Sportsman The Maine
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2 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
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4 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Editorial
Maine Outdoor Sports – Firing on All Cylinders We are pleased to present the 2021 “Biggest Bucks” issue to all our readers. In the face of the Covid pandemic and unprecedented national political events and transitions, the Maine outdoors – its beauty and bounty – is providing a welcome respite. We here at The Maine Sportsman have sensed an increase in enthusiasm, and more family participation, than in any 12-month period in recent memory. Fishing and hunting license sales are up. Outdoor gear retailers and registered Maine guides are busy. State parks report record attendance. And the impressive list of successful whitetail deer hunters found on pages 44 through 50, serves as a reminder of the resources provided by our state. Throughout this increased emphasis on outdoor activities, the administrators, wardens and biologists of DIFW have been there at each step to give us great reasons to get outside. Thoughtful promotions such as the upcoming Free Fishing Weekend, February 13 – 14, 2021 provide an opportunity to invite family and friends onto the ice for a relaxed event that will introduce folks to the fun and camaraderie of the activity (as well as to the abundant large and tasty fish found in many of Maine’s lakes and ponds). Brook trout of unprecedented size are being pulled out of Moosehead. Togue are plentiful in Sebago. And more and more open-water areas are being opened up for winter fishing (see Tom Seymour’s “Midcoast” column in this issue), signifying that DIFW appears willing to listen to anglers and respond to reasonable suggestions for enhanced angling opportunities. And for those who’d like to try fishing without purchasing a license but who would prefer to wait for warmer spring weather, Maine’s second free fishing weekend of the year has been scheduled for June 5th and 6th. So enjoy this issue, and celebrate with this past season’s fortunate hunters. Then get outside on snowmobiles, cross-country skis or snowshoes, and continue the momentum generated by the rediscovery of Maine’s outdoor beauty and opportunities.
¶
On the Cover This past November, Mark Belanger of Fort Kent harvested the 213-lb. 8 point buck shown on the cover. Mark’s deer was not the only cause for celebration in the Belanger household – his 9-year-old son Drew (shown on left) shot his first-ever deer in 2020! Photos by Stacy Belanger www.MaineSportsman.com
New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication
Sportsman The Maine
ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 580 • 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 DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR: Carol Lund carol@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 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 A Ranger on the Allagash by Tim Caverly.................. 39 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves..................... 33 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia.................. 22 Big Woods World by Mark Scheeren........................... 42 Central Maine by Steve Vose....................................... 70 Downeast by Jim Lemieux............................................ 65 Editorial.............................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by Lou Zambello....................... 58 Jackman Region by William Sheldon.......................... 60 Jottings by Jon Lund........................................................ 9 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon......................... 53 Kate’s Wild Kitchen by Kate Krukowski Gooding....... 38 Letters to the Editor.......................................................... 6 Maine Sportswoman by Christi Holmes....................... 36 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour................................... 18 Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose............................... 41 Midcoast by Tom Seymour........................................... 66 Moosehead Region by Tom Seymour......................... 63 My Maine by George Smith.......................................... 16 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson.............................. 80 Nolan’s Outdoor World by Nolan Raymond............... 62 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie............................ 75 Outdoors & Other Mistakes by Al Diamon.................. 82 Outdoor Chronicle by Ed Pineau................................. 56 Quotable Sportsman by George Smith....................... 17 Rangeley Region by William Clunie............................. 77 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers............................. 83 Saltwater by Barry Gibson............................................. 68 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth..................... 74 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews.................. 67 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard............................. 40 Smilin’ Sportsman: Adults & Kids by Will Lund.............. 83 Southern Maine by Val Marquez................................. 73 Sporting Environment by David Van Wie.................... 55 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller.................. 71 Trading Post (Classifieds)............................................... 84 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour....................................... 57 True Tales from the Warden Service by Ret. Lt. Doug Tibbetts.51 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie.............. 79 Young Maine Sportsman by Luke Giampetruzzi........ 72
GUEST COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS
Biggest Bucks in Maine Club 2020........................... 44-50 Boating in Maine by Bob Humphrey............................ 29 Ice Fishing in Maine by Steve Carpenteri.................... 19 Snowmobiling in Maine by Steve Carpenteri............. 24 Maine State Record Buck by Christi Holmes............... 43 Wet to the Bone by Randy Randall............................. 52
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6 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Letters
corporalis), often called “chub” in Maine, have a similar body shape, and juveniles sometimes have a stripe, though not often as dark as the fish in the video.
To The Editor
Not All Fish with Stripes are Bass To the Editor: I enjoyed reading the article in the January 2021 issue by Daniel Kostyk about underwater drones. However, as a fisheries biologist, I wanted to reach out and correct a mistaken fish ID. I suppose it’s also appropriate because this magazine subscription was provided to me as a gift for volunteering to judge fish photos as part of an ice fishing derby in Maine. In one of the photos taken from underwater video, the author identified Yellow Perch and juvenile largemouth bass in Lower Richardson Lake. I’ve reviewed the photo, along with the video footage posted online, and confirmed that the fish with stripes are not bass. They are a robust species of minnow that have dark stripes on their sides. They’re moving pretty fast for a 100% positive identification, and minnow ID is often best hands-on, but they look a lot like Lake Chub (Couesius plumbeus). Other species such as Fallfish (Semotilus
Creek Chub, similar to Lake Chub.
Upon review, the juvenile fish swimming with the yellow perch are likely a minnow or chub species, and not juvenile bass. This is an example of how Maine fisheries professionals and “drone fishermen” can work together. I’ve captured photos of some fish that frankly, I don’t know what they heck they are. I welcome anyone to help identify fish species to protect Maine’s wonderful natural environment. Dan Kostyk —
2020 – a GREAT Year for Stripers! Juvenile largemouth bass.
Lake Chub and Fallfish are native and abundant in many of Maine’s lakes and are known to reside in Lower Richardson. So rather than an unfortunate sighting of bass where they don’t belong, you’ve captured a native species in its natural habitat. Ian Kiraly – Fisheries Biologist We invited Daniel Kostyk to respond: Dear Mr. Kiraly: Thank you for this information. Several fishermen on site that day thought the fish were juvenile bass, and that the stripe would lighten with maturity. It sounded good at the time.
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To the Editor: The December, 2020 issue of The Maine Sportsman included a letter to the editor from Mike Wing titled “Great Year for Stripers.” I could not agree more. In fact, this past season was phenomenal. I’d like to believe that it’s a result of some states passing stricter regulations in recent years, but a part of me says it’s due to having much less fishing pressure on their migration here. Many states were locked down during the initial Covid outbreak during the spring run, and most charters were not allowed to do business. I also noticed the river fishing not being so hot and the surf being extremely productive. A very small number of my 20-plus pound fish came from the river this year, I think the rain and runoff had an impact on that. I also believe the surf was so productive in my area because it seemed like fewer pogies were around, making the fish move to more locations and resort to other sources of food. This past season, the surf produced (Continued on next page)
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a few 40-lb. fish, lots of 30-lb. fish, a ton of 20 pounders, and more schoolies than I’ve ever caught in my 28 years of fishing. All caught on artificial plugs and released to grow even larger. The biggest surprise of the season was when I read an On the Waters article of a 51-inch striper being caught in November from the surf of Nova Scotia. I have included a photo from last season, taken from the giant staircase on Bailey Island.
Fast forward to today. Large numbers of people have made private “food plots,” some very small, some very large. Specialized seed products have been developed. We now have tree stands or blinds around the plots, and we keep track of the deer feeding there with game cameras. I have to ask this question – If this is not baiting, what is it? It is legal to bait bear. The practice allows time to evaluate the animal – is it a female with young of the year? – and provides an opportunity for proper shot placement. The same could be said for deer. The time has come for this discussion. Fern Bosse, Norway, ME —
More Support for Rita! To the Editor:
Mike Barry had another very good year This in response to Rita Simcasting off the rocks for stripers. mons’ letter in the January is-
Mike Barry —
Favors Legalizing Deer Baiting To the Editor: Thank you, Rita Simmons, for asking the question about baiting deer (see January Letters to the Editor, “Why Not Bait Deer in Maine?”). I agree 100%. Let’s go back several years ago when the term “food plots” came up. At that time, the idea was to take old log landings, level and grade them, take “pH” readings, then seed them to grow something that would help deer for part of the winter.
sue titled “Why Not Bait Deer in Maine?” I am an avid hunter and I hunt Maine, NH, and Mass. I agree that we, like NH, should be able to hunt over bait. It allows a hunter to size up the deer, place a shot that is fatal, and gives the hunter a choice as to whether to take the animal. I have seen and heard of hunters shooting at running deer or making a bad shot and losing the animal. If a hunter is hunting over bait, they can analyze the animal and wait for a good shot instead of shooting in the heat of the moment. I also feel that bow and crossbow hunters would be benefit if they can wait for the perfect shot. Other states that allow baiting do not wipe (Continued on next page)
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8 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Letters to the Editor
A Fan of Jim Andrews To the Editor: Thank you to Jim Andrews for sharing his L.L.Bean Trekking Pole tip in the December, 2020 edition of The Maine Sportsman. I did not get to use mine like he did for deer hunting, but having some arthritis issues, they sure have made a difference when walking with my dog in the fields and woods twice a day. His suggestion made a BIG difference, and now my knees work much better in these walks. I also like his idea of the Binocular Harness. I’ll hunt one up. Rod McGarry, Coach/Guide Portland - flyrodmcgarry@gmail.com
(Continued from page 7)
out the population of game. We can bait bear, so why not deer? Maybe we wouldn’t be losing hunters to our neighboring state that allows baiting and allows hunting on Sunday, which is of course another hot topic in Maine. Mark Sousa – Shapleigh, ME —
Needs Higher Front Sight for Savage Model 24 To the Editor: I always enjoy reading Bill Sheldon’s articles in The Maine Sportsman and was really intrigued about his December 2020 “Katahdin Country” column that featured the Model 24 Savage in .410 and .22 magnum. I have a Savage M24H-DL that I inherited from my dad, 20 gauge/.22 mag., and was having a heck of a time trying to find a higher front sight. My dad must have had the same problem, because there were brass shims underneath the front sight. Does he still have the info on the front sight he bought? Thank you. Tony Mazzaferro Chester, Massachusetts Errol, New Hampshire
Bill Sheldon responds: Tony, I go to Brownells for my gunsmithing items. In fact, I’d recommend requesting a catalog. They do have a good website, but the printed catalog is great. You will discover a lot of options. I used a red sight (I believe it’s the Williams Fire sight). I bought a base and then had a choice of different heights to fit the dovetail. For me, the tricky part was selecting the height. The gunsmith on the tech line was knowledgeable and helped me out. If you call them, they are very helpful. Tell them what you’re looking to do, and they will set you up. That’s a great gun you have there. Thanks for reading. Bill Sheldon, “Katahdin Country” columnist
The columnist responds: Hello, Rod: Thanks for your response. I’m glad the column was helpful. My dog always knows it’s time for a walk when I reach for those trekking poles. It’s almost magical how much they reduce the joint pain present after a hike. Anything to help keep us moving is a good thing! Jim Andrews “Self-Propelled Sportsman” columnist
¶
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1970 Maine Outdoorsman’s Guide Reveals Origins of The Maine Sportsman Magazine Maine’s outdoor sporting scene was quite different 50 years ago: snowmobile brands included Snow Jet, Skiroule and Boa Ski; crossbows were illegal; and deer hunters headed for the woods wearing red plaid jackets. The 1970 issue of the Maine Outdoorsman’s Guide and Almanac that came to me as a gift this past Christmas brought back memories of the start of this magazine. The idea of starting an annual almanac originated with the late Wendall Tremblay, who was formerly employed in the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and who later lived in Orono. Wendall sold advertising for the Almanac, and distributed copies for sale in convenience stores and other roadside outlets. It was an exciting idea, but Mainers are thrifty, and readers soon learned that much of the content did not change significantly from one year to the next, so repeat sales lagged over the next couple of years. Backers of the project, Wendall, the late Irv Richardson of Yarmouth, and this writer, figured out that we needed a publication with new content each month – the seed from which grew our monthly Maine Sportsman magazine. In short, we launched our magazine in 1973 without any market
surveys or feasibility studies. How the Scene has Changed! Turning to the 1970 Almanac and its contents, I am surprised by the varied information it contained – summaries of hunting and fishing laws, five pages of listings of private camping areas, 27 ski areas, animals of Maine and their tracks, puddling and diving ducks, where to go saltwater fishing, coastal cruising facilities and boatyards, and more. I am struck by how much the hunting and fishing scene has changed, much of it for the better. The Almanac reported the deer harvest and license sales from 1940 to 1968. The resident hunting license sales increased from 94,000 in 1940, to 169,000 in 1968. The non-resident licenses went from 5,000 to 36,000 in the same period, all reflecting the negative effect the wartime years had on hunting activity. Hunting Shootings Common The Almanac lists hunting accident statistics. 1952 was the worst year, with a total of 70 total shootings,
19 of them being fatal. The fatality total of 19 had been matched two years earlier, in 1950. The toll of 19 lives being lost as a result of hunting seems horrendous today, and it did then, too, but solutions had been elusive. Introduction of Hunter Orange The Legislature dipped its toe in the water, with a test zone described in the Almanac. A note and a shaded map showed that in portions of York, Oxford, Cumberland and Kennebec Counties, hunters were required to wear fluorescent orange clothing and hat. The test zone for hunter orange proved to be successful in drastically reducing hunting accidents and fatalities, and after seeing the results, the Legislature extended the hunter orange requirement to the rest of the state. The combination of mandatory hunter safety courses and florescent orange clothing has drastically reduced hunting accidents and fatalities. No Crossbows; No Muzzleloader Season Crossbows were listed as illegal devices, along with nets, snares, silencers and
firearms larger than ten gauge. It was illegal for more than six persons to drive deer. Today, the legal limit is three hunters. One deer of either sex could be harvested, and bonus permits had not yet been invented. There was no special season for muzzleloader hunters. No mention was
made of hunting turkeys. Apparently, the restoration effort had not yet produced results. (Continued on next page)
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Jottings (Continued from page 9)
their 32 dealers. All-terrain vehicles had not yet become popular, nor were there any trails devoted to their use.
Now-Extinct Snowmobiles; No ATVs Snowmobiling ads in the 1970 Almanac included Snow Jet, Skiroule , Boa Ski, Rupp, and the rear-engine equipped Snow Bug, all of which were destined to disappear. Ski-Doo, with 80 Maine dealers, appeared to be beating out Arctic Cat with
Fewer Wardens Today The Almanac contained a remarkable variety of information of interest to outdoors people. Want to know the name, addresses and telephone num-
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bers of fish and game wardens? All there. About 134, depending on who you count. The jobs of the game wardens of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Bureau of the Warden Service today include enforcement, investigation, and search-and-rescue. Today, the Bureau is home to 123 game wardens. Given the complexity of the tasks the wardens carry out, it is remarkable that the number of wardens has not grown in the last fifty years,
but appears instead to have shrunk. Perhaps the improvements of modern communication have enabled the wardens to work more efficiently. Publication of how to reach a game warden must have been more important in 1970 than it is today. A call to Operation Game Thief could be more useful to report an on-going poaching operation today, or a call to the State police dispatcher may be the best way to ask the local warden to return to your call.
Atlantic Salmon One page of the Almanac is devoted to angling for Atlantic Salmon, a sport that was legal in 1970 but is no longer legal in this state. Five Maine rivers were described as being productive. Perhaps the improved access of salmon and other anadramous fish to our rivers and streams will bring back a day when we will be writing again about the challenge of casting to this magnificent fish. Let us hope so.
¶
Nikolas Worth, age 13, of Dresden earned a prestigious “Grand Slam” patch in 2020 for taking a turkey, bear and whitetail deer, as well as this 508-lb. bull moose. Congratulations, Nikolas!
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 11
Almanac
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
Who is there among us who does not enjoy a good hunting and fishing story? The “art” of sharing one’s exploits in the field or on the water has been practiced since man first stood erect and picked up a rock to subdue his quarry. And without exception, when enjoying this time-honored tradition with old friends, all fish and game somehow get a bit bigger or more numerous than in
the prior telling. If a friend is telling a humdinger about you, every miscue, wrong turn, or dunk in the river gets grander. And if the whopper is about himself or an honored descendent, the buck gets bigger, the drag to camp longer, the mountain traversed higher and the snow traveled through deeper. Therein lies the charm of telling and retelling a “personal sporting classic.”
The story below is from the October 8, 1896 issue of the RANGELEY LAKES. I know you will enjoy it. I hope you make plenty of wonderful tall-tale-inspiring memories this year, as you get outside with family, friends, your dog or just you and nature … to make some outdoor history of your own.
The Great Deer Slaying (1896) A few years ago, a party of hunters was gathered about a large open fire spinning yarns. James Smith, the well-known Rangeley guide, was there, and also Waldo Rich of the Phillips & Rangeley Railroad. There came a lull in the stories, and someone asked Jim about deer hunting – if he had shot many. “Well,”, said Jim, and after a pause, as if mentally calculating the number, “I have done quite a little killing myself. The best day’s work though was in the winter of 1885. I drove to Rangeley, from Phillips, put my snowshoes on and went down the lake and across the carry to the Rock and up to Billy Soule’s. Got a late dinner and went up the Cupsuptic. “Well, boys, just as true as I am talking to you now, I got back to Billy’s at just 22 minutes past 8 o’clock that very same night, and had on my sled the carcasses of fourteen deer. And I shot every one of them myself.” There was a silence after this for several minutes, each man was gazing intently at the fire, and pulling steadily at his pipe or cigar. Finally, Rich removed his cigar, carefully knocked the ashes from the end and, looking at Jim, began. “Fourteen in one afternoon?” “Yes, fourteen, and six of them were as large deer as I have ever seen, and I’ve seen as large ones as run in
the woods.” “Fourteen?” repeated Rich. “Well, that’s a pretty good story, but in 1855 my father had a line of traps up near Parmachenee. He had been down home, on the Richardson Lakes, and started back with an ice chisel and some grub. “He didn’t bring down his gun, as he was to have so much to take back.
But when he got into camp that night, he had 27 deer that he had killed with his ice chisel. I was at the camp when he got there, and helped him dress them.” The usual restoratives were given Jim, but although he was able to sit and smoke, his power of speech seemed gone. The only trouble was… he’d told his story first. (Almanac continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com
12 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Almanac
(Continued from page 11)
2020 Whitetail Season Recap
This being The Maine Sportsman’s annual “Biggest Bucks” issue, we checked in with Nathan Bieber, Maine’s chief deer biologist, for harvest data on the most recent whitetail season. Here’s his report: “First, let me provide a few little bits of information on the time license-holders spent hunting this past year. Hunting license sales increased 7% this season, so there were more people out there with the authority to hunt deer. “In the hunters’ survey from the 2020 season, our survey-takers indicated that they spent an average of 6.8 days in the field during the firearms season, and 5 hours out on each of those days. This compares to 6.1 days and 4.9 hours last year. It looks then like hunters were spending about the same number of hours per day out in the field, but they were spending almost a day more than average out hunting. “More hunting licenses sold, and more days spent out hunting – that’s pretty well in line with our field observations. “We asked an additional question on our survey. We asked, ‘Did your hunting plans change at all this year due to the pandemic?’ “Responses are below from 720 respondents.
I did not change my hunting plans: 77.92% • I spent more time hunting: 8.19% • I spent less time hunting: 5.83% • I hunted different areas: 1.53% • I hunted with different people: 0.28% • I hunted alone whereas I usually hunt with other people: 3.33% “So about 8.2% of hunters said they spent more time hunting, while 5.8% spent less time hunting. “For harvest numbers, as of the third week in December we were at 33,157 whitetails registered. This was the highest total deer harvest since 2002, as seen below: •
Year Harvest 2002 38,153 2003 30,313 2004 30,926 2005 28,148 2006 29,918 2007 28,884 2008 21,061 2009 18,092 2010 20,063 2011 18,917 2012 21,553 2013 24,795 2014 22,490 2015 20,325 2016 23,512 2017 27,233 2018 32,451 2019 28,323 2020 33,157 “I hope this information is helpful to your readers.
ANY WORKLOAD. ANY TIME.
HT Series www.MaineSportsman.com
Nathan Bieber, Wildlife Research and Assessment Section, DIFW, Bangor” Yes, Nathan – it was very helpful, and we thank you. — My Adventures with Wildlife, Episode 2
The Night I Helped Capture a Mountain Lion by Blaine Cardilli
While working in Boca Grande, Florida as cocktail waiters at a ritzy resort, my friend and I, since we were known as hunters from Maine, were approached by management and asked to provide physical evidence of a panther, which is Florida’s version of a mountain lion. Golfers had reported seeing the large animal along the courses, but such reports are often unreliable, and the State of Florida did not want to take expensive steps to deal with the issue unless they were certain of the animal’s existence. My buddy and I had brought some of our hunting gear from Maine down south with us. That night, we went to the jungle side of the island, in an area where we thought the big cat might be hiding. We were near a small beach, tucked into some heavy brush. I used a distressed rabbit call to attract the cat. Panther Responds Before long, the panther responded with some screams and loud howls. Al(Continued on next page)
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though we never saw it, it got very close to us, and the animal was thoughtful enough to step into some sand we had prepared for it, leaving clear, deep tracks from which we were able to make plaster-of-paris casts. The following day, we gave the evidence to the local island wildlife chapter. The chapter turned over the casts to the state of Florida, whose biologists were now convinced it was worth expending the resources to address the situation. The cat was captured without harm to the animal or to any resort guests. The escapade was covered closely in the local newspapers, and we were minor, temporary celebrities – the two guys from Maine who brought the cougar out of the jungle. —
Maine Deer Hunters Facebook Page “Biggest Deer” Contest a Big Success by Rusty Daley, Administrator
The Maine Deer Hunters Facebook page, in conjunction with The Maine Sportsman magazine, recently announced the winners in the inaugural “biggest deer” contest, which was open to members. A number of entries exceeded the 200-lb. mark, with the biggest deer weighing in at a massive 260 lbs. Here are the winners: • Jon Roy, Albion – 260-lb. buck • Craig Rines – 258.8-lb. buck
• Scottie Jipson, Dedham – 256.5lb. buck All three winners earned subscriptions to The Maine Sportsman. In the case of Craig Rines, Craig is already a subscriber, so he authorized a youth hunter photo contest, in which members selected their favorite photo. The winner of Craig’s subscription was Trenten D. Burress, of Madawaska. Congratulations to all the successful hunters. —
Patent Granted to Snowmobile in 1944
According to the site ExplainThatStuff.com., the above illustration accompanied a snowmobile patent application submitted Joseph Armand Bombardier. The patent was granted in April of 1944. This model had a ski at the front for steering, and a complex chaintread track system at the back. Sprockets pulled the tracks around, while idler wheels provided suspension. Unlike today’s machines that carry one or two riders, this version accommodated 12 people. (Continued on next page)
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14 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Almanac
(Continued from page 13)
Artwork source: US Patent and Trademark Office, with coloring added for clarity. —
Skin Salve Made from Bear Fat Former Maine Sportsman contributor and “Survivor” contestant Kate Wentworth has been busy – making bear fat, beeswax and essential oil of balsam fir into a soothing salve called “Bear Hand Necessities Salve.” Kate recently checked in: “The idea behind the salves came from when I visited two friends of mine who live in the Western Mountains of Maine – SFC Sammie Sax, Retired, United States Army Special Forces (Green Beret) and his wife Theresa Sax. “We helped haul a bear out of the woods. I didn’t want any of the fat to go to waste, so we began coming up with ideas on how to utilize all of it. Our goal is zero waste.
“We intend to grow by reaching out to local beekeepers, to buy directly from them. Come bear season, we will also make the rounds of hunting outfitters and guide services, to obtain additional raw materials.” Look for Bear Hand Necessities Salve on Etsy, at https://etsy.me/37nB93f, on eBay by searching for the name of the product, or on Facebook or Instagram under @ bearhandnecessities. —
Why are Lead Sinkers a Special Threat to Loons? by Nick Lund, Outreach and Network Manager, Maine Audubon Loons don’t have teeth, and so chewing their food – whole intact fish – poses a challenge. But they’ve evolved an ingenious solution: a special organ called a gizzard which they fill with swallowed stones. When a loon swallows a fish, it goes first into the gizzard, which crushes the food and “chews” it into smaller, more easily digestible bits that are then transferred to the stomach.
lead poisoning education and provide opportunities for the public to rid their tackle boxes of lead objects, MDIFW and Maine Audubon launched a lead tackle buyback program, with the help of the Maine Sportsman and the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund. Beginning in April 2020, the groups partnered with local retailers to provide $10 store vouchers to anglers who turn in at least one ounce of lead tackle at participating stores. The vouchers are redeemable toward the purchase of non-lead tackle at these same retailers. Up to 350 vouchers are being distributed now through December of 2021. Three retailers are participating in the program: Dag’s Bait Shop in Auburn, Indian Hill Trading Post in Greenville, and BackWoods Bait and Tackle in Chesterville. More retailers will be added this year. Retailers may also choose to join the partnership by holding one-time events during which they encourage attendees to turn at least an ounce of lead tackle in exchange for a $10 voucher. This proved to be extremely successful at Kittery Trading Post’s Septemberfest, during which the store collected 41 pounds of lead tackle, and issued 71 vouchers. If you’ve got lead in your tackle box that you don’t want to end up in the inside of a loon, please visit www.fishleadfree.org/me. —
Time is Running Out to enter the Youth Writing Contest
“A portion of our proceeds will be donated to wounded soldiers and law enforcement, in Maine and in Alaska. “We’ve got two tallow shacks in operation in Passadumkeag, rendering the fat in double boilers. The beeswax is locally sourced. “We’ve had enthusiastic reports of our salve in use as far north as Alaska, and as far south as Florida. www.MaineSportsman.com
Loons get their stones from the bottom of the lake, and that’s where they’ve run into trouble. Lead sinkers and jigs that fall off fishing lines look to the loon to be just like normal bottom stones, but if those sinkers are inadvertently ingested, they can cause lead poisoning, and death. Lead poisoning deaths have accounted for a larger share of loon mortality than any other single cause, according to biologists at Maine Audubon who have studied Maine’s loon population since the early 1980s. Progress has been made to prevent lead deaths – current Maine state law bans the use and sale of lead sinkers and lead-headed jigs weighing one ounce or less or measuring 2 ½” or less – but lead poisoning is still a major threat to loons in large part because of slow turnover in personal tackle boxes. Recognizing the need to continue
The Maine Sportsman Youth Writing Contest closes March 15, 2021. The contest is open to boys and girls in New England, in grades 6 through 12. 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; archery; or crossbows. Submissions must consist of non-fiction narratives or essays – there is no poetry division in this contest, and no fiction division. Submissions must be previously unpublished original works, and must have been written within the past 12 months. If possible, contestants should submit entries in an editable format rather than as a PDF. Photographs taken by the author or the author’s family members can accompany the written entry. Submissions from students in grades (Continued on next page)
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6 – 8 will be entered in the Junior Division; grades 9 – 12 will be entered in the Senior Division. Winners will receive the following cash awards: • Junior Maine winner: $100 • Senior Maine winner: $100 • Junior New England winner: $100 • Senior New England winner: $100 Additional prizes or recognitions may be awarded. Winners will be announced in the pages of The Maine Sportsman magazine. Submissions may also be published in the 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 subject line. Include your contact information, 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!
Corrections Sharp-eyed readers of our January, 2021 issue brought a couple of errors to our attention: 1) On page 64, in the excellent recipe for Bacon Maple Cornbread, the reference to 11 ½ cups of buttermilk, should have read “1 ½ cups”. 2) On page 72, in the guest column on Underwater Drones, Daniel Kostyk’s surname was mis-spelled in the photo credit under the largemouth bass illustration. 3) The photo on page 60 of the January issue is credited to E. Emerson. In fact, it is an Eric Holbrook photo.
