is one of the most thrilling aspects of snowmobiling. Smooth, light snow; forging your own trail – hey, it’s just like the ads on television. However, folks forget that off-trail is not like

on-trail. In short, if you are riding in the woods in deep snow, you may hit something solid. In other words, by riding into the unknown, you risk hitting the unknown. Hitting solid objects

Wide World of Arctic Cat

— Visit Your Local Arctic Cat Dealer for the Latest Promotions — CARIBOU Plourde & Plourde 11 Laurette Street 207-496-3211 plourdeplourde.com

GORHAM White Rock Outboard 351 Sebago Lake Road 207-892-9606 whiterockoutboard.com

SKOWHEGAN Whittemore & Sons 257 Waterville Road 207-474-2591 whittemoreandsons.com

EAST LEBANON Northeast Motorsports 451 Carl Broggi Hwy. 207-457-2225 nemotorsportsofmaine.com

JACKMAN Jackman Power Sports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 jackmanpowersports.com

BERLIN, NH Jericho Motorsports LLC 232 Jericho Rd 603-752-7424 jerichomotorsports.com

SIDNEY Kramer’s Inc. 2400 West River Road 207-547-3345 kramersinc.com

(Continued on next page)

RIGHT GEAR + RIGHT SLED =

PERFECT RIDE

Get That

Feeling

Visit Your Local Ski-Doo Dealer for the Latest Promotions! AUBURN Wallingford Equipment 2527 Turner Road 207-782-4886 wallingfordequipment.com

JACKMAN Jackman Power Sports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 jackmanpowersports.com

AUGUSTA North Country Ski-doo 3099 N. Belfast Ave. 207-622-7994 northcountryh-d.com

LEEDS Reggie’s Kawasaki Ski-doo 255 US Hwy 202 207-933-4976 doitatreggies.com

CARIBOU Plourde & Plourde 11 Laurette Stree 207-496-3211 plourdeplourde.com

LINCOLN Lincoln Power Sports 265 West Broadway 207-794-8100 lincolnpowersports.com

DETROIT Huff Powersports 284 North Road 207-487-3338 huffpowersports.com

WINDHAM Richardson’s Boatyard 850 Roosevelt Tr, Rt 302 207-892-9664 richardsonsby.com

FORT KENT Fort Kent Powersports 377 Caribou Road 207-834-3659 fortkentpowersports.com

COLEBROOK, NH Lemieux Garage Inc. 161 Main St 603-237-4377 lemieuxgarage.com

GREENVILLE JUNCTION Moosehead Motor Sports 13 Industrial Park 207-695-2020 mooseheadmotorsports.com ©2018 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Products in the United States (US) are distributed by BRP US Inc. Always ride safely and responsibly. *Observed HP measured on internal Dyno test in optimal conditions for 2-stroke engines.

www.MaineSportsman.com

26 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Snowmobile Special (Continued from page 25)

causes fairly predictable damage. The most common result is tearing an A-arm off the sled, which results in an immediate cessation of forward motion. Usually, this damage can be easily fixed by purchasing and installing a new A-arm. We’ve also seen riders strike sharp objects in such as way as to rip their machine’s track. This is a major item that will also stop you in your, well, tracks. You will need to get towed home, and the replacement track is expensive, especially for the bigger paddle tracks. The worst incident I saw of this type was a customer with a one weekold sled who hit a stump. The stump went right up through the floorboard on the sled, cutting a twofoot long slice right down the middle.

This ended the gentleman’s riding season. The only way to fix the sled was to replace the entire tunnel. This was a good opportunity for the rider to get to know his insurance company much better, and to fully explore the limits of his insurance policy coverage. Method #4: Neither a Lender Nor a Borrower Be. The final category of disaster, I will refer to simply as the “buddy factor.” The quickest way to ruin a sled – and a friendship – is by loaning or being loaned a snowmobile. We have seen way too many times that folks let their buddy borrow their sled for the weekend, and what they get back is a repair bill. Sometimes it is a mechanical breakdown that would have occurred no matter who

Friday, March 29th 1PM–8PM Saturday, March 30th 9AM–7PM Sunday, March 31st 9AM–4PM AUGUSTA CIVIC CENTER

Sliders are a “wear item,” and the rate of wear is more than just a function of accumulated miles. Rather, because the sliders are lubricated by snow, if you frequently ride on ice and gravel you will experience faster wear. Failure to replace worn sliders risks other, more expensive repairs. Shane Brown photo

was riding the sled – in other words, it was just time for that part to fail. Other times it’s the result of abuse – from beating the sled through every bump, resulting in bent parts or a ruined skid frame. But most frequently, it’s what lawyers would call “negligence” – ne-

glecting a maintenance issue, or hitting an object with the sled. So before borrowing or lending your sled, have a discussion about what happens if something goes wrong. Either the lender will have to agree to accept the machine back as is, or the borrower will have to agree to

The 39th Annual

State of Maine

Sportsman Show

pay for any damage done to the sled. This isn’t a matter of not trusting someone or unnecessarily finding fault; rather, things just happen. Keep in mind they are called “accidents,” not “on purposes”!

NEW THIS YEAR: 3-Day Bracelet Only $15 — PLUS — PRE-SALE TICKETS AVAILABLE CALL (207) 622-4242 $ 5 Picked Up or $6 Shipped — TICKETS AT THE DOOR — Adults $8, Kids Ages 5-12, Active Military & Seniors $6

Mark Your Calendars for Maine’s Premier Outdoor Show! Outdoor enthusiasts wait all winter long for the spring thaw and what better way to spend one of those spring weekends than at Maine’s biggest outdoor trade show,

the 39th annual State of Maine Sportsman’s Show!

Thousands of outdoors-minded folks will gather for an entire weekend of everything outdoors March 29–31. There truly is something for everyone: over 100 exhibitors, kid zone, demonstrations, seminars, taxidermy, art, photography and carving contests, and LOTS MORE!

STATE OF MAINE FIREARMS AUCTION WILL BE HELD AT THE SHOW!

Sunday, March 31st at 12PM • Your Show Ticket Gets You Into the Auction • Seized & Donated Guns Will Be Auctioned

For Exhibitor or Seminar Registration, Contact Linda Lapointe at (207) 622-4242 or linda@mainesportsman.com

show.mainesportsman.com — STAY TUNED TO OUR WEBSITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE FOR UPDATES! —

www.MaineSportsman.com

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 27

Snowmobile Rental & Guided Tour Directory

Moosehead Region Trailside Lodging

SNOWMOBILE RENTALS RECENTLY RENOVATED Trailer Parking Direct Trail Access Lodging & Snowmobile Packages Available

Greenville, Maine 1-866-223-1380 MaineOutfitter.com

Greenville, ME • 1-800-792-1858

MooseMountainInn.com

Rockwood, ME • (207) 534-2261 Open 7 Days Heated Snowmobile Storage

WE RENT POLARIS & SKI-DOO SNOWMOBILES! mooseheadsled.com

Discover Maine’s

BLACK FLY LOOP Ride Maine’s High Mountains & Lakes Region LOONEY mOOSE cAFE Gourmet Cooking with DownHome Atmosphere!

Folks love our Ultimate French Toast & for lunch: THE STEAK BOMB!

WOW!

9 Main St., Stratton, ME

(207) 246-7932

Open Year Round

What’s Your Sign? THIS IS OURS! Hunting, Fishing, Hiking, Kayaking and ATV Direct Trail Access Fully Furnished Housekeeping Cabins with Showers

Camp Located in Eustis, Maine Reasonable Rates • WiFi and Dish TV

breezyacrescamps.com Hosts & Owners: Dale & Edie Dunlap All Major Credit Cards Accepted

The Largest, Most Varied Terrain in the East Over 2 Million Acres of Spectacular Mountain & Lake Riding FRANKLIN COUNTY • MAINE

www.Snowmobile-Maine.com

The White Wolf Inn & Restaurant

Home of the Wolf Burger!

Thousands of Miles of Spectacular Mountain Riding Await You Just Outside Your Door!

— Stratton, ME • (207) 246-2922

thewhitewolfinn.com

www.MaineSportsman.com

28 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

19TH ANNUAL

Lincoln Sno-Cross Races FEBRUARY 9 & 10, 2019 LINCOLN POWER SPORTS 265 W. Broadway, Lincoln

207-794-8100

Sponsored by Lincoln Snowhounds Snowmobile Club Rain Dates: March 9th & 10th Lincoln Snowhounds Clubhouse, Town Farm Road, Off Rt 2, Lincoln, Maine Races Begin at 11 AM Daily • Registration: 8AM-10AM Daily

$4,000 PRO PURSE!

AMATEUR DIVISION: Sport Open Trail, Sport Open, Sport Women, Sport Over 40 Sport Old Iron, Sport Juniors, Sport 120/200cc ______________________________ _______________________________

Sales • Service • Parts • Gear • Clothing

www.LincolnPowerSportsME.net

PROFESSIONAL DIVISION: Pro 500 , Pro 600, Pro Open, Pro Juniors, Pro Youth 120/200cc For Additional Info: Technical Info: Kevin Steward 207-794-1037 kjsx3@myfairpoint.net General Info: Alan Smith alan@fastco-corp.com or find Lincoln Snowhounds on Facebook

Your one stop Agency for Land, Camps, Lake & Residential Homes

DONT MAKE A MOVE WITHOUT US! 309 W. Broadway • Lincoln, ME

207-794-2700

Email: vidube@hotmail.com

AcresAway.MaineListings.com

74 Main Street, Lincoln, ME (800) 799-6522 • (207) 794-6522 Open Monday–Friday 7:30AM–5PM • Saturday 7:30AM–12PM

www.colewhitneyford.net

www.MaineSportsman.com

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 29

Buying a Boat: What Style Best Suits Your Needs? by Bob Humphrey

The author started with a 14-foot aluminum boat, then moved to a 17-foot side console, next to a bowrider, and finally (since his priorities have shifted to saltwater) to this 20-foot center console, modified with a T-top fabricated by Cumberland Ironworks, of Pownal, Maine. Bob Humphrey photo

This is it – you’ve scrimped, saved and finally decided to buy that boat you’ve always wanted. And what better time? Show season is here, with all its sales and incentives. Go for it, but proceed slowly and steadily. Buying a new boat represents

Determine how you’ll use a boat – Fishing? Tubing or water skiing? Sunset cruises around the lake? Striper fishing in the bay? Then determine your budget. Any boat is a compromise, but you can always upgrade later. In fact, trust me – you will! a significant investment. That’s why it’s important to select a boat that best suits your specific wants

and needs. What follows are some tips on how to narrow down the choices.

No Boat is Perfect You will never find one boat that is just right for you, so let’s get that

notion out of the way now. No matter what you choose, you’re going to have to compromise on some things. The best you can do is come close. I know, because I’ve spent a lot of time around boats, owned a bunch and have yet to (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

30 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Boating Special (Continued from page 29)

find one that suits all my

needs.

That’s why I usually own several at any given time. Application

Start the purchase process by preparing a list of intended uses, in order of priority. Nobody purchases a boat for one use. You can pull a water skier with a fishing boat and fish out of a duck boat, but you should lean toward your primary application, then compromise on secondary uses. Another consideration is where you’ll be using it. Fiberglass is usually, though not always, a better option for salt water applications, because ocean water is highly corrosive. But, you don’t see many fiberglass duck boats either. I wouldn’t leave my “tin” boat moored or docked for long periods in salt water, but trailering makes it a very viable option. Speaking of trailers, go galvanized, especially if you have any intention of ever putting it in salt water. Pull-start and Tiller, or Electric Start and

Console? It’s probably fair to say that for the majority of folks reading this, fishing is a priority. But what type of fishing? What type of water? What season? Just starting out? It’s hard to beat a good old-fashioned aluminum john boat, especially if cost is a consideration. You can always upgrade later (and trust me, you will). Next, start adding amenities. I put up with pull-start, tiller-control motors for years, but never will again. To me, the convenience of electric start and a console far outweighs the added cost and number of items requiring service and repair. Think about where you want to place your assets. Do you want flat, bench seats or cushion seats? Are you okay with a curved floor, or would you prefer the convenience and comfort of a (Continued on next page)

The Honda Power of Boating

CELEBRATION!

GETwith UP TO $700 INSTANT SAVINGS the Purchase of Any New 40hp–250hp Honda Marine Outboard! *

Visit Your Local Honda Marine Dealer for Details! ELLSWORTH Pirie Marine 53 Sunset Park Road (207) 664-0500 piriemarine.com

PORTLAND Portland Yacht Services 400 Commercial Street (207) 774-1067 portlandyacht.com

WINDHAM Richardson’s Boat Yard 622 White’s Bridge Road (207) 892-4913 richardsonsbycom

MACHIAS Whitney’s Tri-Town Marine 29 Dublin Street (207) 255-3392 tritownmarine.com

SOUTHPORT Hodgdon Yacht Services 100 Ebenecook Road (207) 633-2970 hodgdonyachtservices.com

YORK York Harbor Marine 20 Harris Island Road (207) 363-3602 yorkharbormarine.com

*At participating dealers only. Qualifying retail customers may receive instant savings off the selling price of a Honda powered boat package or Honda Marine engine(s) sold for repower. This promotion is limited to new Honda Marine 40 HP through 250 HP outboard engines, 2014 and newer models, sold and delivered between January 3, 2019 and June 3, 2019 and registered by the Dealer in accordance with American Honda Motor Co., Inc.’s sales registration requirements. Only Honda Marine outboard engines sold for personal use qualify for this promotion. Fleet, commercial & government sales are ineligible. Engines sold under special pricing / promotions including (but not limited to) demo and tournament fisherman engines are also excluded. Honda Marine reserves the right to modify, amend, cancel or revoke, in whole or in part, this promotion at any time without prior notice. **Boat Show Only savings promotion can only be applied to eligible units sold by an Authorized Honda Marine Dealer at a regional boat show and delivered to the customer by March 31, 2019 and registered by the Dealer in accordance with American Honda Motor Co., Inc.’s sales registration requirements. Only units sold for personal, non-commercial use qualify. Units sold by Honda Marine under special sales programs, including Fleet Sales, Demo or Tournament Fisherman program are NOT eligible for this promotion. © 2018 American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual. All Honda outboards meet EPA and CARB emission levels.

www.MaineSportsman.com

For a limited time, receive five years of factory-backed coverage – two years of Mercury® Product Protection Gold in addition to three years of standard limited warranty – on ALL NEW Mercury Outboards. Go Boldly.

QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, INNOVATION, RELIABILITY. Contact Your Local Mercury Outboards Dealer for Details! EAST BOOTHBAY Ocean Point Marina 216 Ocean Point Road (207) 633-0773 oceanpointmarina.com

MACHIAS Whitney’s Tri-Town Marine 29 Dublin Street (207) 255-3392 tritownmarine.com

*Exclusions: All Mercury Racing, Government, donations as well as engines sold for commercial, camp or resort applications, guide & outfitter registrations, CPO, SportJet Pumps and sales/registrations outside the United States or Canada. Also excludes any non-U.S. or Canada resident, or address outside of the U.S. or Canada. Two-stroke (non-DFI) engines are excluded. Units have to be manufactured in current calendar year and four immediately preceding years. Excludes sales from non-authorized dealers. Engines on the Angling or Sponsorship program do not qualify. Offer expires March 31, 2019.

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 31 (Continued from page 30)

flat deck? The latter also allows for fixed or removable pedestal seats, which gives you greater flexibility. Sorting it Out Getting confused with all the choices? Here are a few general recommendations on the more common boat styles. 14-16-foot open aluminum john boat – With an open floor and tiller control for the penny-pincher, or flat deck and a side console, this is ideal for the weekender who fishes the local lakes, ponds and rivers. It’s light, easily trailerable, allows you to get into small places and still offers enough room for three fishermen. Get it in olive drab, or buy/build a set of curtains, and it doubles as a duck boat. 18-20-foot aluminum bowrider - This is the top choice for the guy or gal who wants to be on the big water at ice-out, and then continues trolling for togue throughout the summer, and may occasionally make a striper fishing trip or two. Add collapsible curtains and a walk-through windshield for more comfort. It will also make a great recreational (ski, tube) and pleasure cruising boat. As a second choice, give strong consideration to an open, side-console design like the Lund Alaskan. It’s a bit less of a pleasure cruiser, but doubles nicely as a duck boat. 18-20-foot aluminum center console - Several years ago, engineers from Polarkraft teamed up with product development folks from L.L. Bean’s hunt-fish department to design the ideal multi-purpose sportsman’s boat. The result was the Outlander. Essentially a Lund Alaskan on steroids, it offered a good compromise of flat deck comfort and storage, together with durability, as well as a choice of cen-

ter or side console. You can still get it on smaller waters, but will be safer and more comfortable on larger waters, albeit not quite as comfortable as a bowrider style. 18-20+ fiberglass bowrider - This is first and foremost a recreational pleasure cruiser. If you like to ski, tube or wakeboard, and take sunset cruises in comfort, this is your boat. Find one with a couple rod holders, or add some, and you can use it as a fishing boat. 18-20+ fiberglass center console - You can ski behind this as well, but it’s the ultimate saltwater fishing machine. Most will have high enough freeboard to handle any coastal waters, even on a bad day, and allow the bolder, more experienced mariners to venture a little farther offshore. The center console design also allows anglers to move around the boat without interference when fighting larger fish. 18-20-foot bass boat - I haven’t really mentioned this style up ’til

now because I don’t have much experience with them. It’s a specialty boat, designed largely for

two specific applications I don’t do much – bass fishing, and going really fast. They’re typically

side-console with lots of flat deck and little other than pedestal seats above (Continued on next page)

SAY YES TO RELIABILITY — SALES EVENT —

Now through March 31, 2019, purchase a new, eligible 2.5 hp to 115 hp four-stroke Yamaha outboard and get five years of warranty protection PLUS up to $500 in dealer credit. Buy an eligible 150 hp to 300 hp outboard and get an amazing six years of warranty protection!*

— See Your Local Yamaha Outboard Dealer for Details! — BAR HARBOR Bowden Marine Service 713 Norway Drive • (207) 288-5247 BowdenMarine.com

THOMASTON Jeff’s Marine 2 Brooklyn Heights Road • (207) 354-8777 JeffsMarine.com

SOUTHPORT Hodgdon Yacht Service 100 Ebenecook Road • (207) 633-2970 HodgdonYachtServices.com

ROCHESTER, NH NECC Boats 144 Flagg Road • (207) 335-1570 NECCBoats.com

Consumer benefit for purchasing a new (unused, not previously warranty registered) select eligible Yamaha 150hp to 300hp four-stroke outboard is a 36-month Yamaha Extended Service contract (choice offered in Florida is a 36-month Yamaha Limited Warranty). Consumer benefit for purchasing a new eligible 2.5hp to 115hp four-stroke outboard is a credit based on MSRP toward the purchase of goods and/or services at the authorized participating dealer that sold the outboard, at no extra cost to consumer plus a 24-month Yamaha Extended Service contract (choice offered in Florida is a 24-month Yamaha Limited Warranty). NO BENEFIT SUBSTITUTIONS. To be eligible, outboards must have been manufactured since January 2012. Promotion is only applicable from authorized participating Yamaha Outboard dealers in the U.S.A. sold to purchasing consumers residing in the U.S.A. Promotion is limited to available stock in dealer inventory that is sold, PDI completed, delivered and warranty registered on YMBS by the dealer in accordance with Yamaha’s promotion and warranty registration requirements during applicable dates. Applicable models may vary. Any new models introduced after December 1, 2018 are NOT eligible for this promotion. No model substitutions, benefit substitutions, extensions or rain checks will be allowed. Outboards sold or provided for commercial, camp, resort, guide, rental, promotional/demo, government agency, competition, tournament or sponsorship use are not eligible. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other Yamaha offer. Some exceptions may apply. See authorized participating Yamaha dealer for complete details. Yamaha reserves the right to change or cancel this promotion at any time. Other restrictions and conditions may apply. REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear. © 2019 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

SOUTHPORT Lake & Sea Boatworks (207) 288-8961 lakeandsea.com

PORTLAND SOUTHPORT STANDISH Portland Hodgdon Richardson’s Yacht Services Yacht Services Boat Yard (207) 774-1067 (207) 633-2970 (207) 892-4913 portlandyacht.com hodgdonyachtservices.com richardsonsby.com

www.MaineSportsman.com

32 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Boating Special (Continued from page 31)

the freeboard. They also tend to be a bit pricey, but if you’re a hard-core bass angler, this might be the right boat for you.

Pontoon - Don’t overlook pontoon boats. I don’t have much experience with them, but I can certainly see their advantages for certain applica-

tions. For example, if you live on a larger waterbody or have a camp there, and want a boat to tie up to your dock for the season, it’s great. You can fish, pleasure cruise and socialize. You can take the kids tubing, wake-board-

ing or even water skiing, depending on the size outboard you’ve got to push it along. Next month, Part 2 – Size, Accessories and Brands. Bob Humphrey is a wildlife biologist,

award-winning outdoor writer, registered Maine guide and U.S.C.G. licensed captain who has pursued large and small game and fish across North America for more than five decades.

Successful (and Fast) Moose Hunt for Visconti Family

(From left): The Visconti clan – younger brother William, grandfather Bill, successful permit-holder Sophia, and father Bill.

Sophia Visconti was selected for a bull moose permit in Zone 4 last fall, and the whole family accompanied her up to camp, prepared for a 6-day stay, if necessary. It wasn’t necessary. “She’d been practicing her shooting, and she said if she got a shot she would not miss,” reported her proud grandfather, Jim Visconti. At 7:05 a.m. on the first day, Sophia spotted a big bull moose. “One shot, 100 yards with her .308, and the moose didn’t take another step,” recalled Jim. The bull weighed an estimated 1,000 pounds. “We returned to the camp of our gracious hosts the Castonguays, packed up, and we were headed back to Turner by noon -- about as fast as a moose hunt can go,” said Jim.

THE BEST COVERAGE IN THE INDUSTRY Ten full years of factory backed, non-declining, fully transferable coverage*. Just another reason for you to spend time on the water. — Stop by Your Local Evinrude Dealer for Details! —

Marina: 633 White’s Bridge Road • Standish, ME • 207-892-4913 Hours: Mon–Fri 8AM–4:30PM

Annex: Route 302 • Windham, ME • 207-892-9664 Hours: Tue–Fri 8AM–5PM, Sat 8AM–3PM

www.richardsonsby.com

All dollar values are USD. Participating dealers are responsible for a portion of the rebate, and may affect final negotiated price. Dealer sets actual price. Prices may vary by dealer. Offer expires 3/31/19. See dealer for further details.

www.MaineSportsman.com

LIVERMORE FALLS Gagnon Boats & Motors 189 Park Street (207) 897-4681 gagnonboats.com

PORTLAND Portland Yacht Services 400 Commercial Street (207) 774-1067 portlandyacht.com

ROCKPORT Yachting Solutions 229 Commercial Street (207) 236-8100 yachtingsolutions.com

©2018 BRP US Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®,™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates. Offer valid only to qualified buyers on purchases of engines bought for recreational use only. Excludes engines purchased under commercial, professional, and government programs. Offer is valid in North America only on new and unused Evinrude E-TEC® engines purchased, delivered and registered between 12/17/18 and 3/31/19 at an authorized, participating Evinrude dealer. *10-YEAR COVERAGE: Subject to all exclusions, limitations of liabilities, and all other terms and conditions of BRP’s standard limited warranty and B.E.S.T. contract, including without limitation the exclusions of damages caused by abuse, abnormal use or neglect (see B.E.S.T. contract for specific details of coverage and exclusions). Offer effective on all new and unused 15 H.O. and above Evinrude E-TEC outboard engines. Eligible models will receive 10-year coverage (3 years of BRP Limited Warranty and 7 years of BRP Extended Service Terms [B.E.S.T.] coverage) subject to a $50 deductible on each repair. Benefit offered to Florida residents is a 10-year BRP Limited Warranty. Evinrude Jet Series engines are eligible for 10-year coverage offer on the upper unit only. The jet pump assembly will only receive a 3-year BRP limited warranty. All rigging components purchased on the same bill of sale as the engine, will be covered under the same BRP Extended Service Terms as the engine. Offer subject to change without notice. See your authorized, qualified Evinrude dealer for details. Terms and conditions apply. Offer may not be assigned, traded, sold or combined with any other offer unless expressly stated herein. OFFER VOID WHERE RESTRICTED OR OTHERWISE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 33

Pland! DON’T WAIT UNTIL APlan head! NEXT SPRING! Ahea — Boat Tops, Covers & Interiors —

For current Maine Boating Laws, go to www.maine.gov/ifw.

Schedule boat top, cover and seat repair work for the off season. Some items can be left with us all winter for spring pick-up! We do pontoon boats, too!

DON’T WAIT UNTIL NEXT SPRING!

Call Now for More Information

Covers It All Upholstery & Canvas (207) 465-7847 • 1-1/2 Miles West Off I-95 Exit 127 • Oakland, ME

CoversItAllUpholstery.com

YOU WORK HARD. PLAY HARDER. YOU DESERVE A HEWITT. Canopies

Roll-A-Dock

Classic Docks

Hydraulic Lifts

Boatlifts

hewittrad.com ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION – 15 YEAR WARRANTY | RANGE OF ACCESSORIES – CANOPIES, BUMPERS, ETC. Dealer opportunities available in certain areas, contact Brad at brad.h@hewittrad.com.

