The Maine Sportsman - January 2020 Digital Edition

Sportsman The Maine

Time!

Luke’s Giant Cusk Through the Ice

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Beef Jerky Championship New Crossbow Law January Night Hunters Winchester’s 350 Legend Ammo

2 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

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

Each cabin has the feeling of being the only camp in the wilds.

Starting in the 1890s, the Libby Family used many of these cabins to access their main lodges on the headwaters of the Allagash and Aroostook Rivers, when the only available routes were by trail or stream.

Today, logging roads and seaplanes make access much easier. Cabins are located in WMD Zone 5, in the heart of the best hunting and fishing territory

Maine has to offer. All cabins are miles apart and within the NMW gate system.

Check out the website www.libbyoutposts.com or Libby Outpost Facebook page for all pictures, cabin information and rates (from $32/person + up).

Cabins come equipped with propane lights, stoves, fridges, kitchens and beds, and are ready to call your own. Cabins have been built or rebuilt from local timber by the Libby Family.

1. Aroostook River Camp: Log cabin built in 1941 at the confluence of Munsungan and Millinocket Streams. Gated road or stream access. 5 beds. T8R8 2. Brown Pond: Log cabin rebuilt in 2006 on a beautiful remote trout pond.

4 beds. Gated road or seaplane access.

T8R9 3. Chandler Pond: Two log cabins built in 1952 on the shores of Chandler Pond. 4 beds. Gated road/boat or seaplane access.

T8R10.

4. Clear Lake: Two log cabins built in the early 1900s and rebuilt in the late 1990s. Cook cabin and sleeping cabin with total of 9 beds. Road or seaplane access. T10R11 5. Echo Lake: Large log cabin with 8 beds built in 1983. Road or seaplane access. T9R11

6. Lower Hudson Pond: Two connected log cabins with total of 10 beds, built in 1984. Trail or seaplane access. Very remote. T10 R10.

7. Mooseleuk Lake: Two log cabins with total of 7 beds, built in 2007. Best wildlife lake for photography. Gated road or seaplane access. T10 R9.

8. #1 Camp: Two log cabins on Munsungan Stream built in the 1920s and rebuilt in 2011. 5 beds total. Road access. T8R9.

Contact Matt & Ellen Libby at 207573-2396 or mattp@libbycamps.com.

Mailing address: 197 Haystack Rd., Castle Hill, ME 04757

Sturtevant Pond Camps Originally known as Big Buck Camps, Stur­ tevant Pond Camps were founded in the early 1920s as a classic sporting camp.

Situated on the east­ern shore of 700acre Stur­tevant Pond, the three comfortable housekeep­ing cabins provide guests with spectacular views of panoramic sunsets over the Diamond Peaks region of New Hampshire. The camps are ideally located to offer unlimited outdoor opportunities, whether fishing, hunting, hiking, paddling or just relax­ing and enjoying nature’s beauty.

For anglers, the pond offers excellent coldwater and warmwater fisheries. With a maximum depth of 58 feet,

the pond holds abundant populations of landlocked salmon, but many of the camps’ an­ glers target the feisty smallmouth bass that can be found along the pond’s rocky and undeveloped shoreline.

Others take advantage of some of western Maine’s premier flyfishing waters. The Magalloway River is right nearby, Upper Dam Pool is within a 20-min­ ute drive, and the lower end of the Rapid River is but a 20-minute boat ride across Umbagog Lake. But the best kept secrets are the several isolated trout ponds and streams within 10 miles of the camps.

Commercial timber­ lands surround the camps, offering excellent hunt­ing for whitetail deer and ruffed grouse. Guide service is available on re­quest. Our prox-

imity to New Hampshire allows hunting parties to hunt in both states.

Paddlers can leave di­rectly from the dock onto the pond and down the outlet to the Magalloway River. From there, they have access to Umbagog Lake, the Androscoggin River and the Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge. Maine fishing licenses are valid throughout Lower Magalloway and Umba­gog waters, even along the New Hampshire side.

The three house­ keeping cabins are fully equipped, have screened-in porches and outdoor spaces. Use of boats is in­ cluded in cabin rental.

For more information on the camps, go to www.Stur­ tevantPondCamps.com, or call 207-486-9308.

www.MaineSportsman.com

4 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Editorial Jeff Reardon is Correct –

New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication

Sportsman The Maine

Catch and Release is Complicated

ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 568 • www.mainesportsman.com

Fish management in general – and the pros and cons of catch and release in particular – are complex issues.

In recent months, folks have seemingly begun choosing sides – either catch and release is good, or it’s bad.

However, as policy-makers at the highest levels of business or government will tell you, if you bring forth a simple solution to a complex problem, it’s very likely that your solution will be wrong.

The Maine Sportsman is knee-deep in the controversy. We announced this past summer a new catch and release “patch club,” for those who caught, photographed and released trophy-size fish.

Next, the Portland Sunday Telegram published a story focusing on claims by some authorities that the increased popularity of catch and release was leading to fish overpopulations and stunted growth.

Our “Self-Propelled Sportsman” columnist, Jim Andrews, published a column in the October issue (“Wildlife Numbers Game can have Unforeseen Consequences”) in which he described witnessing seasoned anglers fishing in ponds near the Canadian border who were encouraging each other to keep and eat more trout, as a way of producing fewer but larger fish.

The Sportsman’s December issue contained a letter to the editor from Bob Mallard of Skowhegan, vice chair of Native Fish Coalition, in which Mallard refuted the idea that catch-and-release is the reason fish growth is limited. “While Maine is admittedly suffering some fishing woes,” he asserted, “it is not because of catch-and-release.”

A thoughtful overview of the issue came in the November/December issue of SAM News, written by Jeff Reardon, Maine project director for Trout Unlimited (TU).

In the column, titled “Catch and Release – It’s Complicated,” Reardon decried simplifying the issue into “catch and release is good” vs. “catch and release is bad” categories.

Before anglers and biologists surmise that catch and release will lead to stunted fish, Reardon urged them to determine the answers to a few basic questions, including: • Did the water historically produce large fish?

• Is the water body natural or artificial, and if it’s artificial, are the water levels raised and lowered unnaturally (such as to produce electricity)?

• Have non-native fish been stocked or otherwise introduced into the water, and if so, what’s their impact?

Reardon pointed out that in other parts of the country, anglers are pressed into service as “citizen biologists” by being required to kill any non-native fish they catch. In fact, a review of Yellowstone Park’s fishing regulations reveals establishment of “Native (Cutthroat) Trout Conservation Areas,” within which cutthroat trout must be released when caught, while non-native species such as brown trout, rainbow trout and lake trout, in the words of the regulation, “must be killed – it is illegal to release them alive.”

Should Maine apply the same rules to certain areas where invasive species are affecting important fisheries, such as the Magalloway or the Fish Chain of Lakes in Aroostook County? Should “catch and keep” requirements be put in place for smallmouth bass, chain pickerel, yellow perch, brown bullhead, white sucker and fallfish caught in those waterways?

Jeff Reardon summarized his views as follows: “Like most fish and game management, catch and release is complicated.”

However, just because the answers are complicated, that doesn’t mean we should not try implementing some seemingly-radical approaches, and then evaluating the results.

MANAGING EDITOR: Will Lund will@mainesportsman.com

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www.MaineSportsman.com

PUBLISHER: Jon Lund

OFFICE MANAGER: Linda Lapointe linda@mainesportsman.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kristina Roderick kristina@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nancy Carpenter nancy@mainesportsman.com Second class postage paid at Scarborough, ME 04074 and additional entry offices.

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Almanac by Will Lund.................................................... 14 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves..................... 71 A Warden’s Life by Warden Lt. Bill Allen (Ret.)............ 51 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia.................. 35 Big Woods World by Hal Blood..................................... 37 Bird of the Month by Erika Zambello............................ 16 Central Maine by Steve Vose....................................... 52 Downeast by Jim Lemieux............................................ 61 Editorial.............................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by Lou Zambello....................... 55 Jackman by William Sheldon....................................... 66 Jottings by Jon Lund........................................................ 9 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon......................... 68 Kate’s Wild Kitchen by Kate Krukowski Gooding....... 62 Letters to the Editor.......................................................... 6 Maine Sportswoman by Christi Holmes....................... 74 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour................................... 26 Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose............................... 42 Midcoast by Tom Seymour........................................... 57 Moosehead by Tom Seymour...................................... 63 My Maine by George Smith.......................................... 19 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson.............................. 33 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie............................ 49 Outdoor Chronicle by Ed Pineau................................. 40 Quotable Sportsman by George Smith....................... 20 Rangeley Region by William Clunie............................. 44 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers............................. 76 Saltwater by Barry Gibson............................................. 59 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth..................... 48 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews.................. 65 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard............................. 41 Smilin’ Sportsman: Adults & Kids by Will Lund.............. 76 Sportsman’s Journal by King Montgomery................. 11 Southern Maine by Val Marquez................................. 47 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller.................. 54 Trading Post (Classifieds)............................................... 77 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour....................................... 70 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie.............. 38 Young Maine Sportsman by Luke Giampetruzzi........ 58

GUEST COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS

Beef Jerky Championship by Will Lund........................ 53 Don’t Take the Kids Fishing by David Putnam............ 43 Ice Fishing in Maine by Steve Carpenteri.................... 21 Ice Fishing in Maine by Delaney Woods..................... 24 Snowmobiling in Maine by Matt Weber...................... 27 Snowmobiling in Maine by Steve Carpenteri............. 30 Youth Writing Contest Story by Ethan Vose................ 46

On the Cover: Drew Belanger was 6 years old when his mother photographed him checking traps while he was ice fishing with his dad during the annual Long Lake Fishing Derby. Stacy Belanger photo

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www.MaineSportsman.com

6 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Letters To The Editor

Kudos to Van Wie To the Editor: I was gratified to see David Van Wie’s Sporting Environment article (“We Can’t Afford to Backslide on Environmental Protections,” December issue) on the destructive policies of the current federal administration in Washington, DC. It’s about time somebody had the guts to decry the President’s dismantling of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the resultant degrading of our air and water.

We in New York State also suffer from mercury and ozone poisoning.

Waterborne pathogens, insecticides, BPH, and pharmaceuticals are increasingly present in our lakes and streams—and at our faucets.

With one grandiose stroke, Trump opened lands for outdoor recreation— while at the same time rolling out the red carpet to our hunting lands by Big Oil, Big Agriculture, and major polluters.

Wake up, before the 30-’06 and fly rod won’t be needed. Our President is not “Conservative” – he is not a conservator of the natural world.

Our fish, air, water, and wildlife are at greater risk than ever.

Joe Weiss, Ph.D. Clarence, New York

Real Enemy of Ruffed Grouse is Habitat Loss To the Editor: In a recent piece in the December “Almanac” titled “What Recent Bird Studies Mean for Maine Sportsmen,” Nick Lund rightfully points out distressing trends in bird populations over the last few decades due to habitat degradation.

However, he then cites conclusions from a study about climate change conducted by the National Audubon Society that states generalist feeders such as the Ruffed Grouse will lose a majority of their breeding habitat in Maine, should current warming trends continue.

Despite erratic weather patterns being no friend to chick rearing, climate (Continued on next page)

Did You Bag a

BIG BUCK?

If your 2019 buck weighed 200 pounds or more, you can apply for entry into The Maine Sportsman’s

BIGGEST BUCKS IN MAINE CLUB!

For an application, go to www.mainesportsman.com and click “Patch Club Forms” to download a form.

Don’t have a printer?

Give us a call at (207) 622-4242 and we’ll mail you one!

ENTRIES MUST BE POSTMARKED BY DECEMBER 31, 2019 www.MaineSportsman.com

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Thoughtful Use of Lobsterman’s Pot Hauler

(Continued from page 6)

change in Maine will NOT be the primary reason the Ruffed Grouse loses the majority of its suitable habitat – not even close. In good habitat (i.e., young forests below the age of 20 years), the Ruffed Grouse exists as far South as Georgia.

THE primary and most pressing issue for Ruffed Grouse in Maine and its entire Eastern range is a lack of young forest.

Not to mention the widespread use of pesticides and possibly the realization of a second Silent Spring.

All conservation organizations need to join together, rally around improving HABITAT, and stop getting distracted with climate change, or else we risk losing resources to stem the drastic decline of our beloved wildlife.

Vince McNally – Union, ME —

Apprentice Hunting Program Works Well

Kathleen Cole paddles for home with her 2019 buck, taken on an apprentice license.

The hunting community is now one more hunter strong.

Thank you for your time and all your magazine’s content over the years!

Josh Johnson – Lyman, ME Employed at Coyote Creek Outfitters, Rochester NH

To the Editor: Let me share an experience from this past summer’s boating season that reminded me to appreciate the Maine tradition of lending a hand.

One of our marina customers was on an extended cruise Downeast. He pulled into a small cove and inquired if there was a free mooring.

Another boater pointed him to a vacant mooring in the harbor, but the pennant and chain were all tangled up.

My friend was hanging over the side with his arms in the water trying to free things up, when a lobster boat came alongside. The fisherman said “Here, let me fix that for you.”

He reached down, put the mooring’s pennant on his pot hauler, and lifted (Continued on next page)

To the Editor: I’ve been a follower of The Maine Sportsman since I was a young child, and I am writing to praise Maine’s apprentice hunting program.

Maine has blessed me with many deer over the years, and I’ve been fortunate enough to put a few 200+ lb. patches on my wool. I work in the outdoor industry, and I have quite literally made it my life.

In November, I had my most memorable hunt ever, and I was just a bystander.

My girlfriend Kathleen Cole is from Springvale. She’s a hard-working 911 dispatcher with unpredictable work hours. She’s also a single mom of two active busy toddlers. She had never picked up a rifle, hung a game camera, or given a thought to hunting.

My obsession with whitetails intrigued her, and she began reading and learning on her own ... and when I mentioned we could get her an apprentice license so she could try it out for herself, her eyes lit up!

She learned to shoot, scout, and how to access deer habitat and position herself properly according to the wind and thermals.

On her first hunt, this past Veterans Day, she made a perfect shot on a Maine buck. Since then, she has expressed many times the emotions she felt, the respect she now has for these animals, and how proud she is to be a true provider for her family and friends.

The apprentice license is working. www.MaineSportsman.com

8 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Letters to the Editor (Continued from page 7)

the rope, chain and rock. Hanging suspended in the water, the chain and rock unwound.

The guy set the mooring back down and motored off. Nothing to it.

Randy Randall Marston’s Marina, Saco —

Wrong Time to Increase Turkey Bag Limits To the Editor: This is a heads-up to the readers of The Maine Sportsman about the situation that exists with the Maine wild turkey population.

Apparently, last year at the urging of foresters and others who were worried about turkeys devastating the forests of Maine, lawmakers voted to liberalize turkey bag limits. This followed reports that folks were seeing gangs of as

many as 30 turkeys, and these all over the state, thus posing a threat to our woodlands.

I expect these people have never seen turkey gangs in states like MN, IA, MO, IL and VA that can and do number upward of 100 birds! And guess what, these states all have healthy forests – the turkeys are not jeopardizing future, healthy woodlands.

Recently, turkeys have virtually disappeared from our landscape, but likely not because of increased bag limits. This location here in Casco was sort-of turkey central in the summer – many broods – but very early this summer we saw a single brood with few poults.