February 2021 Sunrise/Sunset Portland, ME DATE 1 Mon 2 Tue 3 Wed 4 Thu 5 Fri 6 Sat 7 Sun 8 Mon 9 Tue 10 Wed 11 Thu 12 Fri 13 Sat 14 Sun
Flagstaff Shoreline Our monthly photo contributor Jonathan Wheaton captured this image on August 20, 2020 at Flagstaff Lake, with the majestic Bigelow Range in the background. “I had always wanted to to photograph the weathered stumps,” he explained, “and after a morning of kayaking the shoreline, it seemed to work out perfectly.” Wheaton took this long-exposure shot with his Canon 5d Mark 4 and a Canon 16-35 f2.8 lens.
SET 4:53 4:55 4:56 4:57 4:59 5:00 5:02 5:03 5:04 5:06 5:07 5:08 5:10 5:11
DATE 15 Mon 16 Tue 17 Wed 18 Thu 19 Fri 20 Sat 21 Sun 22 Mon 23 Tue 24 Wed 25 Thu 26 Fri 27 Sat 28 Sun
RISE 6:37 6:35 6:34 6:32 6:31 6:29 6:28 6:26 6:25 6:23 6:21 6:20 6:18 6:16
SET 5:12 5:14 5:15 5:16 5:18 5:19 5:20 5:22 5:23 5:24 5:26 5:27 5:28 5:29
February 2021 Tides
Thank you, readers, for pointing out these editorial oversights.
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RISE 6:55 6:54 6:53 6:51 6:50 6:49 6:48 6:46 6:45 6:44 6:42 6:41 6:40 6:38
Portland, ME DATE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
HIGH AM PM 1:14 1:27 1:59 2:16 2:47 3:11 3:41 4:12 4:38 5:17 5:40 6:28 6:47 7:38 7:53 8:41 8:53 9:37 9:47 10:28 10:38 11:15 11:25 11:58 — 12:08 12:39 12:50 1:17 1:31 1:56 2:13 2:36 2:59 3:19 3:48 4:05 4:42 4:56 5:40 5:52 6:43 6:52 7:42 7:49 8:33 8:39 9:19 9:25 10:02 10:10 10:43 10:54 11:24 11:38 —
LOW AM PM 7:14 7:44 8:04 8:31 8:59 9:22 9:58 10:17 11:01 11:18 — 12:10 12:24 1:20 1:32 2:25 2:34 3:23 3:30 4:14 4:22 5:02 5:10 5:46 5:55 6:26 6:37 7:04 7:19 7:42 8:02 8:20 8:47 9:01 9:35 9:46 10:27 10:35 11:23 11:29 — 12:25 12:29 1:26 1:28 2:19 2:21 3:06 3:08 3:48 3:53 4:30 4:38 5:11 5:23 5:52
www.MaineSportsman.com
16 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
George is Pleased with Progress of Outdoor Heritage Fund I’m very proud of the Outdoor Heritage Fund. When I came up with the idea for the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, I had no idea it would be such a success. At the time, I worked for the Sportsmen’s Alliance of Maine, and we recruited Maine Audubon to partner with us on the project. We collected enough signatures to place our proposal on the ballot, but the legislature liked the idea and enacted it in 1996, so it never went on the ballot. I had the privilege to serve on the MOHF Board for its first 10 years. MOHF gets its money from an instant lottery game. So far, it has awarded more than $20 million to important conservation and wildlife projects. I was particularly pleased when the MOHF board recently provided a grant to the Ezra Smith Wildlife Conservation Area in Mount Vernon, up the road from my house. Linda and I donated the woodlot to the Kennebec Land Trust, which has done a great job of managing the woodlot and making it available to the public with great trails – including a boardwalk through the bog – and, www.MaineSportsman.com
The Ezra Smith Wildlife Conservation Area in Mount Vernon encompasses 125 easily accessible acres, and preserves important wildlife habitat. Credit: Kennebec Land Trust
with the help of Mount Vernon’s library, a storywalk for kids. The recent MOHF project report includes the Ezra Smith Wildlife Conservation Area. Here is the write-up for the parcel:
Ezra Smith Conservation Area Interpretive Trail On August 12, 2020, the Kennebec Land Trust stewardship team completed the 450-foot bog boardwalk across the wetland at the Ezra Smith
Wildlife Conservation Area. After receiving a Tier 1 Permit from Maine Department of Environmental Protection in February of 2020, KLT stewardship staff Jean-Luc Theriault (Stewardship Director) and Ty-
ler Keniston (Stewardship Manager) worked with four interns to build out the second parking lot and the bog boardwalk on the northern end of the property. KLT’s Membership and Programming Director coordinated with Town of Mount Vernon’s Library (Dr. Shaw Memorial Library) to host a public snowshoe walk the winter of 2019 and a children’s book storywalk in the summer of 2020. This was preceded by work in the summer of 2018 to create a 0.8 mile wildlife interpretive trail, three interpretive signs that feature the property’s wildlife habitats, a parking area on Route 41, a booklet of outdoor and hunting stories and photographs that I authorized which highlight the property’s wildlife habitat, wetlands and forested resources, and a property brochure and professionally designed map. Future plans for the property include a 0.5 trail connecting from the eastern edge of the wetland to Hopkins Stream. This project will require to the acquisition of another parcel for access to Hopkins Stream.
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Our new Maine Youth Deer Hunter Club patches are a hot item! They are available to successful whitetail hunters who hold a youth license. The application can be found at www.MaineSportsman.com under “Patch Club Forms.”
There are some hunters we can count on showing up with big deer year after year -hunters like Kegan McPherson, shown here with his unbelievable trophy bucks taken in Oxbow in 2018 (left) and 2019.
Katherine Woodman of Chesterville, Maine bagged this monster moose in Eustis, Zone 7, in October, 2020. The animal’s antler spread of 57 inches made it among the highest-scoring of the season. Ms. Woodman was guided by Douglas Brown of Brown’s Backcountry Guide Service.
Quotable
Sportsman
by George Smith
“Adding a state [endangered species] listing would help address ongoing threats to Atlantic salmon that the federal listing hasn’t dealt with. While
Ayden Jefferson, age 15, harvested this 223-pound, 6-point buck on Opening Day. Ayden was accompanied by his father, Mike Smith.
some improvements have occurred, the stocking and management of non-native fish species in Atlantic salmon critical habitat remains a problem. In addition, there are virtually no protections in place for Atlantic salmon critical habitat. The federal definition of critical habitat includes only the wetted area of a river and stream, and doesn’t include the riparian zone [close to the water] or adjacent upland areas.” John Burrows, executive director of U.S. Programs for the Atlantic Salmon Federation, quoted in John Holyoke’s column, Bangor Daily News, November 21, 2020 — “When I’m deer hunting and I get set up in a place, I just sit there. It’s so
restorative. It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced. I put my phone away and just sit there and watch the world. I let my mind relax, and I decompress.” DIF&W Commissioner Judy Camuso. John Holyoke column, Bangor Daily News, November 25, 2020 www.MaineSportsman.com
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Maine Wildlife:
Chickadee by Tom Seymour
Chickadees, black-capped-chickadees in particular, seem specially sent to bring cheer during the dark days of winter. During the worst part of the fiercest blizzards, chickadees happily hop from branch to branch, undaunted, even singing. This happens while most every other form of wildlife hunkers down to wait out the storm. One reason for this is that these charming little birds must eat every day in order to survive – rain or snow, calm or windy. It’s easy, though, for us to believe that chickadees are genuinely happy all the time. Perhaps they are, too. Who is to say how a bird feels? While all chickadees are wild birds, some individuals and family groups become dependent upon seed and suet feeders and so remain near houses most of the time. Chickadees breed in mixed woodlands and conifer forests. Chickadees that depend upon bird feeders prefer feeding stations adjacent to their breeding habitat. A feeder set up near shrubs or near to a woodland edge makes a perfect situation for chickadees, since this allows them to quickly fly to protective cover when danger threatens. And danger usually comes in the form of various hawks that swoop down from out of nowhere with blood in their eyes and murder on their minds. Well, not really. Hawks eat smaller birds, and that’s just the way of nature. But it is difficult for humans not to take the side of the chickadees and view the hawks as murderous villains. No Fear Resident chickadees, those that regularly visit feeding stations, rank among the most easily tamed wild birds. Chickadees quickly recognize the humans they see every day, and once that familiarity becomes established, the little birds exhibit absolutely no fear. As someone who enjoys feeding the www.MaineSportsman.com
Whether the author is sitting on his deer stand or refilling his backyard bird feeder, he finds himself utterly beguiled by Maine’s state bird. birds, I am absolutely convinced that chickadees not only know me on sight, they also beckon me to refill their feeders. It’s hard to ignore the steady “Deedee-dee,” repeated from so many tiny throats, all directly aimed at me. “Feed us, feed us,” they seem to say. Quick to take a cue, I always heed the chickadee’s pleas and add seed and suet to their feeders any time they call on me to do so. Their response is immediate, too. Even while I am in the process of closing the door on their suet feeder, the chickadees flock to the crabapple tree where the feeder hangs, anxiously waiting for me to leave. And the moment I’m done, they swarm to the feeder. A conditioned response? Absolutely. Those with time to invest can, with not too much effort, entice chickadees to take black oil sunflower seeds from their hands. This may take several days or more, but as with most endeavors, regular attempts eventually bring results. The thrill of having a tiny woodland creature sitting in the palm of your hand is not easily described in words. But just remember, that little bird trusts you implicitly, since it knows you could easily close your hand and make a fist and kill it. That kind of trust, bordering on total innocence, seems almost unsettling. Maine’s Bird The State of Maine chose well when lawmakers selected the black-capped chickadee as the state bird. Ubiquitous
throughout Maine, chickadees rank as year-round residents. From the spruce/ fir forests of the far north to the suburbs of Portland, black-capped chickadees make their presence known. While most of the chickadees I interact with are those that come to my feeder, chickadees also beguile me while I’m sitting on my deer stand way back in the woods. These truly wild birds, like their feeder-trained brethren, seem not afraid of humans. Watching chickadees foraging and interacting makes sitting on a stand in the cold November woods considerably easier – more interesting and much more bearable. In fact, chickadees seem to me like friends, friends who wherever and whenever I meet them, give me comfort and a feeling of being home. Whether in a park in an urban setting or fishing or hunting in the north woods, chickadees are a given. Familiar and convivial, chickadees are among those little things that add spice and quality to life. In addition to the familiar “Chicka-dee-dee-dee-dee” call, these active birds also have a “fee-bee” call – highpitched and often nasal-sounding. And to further anthropomorphize the topic, it fascinates me to know that, like we humans, chickadees have regional variations to their calls. A chickadee from the coast may sound slightly different from a chickadee living in the northern mountains. Interesting little critters, chickadees are. Chickadee Beginnings I have recently moved from my home deep in the woods of Waldo to an in-town location in Frankfort. A small trout stream bounds my back line, and trees and shrubs grow along this stream. It seems like perfect chickadee habitat. What with unpacking, a long-term chore, I scarcely have time to bother with anything else. But very soon, I intend to establish a bird feeder, maybe several bird feeders. My fondest hope is that chickadees will show up and befriend me. What a wonderful housewarming gift that would represent. I sincerely hope that everyone else shares similar feelings regarding chickadees.
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Trophy Togue Fishing by Steve Carpenteri
Targeting togue in the 15- to 20-pound class is equivalent to focusing on a Boone & Crockett buck – the odds are against you from the start, but there is always a chance for success. It requires patience to catch a trophy lake trout, enduring wind flags and stolen baits while releasing dozens of small fish for every big one that comes to the surface. There comes a time in every winter fisherman’s life when the goal becomes not to catch a fish, but to catch the fish – one of those 20-pound bottom-dwelling lake trout that most anglers never see except on the front page of the local newspaper. Focusing on a trophy togue means a life of loneliness, long hours on the ice and a wealth of wind flags, stolen baits and brief moments of pure excitement capped by the unexpected appearance of a big, ugly cusk at the end of 150 feet of line. There’s nothing you can do at that point but re-bait, re-set and wait for
another flag, maybe next time tripped by that once-in-a-lifetime lunker laker. Get North; Get Deep So where do you go to locate these trophy fish? As a general matter, February lake trout are found on the very bottom of Maine’s northern cold-water lakes. Some fish can be taken in shallow water in late fall and early spring, but for the most part they are denizens of their home lake’s maximum depths. This means specialized tackle is required – gear that will take a bait or lure to the bottom and keep it there. It doesn’t take
too many trips to any togue lake to realize that Maine’s biggest waters are not still, calm, stagnant ponds. Instead, they feature sometimes powerful currents, spring holes and channels that can lift a heavy bait and weight 20 or 30 feet off the bottom, often completely out of the range of bottom-roving togue. Large Bait = Large Fish For this reason, traditional togue anglers use heavy-weight or lead-core line, and weights in the 2- to 3-ounce range, with live or cut bait set about two feet above the weight on a three(Continued on next page)
Cut big holes if you want to catch big fish. A 20-pound togue may not fit through a standard 8-inch hole! Photos: Stockphotos.com
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20 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
COBBOSSEE LAKE ICE FISHING DERBY Hosted by Cony Project Graduation March 6, 2021 • Sunrise–3PM
— PRIZES — Largest Pike: 1st $750 • 2nd $500 • 3rd $250 Largest Brown Trout: 1st $350 • 2nd $200 • 3rd $100 Largest Pan Fish, Perch (White or Yellow), Crappie: 1st $500 • 2nd $350 • 3rd $150 Largest Pickerel: 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes. $350.00, $200, $100 Smallest Fish (registered; kids under age 12): 48” Max Traps Ice Fishing Trap. Excludes Brown Trout — REGISTRATION FEES — Individual: Pre-Registration $10 • Day of Registration $15 Cony High School Senior: Pre-Registration $5 • Day of Registration $10 Family (Parents with Kids Under 12): Pre-Registration $20 • Day of Registration $25 Pre-register at Cobbossee Bait Shop, 8 Little Cobbossee Ave, E. Winthrop, ME by March 1, 2021. Day of Registration Closes at 10AM. The first 50 kids (17 & under) to register will receive a free trap donated by “Traps for Kids”. A registration packet can be found on our Facebook page or one can be emailed to you at the contact information below. — RAFFLE — Each registered angler will be automatically entered into a drawing for a set of 5 Jack Traps. Increase your winning odds while helping to support Cony Project Graduation by purchasing additional tickets for $5 each! — DERBY HEADQUARTERS — Trail Head on Turtle Run Road, East Winthrop, ME — CONTACT INFO — Cony Project Graduation Cobbossee Ice Fishing Derby Facebook page or via email at conyprojectgraduation@gmail.com — SPONSORS —
Ice Fishing in Maine (Continued from page 19)
way swivel. Live baits include the largest shiners and suckers available, because these attract the largest lakers. In fact, baitfish exceeding 12 inches are the norm for big lake trout, and anglers using cut baits will tie on chunks of fish nearly as big. The “big bait equals big fish” a rule definitely applies to winter togue fishing. How Deep? “Fishing on the bottom” can mean depths ranging from 50 feet down to more than 200 feet. Sebago is the deepest lake in Maine, at 316 feet. Moosehead is larger in surface area, but is “only” 246 feet deep. Most other togue lakes are in the 100-foot range, but it behooves anglers to know (or at least test) the lake they’re fishing, in order to discern how much line is will be needed to reach bottom. Because togue are
known to cruise and suspend close to the bottom, baits should be placed three feet or so off the gravel. Any higher and the fish might not find the bait, while any lower invites cruising cusk to move in and steal it. Every set-up will be an experiment in depth selection and bait placement, but that’s all part of the game. Bait Checks – How Frequent? Many anglers set their baits, back off and wait, but others believe it’s more productive to check baits frequently or to jig the bait constantly in order to attract nearby lake trout. Lake trout, even the biggest fish, have an aggravating habit of taking and mouthing a bait without tripping the flag. There’s nothing more confounding than picking up at the end of a long, fruitless day on the ice and finding that every (Continued on next page)
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single bait has been stolen. This is why it’s a good idea to check togue baits every hour or so. Many times the angler will catch the fish in the act of stealing a bait, or at least find out that his hook is bare and needs to be rebaited. Jigging Maine togue may also be taken using specialized vertical jigging lures that are designed to attract fish as they are lifted and dropped repeatedly throughout the day. Bright-colored jigs with fluttering spinner blades and eye-catching beads are the most common designs, but creative anglers often go the distance with lure variations bordering on the fantastic. Some of the “secret” concoctions togue anglers use include wild combinations of lures, spinners, flashers and beads. Unusual, yes, but if it a rig catches fish, anything goes. Different World Trophy togue anglers are in a world of their own. This kind
of fishing requires a healthy dose of patience as anglers endure wind flags and stolen baits while releasing dozens of small fish for every big one that comes to the surface. Targeting fish in the 15- to 20-pound class is equivalent to focusing on a Boone & Crockett buck – the odds are against you from the start, but there is always a chance for success. Lake trout are commonly found in Maine’s deepest northern lakes, but some waters in the southern region also produce some nice fish. Standard producers include Moosehead Lake, Sebago Lake, Sebec Lake and Schoodic Lake. For more on where to find lake trout in Maine, log onto www.mefishwildlife.com, and look for the regularly-updated fishing reports from Maine’s seven regions (from north to south, Fish River Lakes, Penobscot, Moosehead Lake, Rangeley Lakes, Grand Lake, Belgrade Lakes, and Sebago Lake).
Megan Cyr of Belmont will be receiving a Biggest Buck patch for this 201-lb. 9-pt. buck taken November 24 in Union.
Devin Schoppee of Cherryfield earned his Biggest Bucks patch in Gouldsboro with this 10-point, 201lb. buck with handsome, unusually palmated, moose-like antlers.
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22 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Sometimes Big Game is in the Water Head for Aroostook County in search of huge muskellunge, which can grow to 30 pounds. If you’ve ice-fished for northern pike, you probably already have the heavy-duty gear needed to catch muskies. Years ago when Harry Vanderweide and the crew at The Maine Sportsman asked me to join the magazine and write about big game hunting, I never thought I’d get my inspiration from the water. Well, a couple of my friends have changed that. It’s true – big game does live in the water. In this case however, it’s a fish. Known as “the fish of a thousand casts,” esox masquinongy, or muskellunge, is our apex predator in the fresh water of Maine. My friend Wade Kelly, of Tylor Kelly Camps (TKC), is an avid muskellunge fisherman, and he agreed to share with me and our readers what he loves about this fish and how he lands so many of them. “Muskie Man”? I know Wade Kelly well enough to say he’d never tell you he was the best at anything related to hunting or fishing, even if he was. He’s too modest to say so, but when a fish like the muskellunge has a reputation for being difficult to catch, and a fisherman catches them at a far higher rate than others, that www.MaineSportsman.com
person is obviously doing something right. Most of the muskie fishing I’ve seen takes place in September. That’s apparently when muskie fishing is at its best; however, like many pike fishermen in Maine, Wade has learned how to catch these big fish through the ice. He and his sports do it regularly. Never caught a muskellunge and really want to? A trip to TKC in Allagash, Maine, should be on your list this winter. During February, most of the people coming to Allagash are there to snowmobile. Some show up to fish the rivers for the monster toothy critters that live there. Wade says his ideal sports will have their own sleds and their own ice fishing gear. Kelly and his wife Sue get clients to the right place so they can fish to their heart’s content, or they stay with their guests to assist in their quest. There’s an opportunity to catch muskies over 30 pounds here. Kelly’s personal best is over 27 pounds. Heavy Gear Needed According to Kelly, most ice fisher-
men who are adept at catching Northern pike in the southern part of the state, will be prepared and ready to catch muskies in northern Maine, in terms of gear, fishing setups and bait. Wade’s personal setup includes heavy traps and reels with a good adjustable drag. A solid ice line used for pike works fine, but depending on where he’s fishing, and the size of the muskies he’ll be catching, Wade
Wade Kelly with his personal-best, 27-pound muskie from the Saint John River. Kelly not only catches these beasts through the ice -- he has also begun offering fly fishing trips in the summer to sports looking for a real challenge.
Wade Kelly with his wife, Sue Underhill-Kelly, who is also a Maine Guide. Both of them enjoy taking customers out to fish for muskies through the ice.
changes up his heavy fluorocarbon leader. The larger the potential fish, the heavier the leader. A 10’ leader of 30 lbs. is good for smaller fish, but as the fish get larger, leaders up to 60 pound test should be used. Wade starts with a long leader because it’s far easier to cut a frayed leader down a bit, rather than re-tying for each fish caught. Depending on the desire of the sport, Wade will fish different areas. The lower parts of the Saint John River and the bigger water produce larger fish on average; however, numbers and concentrations are lower, so it can take longer to catch fish. The chances of getting a fish over 25 or 30 pounds are better here.
The upper parts of the river have much higher concentrations of fish, but the fish tend to be smaller. For a fisherman looking to scratch the muskie off their bucket list, Kelly suggests booking a trip on the upper. For those looking to land a muskie over 30 pounds, the lower river or the Glazier Lake should likely be the destination. Unfamiliar Territory? For ice anglers unfamiliar with the rooftop of Maine, it’d be very smart to employ the services of a knowledgeable guide like Wade Kelly. The river is constantly flowing and changing. There are portions of the river that can easily and safely be fished, (Continued on next page)
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 23 (Continued from page 22)
and there are portions of the river which are potentially dangerous to snowmobile or even walk on. TKC has awesome little cabins that sleep 4-6 people. Fishermen renting a cabin can cook their own meals and cater to themselves. Those not wishing to cook can stay in the main lodge. Lodge residents may purchase breakfast, lunches and dinner.
For fishermen who want the whole guided fishing experience, Wade has even been known to cook a shore lunch on the ice. Fried fish, burgers, chili or even breakfast sandwiches – what an awesome experience this could be! The muskellunge is considered Maine’s newest freshwater game fish. Fishing for these giant toothy critters is most commonly done from a boat in nicer weather, but
there’s no reason to wait for warmer days. Wade Kelly has had great success in catching these giants over the last 15 years. Take advantage of what Maine has to offer, and head to Allagash this winter to try your luck. Hit the hardwater for “The fish of a thousand casts.” Maybe I’ll see you up there!
¶
These lucky sports caught a great muskie while visiting Tylor Kelly Camps.
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24 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Here’s How I Ride by Steve Carpenteri
A lifetime of hunting and trapping means the author likes to travel slowly on his snow machine, stopping to scout deer, moose, fisher and bobcat tracks and sign during the ride. These stops provide him with valuable knowledge for subsequent use, but it makes it tough to ride with him or behind him on the trail!
Photo courtesy of Al Swett, Maine Snowmobile Association (MSA)
(Text begins on next page)
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 25
How I RIde I have been riding snowmobiles since the early 1960s. My first machine was a beast, heavy and awkward, loud and temperamental, slow and difficult to handle, and it left a trail of smoke that hung in the air for miles. In those days, a snowmobile was used as a conveyance – a means in which to transport fishing gear, trapping supplies, or perhaps to drag a deer out of the woods late in the season. Those early machines were hardly designed for, or capable of, long-range trips, and were rarely employed as such simply because arriving at the desired destination was iffy at best and doubtful at worst. With no groomed trails to ride on, those early machines were a double-handful to maneuver in deep snow, and when you dumped one on a sharp turn, a steep hill or when traversing uneven ground, it often took two or three friends with strong backs to get it underway again. My, how things have changed!
Important to Enjoy the Trip Today’s snow machines are sleek, fast, dependable and capable of 100-mile trips without a thought – exactly the opposite of those early machines. However, despite all of the improvements made in snowmobile design over the decades, I still ride for the same reasons I did way back when. While getting from Point A to Point B is a given, the attraction for me is not the trip itself, but rather the interesting things I encounter along the way. Many folks these days hop on a sled and take off with the intention of getting “there” as quickly as possible, no matter how far away it may be. For me, however, the thrill of the ride is discovering what’s waiting for me off the trail. Scouting Wildlife Tracks For this reason, no one wants to ride with me or behind me, because I’m likely to stop every hundred yards to look at deer tracks, moose tracks, fisher tracks, bobcat tracks (Continued on page 27)
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BLAST M / BLAST ZR / BLAST LT — Visit Your Local Arctic Cat Dealer for Details — CARIBOU Plourde & Plourde 11 Laurette Stree 207-496-3211 www.plourdeplourde.com
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SIDNEY Kramer’s Inc. 2400 West River Road 207-547-3345 www.kramersinc.com
GORHAM LEBANON BERLIN, NH White Rock Outboard Northeast Motorsports Jericho Outdoors 351 Sebago Lake Rd. 451 Carl Broggi Hwy. 232 Jericho Rd. 207-892-9606 207-457-2225 603-215-6002 www.whiterockoutboard.com www.nemotorsportsofmaine.com www.jerichooutdoors.com Always wear a helmet and don’t drink and ride. © 2020 Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc.
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GORHAM, NH Absolute PowerSports 461 Main Street 603-466-5454 www.absolutepowersportsnh.com
Polaris recommends that all riders take a safety training course. Do not attempt maneuvers beyond your capability. Always wear a helmet and other safety apparel. Read, understand and follow your owner’s manual. Never drink and ride. Polaris is a registered trademark of Polaris Industries Inc. © 2020 Polaris Industries Inc.
www.MaineSportsman.com
26 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
For some riders on fast, modern machines, it’s all about getting to the destination as soon as possible. Photo Credit: Al Swett, MSA
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 27
Snowmobiling in Maine (Continued from page 25)
or pretty much any other kind of animal sign I encounter. I’ve always been one to “scout” for animal sign, a result, no doubt, of a lifetime spent hunting and trapping. I like to find new spots even when I know I may not have the chance to return with a firearm or steel in hand. Over the years I have filled notebooks with locations, directions and possibilities for future trips, and of late I’ve compiled a maze of GPS way-points that should keep me busy for as long as my Lifetime License remains valid. Other Riders Give that “Special Look” Because of this proclivity, many of my all-
day rides only amount to 5 or 10 trail miles. I stop, look, investigate, consider and record just about every bit of wildlife sign I find, all of which fascinates me but seriously annoys anyone in my group or anyone riding behind me. In fact, almost every time I stop, people slow down to see if I’m alright: “Got trouble?” they ask, but when I tell them I’m just following rabbit tracks in the snow, they give me that special look, and motor on. Just as most riders cannot stand to slow down, let alone stop along the trail, I am unable to pass by an interesting set of tracks, an animal trail or oth(Continued on next page)
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CARIBOU Plourde & Plourde 11 Laurette Stree 207-496-3211 www.plourdeplourde.com
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DETROIT Huff Powersports 284 North Road 207-487-3338 www.huffpowersports.com
LEEDS Reggie’s Kawasaki Ski-doo 255 US Hwy 202 207-933-4976 www.doitatreggies.com
FORT KENT Fort Kent Powersports 377 Caribou Road 207-834-3659 www.fortkentpowersports.com
WINDHAM Richardson’s Boatyard 850 Roosevelt Tr, Rt 302 207-892-9664 www.richardsonsby.com
©2020 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
28 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Snowmobiling in Maine (Continued from page 27)
There is no telling what kind of wildlife snowmobilers may encounter while riding Maine’s winter trails. Photo Credit: Pixabay
er signs of winter wildlife in action. When I see coyote tracks in the snow I have to stop and follow them to see where they may end up, and quite often it’s at what’s left of a deer or moose carcass. A fox or bobcat trail can lead to the remains of a rabbit or grouse, and deer tracks often lead into areas that, next year, may be good places to hunt.
In other words, I look, I learn, I take notes and make plans – not exactly how the average rider wants to spend his day, but that’s the way I ride. “Different Destination” Of course, over the years I’ve gone on many long-range outings via snowmobile, but on every trip I feel as though we’re going too far, too fast, and
are missing out on the important, interesting details of everyday life in the Maine woods. A lot goes on in the miles between Point A and Point B, and I hate to ride on by without stopping to unravel each natural mystery. I like to determine what made those tracks, what it was doing, where it was going and where the trail comes to an end; a curiosity that, I realize, is not shared by most other snowmobilers. No doubt you’ll pass me on the trail and wonder what’s wrong, but never fear – I’m having a great time checking out a porcupine trail or the tracks of a family of otters traveling cross-country. There’s no question that you’ll get to the lodge for chili and hot chocolate long before I do, but that’s only because I have a different destination in mind.