2019 MAINE BOAT SHOWS

Large Discounts on Leftover Boats! Pontoon Boats

PORTLAND BOAT SHOW: February 28–March 3 • Portland Sports Complex AUGUSTA BOAT SHOW: March 8–10 • Augusta Civic Center BANGOR BOAT SHOW: March 21–23 • Cross Insurance Center MAINE BOATBUILDERS SHOW: March 22–24 • Portland Sports Complex STATE OF MAINE SPORTSMAN’S SHOW: March 29–31 • Augusta Civic Center

WHITE ROCK OUTBOARD, INC. 351 Sebago Lake Road, Gorham, ME www.whiterockoutboard.com

207-892-9606

www.MaineSportsman.com

34 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

The Fishing’s Good in the Neighborhood Aroostook County is the largest American county by land area east of the Rocky Mountains – a singular distinction of which we residents are very proud. Polka-dotting this vast expanse of forest and agri-fields are hundreds of lakes, ponds, puddles and pools – a sufficient number to fulfill the dreams of any avid angler. During the winter months when severe snow depths and weather conditions curtail easy access to many of these waterways and others are closed to ice fishing, neighborhood lakes become a blessing to many hard-water fishermen. Oft-Overlooked Arguably, the Fish River Chain of Lakes is the most popular set of year-’round fishing destinations in the state – certainly in The County during ice fishing season. Oddly, Long and Square garner a great

Here in The County, there’s no need to travel 50 miles to go ice fishing, since some of the best angling is found in “neighborhood” lakes. And there are other advantages, as well – while fishing on Drew’s Lake last year, we watched as a trio of anglers had hot pizza delivered to the boat ramp. Now that’s neighborhood fishing at its best!

An abundance of neighborhood lakes throughout Aroostook allow groups of family or outdoor buddies to gather on sunny days, where they can enjoy fishing and friendship close to home. All photos by Bill Graves

deal of attention, while Eagle Lake is often overlooked and attracts only moderate pressure to its vast frozen surface. While salmon, brook trout and smelt fin around all of these sister waters, Eagle offers the added incentive of lake trout, and there are a surprising number

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to the far reaches of this huge slab of ice, it’s only a short hike on foot or with snowshoes to set out tipups at top-rate locations. Reachable in 15-20 minutes by ice-drillers from Eagle Lake village, Soldier Pond, Wallagrass and Fort Kent, Eagle Lake is a neighborhood

locale, making it perfect for a couple of hours or a half-day venture. Check out Delorme’s Atlas, Map 67, E-5 and Map 68, E-1 for a full overview of roads and likely fishing spots. Visiting sportsmen who wish to rent a snowmobile or purchase ice fishing gear will find a wide selection in Fort Kent and Eagle Lake. Fine restaurants, rental camps and hotel accommodations are also available for anglers spending a weekend or a week. These are great amenities for a neighborhood lake, and anglers can be fishing after only a short drive. Unlike spring fishing, when trolling allows coverage of extended areas and multiple bait options, ice fishing is far more confining, so it’s important to select likely “hot spots,” so to speak. Near the mouths of Nadeau and Michaud thoroughfares are good au(Continued on next page)

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Neighborhood lakes -- those within 20 minutes of home -- offer the opportunity to pack up the kids and enjoy a short outing. Sometimes, the fish are almost as big as the fisherman! (Continued from page 34)

ger sites, as are Plaisted Point and Browns Point. Miller Brook inlet and the mouth of Black Brook near Mad Rock are also productive spots for a portable shanty. Three Brooks Cove is aptly named, as it features a trio of brooks inletting – a very dependable area for all species. Thanks to Eagle Lake’s long boomerang shape, crowding is seldom a problem, and it’s a closeby option for winter anglers from several nearby towns and villages. Popular Portage Another frozen gem located in central Aroostook with simple access and close to Ashland, Portage, Frenchville and Nashville Plantation is Portage Lake. Route 11 offers access to the lake’s southeast tip, right in the town of Portage. Here are numerous access points along West Road, and a public landing that’s kept plowed for winter parking at the road’s termination. Peruse DeLorme’s Atlas, Map 63, C-5 and Map 64, C-1 for roads and fishing locations. Portage Lake gets steady interest, but despite the neighborhood closeness it seldom receives heavy pressure, due to the fact that there are a half-dozen “big name” lakes within 30

Nearby lakes and ponds offer Aroostook ice-drillers the chance to make a quick visit for a couple of hours before or after work, or even on busy weekends. As illustrated here, the results can be very rewarding.

minutes’ travel. Here too, snowmobiles are an asset, but most of the time I park at the boat launch and set traps within 100 yards of the shoreline. Brook trout action is superb in the 4- to 10-foot depth north of the ramp. If you haul a portable hut to the lake, set up near Indian Point or Oak Point for some steady smelt handlining, waiting for flags from the warm comfort of the hut’s interior. Brookies average 12 inches, but there are many with 17- to 20-inch length finning about. Salmon run 12 to 16 inches. Hathaway Road leads to the boat launch on the north leg of Portage Lake – an area that gets only light pressure. This waterway is perfect for youngsters and novice ice anglers who may

only want to endure the weather for two or three hours. Dean’s Motor Lodge offers fine food and lodging five minutes from the lake shore. It’s another worthwhile neighborhood lake to check out. Bonus Browns For southern Aroostook ice drillers in the communities of Houlton, Hodgdon, New Limerick, Linneus and Oakfield, Drews Lake is the neighborhood destination. Also called Meduxnekeag Lake, this waterway is actually comprised of three separate segments and is another simple-to-reach, easy-tofish location within 15 minutes of the villages mentioned. It’s a great spot for newbies and youth, and there’s always some action, thanks to a wide array of species.

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easily be fished on foot; in fact, local anglers often plow a path out onto the lake to reach fish huts on the large portion of the waterway. For ease of exploration on the “big lake” or the more distant coves of “The Fishing Grounds,” plan on using a snowmobile. One- and two-pound brookies and salmon are fairly common, while 20” pickerel really put up a tussle and there are white perch larger than your hand. While any brown

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Lisa Levasseur of Sinclair enjoys fishing several lakes within a 20-minute drive from home. After walking 50 yards from shore, she can be fishing on Long Lake, the home of football-shaped salmon.

Even when the larger species of gamefish aren’t biting, pickerel and perch can keep an outing exciting. In this photo, Tom Tardiff adds a fat yellow perch to the day’s catch.

The County (Continued from page 35)

trout is a prize, there are a surprising number in the 3- to 5-pound range, and a few even larger! Lodging, food, fishing

gear and fresh live bait are all available within 15 minutes of the lakeshore, and last year a trio of anglers near our group

had a fresh, hot pizza delivered to the boat ramp from a nearby shop! Now that’s neighborhood fishing at its best. Most every Aroostook town offers a neighborhood lake – I’ve just outlined a trio of great ones.

Columnist Bill Graves hauls a fat and feisty 22” brown trout from a hole on Drews Lake near Houlton. He says one of these unique beauties makes the whole trip worthwhile.

Stockholm has Madawaska Lake, Presque Isle has Arnold Brook Lake, Mars Hill and Bridgewater have Portland Lake, Smyrna has Spaulding and Island Falls has Pleasant Pond – just to name a few. Every winter

fishing trip doesn’t need to be an all-day affair – try a spot close to home. As my dear old Dad used to say: “If the ice fishing is good, three hours is plenty; if it’s slow, it’s two hours too long!

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�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 37

10 Life-Lessons Learned from Snowmobiling

Sno-Prince, Rupp, Sno-Jet, Ski-doo, Suzuki, Whippit, Mercury Sno-Twister, OMC Johnson, Yamaha, Arctic Cat, Moto-Ski, Yamaha – when I recall these words, I get a headache. My fingers throb from the cold, and I can’t feel my toes in my boots. I have learned a whole bunch of life-facts by being a sno-sledder. Just to be clear here, I am not speaking of the new, glamorous machines. The sleds that start when you want them to, bring you to your destination and back on trails that are groomed and marked with signage. Machines with no key, just a button and a battery, with reverse, and with trailers to transport them. Rather, I am referring to real “sno-machines” and the people who rode them. Outdoor folk in the 50s and 60s who operated sno-sleds when snowmobile clubs were a thing of the future. When fast sleds were capable of 45 MPH, if they started. When a big engine was 440 cc. Sleds so loud they would deafen you in minutes. One memory that lingers is working on the iron sleds. These sleds were in constant need of tinkering. If not on the trip out into the woods,

Bob was standing in the dogsled as I towed it at high speed across the ice. Then the hitch failed, causing the front of the dogsled to dig in and stopping its forward progress. The handle caught my friend Bob in the groin area, hurling him skyward. Even as he soared through the air, he was already curled into the fetal position. then for sure on the way back. These breakdowns were one of my first lessons. They taught patience, preparation, survival, and a host of not so nice words. For instance, when my ’68 sled failed to start, I would slide it down my bulkhead and into the basement. A warm basement is a better work area than outside in a -20 F, wind howling out of the Northwest, Maine winter. I knew I had help when Son #1, at 4 years old, would grab his toy toolbox and head downstairs, exclaiming he was going to help me “fix the f#@!%%#g sled.” Life lesson #1: “When working on a snow-sled, always make the kids wear hearing protection!” For trail riding, I would bring extra sparkplugs, extra belt, extra carburetor, tow rope, survival kit, tools, lighter and flashlight. Life lesson #2: “Always bring a mechanic along when you go sno-sledding.”

More Kids-Related Lessons Once running, sleds of that vintage were oodles of fun for family and friends. One cold afternoon, Son #1 asked for my help to start the machine. He was sitting on it. As I yanked the starter cord, the machine roared to life, throttle stuck wide open, hurtling him into the bushes before throwing him when it flipped over. Life lesson #3: “Never help your son when you’re asked to!” Son #2 enjoyed operating the sled. At the ripe age of 8 or 9, bundled up with hat, boots, mittens, parka, and scarf, he was ready to go. Starting the machine, he throttled up. His scarf was sucked into the engine intake, pulling his face against the handlebars. The more throttle he gave it, the closer his cheeks smashed against the steering. Life lesson #4: “Always sit the kids backwards when operating a sled!”

Of course, no winter afternoon was complete without towing the kids. I’d sit the four, five, or six of them on the 8’ toboggan. I would pull them through the backyard swinging ’em to and fro. On one of these fun rides, I swung a little wide. Their toboggan slammed into the 55-gallon metal barrels dad brought home from the mill to use as trash cans. Life lesson #5: “Never bring barrels home from the mill!” Then there was the trip up north pulling the kids on a dogsled. Flying down the snow-covered gravel road, I knew the kids, all six of them, would be having a blast. When I stopped and turned around to see their smiling faces, all I saw was an empty dogsled lying on its side. No kids in sight. Life lesson #6: “Never have children!” In Mid-Air, Already in the Fetal Position The older dogsleds had handles for the rider to grip as the passen-

ger stood in the back of it. The handles worked well if you gripped firmly while trekking across the lake. Of course, if the hitch in front failed, which it did, and the front of the dogsled dug in, which it did, the handle acted as a spear. In fact, it caught my friend Bob in the groin area as he was hurled skyward. In midair he curled into the fetal position, whining in a very high voice even before he landed. Life lesson #7: “Always pay attention, because otherwise you’ll miss witnessing exciting events that last only for a moment!” Brother Ron had purchased a brand new Sno-Jet when on leave from the military. On his return to duty, he gave me permission to use the sled. I was ecstatic. Filling the tank with fresh clear gas, I sped off from the house. The machine ran real fast for a few seconds. The engine blew, lacking the oil I should have added. The difference between a four stroke and a two-stroke engine. Life lesson #8: “Ron should have bought a motorcycle!” How about the night my buddy Steve and I were racing across the (Continued on page 40) www.MaineSportsman.com

38 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Sporting Environmental Work Ahead for Mills Administration Governor Janet Mills and her cabinet have serious work to do to make up lost ground in protecting Maine’s environment. Our new Governor has made it clear that she will make the environment a high priority for her administration. This is great news for those of us who enjoy Maine’s lakes, rivers, forests, coastline, wildlife and clean air. Climate First It’s encouraging to hear that climate change is near the top of Governor Mills’ agenda. No other issue has such a profound impact on outdoor recreation, tourism and other livelihoods that depend on the four seasons that are the hallmarks of northern New England. With federal energy and environmental policies headed in the wrong direction, our state and local governments have to more than make up for the difference. At long last, Maine will join the list of states that have stepped up to take aim at the looming consequences of climate change by developing strategies and policies that move us away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy. This is critical, because Maine’s ecosystems and our economy are closely linked to Maine’s climate – from agriculture and forestry to fishing and tourism. Rebuilding Respect A second priority for the Governor and her cabinet will be rebuilding the Department of Environmental Protection and the other natural resource agencies that play a key role in protecting our land, water, air, wildwww.MaineSportsman.com

The new administration and legislature should take steps to regain trust and respect in the areas of environment and conservation, including restoring funding and staff to key programs such as the Lakes Programs at DEP, and the popular Land for Maine’s Future program.

The Kennebec River, shown here, is an example of why it’s important to revive the DEP’s Lakes Program, which has been critical on protecting freshwater fish and wildlife resources. Van Wie photo

life and fisheries resources. Starting at the top, we sorely need senior policy makers who recognize the work that needs to be done to protect and maintain a healthy, sustainable environment. This starts by restoring respect for the professional staff at DEP and other agencies, whose employees are dedicated to serving Maine’s citizens by applying science and data-driven management to our most challenging problems. Commissioners and bureau directors will have to re-establish lines of communication that allow staffers to do their jobs effectively. It is important for senior staff to appear before legislative committees on issues that affect their area of specialty, attend

professional conferences, and cooperate with other stakeholders who can make good use state resources. This type of collaboration has been rare in recent years. Enforcement Needed Our environmental laws and rules are only effective if they are diligently enforced. It’s unfair to businesses and citizens who do their best to comply with the law, if others are allowed to cut corners by ignoring the rules. A priority for the upcoming biennial budget must be restoring staff and resources dedicated to compliance monitoring and enforcement. In recent years, Maine DEP has all but stopped enforcing state and federal wetlands rules, stormwater rules, and our mandatory

Shoreland Zoning law. Yes, most towns take this responsibility seriously, but there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that too many towns have looked away while landowners improperly cut vegetation or pushed beyond what is allowed in resource protection zones. Monitoring Progress A third priority for the new administration and legislature will be restoring funding and staff to key program areas that protect our resources from decline, including environmental monitoring and the Lakes Programs at DEP, and the popular Land for Maine’s Future program. With over 6,000 lakes and ponds, and tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams, the Pine Tree State is blessed

with so much clean water that it’s easy to take it for granted. But many of us still remember the days when the Androscoggin River was a stinking sewer, and the lower Kennebec and Sebasticook rivers were unswimmable and suffered periodic fish kills due to pollution. It took years of hard work by DEP with considerable cost to taxpayers and industry to bring these rivers back for us to enjoy. Residents and visitors can now fish and paddle on nearly every mile of river and stream in Maine, something that was unthinkable 40 years ago. But there are still segments that don’t attain water quality standards, so it is important to continue monitoring progress and making improvements. More work needs to be done. Lakes at Risk While our rivers have improved, water quality in many of our lakes has declined from nutrient pollution caused by development in the lake watershed. Excess phosphorus loading promotes algae growth and reduces water clarity. And with a warming climate, we can expect to see more algae blooms that disrupt aquatic communities, ruin recreational activities, and decrease property values. The Maine DEP Lakes Program earned recognition as a national leader in battling these problems, until the program was gutted during the past eight years. Today, Maine DEP still lacks the staff needed to collect water qual(Continued on page 40)

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 39

Remington’s Six Decades of Magnum Popularity A story from the deer season just past inspires this month’s column. A long-time reader relayed that his friend, Josh from the Belgrade area, took a fine local deer “near the end of the season, and with the last vestiges of light dimming on the day.” Apparently a passionate hunter, Josh hunts hard every year with varying degrees of success, like most Maine sportsmen. Taking a deer felt good, but the rifle made this year extra special. For the 2018 season, Josh set aside his usual rifle and used a favorite long-serving Remington passed down by his grandfather. The bolt-action Model 700 dates to 1962, the first year for both the model and its 7mm Remington Magnum cartridge. Before purchasing the rifle, Josh’s grandfather no doubt heard stories or read articles claiming Remington’s new idea would do all manner of things better than the venerable .30’06 Springfield cartridge. In 1962 the Remington Company played catch up. Fans of bolt action rifles then used the .30-’06, the .270 Winchester or the ten-yearold .308 Winchester to the exclusion of almost everything else. Remington wanted something to compete with the popular cartridges as well as the 7mm Weatherby Magnum, developed in 1944. Remington tried to catch up with the release the .280 Remington in 1957, but that cartridge did little to dent the .270 Winchester’s market segment. Claims that the 7mm Remington

The measurements prove the claims – the 7mm Remington Magnum is more powerful than the .30-’06. The 140-grain 7mm projectile leaves the muzzle with 3,133 foot pounds of energy, while the .30-’06 launches with 2,839 foot pounds – a not insignificant difference of 294 pounds. Magnum was the more powerful, best alternative to the .30-’06 resonated with buyers, and the round sold well then and now. Magnum Mania Mentioned here dozens of times over the years, the 7mm Remington Magnum long ago deserved its own devoted column. Truth be told, I don’t like it, and often avoid writing about it. I used a Steyr-Mannlicher in 7mm Remington Magnum in Europe during the mid-1980s. Later, I used a Browning A-bolt chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum to hunt elk in Washington

State, and the Roosevelt elk sub-species in Oregon in the early 1990s. Fine for the job, it proved no better than any of the aforementioned cartridges, and had unpleasant side effects of muzzle blast and perceived recoil. That said, the 7mm Magnum’s popularity and sales here in Maine and elsewhere means it deserves consideration. Year after year for almost 60 years, it remained among the top sellers nationwide. All major firearms makers produce rifles in 7mm Remington Magnum, including Weatherby, the king of

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proprietary Magnum calibers. Cartridges of the World, now edited by W. Todd Woodard, calls the 7mm Rem. Mag. “a fine long-range, big-game cartridge.” It goes on to say, “It has ample power for any North American big game and most thinskinned African varieties.” Reading further into Cartridges of the World reveals, “However, it is an open-country plains or mountain cartridge, rather than a woods or brush number.” Maine offers plenty of brush and woods, and yet the 7mm Rem. Mag. sells here at rates on par

with the rest of the country. Clay Harvey wrote in his 1984 Popular Sporting Rifle Cartridges, “The Big Seven has been an unqualified success …. It has climbed to the top half-dozen big game cartridges in ammo sales.” The same could be said these 34 years later. The Ballistics Josh’s grandfather and the others who snapped up the 7mm Remington Magnum (not to be confused with the 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum or the 7mm Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum) went looking for performance. They wanted the Remington’s ballistics and its reputation for accuracy. The round handles bullet weights from 100 grains up to 175 grains. Bullets of 140 grains to 150 grains seem normal (Continued on next page)

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Shooter’s Bench (Continued from page 39)

for Maine deer, with the 165 grains or 175 grains more suited to bear or moose. Factory loads vary from 140 grains to 175 grains. The abundance of different 7mm bullets and adaptability of modern propellants makes the 7mm Rem. enjoyable for do-it-yourselfers. Using factory loaded ammunition for comparison, the Remington 7mm Magnum achieves its maximum velocity of 3,175 feet per second with a 140-grain bullet. This bests a 150-grain .30-’06 load by 255 feet per second. The 140-grain 7mm projectile leaves the muzzle with 3,133 foot pounds of energy. The .30-’06 launches with 2,839 foot pounds, a not insignificant difference of 294 pounds. The measurements prove the claims – the 7mm Remington Magnum is more powerful

than the .30-’06. On the downside, the Remington also measures 50 percent more foot-pounds of recoil energy than the .30-’06. However, numerous writers have stated that they do not “feel” any recoil difference between the two. Lasting Impact Shooters will debate the relative merits of the 7mm Remington Magnum versus the .30-’06 for the remainder of the 21st century and beyond. Devotees for one or the other will cling to their favorite despite all the arguments thrown up by fans of the opposite number. Taking into account all the ballistic data, Cartridges of the World says, “The principal advantage of the 7mm Remington Magnum lies in the fact that it is a standard factory product that is widely distributed and available in well-made, moderately priced rifles.” But the

Outdoor Chronicle (Continued from page 37)

powerlines. Fresh snow allowed us to speed side by side in an attempt to outrun each other. As we approached a plowed road which intersected the powerlines, I slowed. Steve sped up. I still remember watching him as if in slow motion, leaped over the snowbank, and crashing down in the middle of the road. His

Sporting Environment (Continued from page 38)

ity data, train volunteers and educate the public. It needs adequate funding to assist with watershed improvements and invasive species protection programs. The new administration and legislature should make rebuilding the Lakes Program and strengthening the invasive species program a priority for the next four years and beyond. With the Clean Water Act under assault at the federal level, we need to strengthen our resources at the state level to protect our valuable water resources. LMF Funding Finally, the Governor and the legislature must work together to provide adequate funding to the Land for Maine Future’s www.MaineSportsman.com

exact same thing could be said about the .30-’06, the .308 Winchester, the .270 Winchester, or even the much newer 7mm-08 Remington. Arguments aside, the 7mm Remington Magnum is an iconic aspect of hunting in North America. The vintage 1962 Remington Model 700 that Josh received from his grandfather is an integral part of Maine’s sporting history. He is fortunate to own it. The venison he and his family will enjoy this winter came in no small measure through his grandfather’s foresight to hang onto a rifle and cartridge, both now nearing 60 years-old. Sitting around some future campfire or cabin woodstove, Josh’s hunting partners will no doubt speak in awed tones of the wisdom of Josh’s grandfather, who knew at an early age to bring a powerful and new rifle-cartridge combination to Maine. The late Roy Weatherby developed many famous and influential Magnum

A fine example of the first year of the Remington Model 700 chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum still takes game in Maine. Photo by Josh Hanna

cartridges, but no single Weatherby Magnum ever spread its influence as far and as wide as the 1962 Remington 7mm. Fans of the .30-’06 can still feel secure and

sled disintegrated beneath him with pieces of metal and plastic flying in every direction. Life lesson #9: “Stop the town from plowing roads!” A good buddy, who wants to remain anonymous, bought a sled from my uncle. It was a double-track, with a single ski in front. It housed a powerful 10.5 hp motor. It weighed slightly less than a Caterpillar D6. It did have one option which was very handy. The back support folded down to jack the tracks off the ground. (LMF) Program, which has been consistently supported by Maine voters over the years. The Governor must appoint members to the LMF Board who will ensure that proposals are evaluated fairly and funds are distributed in a timely manner. LMF benefits sportsmen and women by providing public access to waterbodies and open space, while protecting high value habitat for deer, moose, and other wildlife. Past projects have protected remote ponds and headwaters that are critical for wild brook trout, and preserved scenic values that make Maine a destination for visitors from around the world. There is so much work to do. Knowing that our environment is again a priority in Augusta is, quite literally, like a breath of fresh air.

comfortable with their preference, but plenty of enthusiasm remains for Remington’s metric Magnum.

Mike rested his foot on the track, gave the starter chord a giant yank. The sled started in gear, wrapping his foot around the sprocket. IB limped for weeks. Life lesson #10: “Never buy your uncle’s sled!” Yeah, those were the days when you really questioned your sanity to participate in such a hobby. Does make me wonder, however, why I have always owned at least one sled ….

Once badly polluted, the lower Presumpcot River benefited from careful monitoring of water quality. The author believes the monitoring programs should be continued and strengthened. Van Wie photo

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 41

Hal’s Story by Hal Blood It was opening day of deer season in the northern zone of Maine. I was sneaking up a hardwood ridge, the damp leaves making my footsteps undetectable by any animal in the woods. As I neared a saddle in the ridge, I spotted two white tails flagging goodbye, as a doe and her lamb bounded off over the ridge. Those two deer were the first of literally thousands of Big Woods whitetails I have seen since that time. I continued hunting my way to the top of the ridge, hoping to find any sign of a buck. I hunted that ridge for a couple of miles before making a circle back around to my starting point at the bottom of the ridge. I saw a few buck rubs and scrapes that day, but what I didn’t see were any other hunters, nor did I hear sounds of any shots from them. It was just me, alone, in that endless expanse of woods. New Snow My dad and I awoke the next morning to an inch of new snow and a temperature of ten degrees. It was culture shock to us, as southern Maine rarely saw that temperature any time in November. We were staying in a pop-up camper, and had only a Coleman heater, lantern and stove for heat. I reluctantly crawled out of my sleeping bag to get the stove fired up for breakfast. As soon as the heat made its way around the camper, I noticed the roof was dripping water everywhere.

The year was 1980, and my four-year hitch in the Marine Corps had just ended. I hunted for a week with my father in the Big Woods north of Jackman. The experience was life-changing. From then on, I was focused on tracking, stalking and shooting one of those elusive 200-pound bucks that roamed the Big Woods of the north.