Since that time we have seen neither broods nor hens, certainly no toms or jakes.

Now, I’m attributing this change – and I’m speculating – to a widespread and pretty devastating hatch failure resulting from a cold, wet spring. No,

Scenes like this are now rare in Maine, says the letter-writer.

I’m not a turkey biologist, but I do know that down feathers are basically useless when they’re wet, before waterproofing is available, and the result is a cold, wet, pneumonia-prone newly-hatched chick.

In my view it was premature to expand bag limits to control the population, when “mother nature” has already provided the service. If the state continues a liberalized bag limit, you will end up with a depressed turkey population that will probably take a long time to recover.

Bottom line? Liberalization of the turkey bag limit probably has come at a most unfortunate time.

Because of this recent development in declining numbers (which was confirmed in a conversation with a state biologist), I was told that there may be a state study to determine the status of the Maine wild turkey population. I heartily endorse this, if true, and I would hope that the effort will be supported by the state legislature.

By the way, I am also a hunter – although not as actively involved as I once was.

Dr. Keith A. Morehouse USFWS Retired – Casco, ME

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Before Fixing Maine’s Altered Trout Streams, We Must First Count Them “Acid Washed Trout,” a piece about reclamation of trout waters in Pennsylvania, appeared in the Fall 2019 issue of Trout magazine, a publication of Trout Unlimited (TU).

It chronicles the saga of the destruction of prime trout fishing waters by acid mine drainage caused by coal mining. Pennsylvania produced one-quarter of all the coal mined in the US over the past two hundred years, and is home to 5,500 miles of the Appalachian region’s 13,000 miles of streams polluted by acid mine drainage.

In time, the production of coal dwindled, and in 1977 a funding source for reclamation of polluted waters was established in the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Program.

Supporters of cleanup, as well as conservation groups like TU, established plans for reclamation of the many miles of polluted streams in Pennsylvania.

The Kettle Creek Watershed is one of the areas where a successful reclamation has been carried out, and trout habitat re-established.

Not Cheap Reclamation has been expensive. It has cost about $2 million to establish nine treatment systems to restore Two-Mile Run, a Kettle Creek tribu-

streams that were degraded by more than a hundred years of log driving. Log driving is history.

For two hundred years or more, resourceful and courageous men drove logs down the rivers and streams of our state.

When the log drivers encountered an obstacle, a boulder, ledge, sharp bend, a blowdown or stump, or other impediments to the smooth movement of logs, they made their work easier by removing the problem, if they could. If the stream meandered, they channelized it.

As a practical matter, there were no restrictions on what could be done to facilitate the job of log driving. Scenic ledge formations such as the famous scenic “Jaws” on East Branch of the Pleasant River were dynamited, as were the Native American pictographs on the Kennebec River in Solon.

Horses, dynamite, bulldozers, backhoes and other power equipment were used to en-

During Maine’s 200-year history of running saw logs and pulpwood down streams, log drivers used horses, dynamite, bulldozers and backhoes to remove obstacles, boulders, ledges and sharp bends in streams. However, brook trout rely on structure – deep pools, overhanging banks, rocks and ledge drop-offs – to rest, feed and avoid predators.

In 1951, the Maine Legislature enacted a statute allowing up to 1,000 feet per mile of any river, stream or brook to be bulldozed without obtaining a permit.

tary.

The cost of an acid mine drainage program to clean up polluted streams in Pennsylvania alone is estimated to cost $15 billion dollars.

Fortunately, Maine does not have an extensive problem of acid mine drainage, but the article contains an important message for Maine trout anglers and others interested in the health and productivity of our streams.

Thanks to vigorous advocacy of our conservation organizations, including TU, the Maine Legislature has enacted legislation establishing strict environmental standards for future mining operations. We must follow carefully

any future proposed Maine mines, or efforts to watering-down the law.

Pennsylvania and its conservation allies are dealing with the legacy of coal-mining’s past industrial practices that were destructive of natural resources. They are doing so through a systematic program of stream reclamation, after first identifying the problem and its causes.

Mainers are likewise living with the legacy of a bygone industry that damaged a valuable natural resource, but the state has not identified the problem.

Maine Streams Subject to Massive Restructuring Our problem is more subtle than acid mine runoff. Our problem is under the radar of most environmental organizations.

We have rivers and

(Continued on next page)

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10 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Jottings

In Baxter, All but One Stream Altered No one has studied the statewide extent of these modifications.

But we do know that log driving dams were constructed on lakes and ponds, large and small, all over state, to release their waters to carry logs to the major rivers to be driven downriver as far as Bangor on the Penobscot and Gardiner on the Kennebec.

One hint of the extent of these modifications statewide can be taken from the example of Baxter State Park, a tract we like to think of as “forever wild.”One DIF&W bi-

ologist who had studied Baxter has stated that she can find only one stream in the Park that has not been modified.

If we do nothing to restore these waters, it will require hundreds, perhaps thousands, of years for nature to slowly restore the natural condition.

Where ledge has been blasted, it probably will take longer.

The reality is that trout need deep, cool pools, overhanging banks, stumps, boulders, falls, meanders, ledge drop-offs and other hidey-holes in which to rest, feed and avoid predators.

Time to Sound the Wake-Up Call (Continued from page 9) The question we should be asking oursure the log drives had the condition of these selves and our gova trouble-free channel waters as they curernments is whether for floating logs. First, rently exist. we should step in and the traffic was saw However, we help nature restore logs; later, it was pulpshould focus on the these flowing waters wood. fact that our rivers to their natural func Most of these and streams have tion as habitat for fish changes took place bebeen “improved” to and wildlife, or are we fore the birth of people eliminate as many of going to wait hundreds who recreate on the obstructions as possi– perhaps thousands – rivers and streams toble. of years for nature to day, so we naturally do the job? have taken for granted To answer this question, we should find out the extent of the problem and the costs. Is there is some low-hanging fruit that would yield rich dividends for the effort?

Maine has more waters that are habitat for native brook trout than any other state. To this observer, it appears that the pastime of trout fishfor the 40th Annual ing is slowly changing, with less interest Each year KIOTI dealers are evaluated against stringent in fishing lakes and qualifications in regards to service, sales, operations and parts. Dealers who meet or exceed these qualifications are ponds, and greater innamed 5-Paw Dealers and earn the ability to display KIOTI’s terest in fishing rivers exclusive 5-Paw logo at their dealership. The program was developed to ensure that KIOTI Tractor Customers receive and streams.

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��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 11

Herb Welch: The Lefty Kreh of his Day Western Maine’s famed Rangeleys is a region that includes Rangeley, Cupsuptic, Mooselookmeguntic, Upper Richardson, Lower Richardson and, Umbegog Lakes, and nearby Kennebago Lake, plus surrounding mixed conifer and deciduous forests, and other lands, wetlands, and lesser waters.

The area exudes an atmosphere of welcome, comfort, natural beauty, promises of good fishing, and – not least of all – a sense of natural and human history.

You feel the brook trout and landlocked salmon that swim the lakes and their tributaries, and of those individuals who developed and promoted this superb fishery and outdoor sporting destination.

And you can recognize the influence of Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby (1854 -1946), Maine’s first registered Maine guide in 1897; the meticulous and

Herbert L. Welch: Black Ghosts and art in Maine Guide’s Wilderness, published by Stackpole Books, is a great read written by the father/ son team Graydon and Leslie Hilyard.

Welch, 1879-1960, was a life-long Rangeley-area resident, and was among the first fly fishing celebrities. He could cast a silk fly line 100 feet, and designed and tied the Black Ghost, and his life and times are covered in a recent book, Herbert L. Welch: Black Ghosts and Art in a Maine Guide’s Wilderness.

The Outdoor Heritage Museum consistently is voted the #1 small museum in New England by Yankee magazine. It is a true gem in the Rangeleys.

All photos © King Montgomery

imaginative streamer fly tyer Carrie Stevens (1882 -1970); and the ever-present Herb Welch, fly fishing guru extraordinaire of his time.

Book: Black Ghosts and Art After success with their book Carrie Stevens: Maker of Rangeley Favorite Trout and Salmon Flies and

Graydon’s superb Bogdan, the father-son team Graydon and Leslie Hilyard attain new heights with a superbly illustrated and meticulously researched and documented volume on Welch (1879-1960).

Herbert L. Welch: Black Ghosts and Art in a Maine Guide’s Wilderness is available at sporting goods

shops, fly shops, and at online booksellers.

Welch, a longtime resident of New England’s outdoors Mecca in the Rangeleys, was one of the first celebrity angling personalities when it came to fly casting, tying (Black Ghost), and fishing.

He could cast a silk fly line well over 100 feet, and he starred as the fly casting demon-

strator in the New England Sportsman and Camping Show from 1927 to1950.

This show was in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, and Toronto. It often drew more than 250,000 visitors over a week-long run. Welch guided and certainly gave casting instruction to President Herbert Hoover and baseball great Ted Williams.

He was the Lefty Kreh of his day.

Work Displayed at Oquossoc Museum An accomplished taxidermist, excellent painter in several media, a Paris-trained sculptor, and a woodcarver of note, Herb was a fixture in the quaint village of Oquossoc within close view of Mooselookmeguntic Lake, in his outdoors sporting and fly shop with his home above.

Both structures still stand – the home still is in the family, and the shop is now someone’s private camp.

(Continued on next page)

The Herb Welch exhibit at the Outdoor Heritage Museum in Oquossoc is a comprehensive display chronicling the life and times of this diverse and interesting man of the Rangeleys. www.MaineSportsman.com

12 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Sportsman’s Journal (Continued from page 11)

The largest amount – and some of the highest quality – of Welch’s work can be found at the nearby Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum across from the village firehouse. It is worth a visit just to see Welch’s works, though it’s best to linger longer at other superb exhibits that trace the history of outdoors activities over the centuries.

Father and Son Authors Graydon and Leslie often are firmly ensconced in their seasonal cabin, once part of the Mooselookmeguntic House, a historic sporting camp, adjacent to the marina at Haines Landing just down the road from the museum and Welch’s properties.

Graydon is a Maine native, a lifelong fly fisher, an outdoor writer with contributions in Gray’s Sporting Journal and the American Fly Fisher; and consummate appreciator of the wonders of the Rangeleys.

Leslie, who at age 16 won best-of-show in three of four fly tying categories at the first Northeast Fishing Expo in Worces-

ter, MA in 1986, is an avid fly angler, and is recognized as one of the finest streamer fly dressers in the country.

Their angling, sleuthing, and learning about who and what once was in the Rangeleys endear them to the region and to readers alike.

Through the pens and tying vises of the Hilyards, you join them on a fascinating journey through some of this iconic area’s past, making you part of the many interesting things that happened back in that day – including Welch’s somewhat close connection to a murder that really never was solved….

Traces Welch’s Impact on the Region Herbert L. Welch: Black Ghosts and Art in a Maine Guide’s Wilderness, published

by Stackpole Books in late 2018, is a comprehensive look at an incredibly diverse and interesting man in the context of the times and place in which he lived, and his profound effect on the character of the modern-day Rangeley Lakes Re-

Stephen Philbrick, left, owner of Bald Mountain Camps at Haines Landing on Rangeley Lake, provided historic information to Welch book author Graydon Hilyard. www.MaineSportsman.com

Stevie Kim-Rubell can cast a 100-foot fly line. Not only is she a quality fly caster; she’s also an expert fly angler with a lot of experience on freshwater and saltwater. She’s caught bonefish, tarpon and permit in addition to the trouts and basses we all pursue. She’s barely just into her teens and so accomplished so young.

gion.

This fine book was introduced in July 2019 during the inaugural Herb Welch Festival, a fun-filled weekend at the Outdoor Heritage Museum (OHM) in Oquossoc.

Herb Welch Festival Welch already has an entire exhibit room at the OHM, but for the Festival, new items joined the already superb collection. The Hilyards were present on both Saturday and Sunday to talk to folks about Herb Welch and answer any questions,

and to sign books that could be purchased in the Museum gift shop.

In addition, Leslie Hilyard was joined by excellent fly tyers Justin Crouse and Peter Simonson.

The three gents tied Welch’s iconic Black Ghost and other classic Rangeley-style landlocked salmon and brook trout streamers, including some made famous by Carrie Stevens, another Rangeley region fly fishing personality.

These beautiful streamer flies were not only proven fish-catch-

Welch book co-author Leslie Hilyard is a world-class fly dresser and his classic Rangeley-style salmon and brook trout flies are true works of art. And they also catch fish.

ers, they are works of art. (Justin brought along several dozen flies I’d commissioned him to tie for my use while fishing for brookies in Labrador, and I can report they were wonderfully tied, and caught plenty of big brook trout.)

Local Carver Solomon Fast, a young fish and wildlife woodcarver from nearby Phillips, creates some gorgeous fish representations.

Fast had a number of pieces at his table (Continued on next page)

Justin Crouse of Guide’s Choice Flies is a well-known tyer not only of the salmon classics, but other flies as well. I took several dozen of his hand-tied flies to Labrador this past summer, and his creations scored on a number of nice brookies.

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 13

The Herb Welch house in Haines Landing is much as he left it, and still belongs to his family. During the Herb Welch Festival, Graydon Hilyard conducted tours of the house that still holds a lot of Herb’s supplies and gear.

Books of cancelled checks, meticulously placed with their stubs, are stored in the Welch home. In addition to being a topnotch fishing guide, fly caster and tyer, taxidermist, artist and sculptor, Welch was an organized businessman.

ager of 14-15 years of age mounted the casting platform, and, after some warm-up attempts in the swirling winds, managed to qualify for membership in the new version of the 100-foot club.

Stevie Kim-Rubell, it turns out, already is not only a quality fly caster, she is an expert fly angler who already has made quite a name for herself in the fly fishing community in a relatively short period of time.

She began fishing with her father Daniel when she was twoyears old, and picked up a fly rod at four.

She began catching brookies and brown trout and soon added bonefish and tarpon to her fish list.

While on a trip to Mexico with her dad, Stevie, who was then about 12 years old, spotted, cast to,

(Continued from page 12)

for sale, and also was carving new works, allowing visitors to see the piece of wood slowly evolve into what would become a truly special final product.

I’ve also seen photos of beautiful and realistic carvings of ruffed grouse he has crafted.

The 100-foot Club Back in Welch’s day, he was part of the 100-foot Club, whose Rangeley Region membership was limited to those who could cast a fly 100 feet or more.

The equipment was not nearly as good as today, and it took a lot of skill to throw a long line. The OHM sponsored a new “club,” and those who wished could attempt to make the required cast to join the group.

During the time I was there, a young teen-

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hooked, and landed a permit, one of the most elusive and desirable fishes of the saltwater flats. She could be one of the youngest anglers ever to catch a permit on a fly.

Stevie Met Leftie Daniel and Stevie visited my old friend Lefty Kreh in the later part of his life, and Lefty was well enough to take them to a park just down the road from where he lived in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

There’s a small pond there, and Lefty used it for casting lessons over many decades.

Lefty was very taken with Stevie’s casting ability. ****

Herb’s work bench in his house in Haines Landing stands ready for use. The Welch sporting goods store is just across the street, and now is a privately-owned camp.