Christopher Dowdy of Dresden shot this 218-pound, 10-point buck on Opening Day, with his young daughter in tow.
¶
Maine’s snowshoe hare season is underway, and lasts through March 31, 2021. Here, Ronald Purington of Gardiner carries his 12-gauge in search of the speedy rabbits. Photo by Breanne Purington www.MaineSportsman.com
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 29
What’s New in Boating for 2021 by Bob Humphrey
Package boats offer a ready-to-fish option that often features big savings on accessories. Image courtesy of PolarKraft
There’s snow on the ground, and the lakes (at least the smaller ones!) are frozen over, but thoughts are already turning toward open water and another boating season. Whether you’re planning to upgrade or finally buy your first, don’t let the weather
The author provides updates on boat sales trends, the continued evolution of electronics for depth and navigation, the popularity of “turn-key” boatmotor-trailer packages, and even the option of “boat clubs” that offer step-on, step-off service. hold you back. Now is the time to start shopping, or you could find yourself landlocked this summer.
The following information will help you make a more informed decision on your investment.
Set Sale The pandemic has had all sorts of crazy side effects, including cancellation of
consumer shows that generally account for a large percentage of annual boat sales. However, that has not seemed to bother buyers or sellers. Boat sales showed their strongest growth in over a decade, and in some cases, demand exceeded supply, as (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com
30 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Boating in Maine (Continued from page 29)
dealers struggled to obtain inventory.
Another trend within this surge of
sales this was the proportion of new boat owners, in large part due to staycationers. Folks who would tra-
Dealer opportunities available in certain areas, contact Tom at Thomas.D@hewittrad.com.
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ditionally go away stayed home, and used their vacation funds on a new boat and all that comes with it. Dealer inventory is recovering, but if this year is anything like the last one, the boats won’t last long, and with a presumed absence of shows again, dealers will be offering some attractive pricing. Turn the Key Less surprising, fishing boats continue to make up the largest proportion of new boat sales. Furthermore, the fact that many buyers are first-time owners has prompted greater demand for turn-key packages, complete with boat, motor, trailer and electronics. The downside is that you don’t get to choose your accessories. The upsides are that gear is matched to the boat, and that consumers often realize significant discounts compared to buying accessories à la carte. The Digital Age Technology continues to improve, to the advantage of boat operators. As with computers and smart phones, multi-function display units
(MFD) keep adding more features for less cost. A user-friendly, touch screen unit now costs about the same as – and in some cases less than – you paid for your five-year-old push-button unit that requires a handy manual or a good memory to operate. Even better, free firmware updates allow you to install the latest and greatest features rather than upgrading every few years. And you’ll definitely want to do that, as features like GPS, cartography and sonar displays are continually improving. Companies like Garmin, Lowrance and Raymarine now offer users the choice of a traditional down scan display, side scan and more sophisticated 3D scan and imagery, as well as updated cartography (shoreline depiction) and sonar bathymetry (water depth and bottom structure). Another relatively recent advancement increasingly available at lower cost is Compressed High Intensity Radar Pulse (CHIRP). Instead of using one frequency like traditional depth (Continued on next page)
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*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, 2015 and newer models, sold and delivered between January 5, 2021 and March 31, 2021 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.
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Boat clubs are an affordable alternative to ownership without the separate expenses of registration, insurance, slip fees, storage, maintenance and repairs (see page 32). Image courtesy of Grady White
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 31
Multi Function Display Units now offer more sophisticated technology and displays. Images courtesy of Raymarine (Continued from page 30)
or fishfinders, CHIRP uses a bandwidth or range of frequencies simultaneously. It also uses multiple cone sizes, expanding or contracting the target area. The end result is higher resolution, better target separation and detection,
and better detail on bottom. For example, instead of appearing as a nondescript blob, you can see individual baitfish in a school, and with practice, better identify the type or species of gamefish you’re seeing. Most new multifunction
Raymarine’s CHIRP sonar displays detailed images of bottom structure.
(Continued on next page)
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*Available to qualified buyers through authorized participating Yamaha Full Line Outboard (Repower) Dealers (found at YamahaOutboards.com/Dealers) financing purchase of eligible new Yamaha four-stroke outboard motors** through Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, U.S.A (YMFUS). Eligible outboard models must be sold, delivered, PDI (Pre-Delivery Inspection) completed, and warranty registered on Yamaha Marine Business System (YMBS) by an authorized participating Yamaha Full Line Outboard (Repower) Dealer from 1/5/2021 through 3/31/2021. $3,000 minimum finance amount required. For example, 3.99% APR financing for 180 months at $7.39 per month per $1,000 financed regardless of down payment. Higher financing rates and/or down payment requirements apply for buyers with lower credit ratings. Subject to YMFUS approval; not all buyers will qualify. Yamaha reserves the right to change or cancel this promotion at any time. Offer void where restricted or otherwise prohibited by law. Other terms and conditions apply. See your authorized participating Yamaha Full Line Dealer for complete program details and for eligibility with other Yamaha promotions. **Promotion eligible for consumer financing of new, not previously warranty registered Yamaha four-stroke outboard motors manufactured since January 2014 and related Yamaha brand propeller and rigging equipment purchased through authorized participating Yamaha Full Line (Repower) Outboard Dealers located within the United States. Outboard motors sold as part of a new boat/motor package, sold or provided for commercial, camp, resort, rental, promotional/demo, government agency, competition, tournament or sponsorship use, and/or which are sold, registered or housed outside of the United States are NOT eligible. Any other items including, but not limited to, boats and trailers, CANNOT be included in this promotion. REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear. © 2021 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.
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32 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Boating in Maine (Continued from page 31)
displays have built-in CHIRP processors, so the additional cost of a new or replacement CHIRP transducer is well worth the investment. The two most important functions of your multifunction
display are sounding and navigation. While you’ll want both in your machine, you can also get navigation for your smart phone. The Navionics Boating App offers a suite of layers, including nautical and sonar charts
and community edits, as well as route, track and waypoint functions and weather and tide info. Basic features are available on the free version, but a subscription ($15 - $30/year) will give you more advanced features and daily updates.
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The Hull Truth One of the most difficult decisions to make is what style of boat to buy. There is no one perfect model – the most important factor is how you intend to use the boat. Aluminum V-hull, either side or center consoles, are among the most popular with inland and in-shore anglers as well as water sports enthusiasts. Pontoons are always popular for pleasure cruising and parties. The trend in medium to larger fishing and pleasure boats continues increasingly toward outboard-powered, fiberglass center consoles. Four-stroke outboards are incredibly efficient and quiet. Just make sure to add stabilizer to your fuel to combat the negative effects of ethanol additives. Welcome to the Club It is sometimes said that the best way
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Gimme Six Extended Protection promotion applies to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 01/01/21 and 03/31/21 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings applies to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 01/01/21 and 03/31/21. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on creditworthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 01/01/21 and 03/31/21. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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to enjoy a boat is find a friend who has one and go with them. If you’re not comfortable either financially or emotionally with owning your own, you still have options other than bumming a ride. One is rentals. Many full-service marinas offer boat rentals. Depending on size, you can expect to pay between $175 and $400 per day, not including fuel. Another relatively recent option that has become increasingly more popular is boat clubs. It’s like owning your own boat without all the headaches and expense of registration, insurance, slip fees, storage, maintenance and repairs. Even better, you can change boats to suit your particular objective on any given day. For a flat annual fee (plus fuel), you have unlimited use of a variety of size and style boats. You can choose a speedy dual console for water skiing or tubing one day, a center console for fishing the next, and a pontoon for pleasure cruising another day. Boats are available on weekdays, weekends and holidays, on a first come, first served basis, though optimum times and dates fill up fast. You can reserve online, and the marina provides near-valet service. Once your reservation is confirmed, you simply show up, and your boat is ready to go. And when you’re finished, you can tie up to the dock, hand over the keys and head home – no loading, no trailering and no cleaning. Prices vary, but average around $3,000 - $4,000 per season (May-October).
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 33
Small Lakes Yield Big Catches Just as the COVID pandemic has altered living conditions the last several months, winter also arrived in an unusual manner. No snow to speak of until the first week of December, and frigid conditions arrived on little cat paws rather than the usual lion. With that in mind, this month I’m going to tell you about some of the County’s smaller, lesser known, moderately-used lakes and ponds. Splendid Spaulding The Houlton/Island Falls region offers two or three very popular ice fishing lakes; Drews, Pleasant, and Nickerson are ones I often mention, but they are heavy-traffic drilling locations. For less pressure and competition, especially during the week, and very dependable brook trout fishing, give Spaulding Lake a shot. It’s a smaller frozen gem found north of Oakfield that’s simple to reach from I-95 to either Ridge or Spaulding Lake Roads which parallel either shoreline. Delorme’s Atlas, Map 52, A-5 offers an overview. There’s a boat launch site which is usually kept plowed by local anglers, but a pair of snowshoes and a tote sled will have you auguring a hole and setting a tip-up in 10 minutes from either approach road. It’s a simple water to fish, with two inlets,
Small lakes and ponds like Spaulding, Cochrane, Bradbury and McNally offer fast ice angling close to home. Fish are large and plentiful. Change is good, says the author, so try out a new spot this month!
One fishing buddy helps control the line while his son looks, while Bill Graves enjoys a prolonged tug-of-war with a hefty togue hooked from an often-overlooked smaller urban edge lake. All Photos: Bill Graves
an outlet, and a max depth of 38 feet. Most of the lake runs 10 to
20 feet deep – perfect trout water. A surprising number of one- to
Allagash Lakes Region
two-pound brookies are iced. Most of the trout average 10 to 14
inches, and there’s a daily limit of 2. Although rare, a few salmon may be hooked, and a fair number of white perch and pickerel will keep flags flipping and youngsters entertained. Spaulding is perfect for a half-day venture, and ice drillers can make a split day outing by venturing up the road a couple of miles to drop a line on either Cochrane or Bradbury Lakes. Trout are the mainstay, but Cochrane holds a few salmon, and both lakes yield pickerel and perch. The nice thing about this trio of rural lakes is not just the quick change of scenery and simple access, it’s the odds that at least one is likely to be vacant of other anglers. Conroy Now Open After decades of (Continued on next page)
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Most experienced ice drillers drop a line for the big three -- brook trout, salmon and togue. However, youngsters and rookies are more than satisfied with an action-filled outing such as this one, which resulted in a batch of perch caught on a light jig rod.
It’s always more fun and usually yields more action when friends go ice fishing together, and it’s certainly less work! This trio has a perfect setup routine -- one drills the holes, the second clears the ice and snow from in and around the hole, and the third sets out the tip-up.
The County (Continued from page 33)
open-water fishing only, Conroy Lake, located on the urban edge of Monticello, was opened to ice fishing last winter. However, there was no mad rush or extreme pressure. Word of mouth may attract a few more ice anglers this winter, but it’s
still worth a visit due to ease of access and proximity to Route 1 and several nearby villages between Houlton and Presque Isle. Early fishing ought to be top notch, thanks to excellent stocking – more than 1,200 brook trout, as well as a hundred-plus splake of av-
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erage size, and a bonus of a few 18-inch speckled attention-getters! Just take the Sharpe Road off Route 1, then head north onto the Wilde Road, just a few minutes out of town. This petite 25acre drop of water does have a launch site and is surprisingly deep, with one area dipping to 108 feet. There are several creek inlets that are prime areas to set up a tip-up in 6 to 8 feet of water. A snowmobile makes travel and gear transport simpler, but is certainly not a must, since a pair of snowshoes will get you off shore plenty far enough to catch fish. Conroy is a great spot for youngsters and rookies to be introduced to a few-hour hard water outing. Portland North Portland south is the state’s largest city, while my Portland north Portland Lake is a 41-acre lake with a maximum depth of 53 feet. Less than a mile off Route 1 along the Snow Road in Bridgewater, it’s a short snowmobile ride or a 20 minute snowshoe hike through open fields to reach the north shoreline. De-
Hard-water anglers often drive miles from home, right past several neighborhood ponds, to fish for a day, and the author admits he’s guilty himself. As shown here, Jered Young of Mars Hill visits a small frozen gem within 15 minutes of his home. He catches big brookies but seldom sees another angler.
Karen Lajoie of Presque Isle loves to ice fish. She jigs for smelt while watching her tip-ups from the window of the shanty. This beauty was the big fish of the day.
Lorme’s Map 59, sector C-4 overviews this fairly remote frozen gem that seldom receives even moderate attention. A few locals visit to jig for smelts, and while most are a bit close-mouthed about it, I’ll vouch that some are the largest I’ve ever caught. The smelt handlining can be very spotty, but when they are biting you won’t soon forget the event. Brook trout are the true draw to this woods-lined pothole; 12- to 14-inch brookies are common, but there are more than a few thick-bodied two-pounders, (Continued on next page)
Ethan Cushman of Mars Hill spent a day with his Dad and two brothers on St. Froid Lake setting out tip-ups, and jigging for smelt while they waited. He displays his first of several salmon and trout the family caught.
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 35 (Continued from page 34)
and occasionally one weighing 3 pounds. Day fishing is the norm since most folks set out tip-ups, but once in a while a couple of folks will haul in a portable shanty for a smelting night shift. A.M. or P.M., I highly recommend a visit this month, and if you see another auger angler, I’d be surprised.
To the Woods During an early winter conversation with a state fisheries biologist from Ashland, I mentioned making at least one trip annually to ice fish lake trout on one of the five Musquacook Lakes. He suggested I might be driving right past a worthwhile pond for winter brook trout, just a few yards off the main road and
lightly utilized. Upper McNally has a boat launch/ picnic site right beside the Realty Road; see DeLorme’s Map 62, E-4, and is about 6 miles past Big Machias Lake. North Maine Woods roads are generally wellplowed, but current info can be obtained by checking online or making a phone call to the DIFW office. Upper McNally is
83 acres, but it’s only 15 feet deep maximum and easy to fish. Visitors can park and be fishing near the roadside shoreline within 15 minutes – no snowmobile needed. If you want to explore, then haul a Ski-doo along, and remember that hauling a trailer can be a pain on these narrow winter roads that feature only a few spots to turn around. It’s easily
a half hour drive from 6-mile Checkpoint near Ashland, but the brook trout are plentiful and the anglers sparse. Small lakes and ponds can offer big results closer to home and even large fish occasionally. Change is good sometimes, so give a new spot a try this month.
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2021 Sportswomen to Watch Maine’s many sportswomen are inspiring, empowering, and fun to follow. Here are seven you should keep an eye out for in the woods and waters this year. The Fly Angler Loren Lachapelle of Harpswell is a quick learner. She learned to fly fish only four years ago, and consistently nets trophy brook trout and striped bass. She has fly fished in Montana twice. Loren loves the challenge of fishing new places on her own.
often without power or running water. Her advice for cooking game birds: “Low and slow.” Candace was a vegetarian for several years, and twenty years ago decided the only meat she would eat is wild meat.
A dish Candace created from wild ingredients she harvested – brook trout on fresh greens with foraged fiddleheads, and fiddlehead flatbread.
Maine shed-hunting with her two chocolate labs, Gracie and Oakley. Georgette began shed-hunting consistently four years ago, and last year her team found over 100 sheds that they cut and sold as dog chews.
Georgette Tillinghast with her two shed hunting dogs – versatile enough to flush and retrieve grouse, too!
Loren Lachapelle with a beautiful salmon she caught on her 5-wt. fly rod.
Loren with a wild brook trout.
Loren offers the following advice for novice fly anglers: “Take your time; embrace patience. There’s always something to learn, so accept the challenge and don’t get discouraged when you get skunked.” Recently, Loren has started tying her own flies. Follow Loren on Instagram at @lorenl92 The Wild Game Chef Lincoln native Candace Sabol is passionate about wild foods. This Registered Maine Guide cooks at remote hunting camps and clinics throughout the year, www.MaineSportsman.com
Candace at her laketop “grocery store,” bringing home salmon for dinner.
Georgette and her team found over 100 sheds last winter.
Her love of the outdoors is in her blood. Her brother lives in Alaska, where she often visits to fish with him. “My mom loved to fish and hunt and was also a great cook. She taught me that a kitchen is a gathering place, a place of laughter, and a place of thanks.” Candace forages as well. “I enjoy the creativity of seasonal pairings: foraged fiddleheads and fresh brook trout patties, sautéed garlic scapes and black bear meatball pizza, homemade candied jalapenos atop whitetail breakfast burritos.” Follow Candace on Instagram at @candacemia
For new shed-hunters, Georgette stresses the importance of covering ground, explaining “We walk hundreds of miles each winter.” Georgette trained her dogs using scent and praise. “We basically throw a party when they find a shed. People would probably think we were nuts if they heard us!” Follow Georgette on Instagram at @gtillinghast_1
The Shed Hunter Georgette Tillinghast, of Hope, is the owner of Gracie’s Moose Antler Dog Chews. She spends winters in Northern
The Hunter Emily Goode grew up in Bucksport, where her father and grandfather taught her to hunt and fish when she was a child. This year, Emily completed her Grand Slam with a 30” spread, 678.5-lb moose. Emily also enjoys shed hunting with her dog, Winston. (Continued on next page)
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 37 (Continued from page 36)
Lindsay and other licensed trackers recovered over 200 animals in 2020.
Emily with one-fourth of her 2020 Grand Slam.
Emily grew up hunting and fishing.
Her advice to new hunters? “Just get out there and try it, and ask questions.” You’ll find her ice fishing for trophy brook trout on Moosehead Lake this winter. Follow Emily on Instagram at @outdoorme00 The Tracker Lindsay Ware of Ellsworth has been tracking wounded game with her dogs since 2011. Currently, she tracks with Aldo, a German Wirehaired dachshund. In 2020 they went on 162 tracks and recovered 61 animals.
“I’m proud of the Maine licensed tracking community and how we’ve grown and work as one big team to recover as many animals and bring as much peace of mind to hunters as possible,” she said. For anyone interested in training their own dog to track, Lindsay recommends the book “Tracking Dogs for Finding Wounded Deer”, by John Jeanneney. Lindsay is also the owner of Science Dogs of New England, a conservation tracking dog business. She trains dogs to find hard-to-locate items, such as nests, or small threatened or endangered plants or animals. Follow Lindsay on Facebook at Lindsay Ware, Large Game Blood Tracking. The Artist Georgette Kanach owns Maine Nature Art, located in Jackman. In addition to being an artist, Georgette is a Master Maine Guide, firearm and archery safety instructor, and shooting and archery instructor.
Georgette Kanach does wood carving and antler carving.
Georgette does antler carving and wood burning, and she offers wood-burning classes. Georgette encourages new artists to never stop learning, while striving to improve: “Develop your own style and have fun!” Follow Georgette on Facebook at Maine Nature Art or Instagram at @kanachgeorgette The All Around Sportswoman Lorri Nelson of Westbrook does it all. You can find her ice fishing for trout and pike, archery hunting in the expanded zone, or trapping for bear.
Lorri Nelson with a striped bass.
Georgette Kanach with a mural she painted in the Catholic Church in Jackman.
Lorri Nelson with an archery doe, the year of her Grand Slam in 2018.
Georgette’s winning Migratory Stamp painting.
Lindsay Ware with her tracking dog, Aldo, and a deer they recovered.
Georgette has been creating art since she was ten years old, and she won the Maine Migratory Stamp contest in 2009. In addition to wildlife paintings,
Lorri got her grand slam in 2018 (including an archery deer!), and her goal for 2021 is to learn to fly fish. For hunting and fishing, Lorri stresses that “patience, persistence, and using scent, but not having scent,” are the keys to success in the field. Follow Lorri on Instagram at @leadandlineadventures
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38 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Beaver Goulash Talk about comfort food – here it is! Take a pot of this ice fishing, or have it for dinner, and enjoy. A nice bread to sop up these juices is a necessary evil. I had run out of Sweet Paprika and used Hot Paprika – wish I’d added more. Ingredients: • 2 pounds beaver meat, cubed • 1 1/2 cups red wine, burgundy style • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil • 8 black peppercorns • 1 bay leaf • 1/4 cup Goulash flour, for coating* • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 2 sweet red bell peppers, cubed • 1 onion, chopped • 2 carrots, sliced thin • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 14 ounces diced tomatoes • 2 tablespoons tomato paste • 2 tablespoons Sweet Paprika • 1 pound potatoes, peeled and cubed • 1 cup sour cream • Salt and fresh ground black pepper Directions: Combine beaver, red wine, olive oil, peppercorns and bay leaf in a Ziploc style bag. Marinate ingredients overnight in fridge.
Remove beaver from marinade and reserve; pat dry and dredge in Goulash flour. Heat oil on medium in large, covered casserole pan and sear beaver quickly. Remove and set aside. Add vegetables to oil and sauté quickly. Add beaver back into vegetable mixture, along with tomatoes, tomato paste, paprika, salt and pepper. Pour reserved marinade on top and lightly stir to combine. Bring to
quick boil, cover and immediately turn down heat to simmer gently for 1 hour. Add potatoes and simmer 30 more minutes. Add sour cream and stir. Serves 6 with a crusty bread! *Goulash flour: ¼ cup flour; 1 teaspoon dried shallots(or onion), ground; ½ teaspoon fennel seed, ground; ½ teaspoon dried garlic granules, ground; ¼ teaspoon each salt and black pepper.
Decadent Cinnamon Squares Decadence doesn’t go very far when you’re hungry and cold. I keep it near the stove and enjoy it warm … Oops, there’s a flag!!! Ingredients: • 1 cup salted butter, melted and cooled • 1 ½ cups brown sugar • 3 large eggs, room temperature • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract • ½ teaspoon baking powder • ½ teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon cinnamon • ½ teaspoon cardamom or allspice • 2 cups flour Cinnamon Sugar: • 2 tablespoons cinnamon • ½ teaspoon cardamom • ¼ cup raw sugar (or white) Icing: • 2 tablespoons cream cheese, room www.MaineSportsman.com
temperature • 1 tablespoon milk • 1 cup powdered sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • pinch of salt Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 8 x 8 pan with parchment paper and set aside. In large mixing bowl whisk butter
and brown sugar. Add eggs, and vanilla extract and mix well. In separate bowl combine baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cardamom and flour. Fold wet ingredients into dry, just mix until no flour remains. Do not overmix. Make cinnamon sugar. Pour batter into pan. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on batter. Use flat knife and create big swirls. Bake 35 minutes or until golden brown and edges have puffed up. The middle will be doughy, but will continue to cook as it cools! While cooling, make icing. In small pan over low heat, combine cream cheese, milk, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt, whisking constantly until everything is combined. Cool. Once cool, drizzle with cream cheese glaze. Cut into 9 squares and enjoy!
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 39
An Eventful Winter Patrol – Part 1 This winter, Allagash Lake, which is located in T7&8 R14, opened for ice fishing January 1st, and it will remain open through April 30th. But this was not always the case. For many years, ice fishing on this unspoiled lake was only allowed during the month of February. Allagash Lake is the heart of the Waterway’s wilderness experience. Therefore, special regulations are in place to protect the area. For example, no motorized equipment is allowed on the pond, so snowmobilers are required to park their sleds behind the lake’s highwater mark, while float planes must land on neighboring Otter Pond, a point from which passengers can reach the lake’s outlet. On Patrol One day I was on patrol, snowmobiling from Chamberlain
The author unwittingly broke through a snowencrusted bears’ den, and as he scrambled to release his busted snowshoe, a couple of cubs woke up and began crying. Would the noise rouse their large, hibernating mother? Thoroughfare Bridge to where Allagash Stream enters Chamberlain. At 7 a.m., the outside thermometer read a balmy 10 degrees. But I was well dressed, and my Long Track Ski-Doo purred in the cold. Reaching the abandoned railroad bridge landmark, I prepared to inspect the Waterway’s property line. The Bureau of Parks owns a strip of land averaging 500 to 800 feet wide that runs the entire length of the 92mile corridor. In the one-mile area beyond the state’s ownership, landowners are required to submit harvest plans for any operation adjacent to the AWW’s orange-paint-
ed line. In the past, an occasional jobber had trespassed onto state property to snatch a valuable tree. I wanted to ensure the boundary was well-marked, to discourage theft of timber. Lynx Leaving my sled at the northeast side of the trestle, I donned snowshoes to check the painted line along Allagash Stream. Walking, I felt the sensation of something close by. I turned to look, but saw nothing. After 100 feet or so, I sensed eyes probing my back. Twisting slowly, I looked around, but again nothing appeared. So I back-tracked along my
Management Zone Map of Allagash Lake. T. Caverly Collection
snowshoe float, and discovered the footprint of a large feline. Bearing north, I made a wide sweep to watch my trail, and saw a lynx as it faded into thick undergrowth. A warden once told me that lynx are called “ghosts of the woods,” because they will sometimes follow winter travelers. My friend said he had never known the large cat to attack anyone – the predator just seems curious. Gorbey – Reincarnated Lumberjack? Shoeing northwest for two hours, I found the boundary well marked; therefore it was time to return to my sled and continue
my patrol. It was cold, but the sky was a brilliant blue, contrasting sharply with the white snow. Nearby, a greyand-white Canada Jay landed on the branch of a white pine. Honoring the common woodsman’s belief that the Gorbey symbolizes the reincarnation of a deceased lumberjack, I afforded proper respect. Waking the Sleeping Bears As I stepped onto a large mound of snow, my left snowshoe suddenly broke through the thin crust into a brush heap. I sat down awkwardly, with one snowshoe deep in the pile of branches, and the other still supported by the snow’s crust. I thrust my gloved hand through the broken sticks to unbuckle the webbed snowshoe. While probing for (Continued on page 41)
Lynx. Photo by Allagash Ranger Steve Day www.MaineSportsman.com
40 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
New Designs Challenge Tradition Tradition runs deep in Maine. Woven into the fabric of Maine’s culture, hunting and fishing traditions help define what it means to call oneself a Yankee. Even those who don’t hunt, fish, or shoot can often talk intelligently on the subject, and may have a fine old hunting rifle tucked away in a closet or standing in a corner of the parlor. Tradition springs from success. Success turns into habit, and habit becomes vogue. Vogue melds into orthodoxy and soon a tradition teeters on the brink of cultural imperative. Decades worth of success now mean that between 85 and 90 percent of game taken in Maine fall to just four different rifle cartridges. And even non-shooters can name the .30-30, .30-’06, .308, and the .270. Cartridges such as the .243 Winchester, .300 Savage, and the powerful 7mm Remington Magnum dance on the edge of this tradition, but their fans make up just a small percentage of the total. Those four most
www.MaineSportsman.com
Old-style walnut stock, or space-age Kevlar? Triedand-true .270, or 6.5mm Creedmoor? “The young will lead us into the future,” says the author, even if he has difficulty adjusting to the new world of Picatinny rails, threaded bores and fluted stainless steel barrels wrapped in carbon fiber. And, he adds, deer camp will always be deer camp.
Radical new designs from Springfield Armory, Benelli, Savage and others are changing the basic form of hunting rifles. Photo credit: Springfield Armory
popular cartridges and the rifles that use them define the Maine hunting scene in many ways. However, as Bob Dylan sang, “The times they are a-changin’.” New concoctions of cartridges began influencing Maine’s shooting public with the arrival of the 7mm-08 Remington around 1980. Also gaining ground, the .300 Winchester Magnum that some shooters seem to want as a more potent replacement for the .30-’06. More recent arrivals such as the 6mm
Creedmoor, 6.5mm Creedmoor, 6.5mm PRC, and .300 ACC Blackout captured the imagination of legions of younger shooters and others with a preference for the AR-15 platform and its varying derivatives. Now several manufacturers offer high-tech bolt-action hunting rifles in these and other calibers, but all aimed squarely at the future. Radical Designs To borrow a phrase, these new rifles are nothing like your grandfather’s Model 70 Winchester, or even Uncle Charley’s Remington Model 700. These rifles reflect the latest and greatest 21st century design and manufacturing technologies, including influence from military designs. Rifles in this new style include the
Thompson/Center Compass II, The Savage Axis II (see also The Shooter’s Bench November 2019), the Benelli Lupo, and Springfield Armory’s Model 2020. Called the “Waypoint,” the Model 2020 argues for the title of most radical of all the new bolt-actions now hitting the market. Between the fixed cheek piece and the adjustable cheek piece versions, Springfield Armory claims 32 variations of the Model 2020. From the hand-painted camouflage finish on the carbon fiber stock to the choice of fluted stainless steel barrel or fluted stainless steel barrel wrapped in carbon fiber (this version looks more like a bridge cable than a rifle barrel), the Model 2020 screams 21st century and beyond.