Hal Blood, president of Big Woods Bucks, with his first buck -- a spikehorn taken north of Jackman in 1980. Hal Blood photo

The condensation that formed at night, was now raining on us! We covered our sleeping bags to keep them dry and began to get dressed. As I went to pull on my Bean boots, I discovered they were frozen solid, both inside and out. I wiggled my feet into the boots and stomped around to get them loosened up. It was but a minor inconvenience to me, since finding a buck track to follow was the only thing on my mind. That day, I tracked my first Big Woods buck. It was noisy going, as the damp leaves had frozen underneath the snow,

Hal and his buck taken during the 2018 season. Hal Blood photo

but I chased that buck around all day without getting a look at him. No Snow The next day the snow melted off, so my tracking was over as quickly as it had started. I went back into still-hunting mode, and explored a new area every day. Friday found me hunting through some old cuts where there was good deer sign. It was a sunny day, and the leaves had dried out like cornflakes, making it nearly impossible to walk quietly. By noontime, I had made my way to an old

winter road. Not sure where it went, I walked it one way until it ended. I turned around and was walking back in the other direction, when I heard noise over the bank of the road. A deer had jumped up and was running down into the old cut. When it stopped and looked back, I could see that it was a spike horn. I pulled up and fired, and the buck dropped in its tracks. Even though the buck was a spike-horn, I had accomplished what I had set out to do when I made that first trip north. *****

BWB Beginnings This column serves as a brief introduction to traditional Maine hunting, the Big Woods Bucks way. In the months to follow, the BWB Team will share their knowledge and adventures with readers of The Maine Sportsman. The Big Woods holds a certain mystique for hunters who venture forth into it, as well as those who have only read about following the square-toed track of an elusive 200-pound buck. I made my first pilgrimage to these woods just north of Jackman back in 1980, the year after my fouryear hitch in the Marine Corps ended. That first trip was more out of necessity, as the first week of November was the only week that I could get a vacation during deer season. Back then, the Northern zone opened a week earlier than the southern zone. That one week spent in the Big Woods with my father, was life-changing to me. Even though I had been hunting in southern Maine since the age of ten and shot my share of deer, I no longer had any interest in hunting there anymore. From that time on, I was focused on how I was going to shoot one of those big old bucks that roamed the Big Woods of the north. Hal Blood (hal@bigwoodsbuck.com) is a registered Maine master guide, and has authored several books on tracking and stalking whitetails.

www.MaineSportsman.com

42 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

— The Biggest Buck

TOP 10 BIGGEST

Andy Brazier of Acton, ME 268 lbs. • Charleston • 10/1

Roland Seavey of Moose River, ME 265 lbs. • Northeast Carry TWP • 11/3

James McLellan of Machiasport, ME 261 lbs. • Centerville TWP • 11/6

Ryan Brazeau of Bernardston, MA 260.5 lbs. • T18 R11 • 11/23

www.MaineSportsman.com

Brendan Moore of 300 lbs. • T1

Jason Henry of N 272 lbs. • Lobst

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 43

ks in Maine Club —

BUCKS OF 2018

White River Jct., VT 11 R17 • ll/14

Norridgewock, ME ter TWP • 11/14

George Plourde, Jr. of Andover, MA 265 lbs. • Squaretown Plt. • 11/5

Craig Geikie of Cape Elizabeth, ME 264 lbs. • Carrabassett Valley • 11/10

Nathan Dodge of Fairfield, ME 260 lbs. • Kingfield • 11/10

Myron White, Jr. of Poultney, VT 259 lbs. • Allagash • 11/24 www.MaineSportsman.com

44 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

— Biggest Bucks in Maine Club 2018 —

LAST Abbott Abbott Alexander Allen Alley Ames Anderson Anderson Anderson Anthony Arbo Arsenault Arsenault Ashton Atkinson Jr Auringer Jr Austin Avery Babbitt Bailey Baker Baldwin Barnes Barry Bassett Jr Batchelder Bates Bates Beane Beauregard Belanger Belanger Bemis Benedetto Bernier Berry Bickford Bieleat Bisnette Bivighouse Bivighouse Black Bodemer Boissoneault Bolduc Bonang Bouchard Bouchard Boucher Boucher Boudreau Boutin Bowen Boyd Boyle Bradford Brazeau Brazier Brooks Brooks Jr Bross IV Brown Bryant

FIRST Donald Tate Lucy Scott Blake Brian Colin Joshua David J Cheryl Elijah Lee Tanya Jason Michael Addison C Zack Robin Beau Andrew Patricia A Mark Joshua Timothy Robert Justin Gene Lance Rusty Mark Dave Roger Vincent E Steve Carl Derek Travis John Emily Grace Aaron Greg Quincy Logan Jeff Tim Mike T James Jason Adam Judith Paul Robert Richard Duayne Max J Daniel Ryan Andy Justin Thomas Albert L Cliff Caleb

HOME TOWN/CITY Dixfield Wilton Exeter N Monmouth Steuben Winterport N Yarmouth Brownville Jct New Sweden Benton Patten Rumford Runford Wales Winslow Blairstown Linneus Orono Champlain Canaan Oquossoc Andover Thomaston Highland Plt Peru Wells Albion Canaan Bingham Rangeley Augusta Auburn Rockport Livermore Ware Mattawamskeag Skowhegan Andover Raymond Ottsville Patten Churchton Rockwood ST Albans Fremont South Paris Stockholm Frenchville Manchester Byron Industry Steep Falls Bridgewater Strong Creamridge Westport Island Bernardston Acton Wilton Woodbury Lebaron Madrid Twp Hebron

STATE ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NJ ME ME NY ME ME MA ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME MA ME ME ME ME PA ME MD ME VT NH ME ME ME ME ME ME ME MA ME NJ ME MA ME ME VT NJ ME ME

TOWN HARVESTED Dixfield Wilton Exeter Monmouth Steuben Kingsbury Rangeley Plt Sebec Woodland Benton T7 R7 Langtown C Town Sabattus Norridgewock Greenfield Smyrna Greenbush Comstock Twp Canaan Dole Brook Twp Rangeley Plt Windsor Carrabassett Valley Canton Waterboro West Forks Plt West Forks Plt The Forks Rangeley Lily Bay Twp Auburn Rockport Livermore Squaretown Lincoln Skowhegan Andover Raymond Patten Stacyville Fayette Pittston Academy Twp Elm Stream Twp Newry South Paris West Manland Stockholm Vassalboro Byron Industry Roxbury Dennistown Strong Macwahoc Wyman T18 R11 Charleston Wilton Eustis Jackman Madrid Twp Hebron

TROPHY BEAR, DEER & MOOSE HUNTS

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DRESSED 201 207.8 212 206.2 212 210 226 205.5 212 222 217 215 237 207 205 210 207 203 234 220 251 224 205 233 227.2 201 210 210 200 200 201 208 223 202.2 224 227 214 240.5 225.4 226 210 201 212 210 222 201.6 202 230 205 234.2 213 226 217 243 225 212 260.5 268 213.6 208 228 219 215

DATE 11/13/18 11/16/18 11/5/18 11/20/18 11/15/18 11/9/18 11/9/18 11/17/18 11/19/18 11/10/18 11/17/18 11/14/18 11/10/18 10/27/18 11/19/18 11/15/18 11/22/18 11/19/18 11/6/18 10/27/18 11/10/18 11/19/18 11/24/18 10/29/18 11/15/18 11/20/18 11/29/18 11/3/18 11/24/18 11/21/18 11/17/18 10/29/18 11/24/18 11/17/18 11/14/18 11/15/18 11/8/18 11/20/18 11/2/18 11/17/18 11/21/18 11/21/18 11/24/18 11/22/18 11/16/18 10/29/18 11/15/18 11/12/18 11/21/18 11/12/18 11/2/18 11/10/18 11/17/18 11/23/18 11/24/18 11/17/18 11/23/18 10/1/18 11/20/18 11/17/18 11/19/18 11/5/18 10/26/18

LAST Bubar Burgess Burns Burrill Caldwell Campbell Campbell Capen Carey Carter Carter Casavant Chadwick Chambers Chandes Jr Chaput Chasse Chicoine Jr Chubbuck Clark Clark Clark Clifford Clukey Cole Cook Cook Jr Corrigan Corson Cote Cote Cote Cote Couture Covington Crate Crocker Crowley Croy Cuddy IV Cummings Currie Jr Curtis Curtis Curtis Curtis Cyr Cyr Cyr Cyr Daggett Daggett Daigle Dale Daley Dame Dan Danforth Davis Davis Davis deBray Della Valle

FIRST Clifford Zachary Bryce M Kurt Jeffrey Donald Logan Sarah Jessica M Blaine Raymond Kevin Dylan Steve Roland Rod Daniel Lawrence Kenneth J Bradley Jeremy Vaughn Patrick Mark Ransom Charles David M Bert Robert Daniel Jeffrey Mark J Paul Shawn Woody Matthew Arthur Lucas Ed Edwin W Justin Brian Daniel Dewey Jason M Zachery W Hollie Jamie Louis Ricky Dustin Bobby Patrick Peter Cory Hart L Tayt Brent Amanda Benjamin Russell Samantha William R Louis A

HOME TOWN/CITY Fort Fairfield Mexico Corinth Canaan Scarborough Lyman S Paris Lyman Augusta Brunswick Calais Corinth Enfield Windham Lincoln Litchfield Dracut Livermore Windsor Anson Princeton SW Harbor Danville Minot Greenwood Springfield Ashland Smithfield Benton Ashland S Berwick Rumford OOB Berlin Benton Waterville W Gardiner Belgrade Oakfield Jackman Levant Clinton Benedicta Blue Hill Harrington Norway Millinocket Ellsworth Brewer Holden New Sharon New Sharon St David Porter Dixfield W Newfield Turner Skowhegan Bangor Shoreham Holden Richmond Bethel

STATE ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME MA ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME MA ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NH PA ME ME MT ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME VT ME ME ME

TOWN HARVESTED Fort Fairfield Rangeley Dedham Canaan Gorham Lyman Canton Brunswick Augusta Brunswick Calais Corinth Enfield Oakfield Winn Brunswick Tomhegan Twp Livermore West Forks Anson Princeton T6 R7 Chain of Ponds Minot Greenwood T8 R9 Ashland Burnham Emden T2 R9 Turner Embden Parkertown Twp Grand Lakes Stream Oakland T5 R19 Little W Twp Oakfield Holeb Twp T7 R14 China Sherman Blue Hill TWP #10 SD Norway TA R11 T18 R11 Allagash Staceyville New Sharon Gardiner Allagash Brownfield Dixfield Parsonsfield Auburn Madison Dedham Coburn Gore Garland Richmond Bethel

DRESSED 205 226 218 211 200 207 230 219 204 242 223 213 200 205 203 205 205 213.8 209 209 233 203 204 200 204.8 229 217 200 200 231 202 204.4 206 234 212.5 201 217 205 236 237 230 200 227 202.8 222 211 250 200 205 200 209 204 220 224 211.4 220 201 212 210.8 215 205.2 222 203

Check out the 2018 Biggest Bucks Club list online at www.MaineSportsman.com!

DATE 11/19/18 10/31/18 11/9/18 11/7/18 11/8/18 10/26/18 10/20/18 10/27/18 11/9/18 11/10/18 11/13/18 11/17/18 11/24/18 11/17/18 11/23/18 10/1/18 11/16/18 11/15/18 11/20/18 10/31/18 11/19/18 11/10/18 10/29/18 11/15/18 11/3/18 11/12/18 10/29/18 11/19/18 10/27/18 11/19/18 11/24/18 10/31/18 11/10/18 11/10/18 11/12/19 11/6/18 11/14/18 11/27/18 11/20/18 11/10/18 11/14/18 11/29/18 11/18/18 11/7/18 11/13/18 10/30/18 11/14/18 11/12/18 11/19/18 11/21/18 10/27/18 11/29/18 11/17/18 9/29/18 11/13/18 10/27/18 10/1/18 11/17/18 10/27/18 11/28/18 11/21/18 11/8/18 11/20/18

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 45 LAST Denman Derosa DeSimone Desjardin Desjardins Desrochers Detour Devenger Devin Dewitt Dickinson Dill Dillingham Dingley Dixon Dobkins Doble Dockery Dodge Dodson Dolbier Doody Dorr Sr Doughty Douty Dow Dube Dubois Ducharme Duga Dugas Dunham Dunnells Dutton Dyer Emery Emery England Erdmann Ferran Fickett Field Fisher Fogg Fogg Follette Follette Fortin Fortin

FIRST Dylan Anthony Michael Jason P Abraham Barry Michael Cody Anne Kyle Bart Brian D Joshua David Brandon Jessica Richard L Kevin Nathan John Noel Joshua M Robert R Skip Keith Kenneth Daniel Matthew Normand Robert Joshua Ben Hunter Tim Cody Dustin Tyrone L Matthew Jarrod Albert Robert Douglas R Daniel L Austin T Peter J Ben Jason Blain Nicholaus

HOME TOWN/CITY Liberty E Northport Augusta Castle Hill Fort Kent Saco Mt Chase Trevett Monroe Medford Lewiston Fayette Frankfort South Paris Solon Hodgdon Topsham Stoneham Fairfield Stratton Rangeley Grove City Steuben Naples Holland Dover Foxcroft Georgetown Milton Allenstown Searsport Windham Belmont Winterville Plt Vassalboro Orland Jonesboro Cary Hermon Augusta Waterville West Bath Old Town Warner LaGrange Dedham Prospect Harbor Prospect Harbor Kennebunkport Buckfield

STATE ME NY ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME MA ME ME ME PA ME ME MA ME ME ME NH ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NH ME ME ME ME ME ME

TOWN HARVESTED Appleton Solon Phillips T12 R7 Allagash OOB Silver Ridge Boothbay Monroe Medford Crystal Dyer Brook Frankfort Oxford Solon Littleton Industry Highland Kingfield Willimantic Rangeley T8 R10 Ellsworth Naples T1 R1 Sebec Greenwood Milton Twp Plymouth Searsport Orono Belmont Ashland Vassalboro Clifton Machiasport Amity Hermon Dresden Winslow T7 R8 Pittsfield Lincoln Plantation Ornville Orland Gouldsboro Hancock Turner

DRESSED 200 242 205.4 201 244 215 221 205 202 222 238 204 220 218.8 206 211 201 226 260 225 211 246 203.4 252.8 201.5 205 200.8 215 224 201 238.5 219 238 214 211.1 214.8 203 238.3 222 205 202 226 229.9 201 221.5 214 205 220 205

DATE 10/31/18 11/5/18 11/17/18 11/17/18 11/23/18 10/31/18 11/15/18 10/27/18 11/20/18 11/9/18 11/13/18 11/20/18 11/19/18 11/16/18 11/10/18 11/21/18 11/6/18 11/16/18 11/10/18 11/21/18 11/17/18 11/21/18 10/27/18 10/27/18 11/17/18 11/23/18 11/17/18 11/17/18 11/16/18 10/27/18 11/9/18 11/22/18 11/17/18 11/10/18 10/27/18 11/20/18 11/19/18 10/27/18 11/12/13 11/24/18 11/20/18 11/15/18 11/12/18 11/23/18 11/23/18 11/14/18 11/29/18 11/16/18 10/27/18

LAST Foss Jr Fotter Franchetti Frechette Frey Frost Fuller Gamache Gammon Gandreau Gardoski Gauthier Geikie Geraci Jr Gervais Gestaut Giamputro Gilmore Gilmore Girsa Glaszcz Glowicki Gonsalves Gould Graham Graham Graves Greenleaf Greenleaf Gross Gudroe Guerrette Haggan Haggan Haines Hall Halliday Hamilton Hanley Hanscom Hansen Hardacker Hardwick Harmon Harriman Harris Hart Hartridge Harvell

FIRST Walter T Scott Tristan Charles Daniel Sean Joshua J Peter Benjamin Rodney Douglas E David Craig Charles J Leon Andrew W Christopher Travis William K Edward Joseph Raymond J Philip Andrew Adam Silas Adam Jackson Jeff Brian Michael Kevin Thomas Thomas C Paul Stephen Clay David F Joseph Jacob Steve Broc Steve Reginald Zach Hans Joshua Walter C Lance

HOME TOWN/CITY Dresden Lang Twp Jay Sebago Smithfield Skowhegan Rumford China Village Limington Fitchburg Kingsley Williamstown Cape Elizabeth New Providence East Machias Byron Vassalboro New Gloucester Kingfield Millinocket Great Barrington Cherry Valley Norway Seabrook Corinth Cary Etna Scarborough Scarborough Hanover Dexter St David Rangeley Jackman Ashland Newport Island Falls Old Town Westwood New Vineyard Windham Turner Wallagrass Standish Brooks Petersham Oxford Monroe Farmington

STATE ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME MA PA VT ME PA ME ME ME ME ME ME MA NY ME NH ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME MA ME ME ME ME ME ME MA ME ME ME

TOWN HARVESTED Dresden Lang Twp Carthage Andover Madison Norridgewock Rumford The Forks Limington Solon T11 R8 Forsyth Twp Carrabassett Valley T8 R17 Jacksonville Rumford Vassalboro Freeman Twp Freeman Twp T5 R11 Benedicta T8 R9 Stoneham Bowdon College Grant West Corinth Littleton Etna Moxie Gore Twp Moxie Gore Township D Dexter Allagash Rangeley Gorham Gore TD R2 East Newport Island Falls Old Town Linneus New Vineyard Katahdin Iron Works Turner Eagle Lake T3 R4 Brooks Hammond Buckfield Monroe Farmington

DRESSED 202 221 216.6 222 228 219 227.2 212 224 200 213 200 264 209 211.5 204 206 208 225 253 246 220 208.2 250 214 213 211 222 220 229 203 235 223 201 202 218 213 210 202 210 200 208 209.5 207 226 211 200 258 210

DATE 10/29/18 11/20/18 11/14/18 11/14/18 11/5/18 11/17/18 11/7/18 11/3/18 10/27/18 11/17/18 11/8/18 11/16/18 11/10/18 11/15/18 11/20/18 10/31/18 11/2/18 11/10/18 11/24/18 11/20/18 11/10/18 11/13/18 11/16/18 11/12/18 11/23/18 11/23/18 11/8/18 11/24/18 11/21/18 11/12/18 11/24/18 11/15/18 11/10/18 11/10/18 11/19/18 11/15/18 11/26/18 11/7/18 11/3/18 11/3/18 11/12/18 10/29/18 11/16/18 11/16/18 11/5/18 11/14/18 11/20/18 10/31/18 11/2/18

www.MaineSportsman.com

46 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————— LAST Hayden Heal Heal Heath Heitz Henderson Henry Henry Higgins Hincman Hinkley Hobson Hogan Holbrook Holmes Hopkins Hopkins Hotham Housel Howard Howard Huck Hudnall Hunter Huntley Hyler Ingersoll Ireland Jackson Jackson James Jandreau Janson Jarvis Jeffe Jensen Jewett Jewett Jr Johnson Johnson

FIRST Kevin George Nicholas Michael Garry Samuel D Jason William Rick Michael Michael Joshua Michael Jack Ronald Mason Steven Bradley Jeff Anthony James Clarissa Mason Steven W John Matthew L Wayne S Adam Troy Devin Connor Michael S Calvin F Ricky William A Timothy Ryan James Randal S Gerald K Andrew J Brittany

HOME TOWN/CITY Madison Lincolnville Lincolnville Brownville Vineland Houlton Norridgewock Bangor Mt Dessert Salem Sebago Northampton Manchaug York Hartland Dixmont Portage Lake Patten Boonsboro Orrington Whitefield Caribou White Sulphur Springs Patten Machiasport Warren Bingham W Enfield Searsport Woodland Charlotte Fort Kent Somers Pt W Topsham Greene Houston Jay Jefferson Scarborough Skowhegan

STATE ME ME ME ME NJ ME ME ME ME MA ME PA MA ME ME ME ME ME MD ME ME ME WV ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NJ VT ME TX ME ME ME ME

TOWN HARVESTED Highland Plt Lincolnville Lincolnville Brownville Dole Brook Twp Monticello Lobster Twp Hermon Eustis Parsonfield Sebago T7 R9 Tomhegan Twp Parkman Hartland Dixmont Portage Lake Patten West Forks Orrington Whitefield Portage Lake Allagash T7 R8 Machiasport Warren Moscow Winn Stockton Springs Washburn Cutler St Francis Highland Plt Brownville Winthrop Macwahoc Northeast Carry Twp Jefferson Cape Elizabeth Skowhegan

GUNS WANTED Th

DRESSED 242 221 234 219.5 237 216 272 250 204 205 206 203 214 201 204 213 250 210 220 204 204 220 218 208 240.4 203 225 204 203 207 216 219.5 221 209.5 218.8 202 236 208 231 250

DATE 11/17/18 11/9/18 10/30/18 12/8/18 11/10/18 11/23/18 11/14/18 10/27/18 11/3/18 11/14/18 10/30/18 11/15/18 11/10/18 11/12/18 11/8/18 10/31/18 11/20/18 11/21/18 11/15/18 10/27/18 11/17/18 11/19/18 11/15/18 11/21/18 10/31/18 11/27/18 11/14/18 11/21/18 11/16/18 11/23/18 11/29/18 11/10/18 11/14/18 11/19/18 10/27/18 11/17/18 11/8/18 10/31/18 9/22/18 10/27/18

LAST Johnson Johnson Johnson Joly Jones Jones Jordan Jordan Jordan Kachnovich Karkos Keach Keay Keay Keith Keller Kendall Kessler Kibbey Kimball King Kirk Jr Knapp Kneeland Knepper Knight Kollar LaFreniere Lagasse Laite Lake Lambert Lamont Lapiers Lapointe Larson Lavallee Lawlor Lawrence Lawrence

FIRST Doug Jacoby Josh Jonathan Nate Wayne A Billy Dean Ralph Toby Anthony Richard Jerry C Kirk J Nathan Jonathan Mark W Colby Ray Jason John Milton C Halson J James Leroy Amos Howard Kyle Zach Justin Justin C Nathan Peter E Chapin Kenneth Robert Stanley Jason Chris Kolby Levi

HOME TOWN/CITY Kingston Skowhegan Lyman S Dennis Arundel Jefferson Kingfield Castle Creek Amherst Jay Litchfield Auburn Albion Albion N Falmouth Hope Bethel Moultonborough Newport Waterford Standish Hampden Houlton Lincoln Three Springs Oakland Skowhegan Howland N Yarmouth Lincolnville Farmington Livermore Falls Searsmont Nicholson Ashland Charleston Pownal Merrill Albion Mechanic Falls

STATE NH ME ME MA ME ME ME NY ME ME ME ME ME ME MA ME ME NH NH ME ME ME ME ME PA ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME PA MA ME ME ME ME ME

DATE 11/19/18 11/17/18 11/6/18 11/12/18 10/8/18 12/3/18 11/10/18 11/14/18 11/17/18 11/17/18 11/10/18 10/22/18 11/12/18 11/10/18 11/16/18 11/5/18 11/22/18 11/17/18 11/1/18 11/3/18 11/14/18 11/14/18 11/21/18 11/17/18 11/7/18 11/17/18 11/10/18 11/17/18 11/21/18 11/19/18 10/27/18 11/20/18 11/17/18 11/19/18 11/20/18 11/12/18 11/23/18 11/22/18 11/12/18 11/21/18

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DRESSED 209 228 202 211 239 220 201 200 227 200 220 200 220 200 213 205 227.4 212 238 200 255 220 231 237 225 205 205 200.4 201 240 236 205 244 203 213 215 234 206 208.5 245

TAXIS RIVER OUTFITTERS

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TOWN HARVESTED KI Skowhegan Lyman Rangeley Arundel Jefferson Embden T7 R19 Amherst Fairfield Strong Auburn Albion Albion T3 R4 Camden Bethel Oxbow North Grafton Waterford T1 R4 Hampden Amity Burlington Kingfield Rome Skowhegan Orland Allagash Lincolnville Livermore Falls Montville Patten Bridgton Charleston Chain of Ponds Twp Moro Plt Albion Poland

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�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 47 LAST Leavitt Legare Leland Lemieux Lemoi Leslie Jr Lessard Levasseur Lewis Libby Lightbody Lilley Lilly Linnie Little Love Luther Luxton MacDonald Maclearn Mai Majnan Manera Manning Martin Martin Mathieu Matson Jr Maynard Mazariego McAllister McAuley McDonald McDonough McGary McGinnis McGown McKay McKenney McKenzie McKie McLaughlin McLellan McNinch McPherson McTigue Mehuren Meisner

FIRST Asa Keeno Dana Matthew Cody Thomas D Bill Chad Caleb Amber Scott Michael F Ryan Ben Zachary Eric William David Royce Derek G Richard Christopher J John Jonathan Aaron Daniel Carl Edward W Russell William Sally Dan Cory Lynne Caleb James R Jeff Katherine Marilyn Caleb Henry Michael James Robert Kegan Phil Emma Marshall

HOME TOWN/CITY Greene Denmark Alton New Sharon S Berwick Bowdoinham Mirror Lake Poland Fort Kent Harpswell Kennebunk Monticello Hampden Lyman Orrington Greenville Auburn Bethel Ashland Ashland Matamoras Barre Millville Porter Monson Lewiston Vassalboro Waldoboro Mapelton S Paris Hampden Alton Bangor W Roxbury Dedham Harrison Norridgewock Oakland Knox Pittston York E Bridgewater Machiasport OOB Oxbow Holden Searsmont Andover

STATE ME ME ME ME ME ME NH ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NH ME ME ME PA VT NJ ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME MA ME ME ME ME ME ME ME MA ME ME ME ME ME ME

TOWN HARVESTED Greene Denmark Alton Chesterville Ripley Orient T9 R7 New Gloucester New Canada Freeport Kennebunk Monticello Abbot Monson Orrington Dole Brook Haynesville Mason Twp Nashville Plt T11 R17 Trout Brook Twp Big Moore Twp Hammond Limington Monson Lexington Winslow Waldoboro Perham Lovell Hampden Alton Winterport Industry Dedham Harrison Ki Jo Mary Rome Knox Pittston New Portland Greenfield Twp Centerville Twp Monticello Oxbow Amherst Searsmont Andover

DRESSED 210 230 207.8 224 215 210 235 203 205.5 208 202 209 220 221 206 238 230 249 204 232 213 236 239 200 204 202 202 216 231 229 200.8 216 210 221 205 217 227 217 210 214 236 225.4 261 203 211.3 205 201 206

DATE 10/20/18 11/2/18 11/23/18 11/3/18 10/31/18 11/21/18 11/23/18 10/29/18 11/1/18 11/15/18 11/10/18 11/20/18 11/9/18 11/17/18 11/7/18 11/10/18 11/17/18 10/27/18 11/3/18 11/13/18 11/12/18 11/28/18 11/7/18 11/22/18 11/10/18 11/14/18 11/27/18 10/30/18 11/20/19 11/10/18 11/17/18 11/19/18 10/29/18 11/17/18 10/31/18 11/26/18 11/19/18 10/31/18 11/10/18 11/15/18 11/22/18 11/12/18 11/6/18 11/21/18 11/22/18 11/20/18 11/9/18 11/14/18