Herb Welch’s home in nearby Haines Landing. Graydon Hilyard, probably the person who knows most about Herb Welch, was our guide, and it was extremely interesting to see the home, some of which was much like it was when Welch was alive.

For example, the cancelled checks from the Welch sporting goods and taxidermy shop were neatly placed back into the original, notebook-size checkbooks used in his business and placed into a cabinet.

His easel and some paints were where he left them, and other memorabilia of his time spoke across the years.

Welch Homestead One of the highlights of my two days at the Outdoor Heritage Museum was a visit to

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supported by members and volunteers, and consistently ranks as the best small museum in New England in Yankee magazines annual competition. The museum has a number of events each season, and a schedule is posted on their website.

207-864-3091, www. rangeleyhistoricalsociety.org.

• Justin S. Crouse, Guide’s Choice Flies, hand tied in Maine.

207-737-9843, guideschoiceflies@gmail.com.

• Peter Simonson ties gorgeous flies. Go to his page on www. streamer365.com for more information on this fine tyer.

• Solomon (Sol) Fast, an excellent woodcarver and outdoorsman, is at 207-491-5722, solomon.fast@gmail.com, @fastcarving.

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Almanac

14 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

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

Within the memories of many Mainers alive today, rural communities in Maine rolled down freshly-fallen snow with horse drawn “snow rollers” to pack it down on roadways for ease of travel.

Methods of transport included horsedrawn sleigh, sledge or pung.

In 1915, the automobile was a technology still on its meteoric rise to wider public use. I recall reading an old paper sharing their first appearance in Rangeley in 1905, as part of the Glidden Auto Tour which traveling through Northern New England that summer.

Some towns refused to welcome the appearance of “horseless carriages” because “they frightened horses and the milking cows.”

In the following, which appeared some ten years later in the February 4, 1915 edition of the Maine Woods, demonstrated that folks were by that time actually driving them in the winter … and pioneering new concepts such as driving on ice and enjoying the same types of experiences Maine’s modern snow-sledders enjoy today.

Making a day trip of any significant

distance through a winter wonderland in the cold crisp air by machine to reach Maine’s remote backwoods was once thought to be unimaginable. That is why these stories were “newsworthy” in 1915. Plus, these articles contain some of the driving on ice daring-do that we Mainers, whether prudent or not, are famous for.

Please be safe and check that ice carefully before you venture forth in your 1915 Model T or on your modern snowmobile, but get outside to make some Outdoor History of your own!

Maine Woods — February 4, 1915

Enjoy Monitoring in Winter

More Owners Are Now Using Their Cars in the Days of Snow and Ice In this country, we have not advanced quite so far as has Europe in the matter of outdoor winter sports.

We are still inclined to hug the fireplace, when we are able, and there is still a very large class of motor car users that puts up its cars for the winter or uses them only as utility vehicles on the cleared streets of our larger cities.

But even at that, the tide is turning, for the motorist of a few years ago was own brother to the bear in his hibernating habits, says Suburban Life.

The bear, we are told, on the coming of cold weather, retires to his den and sleeps until a more propitious season. The early motorists, on the approach of winter, retired to their garages and ceased to exist as motorists

Shown here is the Rangeley snow roller, used during the time when roads were “rolled” to pack down snow for horses and sleighs.

until revived by the warm sunlight of late spring.

Today there is a large and constantly increasing group of motor-car enthusiasts who have learned that winter is by no means a closed season for the enjoyment of their favorite sport. The motorist who declines to motor simply because the calendar tells him that it is winter loses a supremely delightful experience.

There is exhilaration in the onward rush through the biting wind.

There is health and healing in the pure, clean cold. There is tonic in the sweep of the crystal-clear air, keen as a whetted scimitar and whipped home by the added impetus of flight in a fast-moving motor car.

AUTOMOBILE RECORD ON ICE Probably never since the automobile invaded the “Garden of Maine” has there been made such a record as was established January 14, on the ice of the Allagash river, when a party of Fort Kent men made a trip for 30 miles into the wilderness in the dead of winter, following the icy surface of the Allagash river from its junction with the St. John until open water compelled them to turn about.

Had it not been for this hindrance, they were planning to penetrate clear

to the foot of Umsaskis Lake, a distance from Fort Kent over the highway of ice for over 50 miles.

As it was, they established a new record for winter travel in Maine’s most northerly section, the winter conditions of ice travel in the extreme northerly part of this state never before, since autos became common in the “Garden of Maine,” having permitted such a trip in the middle of winter.

The party was composed of Messrs. T. G. Hetherington, F. W. Mallett and G V. Cunliffe, all of Fort Kent and they started from town over the highway road as far as the confluence of the Allagash and St. John.

Guide Larry Parsons of Lakewood Camps prepares to head out for a winter excursion in his Ford Model T equipped with skis in the front and treads in the rear.

(Almanac continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 15 (Continued from page 14)

“Old Sled; New Sled” Never were the contrasts between older and new snowmobile models more apparent than at last year’s Monson Snow-Roller Days event on the frozen surface of Lake Hebron, when these two sleds were parked in close proximity to each other.

On the left, a machine from the early 1960s, likely with an 8- or 12-hp engine, minimal graphics, minimal padding on the seat and an air of simplicity.

On the right, a comfortable rocket ship with luxurious appointments, a massive engine, advanced suspension and computer-designed graphics.

Advancements in technology and speed are inevitable, but there is also value in looking back to advantages of the early models: slower speeds meant fewer spectacular crashes, and machines from the 1960s that got bogged down in deep slow could be horsed back onto the trail, even by a couple of youngsters. Likewise, operational problems

could frequently be repaired on the trail, without the need to hook up a diagnostic computer.

So here’s to the new, and to the old!

—

Open Snowmobile Weekends

Various states and Canadian provinces host “open” or “free” weekends in January, February and March.

On these dates, riders with valid registrations in their home states or provinces, do not need separate registrations from the jurisdiction hosting the open weekend. (Of course, the operating rules of the host state still apply.)

Here is the schedule of 2020 Open Weekends, accurate as of press time: • Quebec: January 18, 19, 2020 • Maine: January 31, February 1, 2, 2020 • Vermont: February 7, 8, 9, 2020 • New Brunswick: February 21, 22, 23, 2020 • New Hampshire: March 6, 7, 8, 2020 —

Snowmobile Safety

by Steve Vose

My idea of the perfect snowmobile ride includes a maximum of about 50 miles of trail, while traveling at around 10-20 miles an hour. At this speed, a rider is able to fully appreciate his or her surrounding and enjoy the beautiful scenery that Maine winters offer.

Often, I see riders flying down trails and across lakes at unsafe speeds, and it has me wondering why they appear to be in such a big hurry.

When done in a controlled manner, (Continued on next page)

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16 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Almanac (Continued from page 15)

snowmobiling is an extremely safe sport, so long as the activity is not combined with alcohol, drugs or excessive speed.

Also, new and young riders should take a safety course, and should be well acquainted with the machine they are operating.

The Maine Warden Service recommends that as an extra level of safety, riders should always ride with a friend, and if this isn’t possible, leave a trip plan and time of return with a family member or friend. The Service also recommends that at a minimum, riders bring a mobile phone, means to make a fire, tools, and spare drive belt.

I would additionally add to this list, an axe, survival blanket, spare clothing in a dry bag, snowshoes, food and a pot to melt snow for drinking water.

Bottom line? So long as normal precautions are followed, snowmobiles are among the safest modes of transportation.

Avoiding Violations Having an understanding of law enforcement trends should help Maine riders avoid violations themselves.

The Maine Warden Service issued the following citations last winter: Operating Unregistered/Failure to Display Registration = 394 Loud exhausts = 289 Operating on a public way/plowed road = 80 Operating left of center = 32 —

Who Is Hibernating Right Now?

by Nick Lund, Maine Audubon

Ah, mid-winter in Maine! The birds have all flown south, and Maine’s fur-bearing mammals are tucked away in their dens, hibernating the days away until spring. Right?

Not quite. Despite how much I learned in school about animals sleeping the winter away, few creatures in Maine actually hibernate – not even bears.

Part of the issue is that scientists use a fairly strict definition of “hibernation.” It’s not enough to just ride out the winter underground – true hibernators shut down into a state of near-unshakeable unconsciousness. They lower their metabolic rate to save energy, which in turn drastically reduces their body temperature. Their breathing and heart rates both slow dramatically.

This strict definition of hibernation means that only three Maine creatures www.MaineSportsman.com

meet that criterion: the woodchuck, jumping mice, and bats.

Woodchucks Your friendly neighborhood woodchuck may build a separate winter burrow just for hibernation, entering in October and usually not emerging until March or April.

Jumping Mice Though you may never have seen one, Maine’s two species of jumping mice – the woodland jumping mouse, and the meadow jumping mouse – are some of our most common rodents. The long-tailed, primarily nocturnal mice begin their hibernation in late September, and are “out cold” until April or May. Bats Of the eight bat species found in Maine, only six of them overwinter.

Once the flying insects disappear, bats start looking for a hibernaculum (cool name!) in which to spend the winter: tree cavities, caves, mine shafts, tunnels, old wells, attics, or boulder fields all work.

Once a suitable location is found, the bats will lower their body temperatures from near 100 degrees, to just a few ticks above freezing, completely shutting down and relying on just the slightest amount of energy to carry them the five or six months until the spring.

Bat Threat You may have heard of a fungus currently decimating North American bat populations, known as White-nose Syndrome. Discovered in upstate New York in 2006, the fungus has since spread as far west as Oklahoma, leaving more than a million dead bats in its wake.

The fungus is spread from bat to bat as they’re packed together in their hibernaculum, and has the effect of rousting the mammals from their hibernation and causing them to spend their tiny energy reserves without any insects to eat.

White-nose Syndrome has been found in just a few parts of Maine, but scientists and conservationists are hard at work protecting colonies and finding ways to combat the fungus.

Bears – Close, but Not True Hibernation Bears, for their part, come close to hibernation but don’t quite reach it.

However, the bodies of Maine’s black bears do change when they enter their dens. Their metabolism slows, allowing them to hibernate up to 7 months without eating, drinking, urinating or defecating.

Unlike true hibernators, however, black bears wake up frequently and raise their body temperature.

Scientists traditionally consider what bears do in winter as a “torpor,” or “dormancy,” though the word I’d use to describe curling up and sleeping through a Maine winter is: “heaven.”

—

Bird of the Month: Least Tern

by Erika Zambello

Small but scrappy, these tiny terns journey all the way from Central and South America to breed along our eastern coasts, along part of California, as well as inland areas in the middle of the United States.

Nine inches in length, they are the smallest of the five tern species known to nest in Maine.

In the 19th century, when plume-hunting for fancy women’s hats hit its peak, Least Terns nearly disappeared from the Eastern Seaboard. Entire colonies were destroyed in the search for their delicate feathers. Though the eventual outlawing of this practice allowed tern numbers to rise once more, no one documented another nesting pair until 1961.

Since then, this special tern has nested in thirteen locations across the state, and had the dubious honor of being named Maine’s very first endangered species in the early 1980s.

Still, their numbers remain low – in 2010, only 212 pairs attempted to nest here.

Terns are notoriously difficult to tell apart, but here the Least Tern’s size makes identification much simpler.

Larger than a robin but smaller than a crow, they have white bodies, gray wings, a black cap, and bright yellow legs and bill.

Not good with estimating size? No worries – the yellow bill itself is an excellent field mark, usually visible from where they feed at the edge of the shallows.

Least Terns subsist largely on fish, though they are known to eat a smattering of invertebrates as well. Flying along the coastline, they watch for their prey at the very surface, then acrobatically dive in after them.

(Continued on next page)

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 17 (Continued from page 16)

Historically Least Terns nested on the beaches, close to their food sources, but today are also known to nest on gravel rooftops.

Though they have come back from their near-extirpation in the 19th century, the Least Tern’s survival still concerns scientists, wildlife managers and interested citizens. The birds’ numbers across the board have fallen by over 60% since the 1966, and the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan pegs their population at between 60,000 and 100,000 breeding birds.

—

Book Review: “Making Tracks,”

by Matt Weber Review by George Smith

This guy snowmobiles in all of Maine’s best places.

Even though I don’t snowmobile, I really enjoyed Matt Weber’s book, Making Tracks, published by Islandport Press.

Despite the fact that he lives on Monhegan, he snowmobiles all over Maine, and his stories are very entertaining.

His book’s subtitle is “How I Learned to Love Snowmobiling in Maine,” and given the number of difficult trips he’s experienced, he must love it.

Matt enjoys taking the most difficult trails and rides, and he has spent many hours shoveling his way out of deep snowdrifts.

He also had his share of snowmobile breakdowns, but he always seems to be able to laugh about it all.

Quite clearly, Matt loves being outdoors, just like me.

Matt has snowmobiled in a lot of my favorite places, including Rangeley and Oquossoc, Katahdin and the Moosehead region, and Washington County. His book includes stories about everything he encountered along the way, including a sick moose.

I was surprised when the book arrived to learn that Matt is the author, because I know him. Matt is a lobsterman on Monhegan Island, and he and his wife Mary started a brewery there.

Linda and I love Monhegan, and we had many wonderful trips in May to see the migrating birds. We also wrote some of our travel columns about the island, and we always included Matt and Mary’s

HANDLE THE

TOUGHEST TASKS ALL WINTER LONG

brewery, which is a wonderful place.

And yes, they brew great beer!

Editor’s note: See an exclusive article from Matt Weber, titled “A Trifecta of Trips,” on page 27this issue of The Maine Sportsman.

¶

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18 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

January 2020 Sunrise/Sunset Portland, ME

DATE 1 Wed 2 Thu 3 Fri 4 Sat 5 Sun 6 Mon 7 Tue 8 Wed 9 Thu 10 Fri 11 Sat 12 Sun 13 Mon 14 Tue 15 Wed 16 Thu

RISE 7:12 7:12 7:12 7:12 7:12 7:12 7:12 7:12 7:12 7:11 7:11 7:11 7:10 7:10 7:09 7:09

SET 4:16 4:16 4:17 4:18 4:19 4:20 4:21 4:22 4:23 4:24 4:26 4:27 4:28 4:29 4:30 4:31

DATE 17 Fri 18 Sat 19 Sun 20 Mon 21 Tue 22 Wed 23 Thu 24 Fri 25 Sat 26 Sun 27 Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed 30 Thu 31 Fri

RISE 7:08 7:08 7:07 7:06 7:06 7:05 7:04 7:03 7:03 7:02 7:01 7:00 6:59 6:58 6:57

SET 4:33 4:34 4:35 4:36 4:38 4:39 4:40 4:42 4:43 4:44 4:46 4:47 4:48 4:50 4:51

January 2020 Tides 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 29 30 31

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 Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

HIGH AM PM 3:13 3:19 4:00 4:11 4:49 5:06 5:38 6:02 6:28 7:00 7:18 7:54 8:05 8:44 8:50 9:30 9:34 10:15 10:18 11:00 11:04 11:45 11:51 — 12:31 12:39 1:18 1:30 2:09 2:24 3:04 3:24 4:01 4:27 5:00 5:33 6:02 6:41 7:04 7:47 8:03 8:47 8:58 9:40 9:48 10:29 10:35 11:14 11:19 11:55 — 12:00 12:34 12:38 1:11 1:17 1:49 1:57 2:28 2:39 3:09 3:25

www.MaineSportsman.com

LOW AM PM 9:08 9:38 10:01 10:24 10:55 11:12 11:52 — 12:03 12:49 12:55 1:43 1:45 2:31 2:32 3:16 3:17 4:00 4:02 4:45 4:48 5:30 5:36 6:16 6:24 7:03 7:16 7:52 8:10 8:44 9:09 9:39 10:12 10:37 11:17 11:37 — 12:26 12:41 1:33 1:44 2:33 2:41 3:27 3:33 4:16 4:21 5:01 5:05 5:43 5:47 6:21 6:26 6:58 7:06 7:34 7:46 8:11 8:29 8:50 9:15 9:32

Trout on the Menu?