Other diversions from tradition include a Picatinny rail, threaded bore to accommodate either a muzzle brake or sound suppressor, an eight-sided buttplate with Pachmayr Decelerator pad, and an exceptionally deep drop at the comb—more like a sporting clays shotgun design. The 2020’s detachable box magazine gives the rifle the look of a military arm rather than one designed for hunting. Springfield Armory offers a version of the Model 2020 chambered for the tried-and-true Winchester .308, and other high-tech rifles do come in more traditional calibers as well. However, a wise wager would back the 6.5 Creedmoor as the top seller in these types of rifles. Radical Popularity The surging popularity of the 6.5mm Creedmoor bucks tradition and baffles traditionalists. Cartridges of the World claims, “Cartridges of 6.5mm-caliber have never really caught on among American hunters, but some have gained a good bit of ground with longrange target shooters.” A respected friend and mentor in all things relating to firearms recently said, “I’d own a 6.5 Creedmoor … if I couldn’t get a .270. They are really just a (Continued on next page)
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 41 (Continued from page 40)
less-powerful .270.” A lot of buyers here in Maine and elsewhere think differently. Where I would choose a 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser, or a .256 Newton, others demand the Creed-
moor, or a 6.5mm Grendel, or 6.8 SPC. Where I want highgrade walnut, others want carbon fiber or Kevlar. The shift toward a new tradition is underway. Twenty-first century technology offers
A Ranger on the Allagash (Continued from page 39)
the shoe’s harness, I heard the crying sounds of bear cubs! Hurrying to extricate myself before the mother woke up, I forced my fingers through the tangle of branches. Once my foot was free, I pulled the shoe off and rolled down the side of the frozen mass. One Snowshoe On, One Off At the bottom of the slope, I scrambled back onto my feet, only to discover that my left snowshoe was broken. Still 200 yards from the snowmobile, I began walking toward the sled, with one snowshoe on and one off. With every
some genuine improvements. Springfield Armory guarantees .75 MOA accuracy with the Model 2020. Few right out of the box rifles of any caliber achieve that level of precision. With that level of accuracy, per-
haps a 120-grain bullet is all that is needed to put venison in the freezer. The 165-grain .30-’06 bullet may no longer be necessary. Another few seasons will tell the tale. As always, the young will lead us into
other step, my left foot sank deep into the snow. After a short distance, I removed the good shoe and waded the remaining distance to my sled. It was time to continue the day’s patrol. Checking the Ice Anglers Crossing to the big lake’s Upper Crow’s Nest Tent Site, I found that a trail had already been packed down. Following tracks to the Island Campsite on Allagash Lake, I saw a half-dozen sleds parked on shore. Out on the lake, an equal number of fishermen were engaged in a variety of activities – some using hand chisels to chip open fishing holes, others jigging for togue or building warming fires on shore.
the future, and from here it looks like deer camp will still be deer camp even if the rifles wear carbon fiber wrappings and the stocks are painted and not stained.
¶
Traveling across the lake, I stopped and chatted briefly with each sport. One party had a large togue on the ice and was jigging for whitefish. Another had caught a pound-and-a-half brook trout. Farther away, an elderly man complained about the poor fishing. Scanning the lake with my field glasses, I observed two men on the ice in front of the Cove Campsite. They were jumping up and down as if catching a large fish, or perhaps as an indication they were in distress. It was time to head their way. To be completed next month. ***** Tim Caverly has authored ten books about Maine’s northern forest. For more information, visit www.allagashtails. com
¶
MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ: Black-Capped Chickadee by Steve Vose
The black-capped chickadee (poecile atricapillus), known more commonly as simply “Chickadee,” may be found in widely diverse habitats, from mixed woodlands, field edges and marshes, to residential neighborhoods. Their numbers range throughout the lower 48 states, and even as far north as Alaska and the Yukon. Though capable of over thirteen distinct and complex sounds, the chickadee is best known for the chick-a-dee-deedee vocalization from which its name is derived. Though it’s a simple-sounding call, scientists have determined that through these five notes, chickadees can communicate to the other members of the flock potential threats, food sources and location, and group movements. Chickadees are notoriously tolerant of humans, and can easily be trained to take food from a person’s hand. This Questions
1. What is the distribution of the chickadee? 2. In what habitats can chickadees typically be found? 3. What are chickadees able to commu-
curiosity, along with their endearing over-sized heads and diminutive bodies, make the chickadee a favorite at birdfeeders. The chickadee’s popularity is apparent in northern New England, as it serves as the state bird of both Maine and Massachusetts. It’s also the provincial bird of New Brunswick, Canada. Caterpillars, small insects, seeds and berries comprise the diet of the chickadee, with black oil sunflower seeds a winter favorite when offered at nicate through their seemingly simple vocalizations? 4. In what U.S. states do chickadees serve as the state bird? 5. What comprises a majority of the chickadees’ diet?
winter bird feeders. Chickadees commonly hide food items for consumption at a later time when other food may not be as readily available. The chickadee mating season starts in April and ends in June. The male chickadee contributes to the raising of the young by providing food to the female and to the young throughout the entire brooding cycle. Clutch sizes vary from between 6 and 8 eggs, deposited in nests usually constructed in the protected hole of a tree. Young develop rapidly, and typically leave the nest 10 – 15 days after hatching. The maximum recorded lifespan of a chickadee is twelve years, but in the wild, due to high rates of predation, they rarely survive longer than a few years. 6. When is the chickadee mating season? 7. How many eggs do chickadees typically lay in a single clutch? 8. How long can a chickadee live?
Answers on Page 43 www.MaineSportsman.com
42 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Changing Times, Changing Priorities by Mark Scheeren, Team Member This past hunting season was one of the most difficult I’ve had in many years. I needed to work harder than I have in decades to keep my livelihood viable during the COVID lockdowns. Throughout what seemed to be a very long season, I was only able to hunt for about a week in total. But like so many things in my life, I somehow found unexpected benefits to an otherwise limiting situation. 5 Months Earlier… This past May (2020) I found myself flat on my back in more pain I’ve ever withstood in my life. I had torn my sciatic nerve in two, along with three muscles in my lower back, and lost all the feeling in my left leg, ankle and foot. I was crippled, and every health care professional I talked with said my tracking days might be over for good. I decided I would do everything in my power to rebuild my back, leg and foot on my own. It took many hundreds of miles of walking (more like shuffling, with my left leg dragging behind me) to start to see positive results. I just kept at it, day by day. By late September I had 80% of the feeling in my leg come back, and 50% of feeling returning to my foot. www.MaineSportsman.com
The author had no choice but to slow down his usual fast pace during this past season. What he discovered was more valuable than a buck on the game-pole.
From left: Austin Scheeren, the author Mark Sheeren, and Gabi Scheeren.
Then, one week prior to the ADK (Adirondack) muzzleloader opener, I was on one of these walks when I turned to look at some deer that were far off in an adjacent field, and I rolled my ankle. I heard the now-familiar pop of ligaments and tendons stretching and tearing, and fell down. After I got done rolling around in pain, I tightened my boot as tight as I could to slow the swelling and finished my way home. Months of relentless work down the drain in one silly shift of my foot. My confidence was shot. Go Slow, Old Man, and Still-Hunt Even though my foot and ankle were swollen and purple, I made it to the moun-
tain on opening day. I had no choice but to take it really slowly. Yet, within two hours I saw a bear, and then a bit later a beautiful 8-point buck coming up the mountain. Here I was, having one of the best days of hunting I’d ever had in all my years of hunting the northern mountains – since I was going slow, because I was injured! I took a shot at the buck and missed it cleanly. After I missed that buck, I had plenty of time to think, and something changed in me that day. I thought about my kids a lot, and then I decided I’d devote the rest of the season to them. Each day we saw deer together and had close calls. I was slow and unbalanced and struggling, but it didn’t
The author on the track, albeit proceeding a little more slowly and carefully than in previous seasons.
matter. Not one bit. I watched as each of my kids, in their young adulthood, walked and climbed gracefully through the forest ahead of me. So while the injury was a bummer initially, when you decide to make lemonade out of lemons, the season can end up being pretty amazing. The best discovery I made this year was not the new territory I explored, nor the bucks I saw or chased, but rather the next generation of hunters at our camp. Maybe the COVID lockdowns and wrecking my back in this sense were blessings. It slowed me down enough to smell the roses; it brought my family together like never before, and showed me to repriori-
tize my life. And in the end, that was the best part of 2020. ***** Hal’s Thoughts Mark has echoed my thoughts about slowing down and smelling the roses. Although I’ve been fortunate enough to not have suffered any serious injuries, getting older has given me the common aches and pains most people experience in their golden years. Climbing up and down steep mountains and side-hilling them makes my knees burn a little. If I bang along fast on a buck track all day, I will feel it in the evening, usually in the form of muscle cramps and stiff joints. In other words, I am learning that even though my mind thinks I am 40 years old, my body tells me otherwise. I am learning to deal with it by not putting on 10 to 15 miles a day on bare ground. I spend more time hunting the sign and even sitting on a log or stump for 15 minutes every once in a while. I take in nature a lot more than just ignoring everything that’s not a deer. By doing this, my legs are not too beat up when snow blankets the ground, and I can take up the track of an old mossy-horned buck.
¶
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 43
— Guest Column —
Maine State Record Hill Gould Buck Returns Home by Christi Holmes Maine’s highest-scoring state record non-typical deer is home. After nearly two decades of being out of the state, the impressive 31-point rack is now back in Maine where it belongs. Brian Ross of Piscataquis County recently acquired the record setting rack from Bass Pro Shops, where it had hung in their museum in Missouri. The “Hill Gould” buck has held the state’s non-typical record for over 100 years. It is the longest standing state record in the country. The Backstory A young 15-year old hunter named Hill Gould shot the buck in 1910, near Grand Lake Stream in Washington County. The legend goes that Gould gutted the giant deer and presented its huge heart and liver to his friends back at hunt-
Bringing it Home Ross, an avid antler collector since the 1980s, said acquiring the antlers from Bass Pro “took a lot of work. The deal had been in the making for a long time. It’s the first state record they’ve ever parted with.” Bass Pro did not include the mount with the rack, so Ross plans to mount the rack on a new shoulder mount. Ross is not worried about the safety and security of the state treasure. He has two large guard dogs. I asked Ross if he thought anyone would break the 110-year-old record. “Maine’s 2nd place non-typical deer scored over 10” less than the Hill Gould buck,” he replied, “and 10” is a large difference. But anything is possible.”
Maine’s state-record non-typical deer, the 31-point Gould Hill buck, traveled halfway across the country before Brian Ross purchased it and brought it back to its home state.
Louie Cataldo, grandson of Hill Gould, displays the 31-point mount. Photo credit: Downeast Lakes Land Trust
ing camp. Based on their size, his friends assumed Gould had shot a moose. The deer was never officially weighed, but scored 259 6/8th by Boone and Crockett. The area where
Another view of the state-record scoring non-typical rack. Photo credit: MASTC
Gould shot the trophy buck was permanently conserved by Downeast Lakes Land Trust and is still open to hunting. Gould sold the mounted head to a
sporting camp in Grand Lake Stream for $50, where it remained for many years. It passed hands a few times before Bass Pro acquired it in 1996 and had the rack remounted.
¶
Wildlife Quiz Answers: Black-Capped Chickadee (Quiz on Page 41)
1. Chickadees may be found throughout the lower 48 states, and even as far north as Alaska and the Yukon. 2. Chickadees may be found in widely diverse habitats, including mixed woodlands, field edges, marshes and residential neighborhoods. 3. Through their seemingly simple vo-
calizations, chickadees can communicate to the other members of the flock potential threats, food sources and location and group movements.
seeds and berries.
4. The chickadee serves as the state bird of both Maine and Massachusetts.
7. Chickadees lay in a typical clutch between 6 and 8 eggs.
5. A majority of a chickadee’s diet is comprised of caterpillars, small insects,
8. The maximum recorded lifespan of a chickadee is twelve years.
6. The chickadee mating season starts in April and ends in June.
www.MaineSportsman.com
44 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
— The Biggest Buck
TOP 10 BIGGEST
Jon Roy of Albion, ME 260 lbs. • Albion • 10/31
Craig D. Rines of Newburgh, ME 258.8 lbs. • Newburgh • 11/4
Paul W. Conley of East Dixfield, ME 252.2 lbs. • Roxberry • 11/7
Isaac Patry of Saco, ME 252 lbs. • Dole Brook Farm • 11/7
Lucien Saucier o 262 lbs. • Wall
Jody Pierce of Kennebunk, ME 249 lbs. • Kennebunk • 10/7
See the full 2020 Biggest Bucks in Maine www.MaineSportsman.com
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 45
ks in Maine Club —
BUCKS OF 2020
of Wallagrass, ME lagrass • 11/7
Joshua Graham of Windham, ME 244 lbs. • Portage Lake • 11/17
Patrick Michaud of Presque Isle, ME 258 lbs. • Presque Isle • 11/11
Scott W. Jipson II of Dedham, ME 256.5 lbs. • Chester • 10/31
Polly Cullen of Patten, ME 244 lbs. • Crystal • 11/19
Gerald Simpson of Naples, ME 243 lbs. • Poland • 10/23
e Club list at www.MaineSportsman.com www.MaineSportsman.com
46 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
— Biggest Bucks in Maine Club 2020 —
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T8 R9 Medford Gouldsboro Madison Houlton Brownville Norridgewock Unity Hartland Orland North Berwick Limington Dole Pond Twp Silver Ridge Twp Smithfield Washington Stetson Parkman Turner Freeman Twp Winterport Dallas Plt Durham Charleston Bradford Gardiner Whitefield Portage Lake Canton Roque Bluff Smithfield Orland Mariaville Passadumkeag Appleton Wade Ashland Bingham Wellington Chester Lee Jackson Carmel Wilton Thomaston Appleton Lincolnville West Paris Readfield Albany Twp Hartland Palmyra Summit Twp Belfast Waldo Union Alna Baileyville Hudson Windham Durham West Forks Belfast
219 209.3 202 202 211 206 208.8 210 238.5 200.5 203.4 203 227 210 202 203 205 200 208 225 202 209 202 210 213.4 201 220 244 202 204.4 201 203.5 200.2 207.6 211 209 234 241.5 214 212 208 204 203 218 201 201 216 205.6 202 200 205 212 216 203 201 222 209 211 207.8 209.5 202 210 214
11/9/20 11/13/20 11/14/20 11/18/20 11/25/20 11/19/20 10/31/20 11/2/20 10/31/20 11/16/20 11/7/20 10/10/20 11/16/20 11/14/20 10/31/20 10/31/20 11/14/20 11/3/20 11/7/20 11/2/20 11/6/20 10/31/20 11/14/20 11/12/20 11/19/20 10/31/20 10/31/20 11/17/20 10/8/20 11/14/20 11/6/20 11/13/20 10/31/20 11/14/20 11/20/20 11/4/20 11/14/20 11/5/20 11/12/20 11/19/20 11/14/20 11/5/20 11/11/20 11/5/20 11/18/20 11/7/20 11/3/20 10/31/20 11/3/20 11/13/20 11/7/20 11/4/20 11/4/20 11/3/20 11/24/20 11/6/20 11/11/20 11/23/20 10/7/20 10/22/20 10/31/20 11/14/20 10/5/20
Be sure to check out the 2020 Biggest Bucks in Maine Club list on our website www.MaineSportsman.com!
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Shawn James Nate Amanda Jason Todd John Nikki William A Ayden Scott W Ralph R Robert John A P Mark A Jeffrey Adam Colby Arno Tracy Ryan Daniel Donald John James Abram Cohen Brian Bryan John Sean Merle Brian Kevin Terry F Eric Joel Jeffrey Cody Courtland Carl A Matt Jeffery Chandler Steven Ralph Jeffrey William James A Jonathan Timothy Gail Shawn Mitchell Christopher M Mike
Andover Lisbon Falls Goudlsboro Sanford Searsport Buxton Blue Hill Somers Pt Livermore Dedham Lincolnville Hope Naples Standish Washington Harrington Moultonborough Litchfield Benton Gray Garland Dixmont Augusta Milton Monson Wales Steep Falls Mapleton Oquossoc Fairfield Dresden Caribou Walpole Searsmont New Harbor Jefferson Brownsville Newburgh Newburgh Buxton Wells Winslow Harrison Montville Strong Corinna Hiram Trenton Wilton Dartmouth Morrill W Rutland Lebanon Wiscasset Lynn
MA ME ME ME ME ME ME NJ ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NH ME ME ME ME ME ME VT ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NH ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME MA ME VT ME ME MA
Lebanon Frenchtown Sullivan Sanford Monroe Buxton Blue Hill Highland Plt Buckfield Chester Hope Camden Harrison Standish Washington Twp 19 T9 R7 Litchfield Benton Gray Garland Dixmont Sidney Stetson Shirley Sabattus Buxton Castlehill Rangeley Benton Dresden Caribou Misery Searsmont South Bristol Bristol Concord Twp Dixmont Newburgh Buxton Acton Winslow Harrison Montville Freeman Twp Dexter Hiram Trenton Seboomcook Twp Corinna Morrill T7 R11 Berwick Wiscasset Prentiss Twp
214.8 205 201.6 201 204.7 212 206 213 223 256.5 228 201 209 214 225 217.4 240 200 201 213.4 200 207 213 210 201 209 213.5 222 207 202 210 227 210 224 226 201 212 220 200 224 204.4 202 217 210 200 211.5 204 207 210 205 210 210 200.4 223 213
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Marston Martin Jr Martin Martin Mathews Jr Maxcy McAtee McCorrison McCue McCullough McDevitt McDonald McGraw McGraw McGuire McInnis McInnis McKinney McLain McLaughlin McLean McLellan McNally McNamara Meader Melvin Mercier Meserve Michaud Michaud Miles Miller Millett Millett Mitchell Mitchell Moise Monk Monroe Moody Moody Moore Moore Morin Morin Morine Morrill Morris Morrison Morrison Morse Morse Mowatt Murphy Murray
Frank Clyde P Chad Steve Everett Sarah Wayne Flora Sean F James Peter Jason Taylor Walter Shawn N Justin Percy L Michael Mark Chad Donald C James James Michael J Eric Glen Maeryn Dustin Lisa R Patrick Noah Jeffrey J Cody Robert Mark S Rick Steven A Troy Thomas Garrett Melissa Brian Sean Derek Paul Michele David Michael R Shaun Stephen James Steven A Lukas Herb Collin
S Portland Readfield St Albans Pittsfield Cherryfield Warren Lincolnville Unity Bangor Bethel Mariaville Augusta Alna Gray Ellsworth Fayette Bryant Pond Orland Palmyra East Millinocket Plymouth Machiasport Patten Lisbon Falls Livermore Waldoboro Grand Lake Stream Cornish Mapleton Presque Isle Hermon Phippsburg Waterford NorridgewocK Gardiner Rockport South China Baileyville Owls Head Topsham Newburgh Richmond Industry Attleboro Oakland Warren East Wakefield Turner Windham Perry Henniker S China Norway Boothbay Harbor N Reading
ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME VT ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME MA 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 NH ME ME ME NH ME ME ME MA
Cape Elizabeth Readfield Vassalboro Palmyra Twp 10 Warren Northport Unity Corinth Phillips Ellsworth Litchfield Alna Gray Cutler Carrabassett Valley Woodstock Prospect St Albans Rainbow Twp Baldwin Centerville Dixmont Auburn Vienna Waldoboro Grand Lake Stream Limerick Woodland Presque Isle Milford Dresden Moxie Gore Norridgewock Litchfield Rockport China Codyville Owls Head Bigelow Brooks Richmond Jay T24 Concord Twp Union Newfield Leeds North Yarmouth Perry Brownville China Norway Boothbay Harbor Searsmont
218 200.1 207 200 206.6 200 200 217 222 239.8 207 210 203 201 214 214 225.6 201.5 229 229 208 209.4 200 201 207 215 209 200 202 258 221 204 226 220 225 211 232 202.5 208 225 229.6 201 204 203.8 207 219 217 201 212 204.4 207 232 202.6 201 227
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 49 LAST
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Deacon Jeremy Theodore John Matt Matt Bruce Emily Benjamin D Brady E Daniel Phillip Gerard N Leroy Rosalie Darrell Cameron Ian Wade A Robert Daniel Gerald Roger J Isaac Jane Joseph R Scott S David Jody Lawrence E Vance Derrick Allison Tyler Logan Derek Sayre Derek Donald A Jay Kolton Patrick
Madison Turner South Glens Falls Medfield Gorham Gorham New Vineyard Corinna Windsor Bremen S Portland Searsport Poland Hermon Bangor Lebanon Woodstock Stowe Howland Union Phillips Pittston Westbrook Saco Clifton Arundel Dixmont Portage Lake Kennebunk Cornville Columbia Falls Poland Hampden Hampden North Berwick Livermore Skowhegan Brownfield Winslow Jay New Portland Norridgewock
ME ME NY 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 ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME
Bingham Turner French Twp Merrill Strip Scarborough Hartland New Sharon Corinna China Bremen Cherryfield Prospect Poland Hermon Corinth Lebanon Woodstock Wyman Edinburg Union Madrid Pittston Mercer Dole Brook Farm Troy Limerick Dixmont Jackson Kennebunk Cornville Twp 18 Casco Hampden Hampden North Berwick Bowmantown Twp Bowtown Brownfield Sidney Jay New Portland Norridgewock
202 200 236 204 206 203 205 205 204 220 205 215 202.8 208.6 205 209 220.2 219 230.2 203 222 228.4 230 252 210 211.5 215 225 249 204 214.8 200 209 202.6 204.8 229 219 213 222 226 201 205
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Pratt Pray Proulx Putnam Randall Ranhosky Redmond A Reed Ricci Richards Rines Ripley Jr Roberts Robinson Robinson Rocha Rotondi Rowe Roy Roy Russenberger Ryan Jr Sanborn Santheson Santos Saucier Saucier Saucier Savickis Sawyer Brown Schencks Schoppee Seavey Sencabaugh Severson Sr Severson Sewell Shaw Shaw Shaw Shaw Shaw
Ellen Eric Kenneth Zackary C Randy Joseph Benjamin Arnold B John Brandon Craig D Richard Ian Connor Joey Jim Tracey H Jason R Jon Josh Zachary Robert Dwayne Andrew Frank Colby Joshua Lucien Chris Ethen Kirby Devin James E Richard C Howard A Jacoby J Ronald Andy Blaine Oren Paul A Sarah
Minot Scarborough Goffstown Peru Beallsville Greenville Durham Westbrook Westbrook Sabattus Newburgh Waldoboro Norway Ellsworth North Waterboro Dedham Athens Buxton Albion Sanford East Hampton Morrill Auburn Waldoboro Parkman Bowdoin Rockport Wallagrass Fredericksburg Leeds Machiasport Cherryfield East Wakefield Waterville Waldoboro Waldoboro Houlton Durham Turner Turner Turner Rome
ME ME NH ME OH ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME CT ME ME ME ME ME ME ME VA ME ME ME NH ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME
Minot Windham Plymouth Peru Lee Rockwood Fayette Naples Westbrook Seboomook Twp Newburgh Washington Norway Hancock Limerick Dedham Athens Buxton Albion Sanford Misery Twp Belmont Rockland Waldoboro Parkman Monmouth St George Wallagrass Monroe Leeds Machiasport Gouldsboro Parsonsfield Bowdoinham Waldoboro Warren Houlton Twp D Turner Sumner Turner Unity
216.6 200.4 201 202 205 212 208 215 209.5 204 258.8 235 213.6 200.2 200.5 200.2 208 213 260 227.4 215 200 206 228 240 209 200 262 201.6 201.2 207.2 201 218.5 201.8 202 200 225 201.2 205 206 202 203
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Nicholas Kevin Albert Abden Todd Joseph A Gerald Michael A Doug Shaun Kent Craig Austin Bethany Connor Mitchell Dean Garrett James Jeryme Sheridan Anthony Corey Justin Todd Joshua Kristyon C Andrew Addison Jason Kerry Michael S Jayson Tiffany Jeff
Richmond Albion Woodstock Waldoboro S Thomaston St Albans Naples Farmington Buxton Calais Patten Vassalboro Burlington Appleton Sanbornton Durham Sebec Greenbush Atkinson Baileyville Williston Athens Fort Kent Pittsfield Freeport Searsport Parsonsfield Sumner Belgrade Norridgewock Dexter Gardiner New Gloucester Arrowsic
ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NH ME ME ME ME ME VT ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME
Richmond Albion Woodstock Waldoboro Belmont St Albans Poland Farmington Buxton Pembroke Stacyville Vassalboro Burlington Union Lakeville Durham Sebec Greenbush Atkinson Baileyville Newry Athens T13 R9 Pittsfield Durham Plymouth Hiram Hartford Belgrade Norridgewock Jackson Lexington New Gloucester Brunswick
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Stone Sucy Swafford Swett Szostek Tabor Taylor Taylor Tetreau Theriault Thibodeau Thibodeau Thompson Thompson Thompson Tompkins Topham Turner Valente Valley Verney Verney Vinal Vines Visser Vogel Wakefield Walker Wallace Wallace Walls Jr Walton Ward Wasilauskis Wattles Weber Weeks Welch White White White Wickman Wilcox Jr Wilder Wiley Willette Sr Willette Williams Winslow Wissman Woodman Woods Wormell Worster Wortman III Wyman Yattaw Yodice York Young Jr Young
Kallie G Scott Randy Troy Daniel P Robert W Austin Christopher Charles Michael Clay M Justin Dana Kenneth D Kyle Parker Trevis Rossalyn Casey Spencer Bow Keith Brett Keith Max Bruce Randolph Adam Heath Brody Duane Troy Richard Scott D Matthew Kevin Alden Dustin Ron Thomas Corey Holmes Luke Michael Ronald Rebecca Rex A Paul Paul Jerry Jerold Zachary Jay Zackary Dustin Brendon Erik Roland Matthew E Quentin George Franklin Charles Marijo S
Dexter Oakland Woodland Etna Belchertown Smithfield Turner Kingfield North Yarmouth Madison Oakland Sanford Hiram Rangeley Swanville Mars Hill Limerick Palermo Denmark Brewer Newcastle Newcastle Nobleboro Augusta Gray Monroe Ripley Bethel Norridgewock Crawford Otis Dover Foxcroft Hermon Hermon New Vineyard Winthrop Jefferson Jackman Rumford Brunswick Mount Vernon York Bangor Ellsworth Fryeburg Winslow Cape Elizabeth New Sharon Windsor Jefferson Pittston Peru Windham Hampden Greenville Arundel Rockland Embden Augusta Norway Franklin
ME ME ME ME MA ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME Me ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME
Exeter Sidney Woodland Etna Kennebunk Anson Minot Rangeley Pownal Lexington Twp Albion Shapleigh Hiram Rangeley Brooks Mars Hill Limerick Palermo Denmark Corinth Newcastle Newcastle Damariscotta Sumner Raymond Monroe Ripley Bethel Norridgewock Crawford Amherst Charleston Ripley Atkinson New Vineyard South China Jefferson Jackman Bethel Brunswick Mount Vernon Greenwood Corinth Ellsworth Fryeburg Unity Twp Aurora New Sharon Windsor Jefferson Chesterville Peru Windham Hampden T5 R19 Arundel Union Embden China Lincoln Plt Franklin
205 220 228 207 218.6 220 201 208 202.6 210 202 222.4 202.5 203 211 224 201 212 201 220 216.4 205 205 210.2 201 230 224 208.2 207 215 220 200 224 204 201 222 201 201 215 204 227 207.8 208 211.4 224 224 209.4 202 229 230 201 210.2 202 212 210 215 223 203 212 223 217
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Lugene Cross of Troy used her 30-’06 to harvest this 208-lb., 10-pt. buck on October 31, 2020.