LAST Merrill Merrill Jr Merryman Mertz Metcalf Miles Millett Mills Mitchell Mooers II Moore Moore Jr Moors Morin Morrill Morris Morrow Morse Morse Morse Morton Mowatt Mozisek Murphy Murphy Mustoe Naas Newell Jr Nicols Jr Niles O'Brien Oberlander Oliver Oliver Olson Ottmann Ouellette Packard Paine Paine Palma Palmer Parker Parker Parlin Pawlikowski Peaslee Peaslee

FIRST James George James Michael G David W Rachel Steve Ryan Ethan A Doug Brendan Kevin Daniel Paul J Dylan Kyle E Alfred James Roger Steven Doug Luke Corey Donald J Mark Alan Patrick Darrick John James Alex Travis Mike Donald Steven Jacob Justin Cody Caleb G Jonathan Rustin Joseph Ted Natasha A Ryan Rod Christopher Steven W Steven W

HOME TOWN/CITY Bethel Limington Harpswell Williamsport W Baldwin Abbot Lancaster W Baldwin Sherman N Waterboro White River Jct Lyndonville Lincoln Oakland Johnson Hermon Bradley Henniker Scarborough Auburn Rangeley Norway Loudon Litchfield Fairfield Burlington Windham Medfield Mexico W Newbury Bremen Lewiston Danforth Addison Charleston Greenville Millinocket Waldoboro Madison Livermore Falls South Hampton Hinesburg Wilton Vassalboro Fairfield Southampton Damariscotta Damariscotta

STATE ME ME ME PA ME ME NH ME ME ME VT VT ME ME VT ME ME NH ME ME ME ME NH ME ME MA ME MA ME MA ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NJ VT ME ME ME MA ME ME

TOWN HARVESTED Bethel Limington Coburn Gore Johnson Mt T3 ND Parkman Waterford Baldwin Stacyville N. Waterboro T11 R17 T17 R12 Dixmont Concord Twp Eustis Carmel Clifton Brownville Palermo Canton Rangeley Norway C Surplus Litchfield Benton Langtown Twp T4 R7 T3 R4 T8 R14 Greenville Bremen Montville Weston Township 26 Charleston Rockwood T1 R7 Waldoboro Madison Andover Benedicta Glenwood Wilton Vassalboro Canaan Tomhegan Twp Jefferson Brunswick

DRESSED 213.8 207 202 205 219 204 218 220 230 200 300 222 200 212 226 201 222 226.5 200 225 202 204.8 231 210 200 223 225 239 242 202 250 201 211 217.2 203 200 204 211 209 209 202 202 202.3 218 218 202 251 204

DATE 11/17/18 11/7/18 11/20/18 11/19/18 11/9/18 11/24/18 11/7/18 11/1/18 11/8/18 10/27/18 11/14/18 11/12/18 11/5/18 11/17/18 11/20/18 11/1/18 11/24/18 11/10/18 11/9/18 11/15/18 11/22/18 10/29/18 11/10/18 11/15/18 10/31/18 11/17/18 11/21/18 11/22/18 11/15/18 11/13/18 10/30/18 10/31/18 11/22/18 11/17/18 11/20/18 11/28/18 11/19/18 11/10/18 11/17/18 11/12/18 11/17/18 11/17/18 11/2/18 11/10/18 11/12/18 11/15/18 10/30/18 9/11/18

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48 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————— LAST Peirce Jr Pelkey Jr Pelland Pelletier Pelletier Pelletier Pelletier Perkins Perreault Pestana Peterson Pickering Pierce Pineau Pinkham Pinkham Piper Plourde Jr Plummer Plummer Jr Pollard IV Poulin Poulin Poulin Poulin Pratt Pray Preston Pulver Quint Radziszewski Rafuse Rancourt Randall Randall III Remillard Reynolds Reynolds Rhodes Rice Richards Ricker Rideout Rines Rines Roamer Roberts Roberts Robinson

FIRST Glenn E William F William Andrew Jesse Johnathan Troy James Burke Michael Glen Chris Gary Edward L Jeff Terry E Jamie P George Galen Wayne Harry Brian Jason Robert R Thomas Alan Steven E Dennis Ryan Victor A Kyle James Brian Austin Clinton D Scott Isaiah Tyler Ryan Robert Harley Cory Virgil Justin Wayne Jeremy Donald Omar Stephen

HOME TOWN/CITY LaGrange Plymouth Bristol Woodland Mexico Vassalboro Fort Kent E Andover Fort Kent Enfield New Sweden Orland Chelsea Vassalboro Vassalboro Ellsworth Fairfield Andover Sullivan Frenchtown Twp York Berlin Ashland Waterville Cumberland Parkman Lexington Twp Hampden Vassalboro Topsham Poland Winslow Sabattus Bradford Raymond Dallas Plt Limington China Searsport Windsor Edgecomb North Berwick Holden Wiscasset Hartland Glen Gardner Poland Ripley Mars Hill

STATE ME ME VT ME ME ME ME ME ME CT ME ME ME ME ME ME ME MA ME ME ME NH ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NJ ME ME ME

TOWN HARVESTED LaGrange Plymouth Forsyth Perham Mexico Vassalboro Allagash Andover Nashville Plt Magalloway Plt Stockholm Surry West Fork Northeast Carry Twp Vassalboro Ellsworth Pierce Pond Twp Squaretown Plt Gouldsboro T1 R13 Rockwood Upton Ashland Smithfield T3 R12 Dole Brooks Twp Lexington Hampden Vassalboro T5 R14 Sumner Vassalboro Bowman Twp Bradford Elm Stream Twp Dallas Plt Baldwin Washington Searsport Jefferson T7 R8 Sanford Holden Wiscasset Palmyra Long A Ripley TD R2

DRESSED 215 202 224 216 211.2 220 214 201 209.6 202 202 203.8 255 220 200 205 220 265 205 212 200 254.5 201 202 204 237 215.5 209 218 214 225.6 243 219 200.5 240 220 202 223 202 237 214 202 200 222 206.5 202 205 206 221

DATE 11/23/18 10/30/18 11/14/18 11/17/18 11/16/18 11/9/18 11/9/18 11/23/18 11/17/18 11/17/18 11/5/18 11/24/18 11/6/18 11/10/18 11/16/18 10/30/18 10/27/18 11/5/18 11/3/18 11/12/18 11/23/18 10/29/18 11/21/18 11/17/18 11/10/18 11/19/18 11/20/18 10/29/18 11/10/18 11/17/18 10/27/18 10/31/18 11/15/18 11/22/18 11/15/18 11/21/18 11/17/18 10/29/18 11/22/18 10/31/18 11/17/18 11/9/18 11/1/18 11/16/18 10/27/18 11/12/18 11/16/18 10/31/18 11/10/18

LAST Rochford Roderick Rogers Ross Ross Jr Rossignol Roussel Roy Rushinal Russell Russell Jr Rutherford Ryan Savage Sawyer Sr Saxton Scribner Seavey Seavey Seigers Sellick Sepulveda Serrenho Sevigny Seymour Shaw Sloat Small Smith Smith Smith Smith Smith Soucy Sousa Sousa Spaulding St Jarre St John St Pierre Stanhope Stasiowski Steeb Stevens Stevens Stewart Stickney Stubbs Sturtevant

FIRST Kevin Marc Jon M Parker Earl Gilbert Bryan Steve Warren Roger Gary J Jeff Jesse L Steven P Benjamin Micah Daryl Ralph O Charles Roland E Michael Craig S Wilfrido Rick J Robert E Jordan Eben Gordon Ryan Brandon Dakota Deryck Leo Stuart Justin Kevin Mark Nick Mark Raphe Luke Brett J Stephen Paul Ansel Jenny Glen Dan Darlene Jeffrey M

HOME TOWN/CITY Litchfield Vassalboro Orrs Island Madrid Rangeley Millinocket Madawaska Brunswick Ashland Middleboro W Bridgewater York Oxbow Plt Dover Foxcroft Windham Smithfield Gilford W Forks Moose River Dresden S Portland Lisbon N Granby Berwick Orrington Turner Windham Pittsfield Oxford Rockland Vassalboro Palermo Springfield Fort Kent Bowerbank Augusta Durham Oakland Glenburn Augusta Sidney Athens Rome Buxton Chester Millinocket Middleton Addison Mechanic Falls

STATE NH ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME MA MA ME ME ME ME ME NH ME ME ME ME ME CT ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME MA ME ME

TOWN HARVESTED Brownville Cannan Brownville Madrid Rangeley East Millinocket Oxbow Medway Ashland T7 R10 T7 R8 York Oxbow North Twp Attean Dyer Brook Rome Nashville Plt Seboomook Twp Northeast Carry Twp Bowdoinham Eustis Lewiston T8 R9 Hammond Twp Dedham Sumner Standish Pittsfield Bowmantown Thomaston Vassalboro Palermo Prentiss T14 R9 Bowerbank Augusta Durham Allagash Milo Winthrop Sidney Athens Rome T5 R20 Lee Elm Pond Twp T6 R7 Columbia Stacyville

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DATE 11/21/18 10/30/18 11/16/18 11/15/18 11/24/18 11/19/18 11/22/18 11/21/18 11/7/18 11/15/18 11/10/18 10/27/18 11/26/18 11/22/18 11/24/18 11/17/18 11/15/18 11/24/18 11/3/18 10/27/18 11/8/18 11/12/18 11/17/18 11/3/18 11/12/18 11/23/18 11/17/18 11/17/18 11/8/18 11/13/18 11/9/18 11/14/18 11/13/18 11/14/18 11/20/18 11/19/18 10/31/18 11/17/18 11/24/18 11/20/18 11/19/18 11/20/18 11/19/18 11/16/18 11/12/18 11/16/18 11/9/18 11/20/18 11/20/18

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DRESSED 201 208 209 200.9 200 214 204 205 201 236 217 201 220 214 205 202.5 216 255 265 217 255 201.5 208 200 205 201 211 206 208 209 219 210 220 220 207 200 204 216 220 211.8 214 212 206 217 202 205 215 220 208

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�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 49 LAST Swallow Swett Tabun Taglieri Talmage Taylor Tellier Tetreault Thebarge Theriault Theriault Theriault Thibodeau Thompson Thompson Tibbetts Tibbetts Tompkins Torrey Trask Tripp Tuomisto Vicneire Vicneire Vincent Violette Wagg Walker Ward Warner Watson Watson

FIRST Jeffrey A Paul Peter A Rob Taylor Sally Rene Lionel Ryan Norman Richard Sadie Bruce Daniel Lee Mark Douglas H Jason Parker Brent Bruce R Benjamin Alexander Michael Peter Bryce Richard H Steve Philip Merle Timothy J Paul Pete James Mark

HOME TOWN/CITY S Paris Old Town Portland West Ossipee Brunswick Reed Plt Orient Dartmouth Windham Jackman Millinocket Naples Silver Ridge Twp Chelsea Corinna Bangor Mercer Blaine Clifton Hallowell Cushing Ludlow North Anson Skowhegan Bingham Shapleigh Bowdoin Falmouth S Paris Bangor Sangerville Veazie

STATE ME ME ME NH ME ME ME MA ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME VT ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME

TOWN HARVESTED Plymouth Twp Columbia Hiram Albany Twp Kingfield Reed Plt Orient Parkman Mattawamkeag Parlin Pond TA R7 Moose River Sherman Chelsea Knox Hermon Mercer Mars Hill Winter Harbor Sidney Warren Appleton Twp North Anson Embden The Forks Newfield Bowdoin Falmouth Waterford Newburgh Parkman Orono

DRESSED 214 201 203 203 203 204 202 228 202 219 225 214 240 236.8 211.5 200 210 201 209 218 203 230 255 202 245 208 202 211.6 204.6 209 239 220

DATE 11/17/18 10/27/18 11/10/18 11/21/18 11/24/18 11/21/18 11/20/18 11/7/18 11/17/18 11/7/18 11/17/18 11/3/18 11/21/18 11/20/18 11/17/18 10/29/18 11/15/18 10/31/18 11/8/18 10/27/18 11/12/18 11/12/18 10/20/18 11/9/18 11/13/18 10/31/18 10/29/18 10/27/18 10/30/18 11/20/18 11/21/18 11/10/18

LAST Watson Watt Webber Wener Wentworth Wentworth Wescott Wheelock Whitcomb White White White Jr Whitney Whitney Whitney Wilbur Wilette Wiley Willette Williamson Wing Witham Witham Jr Wood Woodhouse Woods Worster Wyman Young

FIRST Matt Devon Merrill Robert T Donald L Mark Jim Robert Whipper Michael Clayton Jacob Myron R Blaine Jonathan Patrick Garrett Herbert C Rex A Paul Aaron McKenzie Taylor Troy Owen Bill Delaney Eugene W Kenneth Tabor

HOME TOWN/CITY Benton Madison Spruce Head Storksboro Otisfield Springvale Windham Augusta Belfast Waterbury Poultney Poultney Corinth Industry Jonesboro Greenville Jct Patten Fryeburg Cape Elizabeth Dover Waldoboro Sebec Oakland Machiasport Newton Peru Moose River Stockton Springs Wiscasset

STATE ME ME ME VT ME ME ME ME ME VT VT VT ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NH ME ME ME ME NH ME ME ME ME

TOWN HARVESTED Clinton Madison St George T16 R8 Otisfield Sandy River Plt Windham Augusta Belmont Elm Stream Twp Allagash Allagash Corinth New Sharon Centerville West Middlesex Canal Twp Patten Fryeburg T22 MD Wesley Washington Sebec Rome Twp 37 Highland Plt Peru Moose River Stockton Springs Alexander

DRESSED 202 212 225 205 204 232 206 212 210 221 220 259 202.5 200 211.6 214 201 204 202 202.6 208 201 223 217.6 220 202 203 219 254

DATE 11/24/18 10/27/18 11/5/18 11/6/18 11/8/18 11/1/18 11/21/18 10/27/18 11/13/18 11/7/18 11/21/18 11/24/18 11/10/18 11/17/18 11/12/18 11/15/18 11/23/18 11/15/18 11/14/18 11/22/18 11/17/18 11/20/18 11/17/18 11/13/18 11/12/18 10/27/18 11/17/18 11/13/18 11/15/18

Emma byGets Her Buck Emma Mehuren I never considered myself a hunter until this past fall’s season. True, I had gone hunting with my grandfather on junior license in 2012, when I was 12 years old. But that experience did not turn out well – a deer ran right in front of me, but I was not prepared to shoot and missed the opportunity. That experience left me discouraged. However, that all changed last summer when I turned 18, and my grandparents bought me a rifle. Everyone in my family hunts, and I wanted to immerse myself in the activity and prove to myself that I could do it. My grandfather helped – not only in getting me the gun, but also offering to let me hunt out of his stand. My boyfriend’s assistance was also invaluable. He spent countless hours teaching me all about hunting. He made sure I was comfortable with my new rifle (7mm-08). He also sat in the rain with me countless times during the season. The 2018 firearm season started great! I was seeing deer everywhere, none of which were all that big, so I held my fire. I sat almost every single night after I got out of school, as well as some mornings. As the season progressed, I saw fewer and fewer deer. I sat out in the pouring rain every night for a week, and didn’t see a single thing. I even asked my boyfriend to hold an umbrella all afternoon so we wouldn’t get soaked. I was very discouraged. My boyfriend, sister and brother-in-law had already tagged out, and here I was, still sitting in the rain. So I tried something different – rather than sitting in the stand, I picked out another spot, near the edge of the field. I went out early, and sat for about 2 hours. It was 20 minutes before dark. I said a little prayer. As if in answer to my prayer, a doe jumped out of the woods and started across the field. Even though I had a doe tag, I let the doe walk across the field. Just then, a buck took two steps out of the woods. I tried to keep calm, but the deer kept walking and didn’t give me a good to angle shoot. So I whistled twice at the buck. It stopped, and turned toward me. I took a careful shot, and was prepared to see the deer run. However, it dropped without taking a step. I telephoned my grandfather, and then walked over to see my deer. It was bigger than I thought – in fact, it was 201-pound, 8-pointer, for which I received a “Biggest Bucks” patch from The Maine Sportsman. Now I realize I am hooked for life. During all the target practice, and all the sitting in the rain, I fell in love with the sport. I appreciate all my grandparents and my boyfriend did for me by re-introducing me to what will be, I am certain, a life-long passion.

That’s a lot of points! John Williams of Clifton bagged this rare 15-point whitetail in Dedham using a .44 Ruger handgun. Williams has applied for entry into the MASTC. Adams Taxidermy of Herman is processing the mount.

Kegan McPhearson of Oxbow, Maine dropped this 211-pound, 8-point buck in his hometown on November 22, 2018 using a 6 mm rifle. www.MaineSportsman.com

50 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Here’s What I’d Do with a Million Dollars — What About You? The 2018 Maine deer season is long over, but as usual, many of the season’s hunts are still running through my head. Those who know me, will tell you I’m a passionate person. When it comes to deer hunting, some liken my passion to an illness. But whether it’s an illness or a passion, there’s no doubt – I think of deer and deer hunting often. Without going into too much detail, I ended up with a chance at a great buck on the last day of muzzleloader. A broadside opportunity at 25 yards on an adult buck doesn’t happen all the time, and not connecting because of wet powder leaves a really sour taste in one’s mouth. I’ll get over it; however, it might take a while. As I was running the myriad scenarios through my head of how the powder may have gotten wet, I found myself fantasizing about better equipment, a much larger hunting room and more. Of course, all that costs money – lots of money. This is where the fantasy part – and you – come into play. If I Had a Million Dollars…. On long winter days, even when I’m ice fishing and having fun, my mind

The author reveals what four purchases he would make to improve his hunting results if he had a big bundle of cash. Then he invites readers to let him know what they would buy! sometimes wanders. Some call it daydreaming; some call it fantasizing. I call it planning for the future I’d love to have. It has been three years since I bought new hunting clothes, a new gun or any major purchase for deer hunting. A few of my friends and my father call me cheap or tell me to spend my money. While I consider myself “frugal” and not cheap, I’d love to have deep pockets – and a green light from my wife – to purchase whatever I want for deer hunting. While my rifles are awesome, I sold my muzzleloader to a friend last year. This year he let me use it since he’d already tagged out. It’s an older, inline Thompson Center. While it’s not a bad gun, there are far better models available today. I could never get that old TC to shoot well past 125 yards. Today’s modern smokepoles are tack-drivers past 200 yards. Unfortunately, the guns and the optics for them are really expensive.

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First Purchase – In-Line Muzzleloader My first purchase for deer hunting if I had a million to spend would be a new muzzleloader, so the scenario of 2018 wouldn’t recur. My old gun didn’t have a speed breech, so unloading between hunts was a pain in the butt. I’ll never leave a muzzleloader loaded again, because of what happened this year. I’d buy a custom TC Pro-Hunter FX, and top it with a nice Leupold Vari-X III 4.5-14X 40MM Scope. If that setup is good enough for Jim Shockey, it’d be perfect for me. Problem solved and fantasy purchase #1 complete. Next – All New Hunting Clothes The next purchase I’d make is actually many. I mentioned not having bought new hunting clothes for many years. Having state-of-the-art camo, base layers, insulating layers and warm, comfortable footwear is very important. For me, wearing five or six layers of insulating clothes under my camo is normal. I’ve always envied hunters who own the best, warmest camo/outerwear. In fact, a few people I know only need to wear two or three layers under their camo. That must be a great feeling. I’d not only have the highest quality, warmest gear – I’d have a set for each day of the week. Fresh, clean clothes for

each day mean I wouldn’t have to constantly wash my clothing. I bet I spend a few hours each week and even missed a few hunts because I didn’t have clean, warm clothing to wear. Fantasy purchase #2 complete. Dream Electric-Powered Transportation On two of the farms I hunt, four-wheelers aren’t allowed. We discovered the deer tend to move about a little more freely and move more during daylight hours when we aren’t riding around on ATV’s. Unfortunately, I can feel my body failing a little more each year. Despite working out and jogging throughout the offseason, I am a shadow of my former self. The one and two mile walks into stands each morning aren’t fun. I often find myself fantasizing about an electric ATV. A unit like the Quiet Cat Prowler would be cool, but I’d also want a larger ATV like the Nikola Zero or something similar. A quiet ride, lots of power and the ability to haul lots of gear is exactly what I want. Fantasy purchase #3 complete. ... And, of Course, a Place to Live and Hunt! Though I love the properties I hunt on and consider the landowners more family than friends, there’s nothing like owning your own piece of

hunting property. This would actually be the first purchase I’d make if I had a million dollars to spend. Owning a 400+ acre slice of forest/farmland in Central Maine has always been a fantasy. My fields would have excellent early, mid and late season greens available to the deer. At least one, if not two fields would grow corn, and it’d be run over each fall instead of being cut. If there were apple trees on the property, they’d be pruned and fertilized every year. If there were oak trees or beech trees, they’d get some TLC as well. The property I’d own would be every deer hunter’s dream. Fantasy purchase #4 complete. Now it’s Your Turn! From time to time, we all fantasize about being wealthy and buying anything we want. Of course there’d be tractors, saws, electric pruning saws, plows, harrows, seeders, cultipackers and more in a very large garage at my place. Huge closets, safes and storage areas in that garage would hold all my new gear. It’d be the Taj Mahal of deer hunting! Enough about my new stuff. Let’s have some fun. Send me an email. Tell us what your top 3-4 fantasy purchases would be if you had a million to spend on deer hunting. Would you go on guided hunts in other states or countries? Would you spend similarly to me? Inquiring minds want to know! Send me those lists!

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 51

Katahdin Woods & Waters Offers Cross Country Ski Trails After dabbling in the world of cross country skiing for the last couple of years, I’ve decided it’s not for me. Not really sure why; probably the same reason I don’t dance – two left feet – but for now I’ve removed all ski equipment from my property. However, there is hope – I absolutely love strapping on snowshoes and frolicking about Maine’s winter wonderland. Fortunately, the cross country ski crowd has taken pity on us less graceful types, and grooms trails designated cross country AND snowshoeing trails. Sometimes “snowshoeing” is written

Most groomed cross country ski trails have rules. One of those rules requires us ungainly snowshoe plodders to stay off the groomed trail. I get it – invited to the dance, but stay off the dance floor. And I’m OK with that. in small letters, but hey – a win is a win. Most all groomed cross country ski trails have rules. One of those rules requires us left-footed snowshoe plodders to stay off the groomed trail. I get it – invited to the dance, but stay off the dance floor. I spent the first fifteen years of my life riding in the back of my dad’s old pickup truck. I know what it’s like to almost get into the front seat. Plodding along on

the side of the trail is fine with me. The reality is that cross country skier benefit from the smooth grooming and tracks from previous skiers, while snowshoes scarify the trail, which can turn skiing into a rough and tumble affair. They don’t need me chunking up the skiing portion of the trail. Please respect the hard work of the volunteers grooming these trails.

Katahdin Woods & Waters With that said, trimmed, well marked trails make for nice, pressure-free navigating. While traveling west on the Grand Lake Road this summer I noticed the North Entrance Gate to the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, located on the left after crossing the Penobscot River. This entrance has a kiosk and a parking area which requires a permit

for overnight parking. In fact, anyone looking to use the lean-tos, tent sites, huts or other trip planning information can contact Susan Adams, EPI Recreation Manager at lunksoos@gmail.com or 207.852.1291. From the North Gate heading south, the park maintains a total of 25 miles of packed trails, and actively grooms 16 of those miles. The Katahdin Woods and Waters website (www.nps.gov ) has a downloadable map of the trail system that identifies which trails receive grooming. Beginners might consider the Old River Road (Continued on next page)

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52 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Katahdin Country (Continued from page 51)

Loop, which consists of 3.5 miles – about half of which traces the East Branch of the Penobscot River. For below-average snowshoe travelers like me, this loop should take a comfortable two hours. I’m sure cross country ski folks will make this trip in half the time. Over the years I’ve consistently recorded my off-road excursions to determine my “trip time” and “distance.” It’s easy to do using a smart phone or GPS unit. I zero in on the “moving average speed” along with the total trip time. This allows for a realistic calculation based on my past personal performance. I’ve seen what happens when guys overestimate their physical abilities. From the North Gate, it’s 12 miles to the Haskell Rock Pitch, which also has a lean-to and a campsite. The Haskell Hut is located along the Haskell Deadwater. Snow travelers need to reserve and register ahead of time for an overnight stay.