Eric Ready of Brunswick, who says he’s “a big fan of The Maine Sportsman,” sent us this photo in the hopes, he explained, of generating some enthusiasm for the ice fishing season that’s upon us. It’s a frame shot from a video filmed by him and a friend as they ice-fished on Echo Lake in Fayette last winter. “This impressive bird is an immature eagle,” Eric explained. “It kept pestering my friend, trying to get his catch, flying from tree to tree and keeping an eye on us. We decided to give the eagle this nice trout as a peace offering in the hopes it would keep the big bird busy while we continued fishing.” Setting up a trail cam, they achieved this impressive image of the eagle swooping in. Eric Ready photo

GET THAT GIRL A PATCH! Seven-year old Isabella Lindsey of Searsmont may have to wait a few years before sewing on her new “Biggest Bucks in Maine” patch, since it’s likely too big for the arm of her hunter-orange sweatshirt. She shot the 11-point, 210-pound buck in her hometown on November 11, 2019 with a .243. She’s among the youngest -- perhaps the youngest-ever -- patch club member. Congratulations, Isabella! See many more trophy photos, and the “Top 10” bucks in Maine, in next month’s special “Biggest Bucks” issue of The Maine Sportsman.

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 19

Favorite Deer Stories – Part 2 Here are some more of my favorite deer hunting stories.

It was a Saturday and I got home from a funeral in the late afternoon, put on my hunting clothes, grabbed my rifle, and ran a half-mile through the woods to a spot I liked on a small ridge above my stream.

When I got to that spot, I glanced at my watch and noted that I had just 15 minutes left in the legal hunting day.

Amazingly, about two minutes later I spotted a nice buck walking by me in the thick fir to my right.

I did not have a shot, but I hoped he’d turn and head my way. Unfortunately, he went down over the ridge toward the stream.

But a few minutes later I saw him walking through the firs headed in my direction. There was a big boulder about 10 yards in front of me, and to the left of that it was all open. All I could see as the buck walked through the firs was a beautiful set of antlers.

When that buck walked past the big boulder, I shot it and it dropped. I glanced at my watch again and noted that there was just one minute left in the legal hunting day.

And I’m being honest about this! Ever after, this was my “last-minute buck.”

Unbeknownst to my Dad, some hunters from Vienna had undertaken a big deer drive. The pushers were on one side of his stand, while the shooters were on another. They hadn’t counted on him being there, nor had they counted on him being such a good shot.

When our young son Joshua saw me paddling back with my “last-minute buck” in the canoe, he yelled, “Great fishing, Dad!” Photo credit: Bass Pro Shop 1Source; Gerald Almy post

It was getting dark as I paddled that buck back to the house in my canoe, and as I approached the small bridge in front of our house, I saw my wife Linda and young son Joshua standing on the bridge watching for me.

When Josh saw the buck in the canoe, he yelled, “Great fishing, Dad!” And boy, he got that right!

“Thanks for the Push, Guys!”

My next story in-

volves my Dad. He and I canoed down Hopkins Stream and landed on my woodlot.

I decided to hunt along the stream, while Dad hiked up to a spot he liked on the Dolloff’s property, where we had permission to hunt although it was not posted.

Not long after Dad got into his spot, unbeknownst to him, a large group of hunters from Vienna arrived to set up a deer drive.

From Route 41

they dispatched a bunch of shooters, who set up both in front of and behind my Dad. He did not know they were there, and they didn’t know he was there either.

Once the shooters were in place, the rest of the hunters up on the road started through the woods, hoping to drive some deer toward their shooters. And very quickly, they jumped two does and a big buck.

The deer ran past the side of the first group of shooters. Two of them got off shots, but missed.

Dad was surprised to hear shots. Very quickly, however, he spotted the big buck running through a clearing off to his left about 50 yards away.

Dad made a great shot and dropped the buck.

Within minutes, all those other hunters made their way to Dad, and they were not happy that he had shot the big buck.

I heard all the shooting, so I made my way up to Dad, who had just finished cleaning out the buck when I arrived. I think it weighed about 220 pounds, which got Dad a membership in the biggest bucks club.

I decided it would be easier to take the buck out on a carrier, so I went home and brought back our deer carrier. That’s how we got the deer out of the woods.

And by that time all the other hunters had dispersed.

All Shook Up My final story today is about a friend’s daughter who was in her early 30s when she decided she’d like to hunt deer for the first time. I decided to put her in one of my best stands on my woodlot on opening day.

Before opening day I took her to the stand (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

20 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

My Maine (Continued from page 19)

and pointed down to the bog to our left. I told her that’s where the deer would exit the bog to walk right under her deer stand, after which they would

turn and head south down the trail.

On opening day she’d only been in the stand about a half-hour when, right where I said it would,

Quotable

Sportsman

by George Smith

“We have probably some of the best bass waters in the country. We have bass waters as far north as the Millinocket area down to the southern part of the state, and everywhere in between. You don’t have to go far to find waters where you can get bass here. Bass are an underdeveloped resource.”

David Trask, youth director of Maine B.A.S.S. Nation; Meg Robbins story, Kennebec Journal, October 20, 2019.

Maine anglers now catch twice as many bass as brook trout.

— “According to Bieber’s data, out of 917 municipalities, townships and plan-

a nice buck exited the bog, walked right under her stand, changed direction and headed down the trail, and even turned around and looked at her before continuing on.

She was so shook up that she never even

shot at the buck! But about a week later her dad and I took her to a farm over in Fayette, where she made a nice shot on a small buck.

Based on all of these experiences, the best piece of advice I can give you is to spend

tations, Verona scored a 0.98. The town of Mount Desert scored a 0.97, and Penobscot tied with the Kennebec County town of Wayne for third with a score of 0.93. Arrowsic, in Sagadahoc County, scored fifth, with 0.90.”

Places with the greatest deer densities. Nick Sambides story, Bangor Daily News, October 16, 2019 —

your hunting days in the same area, so you get to know the habits of the deer. Most of my big bucks were shot on my woodlot or in the woodlots nearby.

¶

“Snowmobiling in Maine also has a lot of local support thanks to the 280 snowmobile clubs that are key to helping to maintain more than 14,000 miles of marked snowmobile trails. Prime riding terrain can be found in the Jackman-Moose River area, the Moosehead Lake and the Rangeley Lakes region, the Millinocket and Katahdin area and the far north of Aroostook County.”

Maine Tourism Association newsletter, November 6, 2019 —

“They’re seeing fewer moose because there are fewer moose. But that decrease is intentional, and is a result of management decisions made to make the moose herd less susceptible to health woes caused by winter ticks. It’s not hunting mortality that has reduced the moose population. People get tired of hearing it, but the two primary causes are winter ticks, and climate change.”

Lee Kantar, DIFW moose biologist.

John Holyoke story, Bangor Daily News, October 30, 2019

“There is a wicked deer problem here.

Too many people in this town have Lyme disease.”

Clarence Preble of Georgetown, one of several areas where DIFW gave hundreds of bonus doe permits to reduce deer populations. Deirdre Fleming story, Kennebec Journal, November 2, 2019.

A Subscription to The Maine Sportsman Makes the Perfect Last-Minute Gift!

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��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 21

Maine’s Splake Lakes

by Steve Carpenteri Splake are a hybrid trout resulting from the cross of brook trout and lake trout.

Splake and brook trout are nearly identical, except that splake tend to have a slight fork in the tail and they grow to 10 pounds or more – traits passed down from their lake trout lineage. Missing on splake are the telltale blue “haloes” that brook trout are known for. In addition, splake have more elongated heads than brookies, also similar to lake trout.

According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, splake were first stocked in Long Pond in T10 SD, Washington County, in 1958. Biologists learned that splake grow at a faster rate

Over 90 percent of the total acreage of Maine waters managed for splake is open to ice-fishing. Many of our best splake waters require snowmobiles, ATVs or snowshoes to reach, but the fishing is so good it’s well worth the effort to access those remote waters.

Most splake lakes are remote and require snowmobiles, ATVs or snowshoes to access during winter. All photos by Steve Carpenteri

than stocked brook trout, survive to older ages than stocked brook trout and – most importantly – splake feed on the abundant white perch and yel-

low perch that typically out-compete brook trout.

In one study water, stocked brook trout rarely survived beyond age 1, and returns to

the anglers were in the 2- to 8-percent range.

In the same water, splake survived to age 4, providing fish in the 16- to-18 inch range with a return rate as

high as 78 percent.

Why Splake?

Splake are sometimes stocked in conjunction with hatchery brook trout in certain waters to provide anglers with an occasional larger fish.

Splake are also stocked in an effort to reduce the number of illegally-introduced smelts. Splake feed primarily on smelts, white perch, yellow perch, and minnows.

Splake rarely prey on brook trout or other coldwater gamefish.

Maine currently has approximately 53 waters managed primarily for splake: • Fourteen of these waters are in the “General Management” category; • 29 are in the “Quality Management” cate(Continued on next page)

www.MaineSportsman.com

22 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Maine’s Splake Lakes (Continued from page 21)

gory; and • 10 are in the “Trophy Management” category.

Most of these coldwater fisheries are in the northern portion of the state.

The action on splake lakes can be hot once the fish are found. Start shallow and work your way into deeper water till the flags start to fly.

Not Difficult to Catch Splake are easy to catch, and they provide excellent winter-fishing opportunities. Over 90 percent

of the total acreage of Maine waters managed for splake is open to ice-fishing. Many of our best splake waters require snowmobiles, ATVs or, at the very least, snowshoes to reach, but the fishing is often well worth the effort.

Over winter, the best waters will develop a groomed path that is packed down

by weekend anglers, so access to many of Maine’s splake waters is easy.

Getting to and from these waters early and late in the season may prove challenging, and anglers should always err on the side of caution. When you start to see muddy spots in the trail and open water near shore, it’s time to consider other options.

How to Catch Them In winter, splake (Continued on next page)

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��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 23 (Continued from page 22)

can be found in water featuring weeds, reeds, submerged trees, ledge or boulders in the range of 25 or 30 feet, especially adjacent to sharp dropoffs into deeper water.

Splake may be caught in water as shallow as three or four feet or much deeper, where typical lake trout gear should be used.

The strategies and techniques for splake are not much different than those that take brook trout. Because splake are not difficult to catch, a standard tip-up rigged with a lively minnow or night crawler on 8-poundtest line will suffice.

If you are new to a water and not familiar with how deep the fish are found, set up at varying depths till a strike pattern develops, and then drop all baits to the most productive level.

Splake may also be taken on small, flashy jigging lures and flies.

And, thanks to their lake trout roots, splake may also be taken on live or cut bait set within inches of the bottom. These hybrid fish move around at varying depths from top to bottom all winter and are likely to be found anywhere in the water column. As the saying goes, drop them a line and they will answer!

As always, it’s a good idea to prepare for “hit-and-run” fishing when targeting splake. Start out near shore in shallow water, for example, but experienced anglers know that if the bite is slow or non-existent, it makes sense to move to a new spot (an inlet, outlet or channel) or

head for increasingly deeper water until fish begin to show up and the flags begin to fly.

The majority of splake caught in Maine waters are under 12 inches in length, but many in the 18-inch class are taken annually. As time goes on, more lunker-sized fish will certainly begin to appear.

The Maine state record for splake has been surpassed several times within the past 18 months, with the current record being a 14.7 pound, 32-

1/2” monster caught

by Drew Leavitt of Greene, Maine on August 2nd, 2019 in Pleasant Pond in Turner. The world-record splake was caught in Ontario and weighed 20 pounds, 11 ounces.

For more information on Maine’s splake regulations, season dates and bag limits, log onto www.mefishwildlife.com, then click on the “Fishing,” and “Laws and Rules” links.

¶

Maine’s splake resemble brook trout, except that they have slightly forked tails and lack the trademark blue haloes common in brookies.

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24 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

The One That Got Away

by Delaney Woods While ice-fishing, have you ever had a fish get away, big enough that you dive down shoulder-deep into the hole after it?

Well, it happened to my dad while we were ice fishing at Clearwater Pond.

Big Group There were about 20 of us going fishing that day. We all met up that morning, made sure we had everything, and headed off for the early morning drive.

When we got there, we unloaded and got all of our stuff together for the cold, windy ride out to our favorite spot. Our family goes to Clearwater at least once a year. We’ve

– traps must be under your direct observation, but we use binoculars to watch for flags on the farthest ones.

After about an hour, my dad and I got a flag on the farthest trap out. We had already gotten several other flags with nothing big on them.

When we got out to the trap, we saw the reel wasn’t spinning at all. We thought it was just a wind flag.

After a final tug, the huge fish came flying out of the hole, still hooked on the line. Then it fell off the line and, with a flip of its tail, went right back into the hole. My dad was determined to retrieve it.

Avid ice-anglers will do whatever it takes to retrieve a lunker fish.

Source: InsaneFishing.com

found a spot that everyone loves – a spot that not only keeps us out of the wind, but also has a good history

— Little Ossoppee Lake —

ICE FISHING DERBY

of big fish.

Cold Day Our first priority that morning was to set up the ice shack and heater, because it was just about the coldest day we’d ever

experienced there.

After we got the shack erected and the heater fired up, everyone set up their five traps. We had traps going in every direction and almost halfway across the pond

Something Big on the Line I stood next to the hole and watched my dad pull up the line.

Then we watched it pull tight. We then knew there was something on the line, and it wasn’t anything small.

My dad kept pulling and pulling. The (Continued on next page)

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��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 25 (Continued from page 24)

fish had taken a lot of line, out so it took a minute to get it all in.

When he finally came to end of the line, we could see into the hole and realized we were looking at the largest fish we’d ever seen while ice-fishing.

My dad gave a final tug, and the fish came flying out of the hole, still hooked on the line.

Then it fell off the line and, with a flip of its tail, went right back into the hole.

Deep Dive The next thing I saw was my father,

moving quickly. Out of pure instinct, he jumped down flat onto the ice and stuck one arm, fully clothed, shoulder-deep into the hole, in a supreme effort to catch the fish bare-handed.

However, it turned out the fish was faster than my dad. My dad

came up empty handed, already laughing at the absurdity of what he’d just done.

For the rest of the day, he reported to anyone who’d listen that the arm that had been submerged in the icy water was very, very cold.

We will never for-

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get the lunker that got away. The story gets told and re-told each

time we are back out on the ice.

¶

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26 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Maine Wildlife:

Memorable Moose

by Tom Seymour

Some wildlife firsts are hard to remember. Who can say when they saw their first woodchuck, or squirrel or crow? Time filters such things with a fuzzy lens.