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 51
Fred and His Family Were Real Mainers “If I see any wardens, I’m going to shoot them.” That was the message relayed to me over the radio on the night of July 30th, 1974. It was a little unusual for Warden Norm Gilbert and me to be working on night hunting activity in midsummer, but I had received a complaint of night hunting activity in the area of the Brown Road, between the towns of Exeter and Stetson. We were parked behind an old barn in my Rambler Ambassador at 10:00 p.m., when the Orono State Police barracks called to inform me they had just taken a phone call from a woman in Stetson who said her husband, whom I will call “Fred,” was drunk and had left in his pick-up truck to shoot a deer. Fred reportedly told his wife that if the wardens tried to stop him, he would shoot them. I had met Fred’s wife, and I knew she appreciated a little deer meat in the freezer, but she didn’t want Fred to shoot anyone. Besides, she knew my wife from the local bank, and didn’t want my wife to become a widow. I knew where the residence was and where Fred was most likely to go. It was an area of fields a little south of his residence that held a lot of deer.
Someone who’s a poacher one day may be a citizen in need of assistance the next day. During his many years as a warden, the author developed deep but complex relationships with the folks in his district. This is a true story of principled law enforcement combined with mutual understanding and ultimate respect. I told Norm that if we scooted right down there, we might be able to catch him. I got the Rambler in motion, and said “We can easily get down there in six or seven minutes.” Accident Scene As we approached the Stetson/Etna town line, we saw a Ford F150 pick-up that had gone off the road and into a ditch, striking a large boulder. We got out to inspect the wreck and found Fred, face down and wedged between the seat and the passenger’s door. He was lying on top of a rifle, and had a revolver strapped to his waist. I could tell both firearms were loaded. Fred was not moving, and I could see blood on the passenger’s side floorboard. I was able to pull the fully loaded 30-’06 (Model 742) out from under him and unload it, but couldn’t get the handgun without moving him, so left it for the time being. I went around to the ditch side of the truck and was able to open the passenger’s door. As I did so, there was so much blood that it ran right out the door.
I hurried to retrieve my first aid kit and got a handful of compresses. The blood was coming from a huge gash on the side of Fred’s forehead, so I worked my hand under his head and got as much pressure on it as I could. Norm called for an ambulance. When the ambulance finally arrived, they got Fred loaded, and one of the attendants stated that he couldn’t find a pulse. Norm and I kind of thought that Fred had gone on his last hunting trip, but we later learned he had pulled through and would live to have many more hunting excursions. He ended up pleading guilty to possessing loaded firearms in his vehicle. We Meet a Second Time I didn’t encounter Fred again for two years. It was in the month of February, and Fred sent word that he wanted me to stop and see him about some dogs chasing deer. When I dropped in, he was home alone drinking coffee in his long johns accompanied by his 15-inch
beagle. He offered me some instant coffee, which I couldn’t stand but I accepted anyway. As I sat at the kitchen table, Fred explained that one of his neighbor’s dogs was running loose and chasing deer. Now, anyone who is a real “Mainer” understands there is a distinct ethical line between someone shooting a deer or two out of season or at night, and someone who allows their dogs to chase down deer in deep snow when they are the most vulnerable. The latter activity results in a cruel, painful death for the deer, along with a waste of the deer. As Fred was talking, I noticed a number of small holes in the kitchen floor and I asked Fred about them. He pointed to the top of a Philco refrigerator, where I could see a 22-cal. revolver. “Sometimes when that beagle won’t stop barking,” he explained, “I fire a shot down through the floor, and that shuts him up.” Fred’s Final Hunt Eight years later, I encountered Fred for
the last time. On the afternoon of November 13th, 1984 I received a call from Fred’s wife. Fred had shot a buck deer down back in the woods, she explained. He’d come home to tell his wife of his success, and then left his rifle and returned to the woods to drag the deer out. It was now five hours later, with no sign of Fred. She was concerned. I told her I would be right there. When I arrived, she directed me to a rutted woods road. I located the road and began walking down it. About a hundred yards along the road, I came upon Fred. He was deceased, lying next to the buck deer he’d been dragging. I called the Medical Examiner’s office to have Fred’s body moved to a funeral home. It was well past dark when the hearse arrived on the main road. I loaded everyone onto the back of my 1979 GMC truck and went down into the woods road to recover Fred. We loaded Fred onto a gurney and placed him in the back of my truck. Then we placed the buck deer next to him. I assured everyone that would be the way Fred would have wanted it, as deer had always been a big part of his life. We made our way (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com
52 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
— Guest Column —
Wet to the Bone by Randy Randall
Hunting in the cold November rain was miserable. Even the deer knew enough to hunker down and make themselves scarce. But the author and his young friends were determined to persevere – that is, until the thought of the warm, dry camp became too strong to resist. For sheer misery, deer hunting in a cold November rain is hard to beat. These days, I choose not to get wet and cold, but there was a time many years ago when we were young and foolish and determined to fill our deer tag, no matter what. Heading out in the wet and the wind was a point of pride with us youngsters, or maybe just misplaced machismo; but we were determined to show the old guys we were dedicated and enthusiastic about being at deer camp with them. Our only hope was perhaps to jump a buck lying under a thick pine tree and get a shot, but all the elements were working against us: • The tree limbs and pine needles dripped water and soaked our hunting coats; • Our wool jacket and pants shed the water for a while, but eventually absorbed more wetness, and weighed like lead; and • If, like me, you wore glasses, that was another hassle trying to keep the lenses
clear under the visor of an orange hunting cap. Open Sights Open sights were the way to go when it poured rain in the woods. Even with tight-fitting lens covers on a scope, you still couldn’t see to shoot. No, the old .30-30 with the buckhorn sights was the right gun for that rotten weather. We’d stick it out for hours. Maybe take a quick stand under a bushy tree and catch a bit of a break from the rain running down the backs of our necks, or shelter beside a giant glacial boulder, where we’d lean up against a small ledge out of the wind. “Keep your Matches Dry!” By then our coats were sopping and water dripped from the sleeves. Truly we began to feel very alone and forlorn, and envied the old guys back at the cabin mixing their drinks and taking naps. They knew better then to waste the day getting wet, but still they didn’t try to hold us back. “Be
True Tales (Continued from page 51)
slowly back to the house. As we were putting Fred into the hearse, a teenwww.MaineSportsman.com
careful,” they’d shout as we headed out the cabin door. “Keep your matches dry. Watch your compass.” The door would squeak closed as we’d step outside into the storm, while inside our fathers and grandfathers were just sitting down to a sumptuous late breakfast while listening to the rain pound on the metal roof. We’d hang in until we were wet to the bone. Water drizzled down our pants legs into our boots, and our socks were squishy with dampness. Not a sign of a deer. No fresh tracks or steaming poop. Nothing really was moving, as the animals waited patiently for the rain to stop. Giving Up Finally, we’d give up. You can only take so much. Things improved once we made the decision to head back to the camp. We’d let our guard down and stroll along the tote road at a decent clip. Arriving at camp, we’d stamp and stomp like goats on the front
The older hunters stayed in deer camp, playing cribbage and sitting by the woodstove. But we were young, convinced we needed to be out in the cold November rain.
porch as we tried to shake off all the dampness. When the door flew open, we’d be hit by a wall of warmth from the old woodstove cranking out the heat. “You fellows must be done in,” Dad would say, looking up from his cribbage hand. “See anything?” “Nah. Just rain.” Then Grandfather would add, “Yup, hunting in the rain is tough. Let’s get those wet clothes hung up to dry.” Welcoming the Heat We’d lean our wet rifles in the corner by the door and begin to peel off all the soggy clothes down to our long johns and skivvies. Dad helped pull off the wet boots and socks. We twisted our wool soaks to wring out the water. “Here,” he said, “dry off with this,” and he’d throw us a bath towel.
age boy came running across the lawn and asked, “Mr. Tibbetts, Mama wants to know what you are going to do with the deer.” I told him that I was going to leave it there with the family, and he
Outwardly we’d complain about missing the day and not chasing the buck of a lifetime, but inwardly we were ever so grateful to be indoors out of the cold and wet. The beef stew simmering away on the woodstove sent out delicious aromas. The camp was soon filled with a variety of jackets, pants, hats and socks all hanging from the rafters and improvised clotheslines. Little puddles formed on the floor under the sopping wet coats. As miserable as it was trying to hunt deer in the rain, it was equally comforting to be warm and dry and curled up with a wool blanket in the old recliner beside the woodstove. Nothing ever felt so good.
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ran back to the house. Then he came running back, and said, “Mr. Tibbetts, Mama wants to know if we have to tag it.”
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 53
Rent-A-Ride and Barn Finds This past summer I came across a mysterious box with a postmark from 1959. With time running short I set it aside for further investigation later. Curiosity would have to wait. Winter sports are dominating the Katahdin Country landscape, so I thought it time to gather up my winter gear and plan some cold-weather excursions. Folks looking at my meager assortment of equipment will quickly figure out that somewhere engraved deep in my DNA is the word “minimalist.” Minimalists thrive on doing more with less. My woodworking mentor always said, “Anyone can use perfect materials, but it takes a craftsman to use all the rejected wood and get the same result.” I apply that statement to life. Snowmobile Katahdin Motorized snow sports rule the region this month. Snowmobiles carry trail runners deep into the heart of Katahdin Country. Superbly maintained trails permit quick, effortless snow travel. Even my antique (1971) snow machine will glide along these super smooth trails. Of course, I don’t recommend that for everyone. Vintage sleds certainly have a following. It is, however,
Ever wonder how these award-winning snowmobile trails in the Katahdin Region magically wake up in perfect shape each winter morning? It’s because in the pre-dawn hours, they’ve been groomed by businesses and groups such as Five Lakes Lodge, New England Outdoor Center (NEOC), and the Katahdin Timber Cruisers snowmobile club.
Rental machines provide modern, efficient rides, allowing folks from all walks of life to experience Katahdin’s winter highway in style and comfort, without the responsibility associated with owning a machine. NEOC photo
much like driving a Model A versus a new Ford – cars, like snow-
mobiles, have come a LONG way. My old sled runs and drives
simply fine. Unfortunately, it pales in comparison to a 2021
snow-kicking machine. In the last decade or so I’ve turned to renting a snowmobile. Renting a ride allows me the opportunity to safely ride updated equipment and, most importantly, maintain my status as a minimalist. Outfitter Advantage Katahdin Country is blessed with some first-class outfitters that take the worry out of planning a winter excursion. Businesses like New England Outdoor Center (NEOC) and Five Lakes Lodge not only provide great accommodations, but can also coordinate a variety of winter travel itineraries. Both Five Lakes Lodge and NEOC, along with the Katahdin Timber Cruisers snowmobile club, all play an active hand in trail grooming. This usually happens during the wee hours of the morning. Ever (Continued on next page)
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54 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Katahdin Country (Continued from page 53)
wonder how these award-winning trails magically wake up in perfect shape each morning? In an email exchange with Tallie Martin from NEOC, I learned that extra attention would be in place for Covid 19 protocol. I’m sure the rest of the region’s lodges and businesses are taking similar precautions. Rental Advantage Trail runners renting a snowmobile receive the luxury of riding a modern, fuel efficient machine with a suspension package designed to smooth out any bumps the groomer missed. Many folks rent the sled for a day, weekend or even a full week. Others go a step further and spend the extra money to have a guide lead the way. A good guide will tailor the route to individual preferences, stopping along the way to point out key scenic viewing
This winter traveler tops off his snow machine for a day of cruising the Katahdin Region’s award-winning trails. Trail maps can help snow jockeys chart a course and calculate just how many miles to the next fuel station. Good planning goes a long way toward ensuring successful and fun trips. NEOC photo
opportunities. The often-overlooked benefit of hiring a professional guide involves preparation. Not only do they know the trail system, but they bring along extra provisions that can keep a trail mishap from turning into a full-blown emergency. For newbies and experienced riders, this piece of mind is well worth the price of a skilled guide. Before heading
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north, a due diligence internet search will produce droves of valuable information covering lodging, rentals, maps and testimonials. A search of advertisers in The Maine Sportsman will also create some reputable contacts. Self-Propelled Travel Over 20-years ago, I made my snowshoes. They’ll do. Two years ago, I “updated” the bindings, and that has worked out well. I do have a newer set of aluminum snowshoes, but really prefer the traditional wooden design. There are at least two reasons I prefer wood to aluminum: • The long tails on the wooden set
The author shows off his “new” 1959 ice cleats. This “barn find” will get a thorough testing this winter. If they cut the mustard (or grip the ice), they’ll fit right in with the rest of the author’s outdated equipment. Bill Sheldon photo
seem to do a good job keeping the shoe straight. They act much like keels on boats. • I also find they don’t flip snow all over the back of my legs like the modern version does. I do, however, like my modern L.L.Bean hiking poles. They help this old guy keep his balance. This snow shoeing set-up serves as a good example of older design shoes enhanced by modern bindings and trekking poles. All, off course, in the spirit of keeping it simple.
The Bait Hole Trail system located just south of Millinocket allows both cross country skiers and us slower snowshoe types on a groomed trail. Baxter State Park also allows snowshoeing. Check their website for specific rules, maps and regulations. Sometimes, when groomed trails blow cold and ice over, I’ll just put on a pair of ice cleats and go for a walk. I always wear them while ice fishing or navigating across the ice. For years I’ve had an inexpensive set of the rubber slip-on type. Then, I opened the box from 1959. Like Christmas in the 1960s – a brand new pair of aluminum ice cleats, complete with nylon straps! A true barn find – Perfect!
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 55
How Glaciers Shaped Maine’s Landscape and Evolving Ecosystem Not long ago, glacial ice as much as a mile thick covered the entire state of Maine. Next time it snows, think about that. There you are, shovel in hand, looking up at an icy snowbank that towers a mile high – taller than Mount Katahdin. The wall of ice is advancing at about a foot a day, scraping across the landscape, pushing rocks and dirt along as it goes. Moving Ice Glacial ice moves in a “plastic” flow under the tremendous pressure of its own weight. With unrelenting force, the last mile-high continental glacier during the Wisconsin Glacial Episode shaped the landscape, lakes, rivers and coast that we see today across New England. It is well worth the time to research Maine’s surficial geology and learn about the specific features and processes that shaped our favorite places. A good place to start is the Explore Maine Geology page on the Maine Geological Survey website: www.maine.gov/dacf/ mgs/explore/surficial/ index.shtml The National Park Service has an interesting geological history of Acadia National Park on its website at: www.nps.gov/acad/ learn/nature/geology. htm Just Yesterday When measured on a geologic time scale,
Maine geologic history is fascinating – a mile-thick glacier dragged itself across our state; the ocean was 300 feet lower; the glacier retreated and melted; lakes formed and then filled in; and the land mass, free of the weight of the glacier, “rebounded” and rose back up. Each step led to the beautiful and rugged shores and forests we know today.
Mount Katahdin is more than 2 million years old, but its current shape is less than 10,000 years old. Photos: David Van Wie
the last ice age wasn’t that long ago. It was practically yesterday when compared to the age of bedrock and the mountains it shaped. To put it in perspective, the granite that makes up much of Mt. Katahdin is about 360 million years old. Mount Katahdin itself, in its present form and size, is about two to four million years old, the result of 300 million years of erosion carving away the larger tectonic upheaval that formed the Maine mountains. Yet, the present form of Baxter Peak, the Knife Edge and Pamola, following thousands of years of grinding and polishing by glaciers, is just 10,000 years old.
Advance and Retreat The Laurentide Ice Sheet started advancing down from Labrador and Baffin Island about 75,000 years ago, reaching its maximum size about 20,000 years ago. It pushed all the way to Long Island, NY and Cape Cod, and out to Georges Bank. With so much water tied up in ice worldwide, the global sea level at that time was almost 300 feet lower than it is today. Then, the ice started melting and retreating at about 300 yards per year – much faster than it had advanced. It took about 10,000 years for the Laurentide Ice Sheet to make it back home to Canada. Just 8,000
years ago, it still covered most of Labrador. Remnants of the glacier still exist on Baffin Island and Greenland, where melting has accelerated in recent years due to the effects of climate change. Changing Coast Line The enormous weight of the ice sheet pressed the landmass down over 300 feet. As the ice retreated, the ocean followed, covering the Maine coastal plain in water. A huge inland sea called the De Geer Sea reached as far inland as Millinocket and Bingham. At the glacier’s edge, the Maine landscape was a sterile expanse of exposed bedrock and mounds of glacial debris in moraines, eskers and
drumlins. Rivers and streams ran muddy, and lakes were practically barren of life. The soil was either compacted glacial till – a mixture of sand, silt, clay and stones that was compressed at the bottom of the glacier – or a crazy quilt of gravel, sand, silt and clay deposits left behind by the meltwater rushing off or from under the glacial ice. With the ice gone, the land mass slowly rebounded, pushing the shoreline year by year toward its current location. Lakes dotting the landscape lasted decades or centuries before erosion filled them in or drained them away. Landslides blocked rivers and streams, causing them to change course. All this erosion moved stones, sand, silt and clay in huge quantities. When a stream drained into a lake or bay, the heavier pebbles and sand were deposited first. The silt carried farther, and lastly the fine clay settled out in layers, ranging from a quarter-inch to more than 100 feet thick. Youngest Ecosystems Almost immediately, plants and animals from the unglaciated areas south and in the Ohio Valley started colonizing the landscape, even as the sparsely vegetated soil eroded further from rain and spring snowmelt. (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com
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Headstrong Whatever Ron’s expectations were as we pulled our way under the low bridge in the 12-foot aluminum fishing boat, he certainly did not expect to grab ahold of a live bat. February. Cold, icy, long dark days of mid-winter. Seems winters are longer the older I get. The best part of February is sitting in my recliner remembering days gone by. Like fishing trips on a warm summer’s day. Brother Ron – Our Supervisor and Guide Brother Ron had a bad habit. He frequently took Island Boy and me fishing and hunting. Brothers Ray and Norm were off fighting in Vietnam. Ron had yet to be drafted, but he too would also serve in that far-off land later in the war. But for now, he was burdened with Mike and me. Why a 17-year-old chose to lug the two of us 10-year-old hoodlums
around, I can only guess. I genuinely believe it was a character flaw in the makeup of his personality.
the bridge, that would save us portaging the boat and all our equipment the 20 feet across the small road.
Aluminum Fishing Boat On this particular summer day, the three of us had ventured off to do some afternoon pond fishing and then extend it into an evening fish for hornpout. The pond we spent the afternoon on was connected by a channel to a larger body of water where we would night fish. Our boat was Island Boy’s 12-foot open aluminum with an ever-powerful 5-hp outboard. Now to actually cross into the larger pond, one had to navigate under a bridge overpass. It was a tight fit, but if we successfully got under
Under the Dock As we approached the bridge, Ron took charge. He was in the front seat, me in the middle, and Mike in the back. Ron told us to lay flat, and not move. He would also lay flat and pull us through using the steel girders as sort of horizontal ladder rungs. He again reminded us to stay low as there was not much clearance. It was a solid plan. However, Ron did not take into account what critter might be hanging upside down under a dark bridge overpass on a summer’s eve. As we approached the center of the bridge, I thought,
Brother Ron at camp, serenading his nephew Jax, the author’s Son #3.
“This is working really well!” Unexpected Surprise, and Ron’s Reaction Just as that thought went through my head, Ron’s hand startled a live bat by grabbing it. The bat might have been startled, but it got the jump on Ron. Ron let out a holler and sat up quickly, striking his head squarely on the center girder. Mike and I were amazed at how his head actually caused the bridge to vibrate.
Sporting Environment (Continued from page 55)
Weeds, grasses and shrubs took hold. Birds, wind and mammals spread seeds northward, sowing the pine, fir, spruce and hardwood forests that we know today. As the New England landscape warmed, indigenous humans moved in to hunt and fish. The vegetation and waterways evolved over the centuries. Much of the earliest evidence of human presence was lost to erosion or changing sea levels. www.MaineSportsman.com
After the last ice age, Ripogenous Gorge was formed by erosion and the rebounding of the continental landmass.
It’s amazing to think that the Maine landscape where we hunt, fish and recreate is less than 10,000 years
Ron flopped down in the front of the boat, hand to his forehead, moaning softly, his plan having gone horribly awry. Mike and I were concerned, for three reasons: • Would the fact that Ron had nearly knocked himself unconscious require us to suspend this fishing expedition? • If so, who would drive us home? and • Would Mike and I ever be able to stop laughing?
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old. The forests, wetlands and aquatic ecosystems are even younger. Scientists estimate that tropical rainforests have existed, some in their present form, for over 70 million years. But here in the northeast, our timeline is measured in thousands of years, not millions. Maine’s climate is now warming at a rate much faster than in recent centuries. As it does, the landscape and ecosystems will continue to change. All we know for sure is that Maine will be different 1,000 years from now, or even 100 years from now.
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Winter Trout Through the Ice or Casting from the Snowy Riverbanks Toward February’s end, my thoughts turn to spring and open-water fishing. But trout fishing through the ice remains good, so I head out with hopes of icing a few brown trout or rainbow trout. While most people concentrate upon deep water and around drop-offs for rainbow trout, I like to hit shallow areas, particularly those with sandy or muddy bottoms. A sandy bottom offers excellent prospects, and these need not be very deep, either. Here’s why. Rainbow trout in Maine come from predominately fall-spawning stock. This is to reduce the chance of them establishing self-sustaining populations. The reason for this is that rainbow trout are considered an “exotic” species and as such, must not be allowed to propagate. Most rainbows spawn in spring, when water is high, making a successful hatch almost guaranteed. But ours are bred to spawn in fall, when low water in tributaries lower the chances of successful spawning. However, a scant few of our supposed “fall-spawning” rainbow trout will spawn in spring, and even those bred for fall spawning may tend to at least go through the motions in spring. Since sandy bottoms
Water levels in rivers in winter often just right for fishing.
near the mouth of tributaries make desirable spawning areas, fish sometimes inspect such places in late winter, the pre-spawn time. So look for sandy bottoms near the mouths of tributaries, and set out your traps. Brown Trout Ice-fishing for brown trout comes with no guarantees. Brown trout remain hard to catch in numbers, but the quality of the fish make the efforts needed to catch them more than worth the while. Sometimes when you’re ice fishing for white perch, a brown trout will take a bait, especially if the perch area is bounded by a rocky point or small peninsula. Still, these are happenstance occurrences. How, then, might we specifically target brown trout through the ice? The answer is to head for the mud.
Rainbow trout taken on sand bottom near tributary mouth.
A great many of our brown trout waters did not originally hold salmonids. They are often fairly shallow with muddy bottoms, and therefore better suited to warmwater species. Brown trout, however, can thrive in such circumstances. This means that today, we have thriving trout fisheries in waters where they never before existed. In fact, many bass waters also hold brown trout. Warmwater lakes and ponds, as long as they have sufficient depth and plenty of oxygen, often make wonderful brown trout fisheries. What’s more, food sources in these places more than suffice to grow truly large trout. A myriad of baitfish species, along with bottom dwellers such as crayfish and even snails, provide brown trout the calories needed to thrive. Where-To
As mentioned earlier, mud bottoms make excellent places for ice-fishers to set up their traps for brown trout. That’s because tiny aquatic snails inhabit muddy bottoms. And while most of us would never imagine that snails figure into brown trout diets in a big way, they in fact do. Much of my personal knowledge of trout and their habits comes not from books, but rather from experience in the field. After seeing many brown trout with distended abdomens, which later proved to be filled to capacity with thousands of tiny snails,
it became clear to me that snails play a big role in brown trout development in our warmwater lakes and ponds. What these little snails lack in size they more than make up for in numbers. And while I am not privy to the nutritional virtues of snails, they must have considerable nourishment, or else fish would not spend so much time prowling muddy bottoms, sucking them up. Since these snails are not available commercially for use as bait, and even if they were, they are far too small to affix to even the smallest hook, we can rule out using live snails as bait. But other forms of bait, allowed to sit on bottom in snail-infested areas, will certainly take brown trout. If using shiners, make sure to use enough weight to keep them on or near bottom. Earthworms and small nightcrawlers work fine in these situations too. Winter Rivers For those who can’t get enough open-water fishing, it’s a mistake (Continued on page 59)
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58 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Winter is the Time for Fly Tying Why do we tie flies? That’s a really good question. Tying is difficult. It takes a long time and a lot of concentration. Better-tied flies are available commercially for less than a dollar. But then there’s that magic moment when are standing in the Presumpscot casting a Yellow Breeches streamer you tied yourself because the pattern worked one time in Pennsylvania …. I have a convoluted relationship with fly tying. The notion that one can create something from bits of fur, feather, and tinsel that will fool an acutely aware fish is fascinating to me. I don’t tie very often, and when I do it’s mostly during the winter. It’s not because I don’t own the paraphernalia, ’cause I do – multiple vises and
plastic bins filled with materials of both animal and manmade origin. But for me to get into a creative and productive rhythm, I require blocks of time at regular intervals, and it just doesn’t happen. When I have an open schedule, I go fishing. Part of the problem is that I am not very handy (as in handyman). My cub
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scout rocket and soapbox derby experiences were embarrassing – last place, I recall. Hammering in a nail is the extent of my ability to fix things around the house. So, it takes me time to churn out a few acceptable flies – maybe five an hour after I have warmed up. Purchased Flies The low cost of flies is also a disincentive. My fly box is stuffed with my go-to pattern, the Royal Wulff. I can buy a decent one for 89¢ from the Fly Shack, and they are a pain in the arse to tie. So, I don’t bother. I guess I just don’t get enough extra satisfaction from catching a fish on a fly that I tied
The Yellow Breeches River, near Boiling Springs PA. David Van Wie photo
myself. Someone who knows me might ask, “But don’t you grow all your own vegetables? Why not buy them from the grocery store?” My answer is that the vegetables I grow are fresher, taste better, and are pesticide-free. I think if my home-grown carrots and tomatoes looked and tasted like grocery-store produce, then I wouldn’t grow my own. It’s not an apt comparison anyway, because the flies I tie are not as good as
commercially tied flies from Kenya and other obscure places from which they are now sourced. So, I concentrate on tying patterns that I can’t find and purchase. Often, I morph standard patterns by substituting my choice of materials or colors that I conjecture work better. Often, I downsize to smaller hook sizes. And every so often I get inspired by an idea or a new material, and adapt or invent my own pattern. I tie for guiding clients, friends, and family, or to dink around with on my own. Often, I write about useful patterns that I have created, modified, or discovered in my travels. Eventually, some patterns I publicize in my books are tied by others and sold at local fly shops or brought in by L.L.Bean. Then, I stop tying them, and just buy them (usually at a discount!) (Continued on next page)
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Pennsylvania Trip A few years ago, my friend and fellow Maine Sportsman columnist, David Van Wie, explored trout waters fished by famous outdoor writers, and wrote a marvelous book about it (Storied Waters), which I heartily recommend. I tagged along with him for a few days when he was fishing Pennsylvania, and that is how I found myself on the Yellow Breeches. This is well-known limestone creek with a healthy population of brown trout. Upon arrival, I wandered up and downriver for a bit and watched accomplished anglers floating dry flies to sporadic risers with perfect reach casts and dead drifts. I thought I heard one angler mutter something about crippled Cahill emergers with yellowish olive greyish bodies. Very intimidating. I circled back to the parking lot, and noticed an older gentleman sitting at a picnic table with fly boxes, scrapbooks and other fly-fishing memorabilia. To shorten the story a bit, the bottom line is that Jim had fished and watched over that river since he had returned from the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Yellow
Breeches Anglers and Conservation Association. I listened as he regaled us with stories from years past. I always respectfully listen to old duffers tell their stories, because one day I hope to be an old duffer myself, and I hope people will listen to my stories. As I took my leave to do a little fishing, he pressed two flies into my hand, perhaps to reward me for my patience. (Never give someone just one fly, because if he or she loses it in the top of a tree after one cast, you will both feel bad.) It surprised me that they weren’t dry fly patterns, but streamers. My best description of the pattern is a silver mylar-tube body with a mane of bunched mallard wing feathers. Trout Candy Again, cutting to the chase, those persnickety brown trout that were turning up their noses at delicately presented dry flies, raced each other to attack this streamer. I hooked marvelous brownies one after another, all the way down the stream, until both flies were unraveling. I stopped fishing to preserve what remained of my last fly. When I returned to the parking lot to thank Jim and find out more about the
Trout Fishing (Continued from page 57)
to think that just because winter has set in, fish won’t bite in those rivers and streams that remain open yearround. Sometimes, water conditions in February, especially before the usual warming trend arrives toward month’s end, rival the best conditions of midspring.