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Winter Camping, Too! Camping overnight during the dead of winter absolutely requires topnotch preparation. Prepare for the worst, and call anything above that a bonus. Personally I carry a negative 20 degree sleeping bag with me during any backcountry winter outing. In fact, even when driving on the less-populated roads in Maine during the winter, that bag stays with me in my vehicle. I’m not going to let an unforeseen breakdown keep me from getting a good night’s sleep – or worse. Shouldering a comfortable backpack with enough capacity to comfortably carry some basic winter camping equipment along with some high calorie food will rate as energy well spent. It’s hard to put a value on the ability to heat up some re-hydrated chicken soup or hot chocolate somewhere along the trail. I’ve got a Jet Boil that excels at quickly heating up soups and

drinks – perfect for cold weather breaks. Enough said about winter camping – just plan to bring everything needed to spend a really cold night in the middle of nowhere in complete comfort. Also, the National Monument requires that hikers and campers carry out all traces of leftover food and trash. It’s really easy – if I carry it in, I figure I can carry it out. The ungroomed trails often appeal to the snowshoe crowd. However, the old adage – there’s safety in numbers – rings loud and clear when busting through fresh snow on an ungroomed trail. A small group has the luxury of alternating the lead person, who ultimately bears the lion’s share of breaking the trail. Bait Hole Trail For non-motorized snow travelers who are not looking to make the long trip to the North Gate of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, a more southerly option, the Bait Hole Trail System, located south of Millinocket along Route 11, offers a groomed cross country ski trail system. This trail system, maintained by the Northern Timber Cruisers Snowmobile Club, also

The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument now has groomed cross country trails available by accessing the North Gate. The Bait Hole Trail System, located just south of Millinocket on Route 11, also offers groomed trails, with course options that suit all ages. This family-oriented winter sport has grown in popularity, and is a great way to get some healthy outdoor exercise. Bill Sheldon photo

has plenty of free parking and an outdoor kiosk detailing the trail system. And, yes, us snowshoe plodders need to walk along the side of the trail so not to mess up the groomed center of the trail that the cross country skis need to zoom along smoothly. This network of trails

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navigates along the North Twin Dam, and follows much of the shoreline of Elbow Lake before looping back to the parking area. The kiosk at the parking area has maps and the configuration of the trails, making it easy to plan a route that fits a time schedule. This trail system rates as one of the more scenic anywhere around, as it traverses along the lake and through mixed conifers and hardwoods. The trail is wide and comfortable – plenty of room for both cross country skiers and snowshoe plodders. I chuckled when I noticed in the Katahdin Woods and Waters rules that mentioned, “Snowshoers and leashed pets must walk outside of the ski tracks.” If I recall correctly, the family dog also rode in the back of my father’s old truck with me.

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 53

Off the Beaten Path — Or Not My preference when choosing rivers to fly fish is to find places that are a little off the beaten path. I like undisturbed, natural environments, few anglers, and unpressured fish. Often this is in the Rangeley, Maine area, but sometimes I range farther afield, such as the Rocky Mountains, Alaska, or other wild places. I used to ignore the middlin’ trout streams running through more populated areas, because one only has so much time to fish. But several years ago, writing the guide book, Flyfishers Guide to New England, forced me to explore a variety of waters. I didn’t want my book to be one of those Top 50 Waters to Fish Before You Die books. I believed that a truly helpful guide book must also help busy anglers juggling multiple responsibilities or conserving dollars, who might only fish local streams or ponds. So, to research the book, I started fishing places I had overlooked before. Big Surprise At one out-of-state Trout Unlimited meeting where I was speaking, I met an elderly guy who just gushed about his local river. It was water that I had driven over a thousand times and never fished. He invited me to fish the river with him, but when I met him streamside at a local park, I was initially less than impressed. It was a typical wellkept city park, with kids

throwing sticks into the water for their dogs to retrieve. The river flowed by with a slow and uniform current over what seemed to be a featureless sand/mud bottom. The park and river were surrounded by the decaying brick buildings of an old mill town that hadn’t won any architectural awards when newly arrived laborers constructed it 200 years ago, and it hadn’t improved

with age. But my new friend’s face was beaming like he was entering the mythical city of Shangri-La. He motioned for me to wade upriver, and so we did for 50 yards of what looked to me like frog or bullhead water until we came around a sharp curve. I almost stumbled with disorientation. The river upstream cut through a wooded ridge that I hadn’t noticed be-

Gene Bahr MASTER FISH CARVER

fore, and the steeper gradient created a merry flow sliding over a gravelly bottom with larger cobbles in places. Tall trees shaded the banks, and the air and water felt appreciably cooler. I spotted a sign with faded lettering that might have said Metro-

politan Water District Conservation Area. The looks and sounds of civilization quickly faded, and all I heard was rippling water, the scolding of squirrels, and the quack of a duck or two. A smattering of mayflies fluttered at the sur(Continued on next page)

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54 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Freshwater Fly Fishing (Continued from page 53)

face – a splash along the shade line suggested a trout. The next hour was spent bringing two brown trout to hand – each as bright as a new penny. I also enjoyed listening to my companion’s telling of his history with this stretch of water. He had arrived here shortly after the Vietnam War – a broken young man returning from the war with no place to go and no hope. As he fished the river and became involved in early conservation efforts, he helped save the badly-polluted waterway, and the river, in turn, healed him. He never left, and had stories to tell: • “Caught the first wild trout anyone had caught in 40 years, in 1998.” • “Hooked an 18inch brown by that underwater rock in 2010.” • “Saw a big water snake under that limb last year.” What I learned in my research travels is that

every trout stream is loved by somebody. Personal and natural histories combine to create a rich tapestry for waters that mean far more than a simple trout-to-mile ratio. I realized that human interaction with rivers does not always lessen the fly-fishing experience. I will go back to my new friend’s river again. Mass Pike In Massachusetts, a medium-sized river flows under the Mass Pike, but on a quieter secondary road, just out of earshot of the turnpike, the waterway takes a turn away from the road and flows crystal-clear in a long run over egg-sized rocks. Overhead, towering trees draped with vines shade the water. Oh yes, the trout are also here – healthy rainbows sipping emerging sulfur mayflies. A world-traveler magically transported here would have guessed he or she

This photo was taken only a couple of hundred yards from the Massachusetts Turnpike.

was in New Zealand, not urban New England. I have learned that rivers change character dramatically from one river bend to the next. Urban sprawl can abruptly become mature forest. Warm sunfish water can become cool, oxygenated trout water. A river can flow for miles through concrete culverts, but emerge and fish like a spring creek.

Androscoggin River In downtown Lewiston, I now fish a stretch of the Androscoggin that most ignore. I park in a Dunkin’ Donuts, cross a four-lane road and two parking lots, and scramble down a trashy bank. But once I’m in the water, I can wade for hundreds of yards over clean gravel, with underwater grasses and aquatic plants waving in the current. It reminds me

very much of the Big Hole River in Montana, so long as I don’t look up from the water. Of course, another difference is that I am nymphing for smallmouth bass instead of brown trout. Oh, and my friend once found a handgun on the bottom that someone had tossed from the bridge. But that could happen in Montana too. The smallmouth fish(Continued on next page)

MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ: Gray Squirrel by Steve Vose The native range of the Eastern Gray Squirrel’s (Sciurus carolinensis) stretches from northern Canada all the way into sections of Texas and Florida. A species well-adapted to survive in a wide variety of rural as well as urban environments, the gray squirrel has rapidly spread across the country, largely displacing native red squirrel populations. Highly prolific, gray squirrels breed twice a year – once in the spring and again in late summer. Gray squirrels construct nests of dry leaves and twigs called dreys, usually located in the crotch of a tree. Litters range in size from 1-8 young, with only one in four managing to evade predators, avoid sickness and starvation to survive to one year of age. Of those individ-

uals fortunate enough to survive the first year, about half perish in the follow year. In preparation for winter, gray squirrels hoard tremendous amounts of tree buds, berries, seeds, acorns and even some types

Questions 1. What is the native range of the gray squirrel? 2. How often does the gray squirrel breed? 3. What are the nests of gray squirrels called? 4. How big are gray squirrel litters? 5. What percentage of gray squirrel young survive the first year? www.MaineSportsman.com

6. 7. 8.

of fungi in small caches for later consumption. Scientists studying the behaviors of gray squirrels have estimated a single squirrel makes thousands of caches each season. To prevent other animals from retrieving cached food, squirrels will sometimes pretend to bury a food item, if they feel they are being watched. Those who have spent time watching the antics of the gray squirrel in woodlands and parks across the country will surely note this species’ amazing ability to descend a tree head-first. Gray squirrels are among the very few mammals that can accomplish this acrobatic feat. The squirrel does so without slipping by turning its hind paws so that the claws point backwards, allowing the squirrel to easily grip the tree bark.

What do gray squirrels eat? How many caches do scientists estimates gray squirrels make in a season? What amazing acrobatic feat can gray squirrels accomplish?

Answers on Page 79

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 55

Compromise Baitfish Rule Would Expand Protection of Heritage Trout Waters DIF&W’s current proposed rule would restrict use of baitfish on tributaries and outlets of heritage waters. However, ice fishing at established locations like Moosehead Lake would not be impacted, since any water currently open to the use of live fish as bait in the winter would remain that way. Maine is the last stronghold for wild brook trout, and for a long time, biologists have strongly recommended regulations to ban the use of live bait fish in ponds containing wild trout populations. The reason for this is that brook trout thrive in ponds in which they don’t have to compete with any other species of fish, and banning the use of bait fish greatly reduces the chances of introducing fish that don’t belong. In addition, some fish that are recognized as baitfish compete with trout for food and habitat . Baitfish occupy the same habitat as trout, and can quickly outnumber trout fry. In fact, according to some biologists, certain baitfish species – such as

creek chubs – may feed directly on brook trout fry. Ban Effective in Baxter Park There are a lot of Maine ponds in which the use live bait fish is already banned, and those ponds have shown great results in terms of stopping the spread of invasive or competitive species. For example, in Baxter State Park, anglers cannot use live bait in wild trout ponds, and the brook trout are thriving. In 2005, the Maine Legislature passed “An Act to Recognize and Protect the Native Eastern Brook Trout as Maine’s Heritage Fish.” This law included provisions to ensure that waters designated as heritage wa-

ters (those waters that hadn’t been stocked for at least 25 years) were not stocked, and prohibited anglers from fishing with live baitfish on those waters. In the 2017 – 2018 legislative session, a bill was submitted to expand those protections to include to the tributaries of heritage waters. Lawmakers wanted all parties to be heard on the issue, so the Legislature asked the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife to review the issue. At this point, any changes will go through the Department’s administrative rulemaking process, rather than coming back to the Legislature.

A large golden shiner. Live bait will be prohibited from tributaries of heritage brook trout waters, if a proposed IF&W regulation is adopted. Photo by Lou Zambello

Would Not Impact Moosehead Under the current proposal, Moosehead Lake, a popular ice fishing destination and the biggest lake in the state, would not be affected if this proposal were issued as a new regulation. That’s because the Department is proposing no changes to any waters that are open to ice fishing and that already allow the use of live fish as bait. Under the latest version of the proposed rule, any water open to the use of live fish as bait in the winter would remain that way, so ice fishermen will not be impacted. However, the Department

wants to add protections to flowing waters around heritage waters, especially tributaries and outlets of heritage waters. One possible benefit is a reduction on the number of “special” laws in the lawbook, since the proposal would establish as “general law” a prohibition on the use of live bait, while any ponds where such bait is currently in common use would have an S-code permitting use of live bait. This regulation would not restrict the use of dead bait fish, worms or anything else that’s not live bait fish.

Freshwater Fly Fishing (Continued from page 54)

ing is outstanding – as good as many places that folks travel some distance to fish. I am disappointed if I don’t hook a dozen in a few hours. Urban fishing has its advantages too. There is something to be said for fishing without bug spray, and instead of having a soggy peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a swig of warm water from a water bottle for lunch, I can take a quick walk to indulge myself with fish and chips, and a microbrew. I still enjoy fly fishing the wild places. But I now also treasure fishing a few convenient, meaningful, reclaimed, surprising, quirky, and loved waters.

This outstanding rainbow trout was caught near a main road in suburban eastern Pennsylvania.

My wife, Lindsey, caught this nice trout in classic brookie water, a touchdown pass away from a heavily congested section of southern Maine’s Route 100. www.MaineSportsman.com

56 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

“Winter Outsiders” Find Jackman the Perfect Fit LL Bean has a new promotional catch-phrase spreading across the airwaves: “Be an Outsider.” It’s a catchy bit of marketing designed to evoke the urge to live the good life with the wind in our sails and the dappled sunshine reflecting off our faces. Visitors who stop at the flagship store in Freeport on the way to the Jackman region will encounter many other customers who consider themselves to be “outsiders.” However, those who complete their shopping and then proceed north and west until they arrive in the hamlet of Jackman believe the challenging weather and conditions in this region will serve

to separate the real “winter outsiders” from the tire-kickers. The second month of the year up here in snow country has a heap of outdoor activities for those who appreciate this winter playground. Yup; It’s Cold! In an effort to get an inside look into the mind of Jackman “winter outsiders,” I contacted Tami and Steve Cowen, owners of Cozy Cove Cabins. The Cowens have a beautiful array of cabins located along the shoreline of Big Wood Lake. In this region of Maine, it’s cold. Make that very cold. And the wind sings across the

lake, making it feel even colder. Snow piles up everywhere. So I put the question to Tami – why do folks make the run northward up Route 201 to visit the “Switzerland of Maine” during deep winter? Snow Machines Rule The quick answer – snowmobiling – almost goes without saying. It’s no secret that Jackman serves as a “hub” for trail runners looking to traverse the North Country using the Interstate Trail System (ITS). Without a doubt, snowmobiling rates as the number one winter sport in this snow-rich region. Consider that ITS 89 allows trail run-

ners the option of heading south to Rangeley or north to Canada. Those looking to visit Canada need to show the folks at customs a photo identification, current passport, registration, proof of insurance and a trail pass to ride in Quebec. I’m told that children will require a birth certificate. The Jackman Chamber of Commerce (www.jackmanmaine. org) has more detailed information on border-crossing protocol. All the Amenities Sled jockeys looking to head east can hop on ITS 88 and head towards Rockwood. Those looking to make tracks into the

Upper

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iconic town of Greenville can enjoy the scenery along ITS 86. After a full day of riding, having a cozy cabin waiting when the sleds rumble to a stop adds another important element to playing in Maine’s winter wonderland. Not much rivals kicking off your snow boots and wrapping your cold hands around a steaming cup of hot chocolate. The hamlet of Jackman offers all the amenities serious trail runners need. It’s easy to register snowmobiles online, and even easier to stop in and visit the folks at Bishop’s Store who not only (Continued on next page)

ATTENTION SPORTSMEN

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�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 57 (Continued from page 56)

handle registrations but have just about anything needed for serious trail runners. No sled? Tired of dragging a trailer? No problem, simply see the folks at Bald Mountain Rentals (www.baldmtnrentals.com) for a rental ride. And Jackman Power Sports (www.jackmanpowersports.com) can handle anything from mechanical gremlins to selecting that brand new dream machine. Unity College Gets Sky Lodge Some breaking news from the iconic Moose River “Sky Lodge” located north of Jackman on Route 201 – the legendary lodge was recently donated to Unity College. The college plans to continue running the sporting lodge and conference center while developing educational programs as an extension of the main campus in Unity. Students will learn

first-hand the challenges of running a financially sustainable sporting lodge, and its impact on the community economically, environmentally and socially. The future of Sky Lodge looks bright, as the iconic sporting lodge takes on a new role as a beacon of light in the Moose River Valley. Already the Sky Lodge experience has impacted sportsmen and women looking for quality winter recreation. The college has carved out a cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trail system on its newly-acquired campus. As part of a growing trend throughout Maine, groomed cross-country

THE LAST RESORT

skiing trails have now reached Moose River. Unity College has opened these trails to the general public. They provide parking at the main lodge. A sign at the trailhead and blue blazes make for worry-free trail navigation. Unity College does not charge for using the trail system, but they’ve placed a donation box at the trailhead. Any funds collected will support the maintenance and grooming of the trails. Ice Fishing In further conversations with Tami Cowen on why folks brave the cold and land at one of her cabins on Big Wood

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Ice fishing on Big Wood Lake is a fun family activity. This young lady appears well-equipped to handle any challenge encountered on the hard water. Snowmobiling and ice fishing dominate the Jackman Region’s winter sporting options. Bill Sheldon photo

Lake, she singled out ice fishing as a major attraction. During the winter,

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The Specialists Guide Service

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58 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Scrumptious Seared Partridge and Apples Here we are readers, ice-fishing, beaver trapping, snowmobiling – and yet we’re heading into more daylight, better attitude adjustments and the MAINE SPORTSMAN SHOW March 29-31st! YAY!!! This year at the show, I will be autographing and offering FREE cookbooks for the first 50 (you must be there) who sign up for twoyear subscriptions to The Maine Sportsman.

I’ll be there Saturday between noon and 3 p.m. I will also be giving away Scorpion Peppers flakes and seeds, or cookbooks, to anyone bringing me 2 lbs. of game meat. I need to build my inventory for my food column. The Scorpion Pepper was rated the 2nd hottest pepper in the world two years ago by the National Chili Institute of Santa Fe. I had given some pepper flakes to my brother and

said to use it cautiously. He added one big flake to a stew, and said it was enough. (This from the guy who said, “I can eat anything hot!”) Speaking of my brother – thanks, Chris, for the surprise I found in my freezer from your hunt last fall! Bon Appétit, and Happy Healthy meals with wild game!

Peel, core, and slice apples into ½” slices. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in skillet on medium to low heat, add apples, squeeze ½ lemon over apples. Sauté 7 minutes, turning once. Sprinkle sugar over apples, then raise to high heat, cook until slightly browned. Set apples aside. Flatten breasts slightly with smooth

meat pounder. Add remaining butter to skillet, and heat to medium high. Add partridge and cook 3 minutes on each side, and remove. Add onion and cook to until tender and caramelized about 10 minutes. Raise heat to high, add vinegar and cook about one minute. Add stock and stir. Return partridge to pan and simmer 3

minutes to warm through. Add apples with juice on top of chicken, and simmer 3 more minutes. Serve on top of mashed potatoes, rice, or noodles to absorb all those lovely juices. Or – since I am all about presentation – with steamed potatoes, carrots or peas. Serves 4.

Jackman Region

to town for anything from a forgotten set of gloves to a hot pizza topped with pepperoni and cheese. At first glance across the lake under the cover of darkness, one might think the many points of light bouncing off the ice come from the stars above. A closer inspection will reveal an array of man-made lights coming from the windows of ice shacks, where hardy fishermen have squarely targeted their fish traps in deep water looking to fool one of Maine’s favorite table fare – cusk. Sally Mountain Cabins, also located on the shores of Big Wood Lake, rents heated

ice shacks for those looking to try hard-water angling in complete comfort. They also offer fresh live bait to entice those lunker fish lurking in the lake’s depths into making a mistake. While there are many active outdoor options from which to choose, sometimes it’s nice to just to look out across the lake, sip down some fresh-brewed coffee and spend the day relaxing in a warm cabin. As a good friend of mine once told me “It doesn’t always have to make sense.”

My brother had given us a couple partridge, as well as extra partridge bones for my stock. I’d left it in the white bag, and it remained invisible until yesterday! What a celebration to taste this bird as we see spring (or mud season) in our near future. Hey, hope springs eternal, right? I paired this bird with tastes of fall, spring and summer – apples, sugar, sweet onions, and apple cider vinegar. I had Honey Crisp Apples from Pie Tree Orchard, Stephen King’s orchard in Lovell. And oh, if you go, you have to try their fresh donuts – they are deadly! Ingredients • 3 Honey Crisp Apples • ½ lemon • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided • 1 tablespoon raw sugar • 6 boneless partridge breasts • 1 sweet onion, halved and sliced • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar • ½ cup chicken stock

(Continued from page 57)

scattered across the hard water. The assortment of snowmobiles, ATVs and UTVs navigating the lake creates a beehive of townlike activity. The beauty of ice fishing Big Wood Lake, aside from some tasty brook trout, lake trout, salmon and Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W)-stocked splake, comes from its close proximity to town. It’s literally minutes to send someone www.MaineSportsman.com

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 59

Try Moosehead Lake for Trout of a Lifetime Huge brookies; plentiful togue – in short, Moosehead Lake offers everything a hardwater angler could possibly wish for. February comes as a welcome month for Moosehead Lake anglers, since ice-fishing for landlocked salmon begins on February 15. But that’s not all. Moosehead Lake continues to pump out massive brook trout – fish of 4, 5 and even 6 pounds. And, of course, togue fishing always ranks way up there, given the liberal daily bag limit of 5 fish. In other words, Moosehead Lake offers everything a hardwater angler could possibly wish for. Visiting anglers should consider a few things before setting out. Typically, by February, ice on Maine’s largest lake has become so thick that drilling through to water may require an extension bit. Perhaps you won’t need one at the time of your visit, but it pays to bring it anyway, just in case. Also, most folks use snowmobiles to get around on Moosehead. But walking becomes possible, even in deep snow, by following tracks where snowmobiles have traveled. Essentially, everyone, even those without snow machines, can get on the ice and try to catch those fat, healthy and sassy game fish. Universal Bait Local bait shops sell them and everyone uses them, usually to the exclusion of everything else. Smelt, a major forage species in Moosehead Lake, stand as a universally-recognized bait for all of the lake’s game fish. Fish will bite on other legal baitfish too, but smelt

take top billing as best bait. So for best results, stop at a bait dealer and pick up a dozen smelt. When putting those lively smelt to use, remember that different fish species have different habits. While the possibility exists of taking trout, salmon and togue in the same area and at the same depth, these three salmonid species have individual preferences, and playing to those preferences improves our chances for success. For instance, salmon in search of smelt often swim just beneath the ice. A line set only two feet beneath the ice puts your bait in a place where salmon are likely to see it. We can’t make them bite, but putting our baits where fish can see them makes it more likely that they will bite. Not all salmon spend their days working near the surface, so a line set 20-40 feet down makes sense as well. Togue, too, will hang in relatively deep water.

For the first few traps, try setting at around 40 feet, and then adjust things from that point on, according to how fish bite. A portable fish locator can help greatly by showing how far down fish are holding. Brook trout, too, show up around the lake at various depths. But if you can find drop-offs or shoal water (notes taken during open-water season come in handy now), pay particular attention to them. This fact puts those without snowmobiles in good standing, since brook trout typically frequent shallow areas in winter. Winter Vacation More and more people are enjoying winter vacations in the Moosehead Region. The area caters to those who partake of winter sports, and towns like Greenville become hubs of activity once ice forms and snow flies. While some opt for a week-long stay, others content themselves with weekend visits. Either way, outdoor fun awaits.

This handsome Moosehead salmon fell to a live smelt. Eric Holbrook photo

One of the best ways for visitors to maximize their stay is to hire a local Maine guide. The guide knows the area, where to go and how to best take advantage of what the region has to offer. For ice-fishers, a guide takes the fuss and planning out of the equation. So sign up for a day (or several days) of fishing, and prepare for an exciting experience. Even those new to the sport can benefit from the advice and assistance from a guide, and in essence, anyone can be an expert angler, if just for a day. And that’s worth a whole lot. For what to expect from a February ice-fishing trip, area guide Eric Holbrook says that February marks the time that togue go on the feed big-time. We’ll talk more

about togue in March, but suffice it to say, February marks the beginning of fast-paced togue fishing. Eric also told me that when targeting brook trout, try fishing very close to shore in shallow water. Two feet is not too shallow for success on brook trout. Self-Guided In addition to Moosehead Lake, a number of stocked trout ponds dot the region, and many are open to ice-fishing and are easily accessible. First on the list, Mountain View, also known as Fitzgerald Pond, ranks as a real trout factory, seeing regular introductions of brook trout in spring and fall. The fall-stocked fish are released so that the ice-fishing crowd will have lots of trout to catch come winter. (Continued on next page)

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60 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Moosehead Region (Continued from page 59)

Easy to find, Mountain View Pond lies just west of Route 15 in Big Moose Township. A prominent sign along the road directs anglers to the pond and parking area. Last fall, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

(DIF&W) released 1,400 13-inch brook trout and 100 17-inch brookies here. Note that brook trout are the only species in Mountain View Pond, so if you get a bite, it’s a brookie. Look for Mountain

View Pond on the DeLorme Atlas, Map 41, C-1. Next, just down the road from Greenville in Sangerville lies Center Pond. This stands as an unsung trout water, not getting much publicity. But that all changes now, since this 403acre pond sees regular stocking from DIF&W. Last fall, the department

stocked 1,000 13-inch brook trout, along with 1,200 brown trout. This makes Center Pond stand out among trout ponds in the northern region, since very few contain brown trout. Center Pond lies just off Silver Mills Road. Center Pond contains both brook trout and brown trout, and since

brown trout frequently carry over from one year to the next, it is possible to catch big, fat, holdover browns. Also note that lengths given for stocked trout are averages, so among those 13-inch trout are some 14- and 15-inch fish as well. Look for Center Pond on Map 32, C-1.

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Ice-Trap Flags Fly on Downeast Ponds and Lakes This Month Within minutes of my setting up the Heritage ice-trap, the reel began humming as the powerful fish spooled off 20 to 30 feet of line. I set the hook and eagerly started my retrieval. The line whipped from one side of the hole to the other several times before the 17-inch splake came into view. Carefully, I pulled the spirited fish toward the hole. After several attempts, the fish came through the ice. I snipped the leader and freed the hybrid trout. After drilling out my second ice hole, I put on a 3-inch emerald shiner and set my bait 10 feet under the ice. I returned to my shoreline windbreak for a cup of hot coffee and a muffin, and waited for more flag-flying action. A half-hour later, I noticed that the flag on my first trap was again flying skyward. The reel spun gradually as the slack was taken out of the line. I calmly pulled the trap up through the ice and grabbed the fleeing line, setting the hook. Slowly, I hauled the line through freezing fin-

In 2018, DIF&W biologists stocked Washington County’s West Musquash Lake (“West Lake”) in Talmadge with 1,000 11-inch brook trout, and 350 8-inch salmon. gers. As the fish swam by the ice hole, I noticed that the hook was just slightly lodged into the jaw of the 19-inch splake. Then the fish shook its head aggressively and freed itself. I pulled up my traps two hours later, having only two more flags, but no other fish caught. However, as always, I reminded myself that fishing is always good, even if the catching is at times slow. On two other outing, I was able to jig two legal splake from this water. The largest hybrid trout caught, while jigging with a Swedish Pi, was 19 inches. Could it be the same one I had lost earlier in the season?