But not so with moose. No one ever forgets their first moose.

The first moose I ever saw was standing in a field just up the road from our house. This was some time in the 1960s in Midcoast Maine, and moose were rare visitors.

My second most memorable moose was not a live one but a taxidermy mount – the last one shot in Waldo County, Maine in the 1930s before moose hunting was prohibited for many years.

The somewhat bedraggled bull moose mount hung on the wall of an old man’s tiny house. The hunting license was attached to the mount and I got to read it – a real thrill.

Surprisingly, according to an old-timer down the road, moose were plentiful during his youth, while deer were practically unheard of. But the physical features of the area were different in turn-of-the-century, Midcoast Maine. Potato fields took up much of the available land, while woods, as we know them today, were relegated to 40acre woodlots. Every farm had its own woodlot, which they used as a source of firewood.

How times have changed. What was once open, farm country has grown up into mixed-growth forest. Those wonderful old fields, hewn from the forest by sweat-and-blood labor, are longsince forgotten.

The upside to this is that moose have returned. Now, seeing a moose is not a big deal.

Moose Watching Here’s a thought to ponder. People who have never seen a moose will happily travel hundreds of miles to go moose watching, hoping for a chance to finally lay eyes on a moose. Some even go on guided moose-watching tours,

www.MaineSportsman.com

where they have a very good chance of seeing a moose, as opposed to driving backcountry roads, solo and without assistance.

On the other hand, anyone who has seen a moose probably wouldn’t go too far out of their way to see another one. And people who regularly see lots of moose probably wouldn’t even slow down for a better look.

Moose have become big business.

In the Moosehead region, for instance, most everything is moose-themed.

Pubs, stores, guide services and more have some association with moose. And in moose country, guides with fourwheel-drive vehicles and even large boats, take visitors out on moose-watching tours.

And why not? Moose are remarkable creatures, huge and lumbering and yet capable of running at fast speeds. Even just standing still, moose radiate their great strength. Bull moose, the most desirable kind for viewing, often have massive, palmated racks of antlers. In North America, there is nothing else quite like a moose. Simply put, moose are spectacular creatures.

Moose Scouting It has for some years been my great privilege to accompany a lodge owner and moose-hunting guide on his pre-season moose-scouting trips. We leave in the drooling light of dawn and by sunup, are miles from civilization, smack-dab in the middle of moose country.

Driving slowly, we each take one side of the road and peer intently across clearcuts, looking for that large, dark object or out-of-place shape that might turn out to be a moose. Sometimes we’ll see a single moose and other times, as in this past season, we may spot multiple moose in one clearing.

What we saw this year were two bull moose and a cow. The bulls were both vying for the cow’s attention and

were not in the least interested in the two men in a pickup truck watching them.

The problem for my moose-guide buddy was in determining where the bulls came from. It was unlikely that they both spent their time in the vicinity of that one clearing. All the same, that multiple sighting was enough to alert us that there were moose in the general area.

The years of scouting with a real moose expert have taught me that moose have definite habitat preferences. An ideal setup would feature a small pond or slow-moving stream in the lowlands, and some recent cuttings on higher ground. Moose food, in the form of saplings and other pioneer vegetation, fill such cuttings.

Unfortunately, these cuttings have a relatively short shelf life, since once the saplings gain much height it becomes impossible to see into the cutting. But as it turns out, as one cutting goes offline, another one comes online – a continuous cycle.

Photogenic Moose Moose number among the most photogenic of wild creatures. A wildlife calendar wouldn’t be complete without at least one month featuring a moose.

Professional wildlife photographers never pass up a chance to take a photo of a moose, since moose photos – at least good, crisp ones – have value.

For the amateur, photographing moose stands as a hit-or-miss proposition. For every moose that walks out in the road and strikes a pose for the camera, dozens of others never fully come out in the open. What’s more, moose often walk along as they browse, and that makes it difficult to capture a good image.

Just remember that any moose, bull, cow or calf, is a special creature, worthy of our admiration and respect.

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 27

A Trifecta of Trips

by Matt Weber 1) Beginner Trip (Status - amateur) Don’t have a sled, gear, or experience but can’t wait to try it?

We’ve got you covered ….

For the novice rider, whether you’ve never been snowmobiling or have been out only a few times, I recommend renting

In this Maine Sportsman exclusive, Matt Weber, author of the new book “Making Tracks,” describes trips for three different levels of snowmobilers – beginners, intermediates and advanced riders – which you can select based on your comfort level, experience and skill with your machine. a sled from one of the sled rental outfits scattered across Maine.

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mobile for a day.

They are usually trail sleds, often very new, and often propelled by 4-stroke motors. These are quieter and less smoky than older 2-cycle engines.

For around $200$250 a day – a bit more if you need a helmet and warm coat – these (Continued on next page)

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28 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Trifecta of Trips (Continued from page 27)

GET OUT THERE AND

CONQUER WINTER

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folks set you up for success. You’re given a 20-minute tutorial, a map of the local trails, a smoothly-idling sled with a full tank of gas, and a couple of places to take your kids and their selfie sticks.

If you were to rent a sled in The Forks, it would be an easy yet satisfying adventure to ride 30 or so miles over to Moosehead Lake, and have lunch at The Birches.

This wonderful lodge is tucked along the shore of the big lake, two miles from Mt. Kineo, and offers up spectacular views to its diners. Personally I try to get here at least twice a winter. Here, you can fuel up, warm up, eat up and rest up, all while knowing you have nothing but an easy ride home.

The trails are famously well marked, so if directions aren’t necessarily your thing, you’ll still be okay.

If you’re making good time and the ice is thick enough, the local club will have a trail across the lake to Mt. Kineo, usually marked with small pine trees every 200 yards or so, frozen into the ice. The houses there will be boarded up for the winter, but it is well worth checking out this natural, iconic landmark.

Day trips similar to this one, with an easy destination yet outstanding views and trails, can be found all over Maine.

2) Intermediate Trip (Status- Can’t wait for winter!)

So, you’ve got your own sled and riding gear, several thousand miles under your belt,

and you’ve had to dig yourself out of a snowbank somewhere while you’re buddies kept going on ahead ….

This is really the best, isn’t it? In my opinion it becomes your duty to investigate every part of Maine that time and funds allow for. Sure, it’s fine to have your favorite spots and make sure you get some miles in where you feel most comfortable. It’s also common to ride out of your own camp, if you’re lucky enough to have one. In fact, I’d hazard a guess that one third of all riders I encounter on the trails are locals.

But don’t let this limit your horizons.

The riding in the Lincoln area can be as good as it is in The County, or Eustis, but don’t take my word for it – go find out for yourself.

For example, suppose you ride snowmobiles AND you love whoopee pies? Well then, you’d best hit up the 110 Connector coming out of Danforth and find that General Store where everyone gases up. That’s all I’ll tell you – you can thank me later.

And since you’re over that way, still riding but thinking about fishing season which is right around the corner, drop in to East Grand Lake for fuel and a bite, and you’ll end up with a pocketful of new fishing flies.

You’ll be glad you did too – the trails are pretty darn good there.

Last winter, my friends Dan and Carol trailered up to Shin Pond and then rode (Continued on next page)

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 29 (Continued from page 28)

in to Libby Camps for two nights. That’s one of a few ways to come at the famous Trains, between Eagle and Chamberlain Lake.

Dan informed me that the food and hospitality at Libby were outstanding, the trails were flat, and the snow plentiful, which are the three ingredients for a sweet ride.

Shin Pond and Libby are also easily doable if you’re coming from down south. As Dan likes to point out, once you pass Orono on I-95, you can crank up the cruise control another 10 mph and really cover some ground!

3) Advanced Trip (Status - Don’t follow me, you won’t make it) Congratulations – you’re an expert! The best of the best. You know all the secret trails and where the best spots for moose sheds are, when the rivers are frozen enough to run, you spend July rebuilding the clutch in one of your sleds, hold the record for latest spring ride up White Cap Mountain and also the most miles ridden in

a 24 hour period. You may have just come from the hill climbs at Lone Pine, or maybe you were teaching the groomer seminar in Newport, or were you side-hilling on Kibby?

President of your local club, managing 80 miles and 14 bridges?

Or maybe the Rogue, never riding the same place twice, averaging 250 miles a day on the flattest, fastest trails to be found. Chasing snow forecasts, driving all night after work and sleeping in the trailer beside the sled, poring over trail maps by head lamp, living on Red Bull and non-ethanol 93 octane.

You might be one of these riders, or all of them. If you are, you’re smart enough to know the best ride is probably going to be the next ride. There is a never-ending list of new places to go, but as importantly, new ways to get to old places. You certainly don’t need my advice for your next ride, but ... I’m going to give it anyway!

Get out of your rhythms. If you always ride the Presque Isle area, you know it’s hard to go wrong

there. But you’re really denying yourself the rest of the state. Plus, you know it can get kinda busy on weekends.

Load up the truck and cooler, pick up your pals and head for parts unknown!

Set a couple goals for the winter … I’ve ridden in 12 of Maine’s 16 counties. Has anyone you know ridden all of them? How about the Top to Bottom Ride – Estcourt Station to Sanford? (Aroostook to York County, if you’re wondering.) Or Eastport to Coburn Gore – that’s Washington to Somerset county. You can do either of these trips on an ITS trail.

If off-trail riding is your thing, then you already know you’re in the right state. Whether you’re seeking logging roads, waterfalls, remote ice fishing spots, or you just have an aversion to seeing other snowmobile tracks, off-trail riding is becoming bigger and bigger every year.

There are also

Remnants of Maine’s steam locomotive industry can be found in several places in Maine, including along an intermediate-level ride near Chamberlain Lake in northwest Piscataquis County, as well as this massive machine, located along 13-mile track used in the 1920s between Aroostook County’s Eagle and Umbazooksus Lakes. Photo credit: Hewes Brook Lodge, Portage, Maine

guides who will take you, and don’t feel bad asking or paying. In essence, you’re paying them to teach you about their experiences, for the chance to learn from their mistakes (trust me, they made them!) and to plug in a few new coordinates on your Garmin.

I’ve had enough time in the backcountry that I’ve learned

some humility. Now, it doesn’t bother me in the least to ask someone’s advice, or directions, or conditions of the west end of that lake over there.

Remember – winter camping is only fun if it’s planned!

See you when the snow flies, and ride right!

¶

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30 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Maine’s Best Loop Trails

by Steve Carpenteri It’s safe to say that the majority of Maine’s snowmobiling enthusiasts tend to ride short trails close to home.

Time constraints generated by work, household, school and other responsibilities often keep intrepid riders from venturing away from local trails.

However, Maine

Three popular loop trails may be found in the Moosehead, Katahdin and Rangeley regions: the Moose Loop, the Katahdin Loop, and the Black Fly Loop. Here are the highlights (and side trips) each route has to offer. winters invariably include long weekends, holiday breaks and other opportunities to head for the hills. This

is where the state’s well-maintained loop trail system becomes a viable option for snowmobilers who are pre-

pared and equipped for trips exceeding 100, 200 or even 300 miles.

Maine’s loop trails

are popular with snowmobilers seeking new scenery and unfamiliar trails. Options range from easy, short day trips to overnight rides featuring scenic mountaintop views, awesome night skies and breathtaking trailside frozen waterfalls.

(Continued on next page)

Visit Your Local Ski-Doo Dealer for the Details!

© 2019 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. In the U.S.A., products are distributed by BRP US Inc. This offer is valid in the U.S.A. only at participating Ski-Doo® dealers on new and unused Ski-Doo snowmobiles (excluding racing models and units sold under the Spring Fever promotion) purchased, delivered and registered between December 1 2019 to January 7, 2020. The terms and conditions may vary depending on your state and these offers are subject to termination or change at any time without notice. See your Ski-Doo dealer for details. ‡ Save up $1,400 on select 2019 models: Eligible units are select new and unused 2019 Ski-Doo® models. Rebate amount depends on the model purchased. While quantities last.” †Get 3-year of factory coverage on select 2019 Summit Models: Eligible units are select new and unused 2019 Ski-Doo models. Consumers purchasing an eligible 2019 model are entitled to receive a 12-month BRP Limited Warranty plus a 24-month B.E.S.T. Coverage. The warranty is subject to the exclusions, limitations of liabilities and all other terms and conditions of BRP’s standard limited warranty contract, including without limitation the exclusions of damages caused by abuse, abnormal use or neglect. B.E.S.T. service contract is subject to a $50 deductible on each repair. For complete details, please see the BRP limited warranty and the B.E.S.T. contract at an authorised BRP dealer near you. †† Save up $900 on select 2019 Summit models: Eligible units are select new and unused 2019 Ski-Doo® models. Rebate amount depends on the model purchased. While quantities last. †Get 2-year of factory coverage on select 2019 MXZ and Renegade models: Eligible units are select new and unused 2019 MXZ and Renegade models. Consumers purchasing an eligible 2019 model are entitled to receive a 12-month BRP Limited Warranty plus a 12-month B.E.S.T. Coverage. The warranty is subject to the exclusions, limitations of liabilities and all other terms and conditions of BRP’s standard limited warranty contract, including without limitation the exclusions of damages caused by abuse, abnormal use or neglect. B.E.S.T. service contract is subject to a $50 deductible on each repair. For complete details, please see the BRP limited warranty and the B.E.S.T. contract at an authorised BRP dealer near you. †† Save up $650 on select 2019 models: Eligible units are select new and unused 2019 Ski-Doo® models. Rebate amount depends on the model purchased. While quantities last.” Promotions are subject to termination or change at any time without notice. Offer may not be assigned, traded, sold or combined with any other offer unless expressly stated herein. Offer void where restricted or otherwise prohibited by law. BRP reserves the right, at any time, to discontinue or change specifications, prices, designs, features, models or equipment without incurring any obligation. Always consult your snowmobile dealer when selecting a snowmobile for your particular needs and carefully read and pay special attention to your Operator’s Guide, Safety Video, Safety Handbook and to the safety labelling on your snowmobile. Always ride responsibly and safely and wear appropriate clothing, including a helmet. Please observe applicable laws and regulations. Remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix.

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��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 31 (Continued from page 30)

It is important to note that conditions on Maine’s snowmobile loop trails can change daily. Weather conditions (thaws, snow depth and quality, and even occasional flooding), logging operations and landowner projects may change trail routes and conditions at any time. Local snowmobile clubs

are the best source of information on current trail conditions.

“Rules of the road” are simple: • Stay to the right; • Don’t drink and ride; • Be prepared for emergencies; and • Do not venture off the marked trails.

Three popular loop trails may be found in the Moosehead, Katahdin and Rangeley

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areas: the Moose Loop, the Katahdin Loop and the Black Fly Loop.

Moose Loop The Moose Loop, located in the Moosehead Lake region, varies from about 138 to 166 miles in length, depending on the trails one chooses to follow. The Moosehead Lake region routinely receives over 100 inch(Continued on next page)

Loop trail riders can expect to see some great scenery like this impressive view of Mount Katahdin. All photos by Steve Carpenteri

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32 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Maine’s Best Loop Trails

(Continued from page 31)

es of snow each year, making it a prime destination for snowmobilers, so lack of snow is rarely an issue for winter riders.