This the fly with which I have brown trout success. David Van Wie photo
Here’s the biggest brown trout I’ve caught fly casting in Maine. The torn-apart fly is still in the trout’s upper jaw. Lou Zambello photo
pattern, he was gone. After my trip, I put the tattered fly in a cigar box on my fly-tying table and forgot about it until the middle of winter, when I opened the box and spotted it. I devoted an afternoon trying to replicate my memory of the fly from the tattered remains, and came up with four acceptable facsimiles. This past spring, I fished below one of the Presumpscot Riv-
er dams. On a whim, I knotted on one of my Yellow Breeches streamers, even though my home river is nothing like a Pennsylvania spring creek. I just wanted to see how it looked in the water. On my first short cast, there was suddenly an inexplicably heavy fish heading into the depths with my fly in his mouth. After a tussle, I landed
I have often in winter stood atop a bridge crossing a trout stream or river and watched trout finning in the pool below. Where fishing is allowed, those trout are more than willing to bite. Fishing such places in barely above-freezing water comes with its caveats. A spill can quickly lead to hypothermia. That’s why it is dangerous and foolhardy to wade in such circumstances.
the largest brown trout I have ever hooked in Maine. This pattern is magic for brown trout apparently, and as I have come to find out, other species as well. That is why I tie flies from time to time. Sometimes, showing fish a pattern they haven’t seen before makes all the difference.
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Instead, fish from shore, and if you can’t reach the trout, so be it. Better safe than sorry. Also, don’t stand out on shelf ice – the ice that often rims the edge of streams. February stands as a great month for trout fishing, whether through the ice or in open water. Good luck.
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60 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Cold Weather Coyotes – Call, Chase or Bait! Deer hunters in the Pine Tree State have had plenty of time to reflect on this past fall’s successes or failures. Turning that favorite deer rifle into a wall hanger until next November just doesn’t feel right. Yeah, it’s oiled up and looks sharp decorating the wall until a haze of dust sticks to blue steel. But Maine has no closed season on coyotes, and cold February winds give “Yote” hunters a slight advantage. As they say in the westerns, “Saddle up, we ride in the
Winter hunting for coyotes provides an opportunity to use your deer rifle before hanging it on the wall until fall. Whether at night or during the day, using bait, dogs or calls, it’s a chance to help out the deer herd and experience some fast action matching wits against a wily game animal. morning!” Rescue that gun from the wall. Experts I’ve chatted with all seem to agree that the best time to hunt these cagey canines occurs right now, in the dead of winter. By the time the short month of February rolls around, coyotes have had two solid months of breath-
takingly cold weather to deal with. Two months of burning calories looking to keep a hungry belly full. These normally nocturnal animals start stepping into daylight a little more when hunger overrides caution. Prime Fur Also consider the
fur value. It’s reasonable to expect prime fur this month. Cold weather has a way of doing that. This bodes well for folks selling the fur or having garments or hunting accessories fabricated from the pelts. Hunting canines at dawn and dusk still rates as a solid
plan. However, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) allows hunters to purchase a coyote night hunting permit for only $4. The season runs from December 16 through August 31. Hunters must have a calling device in their possession at night, by way of proof they are not pursuing other game. See the DIF&W website for details on rules and regulations. Also, our fourpawed nemesis often ups his chances for (Continued on next page)
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 61 (Continued from page 60)
taking down larger prey (think deer) by traveling in small packs when the going gets tough. All the more reason to put that favorite deer rifle back into service. Day Hunt ’Yotes Coyote hunting during daylight hours certainly has its challenges. One ’yote hunter I know dresses in a white poncho, high on the side of a hill overlooking a ravine. Coyotes like to travel in gullies that conceal their movements. He simply calls them in and dispatches them long range with a flat-shooting varmint rifle. A couple of tricks make this work well for him. The snow camouflage conceals his movements. Wind, both a deer and coyote hunter’s worst enemy, usually drafts up the side hill. And he relies heavily on a set of cross sticks as a steady rest to dispatch the curious canine long before the animal figures it out. Call, Chase, Bait All of this adds up
to consistent success. Of course, his ability to do some calling sets the hunt in motion. Maine allows the use of electronic calls. The internet is awash with calling videos. It’s hard to beat calls recorded in the wild and put neatly at our fingertips. With that said, learning what call to play and when requires a bit of a learning curve. Many professional guides still advocate using mouth-operated calls. Maine allows the baiting of coyotes. Luring in a hungry predator makes perfect sense. Setting up the ideal bait site requires some local knowledge, a little coyote sense and a lot of hard work. The folks at Fifteen Mile Stream Lodge and Outfitters, located on Route 201 in West Forks, have mastered the art of putting clients in the perfect spot for success. They’ve been pursuing the wily game for two decades, so coyote hunters couldn’t be in better hands. Clients can expect to spend time in a
heated shanty set up over proven bait sites at night. This adds a little comfort to the hunt, and serves as an ideal introduction to the sport. Bait alone isn’t the entire equation. Some timely calling drifting through a Maine cold front can spark the interest of a hungry coyote. The advantage goes to the hunter when the ’yote starts thinking with its appetite. Another method of hunting coyotes, chasing them with dogs, also requires the services of a Registered Maine Guide. It’s a totally different experience that requires a pack of hounds and the ability to shoot fast-moving coyotes. This one is on my bucket list. Fur Hat I talked with Parker Capwell after he spent some time in a Fifteen Mile Stream heated shack. Capwell was thrilled with his hunt and sent his prime fur out west to have a Daniel Boonestyle hat fabricated. Coyote hunters
Parker Capwell displays the results of a successful coyote hunt out of Fifteen Mile Stream Lodge and Outfitters. It took a little patience, some accurate rifle work and the expertise of an outfitter with an intimate knowledge of the local “yote” population. Parker Capwell photo
also help the deer population – an added benefit that just might pay off come November. Hunters looking to experience the thrill of coyote hunting would
do well to either hire a guide or hook up with someone who has experience matching wits with these cagey animals.
¶
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Cusk – Fun to Catch; Good to Eat! With the cusk spawn underway in Maine, action will be heating up this month. Cusk are among my favorite fish to catch, and for good reason – they are super-aggressive on the line, and good eating. If you find an area where they are active, the fishing can be very fast. In derbies, cusk can be very lucrative, as it’s often only the “hard-core” fishermen who brave the nighttime weather. Cusk are most active between sunset and 3 a.m., but I have seen them caught during the day. Some people believe the action is best in the afternoon until about sunset. It definitely varies from place to place. Technique, Depth and Bait Although the practice is fairly straightforward to target cusk, there are a lot of tricks to increase success. Rocky or sandy bottom is certainly the best area to set traps in. According to Maine Game Warden Nick Raymond, the best depth is “about 25 to 30 feet of water, right on bottom.” It also pays to let about four extra feet of line out in case there is any current on bottom, to prevent the bait from rising up. Warden Raymond suggests using “either a live shiner or a large lake smelt, usually cut www.MaineSportsman.com
• 1 pound bacon scraps or pork ends • 4 – 6 potatoes, chopped • 1 to 1-1/2 cups water (enough to cover potatoes) • 2 – 2-1/2 pounds cusk, filleted • ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste) • ¼ teaspoon pepper • ½ teaspoon celery salt (or to taste) • ½ teaspoon paprika (or to taste) • 1 quart light cream
The author believes cusk makes the best chowder.
to get the scent out there.” I’ve had good luck cutting the bait. I also often use dead cut bait, including sea smelt from the grocery store. I recommend putting some sort of stop in the line about five feet inside the spool, because cusk run extremely fast, and can spool a trap quickly. Warden Raymond claims that he sees the best action in the last two hours of daylight, and even earlier. I have seen that too. However, I usually fish for cusk all through the night. Night Fishing Requires a Plan For night fishing, there are a few musthaves. First of all, a good ice shack with a heater is indispensable. Also, some way of illuminating your traps so you can find them in the dark with-
out hitting them with your snowmobile (happens to the best of us!). I use battery lanterns because they are visible all around. I have also tried hanging glow sticks off the top of the trap, but that isn’t too effective because they stop working when it gets really cold. It pays to set all of your traps before sunset, so everything is situated before dark. Long needle-nose pliers, or hook-out tools, are crucial, because cusk tend to swallow the hook right down. Cusk traps have to be checked at least every hour through the night. Cusk is one of my favorite fish to eat. The meat is super-delicate and white. Cleaning the Fish You clean them much differently than you do salmonids. You
have to skin them, and that works best by attaching the head to a fixed object, cutting a ring through the skin below the gills, and pulling straight back with a pair of pliers in each hand. Then you fillet the meat off. Although all cusk are good to eat, 3-pounders and bigger provide a substantial amount of meat. I am including a family favorite recipe for cusk chowder. This is definitely the best chowder I’ve had. Cusk fishing can be a fun and exciting method of fishing that not a lot of people do. Take a family member or friend out for a fun evening of fishing, and try something new! ***** Cusk Chowder Ingredients: • 1 stick butter • 1 large onion, chopped
Directions: Melt butter in a large pot. Add chopped onions, cook covered on medium until slightly soft, not brown. Add bacon scraps or pork ends. Cook covered until cooked but not crispy. Add chopped potatoes and water, Cover and simmer on medium 15 minutes. Add salt, pepper, celery salt, and paprika. Lay cusk fillets over potatoes. Cover and simmer on medium another 15 minutes or until fish flakes easily. Break up fish slightly. Add light cream to pot. Cover and simmer on very low heat for 15 minutes or until warmed through. Serve with oyster crackers and crusty bread, rolls or biscuits. The author is a high school sophomore in Hermon, Maine.
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Enjoy Riding the Trails and Fishing Through the Ice The Moosehead Region sees a considerable amount of sporting activity in summer and fall, but winter ushers in even more outdoor folk. Winter’s two biggest outdoor activities, ice fishing and snowmobiling, are in full swing in February. Greenville, a hub of commerce for the region, ranks as one of the most snowmobile-friendly towns in Maine. Rockwood, too, has a snowmobile-based wintertime economy. Riding the lake near Rockwood in the shadow of Mt. Kineo provides an adventure not soon forgotten. Stop at a convenience store for gas, and chances are you will see snowmobiles queued up for the same purpose. The roar of snowmobile engines keeps this vibrant region in tune with its rich outdoor heritage. For those not fa-
miliar with the area and even those who don’t own a snow machine, not to worry. Just look in the ads in The Maine Sportsman and you will find guide services and snowmobile rentals. Moose Loop Local snowmobile clubs maintain many miles of trails, and the Interconnected Trail System (ITS) offers a ride on Moose Loop, a trail that takes riders around the whole lake while also allowing for shorter rides around parts of the lake. Moose Loop, depending upon which route you choose, can measure from 138 to 166 miles – more than enough for the most dedicated trail rider. For further information on snowmobiling in the Moosehead Region, look in the ads and columns in this magazine. For up-todate information on trails, call the Moosehead Riders Snowmo-
Friendly gray jay sits atop Eric Holbrook’s pickup truck door. Eric Holbrook photo
bile Club at (207) 6954561. Also, for an overview of wintertime goings-on in the region, contact the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce at 1-888876-2778. They can also supply trail maps of the area. Let this be the winter that you sample the great trails that abound in the Moosehead Lake Region. Salmon Season February 15 ranks as an important date around Moosehead Lake. On that day, open season on landlocked salmon begins on Moosehead. While ice fishing began on January 1, anglers had to content themselves with brook trout and togue. I predict that anglers will find much to their liking salmon-wise this winter, since fish taken last summer were in fine condition – fat and healthy. Note that while the Maine Department
of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (DIF&W) annually stocks Moosehead Lake with salmon, the numbers are small, considering that Moosehead Lake covers 74,890 acres. In 2020, DIF&W released 3,500 salmon in Moosehead. To get a better idea of what I’m talking about, check out the annual fish stocking list in one of our April issues, and note how many smaller ponds and lakes get stocked with more salmon, comparatively speaking, than Moosehead. Moosehead Lake does have some natural spawning and lake-bred fish help make up for the dearth of stocked salmon. The department must achieve a balance, of course, so that the predator/prey ratio doesn’t become skewed, but still, 3,500 salmon for a 74,890acre lake seems a bit thin.
Andy Collar sets trap on cold morning on Moosehead Lake. Tom Seymour photo
Finny Potpourri Salmon probably rate as the mostsought quarry in Moosehead Lake, but brook trout are closing in fast. However, new regulations on brook trout, designed to maintain more adult fish in the lake, may cool the ardor of some trophy hunters. I went into the new regulations in detail in a past issue. Otherwise, check the 2021 open-water fishing rule book for the new changes. It’s hard for me to say what fish ranks as my personal favorite. Brook trout vie with salmon for that distinction. Here’s something about salmon in Moosehead Lake that I can’t quite figure out. The color of a salmon’s flesh often dictates its sweetness. The deeper orange that a salmon is inside, the better it tastes, at least in my estimation. Flesh (Continued on next page)
Cow moose and calf -- the calf’s first winter. Eric Holbrook photo www.MaineSportsman.com
64 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Moosehead Region (Continued from page 63)
color varies, though, and some salmon exhibit little more than a pinkish hue, while others come in flaming orange. No one can predict flesh color simply by looking at a fish, so the final determination comes only upon cleaning your prize. I’m not saying that
the pale-colored flesh isn’t tasty – it is. But a salmon with deep-orange flesh brings out the oohs and ahhs at the dinner table. Brook trout, on the other hand, always show orange flesh, and taste never varies from one individual to another. Togue, another of my all-time fa-
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vorites, usually show yellowish flesh, and in my estimation, fresh broiled togue fillets, with a bit of fresh lemon sprinkled on and perhaps a few sprigs of fresh or dried mint, rate as true gourmet fare. Take your choice, then, of any of Moosehead Lake’s finny delights. They all represent the makings of a fantastic meal.
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My pal Eric Holbrook, who spends more time in the woods than anyone I know, recently sent me a photo of a gray jay sitting on the doorframe of his pickup (see page 63). That’s how friendly these little birds are. Have fun in the Moosehead Region this February. Adventure awaits.
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 65
Outstanding Ice-Fishing Opportunities Downeast From Tunk Lake and East Musquash to West Grand Lake and East Grand Lake, Hancock and Washington Counties offer ice anglers outstanding landlocked salmon and togue opportunities. Downeast anglers will be lowering smelts and shiners on a multitude of frozen waters in Hancock and Washington County this month. Access points to these prize fisheries can be located by referring to DeLorme’s Maine Atlas – Maps 23 and 25 can help folks locate some of the best ice fishing in Hancock County, while Maps 35 and 45 feature some of the best ice-covered waters in Washington County. Fall stockings allow many of these waters to become winter playgrounds for ice fishers each February. Tunk Lake One water that fits the bill for excellent salmon and togue ice fishing is Tunk Lake, Map 25, D-1, located in Sullivan about 5 miles west of Cherryfield. This lake provides excellent habitat to sustain healthy populations of both game species. According to Don Cary of Prospect, anglers often locate landlocked salmon near the Johnson Grounds on the northwest side of the lake. Salmon caught by hard-water fishers often fall into the 2- to 3-pound category, while many lakers weigh in at 3 to 4 pounds. Another excellent area that attracts a lot
of ice-cutters is along the northeast shoreline from the boat landing to Birch Point. Region C biologist Greg Burr reported, “Tunk Lake anglers will find good early fishing on the southern end where they will catch some large salmon, good sized brook trout and have the potential to catch togue over 10 pounds.” Lowering a smelt or a cut-up sucker from five to 10 feet off the bottom puts bait very close to where many lake trout are feeding. Vehicle access is located off Route 182 at the north end of the lake. The launching area also has adequate parking for trucks and trailers. Keep your rule books handy to understand the slot limits on togue and salmon at Tunk Lake: • There’s no bag limit on togue under 23 inches; togue 23 – 33 inches must be released at once. Anglers are limited to 1 togue over 33 inches. • Salmon 17 – 22 inches must be released at once; daily salmon limit 2 fish, only one of which may exceed 22 inches. Washington County Ice Fishing East Musquash
Lake in Topsfield (Map 45, E-4) is another water that provides a good fishery for landlocked salmon, brook trout, lake trout, and smallmouth bass. The lake trout and smallmouth bass are self-sustaining populations. However, due to competition of the various warm-water species, landlocked salmon and brook trout are stocked annually. Hatchery personnel stocked this 806acre water with 1,000 10-inch brook trout and 400 7-inch salmon in the fall of 2020. This water has a marginal reproduction of brookies and landlocks. Winter anglers fishing small shiners, small smelts or worms fished in 4 to 5 feet of water on the southern shoreline usually have the best chance of catching winter brookies. Brookies in the 11to 14-inch range are often iced by anglers fishing along the south shore. The deep water near the center of the lake is an excellent place to set out some ice traps baited with a cut-up sucker or a 4-inch smelt. Even though this lake has water depths over 60 feet, winter anglers often catch more togue at depths of 35- to 40feet. General fishing
Tunk Lake in Sullivan holds togue and salmon. The public landing is at the north end of the lake, on Route 182. Map: LakesOfMaine.com
laws apply, except for the 1-fish daily limit on togue. Route 6 in Topsfield follows the south shore. There are several camps along that shore. The rest of the lake is undeveloped and surrounded by a mixed-growth forest. Public access is found at the DOT rest area on Route 6. West Grand for Salmon West Grand Lake, Map 35, B-3, B-4, is one of the finest salmon fisheries in Maine. This 14,340 acre lake provides an exceptional environment for salmonids in Downeast Maine. It is open to
ice fishing in February and March. Salmon caught by ice anglers are often of the 17- to 19-inch range. The left side of the lake on Upper Whitney Cove and the area around South Twin and the Sister Islands are excellent prospects to catch silver-sided salmon. West Grand was stocked in 2020 with 9,000 7-inch salmon. Big Togue, Also West Grand also provides a good lake trout fishery. This fishery is sustained by wild fish. According (Downeast Region continued on page 69)
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66 • February 2021 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
New Year-Round River Beckons Hardcore Open-Water Anglers Have you ever gotten the urge to fish a river or stream on one of those increasingly frequent warm days in winter? One small river system in the Swanville-Belfast area now offers a chance to do just that. Goose River, which begins below the dam at Swan Lake in Swanville, flows through three small ponds and finally crosses U.S. Route 1 in Belfast to mix with the saltwater environs of Belfast Bay, is now open yearround. For many years, I have driven past this river on balmy winter days and wished I could stop and cast a line. The river has no native brook trout, so there was really no practical reason for keeping it closed to off-season angling. This year, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) agreed, and as of January 1, Goose River was added to the list of year-round trout streams for the Midcoast region. Historically, brook trout stocked in Swan Lake would make their way through the dam and enter the river, thereby serving as the basis for a limited trout fishery. In 2018, DIF&W began stocking 9- to 10-inch spring yearling brook trout in the river, and these remained available to anglers until well into the summer. Now that the river has achieved year-round status, www.MaineSportsman.com
The opening of Goose River to year-round fishing is an example of DIFW responding to the reasonable requests of anglers such as the author. In the river and the connecting ponds, it’s now possible to find trout, salmon, pickerel, bass, perch, and even an occasional togue!
Walter Ash Recreation area and boat launch at Upper Mason Pond.
DIF&W will begin stocking fall yearling brook trout beginning in fall, 2021. Downstream Tips Brook trout, being more than willing to travel many miles from the point of stocking, often show up far downstream. Thus, all road crossings may be considered viable sites for angling. As an example, far downstream, below Upper Mason Pond in Belfast, the river crosses Swan Lake Avenue before entering Lower Mason Pond. I have taken trout, on an offand-on basis, in this section for years. Also, the largest of the flow-through ponds in the system, Smith Pond, has become a regular potpourri of freshwater fish, including holdover brook trout and even the occasional landlocked salmon. Some of these trout reach respect-
Smart Road bridge crossing on Goose River. Tom Seymour Photos
able sizes, measuring 16 inches and more. The late Ed Whitney, a legendary sportsman, trapper and bait dealer, once took a togue from Smith Pond. This points out that Smith Pond has sufficient depth and an abundance of cold, well-oxygenated water. Salmonids aren’t all that live in Smith Pond. In years past, I jigged the pond for pickerel and yellow perch. This was one of the better pickerel ponds around, and pickerel were found throughout the system. But some time ago, largemouth bass were introduced, and pickerel numbers have diminished. In addition to brook trout and sometimes landlocked salmon, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed sunfish, yellow perch and white perch inhabit Smith Pond. White perch
here run, on the average, about 11 inches, with the occasional larger individual. Mason Ponds On the Belfast end, Goose River flows through first Upper Mason Pond and then Lower Mason Pond. The lower pond has no public access, but the upper pond does, in the form of the Walter Ash Recreation Area on the east side of Swan Lake Avenue. This allows canoeists and those with small cartopper boats to gain access to not only Upper Mason Pond, but also the river itself, all the way upstream to the Smart Road bridge crossing. A picnic table offers a chance to sit, relax and have a snack. Note that DIF&W now stocks brook trout at the Smart Road crossing. These eventually disperse throughout the lower
part of the river. Most people fishing Upper Mason Pond, though, come for largemouth bass. I have no experience in bass fishing here, but John McMillan, a diehard bass angler from Belfast, tells me that he does well. Even those who don’t care for fishing can have a pleasant canoeing experience, beginning at the canoe launch area at Walter Ash Recreation Area. The trip upstream to Smart Road crossing takes the adventurer through a vast cranberry bog. This bog was, in the early-20th century, commercially harvested. Today’s recreational harvesters can also find plenty of cranberries. Best time for cranberries was during the first two weeks of September, just prior to the first killing frost. Now, with a later frost date, cranberrying may be extended later in the fall. Upon reaching the Smart Road crossing, the voyager must portage to the other side of the bridge. Up until a few years ago, it was easy to paddle a canoe through the culvert, no portage necessary. But then the City of Belfast removed the culvert and installed two smaller culverts. These smaller-diameter culverts preclude canoe passage. It’s worth carrying a canoe across the road, though, since the riv(Midcoast Report continued on page 69)
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 67
Katahdin’s Attractions Can Prove Deadly for the Unprepared “The mountain is a formidable place, especially as winter approaches. I ask everyone visiting us this fall and winter to please be safe, set an early turnaround time and stick to it, and always carry sufficient food, water, and clothing.” Baxter State Park Director Eben Sypitkowski ***** A hike to the peak of Katahdin, in Baxter State Park, is at the top of the bucket list for many hikers – and many more are likely to follow. National Geographic magazine recently named Katahdin one of the top ten summit hikes in the world, calling it “the most inspiring peak in all of eastern North America.” That kind of international attention is well-deserved. The peak of the mountain serves as the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. It also enjoys a rich human history as a sacred site for Native Americans, and as a destination for iconic conservationists such as Henry David Thoreau, President Theodore Roosevelt and Governor Percival Baxter. Dark Side of the Mountain But like all famous mountain peaks, Katahdin has a dark side as well. Two hikers died there in as many days this past October. And there were five other helicopter airlifts of injured hik-
Katahdin’s infamous Knife’s Edge. All photos: James Andrews
ers from the famous mountain in 2020. The two October fatalities raised the mountain’s death toll to eight in the last ten years. Since the 1930s, more than 60 hikers have died during summit attempts. In his 2018 book, Death on Katahdin, and Other Misadventures in Maine’s Baxter State Park, author Randi Minetor describes the back-story to some of the more harrowing mis-adventures. The recent fatalities serve as a reminder of the extreme conditions climbers can encounter, and of the consequences of not being properly prepared and equipped if something goes wrong.
A Deadly October Week Nathan Bell, of Walkersville, MD, was a rugged, bearded 27-year-old with a friendly grin. He reportedly went to college in Utah and enjoyed outdoor adventures in the west during the time that he lived there. On October 8, 2020 he was found deceased near the summit. Park officials noted that his clothing and equipment were insufficient for the combination of fog, rain, plummeting temperatures and sub-zero windchill that swept over the summit the night before. Only the day before that, rescuers had airlifted a 75-year-old
man and his 25-yearold nephew from a location near the Knife’s Edge trail. News reports indicated the hikers had become disoriented in the wind-driven fog and wandered off the narrow trail. While sheltering in place overnight, they called for rescue with a cell phone. But before morning, Donald MacGillis, a veteran journalist from Pittsfield, MA fell more than fifty feet from their precarious perch and suffered severe injuries. His nephew helped him remain conscious until the helicopter arrived the next day. Both men suffered from hypothermia and exhaustion. Sadly, MacGillis succumbed
to his injuries after being airlifted off the mountain. MacGillis was remembered by family and friends as a passionate hiker who climbed Katahdin annually with a hiking group. He and his nephew had departed from Chimney Pond in good weather at 11:30 AM. They ascended the Dudley Trail to the Pamola Peak summit – before attempting Knife’s Edge. Winter Raises the Ante Winter climbing on Katahdin has become increasingly popular in recent years. It follows a nationwide increase in backcountry skiing, ice-climbing, hiking and snowshoeing over the last two decades. In February of 2017, a 68-year-old climber from Holden, Maine was ascending Abol Trail. He lost his footing near the top of the trail and was unable to self-arrest his slide. The mis-step proved to be fatal. The man slid more than 1,000 feet down the nearly-vertical rock slide before coming to rest near the treeline. He was one of four hikers who lost their lives on Katahdin that year. The Price of Popularity Katahdin hiking seasons with multiple deaths are rare. But the tragedies remind
Blue ice on the mountain’s flanks.
A reminder to hikers as they proceed past Chimney Pond.
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Barry & Larry’s Excellent Oystering Adventure Every fall for some years now, my good friend and exemplary charter boat crewman Larry Grimard and I have embarked upon an oyster-gathering expedition to the muddy banks of the River Unnamed. This past fall was no exception. Larry studies the tide charts to determine when the lowest tides occur in the Unnamed during afternoons in November. This time he emailed me early in the month with a terse “The 14th is the day. Meet me in the Secret Parking Lot at 2:30.” We met at the appointed place and hour. It was a nice afternoon, sunny, calm and 42 degrees. I climbed into Larry’s truck and off we went, out of the lot and onto the blacktop for a couple of miles, then down a narrow, twisting dirt road to the western bank of the river. We got out and donned our hip boots. Larry grabbed his hod (a half-bushel wooden
Every few feet we’d come across fine oysters lying in the mud, ranging from the tasty little “cocktails” to jumbos destined for stew or the grill, some approaching hand–size. Into the hod (the halfbushel wooden basket) they went!