Heart Pond Splake The fishing excursion in the above paragraphs took place at Heart’s Pond in East Orland. Refer to DeLorme’s Atlas, Map 23, E-4 to pinpoint this location. This pond sees minimal ice-fishing pressure. Heart’s Pond was stocked last spring with approximately 200 splake. These fish, in addition to those stocked over the past years, may create some thrilling fishing opportunity this winter. Heart Pond has a twotrap limit, and use of live bait is permitted. According to former Heart’s Pond resident Richard Crampton, ice anglers should set up a

few ice traps on this under-fished water and possibly catch a few 18-inch splake. To find the public access, go through the parking lot behind Duffy’s Restaurant off Route 1, turn left and drive .3 mile to the end of the road on the northwest shore. There are many lakes and ponds in Hancock and Washington County that offer quality salmonid angling each February. By checking the Maine Atlas, Maps 16 and 23 in Hancock County and Maps 26 and 45, anglers can locate some of the most productive ice-fishing hotspots.

Washington County Ice Fishing According to Region C fish biologist Greg Burr, “West Musquash in Talmadge (Map 45, E-3) is legendary for its terrific togue fishery, as well as its excellent salmon and brook trout fishing.” Local anglers often refer to this 1,613-acre lake as “West Lake.” The lake produces lake trout in the 19- to- 22-inch range on a regular basis, with a few trophies weighing in double digits. The deep, well-oxygenated water on the west side of the lake is an excellent place to set out some deep-water ice traps baited with a cut-up sucker or a 4-inch smelt. Even though this lake has water depths over 100 feet, winter anglers catch more togue at (Continued on page 63)

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62 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

TMS Columnists’ Vehicles – Part 1 To write with the experience and authenticity readers expect from this magazine, columnists for The Maine Sportsman (TMS) are required to use capable, durable vehicles to get into our state’s remote areas to hunt and fish. I had a discussion about vehicles a while ago with Bill Sheldon, whose monthly columns cover the Jackman and Katahdin regions. He suggested that I check with some of our writers, profiling them and their vehicle choices. In each of the next few issues, I will be in-

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In this first of a series, Bill Sheldon tells our Off-Road columnist, William Clunie, what’s worked well – and not so well – with the various vehicles he’s owned to haul hunting dogs in crates, carry camp construction materials, and tow his fishing and drift boats all over New England. terviewing writers from this magazine, who will inform readers (and me) about their own “Off Road Traveler” vehicle selections. Readers will hear what our columnists – starting with Bill Sheldon himself – have used for travel in the remote woods – the vehicles that help them to be successful in their pursuit of fish

and game, way back in the big woods of Maine. ***** Inter-office Memo To: William Clunie From: Bill Sheldon Re: My vehicles Thanks for asking about my history with offroad vehicles. Here are brief reviews of some of the vehicles I’ve owned:

1989 Jeep Wrangler: I bought this as a second vehicle and really, really appreciated the small turning radius. I feel that’s very important when navigating down narrow, winding logging roads in Maine. This Jeep was really a two-person rig, and everyone in the family loved driving it. After this pur-

chase, I was introduced to the “Jeep Wave” – greetings from one oncoming Jeep owner to another. It’s a great vehicle for its size and, once again, let me emphasize – 4x4, 5-speed, 4 cylinder … just the basics. I like a vehicle that’s utilitarian. 1990 Toyota 4Runner: Back to an SUV… I towed a 16-foot Lund boat all over New England with that rig. It was great for the family and the woods, and nice for taking the occasional third passenger. Downside: It didn’t stand up to (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 63 (Continued from page 62)

the immovable telephone pole Denise, my wife, encountered when driving it in slippery weather. 1994 Toyota 4Runner: We liked the first one so much, we bought another one, and again – short turning radius, four-wheel-drive, and a little bit of comfort. This one had a V-6 with a little more power, but the earlier four-cylinder was fine. Personally, I’d take the four-banger for the extra mileage. 1999 GMC 4X4 short bed: This one should have been a great truck – a short 4x4 with an easy turning radius, all set up with a fiberglass cap. Downside: It had automatic transmission problems, and went back to GMC after six months under the provisions of the state’s lemon law. 2000 Toyota Tacoma Super Cab: A great truck that came with a cap and a 4 cylinder automatic that I put 60,000 trouble-free miles on before trading it in. In this one, I had a spring company add a leaf so I could carry more weight. I was building a cabin at the time, and the suspension folks recommended adding a leaf to the middle of the spring

pack so it would carry heavier loads without altering the factory ride. It worked flawlessly … much better than bolt-on suspension kits. Downsides: None. 2003 GMC Yukon: This was the best vehicle I’ve ever owned and I’m still using it in the winter for plowing. It has 249,000 miles and the basics, with a short wheelbase to make back-country navigation easy. The Yukon easily carried four adults and two dogs when bird hunting. One thing I really liked – a small thing – but the rear compartment had heat ducts in the ceiling, which the dogs really appreciated that on cold, damp days. This rig towed flawlessly and the seats folded down to create a cavernous space almost as large as some of my pickup trucks with caps. Downside: Too much reliance on electronics that failed over the years. While I still use the Yukon daily, not a single gauge works, and the power window controls have been replaced multiple times. But with regular oil changes, she still starts and drives great. 2006 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon: This was supposed

Downeast Region (Continued from page 61)

depths of 35 to 40 feet. Hatchery personnel stocked this lake with 1,000 11-inch brook trout and 350 8-inch salmon in the spring of 2018. This fishery is also sustained with a natural reproduction of brookies and landlocks. Brookies in the 11- to 14-inch range are often iced by anglers fishing off Trout Lake brook. Access to this lake is obtained by a dirt road to the boat landing. West Musquash Lake has many regulations on ice fishing, including: • Minimum length on togue – 18 inches • Daily bag limit on togue – 2 fish, only one over 33 inches • All togue between 23 and 33 inches must be released alive at once.

Sheldon’s current rig looks good coming or going. Photo courtesy of Bill Sheldon

to be the perfect vehicle. This edition Jeep was ten inches longer than the standard Jeep Wrangler, but still was a two door. This unit came with one-inch taller tires and a one-inch body lift from the factory, which meant more clearance – always important when off-road. I went with an automatic on this one; it came with an axle lock and a Dana 44 rear end … this set-up is unstoppable. The little bit of extra length gave some needed room behind the seat and smoothed out the ride without sacrificing turning radius. It was, and is, the perfect off-road rig for up to two people. However, with this vehicle I made one MAJOR mistake … I bought it for myself and my offroad adventures, the mistake being – I let my wife drive it. She loved driving around, giving everyone the “Jeep Wave,” and I

hardly got to use it. When she was done with it, my daughter Hannah hopped in the driver’s seat and still uses it daily. She loves it, so I don’t plan on getting it back anytime soon. 2013 Jeep Wrangler 4-door (My current vehicle): This one rides well on the highway and off-road, with a two-inch lift kit and two-inch taller tires to improve clearance. I use it to tow my drift boats, and the extra clearance really helps on some of the marginal boat ramps I use. It has decent gas mileage, and the extra seats work well with four. The dog crates fit nicely in the back section … a great all-purpose rig. Conclusion: When selecting a vehicle for my outdoor pursuits, I’ve got a few “must-have” requirements: • A short wheel base for good turning radius

Indian Lake Indian Lake is another favorite ice-fishing water in Washington County (Map 26, B-5). This 120-acre lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The shoreline is quite developed with seasonal camps and year-round residences; however, access can be gained at the boat launch on the Route 1 end of the pond. Indian was stocked in the spring of 2018 with 600 10-inch brookies for spring anglers, and again in the fall with 200 13inch trout, 6,000 7-inch fish, and 25 18-inch brookies for ice cutters to catch. Many trout from last fall’s stocking are iced by fisherman; however, significant numbers of even heftier holder-over trout are also caught. Winter anglers fishing small golden shiners, small smelts or worms fished in 4- to 5-feet of water usually have the best chance of catching winter brookies. Ice anglers who set up ice traps on the southern

• Four-wheel-drive with both high and low range • Good ground clearance, and • Tall, slightly aggressive tires. Most all of my vehicles automatically got updated with as tall a set of tires as I could fit … I also try to keep the tires fairly narrow. All my pickup trucks had a topper cap … no digging my gear out of the snow in the bed or having it soaked in the rain. I’m also particular about my trailer hitch set-up, insisting on towing from a chassis-mounted hitch instead of off the rear bumper. I too, like my wife and daughter, enjoy riding around flashing the “Jeep Wave.” And lastly…it must look good towing a drift boat.

shoreline of the lake have the most success. More Winter Brookies Another top choice for brook trout seekers is Echo Lake (Map16, B-2). Trout anglers achieve better success by cutting a few holes on the west side of the lake. Water depths from five to 10 feet create ideal habitat for winter-feeding brookies. State hatchery trucks dropped off 13-inch brookies and 8-in inch trout in 2018. Anglers catch brook trout in the 12- to 14-inch range from this water, with a few trophies weighing over 2-pounds. Special regulations on Echo Lake include: • Fishing restricted to two lines • A daily limit of two trout per day • Trout must be 12 inches or larger, and • No more than one can exceed 14 inches.

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64 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Reader Feedback on Circle Hooks, Strange “Mackerel” Matt Rosenberg of Wells confirms the findings of other saltwater anglers -- if a striper gets deeply-hooked with a circle hook, it’s harder to remove than a J-hook and results in more damage to the fish. In my October and December columns, I asked for readers’ input on their experiences with circle hooks, and thoughts on the identity of some strange mackerel that swam into Maine waters this summer. Here are some of the responses I received. Topic #1: Circle Hooks – a Mixed Blessing? Circle hooks, as most readers who do much saltwater fishing know, were mandated for use with bait in Maine in 2013, in order to cut down on release mortality on striped bass. Circle hooks are designed to catch in the corner of a fish’s jaw rather than the throat or gullet. However, some of us who do a lot of striper fishing aren’t fully convinced the hooks function as intended. Dan Beetz of York wrote: “I fish out of York Harbor and keep a logbook

for the Department of Marine Resources. As of September 25, 2018 we’d taken 154 bass, and about one in ten were the legal 28” limit or larger. “I have given circle hooks a good shot and own two dozen different sizes and styles. We get multiple hits, as many as seven, on the baits without hooking up, with lots of baits killed. “Many of the bass we net are deeply hooked and bleed out. They can’t be revived, and when we can’t remove the hook, those fish swim off with that hook in their gut. “My friends and I have fished for years, and if circle hooks worked we would have figured out the technique. In my opinion, traditional J-hooks worked better and they killed far fewer fish. I think they should be an option, not mandated.” When to Set the Hook? Matt Rosenberg from Wells wrote: “In my

experience, circle hooks don’t significantly reduce gut-hooking and release mortality, because of the prevalent striper size and the way we fish for them. We have seen a lot of fish right around keeper size or just under. When fishing live mackerel, we have had to let the fish run with the bait longer in order to hook up. “I think that’s because these smaller fish carry the mackerel away from the other schoolie bass before they swallow it. You can set the hook earlier with a J-hook and get the barb into the fish before the bait’s swallowed deeply, but it doesn’t seem to work that way with a circle hook. “Once a striper is deeply hooked with a circle hook, it is harder to remove and results in more damage to the fish. We have adapted our technique with circle hooks, but we see fewer hook-ups and roughly the same level of unintended release mortality as with J-hooks.” Anglers Can’t Easily “Back Out” a Circle Hook Dan and Matt confirm what I have experienced with circle hooks after catching 700 or so stripers with bait – fewer hookups, and a high level of release mortality. The main problem, as both Dan and Matt state, is the damage done to fish that are deeply hooked. Traditional J-hooks can

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A circle hook can result in a jaw-hooked striper that can be cleanly released, like this one displayed by Cindy Raasch of Florida and crewman Larry Grimard of the Shark Six. Barry Gibson photo

be fairly easily removed with long-nose pliers or a de-hooking device, but not so with circles. If you want proof, penetrate a piece of stiff cardboard with a circle hook, and then try to back it out. The eye of the hook will hit the cardboard before the hook can be rotated far enough to slide the barb back out. The only way to get that hook out of the cardboard is to tear it out. Exact same thing happens with a striper’s throat or gullet tissue. Everything would be fine if circle hooks caught in the jaw hinge every time, but they don’t, and that’s the reality. Topic #2: Strange Mack Attack I ran a photo of one of the needle-toothed and oddly-marked “mackerel” caught along the Maine coast this past season, and asked readers to help identify it. James Hall of Wayne wrote: “It resembles some of the images of smaller king mackerel on the web site I looked at, assuming the photos on the site are correct. Of course, king mackerel should not be in Maine waters, but neither should blue crabs

and southern fish that occasionally show up.” My old friend and deckhand Dean Krah of Sheepscot believes they may be false albacore, and wrote: “We caught a few of those false albies that were around.” “Every Fish Tried to Bite Me!” Dan Beetz, who had earlier commented on circle hooks, added: “About those little tuna, every one we caught tried to bite me – I never learned! And if somebody was to toss one in a bait well (which probably violates a dozen laws), it would sink to the bottom and lay on its side until released. A friend of mine from the Vineyard says they are bonito. I guess if a juvenile flounder can flip an eye to the other side of its body, a bonito can change its stripes.” So far, from other anglers I’ve corresponded with in Maine and Massachusetts, the majority vote is that’s they’re juvenile bonito. I think the jury’s still out, however, and I’ll keep pursuing this subject. Thanks for all the reader responses, and stay tuned in 2019!

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 65

Ice Fishing’s in Full Swing Now, in February, cold streaks get interrupted by the occasional sunny, mild day – perfect for a day on the ice. While our region abounds in coldwater game fish locations, more and more people have become hooked on the fast-paced action available from panfish such as white perch and black crappies. By February, most ponds and lakes in the Midcoast region have sufficient ice for safe ice fishing. And today, a new panfish lurks in a few Midcoast waters. Bluegill sunfish, the result of illegal introductions, have become established to the point where anglers now take them through the ice, along with other, more familiar fish species. For me, the quest for fast action plus the chance to come home with several meals’ worth of tasty fillets, sees me out jigging for panfish. The reason for jigging rather than setting out baited ice-fishing traps lies in my fondness for keeping things simple and going light. Panfish bite on small jigs as readily as they do on live baitfish, so why bother lugging traps and bait buckets, when all we really need is a jigging rod and a selection of panfish jigs? Jigging has increased in popularity over the last several years, and now people jig for not only panfish, but also coldwater game fish such as trout. Trout, too, readily gobble up ice-fishing jigs. Last season while jigging a small pond with a group of friends, one man found a place near shore where

Retail stores may have midnight madness or March madness sales, but another kind of madness, “crappie madness,” has taken the Midcoast ice-fishing fraternity by storm. And my new favorite crappie pond is Savade Pond, in Windsor. a stream entered the pond. He drilled a hole in front of the mouth of the stream, and this conveniently was right on top of the drop-off. Using the smallest ice-fishing jigs, he caught several crappies and a brook trout – solid proof that trout take ice jigs. Sheepscot Pond Sheepscot Pond in Palermo sees considerable ice-fishing pressure, but most of that is oriented toward trout and togue. Few, however, visit Sheepscot for the sole purpose of angling for panfish. And that’s a shame, because Sheepscot Pond teems with oversized white perch – fish of 12 to 14 inches. My best luck on perch was in about 30 feet of water, about halfway down the west side of the pond. Of course, white perch are found throughout the pond, but the place I describe here ranks as a good area to begin. For white perch, tiny jigs aren’t necessary. These rambunctious fish eagerly slam Swedish Pimples, three-sided metal jigs with a treble hook at the bottom. The weight of a Swedish Pimple makes it easy to get the jig right back down to the scene of action after catching a fish. With schooling fish such as white perch, the action of a hooked fish keeps the school in the area, since they become excited

The author slides a jigcaught crappie out onto the ice. Seymour photo.

when they see a hooked fish. But Sheepscot has a new fish species, bluegills. Last winter a number of bluegills showed up around the outlet just above the dam. Bluegills, being very prolific, will be there this winter too, and in increasing numbers. Try using a small jig, one with a plastic body. Also, one of my friends uses a white marabou jig, and he catches every species of panfish on it, including bluegills. Don’t expect to take bluegills in deep water, since they love hanging around shoreline weedbeds. Fishing off the edge of known weedbeds in 1012 feet of water, even if the weeds have died back for the winter, results in plenty of bluegills. Look for Sheepscot Pond on the Delorme Atlas, Map 13, B-4.

Crappie Madness Retail stores may have midnight madness or March madness sales, but another kind of madness, “crappie madness,” has taken the Midcoast ice-fishing fraternity by storm. Crappies’ willingness to bite on almost anything, coupled with the great taste of their fillets, has endeared these spiny-rayed intruders to legions of hardwater anglers. Flattish, slab-sided (people in the south refer to large crappies as “slabs”), crappies use their leverage to advantage when hooked. While most crappies run between 8 and 12 inches, many waters also hold larger, 14- to 15-inch crappies. These aggressive fish are capable of fast bursts of speed, and can quickly peel line from a reel in 5-foot increments. Midcoast anglers have embraced the crappie fishery in a big way. People new to crappie fishing, after having caught some and taken them home to cook the fillets, become instantly hooked on the sport. And so it isn’t unusual to see large crowds out on crappie ponds, especially on weekends and holidays. Crappie Ponds Midcoast Maine has several crappie ponds, so here are a few of my favorites. My new favorite, Savade Pond in Wind-

sor, holds a potpourri of fish species, including crappies, bluegills, largemouth bass and brook trout. But for me it’s crappies and bluegills, and these are what I target. Fishing perhaps 50 feet out from shore in between 10 and 20 feet of water puts the angler in crappie and bluegill country. A jig rod and selection of ice-fishing jigs make up the required equipment. Both crappies and bluegills readily take jigs. However, tipping a jig hook with a bit of earthworm or mealworm (available from pet shops) can increase odds of a hookup. See Savade Pond on the DeLorme Atlas, Map 13, C-3. Next – and this may come as a surprise – the Lower Reservoir, also known as Reservoir Number 1, in Belfast, the same place that may eventually host a huge salmon farm, holds lots of crappies, and big ones at that. I’ve taken my share of 15- to 16-inch crappies there. This is a small water, and an angler on foot can easily cover every inch of it in a day. So my advice is to only cut two or three holes, and try them before cutting more. If nothing bites, keep moving until crappies are located. Interestingly, this pond once held humongous white perch, well over 2 pounds. But the perch have vanished into the ether. And again, crappies have taken their place. Look for Lower Reservoir on Map 14, B-5.

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66 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Fox Trapping Back in the Day Some trap preparations recommended 100 years ago seem strange -- even bizarre – to us now, such as rubbing cow manure on traps that were to be used near pastures, or “deodorizing” traps by smoking over burning feathers. Other approaches, including deadfalls or use of exposed bait, are illegal today. In last month’s “The Silent Places,” I addressed fox trapping. In the article, I said that very little informative information on trapping any furbearer back years ago was available, the exception being a couple of books and several outdoor magazines. In general, effective trapping methods were well-guarded secrets by trappers who had learned them over many years in the field. Today, there are many ways to learn about different species, their habits and the correct and humane methods to take them. In most of today’s trapping magazines, booklets, and DVDs, truthful and excellent instruction is given about furbearers and how to trap them. Fifty or more years ago, there were only a few books and magazines that spoke to fox trapping. Two that I still have are Brown’s Fox Trapping and Harding’s Fox Trapping. These two were among a very small number of books that were touted as being the bibles on fox trapping. Some of the methods covered to lure a fox into a trap sound completely outlandish today. One must believe that some fox were taken with these methods, but they could not have been anywhere near as effective as towww.MaineSportsman.com

day’s trapping methods. Today we know how to better prepare our traps before use, that different lures and scents are effective in luring an animal to a trap set location, that different animals require different levels of care in trap placement, and what baits are most effective for a given animal. Our ability to cover large geographical areas has been greatly enhanced by easy access due to modern logging practices (lots of logging roads), the use of 4x4 pickups, snowmobiles and ATVs. Some of the old methods written about we find hard to believe today. As I said, they may have worked sometimes, but surely were nowhere as effective as today’s methods. Cow Manure as a Masking Scent? These methods included rubbing cow manure on traps when trapping on farmland where cows were present, rubbing tallow all over a trap before placing the trap under water, or smearing traps with blood before setting under hay chaff. We would never do this today, because we know many canines will dig up a trap that they smell, especially those with blood or other animal matter on them. Statements commonly made were that fox

were not afraid of human scent or the smell of a steel trap if the dirt did not appear disturbed at the trap set. Others authors understood the truth, however, stating that fox can smell those odors, and all efforts should be used to eliminate them. Today we are well aware that canines can smell both traps and human odors, causing them to avoid a set. Some books suggested trappers wear large pieces of leather to cover their footwear or strapping boards onto their boots to lessen odors from one’s shoes. Today many trappers know enough to wear rubber boots for trapping, and they do not gas up the old truck wearing them due to the odor of petroleum products, nor wear them where other contaminates may leave odors on them. Only a few trappers back then said that canine traps needed to be boiled in water with additives in it to deodorize and dye a trap or to wax it.

about smoking the trap by burning feathers. Today’s, trappers would never think of smoking any kind of trap, let alone those used for canines. One trapper in a book would advise you not to use tainted meat, while another would tell you not to use fresh. Some advocated the use of a live chicken or rabbit in box trap sets. A real crazy one was to take a fresh dead chicken and push wires through its body and legs so that the chicken could be placed on a tree limb and attached with the wires so that it appeared to be roosting in the tree. Of course, it was to be mounted only a few feet up in the tree, which was to cause the fox to jump up trying to get at the chicken, and land in traps set underneath.

in, but getting the heads would be a deal in itself today. Today it would not be legal in Maine, because it’s against the law to leave bait exposed in this manner. Many sets required two to four traps to ensure the fox stepped in one or another. Many suggested putting out a bushel or two of buckwheat or hay chaff, spreading it around to an area of about 3 to 4 feet and patting down flat. Trappers in those days then placed a trap in the middle, and lightly covered it with a little more chaff. No mention was made as to bedding the trap “solid” so that it would not move under the fox’s foot. Today we know most canines will back off a set if they feel movement underfoot, even if they cannot see it or smell it.

Deodorize Traps by Smoking Them? Another process addressed in many old books was to “smoke” traps with evergreen boughs of one kind or another to help cover the odor of steel. Another really bizarre one in a book talked

Exposed Bait Was OK Then, Not Now Another said his best way to trap fox was to bury the head of a cow or horse with only its jaws and nose sticking above ground. I am sure that foxes would start feeding on it once winter sets

Old Sets – Some Still in Use Today; Others Illegal A few sets recommended back then were effective, even though the traps were not prepared for use as well as they are today. Two of the better

Fox Trapping, by A. R. Harding (published 1902), and Brown’s Fox Book (publication date unknown; it was given to the author by Walter Arnold 1954)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 67

Trout Bite in Winter, Too When spin-casting in open water in the winter, the trick is to present your offering without alarming the fish. Old, thick, curled fishing lines, swivels and large sinkers have no place here; instead, use a thin line, small hook and the smallest weight possible. Like any other living creatures, trout eat yearround. But come winter, most of us head to frozen lakes and ponds to do our trout fishing, completely ignoring open-water fishing options. It’s hard to imagine fishing in rivers and streams now. Visions of knee-deep snowbanks and icicles dripping from streamside trees paint a dismal picture. But most years, brief warm spells allow for pleasant times outside, and this includes fishing trout streams that remain open year-round. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (DIF&W) stocks numerous streams and rivers, giving anglers trout to catch throughout the year. Fall stockings ensure that catchable-size fish remain available to anglers all winter. Note that DIF&W stocks streams they consider warmwater habitats – places where trout wouldn’t normally be found. The goal is to provide good trout fishing in areas where none would exist otherwise. These fish are meant to be caught and kept, which makes much sense, since it stands as a way to make maximum use of existing resources.

cise the same degree of caution in approaching a pool as used in summertime fishing. Trout can and will respond to sudden shadows spreading across a pool, or to a heavy line cast over them. Finesse becomes crucially important now. The water being so cold, trout metabolisms slow down in winter. But slow or not, fish continue to feed. The trick now is to present your offering as close as possible without alarming the fish. Old, thick, curled fishing lines have no place here, and neither do swivels, large hooks or large, shiny sinkers. A thin line, small hook and the smallest weight possible are all it takes for success in winter. Casting upstream, as when fishing in warmer

weather, works fine, but since trout now are so sensitive and spooky, an errant cast or a cast that brings the line directly over the fish may put them down for hours. So to avoid the chance of this happening, I like to stand upstream from where I think trout are holding. Sometimes it is possible to determine this visually, given water clarity in winter. But even so, it doesn’t take many trips to a pool before it becomes familiar, in which case trout location will no longer be a mystery to the angler. Mistaken Belief For much of my life, I shared the same thoughts regarding wintertime trout fishing as everyone else – that open-water success in

This rainbow trout took a black Trout Magnet in winter. Seymour photo

winter was pure folklore; it just didn’t happen. Years ago I was given an oil painting by a great uncle. It depicted an elderly angler (uncle), hip-boot deep in a stream, in the process of sliding a trout into a landing net. It was a winter scene, with snow all around. My response was derisive, and the painting languished in

the tool shed for years and was finally destroyed by water damage. But I was wrong and great-uncle was right, in that trout do bite in winter. This realization didn’t occur to me until DIF&W began stocking small rivers, and opening them to fishing year-round. So to a favorite pool on a local (Continued on next page)

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Trout Fishing

(Continued from page 67)

river I went. And to my great surprise, a brown trout nailed my lure. Even more surprising was the fight that trout exhibited. It seemed to me that fish couldn’t put up much of a battle, given the bone-chilling conditions they lived in. But that brown trout quickly disabused me of such notions. Trout fight well in winter, as well as in any other time of year. Another of my mistaken beliefs, one that willing trout quickly shattered, was the notion that trout would only take a bait or lure fished slowly on bottom. But one winter day a trout hit a spinner, and with that it became clear that while not keen on going too far out of their way to take a lure or bait, they will indeed rise from their bottom lair in order to smash a passing offering. Lure Choice One stocked stream close to me holds no baitfish – only a few stunted smallmouth bass and lots of trout. And yet trout wax fat and healthy. Stomach content examinations indicate that these fish survive and thrive on larvae of aquat-

(Left to right) Hellgrammite imitations, black Trout Magnet with silver jighead. Seymour photo

ic insects and hellgrammites. And those suffice to keep trout healthy and happy all winter. So it’s natural to suggest that lures that imitate nymphs or hellgrammites would take trout in winter. And in fact they do. My favorite lures, Trout Magnets, work well in winter, with a silver jighead and black body being the most effective combination. Besides Magnets, Leland Lures, the company that manufactures Trout Magnets, also offers “Trout Bugs.” The name would suggest some kind of imitation beetle, but that’s not the case at all. Trout Bugs are set up like Trout Magnets, but have a dull-black jighead and a body that imitates a hellgrammite. The hellgrammites come in two sizes. Also sold under the Trout Bug name are very lifelike Mayfly nymphs. Both these lures seem made-to-order for wintertime trout fishing in Maine. As noted earlier, trout

will bite on spinners in winter, but offerings that represent hellgrammites and aquatic insect larvae work far better. Winter Presentation Long-lining takes fish now. Standing well upstream of the fish, let out about 10 feet of line. But don’t reel in immediately. Instead, let the lure swing in the current, perhaps even bumping bottom on occasion. Work the lure gently by raising the rod tip a few inches, and then allow the lure to float back. After this, let out more line and repeat the process. Do this until you are convinced that the lure is down where trout are watching. Then, just let the lure dangle in the current for a minute or two before imparting any action. When the lure finally begins to move again, that should be enough to convince trout to bite. Good luck, and stay warm.