The Moose Loop trail circles Moosehead Lake. There is a cutoff trail in Rockwood that shortens the trip by half for riders interested in a shorter trip.

The trail passes through Greenville, Rockwood, Seboomook, Northeast Carry and Kokadjo. Portions of the trail are part of the Interstate Trail System (ITS), while other segments are locally groomed.

There are several other great trail rides in this region as well.

Maine’s loop trail systems feature some of the most breathtaking scenery in the state.

The Route 66 half-loop is 55 miles long, and makes a circle from Kokadjo to Rockwood to Greenville and back.

Riders can visit the historic Katahdin Iron Works by taking ITS 85/86 to ITS 110.

This trail offers higher elevations and scenic

views along the way.

The B-52 Crash Site on Elephant Mountain is also located close to the loop.

It can be visited by following ITS 85/86 toward the Wilson Ponds.

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Always wear an approved helmet and eye protection. Observe all state and local laws. Respect the rights of others. Ride within your capabilities. Allow extra time and plenty of distance for maneuvering. Do not perform stunts. ©2014 Yamaha Motor Corp, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

www.MaineSportsman.com

The real fun in riding Maine’s Loop Trails is deciding which way to go and which side trails to take.

Trail is the shortest major loop trail, covering 105 miles running south of Baxter State Park. This loop offers some of the most scenic winter mountain vistas in the state, including Mount Katahdin.

The loop circles through Millinocket and Medway along the lower edge of Baxter State Park, and passes several lakes in the region. Groomers from the Jo Mary Snowmobile Club, found at the base of South Twin Lake on the loop trail, maintain these trails.

Just off the Katahdin Loop Trail, the Pemadumcook Parkway Trail is a short, scenic alternate route off the Katahdin Loop Trail that passes by Pemadumcook Lake. Just off this trail is a 2.6-mile (one-way) side-trail that leads to 1,300-foot Ragged Mountain.

Another popular trail is B Pond Trail, which runs through the scenic 100-Mile Wilderness on the Appalachian Trail.

Black Fly Loop The Black Fly Loop is in the Rangeley Lakes region. It is

Maine’s longest loop trail, covering 228 miles.

The Black Fly Loop passes through forests and high ground, where riders enjoy panoramic mountaintop views. The loop circles Rangeley Lake and passes through Stratton, Carrabassett, Kingfield, Strong and Phillips.

Many riders plan to visit the area on January 26, 2019, in time for the annual Rangeley Snodeo Winter Carnival. Or, visit Grand Falls, the largest horseshoe falls in Maine, which is on ITS 86/89 just below Eustis along the north shore of Flagstaff Lake. From the trail, it is just over 18 miles (one way) to the falls.

Off ITS 89 near Kennebago Lake is a two-mile trail that leads to the 3,500-foot summit of East Kennebago Mountain.

For maps, advice, current conditions and other information, contact the Maine Snowmobile Association at www.mesnow.com.

¶

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 33

Social Media and Hunting I do not have a personal Facebook page.

I don’t have a Twitter, Snapchat, Tinder, or anything else that most people my age do.

I have no interest in it.

That being said, my immediate family members have Facebook pages and are frequently showing me stuff on the platform.

My wife also made me a Facebook page through her account for my pyrography business (Emerson’s Remote ReCreations).

Because her account and my business account are automatically linked to my computer, I find myself frequently scrolling through the platform.

Typically I am looking at hunting or outdoor-related content.

Sometimes I search someone’s name that I happen to know to be an accomplished hunter.

Lately I’ve been scrolling through group pages that specifically revolve

Social media offers many advantages to hunters – sharing tips; sharing successes. But is there a downside? With the presence of social media and the current political climate, is this a tenuous time for hunters and hunting? around hunting and related activities. It has stirred some interesting thoughts and emotions in me, which I’d like to explore a bit more and maybe get some feedback on.

Bragging Rights What is the reason for people sharing their hunting photos on social media? In this world of immediate gratification and self-aggrandizement, the cynic in me wonders if the motives for this aren’t a bit twisted.

Are they sharing photos to honor and display the beautiful animal—or are they sharing photos to honor and display themselves and their perceived accomplishments? Are they looking for compliments

on the animal or fish, or are they looking for compliments on themselves and their personal abilities? This is a tough one to distinguish.

I’m not saying that people shouldn’t be proud of their deer or turkey or bass. You should. But what is the right way to display that pride? Is it in posting bloody pictures on a public or private social media account? Is it in driving around town with your tailgate down? Is it in having taxidermy work done to display in your home? Is it in writing a story about the hunt in an outdoor publication? Is it in keeping it close to your chest and quietly thanking God? Does it have to be

The writer questions whether graphic hunting photos are appropriate or necessary to share on social media. Does it disrespect the animal? Does it open opportunities for anti-hunting sentiment? Should we hunters make a concerted effort to clean the animal up a bit, stuff its tongue back in its mouth, and leave out the photos of the innards?

the same for each person or each harvest?

Should you only advertise the biggest racks or heaviest weights, or are they all trophies?

Is the use of the word “trophy” even appropriate?

These are all questions that have run through my mind. I don’t claim to have any of the answers. But I do know that with the presence of social media, and the current political climate, this is a tenuous time for hunters and hunting.

So maybe we should reexamine some of these thoughts and be careful how we tread.

Humility I know a guy who I think to be one of the best deer hunters in New England. And you would never know

it by talking to him or checking out his Facebook page.

He lives for tracking big woods bucks. I can’t even guess at the number of 200-pound deer he’s shot. And if you ask him, I don’t think he’d tell you.

It’s not that he is guarding secrets; he’s just as humble as they come.

I’ve only ever seen one picture of him with a deer (a 250+ pounder)—and it was a picture that someone else took and shared.

I admire his quiet humility. I want to emulate it. But the temptation to brag and show off photos is too convenient and strong in this day and age. I have felt it myself.

To Post or Not to Post I was blessed with a beautiful big buck last fall; I was/am proud of the deer and the remarkable story behind it (which is why I shared it in The (Continued on next page)

Along with the negativity, there are some notable positives to social media hunting groups, like this gentleman who offers to take veterans hunting at the expense of his own time and spots.

The hundreds of comments of support are testimony to its positive impact. Without social media, the participants likely never would have been connected. www.MaineSportsman.com

34 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

New Hampshire (Continued from page 33)

Maine Sportsman’s November 2019 article).

But I had mixed feelings about sharing photos on social media. I wanted to emulate my friend’s quiet humility, but I also desperately wanted to share the story and the deer’s magnificence. I recognized, though, that doing so could appear like I was bragging (it was by pure luck and grace that I got the deer— not skill or tact)— which I didn’t want.

My wife ended up posting a single picture on her page, with-

out any description. It seemed like the middle-of-the-road option.

I still don’t know if it was the right thing to do. The comments were sincere and congratulatory, but they did something weird to me. I caught myself refreshing the page over and over to read the new comments. I was seeking attention and recognition.

These aren’t the reasons why I hunt, but I’m sure it is a slippery slope for others.

And that is worrisome.

Hunter vs. Hunter One thing I’ve no-

ticed on the group hunting pages I’ve perused is infighting or agitation between hunters. There have been issues with hunters shaming other hunters for shooting sows, or does, or young bucks. There has been shaming of various legal practices, such as hound hunting bear, baiting, and urban treestand hunting.

None of this is good for business.

I’ve even caught myself doing this mentally. I take deer hunting pretty seriously.

I’m kind of a purist—I hunt big, remote woods by stalking and tracking. I take the whole

month of November off and work my butt off in the woods. I can’t help but feel a bit of disdain and jealousy when I see a picture of an overweight fellow with a brute of a buck that he shot on opening morning, from his pop-up blind, overlooking his apple pile, in a cut cornfield, on the edge of town—with a caption of “First time hunting!”

I should be happy for that guy. It’s hard for me to be. I can contain myself, but others on social media can’t or choose not to.

Again, not a healthy environment.

On the other end of

the spectrum, though, I know a guy who takes wounded veterans hunting. He has numerous stands and blinds set up on various properties he owns throughout the state.

He takes requests and posts updates on a group Facebook page.

I’ve seen tremendous support, kind words, and well wishes for their success and experience.

It’s a case of people who don’t know each other banding together and wishing success and offering their help for strangers.

Does the good cancel out the bad?

¶

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Rack or Body? Lessons in the Quest for 10 Patches “Joe, the buck weighed 211.5 pounds on certified scales.” I read Luke’s text in disbelief. I texted back, “No way!”

Luke replied: “Serious, man. He’s a lot thicker across his chest, and the fat is thick on him.”

These are excerpts from a series of texts between my neighbor Luke and me after his wife, Crystal, shot her first buck on Saturday, November 9, 2019.

The reason for the texts? I had actually passed the buck the previous Tuesday.

Ugh! The reason I passed the buck was simple. He didn’t flip my switch. The buck was certainly a 2-½ year old, but looking

at him, I wasn’t sure he was 3 ½, which is what I like to hold out for. He was fat, but his antlers weren’t overly impressive. My encounter with the buck wasn’t brief, either – I had at least five minutes to look him over.

When I’m hunting the periphery of bedding areas, deer often end up bedding very close to my stand locations. This buck came in from my southwest on a northwest wind.

Had he kept heading east, he likely would have smelled me. Instead, he bedded just 20 yards to my south, behind a large blowdown, at 9 a.m. I got a quick look at him and was fairly certain he wasn’t a shooter.

No need to panic.

Unfortunately, I had to leave by 10 a.m., so I knew I’d have to bump him.

At 9:30 a.m., I grunted quietly. I saw the buck’s ears move, but he didn’t stand. I grunted a second time, a bit louder, and his head turned. He stood up a few seconds later – no doubt in an effort to identify the source of the grunt. In typical mature buck fashion, he walked back on the trail he came in on, and walked a bit closer to me. At just 15 yards, he finally spotted me.

With the buck in my crosshairs, I carefully studied his antlers and body. His antlers were just starting to gain mass. His tines were short and his left browtine was broken.

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His antler-basket rack looked like those of a decent 2 ½ year old buck.

I examined his body, and this is where I failed the test. He was fat for sure, but his neck wasn’t extremely swollen. He didn’t have a short body, but it wasn’t long either. I guessed he would dress 170180 pounds, so let him walk away ... snorting, unfortunately. Even his snorting was like that of a young buck.

Older bucks who’ve been spooked don’t normally snort where I hunt. Those studs don’t want you to know they’re around.

As he disappeared, my opportunity was gone.

Fast Forward Fast forward to the following Saturday and me finding out the buck dressed at 211 pounds ... I honestly had mixed feelings.

This was at least (Continued on next page)

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Big Game Hunting (Continued from page 35)

the third time I’d mistakenly passed a “Patch Buck.”

With my goal of taking 10 patch-bucks before age 60 within reach, “mistakes” like this one are tough to swallow ... or are they?

Shoot What Makes You Happy!

Luke told me his wife wanted to shoot her first buck this year.

Both Luke and Crystal are avid hunters. In fact, Luke’s passion for whitetails reminds me

of a young Joe Salty!

He eats, breathes and sleeps deer hunting and the outdoors.

His passion is contagious. I really like having him as a neighbor. His presence will likely push me and help “get hungry for whitetails” again. Admittedly, I’m not the same hunter I was in my thirties.

Luke and Crystal waited in their ground blind on Saturday evening, listening to tank-

er trucks putting manure on nearby fields.

Those trucks were good enough reason for me to not hunt the farm that evening.

Persistence Paid Off Here’s where their passion and dedication paid off. At 3:50 p.m., the buck appeared in Crystal’s shooting lane along with a smaller buck. Crystal would have been happy with either one, but she couldn’t get a shot on the smaller one.

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Here’s the author’s neighbor, Crystal St. Pierre, with her 2019 buck. The 8-point with the broken left brow tine was passed by the author a few days earlier because he thought it was still a 2-1/2 year old buck.

While Joe may not have been happy with the deer, Crystal was ecstatic to have it as her first-ever buck.

The buck dressed at 211.5 lbs. on certified scales.

nity, however, and as they say, the rest is history.

Crystal not only had her first buck, she had her first Biggest Bucks in Maine Patch. The buck I passed dressed at 211.5 pounds on certified scales. Way to go, young lady!

My happiness was admittedly a little subdued. This had happened to me before, but not in this manner.

• I had passed smallracked bucks in bow season that would have dressed 200 pounds.

• I passed a broken-racked buck that had an enormous body, only to end up shooting a giant buck with a huge rack that dressed 216 pounds moments later.

• I even passed another small-racked buck which another neighbor killed two weeks later. That one dressed 195, but certainly would have been 200 plus earlier in the season.

I … Like … Big …

Antlers I know none of the racks of the passed bucks would have been mounted. They’d likely just sit on a shelf and-

www.MaineSportsman.com

collect dust.

The big racks are special to me. I love the looks of massive bases, stretchy beams and long tines.

Most hunters likely do, as well. Giant antlers are the things dreams are made of for many. However, any deer at all will do for some, and that’s okay.

Crystal hadn’t shot a buck yet. It’s likely any buck would have sufficed. The 90”-100” rack on her buck might as well have been 160”.

Getting a patch for the first buck just makes it extra special.

I’ve witnessed firsthand the excitement of a first buck harvest. I know Luke and Crystal will remember this buck and are thankful that I passed. I’m very happy for them and that I passed the buck.

Though my quest for 10 patches continues and is important for me, I must admit, those big antlers really excite me. Sure, I want to shoot mature bucks, but if there’s a small rack on his head, he’s likely to get a pass from this hunter.

¶

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 37

Finding Your Way Back to the Truck

by Hal Blood The fear of getting lost keeps most hunters from venturing very far into the Big Woods. By guiding hunters most of my life, I’ve noticed that some hunters seem to have a natural sense of direction, while others never seem to know where they are.

I can’t explain why that is, but it just is. I would always quiz my hunters as to the direction back to the truck at times throughout the day, since it gave me an idea of how I could handle them.

Some hunters I knew I could never let out of my sight.

Others, I was confident I could send them around a ridge, or back to a spot we had found earlier.

There seems to be neither rhyme nor reason why some people have a better sense of direction, so whatever category you may be in, you have to learn how to make navigating the Big Woods work for you.

Land Navigation Land navigation requires being observant to the terrain as well as what the woods looks like. If you hunt in the mountains it’s a lot easier, as you can usually see out to distant mountains, ridges, ponds or other geographic features.

It’s fairly simple to hunt around in the high country and know where you are, so long as you remember how

Hunters can now download color satellite imagery onto their smart phones. I’ve tried it. What I found was that I was getting so wrapped up in constantly looking at the aerial photos, I wasn’t paying enough attention to what I was actually seeing in the woods.

Hunting from high ground like this is easier, since the hunter can observe distant mountain peaks, ponds and other geographic features. Low-ground navigation can be more challenging, especially when thick softwoods restrict the view. The author recommends that hunters become familiar -- and comfortable -- with conventional compasses. Hal Blood photo

many ridges or mountains you’ve gone over, and that you have to go downhill to get out of the woods. In other words, water runs downhill, and all water will lead to a road.

Tougher to Navigate Low Ground Low ground, especially where there is green growth, is the toughest place to land-navigate, because everything looks similar and you can’t see outside of the woods.