Larry found this bag of some 2,000 still-alive juvenile “seed” oysters well up on the riverbank. The bag had broken loose from an oyster lease, probably in a windstorm.
clamming basket), and we carefully worked our way down the slippery, mossy bank onto the mud flats. Man with a Plan Larry always has a plan. “We’ll head to those old pilings over there, and work out way back at the waterline,” he announced
Larry released the seed oysters onto the mud flat, where they will thrive and grow, and perhaps end up in someone’s (maybe even his) hod in the future.
quietly, looking around to make sure we weren’t being observed. For some reason, Larry doesn’t like to be watched. “We should find some nice ones.” And find some nice ones we did! Every few feet we’d come across fine oysters lying in the mud, ranging from the tasty little “cocktail” size, two or three inches long, to big “jumbos” better than four inches des-
tined for stew or the grill, some approaching hand-size. Into the hod they went! We slogged along in the foot-deep mud the consistency of mayonnaise, which sucked at our boots at every step, making for slow going. A couple of times I actually thought I’d pulled my femur out of my hip socket. After about 15 minutes Larry abruptly stopped and stared at an object on the
leaf-littered sea grass of the river bank some 75 feet away. He then started walking towards it. I followed. Larry to the Rescue! What Larry had spotted was a black plastic mesh bag designed to hold juvenile oysters that would eventually grow to a saleable size. The floating bag had evidently broken free from a long-line on a mid-river oyster lease and drifted ashore at high tide, with no chance of washing back into the river. But the amazing part was that the bag was full of the tiny seed oysters, perhaps 2,000 of them, that were still very much alive. “We need to let these go out onto the mud somewhere so they can survive and grow up,” explained Larry, ever the conservationist beneath his gritty hunter-gatherer exterior. So we lugged the bag out onto the mud flat, found a suitable bathtub-size, seaweed covered boulder that offered a bit of protection, and spread the tiny oysters around it. Then Larry took the empty bag back to the riverbank and tossed it up onto the shore where it could later be picked up and disposed of. The Oyster Life Interestingly, oysters cannot move. Not one bit. They can’t burrow into the mud like clams do, or jet
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around on bottom like scallops. Wild oysters, when they are microscopic in size and drifting with the current, will attach themselves to rocks and boulders and – if all goes well – stay right there for their entire lives. But if they fall off onto the mud at some point, that’s exactly where they will remain, filter-feeding and living quite nicely, even when exposed to the air for many hours each day as the tide recedes and fills back in. We continued our slog, and in less than an hour had a hod full of oysters, the legal daily limit for Larry, who has a recreational shellfish license. I was
just an observer, but I helped by pointing out any harvestable specimens I came across, so it was a true team effort. The Wee Dram Finale Just as a chilly gray dusk began creeping across the flat-calm river, we stopped and rinsed the oysters off as best we could, worked our way back while taking turns lugging the heavy hod, climbed the mossy bank, and headed for the truck. We doffed our muddy hippers and planted ourselves on the tailgate. By then it was almost dark. What followed was what we have done at the culmination of ev-
Downeast Region (Continued from page 65)
to West Grand Lake resident Charlie Towns, winter anglers often catch lakers in the 3- to 3 ½-pound category; however, 5- to 6-pound fish are not unusual. Charlie also mentioned that togue of 18-to 20 pounds are occasionally pulled from the lake. Two areas that are heavily fished for togue are near Munson Island, and Sandbar.
Midcoast Report (Continued from page 66)
er from Smart Road to Smith Pond, though flowing between two roads, remains secluded and contains a wide variety of wildlife.
Self-Propelled (Continued from page 67)
us that the mountain extracts a price for its popularity. A certain percentage of hikers are going to have insufficient clothing or gear. A certain percentage will start their climb too late in the day, or ignore their calculated turnaround times. A certain percentage will stumble at the worst possible moment. Most of them will survive their mistakes with nothing more than a good
ery fall oystering trip. We partook of a wee dram of single-malt adult beverage, toasting the past summer’s charter fishing season, and the hod of fine oysters. “And here’s to 2021,” said Larry, raising his little plastic cup. “The next one might be the last one, so let there be a next one.” I raised my cup as well, and agreed. Then, silence. Two older guys, in the darkness at the edge of the river, sat and pondered for a minute what the future might bring. And then we headed back to The Secret Parking Lot.
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We found perhaps a dozen jumbos like these during our foray, along with lots of smaller “cocktail” oysters.
Almost a full hod. In ten more minutes we had collected Larry’s limit, and headed back to the truck.
East Grand East Grand Lake, Map 45, A-4 is another one of Washington County’s premier salmon and togue fisheries. Landlocks of 5 to 6 pounds are not uncommon catches for a few lucky ice anglers each winter; however, 17-to 20inch fish are more common. Last year, state hatcheries stocked 6,000 salmon and 6,600 7-to-13 inch brookies here. Salmon anglers are often successful by cutting ice holes in the vicinity of Meeting House Point, Five Islands,
Caribou Point and Little River Cove. Fishing with smelts just under the ice usually insures the best salmon-fishing results. Trophy lake trout from 4 to 12 pounds are often iced during the winter. A good number of hard-water lake trout fishers set traps on Greenland Cove. Cut-up suckers or crushed smelts fished on bottom or 10 feet off bottom seems to produce most of the togue strikes.
Future Prospects With opening Goose River to yearround fishing, things can only get better. Between ice fishing on Smith Pond and open-water fishing in the river, sportsmen have a wide variety of options to choose from. And once DIF&W
begins stocking fall yearling brook trout, the potential for a substantial, carryover trout fishery looks promising. Find Goose River on the DeLorme Atlas, Maps 14, A-5 and 22, E-5.
story to tell their friends. But a certain percentage of those people will not survive – particularly if extreme weather plays a role. So why go? Why place ourselves in peril? Baxter State Park, and the northern Maine woods in general, are devoid of that cultural safety net that so many rely on in modern society. Choices here have consequences, and wise outdoors-people never rely on the “They wouldn’t let me do this unless it is safe” mentality. They really will let you do
it. Nobody has done the risk calculation for you. It is this very thing that attracts us to remote places in the first place. We don’t climb remote peaks for exercise, any more than we fish or hunt just for food. Our species evolved in a natural world that demanded our attention and respect in order to survive. And to touch that heritage, to live in it for even a few days – that’s why we come here.
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Coyote Hunting The author learned that hungry Central Maine coyotes respond aggressively to the sounds of turkeys. While calling in a tom in the spring of 2020, he was practically bowled over by two coyotes that came running in to his turkey call. Coyotes of February are still smart and stealthy; however, behavioral changes around their desire to procreate can be used against them to expose weaknesses. Alpha males strongly defend their territories against competing males, while also trying to attract and breed females. This means that they can be very susceptible to barks and howls. Barks and howls are made to mimic either intruding males or receptive females. Hunger Also Motivator Hunger also gets coyotes on the move. I read once that I coyote is born hungry and dies hungry, and as such it is always searching for its next meal. Because of this trait, hunters can always use fawn-in-distress, rabbit-in-distress and even turkey calls to bring in ravenous coyotes. As Central Maine is practically overrun with turkeys, I have found that turkey calls are extremely effective in bringing in coyotes. Light purrs, cluck and yelps are exceptionally effective. Nearly Bowled Over I had a chance to see this first-hand, while calling in a tom this past spring, www.MaineSportsman.com
when I was practically bowled over by two coyotes that came running in to my turkey call. Thankfully, I was a few seconds quicker than they were, and one of them was quickly dispatched with a round of 12 gauge HeaviShot. Call Types While seasoned coyote hunters are masters at using mouth calls, I have yet to completely master the art. Instead I use an electronic call, the FoxPro Patriot ($139). This “entry level” call is simple and easy to use, and comes pre-loaded with many of the most common coyote vocalizations. If hunters feel they’d like other calls, FoxPro has a wide variety of calls available on their website (gofoxpro.com) that can be downloaded for free. Techniques One of the biggest benefits of using an electronic call is that it can be placed 5060 yards from your position, making it much more difficult for the coyote to scent or sneak in behind a hunter. One trick I have learned over years of calling coyotes, is not to start with the call blasting at full vol-
ume. Instead, start at the quiet end of the scale, and slowly raise the volume of the call over the course of several calling sequences, so as not to scare away coyotes potentially in close proximity. When a coyote is spotted, call volume should be continued but lowered. This will typically pull the coyote in closer to investigate, offering the hunter a shot. When to Hunt Coyotes are crepuscular, meaning creatures of the twilight, therefore the best times to hunt them are the first and last lights of day. In my experience, the first light of day has always been the most productive time, as coyotes who did not score an evening meal are often driven by an empty belly and prone to be more easily fooled by imitating a free meal. Know the Wind Direction I was once told by a veteran coyote hunter that the most critical piece of equipment in his coyote hunting arsenal was a short piece of string tied to the end of his rifle barrel. This string allowed him to quickly check and recheck wind direction so that he was always positioned
Here’s the author with a coyote that almost had him for breakfast during 2020 spring turkey season. Steve Vose photo
downwind. If wind direction changed, he was instantly alerted. Given coyotes exceptional sense of smell and their alertness to any and all olfactory changes in their environment, I took this advice to heart. Hunters who are properly equipped (and holding a $4 permit) can also pursue these elusive predators at night using the light of the full moon, spotlights, or night vision, from December 16 to August 31. During this time, it is legal from 1/2 hour after sunset, to 1/2 hour before sunrise. Hunting must cease at midnight each Saturday, and can resume at 12:01 a.m. on Monday. Night Vision In the past, night vision technology was exceedingly pricy; however, with the advent of new design and manufacturing advances, the price has dropped significantly,
while quality and effectiveness have increased. For example, with 4.5 stars on Amazon, the Sightmark Wraith HD 4-32x50 Digital Day/Night Scope is a highly-rated night vision scope. At a cost of $499, the scope pricing compares favorably to other quality rifle scopes that have far fewer bells and whistles. The scope has a fully functional Day/ Night mode that allows for full color viewing for day use, and black and white or classic green for night vision mode. The magnification system provides an 8x digital zoom and 2x optical system for up to 16x magnification – more than enough optical power to take effective shots out to 200 yards. A high-definition imaging system even allows for video recording in 1080p HD.
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Old Age and the Golden Years As trappers get older, they need to pay close attention to their physical limitations, and make accommodations as necessary. The author reports that as his legs began to lose some of their youthful strength and vigor, “tripping over a blowdown in four or five feet of snow was not as much fun as it used to be.” It recently dawned on me that in a little over a year, I will be 80. How we feel at this age depends to a great degree on how we’ve lived our lives. In my case, I’ve enjoyed a very active lifestyle. To borrow an expression derived from how some cowboys reportedly treated their horses, folks of my generation often found themselves “ridden hard and put away wet.” Injuries received during my military and civilian life have had a cumulative effect, and I am reminded of them daily, since they have a big impact on what hurts and what does not. Trapping’s a Demanding Activity I’m a lifelong sportsman. I’ve been fortunate to have traveled extensively and lived in many places due to a military career, which allowed me to enjoy many outdoor activities. I have done about everything, from diving to hunting and fishing, all around the globe. Old injuries led to aches and pains that have developed over the years.
I have a love of trapping, hunting and fishing. Truth be known, all three involve lifetime learning experiences, but trapping is just more physically – and often psychologically – demanding. Trapping requires an ongoing lifelong self-education. This is because the knowledge increases over the years by studying furbearers and their habits. To be successful, a trapper must acquire a deep understanding of the life cycles and habits of those animals pursued, and all things associated with them. Manifestations of Injuries Prior to these “Golden Years,” the only real issue I had was as a result of neck injuries. Along with ongoing pain, the fact that my neck tended to pull to one side, caused me some problems with balance when I was walking on logs or along narrow pathways. The issue became more acute as I tried fishing in fast-water streams and rivers, which is my favorite type of fishing. When I was in my late six-
ties, I found that my legs and feet became unsteady and painful while wading rocky streams and rivers. When added to the balance issue, I often felt as though I was trying to dance the Texas Two-Step on top of bowling balls. Simply put, it was difficult for me to enjoy fast-water fishing as much as I had previously. Canoeing; Hunting The next thing I noticed was that it was getting harder to sit in a canoe for any length of time. And when it was time to stand up to pole the craft or exit it, I often found that my legs were initially cramped and wobbly. In the fields and woods, I found it harder to still-hunt all day, going up and down the mountains and ridges. Same thing with spending a full day following a bird dog. Chasing hounds became almost impossible, due the physical exertion required. I found myself doing a lot of huffing and puffing, and after a day afield my legs were quite sore. Trapping; Snowshoeing Then there is snowshoeing. As your
Snowshoeing along a trap line, says the author, poses special challenges, especially for the older trapper working alone. Photo credit: Sharon Brodin, Twin Cities Outdoors
body and legs age and lose some youthful strength, tripping over a blowdown in four or five feet of snow is not as much fun as it used to be. Floundering around in bottomless snow trying to get your snowshoes off so you can get upright becomes a real chore. You have to pray that there is a tree close by to help you get up. When trapping, there is a specific behavioral progression that signals your march into older age.
First, you can no longer sit on your heels to make trap sets. Next, you have to kneel on one knee, then several years later you have to get down on both knees. Then as time goes by, your knees hurt and you end up wearing kneepads. Then comes the big day when you realize you can’t get up without the help of a bucket or staff of some sort. After several days of setting traps while (Trapping continued on next page)
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Jigging for Togue Maine’s big lakes are home to plenty of monster lakers. You don’t see them very often, but they’re out there, and a lot of the time, jigging is how they’re caught. Jigging can be even more effective than using bait. I like setting traps as much as the next guy and seeing the flag go up, but after catching fish on a jig rod, that’s where it’s at. Jigging adds a whole new level of excitement – at least it does for me, anyway. Especially during a derby where lake trout is on the board, it can’t hurt to break out a jig pole and stir up the mud or sand on the bottom. Togue are attracted to the action. You don’t have to do it all the time, but if you do it every once in a while, jigging will trigger a bite. Jig Types I like to be prepared with a whole variety of jigs. While I like to experiment, it’s hard to go wrong with the following: • tube jigs; • Swedish pimple; • jigging spoons; or • a jig head with a
An effective jigging tactic for togue is to rig a little flap of sucker skin on the back of a tube jig, and bounce it in the mud. The action mimics the appearance of a dying baitfish. baitfish threaded on the back. Prefers Smaller Chunks of Bait Any spoon or jig is better off with a chunk of suckerfish, or any kind of bait. However, I never go too big with any of those jigs. In fact, as far as length goes, I don’t like to use anything bigger than the size of a smelt. Why? Because togue eat a lot of smelts, especially the smaller togue, and big baits will deter some fish. However, in my experience, even a lunker togue won’t pass up a small, bitesize bait. Color As far as color matches, I choose whatever the fish are eating. White is my favorite. Black is another go-to color. I’ve also had good luck with silver and gold. Tube Jigs Tube jigs are always good to have. They catch fish, especially on days when
Trapping (Continued from page 71)
carefully getting down on the old knees and climbing up using something to help you, you simply hurt. Make Modifications So what can you do about this situation? Two things: 1) make changes to the activities you participate in, and 2) www.MaineSportsman.com
The author, lunker laker.
with
a
other baits or lures are slow. I recommend bouncing these in the mud with a little flap of sucker skin on the back. It’s highly effective, and gives the appearance of a dying baitfish. Spoon Jig; Jig Heads You can also employ a more aggressive approach by using a spoon-type jig, such as Cleo or a Swedish pimple. These will catch
a fish’s attention from a long ways away, especially if they are tipped with a little bait. Swedish pimples are extremely popular – they catch a lot of fish, and they win a lot of derbies. When all else fails, a jig head with a threaded bait fish is as good as it gets. Jig it nice and easy, a foot off bottom, and that’s a good bet (or even a baitfish imitation; soft plastic is a good option), but with these lures and baits it’s especially important to jig slowly. Just twitch your rod tip, and you will catch fish. Change Locations If all this doesn’t work, it’s likely you’re just in the wrong place. If you don’t catch fish within 15 minutes to a half-hour, just move to a new location. If you have a flasher, pay attention to bottom structure and shape. Look for humps, drop-offs or any change in structure.
decide not to perform certain activities. Put another way, there comes that time in one’s life when you realize that you have to modify the way of doing the things you love, and that there are certain activities that you simply should not be doing. Getting hurt due to those age-related physical issues is one thing; getting hurt while when you are all alone on a trapline, as trappers normally are,
Not seeing any fish on the screen? Perhaps the water at that spot is just too cold and the fish aren’t moving. So change spots, and change depths. Sometimes you will catch them in 35 feet of water, while on other lakes you’re wasting your time in less than 60 feet. Success also has to do with the time of day and where the baitfish are, so I’ll start at about 45 feet and go deeper – that’s what I like to do. Find an edge or drop-off. That’s where the baitfish hang out, so that’s where lunkers will chase the fish. Final Advice It’s going to take some patience, but you will catch big fish if you put in the time. Make sure your jig rod is flexible enough to allow you to feel the jig, but that the rod still has the backbone to fight a big fish. Spool it up with 10- to 15-pound test fluorocarbon, and then just put in the time. That’s really the secret to jigging togue.
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with no way of getting help, is another. So continue doing what you love the best way you can. That’s a good thing. And on those days where your body tell you to take some time off, I recommend that you sit by the campfire drinking a hot cup of coffee or tea, watch the sunrise or sunset, and remember what a wonderful life you’ve enjoyed so far.
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Sundown on Corey Ford’s “The Lower Forty” Where is Corey Ford’s “Tinkhamtown”? The author has done some detective work, and he believes he’s solved the mystery. Author’s note: In the December 2020 issue of The Maine Sportsman, David Van Wie (“Sporting Environment”) wrote about Corey Ford and “The Road to Tinkhamtown.” Over the years, sporting folks have wondered and debated where Tinkhamtown and the Lower Forty were located. I have a home in Freedom NH and have hunted and fished there for over 30 years. I’ve had a chance to interview folks who actually knew Mr. Ford. The following information was gained from people who knew Corey Ford in the town of Freedom New Hampshire. Corey Ford (1902 1969) was born in New York, and later moved to Hanover, N.H. In the 1920s, he came to Freedom, N.H. to go hunting, and fell in love with the area and its people. In 1929, he built a home/mansion on the Cushing Corner Road in Freedom. I drive past it often. The home overlooks what I consider to be “The Lower Forty,” with a view of Green Mountain and the Ossipee Range to the west. Why do I think this is the “Lower Forty”? I interviewed Frank Meserve, a neighbor in Freedom,
who worked for Ford and who helped build his mansion on the Cushing Conner Road in Freedom. Frank told me that Ford liked to hunt the pastures and woodlots in front of his home. Today, the area is still good bird cover. Frank said that Mr. Ford hunted and fished all around the area. I have also fished and hunted the same places Ford did. I keep looking over my shoulder but never have seen his shadow – yet. For me, it’s hallowed ground. My mother-in-law, Arlene (Brooks) Tuttle, grew up in Freedom and remembered Corey Ford, and I spent many hours asking her about him. She told me that when she was a kid, she would pick berries and sell them to locals. She said that when she walked to his home to sell berries, “He was always in the cellar, making bullets” (most likely shotgun shells). She also said that Ford always drove a little red sports car around town, and drove it very fast. Tinkhamtown Location Corey Ford wrote “The Road to Tinkhamtown” late in his life. It’s one of the most beloved and famous stories printed
in Field & Stream in their 150-year history. The story is about one of Ford’s favorite English Setters, Cider, and Ford’s secret bird hunting location somewhere in NH. Over the years there has been a lot of debate as to Tinkhamtown’s location. However, some old timers I’ve talked with did know, and one old gentleman said where it was. He pointed to a mountain in Freedom and said a family of tinkers (a person that makes pots and pans from copper and tin) used to live up there. I’ve since hunted there, and it has all the features in the story, including an old bridge, stone walls, cellars holes, and old apple trees. But this type of cover is located in many different places in Freedom and Effingham. The story is fiction, so it could be fragments of different spots Ford hunted – but I don’t think it is. A writer that writes at the level of “The Road to Tinkhamtown” just had to have been there before and not made it up. Whatever, it’s my Tinkhamtown. Lower Forty Club Some of the primary characters in Ford’s “The Lower Forty Hunting, Shooting
A view from Corey Ford’s home in Freedom NH. The author thinks it’s “The Lower Forty” that Mr. Ford featured in his monthly column in Field & Stream Magazine during the 1950s and ‘60s. Val also thinks he knows where the mythical “Road To Tinkhamtown” is located. Photo by Val Marquez
and Inside Straight Club” monthly column in Field & Stream were from the Freedom area. His band of merry men included Colonel Cobb, Judge Parker, Cousin Sid, Uncle Perk, Doc Hall and Mister McNabb. Many years ago, one of the old guys explained who some of them were in real life – however, I’m an old guy now, and can’t seem to remember them. The Lower Forty story took place in the fictional town of Hardscrabble Vermont, located far from Freedom NH – no one tells where their best hunting areas are located when they are in their own backyards. Freedom is a town lost in time; it’s still in the 1950s, with a mill pond in the center of town and village store with clas-
sic, white-painted homes along the main street. There are no stoplights, and more roads are gravel than pavement. If you are young, you’ll think it’s boring there, but if you are older you may enjoy stepping back in time. Freedom is on the Maine/New Hampshire border, with Porter on the Maine side. The area offers good fishing opportunities on the many lakes and ponds; some are hikein only and have good populations of trout and warm water fish. Simply check Google Maps for Trout Pond, Shaw Pond and Mine Pond in Porter. And then you can Google “Corey Ford” for a chance to read his works and learn more about his life.
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Ice Angling for Togue on Sebago Lake On a couple of brisk February days, the author and his friend ice-fished deep down in the trough that runs through Jordan Bay on Sebago Lake. Their location and technique paid off, producing four nice lakers. There wasn’t much ice on the big lake last year. The large bay of Sebago Lake (DeLorme Atlas, Map 5, C-1) never locked up, but Jordan Bay briefly had enough ice to safely fish. I headed out with my usual fishing partner, Rene Lavoie, to fish the first day of the Sebago Togue Derby. It was chilly but tol-
erable with our warm clothing. We had chatted the previous day about our tactics. I’d been catching fish the previous summer in the 80foot trough that runs through Jordan Bay, so we decided to set up in the 80- to 100-foot range. This was deeper than we typically fished in the winter, but it was worth a try.
Setting Up We drilled our jig holes about 75 feet apart, and then drilled four holes each for our traps. Typically I have much better results jigging on the big lake, but it just doesn’t seem right to me to be ice fishing without traps set. Rene baited his traps with frozen saltwater smelt he had caught in January at one of our favorite coastal smelt camps. I was using live suckers, about 8 inches long. I hooked the suckers by the dorsal fin, and clipped their fins to prevent them from swimming away and tripping the flag. I anchored them on bottom with a 1/2-ounce steel weight on a sliding rig, so the bait could be taken while the weight
Angler Rene Lavoie of Lewiston shows off a Sebago laker taken last February on a trap. Photo by Tom Roth
stayed put, reducing the chance the fish would feel the weight. We had our traps set and were warmed from the exertion and settled over our respective jig holes.
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the previous year. I had my flasher going so I could see if there was anything moving in on my lure. Rene was fishing blind, as they say. I hadn’t been jigging for more than 15 minutes when I saw my farthest trap had a flag up. I hopped on my sled and raced over to it. After breaking the skim of ice that had rapidly formed in my hole, I looked to see if the reel was running. It wasn’t. It appeared the line was off to the side, but nothing was tugging. After watching a few minutes to see signs of a fish, I heard Rene holler that I had another flag, but I had already seen it!
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Flags Up! Rene was working his old stand-by jig, a Swedish pimple. I started out jigging an olive-colored tube jig that I’d had luck with
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(Sebago to Auburn continued on page 76)
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William’s Plan to Maintain Marital Harmony – a Slide-in Camper with All the Options My favorite person to be with is my sweetheart wife, Nancy. And my favorite place to be in the entire state is the North Maine Woods (NMW). So if I have a chance to be in the NMW accompanied by my wife – well, I can’t think of anything finer. Now, the next step is getting my wife to enjoy this journey from civilization as much as I do. Nancy loves the outdoors – long hikes, swimming in remote waters, and kayaking
The author has a vision – he and his wife eating grilled trout under the protection of a screened-in awning attached to their slide-in camper beside a lake, deep in the North Maine Woods. Like every good husband, he would have to spend a lot of time fishing to provide the meals, and he’d also need a new full-size pickup to transport the camper, but it’s really all for her benefit! little ponds. She also likes comfortable lodging rather than any kind of camping out in the willy-whacks. So here’s my challenge – I need to find a way to offer comfortable lodging while situated deep in some remote location.
Here’s my plan...
Plan A For years, I have simply taken a tent and roughed it, enjoying the ease and mobility of pitching and breaking down a small tent in multiple campsites. For many years I also enjoyed rolling out
a sleeping pad and bag in the back of my pickup truck bed with a waterproof cap to keep things dry. I would be perfectly satisfied with continuing to camp in a tent or truck bed. In recent years, however, my wife and I have stayed at some
of the finest lodges that Maine has to offer, and we’ve found those accommodations to be extremely comfortable. This is where it gets dicey ... while I prefer the sleeping bag in a tent, my wife has almost convinced me that staying in a comfy lodge is the only way to go. I think I have come up with a solution that will please us both. Luxury and Mobility I’m going to upgrade to a full-sized, (Continued on next page)
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Off-Road Traveler (Continued from page 75)
four-wheel-drive truck, and get a slidein camper with all of the bells and whistles. This way, we can drive into the most remote campsite and still have highly-luxurious accommodations. Take a look at some of the latest slide-in campers and you’ll see what I’m talking about. These slidein campers fit into a truck bed and come with loads of features – bathrooms with hot showers, full-sized sinks, spacious kitchens loaded with all the latest cooking accessories ... well maybe not really spacious, but you get the idea. If I fit one of these camping units in the back of a full-sized pickup, my wife and I can get way back in the NMW and enjoy some real comfort in the most remote locations – wild and comfortable, both at the same time. I don’t like trailering a camper on rough, logging roads,
so the slide-in option works for me. In fact, there is no Plan B. Camping Accessories Certain accessories make camping in faroff places more luxurious. If we are going to go in style, I’m getting some items that will make it an experience that my wife will want to repeat. I’ll be sure to fully stock the kitchen and fridge so my wife will have everything she needs to cook meals. I’ll also get a model with an outdoor grill and screened awning ... I can help with meals by doing the grill work and have a bug-free dining area. A nice, quiet generator would also be a plus. Having some kind of power source way out there makes it more livable, and more livable means lengthier stays in the wild and remote woods. Sturdy, comfortable chairs and a good
Sebago to Auburn (Continued from page 74)
over to him. He told me the reel was spinning like a top. I let it sit, hoping the fish swallowed the whole bait – a necessary tactic when using large suckers. It would run, then stop, then run again. I let it sit still, longer than I ever have, and then I could resist it no longer and pulled the line in. I was rewarded with a nice, plump laker. We were on the board. As I was spooling my line, I saw that Rene now had a flag. What a morning so far! Rene’s Turn Rene walked over to his closest trap and set the hook on what he thought was a heavy fish. I took all the line he pulled in, and brought it out straight behind him. This helps eliminate tanwww.MaineSportsman.com
table for outdoor dining in the screened area will make the whole cooking experience that much better. I like this part of the plan, because I can just picture us sitting around the table at the evening meal, enjoying a lakeside view while munching on some of my wife’s fine cooking. Of course, like any good husband I’ll have to fish a lot to provide the food ... and I mean fishing a lot. An indoor toilet and shower would round out the luxuries to be included in this slide-in unit. I’ve started checking around, and I’ve noticed several companies that have both used and new campers available. I have camped in several variations on the slide-in campers, as well as other types. As I begin this project, I’m thinking that Nancy will be begging me for more camping excursions in remote parts of the state. How can I lose? I get a larger and newer four-wheel-drive
Today’s slide-in campers are spacious and luxurious. Photo credit: Palomino RV
In the author’s mind, this is the view of a North Maine Woods trout pond as seen from his slide-in camper. William Clunie photo
truck with the ability to camp wherever I desire. I could use the camper for hunting adventures in the fall and fishing trips in the
gles when the wet line freezes in a clump if left by the angler’s feet. Eventually Rene pulled up a cookie-cutter twin to my laker. Not a bad start on our chilly morning. I had one more fish on my traps, a smaller one, but we ended the day with three lakers. The next day started milder with a few flags and Rene catching one fish on his favorite jig. Needless to say, we didn’t win the derby, but like always, we had a good few days on the ice. Where, How Sebago is hopping in February when there is good ice to be had. Anglers swarm Lower Bay and Jordan Bay when the entire lake doesn’t freeze. They get to spread out more when the big lake catches. I was surprised last year that we had such good luck on traps, but that’s why we set them. Jigging anglers always report suc-
spring and summer, also. I can’t lose with this plan!