Trapping Silent Places (Continued from page 66)

methods included setting the trap in water using what we call the spring hole set. I used it when I first started trapping, and found it an effective set for fox. Today in Maine, we are no longer allowed to set a trap in water prior to the opening of the general trapping season. I guess back some years ago someone must have caught a mink, muskrat, or some other critter that was illegal to take during the early canine season. Another set mentioned in several of the old books was called the campfire set. The trap was set in a bed of ashes and small broken fried pork scraps or www.MaineSportsman.com

cheese were scatted over the ashes. This simulated a campfire where food scraps had been thrown into the fire to dispose of them. Back in the day, most all woodsmen cooked over open fires, and some furbearers learned that it was a good place to get something to eat. Other trapping methods that were addressed in the old publications included various types of deadfalls and the use of snares on the ground, all of which are illegal in Maine today. Trapping today is the most regulated outdoor activity that there is. Most changes have been for the good, benefiting the goals of modern wildlife management, while a few of the changes have not had that beneficial effect.

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 69

Ice Fishing on Palermo’s Sheepsoct Pond Sheepscot Pond in Palermo (DeLorme’s Atlas Map 13, B-4; about 14 miles east of Augusta) is an expansive (1,193 acre) pond situated among the rolling, wooded hills of the southeastern tip of Waldo County. A moderately-developed lake (unusual for Central Maine!), it remains an attractive setting for ice anglers. A state-owned boat ramp located off Rt. 3 on the lake’s north shore provides access for anglers and other recreational users. While individuals can fish just off the landing, this area is typically hammered hard throughout the season. Better ice fishing is found farther away from this highly pressured area, on the western shore of Leeman Arm or eastern shore of Bald Head. Ice Fishing Variety Ice anglers who believe variety is the spice of life will find no better thrill than a day spent ice fishing Sheepscot Pond. On an expedition to the lake in 2018, family, friends and I managed to pull up 7 different species of fish, including, salmon, largemouth bass, pickerel, white perch, yellow perch, lake trout and brook trout. According to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the lake additionally contains brown trout, smallmouth bass and even splake, which were originally introduced to the lake in 1993. While we were unsuccessful in catching any of these additional species, the possibility of going to a lake and catch-

An incredible variety of fish can be pulled through the ice at Sheepscot Pond. My group caught salmon, largemouth bass, pickerel, white perch, yellow perch, lake trout and brook trout. DIF&W reports that we missed out on three more – brown trout, smallmouth bass and splake!

prime ice fishing spots. Points provide structure and hiding places for small bait fish, while inlets flush nutrients into the lake, attracting the small baitfish sought by trout. The ideal bait fish for trout is a 2-inch shiner or dace – any bigger bait decreases catch rate. Shiners work great as long as they stay lively. Replace any bait not actively swimming around; lifeless bait does not attract trout. Patience Puts Trout on the Ice When a flag pops up but the spool is not turning, reset the flag without checking the bait. Finicky brook trout will often take the bait, trigger the flag, but then spit out the bait and swim around it. Jigging the ice hole can also help hook the bait-stealer,

The author’s sons Wildman and Manimal introduce friends Cam and Bo to ice fishing! Steve Vose photo

ing 10 different species of fish is exciting! As an angler who typically targets big northern pike, I find Sheepscot Pond a refreshing change and a great place to take kids. It was a lot of fun showing the kids (and some adults) how to identify the different fish species

pulled out of the holes in the ice. Stocked with Trout Sheepscot Pond is part of the state’s fish stocking program. It received a stocking of 500 10-inch brook trout in April of 2018, and 500 13inch brook trout in No-

vember of 2018. On our outing last season, we were successful in catching a total of 5 brook trout. All were within a range of 10 to 14 inches. If you’re specifically targeting brook trout on Sheepscot Pond, shoreline points and inlets are

Heavy Metal Winter brook trout anglers typically fish with either worms or minnows, but there are times when the fish are just not interested in either. Jigging spoons can often trigger a bite response, on days when bait fishing slows. My favorite spoon is the blue/silver Little Cleo. Adding a small piece of bait to the jig hook will greatly increase scent, thereby helping improve the catch rate. Also, when jigging for brook trout, don’t make big jerking movements; instead, employ a smaller 6-10 inch jigging motion. Target Brook Trout When Most Active Trout activity under the ice peaks early, and (Continued on page 71) www.MaineSportsman.com

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Fish the Big Lake for Big Fish This Month With a cold start to the winter, lakes and ponds in this region have locked up tight and are ready for angling action. Big water means big fish, and this region has the second-largest lake in the state and some of the best lake trout angling around. Sebago Lake Sebago Lake (DeLorme Atlas, Map 5, B-1) is home to not only a large stock of lake trout, but some whoppers, too. Closed to salmon, most anglers fish for togue, with the occasional crappie angler or those out for bass. Last season, one angler posted a picture of a massive 19-pound pike reportedly taken from Sebago. But togue are what most of us are after. Togue anglers all have their favorite lure

I’ve set aside my trusty Swedish pimple in favor of a tube jig, “sweetened” with a liberal dose of smelt paste squirted into the jig’s hollow body. Prepared in this manner, the jig has proven very effective on Sebago’s lakers.

At derby time, the Sebago Lake ice surface off Route 302 looks like an Alaskan village, according to the author. This year’s Sebago/Cumberland County derby will run February 16 and 17; the kids’ derby will be held March 2, at Range Pond State Park. Source: IceFishingDerby.com and the Sebago Lake Rotary Club

and their favorite spot, but anglers who mix it up on Sebago seem to do well. Many years ago I

wrote a column for a national publication describing my favorite way to fish Sebago Lake, called jigging-on-the-

move. Simply put, I drill a hole, jig for 30 minutes using one of my favorite lures, and then move on if I don’t have any luck. This technique works, and it allows an angler to cover lots of water and see where the fish are concentrated.

High Tech With the advent of portable fishing electronics, this technique is made even better! I’ve always had a portable fish finder, but last year I sprung for an electronic flasher. (Don’t get excited – this one is fully clothed and will remain that way). The flasher emits a sonar beam and shows a green color band indicating the depth when a fish moves into your jigging zone. Oftentimes, a bite follows. Additionally, I invested in an underwater camera, so now I can see exactly what is going on under the water. While it is certainly exciting to see a fish swim up and investigate your lure, it can be frustrating when it never bites. Believe me, I know – I watched several picky togue swim up and watch my jig, never taking a bite. These two electronic devices can certainly in(Continued on next page)

Range Pond State Park Open ALL-YEAR! • Enjoy ice fishing (only plowed access to Lower Range Pond). Early Fishing permits available for access before gate opening at 9 A.M. Stocked with Brook and Brown Trout • Kids only ice fishing Derby March 2nd sponsored by Kittery Trading Post and Sebago Rotary Club • 2018 State Park Passes now available to purchase at the park! • 2 miles of groomed x/c ski trail, 1.5 miles of groomed snowshoe/ walking trail and 4 miles of additional trails

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• 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

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 71 (Continued from page 70)

crease your success and enjoyment on the ice. Lure Choices We all have our favorite lures for Sebago Lake, and by now many of you are familiar with my stand-by – the Swedish pimple. However, although this lure has caught the majority of my Sebago lakers, the last few years I hung up the pimple in place of a tube jig. I sweeten the pot a bit by squirting a liberal dose of smelt paste into the hollow body of the jig. Last year, my “sweetened” jig, in white did a good job on lakers. Unfortunately many of those fish were slot fish, so I couldn’t keep them or register them when I fished the derby. Other anglers swear by the airplane jigs in a variety of colors. They do a great job darting about,

and have hooks enough to catch anything that comes in for a closer look. I’ve never had too much luck with these, but I don’t fish them a lot, either. Interestingly, I find lures with orange in them work great on Sebago in the spring and summer when I troll the bottom, but I can’t get a winter togue to take anything orange. Maybe it’s the loss of sunlight through the ice, or the color it imparts on the water. Heavy jigs seem to work best for me, as they get down deep quickly. I have one silver jig that I picked up in Iceland a few years ago, and although I try it each year, I haven’t christened it with a fish, yet. It is heavy, shiny and has some great action, but apparently the fish don’t know that yet. Bait anglers do catch lakers from time to time, and although I do much

Central Maine (Continued from page 69)

then drops off two or three hours after sunrise. This is because sunshine tends to push brook trout into deeper water. To extend the bite, place tip-ups along the eastern shoreline. This causes the rising sun to stay hidden behind the trees, creating a shadow line that will last till late morning. Most fish species do not bite exceptionally well for 48 hours after occurrence of a low pressure system. However, fish tend to feed aggressively 24 to 36 hours before a low pressure moves through. When the weatherman predicts temperatures in the 30s, overcast skies and flurries, it’s going to be a good day to fish. The Secret Weapon On days when the brook trout are refusing to eat everything an angler throws at them, a highly effective tipup rig can be made using a blue/silver Little Cleo or Dardevle. To rig the spoon, first remove the treble hook. Next, attach 12 inches of 6-8 pound fluorocarbon leader to the O-ring, and tie on a #1 baitholder hook. To the hook, thread on a large night crawler so that the entire hook is

better jigging, I always set four traps with shiners or suckers, just because it feels like the right thing to do. Sometimes I’m rewarded with a nice cusk for the chowder pot. A large shiner placed near bottom is enticing for any laker cruising by. When derby fishing and targeting the biggest fish, I opt for a sixto eight-inch sucker for maximum draw. By clipping a few fins off the bait, you can keep it from tripping your trap, if it has a hair trigger. My fishing partner swears by frozen smelt that he catches on the coastal rivers. I won’t say he slays them, but they are easier to carry than a bait bucket full of water! Shack City As the season goes on, shacks spring up all over the lake, but the launch in Standish near the water intake and the

area around Route 302 in Raymond look like Alaskan villages. Shacks of all sizes and construction inhabit these spots and make great home bases for angling adventures. I have some great memories in three different shacks I built for Sebago Lake over the years. Cooking a feast while the wind howled outside was an enjoyable way to spend a cold day. The one drawback to a permanent shack is keeping it jacked up as the ice thaws and re-freezes. I was always worried about my shack when I couldn’t get away from work. This season I sold my shack and invested in a tow-able pop-up shack. Sure, I’ll miss the toasty wood stove, but I think I’ll be more productive not worrying about being tied to one location. I’ll be sure to report back! Sebago Lake has a slot limit on lake trout –

it’s an attempt to create a trophy togue fishery. This year, the slot size increased. Anglers can keep an unlimited number of lakers under 26 inches. They can’t keep any fish from 26 to 33 inches, and they can keep one fish over 33 inches. Salmon are off-limits, and must be released without removing them from the water. I can honestly say that in all my years of angling for togue on Sebago, I’ve never caught a salmon incidental to ice fishing. I’m sure some cruise the shallows, but if you are fishing bottom, you won’t likely be in salmon territory. This is the month Sebago comes into her own, and social media reports of laker catches tempt us all to the ice. Enjoy the big lake and her big fish this winter!

covered. Set the worm about a foot off bottom. While the spoon sparkles and reflects light, the worm triggers fish to bite. Sheepscot Pond Regulations, Know Before You Go! Sheepscot Pond is regulated by general fishing laws, with the exception of S-22 (Daily bag limit on landlocked salmon: 1 fish) and S-25 (Daily bag limit on togue: 1 fish). Also, the minimum length limit on landlocked salmon is 16 inches. One confusing regulation reads, “The holding of any live baitfish not taken in Sheepscot Pond is prohibited.” I found this particularly confusing, so I dropped an email to IFW for clarification. The response I received from one of the state fisheries biologists was that, “Anglers can use outside bait for ice fishing, but individuals can’t store outside bait in the pond. If an individual wants to store bait under the ice of Sheepscot Pond, it must be fishes that were collected in Sheepscot Pond.” The regulation was put in place as a biosecurity measure, to prevent pathogens from getting into the Palermo Hatchery water supply.

Experience Pays Off — 73-year old Patrick Mustoe of Burlington, MA has been hunting the Rangeley area for more than 20 years. At 8 a.m. on November 17, 2018 he dropped this handsome buck with his 30-’06. Dressed weight: 223 pounds -- Patrick’s best buck ever. Photo courtesy of Will Mustoe www.MaineSportsman.com

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Winter Walk-a-Bouts Sure Cure for Mid-Winter Blues Fantasy football is popular. It’s enjoyed by millions – so researching players, downloading statistics and managing trades will keep football fans busy during the early stretches of long cold winters. What about us outdoorsman? Sure, football is fun to watch – go Pats, Giants or Eagles! – but we prefer to venture outdoors. Ice fishing, smallgame hunting, even open water fly fishing along the southern Maine coast, all have a niche for us outdoor types. Have you ever considered a day trip and living like a mountain man for a few hours? I admit it – I never totally matured, and part of me still enjoys fantasizing about living a mountain man lifestyle. During the dark and snowy days of winter I enjoy all outdoor activities; however, venturing out for a day trip, living off the grid, gets my stars lined up properly once again. I was inspired by Robert Redford; in the classic movie “Jeremiah Johnson” the movie inspired a whole new generation of want-a-be mountain men. I jumped on the bandwagon, as well. However it was the survival skills in the movie that intrigued me. After watching it, I started these walk-a-bouts. Thomson Center Arms in Rochester, New Hampshire pumped out thousands of their popular Hawkins rifles, keeping many of my friends working overtime to keep up with orders. A whole new lifestyle and black powder industry bloswww.MaineSportsman.com

I admit it – I never totally matured, and part of me still enjoys fantasizing about living a mountain man lifestyle. So I head out on snowshoes, find a spot and make a camp fire using a flint and steel – just like my cinematic hero, Jeremiah Johnson.

A day off the grid with primitive archery gear helps the author cope with the wintertime blues. Val Marquez photo

somed, and it remains today. But the modern inline muzzleloader, with easy maintenance and cleaning has captured much of the market. My last outing comes to mind. I like to start the day near water, and then hike farther into the forest. I go regardless of weather conditions. To Build a Fire On this trip, wet snow covered everything; limbs hung low from the weight of six inches of snow. I stalked along an ice-covered brook, stopping often to look for a suitable campsite. It was a few days after a northeaster had moved across Maine, and deer, rabbit and squirrel tracks crisscrossed the landscape. However, I was more concerned with finding shelter and starting a fire with my flint and steel that was

wrapped inside the fire kit in the pocket of my wool coat. I enjoy primitive archery on these outings, but have used a compound bow or rifle if coyote are in the area. In those instances, the outing becomes more serious. As always, however, my hunts involve a camp fire, tea or coffee. I enjoy using snowshoes and hunting rabbits; it’s one of my favorite winter pastimes. There’s no agenda – just a walk in the woods and a campfire, boiled tea and roasted hot dogs on a stick. These outings are a sure cure for cabin fever.

rimfire to primitive archery gear; matches; or even a Bic lighter. Today, a whole generations of outdoorsmen have lost woodsman skills, such as how to start fires in the rain, map and compass reading, finding north by checking moss on trees or locating the north star. Boy Scouts still train such skills today. But they are lost skills for most folks. I do embrace technology and use trail cameras, compound bows, GPS systems and computer generated mapping. But being off the grid a few hours puts things back into perspective for me.

Woods Skills a Lost Art? There are no ground rules for this kind of outing; you can adapt as you like and bring along whatever gear you have – anything from a .22 cal.

Learn from Deer Tracks These trips are more than cabin fever therapy; there are lessons in the snow. You follow tracks of deer that meandered randomly, nibbling on tips

of maple tree buds, and see chewed limb tips and acorns that dropped from their mouths. Deer feed for hours, filling up with roughage, then seek shelter nearby to chew. When they’re done digesting it in a few hours, they begin feeding again. These winter outings will help hunters locate stand sites for next hunting season. You’ll learn more about deer in one day than you would in a lifetime of hunting from tree stands or setting within the confines of a pop-up blind. There are other winter pastimes for those willing to venture outside. Ice fishing is a passion for many Mainers. There are two kinds of ice fishing for me – one is waiting for hours for a trout to spring a flag or two; the other is jigging for crappie and other warm-water species like perch or bass. Balch Pond, Newfield I prefer the latter, and water that has produced day-long action for me is Balch Pond in Newfield. I’ve been told that Balch was the first pond in Maine stocked with black crappie. It remains a go-to water for crappie. Balch is a 704-acre water, with a maximum depth of 44 feet. Typical of most river systems in southern Maine, it started as a swamp with a brook running though it, that was dammed for water power. Balch is the only pond where I catch fish all day, although they run small in size. Few folks know that Balch is the headwater (Continued on page 75)

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 73

Packbasket Full of Technology Saves a Moose Hunt My moose-hunting clients and I were many miles from the nearest road. We were exploring a cutover area on high ground – away from the river that served as our highway. Each step away from the river’s edge increased my anxiety level. Canoe hunting for moose is a game of inches. The location of where the moose experiences its final moments means everything. Every additional inch away from navigable water can mean untold misery and pain during retrieval of moose quarters. But the clients wanted to stretch their legs and check out a hardwood ridge we had spied from the river. Fresh moose sign was abundant in the old cutting. And the exercise was welcome after a morning of sitting still in a canoe seat while silently paddling. The bright October day invited exploration. Only their guide felt the mild anxiety that the hike created. After wandering a half-mile from the water’s edge, we stopped to do some calling. I silently prayed that no bull would respond. When nothing did, I explained our dilemma, and everyone agreed to turn back. My relief was shortlived. Other than being generally downhill from our location, I had no idea where the canoe was. Not Lost We were not lost. I’ve been lost in the woods before, and our situation was a far cry from that sad day. Without the pressure of clients looking to me for guidance, I would have

Old-school topo maps are great, but they don’t answer the eternal question asked by every map and compass user in the history of the world: “OK, great – now I know which way north is, but where the heck am I on this map?”

Technology in a packbasket. Jim Andrews photos

simply wandered downhill until I hit the river’s edge. And then fumbled along the riverbank until I found the canoe. This kind of exploration is usually one of my favorite things to do in the big woods. It often leads to discoveries that would have otherwise gone unnoticed. But this day, we were burning precious moose-hunting time. And the “wandering and fumbling” technique is a bad visual for Maine Guides. Packbasket Full of Technology Fortunately, I was carrying a packbasket full of technology. Some of it was ancient technology, and some of it was brand new. I own a big collection of paper U.S.G.S. topographical maps that were purchased over a period

of many years. At one time, they were essential for planning trips and navigating in the Maine woods. And before the DeLorme’s Maine Atlas existed, they were often the only source of information about vast areas of the state. Maine outdoorsmen of a certain age, including me, still carry a compass and one of these carefully-folded, government-issue, topographical maps whenever they go off-pavement. I had one in my packbasket. But the old technology wouldn’t answer the eternal question of every map and compass user in the history of the world: “OK, great, now I know which way north is, but where the hell am I on this map?” By orienting the map to the compass, and then finding the direc-

tion of the river, I could get a compass bearing that would lead me on a straight line directly to the river’s edge. In other words, it was a step up from the “wandering downhill” technique, but not that much more helpful. DeLorme Company Global Positioning System (G.P.S.) technology has quietly changed every aspect of backwoods navigation in Maine and all other parts of the world. Satellites, in conjunction with the hand-held devices that communicate with them, answer the eternal question of map and compass users. One company that was in the forefront of this radical transformation was the former Maine mapmaking business DeLorme. The company was

one of the first to develop reliable hand-held devices that depicted the user’s position on the face of the earth by displaying it on a map screen. I had one of the DeLorme GPS units in my packbasket. I could have taken the time that morning to mark a waypoint on the device at the spot where we left the canoe. Then I would have been able to see my location in relation to that waypoint on the GPS map screen, and calculate a direct course back to that point. Sadly, I had neglected to mark the canoe’s location with the GPS unit. And the river was a sinuous series of sharp bends and curves. I only remembered pulling the canoe ashore on a long beach of white sand near several blowdown pines that had spilled into the water. Google Earth™ to the Rescue It has come to this – every person with a smart phone can now connect, for free, to a database of high-resolution, digital satellite images depicting the surface of the entire earth. The free application Google Earth™ provides this amazing database. Anyone with access to the world wide web can now “fly” to any point in Maine, or anywhere else in the world for that matter, and see the terrain in unsettling detail. Of course, we all know, smart phones are useless in the wilderness, because they have no access to the world wide web. But modern phones (Continued on page 75) www.MaineSportsman.com

74 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Bird Dog Training 101 in the Rangeley Region These are exciting times in the Clunie household. A while back I put money down on a Vizsla puppy, a Christmas present for my wife, and I picked up the puppy and brought her home for the holidays. The Rangeley Region offers some of the best upland game hunting around, and now I’ve got a sweet little bird dog to assist me for the autumn season. My wife and I chose the Vizsla because of

We’ve got a Vizsla puppy! These are exciting times. My number one tip is to make training sessions fun – events the puppy will look forward to with anticipation. Start by playing, then move to the training, and when you are done, go back to playtime. their natural abilities in the bird-hunting woods, but also because of their congenial nature in the home. Like many of the short-haired pointers, the Vizsla doesn’t shed excessively, doesn’t give off much of an odor, and gets along well with little

kids and people in general. So far, this small, reddish-brown female bird dog is fitting into this home just fine. My wife and I are already well into the process of directing our young puppy into the proper way to conduct herself around the house. I’ve had two German Short-haired Pointers of my own, and I’ve had bird dogs in the family homes since I was a child. For me, training a bird dog seems to come naturally ... I really connect with hunting dogs for some reason, and often think I understand them. That might sound a little loony, but hunting with dogs has been in my family for quite a few years, going way back to

my great-grandfather, Robert Clunie –a gamekeeper who used to chase game birds around with dogs in his home country of Scotland in the mid-tolate 1800’s. So perhaps it’s in my DNA, but I seem to be able to follow a dog’s train of thought enough to make training them easy and fun. Effective Training A lot of time and effort goes into training any kind of hunting dog, and bird dogs are no exception. Just owning a dog – even those that don’t hunt – takes a level of dedication that lots of folks don’t have. This new puppy of ours started off with basic obedience training from the moment she arrived

home. I come from the school of “make it fun” training, too. Dogs love to have fun, so if an owner can incorporate some fun into training, the new dog will learn to enjoy training sessions. My number one training tip comes, not just from my experience with hunting dogs, but from a varied source of professional dog trainers. Most dog trainers agree that the new dog owner needs to get the young puppy wanting to please the owner rather than simply obeying out of fear or some negative consequence. New dog owners can increase this willingness-to-please trait in the new puppy by trying to make training sessions a fun time, rather than a session of harsh instructions. Start training with a little playing around, and after the training is over, end the session with the same, fun stuff. (Continued on next page)

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(Continued from page 74) The most effective training comes from positive re-enforcement ... in other words, make success for the new puppy easy to obtain. Do not put the dog through a lengthy series of extreme challenges that can easily lead to failure. Secure the Basics Once the basic obedience commands start to sink if for the young dog, keep at it, until these become almost natural. Basic commands like sit, down, heel, come and stay need to be fully ingrained within the dog, so that they don’t really need attention when the advanced training comes in the field. Routine walks on a leash, with a few basic commands thrown in, should end with fun time, so the dog really looks forward to the training session because it leads to some fun. Once the new dog realizes that it takes a little training to get to that play session, they’ll start to urge the owner to begin another training session. Once the owner has made it easy for a new dog to be successful at the basic commands, slowly extend each command to include a gradu-

al difficulty – but always remember to return to a successful session of basic commands to re-enforce the new dog’s earliest positive association with success. Start and end any advanced training with some easy stuff the new dog learned early on, with plenty of positive re-enforcement like pats on the head or some kind of treat. However, don’t overdo the praise. One of the biggest failures I’ve noticed in dog training comes when a new owner goes overboard in their positive re-enforcement. By this, I mean the new owner overdoes the petting and gushy kissing of their cute little puppy-in-training. It’s easy to do, because most puppies are just so cute, but try to restrain from lengthy session of too much hugging, petting, and gushy behavior. What happens with a dog that gets too much gushy re-enforcement? Dogs that have been coddled with too much gushy stuff become excessively needy, and it just gets in the way of all training. Owner Personality Dog owners had better have a fun-loving personality, or they will be facing some tough lessons with a new dog. The best

Southern Maine (Continued from page 72)

for the Little Ossipee River. It also forms Hanson and Shapleigh Pond in North Shapleigh. The entire water system offers good crappie fishing – on some days you can’t keep them off your line, while other days will result in no fish at all.