When you hunt in those places, you have to remember things such as streams, beaver flows, and any changes in the type of trees around you.

Another land navigation key is skidder trails, if the area your hunting has been logged – which is pret-

ty much the whole State of Maine. Skidder trails will lead you out to a wood yard at a road. It might be a gravel road, or it might just be a winter road that has grown back with weeds and raspberry bushes. In either case, it is a way to get out of the woods in a hurry, as usually wood does not get skidded much more than a half-mile.

If you are not sure which way the skidder trail leads to the woods yard, there is an easy way to tell – follow it until you come to the intersection of two trails, and the “V” will point toward the yard.

Map and Compass In this day and age of technology, most hunters rely on a GPS for navigation.

These devices are

great tools, but I would never trust my life to one. They are electronic instruments, and as such can be susceptible to failure. I only use a GPS as a supplement for carrying a topo map, and to mark waypoints. I never use the compass feature of the GPS because once again, it is electronic.

Bottom line? There is no substitute for carrying a compass while hunting in the Big Woods. Your compass does not lie about the direction, and if you think it’s inaccurate, you can check by carrying a spare.

Whether or not you have a GPS, it is always a good idea to check which direction you are heading into the woods. Yes, you can mark the location of the truck be-

fore heading into the woods, but if your GPS fails and you know your direction in, you can reverse compass course and get back out without a problem.

Let the Woods Be Your Guide Nowadays with our smart phones, we can download color satellite imagery into them and have a detailed picture of the woods around us.

While I have embraced this technology, my compass is still my primary navigation tool.

What I found over the past year of using the satellite imagery is that I was getting so wrapped up in constantly looking at it, I didn’t pay enough attention to what I was actually seeing in the woods. I sometimes walked in circles because I had this crutch to fall back on.

As a result, the only time I look at the imagery is if I’m in unfamiliar territory and I want to get a mental picture of it.

I’m basically back to taking mental note of everything I see in the woods – from the trees to the terrain – and am better off for it.

If you pay attention to what you see along the way, you will get much better at navigation the woods.

And as a result, you will also become a better hunter.

¶

www.MaineSportsman.com

38 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Western Mountains Hare Hunting Brings Back Fond Memories The author remembers hunting snowshoe hare as a young kid. He carried his grandmother’s singlebarreled .410 shotgun – a gun that his grandfather had purchased for his grandmother when the two of them got married. After the wedding, the newlyweds went on a bird-hunting honeymoon!

After a lifetime of hunting snowshoe hare with a shotgun, I decided to try it with a .22LR caliber handgun. I have successfully taken hare with a .22LR caliber rifle and a muzzleloading shotgun, and thought that taking a speedy rabbit with a pistol would be quite an enjoyable challenge.

The first shot I took at a rabbit was a difficult running shot that only allowed me a quick “point and pray” shot. I actually hit the hare, but it kept running – leaving a bright-red trail of blood in its tracks.

We never found that rabbit, but located an area where the dogs caught up to it and devoured it on the spot.

That was the first and only time I ever saw that.

The next opportunity I had to drop a rabbit with my pistol, a Ruger MK II with a heavy target barrel, came when the dogs almost ran the hare right into my lap.

After struggling through some thick evergreen growth, I found a nice stump to sit on. The stump had been cut off real low to the ground, so I was www.MaineSportsman.com

positioned at eye level with the raised area of evergreen growth to my left.

As the little pack of beagles approached my seated position, the hare dashed through the thick evergreen growth and stopped only ten feet in front of me – at eye level. I already had my pistol up and in position to shoot, so the end of the hare’s run came to a quick and easy finish.

My first handgun hare wouldn’t be my last – and the rest wouldn’t come so easily.

Hare Territory Snowshoe hare, often called rabbits, can be found in pockets of cover throughout the Western Maine Mountains (WMM). During the winter months, locating hare habitat can be made easy by a simple map check – just look for thin blue lines on the map that indicate small brooks or streams, and then find areas of swampland along the waterways.

Smaller streams eventually lead to swampy lowlands, and when these wet swamps freeze, they create a perfect environment for snowshoe hare. Thick vegetation

in and around swamp land provides excellent winter cover and a good food source for hungry hare. Many times, hunters can find where rabbits have chewed the bark off woody plants at snow level, enjoying a winter food source that provides both nutrition and ground-covering security.

The Webb River drains Webb Lake (DeLorme Atlas, Map 19, D-2), running south to where the cold tributary pours into the big Androscoggin River at Dixfield (Map 19, E-1).

Along the length of the Webb River on the map, take note of the numerous little brooks that feed into the larger flow. Especially notice that most of these tributaries have a secondary road nearby, paralleling the waterway.

Hunters looking for quality hare habitat can drive in on these secondary roads and be in the middle of a frozen swamp full of excellent hare cover. Extensive secondary snowmobile trails in this part of the region also allow hunters on snow machines to travel farther into these prime pockets of

Rumford hunter Ryan MacDonald was kind enough to take me hunting with his awesome beagle, Gunner. Photo courtesy of Ryan MacDonald

excellent hare habitat.

Days Gone By I clearly remember hunting snowshoe hare with my father and family as a young kid. I had my grandmother’s single-barreled .410 shotgun and used it quite effectively, rolling over one hare after another with the beat-up shotgun.

Some of the best times of my life took place out there in the wild woods, chasing snowshoe hare through frozen swamps from one ridge top to the next.

My grandfather purchased the shotgun for Grandma when they got married

and they went on a bird-hunting honeymoon – a man after my own heart. Maybe that’s where I get my bird-hunting craze from?

After my grandfather aged beyond his hunting years, my dad gave me grandpa’s old wool red plaid hunting suit. It drooped loosely from my skinny, youthful frame, but was a great improvement from my blue jeans and multiple layers of longjohns.

My mother sewed it up so it would fit better, but it still took a good pair of suspenders and hefty belt to hold (Continued on next page)

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 39 (Continued from page 38)

the pants on my waist.

That suit would probably fit me just right nowadays.

It’s funny how life goes in a huge circle sometimes ... winding around, back to the beginning, just like a running rabbit. Today I am fortunate to wear some better-fitting wool clothing for hunting, but I still choose to carry an “old timey” shotgun – a sleek L.C. Smith double in 20 gauge. Maybe someday I’ll find a .410 like my grandmother’s, and really step back in time.

¶

Nick Fournier of Monmouth was successful on Opening Junior Day, 2019 with this 162-pound (field dressed) buck.

Stacy Collins of Moscow, Maine bagged this 170-pound 8-pointer while hunting in his hometown on November 29, 2019.

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Camp Buddies In late November I returned from a twoweek stay at my deer camp up North. Whenever I return from deer camp, I always ask myself the same question, “Why do I do this to myself?”

Let me explain.

The family camp sits on the shore of Moosehead in the North Bay. Dad leased the lot in 1960 and the family has since purchased it.

It comfortably accommodates 8 campers.

I spent the two weeks with some camp buddies. The term “Camp buddies” is really an oxymoron.

These friends and relatives take on an interesting persona at deer camp.

You have Buddy #1. He is a very caring individual in public in southern Maine.

He seems sophisticated and successful. In camp, he is the camp cook, camp nanny, and planner of the day. He makes a great breakfast while commenting on lazy individuals who rise from their sleeping bags after he does. By the way, he wakes at 2 a.m. each morning.

Buddy #3 is the camp’s practical joker. He will reposition a door latch, just so he can watch another guy lose his temper trying unsuccessfully to lock the door. Buddy #5 is kinda height-challenged, and is often called upon to retrieve items from low cabinets. And we keep the younger ones – Buddies #6 and 7 – around primarily because they are good at dragging out deer.

Buddy #2 missed camp this year. He is the guy who instigates as much commotion as possible, while playing an uninvolved character. He never sits in camp looking out at the lake. Instead, he sits facing inside the camp lying in wait for his next victim.

Buddy #3 is quite a fellow. I have known him for 63 years and 8 months. He is the camp practical joker.

He spends his entire day contemplating his next move to create a situation for the targeted camp buddy, while entertaining the rest of the crew. (Of course, each member of the rest of the crew knows they are probably next.)

He is the guy who will move a door latch, just to watch a frustrated camper try to lock a door.

Buddies #4 and #5 Camp Buddy #4 is the old guy of the camp. He has his place at the head of the table, looking out at the lake. He used to be the young guy in my father’s deer camp, but as time and deer seasons have flown by, he is now our old mentor. We take no pity on him. Some say we only invite him for my Aunt’s salmon pies she packs when she sends him north with us.

We actually keep him around as he is the floor sweeper and camp historian. He can’t be beat at cribbage, though many have tried. I have seen strong men wilt when he stands over them if they happen to sit in his chair.

Camp Buddy #5 is a very interesting fellow. He is kinda height-challenged, but

Mason, Tony, Jim, Norm, Butch, and Island Boy. Pineau photo www.MaineSportsman.com

we never mention it to him. He is very handy around camp. He’s a cook, cleaner and good outdoorsman, but those are traits we all overlook. We simply keep him around in case we need something from the bottom cabinets.

Younger Generation Camp Buddy #6 is actually Son #2. He has taken over the planning and execution of deer week. Even though he sides with Camp Buddies #1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 to slander, make fun of, and target me with practical jokes, I never reciprocate, as he IS the planner of deer week. He is also the one who drags out my deer.

Camp Buddy #7 is a jarhead buddy of Son #2. He is fairly new to the deer camp scene, and learning the north

woods. He also seems to enjoy acting like a 12 year old, as do the rest of us. We keep inviting him back, as he is also capable of dragging out a deer. He really likes coming to deer camp with Buddy #5, as he is a half inch taller.

The newcomer this year, Camp Buddy #8, is actually my grandson, oldest son of Camp Buddy #6.

He was a joy to have at camp this year. He hunted hard, and sided with me in all discussions. He realized the wisdom I could hand down to him, especially compared to the other guys.

This assortment of folks take nothing seriously, and spend most of the camp time laughing.

Unfortunately, they usually have me as their target.

Fortunately for me, I am the one with the monthly column in The Maine Sportsman!

By the way, Camp Buddy #7 shot his first deer this year. We finally let him carry a gun ….

¶

Tony with his first deer, a 209-pound 8-pointer.

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 41

Winchester’s Gamble: A New Straight-wall Cartridge Exciting the market with something new or different, crowned with lots of hype, drives firearms manufacturing in the 21st century. Steady production of the tried-and-true no longer holds sway.

The first fifth of this century has seen boom times for cartridge development and a plethora of new “platforms” to accommodate the newcomer.

Attempts to make the popular AR-15 and all its cousins more versatile has accounted for many of the recent developments, but more traditional hunting arms have been swept along with the same wave.

Winchester opened the century with the introduction of the Winchester Short and Super Short Magnum series.

Remington countered with the Short Action Ultra Magnums.

Then Ruger came along with the .204 Ruger and .375 Ruger. The list now includes Hornady’s inexplicably popular 6.5mm Creedmoor; the 26, 28, and 30 Nosler, 6.8mm SPC; .300 A AC Blackout; .30 Remington AR; .30 Thompson/ Center; .450 Bushmaster; and .450 Marlin.

Fanfare Upon Release Doubtless a number of other developments and innovations stand ready for launch.

Grabbing success in a

The 350 Legend seems fine for most areas of Maine, where distance-to-target most often falls inside of 200 yards. It also sounds fine for a young shooter, or anyone wanting to hunt just coyotes and deer.

Winchester’s newest cartridge contribution, the 350 Legend, can be found in small quantities around the state. J.C.Allard photo

complicated, evolving market means not all will achieve that elusive success. Failure claims more than a fair share.

Twelve months ago, amid the fanfare of the Las Vegas SHOT Show, Winchester an-

nounced the release of its first new cartridge in several years – the 350 Legend. With the Legend, Winchester’s executives leapt in with yet another .35 caliber cartridge – an historically unpopular niche in the market.

Taking Chances Kelly Young, Managing Editor of American Rifleman magazine, wrote, “Pouring time and capital into

the development of a new chambering is an incredibly dicey endeavor for an ammunition manufacturer, even more so when that design occupies a segment of cartridgedom that has historically been met with disinterest by American shooters.”

Young calls it correctly – American shooters have never embraced a .35 caliber cartridge in a big way.

Some will argue that the .35 Whelen or the .35 Remington enjoys a small but loyal following. True enough, but the emphasis lies on small.

Other fine cartridges such as the .350 Remington Magnum and .358 Winchester need marketplace life support.

In 2017, Winchester research(Continued on next page)

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42 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Shooter’s Bench

wanting to hunt deer.

(Continued from page 41)

ers determined that shooters needed a .35 caliber straight-walled cartridge that offered economy, effectiveness and a way to meet legal restrictions in a handful of states. Four or five Midwestern states modified their hunting restrictions that mandated the use of shotguns or muzzleloaders to include some straight-walled rifle cartridges.

How It’s Made Ballistic testing convinced Winchester to build the 350 Legend using cut-down .223 cartridge cases.

The basic design removes the neck and shoulders of the .223 brass, and then fits a

.357-diameter bullet weighing between 145 and 180 grains.

Winchester’s initial claims for its three loads include less recoil than the .450 Bushmaster, more energy than a .30-30, and 20 percent more penetration than the .243 Winchester.

The claims sound good, but what they reflect is a rifle suited for coyotes and deer inside a 200-yard range limit, and that is about it.

The 350 Legend seems fine for most areas of Maine, where distance-to-target most often falls inside of 200 yards. It also sounds fine for a young shooter, or anyone just

Thought Process Only one year into production, Winchester already makes 14 variations of its XPR Compact Rifle in 350 Legend. The XPR carries an MSRP of $549, which many will find appealing. CMMC makes an AR-15styled rifle for the 350 Legend.

Ruger, Savage, Mossberg and two or three others already make 350 Legend rifles, which is significant for a cartridge with no track record.

While these are all budget-class rifles, the industry apparently places a lot of faith and confidence in this new round.

The mystery behind this venture comes down to: why

build the 350 Legend at all? Why does Winchester want a new rifle that arguably replicates the performance of the .30-30 and the .243, when millions of those rifles already exist?

Why would they want to tailor the firearm to overcome legal restrictions in just four or five states? (Why any jurisdiction would regulate an equivalent of the .30-30 differently than a .30-30 is a question for another column or two.)

For introducing someone to deer hunting somewhere east of the Mississippi River, and doing it for little money, the 350 Legend makes sense. The same cannot be said for west of the Mississippi, or Kenora, On-

tario.

Time Will Tell A few professional testers used the 350 during the 2018 deer season. Ordinary deer hunters who bought one out of good faith and curiosity used it in the 2019 season just past.

As we go into the second year of production and the initial new product hoopla dies down, the real “legend” of the 350 legend begins.

If I lived in a place that restricted my cartridges to short, straight-walled types, I’d first go hunting for a Winchester Model 1892 in .44-40. If not that, I would search high and low for Ruger in .44 Remington Magnum.

¶

MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ: Moose by Steve Vose

The moose (Alces Alces) is the largest member of the deer family. Unlike deer, however, which possess antlers with a dendritic (“twig-like”) configuration, bull moose (males) have palmate or “open-hand”-shaped antlers.

Impressive woodland creatures, bull moose can weigh as much as 1,800 pounds. A mature male moose is called a bull, a mature female a cow, and an immature moose of either sex a calf.