¶
cess when using the Swedish pimple or airplane jigs. I swear by the tube jigs, and I’ve been using them now for several years. I give their hollow bodies a squirt of smelt scent, just to spice up the offering. Some anglers swear by bucktail jigs. I have a few in my winter tackle box, but I’ve never done much with them. Perhaps this year is the year I break them out successfully. Trap anglers typically run shiners, and I believe bigger is better. Large and extra-large shiners and suckers 6 inches and larger seem to draw the lakers in. Maybe it’s their size that make them more detectable at then depths. I believe it’s the louder sound waves they produce. In any case, they seem to work, and I’m not one to argue with success.
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Stove-tending, Deep Thinking, and Other “Indoor Sports” After injuring his back as the result of paddling his kayak at a high speed against a river’s current last year, the author has a new idea for fishing – swapping his paddle for pedals, and getting a pedal kayak. And for duck season, he’ll prepare a dog bed in the stern hatchway for his pointer/retriever! Some people who live in urban areas might wonder what folks in the Rangeley Region do all winter long. Of course, they know that there is snowmobiling and skiing and a few other outdoor sports – but I’m sure they wonder, “What if they don’t participate in those specific outdoor sports?” To top that off, most all of the lakes and ponds in this region are closed to ice fishing. In an effort to increase open water season success, biologists have closed the Rangeley Lakes system to ice fishing, and now we are all patiently waiting to see the results. Although I’m not really sure if this effort will produce larger and more plentiful salmonid fishing, but I’m willing to wait and see. At present, there’s an effort to take more landlocked salmon from Moosehead Lake to help increase the food base for the remaining fish. Would that same process work in the other lakes within the Rangeley Lakes system? Maybe we should be looking at a slot-length system
to take out smaller fish and put back larger specimens? I’m not a biologist, but I guess the state will evaluate the data and make determinations from there. So this is one of the things Rangeley folks do in the winter while sitting around the woodstove trying to keep warm – we think of ways to improve the next year’s fishing season! Deep Thinking --Flies, Nets, Boats Of course, I’ll be running around outdoors this winter as much as possible, but I’ll also do my share of indoor activities – stove-tending, deep thinking, and other indoor sports. I have plenty of fly patterns to work on, always preparing for the next season. I also would like to try and make a fishing net out of a select piece of wood that I will collect from the forest ... something special that I can use for snatching small brook trout that I’ve hooked. I also will be finalizing my decision on a fishing craft for large or small lakes and ponds in and around the Rangeley Region.
I’ve narrowed it down to two choices ... a canoe, or an Old Town pedal kayak. Actually, I don’t have to make a decision ... I’ve already decided to use both a fully-rigged fishing canoe and also purchase the Old Town kayak. I have the canoe already – a 17-footer from the same company. This winter I’ll be working on upgrading the canoe to make it perfect for what I do when fishing for brookies on ponds in the region. The kayak is another story. Dreaming of a Pedal Kayak Last year I took a friend kayaking, and I made the mistake of not clarifying the takeout time with my buddy, Farmington angler and fly-tying fanatic Steve Rothert. About halfway down the river I learned that Steve needed to be home earlier than projected, so we started a kayak-paddling frenzy that lasted way too long – and at full speed. That paddling effort, followed by lifting and loading the kayaks, really did a number on my back, and I
Winter sports include dreaming about upcoming fishing seasons with buddies such as Farmington angler Steve Rothert. William Clunie photo
was out of commission for a good month and a half. Some of the best fishing happens the month of September, and I was stuck sitting on the couch in extreme pain. This year will be different – I’m changing a few things. I will be pedaling a kayak rather than paddling.
I’m convinced that the twisting motion of paddling a kayak exacerbated my specific lower back issue. Pedaling a kayak will end the twisting, while allowing me to enjoy my love of floating around and fishing from a kayak. The pedal kayak (Continued on next page)
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Rangeley Region (Continued from page 77)
will also give me a way of burning calories and actually enjoying the process. I really like walking as a way of staying in cardiovascular health, and mix-
ing it up with pedaling a kayak will surely help. I don’t like pedaling a bicycle anymore, but I tried out an Old Town pedal kayak a
Joseph Ranhowsky of Greenville earned his Biggest Bucks patch with this 212-lb. 9 pt. buck shot November 19, 2020 in Rockwood.
few years ago, and found it to be completely enjoyable. It was like sitting in a lounge chair while pedaling – they are so comfortable. Why Not a “Pedal Duck Boat”? Yes, this winter
I’m sitting here thinking about floating around and pedaling a new kayak. Stoke the woodstove, close your eyes, and just think about it for a minute .... The specific model I’m looking at, Old Town’s “Sportsman’s
Brendon Wormell earned his 2020 Biggest Bucks patch with this 202-lb. 8-pt. buck taken in Windham.
PDL 132”, offers a fishing craft that can be paddled or pedaled. It allows me to stand up and stretch with super stability, stores plenty of gear (maybe even a dog), and permits easy, truck-bed transportation. I’ve got some rubber floor tiles that allow water to pass through. With those tiles I can line the rear holding area of the kayak for a dry place for my dog to lie down while I am fishing. Speaking of the dog, this craft could also be used for jump-shooting waterfowl. My dog, Ginger, could retrieve the ducks and geese without me having to move. Quite sure I’ll be wearing a life vest when she’s aboard!
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2020 Bird Hunting Season Provided Plentiful Training Opportunities Last month I mentioned visiting Grouse Haven Wing-Shooting in Jay, Maine during November, so I could get a little fine-tuning for my bird dog, Ginger. Maine guide Michael Browning runs the Orvis-endorsed guide service, and he gave Ginger and me a few excellent tips for holding a tighter point. I went right to work using Browning’s suggestions, and immediately saw Ginger improve ... she really started holding birds like a mature bird dog should. Browning also said to get Ginger out on wild birds as often as possible ... that it was the best kind of training available. I took his advice, and for the rest of the season tried my hardest to get her
on as many birds as I could. Here’s how my training plan progressed until the season ended December 31, 2020. Advanced Pointer Training A lot of bird dogs have a natural pointing ability. Over the years, I have had plenty of pointer puppies that would lock-up on point when I would play with them using a grouse wing tied to a string on a fishing pole. This old trick will bring out that natural ability in pups that are only a few months old. All of those pups would chase the wingon-a-string without ever thinking about holding a point for very long. After many months of having the pups hold a point with
the “whoa” command in the back yard, the true test comes when the dogs come in contact with wild birds in the woods. The 2020 season provided loads of grouse, and Ginger and I took full advantage of this year of plenty. I noticed that when running her in the woods, I didn’t have as much control of her as when she was in the back yard. I didn’t want to make every moment in the woods a strict training event, so I let her roam a little and have some fun. Near the end of October, I began to get a little more strict with her, by starting a program to train her to hold tighter. Rather than walking through the woods and having her lock-up too far
ahead of me, I found a better way of teaching her to hold a point by simply driving until we saw a bird in the road and then getting out and putting her directly on the bird. I did this for all of November 2020. As I entered the last month of the season, I started noticing my wonderful bird dog holding a point and waiting for me to get close enough to flush the bird. Something in her head clicked, and she began to hunt for me, rather than simply running around in the woods for the fun of it.
December bird hunting in the Western Maine Mountains can be both challenging and beautiful. William Clunie photos
Mature Bird Dog Now, I’m definitely not saying that she is perfect at this juncture in her career as a pointer ... we have a ways yet to go. She still ranges too far at
times, and there’s still the occasional bumping of the bird too far out, but the perfect points are becoming (Continued on page 81)
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The Missing Lynx – Found! What I remember most are the eyes: the piercing, icy stare. The stare that seemed to be looking right into my soul, with the kind of unflinching concentration only existent in cats studying their prey. What I would give to know its thoughts in that moment! I’m describing the elusive Canada lynx. Readers may remember I have a family camp on Parmachenee Lake in extreme northwest Maine, only a few miles from both NH and Canada. My family and friends
have fished and hunted out of the camp for the past fifty years, taking special notice of the various changes in the game populations – the lynx being one of them. An Ever-Changing Forest We’ve witnessed a lot of dramatic changes. Campers older than I saw the initial establishment of the moose population in the 70s, its incredible flourishing in the mid-to-late 90s, its drastic decline in the late 2000s, and its current attempts at a rebound. My grandfather and others saw
the decimation of the deer population after the winter of ’69, and its long, slow, almosttwo-decade-long recovery. We’ve seen coyotes burst onto the scene and run rampant. We’ve seen the incredible turkey migration as the birds inched their domain farther and farther north, so that now we see entire flocks twenty-plus miles north of the paved road. We’ve seen the salmon drop in number and size, while the trout have increased in both measurements.
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But the most recent iteration of species migration and population change has been the mysterious Canada lynx. The lynx population has quickly broadened its horizons in the past decade, moving farther south and west from its established populations in Quebec and Northern Maine. Lynx Range – Rapid Expansion I first attended Thanksgiving week “deer camp” when I was a teenager – about 10 years ago. Then, it was an oddity to see a lynx track. It was
Northern New Hampshire
something to get excited about and share the story of at the dinner table. Within a couple years of the first lynx tracks appearing, there were a couple of well-defined locations where there were lynx residing. We knew from frequent tracks that there were two of them around Otter Pond, and there was a family down by the old dam. But that was it. Four or five years ago, we had our first live sighting. Jack had been calling coyotes down by the dam, (Continued on next page)
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • February 2021 • 81 (Continued from page 80)
and through the dense softwood appeared a pair of big, beautiful lynx coming to the sounds of a squealing rabbit! Jack raced back to camp that evening to tell the others. He was thrilled, to say the least. A year or so after that, Fred saw one in the road by Otter Pond. Cat Calling The next year I saw one in a spot on the ridge that we call the “Phone Booth,” since it is the only location where one can receive a cell signal. I joke that the big cat was making a phone call because there is an old landline telephone nailed to a tree there. The tree had fallen down in a storm, leaving the phone perched about a foot off the ground. And that lynx was sitting, with its head only inches from the phone! This phone booth area turned into an-
other frequented locale, with several other camp members spotting lynx there. With this location, we noticed a turning point: the lynx were no longer located just in the dense softwood along the river; instead, they were now making their way up the ridges and into more open woods. Track Attack In the past two years, we’ve witnessed an incredible explosion of their population and habitat-location. Now there are a couple of live sightings every week. And there is no limit to where someone might encounter one. Every location we hunt now has lynx tracks. And I mean that without exception – every last area. It doesn’t matter the elevation, softwood, hardwood, mixed woods or recent cuts. If there is snow, you are going to see big cat tracks. This past season I was hunting up on
Western Maine (Continued from page 79)
more frequent and steadier. I called wing-shooting guide Michael Browning and mentioned the advances in Ginger’s pointing abilities. I also noted how she was still ranging out too far sometimes, and that she occasionally busted birds that should have been pointed up close. He laughed and said not to worry ... that he and I would fix this in the spring, Browning advised, “Keep working on getting her to ‘whoa’ without verbal command in the back yard like we talked about, and bring her over in the spring. I have some simple training techniques that will finish her off perfectly.” I have no doubt that a few sessions with Browning will have Ginger well on her way to beginning her third year of bird hunting in style. After using Browning’s helpful tips this past season and seeing the progress, I am confident that Ginger will begin her prime years as a bird hunting machine this coming fall.
The large lynx tracks on the right have the same stride length as the doe tracks on the left. The tracks were side by side for over a half-mile. Could the lynx have been stalking the deer?
the side of Thrasher Peaks. I hadn’t yet found a buck track, so I decided to follow some does. I noticed when I came onto the tracks that there was a big lynx track walking alongside them. I didn’t think much of it because of how accustomed I’ve become to seeing them.
This is a rare lynx print in which the claws are visible, due to it being made on an icy road. Though it has a canine-like appearance here, notice the displaced snow surrounding the track – especially in the back – from the poofy-haired feet.
But half-a-mile later, the cat was still walking along behind them. Through the wide-open hardwood, heading up the ridge, certainly not traditional lynx habitat. I wonder if this was merely coincidence, or if the lynx was actually stalking the deer? I peeled off the track to
Perfect Points Ginger had a few perfect points during her first season (2019). She had just turned one-year-old, and she really surprised me when she locked up tight on a couple of woodcock and several grouse that season. The second season (2020), she actually started to drift, chasing around the woods like a crazy dog when the scent of a bird drifted her way. I think she started to believe she just might be able to catch one of those feathered critters on her own. Through many hours of gentle training, she is now finally coming around and starting to hunt like a champ. I knew it would happen eventually, but I wanted to avoid several more years of her goofing off, by coaxing her into her prime without pushing her too hard. Sometimes forcing a dog, especially this Vizsla breed, can be counter-productive. She is my best hunting buddy, never complains, and always seems to want to please. What more could I ask? Well, she still hasn’t brought a downed bird back to my hand, but that is something that I’ll work out before next sea-
continue looking for a buck, so I guess I’ll never know. Up Close and Personal The anecdote to begin this article also occurred this past season. I was driving back to camp in the middle of the day when I came (Continued on page 84)
Ginger with a bird she held on point ... like a champ.
son. I know it will happen.
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The Pitfalls of Magical Thinking I don’t believe in fairies. Or unicorns. Or government economic forecasts. I’m not sure whether I believe in pangolins, which look like an anteater and an incompetent aluminum-siding installer had a baby. Never mind. This is about fairies. Even though they don’t exist, some people are dreaming of relocating
to rural areas to commune with them. This movement goes by the unlikely name of “cottagecore.” As a normal person, you may be unfamiliar with this fad. That’s a good thing, because, as a normal person, you aren’t going to appreciate it when I explain what it means. So, rather than make myself the subject of your ire, I’ll
Pangolin. Source: AFP
let somebody else take the fall. Kate Gardner writes a column for the Portland Phoenix called “Miserable &
Magical.” According to Gardner, that name comes from song lyrics by Taylor Swift, who’s also the occasional subject of Gardner’s writing. In an article published in early December, Gardner noted that Swift’s recent album, “folklore,” has a strong theme running through it dealing with cottagecore, which Gardner describes as follows:
“[A]esthetic characterized by a romanticized desire to live in a cute, cozy cottage in the countryside and have a simple, non-materialistic life inspired by nature. Basically, it’s an interest held by people who don’t live a life like that but fill their homes, wardrobes, and Instagram feeds with depictions of this lifestyle.” Or to put it more concisely, urban weirdos high on delusions (of which fairies are one of many) and significant amounts of THC. Obviously, these people are singularly unprepared to deal with the realities of rural living. If the cottagecore corps ever shows up in the backwoods of Maine, there’s going to be a steep learning curve among the hordes of about-to-be-disillusioned homesteaders. As a public service to those flummoxed by fairies, I’ve compiled a few tips, suggestions and warnings in hopes these wide-eyed newcomers won’t be eaten by pangolins. Inconvenience stores. Cottagecore requires getting way off in the wilderness, far from all signs of civilization. Like Buxton or maybe New Sharon. As quiet and peaceful as that might be, it also presents a problem when these pioneers need essential supplies. The nearest store is unlikely to sell (Continued on page 84)
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Smilin’
Sportsman
Send your best hunting & fishing stories, and your favorite jokes, to the editor at will@mainesportsman.com
Youth Edition
Mother: Johnnie, thanks for helping prepare dinner tonight, but these carrots taste funny. Are you sure you washed them? Little Johnnie: “Yup – I even used soap!” ••••••••••••••••••• Teacher: “Johnny, I noticed in your essay about your family, you described your mother’s hair color as ‘auburn.’ That’s not a commonly-used word, and I’m curious where you picked it up.” Little Johnny: “Well, that’s what it says right on the box!” ••••••••••••••••••• Doctor: “I’ve found a great new pill that can help you with your sleeping problem.” Patient: “That’s great, Doc – how often do I have to take it?” Doctor: “Every two hours.”
Adults Only
Eb: “I can tell when my wife’s birthday is coming up, because she leaves jewelry catalogues all around the house.” Flo: “Did you figure out what to get her?” Eb: “Oh, I can take a hint, all right! I got her a magazine rack.” ••••••••••••••••••• “Siri,” I asked my electronic device, “why do I have so many problems with women?” “I’m Alexa, you idiot,” the device responded. ••••••••••••••••••• “If you’ve got any suggestions that will help me improve my golf game,” said Joe to his experienced caddy, “please let me know.” “You are standing too close to the ball,” said the caddy. “You mean I’m too close just before I hit it?” “No – you’re too close after you hit it.”
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New Hampshire (Continued from page 81)
around the corner and saw something scurry from the edge of the bridge over the Upper Magalloway River into the softwood. From the color, my first thought was “Coyote!” and my hand instinctively reached toward my rifle, as I slammed the brakes. But at the last second, I saw that there was no noticeable tail on the hind-end. “Lynx!!” I could see several sets of silhouett-
Outdoors & Other Mistakes (Continued from page 82)
lattes or avocado toast. If they want distressed clothing, they’ll have to buy new stuff and wear it out through hard work. Bagels? Might be some in the freezer, where they’ve been since the last back-to-the-land movement died out. Sushi? I wouldn’t advise eating uncooked perch, unless you like parasites. Instagram? The U.S. mail delivers here. Most days. On the plus side, these establishments do carry a variety of goods, including beer, liquor, ammo and lottery tickets. Neighbors. The cottagecore movement has been around long enough to have broken into warring factions. There are liberals (think hippies) and conservatives (think American Gothic). They hate each other. So long as these fairy lovers stick to urban areas, where everybody already hates everybody else, that doesn’t much www.MaineSportsman.com
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ed legs in the dark shadows of the softwood. So I bailed out of the truck with my binoculars and phone camera in hand. There, crouching in the shadows was a big (presumably) female lynx. I presume it was a female because lurking in the shadows behind it, was another, noticeable smaller (adolescent?) lynx. I focused the 8X binoculars on the big cat only ten yards from me! Its bearded face filled the glass. I’ll never forget the intensity of those eyes! Unfortunately, given the shadows and lack of quality in my phone camera, none of
the pictures came out well enough to publish. It wasn’t until I put my phone down that I noticed the change in the cat’s body posture. Its hind end was up – and spring-loaded! I got an eerie feeling and thought, “You know, you are only three lunges away from this thing – maybe you should back up!” Would it have dared pounce? I don’t know. But I decided I didn’t want to find out, so I retreated with a story and memory that will last forever.
matter. But people living in the country don’t have that luxury. When something goes seriously wrong in a remote setting (and sooner or later, something always goes seriously wrong), everybody pitches in, even if it means helping somebody they can’t stand. That’s because they know they’ll eventually need help themselves, and they can’t afford to alienate the only person in a hundred miles who knows how to unclog Windows X. Unless you’re planning on the fairies performing that little chore. Those aren’t actually fairies. As they sit on the front porches of their twee little abodes in the deep woods, the newly settled cottagecorers can hear the birdies singing, the wind rustling the leaves in the trees and the gentle humming of gossamer wings. Unfortunately, that last sound isn’t caused by Tinkerbelle and her friends. It’s the buzzing of black flies and mosquitos. Other less noisy but equally annoying denizens of the forests include, not trolls, but ticks bearing Lyme disease. Skunks will assault their noses.
Raccoons will assault their refuse piles. Mice will assault their larders. Coyotes will assault their pussycats. Deer will eat their gardens. And bears will eat their offspring. This is called the balance of nature, and it operates with great efficiency. Suddenly, places with streetlights, cop cars, sewer systems and panhandlers don’t seem so bad. Might be time to reconsider the core beliefs of cottagecore. As Australian author Kerry Greenwood put it in one of her excellent mysteries, “Of course, with enough kif and absinthe, one could believe anything; fairies, Pelmanism, politicians.” (Kif is marijuana. Absinthe is the kind with wormwood in it. Pelmanism is a 1920s brain-exercise scam. Politicians are like ticks, only with worse side effects.) Al Diamon writes the weekly column Politics & Other Mistakes for the Daily Bulldog and the Portland Phoenix. He can be emailed at aldiamon@herniahill.net.
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FOR SALE BLACK BEARSKIN RUG 7’ from nose to tail. In fair condition. $350 Call: 774-273-3129 L.C SMITH 12-GA. DOUBLEBARRELED SHOTGUN American Made. Ex-
tremely Clean Bores with tight lock up. Featherweight field grade. VG Cond. $895 CALL 207-562-7564 TRUCK VAULT, ORVIS DESIGN W 49 1/2”, L 63”, D 9 1/2”. Divided Drawers, Combination Locks, Carpeted Interior and Exterior. Picture emailed on request.
$650.00 Call Fred 978430-3167 —
WANTED DEER/MOOSE ANTLERS Buying any size deer
& moose shed antlers/racks or antlered skulls. All grades bought by the pound. 802-875-3206
SKIDOO, ELAN OR TUNDRA Any Condition. Have Cash. Will Travel. Call Or Text 207-522-6940
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Discover the versatility and convenience of Northeastern’s Camp and Cabin kits. Perfect for vacation homes or retirement retreats, these log cabin kits are easy to build and very affordable. They feature simple, open designs and come complete with pre-cut Eastern White Pine Logs, insulated doors, windows, rafters, roof sheathing and subflooring, plus step-by-step instructions.
Just imagine relaxing in your very own Northeastern log retreat!
10 Ames Road, Kenduskeag, ME
1-800-624-2797 • (207) 884-7000
www.northeasternlog.com
SOLD
Jamie Guimond of Fort Kent tagged this impressive 215-lb., 10-point buck on November 21, 2020. Originally from Wallagrass, Guimond is owner of JG Logging. Stacy Belanger photo
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Montville – 97.75 acres. Active licensed/permitted gravel pit. Plenty of material left. Potential option to expand. Storage/ maintenance building on site. $125,000
Milo - Recreational opportunities abound on this well-wooded 20 acre lot. Immediate access to ITS 82 and locally maintained ATV trail. Good views. $24,900
Rangeley – Approx 3,000’ on Round Pond, improved internal access roads and spectacular views make this 325 acre kingdom lot one of a kind. $799,900
Linneus – 167 acre lot with seasonal access. Major portion of the lot is considered significant wildlife & inland waterfowl habitat. $83,500
Palmyra – Palmyra 18 hole Golf Course and RV Campground are situated on 433 acres. This is a turn-key business with buildings and infrastructure pristine. $1,500,000
Hancock County - Over 800 acres with 5,400 sq. ft log cabin completely surrounding Fox Pond. Miles of maintained trails. Adjacent to 20,000 acres of conservation lands. www.foxpondestate.com. $4,300,000
Woolwich - 148 +/- acres. Remarkable lot with small camp. Hunt, hike, bike, sightsee, harvest some of the large oak and pine. Great westerly distant views from Bigelow Knoll. $150,000. Byron – 536 acres. Back country lot with seasonal access. Great southwesterly mountain views LD SOthe & frontage on scenic East Branch of the Swift River. Internal gravel road. $325,000 Dallas Plt – 3,911 acres. Property consists of remote ponds, frontage on S. Branch of Dead River, 3 miles interior roads, 6 miles frontage on Rt. 16 and timber. Close to Rangeley. $2,650,000 Eddington – 605 acres along Rt.9 with 475’ of frontage zoned commercially and is the proposed last NON-controlled section before the I-395/Route 9 connector begins. Excellent location to develop. Use the remaining land for other opportunities. $525,000
Beauty runs deep. So does our land sales experience. John Colannino Broker & Forester AFM Real Estate 40 Champion Lane | Milford, Maine | 04461 O: 207.817.9079 | C: 207.266.7355 John.Colannino@afmforest.com For more information on available properties please visit:
www.AmericanForestManagement.com www.MaineSportsman.com
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Never Miss Another Issue! Subscribe to The Maine Sportsman by going to
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Andrew Santheson of Waldoboro tagged this 12pt., 228-lb. buck on November 3, 2020.
Noyes Real Estate Agency 2388 Main Street • Rangeley, ME 207-864-9000 • info@noyesrealty.com www.noyesrealty.com
FLY FISHING ONLY UPPER DAM POOL #315 – MLS #1477070 – Nice Camp within walking distance of the Upper Dam Pool, mostly furnished, keep a row boat at the Upper Dam Pool, boat slip available on Mooselookmeguntic Lake, leased land $1525/ yr. $164,500 RANGELEY LAKE DIRECT SNOWMOBILE ACCESS #301 – MLS #1456495 – 3 bedroom, 2 bath open concept home with cathedral ceilings, granite countertops, walkout basement, 3 season porch with views of Rangeley Lake. 45 shared acres and over 2,000’ of shared frontage on Rangeley Lake, direct snowmobile trail access. $359,000
Caryn Dreyfuss, Broker • (207) 233-8275 caryndreyfuss@morton-furbish.com www.realestateinrangeley.com
DALLAS PLT. - wooded, level 1 acre building lot in quiet/private setting. Nice spot for your full time or get away home. Ideally located for 4-season adventures, Saddleback Lake and Saddleback ski area are nearby. Low plantation taxes, snowmobile friendly, short drive to Rangeley amenities. Don’t miss out on this one, inquire today! MLS #1475457 – $40,000 OQUOSSOC - tucked away off the beaten path and yet handy to everything! Looking for a quiet and private spot to put down roots, then check out this generously sized 7 acre wood lot. Surveyed, soils tested (expired septic plan can be updated), power at road. Build here and be minutes to public boat ramps, Oquossoc Village amenities. Don’t miss out on this one, inquire today! MLS #1468666 – $62,000 BEAVER MT. LAKE - WATER ACCESS! 2.34 acre wooded land parcel offers potential views of scenic Beaver Mt. Lake! Several possible building sites to choose from. Located directly across the road from deeded lake access with small boat launch. Town maintained year-round road, plus low plantation taxes. Nice spot close to Rangeley amenities, Saddleback ski area. Don’t miss out on this one inquire today! MLS #1475451 – $95,000
www.MaineSportsman.com
Grand Falls – This cabin was landed on this lot two years ago and ready to finish off and use. This 41 acre lot sits high on a hill with great views on Lord Brook Road. ATV and snowsled from this location. Take a look. $79,000
Springfield – Complete with a full, concrete foundation, well, septic, laundry. Cabin can easily be year round residence for someone looking to live off grid on True Road. With snowmobile access. It is situated in a great recreational area. $79,500
Lakeville – 52 acre lot with rustic cabin sits at the top of the hill offering breathtaking 180 degree views of area lakes and hills. ATVing and snowmobiling are at your door step on Vista View. Set it up for solar and live here year round. $99,000
Lee – A traditional northern Maine hunting camp. Located along an ATV and Snowmobile trail. Private location and hidden from view on Ames Road. This is a wonderful hunting location and is priced fairly. $29,900
Lee – A cute little hunting camp tucked nicely in the woods of Northern Maine on Hale Farm Road. Easy access to recreational trails and good Maine hunting. $22,900
Lee – Brand new cabin, well insulated with electric baseboard. Good sized lot offers privacy and well wooded. Close to ATV/snowmobile trails. Year round access on Old Steamboat Road, full time electric and possible owner financing. $59,900
Lincoln – Large modern lot with electricity available, ready to be shaped into your lakeside dream. Build your year round home or weekend getaway on Long Pond. $55,000 Chester – Bass Fishing. Boating. Blue sky. Clean air. Your own little slice of “heaven”. Build a home, or camp or simply park your camper here on Medunkeunk Stream. The driveway is already in place. $19,900 Cooper – This lot has electricity available at the road and great access. Wonderful frontage. New driveway in. Forest on Cathance Lake is Deep Cove Forest and will be maintained as forever wild. A must see lot! $79,000 Lakeville – Gorgeous waterfront lot with a nice wide driveway. Clearing has been done to open up breath taking views of Duck Lake. Electricity is nearby. Nice frontage. LOW TAXES. Wonderful spot to build your dream home. $89,000
R E A L
E S T A T E
5 LAKE STREET, P.O. BOX 66, LINCOLN 207-794-2460 www.cwalakestreet.com E-mail: cwa@cwalakestreet.com
1-800-675-2460 Call any of our brokers to work for you! “Tate” Aylward ............. 794-2460 Peter Phinney............... 794-5466 Kirk Ritchie................... 290-1554
FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION ON OUR PROPERTIES VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT CWALAKESTREET.COM
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