How to Catch Crappie Crappie swim in schools; locating those

Self-Propelled (Continued from page 73)

still receive GPS signals in the wilderness. And if the satellite photos of a hunting area are downloaded and saved on the phone’s memory – prior to leaving cell service – the phone will show the user’s GPS location on that photo image. This works regardless of

The author’s Vizsla puppy, a surprise Christmas present for his wife, Nancy, has begun bird dog boot camp. Nancy Carpenter photo

dog trainers have a firm grip on their own psychological strengths and weaknesses. Don’t let me mislead you into thinking that all good dog trainers are mental giants; it’s just that really good trainers usually are acutely aware of their own psychological strengths and weaknesses. Believe me – I have several issues I constantly have to address when working with hunting dogs.

So how can an owner subsume his or her personality traits that could get in the way of training, in order to focus on the dog? In other words, how does dog owner get trained? The best advice I can give a new dog trainer is to take the young puppy to an obedience class. The new dog owner needs just as much training as the dog does, and dog training classes create a perfect atmosphere for

introducing your puppy to other dogs and people (very good socialization training). When it gets super-frustrating during a training session, just back off and take a break. Shorter training sessions with plenty of positive rewards breeds success. Repeated success instills good traits in a dog and that makes the whole idea of owning a dog an awesome proposition.

schools can be hit-or-miss, so being mobile works well. I prefer to jig – it allows an angler to be flexible, which is the best fishing method for crappie. There are many tactics that catch crappie. On some days, silver lures work; on others, gold or copper is the way to go. I prefer a size-12 Gray Ghost streamer with split shot attached to my line. This will cause the fly to dance in the water when any movement is made to the rod.

When crappie feed, they open their mouth, sucking in food with bellows on the sides of their mouths. Then they then expel anything unnatural, like a mouth full metal. A soft fly or bait gives an angler time to set the hook. Take advantage of whatever outdoor activities you prefer, be it walk-a-bouts, smallgame hunting or fishing. Doctor’s orders – fresh air is great therapy.

cell service coverage. The smart phone in my packbasket saved the day. Powering it up and engaging the application for Google Earth was almost automatic. The familiar blue dot marked our position on the hardwood ridge. The crystal-clear satellite photo image downloaded earlier, showed me not just the river’s general location – but every twist and

turn, every beach and backwater. The photo on the phone, just a few months old, displayed the exact spot near the blowdown pines and the long white beach where the canoe was located. I almost expected to see the beached canoe sitting there, waiting for us in real time. Maybe in a few more years.

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76 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Outdoor Adventurs Continue in the Western Maine Mountains Deep in the middle of a cold, frozen Maine winter, I often find myself busy tying flies for the next fishing season or reloading some ammo for the upcoming hunting season. This winter I’ll be working on some new streamers for enticing big salmonid and maybe even some smallmouth bass. Since I started fishing with that big, two-handed Hardy Demon Switch Rod last summer, I’ve had my sights set on swinging streamers for big brookies, landlocked salmon and smallmouth bass. I also have a pet project going that I believe might come together. I really like the .45ACP caliber in handguns for self-defense, but never thought they would work very well for hunting. Well, folks from Double Tap Ammo (doubletapammo.net) have come up with a round, the .450SMC, that allows hunters to effectively use their existing .45ACP caliber handgun for hunting

For taking coyotes over bait, I tested a number of heavy shotgun rounds last year after installing a Carlson choke tube that was made specifically for buckshot. My 12 gauge Benelli M2 with open sights and number four buckshot is a deadly combination at distances up to 60 yards

Chandler Redmond of Peru with a huge rainbow trout that won the youth division trophy award from one winter’s “Little Tim’s Annual Ice Fishing Derby.” Photo courtesy of Anna Morrow

big game as long as their handgun is rated for +P ammunition (no aluminum frames or lightweight alloys). The fairly new .450SMC uses a heavier case and a rifle primer to deliver heavy .45 cal-

Purchase your copy of The Man with 17 Lives by Bill Vaznis at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other fine bookstores. Also available at www.billvaznis.com. www.MaineSportsman.com

Delaney Woods proudly displays her “trophy” yellow perch at the 2017 Worthley Pond ice fishing event. Photo courtesy of Anna Morrow

iber bullets at unheard of speeds. I’ve fired every style of .45SMC round that Double Tap produces, and can tell you this is an incredible hunting round that allows me to take my Remington 1911 and Glock .45ACP pistols into the hunting woods with complete confidence. This winter I’ll be standing knee-deep in the snow and wringing out various .450SMC loads of my own to see which suits me for hunting black bear and deer. I’m already leaning toward a 160 Barnes .45 caliber bullet that screams along at around 1300 fps. – it’s the round I shoot the best with, and I like the way the copper Barnes bullets perform on impact in hunting situations.

On Ice In addition to fly-tying

and dreaming of springtime fishing adventures, February is also the perfect month for many outdoor activities, including rabbit hunting, coyote hunting, snowshoeing, and ice fishing. Every winter, anglers from around New England gather to fish on ice-covered lakes and ponds around the state of Maine, and some even get to sign on to the challenge of an ice fishing tournament. On Worthley Pond (DeLorme Atlas, Map 11, A-3), on March 2, 2019, “Little Tim’s 4th Annual Ice Fishing Derby” takes place. The proceeds from this event go to Camp Postcard (Police Officers Striving To Create And Reinforce Dreams), an organization that offers free, week-long outdoor programs for Maine kids.

Volunteer police officers, sheriffs, and state troopers all come together to mentor and encourage kids while improving their perceptions of law enforcement. The ice fishing starts at 5:30 a.m., and runs until 2:30 that afternoon. Ice fishing on Worthley Pond can be some of the best this region has to offer. Contact Anna Morrow at (207) 441-3735 with any questions or for further information about entering and fishing in this worthwhile ice fishing derby with a great cause. Winter Reading I’ve known author Bill Vaznis for quite some time now, starting way back when he edited the national publication, “Bear Hunter” magazine. I had seen his name in outdoor magazines and hunting books several decades ago, and I’ve always enjoyed his helpful style of writing. Prolific would best describe his writing abilities – he has been published in nearly every outdoor publication I’m familiar with. I even had the pleasure of hunting with Bill when he came out to Maine to hunt deer several years ago. We made arrangements to stay at Don Burnett’s #9 Lake Outfitters in Bridgewater. We spent a great week together, hunting and filling the camp with old and dusty hunting and fishing stories from the past. In his latest book, The Man with 17 Lives, Bill Vaznis weaves a story about his numerous brushes with death and (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 77 (Continued from page 76)

his constant spiritual knowledge that his “time wasn’t up.” After speaking with Bill recently about his second battle with cancer, let me tell you now – Bill Vaznis is far from giving up the ghost. Even though I might think of Bill as one tough character, this book isn’t really about him and his strength – it’s more about his faith and courage when faced with overwhelming medical and emotional issues.

Bill’s latest book has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, and it culminates a lifetime of writing achievements. I remember reading another book of his books about black bear hunting years ago, Successful Bear Hunting. By applying his techniques, I scored on my first black bear. I just have to stand back in awe and wonder how many others he has helped in this way over the years.

Coyote Control February also finds me smack-dab in the middle of coyote hunting season. I’ll be chasing coyotes with my buddies from Western Maine Coyote Control. With Bill Houghton and his awesome hounds, our coyote-hunting organization hopes to trim the predators’ population enough to help the struggling deer herd in this area. I’ll be hunting coyotes over bait, too, focusing on taking this sneaky predator from a stand. I missed

one a few years back with a rifle, and I’ve have started to think I might be better off using a shotgun. I tested a number of heavy shotgun rounds last year after installing a Carlson choke tube that was made specifically for buckshot. I found that Remington number four buckshot provided the best pattern and penetration combination at 40 yards. Stepping back to 60 yards from the target, I was surprised to find an adequate pattern and

sufficient penetration for coyote-hunting purposes. I’ll just have to be more alert with a shotgun at these closer ranges when calling or over bait – really watching the wind direction more, and paying extra attention to scent control. My 12 gauge Benelli M2 with open sights and number four buckshot is a deadly combination under 60 yards ... now let’s see if these deer-killers cooperate this winter.

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78 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Vermont’s Averill Area is King of Northeast Kingdom The larger Northeast Kingdom (NEK) of Vermont is home to all sorts of winter outdoors fun. Brighton, otherwise known as “Island Pond,” becomes a hub for snowmachining. Newport and the surrounding quaint villages fill with traveling snow bunnies attending the ski slopes at Jay Peak. And hamlets of ice shanties pop up on Salem, Seymour, Memphremagog, and Willoughby Lakes, with serious anglers hoping to land “the big one.” There is a small microcosm of this splendor tucked into the northeast corner of the NEK that has everything a winter outdoorsman could dream—without having to share it with many others. The Averill area is the Northeast Kingdom at its best. Averill Lakes Both Big (Great) Averill and Little Averill Lakes are fantastic brook trout and lake trout fisheries. They each have a unique, wilderness feel to them, especially Little Averill, which sits several miles back on a dirt road and far fewer camps on it, compared to most waterbodies. It makes for a beautifully pristine nature setting. Though there are big fish in both lakes, Little Averill historically has produced some tremendous lake trout. At least two thirty-pound togue that this writer knows of have come from here, with who-knows-how-many over twenty-pounds. According to the Vermont fish records, in June of 1971, an angler by the name of Percy Mason www.MaineSportsman.com

In June of 1971, an angler by the name of Percy Mason landed a new state record 27.5-pound lake trout from Little Averill Lake. Only eight days later, he beat out his own state record with another Little Averill lake trout that weighed 31 pounds!

A southerly view of Little Averill Lake and beyond from a snowshoe hike to the top of Brousseau Mountain in Norton, Vermont. Photo by Ethan Emerson

landed a new state record 27.5-pound (49.5 inches, the longest on record, to date) lake trout from Little Averill Lake. Unbelievably, only eight days later, he beat out his own state record with another Little Averill lake trout that weighed 31 pounds! That record has since been beaten several times, once by a 33-pound laker from Little Averill in 2000, landed by Richard Paquette. More recently, in 2011, an angler named Donald Gagnon landed a 23.5-pound lak-

er out of Big Averill Lake. These fish are able to reach these great sizes because of a good population of rainbow smelt to feed on, an abundance of deep, cold water to hide in (both lakes reach depths of over 100 feet), and a lack of tremendous fishing pressure due to stringent conservation regulations. The winter season for both of these lakes is only from the 3rd Saturday in January to March 15. Also, on both waterbodies, an aggregate of only

two trout can be legally taken daily, only one of which may be a lake trout – so make sure to wait for a big one! In addition, each angler may only use four lines through the ice (including jigging lines). Little Averill is a designated “Trophy Lake”; therefore, the minimum length limit on a lake trout is twenty inches, rather than the typical eighteen. Brousseau Mountain Looming over the northwest side of Little

Averill Lake is the concave ledge-faced top of Brousseau Mountain. Brousseau Mountain offers a tremendous view south of Little Averill and the Nulhegan Basin. In fact, on a clear day, one can see all the way to the Presidential Range in the White Mountains, and can even spot the buildings on Mount Washington, over 50 miles away! Brousseau can be ascended via trail off the Brousseau Mountain Road, just east of Norton. The trailhead is a bit tricky, as it is beyond the drivable portion of the road. One can park where they are no longer able to drive in the winter and continue walking up the road from there, through some fields, and then they will find a trail that takes them into the woods. The trail is just under a mile long and not too steep— perfect for a snowshoe hike! More adventurous hikers can ascend Brousseau from a couple of different-angled bushwhacks. From the Gaudette Road (on the powerline rightof-way), hikers can find their ways up the western side of the mountain in under a mile. This direction is not too difficult, given the select-cut hardwood and gradual terrain most of the way. The opposing approach from Jackson Road is a bit more harrowing. The eastern slope is steeper and has had heavier cutting, making for more difficult walking through the whips. This direction would add (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 79 (Continued from page 78)

about a quarter-mile to the hike, as well. East Branch The East Branch of the Nulhegan River flows south from a bog east of Little Averill Lake. It joins the greater Nulhegan River almost 15 miles later near VT Route 105. This giant swath of land has been owned and managed by various lumber and paper companies over the years, and provides growth of all stages for outdoorsmen and wildlife alike. There are several ways to access this sportsman’s paradise, but

the most efficient route is on the East Branch Road from its southern entrance on Route 105 or its northern entrance on Jackson Road just before the Little Averill boat launch. There are many spur roads and spurs off of the spur roads in this area, so if you’re thinking of adventuring, I recommend bringing some satellite maps. GPS or paper maps aren’t likely to be up-to-date with many of the newer logging roads. The opportunities in this area for sportsmen are aplenty. The winter months open a few doors and close others.

Many parts of these roads become snowmachine trails in the winter, creating opportunities for those with the proper machines, and hindering fun for those on foot. There are dozens of areas of great regeneration habitat for rabbit hunting. There are plenty of frozen bog areas and open cuts to ambush a coyote coming to a call. And there are some secret moose yards where one might stumble onto a shed antler, but SHHH… …We don’t want everyone to know how great this place is ….

Although this 7.5 pound lake trout might be considered a giant in other waterbodies, for Little Averill it’s just a runof-the-mill “good one.” Photo courtesy of Brian Emerson

Wildlife Quiz Answers: Gray Squirrel 1. The native range of the gray squirrel stretches from northern Canada, all the way into sections of Texas and Florida.

4. Gray squirrel litters range in size from 1-8 young.

2. Gray squirrels breed twice a year – once in the spring, and again in late summer.

5. Only one in four manages to evade predators, and avoid sickness and starvation to survive to one year of age.

3. The nests of gray squirrels are called dreys.

6. Gray squirrels eat tree buds, berries, seeds,

(Quiz on Page 54)

acorns and even some types of fungi. 7. Scientists studying the behaviors of gray squirrels have estimated a single squirrel make thousands of caches each season. 8. Gray squirrels are one of the few mammals that can descend a tree head-first.

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Smilin’

Sportsman Old Fred went all the way to Greenville for his annual physical exam. “Are you getting any exercise?” asked the young doctor. “Yup – I walk down the gravel driveway to the mailbox and back every day,” replied Fred. “Wonderful!” exclaimed the doctor. “And are you eating well?” “Yessir,” replied Fred, “the wife is a wonderful cook.” “That’s great,” said the doctor. “And now, I’ve got to ask you a rather personal question. It’s about your digestive system – are you ‘regular’?” “Absolutely regular – like clockwork,” replied Fred. “Every morning at 7 a.m. sharp.” “Perfect!” said the doctor. “Well, not really,” said Fred. “You see, I don’t get out of bed until 8 a.m.!” ••••••••••••••••••• “My wife thinks I hunt and fish too much,” moaned Luke to his best friend. “But I tell her

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

I only hunt and fish twice a year!” “That doesn’t seem like too much,” said Zeke. “When are the two times?” “When it’s my birthday,” replied Luke, “and when it’s not!” ••••••••••••••••••• An elderly woman sat at the Greenville bar. She explained to the bartender that it was her 90th birthday. She ordered a double scotch, and a single drop of water. Two young fellows overheard her, congratulated her on her birthday, and offered to buy her next drink. She ordered another double scotch, with a single drop of water. “That’s an unusual drink request,” said one of the young fellows. “Why do you order that?” “At my age, Sonny,” replied the woman, “I can hold my liquor, but not my water!” ••••••••••••••••••• Two sociologists were sitting by the pool in a swanky Greenville resort. One turned to the other, and asked, “Have

The Smilin' Sportsman Youth Edition Kids! Send your best hunting & fishing stories, and your favorite jokes, to the editor at will@mainesportsman.com.

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Doris. Doris who? Doris locked – that’s why I’m knocking! ••••••••••••••••••• Q: What do you call a dog that licks an electrical socket? A: Sparky! ••••••••••••••••••• From the weekly church bulletin: “A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.” •••••••••••••••••••

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Q: If athletes get athletes’ foot, what do astronauts get? A: Missile toe. ••••••••••••••••••• Dad: “Son, who was at the door?” Kid: “It was a fundraiser, looking for donations for a new town pool.” Dad: “So what did you do?” Kid: “I gave him a glass of water.” A duck walked into a pharmacy and said, “I’d like to buy some chapstick.” The pharmacist handed him the chapstick and asked, “Will that be cash, or charge?” “Just put it on my bill,” replied the duck.

you read Marx?” “Yes,” replied the other. “It’s these damn wicker chairs!”

�� The Maine Sportsman • February 2019 • 81

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CAMP ON SMALL POND IN SHIRLEY $500/wk. Great hunting, fishing & ATV trails nearby. Also, local hunting club 1/4 mi. away is actively looking for five new members. 207-6363689 ———————————

DOGS

MILL POND RETRIEVERS Field Trial and Test Bloodlines “True Gun Dog Labs”. Located in Owls Head, Maine. Puppies, Started Dogs and Finished Dogs available. millpondretrievers.com. 207-542-1485

ETNA, ME 3 LOTS can be sold individually or together. All lots have great Hunting, ATVing and ITS 83 for you Snowmobilers. Lot #1 has 12.6 acres, price $22,130. Lot #2 has 12.8 acres, price $22,180. Lot #3 has 14.2 acres, price $23,340. Close to Newport & Sebasticook Lake, adjacent to Penobscot County Conservation Land. 207-379-4426 ———————————

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY FOR SALE LOCATION! LOCATION! Land & Building

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-Main St. (Rt2) Dixfield, Maine, on Androscoggin & Webb Rivers. Three Floors, Full Basement, Commercial Kitchen, Stage, Balcony, two bathrooms, small office & ticket booth, storage rooms. Hotair furnace, main floor fully carpeted with hardwood dance section. Wide stairs to balcony and

3,911 ACRES Dallas Plt - Timber, water, wildlife and views. Four miles of frontage on S. Branch of Dead River and four remote ponds. 1,700’ of elevation. Interior roads. Close to Rangeley. $2,750,000

open third floor. Lots of potential, lots of space/storage, lots of light, lots of parking. $142,800. email: mt_hiker2@yahoo.com or text 207-364-6487 ———————————

WANTED WANTED DEER/ MOOSE ANTLERS BUYING any size deer & moose shed antlers/racks or ant-

lered skulls. All grades bought by the pound. 802-875-3206 HELP WANTED Remote Maine Sporting camp needs employees for general labor late April thru late October. Good wages. 207-731-8888 www.nahmakanta.com

192+/- ACRES Guilford - 192± acres w/ views from Oak Hill (920’ in elevation) & in the shadows of 1,326’ Guilford Mt. overlooking First Davis Pond. Wildlife galore with evidence of moose & deer. Cut in 2011. $129,000

Kingfield - Camp on Tufts Pond. Mountain & water views, mature trees, 1,600’ of elevation, brook & remote pond! Ski, snowmobile, hunt, fish, relax! Sugarloaf close by. $599,000.

Bancroft Twp - Acreage on Mattawawkeag River. Camp just 200± feet from river w/exceptional frontage. Mature trees, easy access & special protection designated for Salmon & deer habitat. $139,000

Litchfield - Waterfront parcel with tons of diversity. Massive trees in park like setting. Mile plus frontage on Horseshoe pond feeding into Cobbossee stream. Extensive wildlife. $205,000.

5.25 ACRES OR 64 ACRES Pittsfield – Custom built cedar log home. Three floors of living space with 4-5 bedrooms and five baths. Large open rooms with cathedral ceilings andskylights. $299,000 with 5.25 acres or $325,000 with 64 acres. Greenwood - 283 ACRES - Views of the surrounding hills south and west from 1,300’ of elevation. Ledge outcrops, old stone walls and recreation opportunities. Gravel for access and internal roads. $215,000 Greenwood - 251 ACRES - Views of the surrounding hills, lakes and Mt. Washington. 32’x20’ log cabin shell. Good access & road system. Highest elevation is 1,620’. Recreation paradise. $229,000 Dover/Foxcroft - 93 ACRES – Affordable lot with small stream, good access, internal road system and 1,570’ Parsons Landing Road frontage. Recently harvested. Great area for recreating. Lot can be split. $70,000 Calais - Scenic 45 acre lot on the 627 acre, 56’ deep Nash’s lake stocked with salmon. Over 1000’ of waterfront with peninsula extending into the lake. Good access. Private. Numerous coves, unique shorefront. $75,000

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82 • February 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

(207) 943-5225 www.dewittjonesrealty.com

Danforth - Cabin will sleep big crew and entertain more on the huge deck. Insulated garage with furnace for storing/working on the toys all year. Fishing out the front and hunting out the back, built for outdoor people on Sandy Beach Road. $78,500

Lakeville - Small cabin, dug well, privy, electricity, and a partially developed lot make this usable day #1 and it could be temporary lodging while you build your new waterfront dream house on Pristine Junior Lake. $97,500

Burlington - Traditional Maine log hunting camp with full foundation, dug well and huge stone fireplace in the Great Room. This camp is from the “good old days” of Maine hunting traditions on Long Ridge Road. Call Today! $44,500

1346711 - ORNEVILLE TWP - WATERFRONT LOT - Wonderful island lot just a short ride from the public landing. Nice fishing area as well as hunting or just going for a boat ride. $28,500 1343136 - MEDFORD - 13 ACRES - Wooded lot with frontage on the Piscataquis River. Great recreational area for snowmobiling, ATVs, hunting and fishing. Great place to build your camp and come relax and enjoy all 4 seasons. $25,900 1339633 - LAKE VIEW PLT - WATERFRONT LOT Year round access on Schoodic Lake with 1.7 acres and 210 ft. of water frontage. Calm cove on a pristine lake, driveway in place and electricity at road side. 150 yards from ITS 83 with 4-season access. Low taxes. $154,900 1323585 - MILO - 1.3+/-acre lot in great location with plenty of privacy. Lot has been soil tested. Located Lot 8 in Horizon Estates sub-division. Not far from shopping and medical center. Possible owner financing available. $9,900

— SCHOODIC LAKE — 1377307 - New construction. Tastefully-built contemporary style home right on the the shores of Schoodic Lake. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, laundry/mudroom, hardwood maple floors, automatic generator and appliances are all included. Easy access to snowmobile and ATV trails. Property is being sold furnished, dock and boat lift are all included. Come sit back and relax on the deck overlooking this pristine lake and enjoy life the way it should be. $429,000 — EBEEMEE LAKE — 1361070 - This 4 season cottage has all the comforts of home with the added pleasure of overlooking Ebeemee Lake. 115’+/- of water frontage on .76+/- acre lot. Incredible views, loons and an occasional moose. Open concept, 2 bedrooms, loft area, full bath, washer, dryer, drilled well, septic system, garage, shed, dock and most of the furnishings are included. Ready for you do move right in and sit back relax. $189,900

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR OVER 100 LAND LISTINGS! T5 R10 WELS - Beautiful cabin, located in historic Camp Phoenix, is now available to own on Nesowadnehunk Lake. With water, sewer and exceptional shared water frontageyou need only bring your fishing pole and a smile. $84,000

Mattawamkeag - Private cottage with shower house, shed, privy and covered porch overlooking the water. Gas lights and some wiring done for generator use. Enjoy all the outdoors has to offer on Back Settlement Pond. Not many like this one! $89,000

Macwahoc Plt - View from property is stunning. Sits on a bluff looking over Molunkus Stream frontage. A short jaunt from the main road and has a 65 acre reserve area next door make this an outdoorsman’s paradise on Swimming Hole Road. $39,000

Topsfield - Mobile home is in remarkably good condition. Very near the shoreline of E. Musquash Lake, can almost fish from the living room. Well, septic and no neighbors breathing down your neck. Nice home or be a great getaway location. $95,000 Winn - 2.8+/- acre riverfront lot, electricity available, year round access, outdoor recreation in every direction, minutes to Lincoln’s amenities, 265’+/- on the mighty Penobscot River. $23,500 Lincoln - Wonderful private 1.16 to 5.36 acre lots, driveways installed, ability to boat to Caribou and Long Ponds, access to snowmobile and ATV trails, owner financing, frontage on Egg Pond, starting at $59,000 Winn - Amazing recreational area, 5+/acre lot, building site nestled amongst pine trees, more land and frontage available, 370’+/- along the clear, clean Mattawamkeag River. $32,000

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“Tate” Aylward ................ 794-2460 Peter Phinney.................. 794-5466 Kirk Ritchie...................... 290-1554

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FISHING SEASON CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH

Get ready at our Hunting & Fishing Store in Freeport, open 24/7

RAPID RIVER MICRO CHEST PACK Its slim profile and smart details let you pack fast and light

RAPID RIVER LUMBAR PACK Award-winning pack lets you efficiently organize all your gear

QUEST FLY ROD OUTFITS A great way to get started. Includes rod, reel, fly line and backing and reel-on-rod case.

RAPID RIVER VEST PACK Loaded with innovative storage so everything you need is right at hand

BREATHABLE EMERGER WADERS With strong, stitchless Super Seam® Technology and a Quick-Fit belt

TRUSTED GEAR. LEGENDARY SERVICE. EXPERT ADVICE. ALL AT OUR HUNTING & FISHING STORE. 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. Check our calendar for free clinics & events at

LLBEAN.COM/FREEPORT