Moose inhabit the boreal forests of Russia, Canada, Alaska and New England, with Maine having the largest population of the lower 48 states. The moose population in New Hampshire has fallen from 7,500 in early 2000, to a current estimate of 4,000. In Vermont, the numbers are down to 2,200, from a high of 5,000 animals in 2005.

Much of the decline has been attributed to the winter tick, with about 70% of each year’s moose calves across Vermont and New Hampshire dying due to the parasite. Biologists also predict moose populations are in decline in

Questions 1. A moose is the largest member of what family?

2. Moose have what kind of antlers?

3. What is an adult male moose called? www.MaineSportsman.com

the southern extent of their range due to heat stress resulting from climate change.

The most common moose predators are wolves, bears and humans.

Moose eat only plants, and are therefore categorized as herbivores. A moose may consume as much as 50 to 60 pounds of both terrestrial and aquatic vegetation per day.

Moose have digestive systems similar to domestic cattle and are therefore “ruminants,” having four parts to their stomachs.

Moose can dive underwater in pursuit of aquatic plants to a depth of almost 20 feet, and can stay submerged 4.

5.

6.

How many pounds of plants can a moose eat per day?

How deep underwater can a moose dive?

How fast can an adult moose run?

for a full minute.

Although generally slow-moving and sedentary, moose can become aggressive and move quickly if angered or startled. This is especially true of cows with calves, and also with bulls during the fall breeding season, when energetic fights occur between males competing for females.

An adult moose can run as fast as 35 miles per hour. They are also excellent swimmers, able to swim cross large bodies of water at speeds of up to 6 miles per hour.

Moose mating season occurs in September and October. Female moose have an eight-month gestation period, bearing a single calf – or twins, if food is plentiful – in May or June.

Moose weigh 25 to 35 pounds at birth. Calves can run within a few days, and swim well within two weeks. The young will stay with the mother until just before the next young are born.

The life span of an average moose is between 15 and 25 years.

7. How fast can a moose swim?

8. How much does a moose calf weigh at birth?

Answers on Page 77

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 43

— Guest Column —

Don’t Take the Kids Fishing — Take Old Folks!

by David Putnam From billboards and public service announcements, and from fly-fishing clubs to churches, sportsmen are reminded of their responsibility to “take a child fishing.”

You get the idea – A kid fishing isn’t taking drugs and will be out in nature. And nature, even on a rainy, cold, no-fish day, is good for growing bones and moral development.

Don’t fall for it!

Take an old person instead.

Here’s Why – Bad Language and Beer You don’t have to worry about influencing old folks. They’re set in their ways, happy they haven’t fallen and broken a hip; grateful for a soft seat cushion.

Let’s face it – we’re not all suited to mentor kids. Some of us are slobs and poor fishermen at the same time – what many parents would call a “bad influence.” Loose in the wild, in a boat away from land, we might teach knots that slip, poor anchoring techniques, inaccurate bird identification and a host of other well-intended but warped ideas about the Great Outdoors.

I, for example, have used bad language when fishing. And, 40 years ago, when I took my kids fishing, I also drank beer – lots of it.

My son, who has his own kids now, reminds me that his main job

Some of us should not be influencing young people.

Years ago, when the author took his kids fishing, the kids’ primary job was to hand the author another Budweiser from the cooler when he uttered the code word “Redfish.”

American Redfish (aluminus kingofbeerus)

in our boat was to pass me a Budweiser from the cooler when I said the word, “Redfish.”

By some miracle, he did not grow up to be a politician, and I found a way to stop drinking.

Food, Gear and a Jar From the start, the old guy or gal is a better bet. If you arrange to pick them up at their house on the way to the boat ramp at an early hour, they’ll be waiting, might even invite you inside to share a cup of coffee and maybe a freshly-baked biscuit with homemade jelly. (That actually happened to me once.)

They’ll have their gear ready – rain jacket, hat, and maybe a bag of excellent sandwiches and pickles to go with your Vienna sausages. With old guys, the smart ones will bring a largemouth container to pee in, so they don’t

have to try standing and dribbling over the side of the boat. You know how that goes.

A lad of 10 will stand back from the gunwale and pee 10 feet out on the water at floating imaginary targets – a discouraging sight to an older adult male.

Kids are Different To pick up the kid, you’ve gotta go to their house, ring the bell, wake up his mom and a few neighbors, then wait while the wee one is shaken awake, given some food and a hat – which mom will have to scrounge around, for while you watch the sunrise and think about the early morning bite you’re missing.

A kid is oblivious to sunrise.

When you get to the dock, kids will want to carry the flashlight.

They’ll be busy looking at their cell phone, texting as they’re walking to the boat, flashing

the light.

Oldsters Don’t Scamper About By contrast, even a very old adult on a walker will offer to help you gather gear from your car. Rarely will geezers jump aboard your boat with sand on their shoes. They’ll know it’s not a “game” and they’ll accept a friendly hand getting aboard. They will not scamper around the boat and kick over the bait bucket or leap up on the gunwales. Nor will they ask a million questions or eat the lunch sandwiches in the early morning.

Kids get bored fast, and can be counted on to whine. You promised some “nice ones,” so when you don’t get a bite in an hour—an eternity to a young boy or girl – they will start playing a game on their phone and forget about holding the fishing rod.

A self-centered

child is hard to deal with. You might as well head in. Remember, if you get cranky and break into lecture mode, the kid will tell everybody about the bad day he had with you.

No Complaints; Just Fishing Lies Old folks rarely whine audibly. They will sigh and politely mention a vague pain, maybe clutching at their lower back, but they know they are stuck for the day.

When bored, old anglers just crank up their fishing lies.

“Mighty fine eating, a walleye. I remember back in the late 1950s on Lake Michigan….”

Old-timers are like golfers who talk a 10 handicap and play to a 30. It’s harmless; expected.

Most seniors who accept a fishing invitation have used a spinning rod or they can master it quickly.

Many kids have never tried a spinning rod, but they’re likely to insist that they “do better” holding it their way – upside down, reeling backwards.

Adults don’t do that, except maybe millennials.

So readers – I can see you are nodding silently in agreement.

So follow my advice – take an old person fishing.

¶ www.MaineSportsman.com

44 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

New Year’s Effort to Educate the Unthinking Few Above me on the ridge, I spotted a big buck moving down toward my position. I quietly waited its approach. Just then, two carloads of young hunters drove up, stopped right next to where I’d parked my truck, got out, slammed all their doors, and proceeded to drink coffee and talk loudly for 15 minutes.

The New Year usually starts with a few resolutions to change our negative behaviors. This New Year, I would like to start with several complaints that I hope help some misguided outdoor-lovers see the error of their ways.

Most all the hunters and anglers I have been fortunate enough to meet over the years have turned out to be good, solidly-grounded and ethical folks. Of course, there also have been a couple of screwballs who really surprised me, but there are always a few bad apples in every group.

The folks I’m talking about are probably normal, everyday kinds of hunters and fishers; however, they just haven’t been educated sufficiently to

understand that some of the things they do out there in the woods and on the water are COMPLETELY WRONG. Target Practicing During Prime Hunting Time A good friend of mine called to tell me about his opening day of deer hunting with a story of how foolish behavior on the part of some uneducated hunters ruined a perfectly wonderful day in the woods. It started like this ....

My friend said, “I worked my tail off for more than two weeks to get ahead of my heavy work load so I could have the opening day of deer season off. That Saturday morning, I climbed a mountain and was feeling good about how

fortunate I was to still be able to climb at my advanced age, knowing that this special day might be the only chance I had at getting out during the season.”

He went on to say, “I hunted hard all morning on that mountain top and found a great natural blind that I decided to set on until dark. As the late afternoon sun began to fade – prime deer hunting time – a series of gunshots came from about three hundred yards below me on the mountainside.

“It turns out some yahoo decided to begin an excessively-lengthy target shooting session right during the prime time of the day, and season, for deer movement. My only chance of seeing a deer that season was ruined. Even if he didn’t chase the deer away, the solitude and quiet peace I had hoped to enjoy that afternoon were ruined.”

Please Be Considerate Even though folks think they might be all alone out there in the wilderness, it doesn’t mean they can do whatever they’d like.

The freedom we feel in the woods comes with a huge responsibility to do the right thing,

www.MaineSportsman.com

Reasonable hunters who encounter a truck parked in the woods will quietly move to a different location. William Clunie photo

even when no one is around to observe what we do. Also, the old Golden Rule still remains in effect the last time I checked – “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

The target shooters could have moved their shooting session to lunch time and avoided this untimely and thoughtless issue ... or maybe just move the session to Sunday, to avoid a conflict with deer hunters.

Parking Next to My Truck I had two carloads of deer hunters park right next to my truck a few deer seasons ago.

I was in a stand halfway up a huge ridge with a full view of the two-track trail that led up to where I parked.

Up above me I spotted a big buck moving down toward my position, and quietly waited its approach. The big deer disappeared when the two sets of young hunters got out of their trucks and

began talking loudly, slamming their doors and drinking coffee for at least a solid fifteen minutes.

When I met these guys at their trucks, I asked, “There are hundreds of acres of land to hunt around here, so why would you park right next to my vehicle and yak it up?”

They had no clue how ignorant and disrespectful their actions were, so I calmed down a bit and explained, “Any hunter in their right mind knows when a truck is present, a hunter is probably in the immediate area. Any reasonable hunter moves on to another spot, and leaves the fellow to himself.”

Retrospectively Speaking Thinking back, those goofy hunters were lucky I knew how to control my anger.

They were also lucky that I was the hunter they disrupted ... I know some guys who (Continued on page 46)

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 45

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46 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

2019 Maine Sportsman Youth Writing Contest Honarable Mention

Two Brothers; Two Wild Turkeys

by Ethan “Wildman” Vose, 7th Grade, Augusta, ME

It was a cold crisp morning. Luckily I wasn’t outside yet.

It was youth day for spring turkey hunting, and I was going hunting with my grandfather.

After getting ready, I got my shotgun. Then my dad, my brother Aiden, my grandfather, my uncle, my cousin Brianna and I left for turkey hunting.

After hiking a while, my uncle and Brianna got into a blind, which was in sight of the shed where my dad and Aiden were going to hunt from.

We heard “Gobble gobble gobble!” coming from what sounded like the lower field. As Aiden and Daddy ran to the shed, Grampy and I ran to our blind down the hill in case the turkey turned that way.

Ten minutes later, we heard BOOM!, meaning that Aiden most likely shot and killed his turkey.

Patiently Waiting Grampy and I passed the time by telling jokes, eating Kit Kats and doing lots of hushed talking.

We also watched and heard a flock of geese land on Mud Pond.

who rode down on the 4-wheeler with Aiden, who had also shoot a tom, and Brianna, who already stopped hunting.

When I looked at the turkey, I noticed the long beard, but that nothing compared to the gigantic spurs.

That’s how it got its name, “Spurzilla.”

(From left) Steve Vose, the author’s father; “Manimal” Vose, the author’s younger brother, Lenny Lloyd, and the author, Ethan “Wildman” Vose. Photo: Anita Vose

Then something that may have been a turkey flew by.

After awhile, we made plans to leave.

Then suddenly, we heard a familiar sound … a turkey sound. Sure enough, a turkey came over the hill, then another and another!

Three turkeys … and they all were hens.

But then another turkey came over the hill. I quietly asked

Rangeley Region (Continued from page 44)

would have thrashed the group, flattened their tires and left the bruised hunters to figure out how to get themselves out of the woods.

I like my teaching technique better, www.MaineSportsman.com

Grampy, “Is it a tom?”

“Yes” he said.

Barrel Out When the Tom’s Not Looking Grampy took the electric call, put it to the corner of the blind and turned it on. The sound of the hen call caught the attention of the big tom, and he started to strut over. I slowly started to push the gun barrel out the window.

When the tom looked the other way, Grampy thrust the barrel out all the way and said “Just don’t shoot the decoys!”

The tom looked back, forward, and then to my right.

I aim for the neck and … BOOM! – straight down.

Grampy and I ran over to the tom as the three hens ran away. We call Daddy,

and hope these fellows realized how their foolish actions ruined my hunt.

I also hope they learned enough to not repeat similar foolishness in the future ... the next hunter they upset might not act as calmly as I did.

Like littering, this kind of thoughtless activity in the outdoors doesn’t

Good Food Only One Reward After Mommy took a photo of me, Grampy, Aiden, Daddy, Brianna, Uncle Matty, my little cousin Brady, and the two turkeys, we drove to the store where we tagged and weighed them. I got a Coke, the tradition we do to celebrate shooting a turkey.

After that, Daddy butchered the two turkeys to be made into stew and other delicious meals. Like turkey McNuggets.

Which is only one of the rewards for shooting a turkey, the others being the amazing story and the memories.

Ethan Vose of Augusta was 12 years old when he wrote this story in the spring of 2019, and he was in 6th grade.

His English teach was Brittney Bechard.

¶

happen that often, but it stands out like a turd on mowed grass.

My message for the New Year is: “Be considerate of others; remember, there are hundreds of other acres to hunt. And above all, don’t be that turd.”

¶

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 47

Archery Will Get Kids to Drop Their Cell Phones Second to only my family, archery ranks high on my passions list – or should I say obsessions.

I started shooting the bow and arrow in the early 1960s and have never stopped.

Other sports have come and gone, including muzzle loading, handguns and skeet, but archery and bowhunting have always been my top priority.

Over the years I’ve seen interest in archery here in Maine, both the ups and downs, but recently archery has become more popular, especially with young adults.

While other hunting sports seem to be declining, archery and bowhunting here in the southern part of our state have taken a large growth surge over the last few years.

Bowhunting numbers are increasing, too – the new crossbow law that allows their use in the regular archery season next year will certainly bring a flood of new hunters into the mix.

Fewer Hunters Today The world was much different in the golden days of hunting. In the past, about everyone hunted.

There were not a lot of other options for activities in those days – fishing and hunting were about it.

Let’s face it – with many young people, firearms hunting faces a great deal of compe-

Although Black Sheep Archery has closed, other options abound – Coyote Creek in Rochester, NH has a new futuristic range; Maine Archery Association sponsors events around the state; Lakeside Archery in North Yarmouth and Howell’s Gun Shop in Gray offer facilities and gear; and North Berwick and Gardiner Rod & Gun Clubs provide sites for competition.

Kids enjoy shooting at paper targets. Archery is a good way to convince them to put down their cell phones. Val Marquez Photo

tition from other activities. Today, kids have other exciting ways to spend their time. They have video games, cell phones, and portable computers with hundreds of viewing options available at their finger tips. They have organized sports – basketball, volleyball, soccer and ice hockey leagues.

With these alternatives, what’s going to win with many youngsters – electronic games and organized team sports, or sitting for hours in a treestand on a cold November morning?

Baby-boomers grew up hunting, often with our parents and grandparents. It’s in our blood and DNA. However, as the

baby-boomers get older, will younger generations take our place?

And while it’s true that there are many youths who love to hunt, but long-term will they follow through with that same enthusiasm? Once they have families and one or two jobs, will they continue to make time for hunting, as their parents did?

Archery Provides an Answer Target archery among our youth is gaining in popularity and participation, and smart archery dealers should begin stocking youth bows to keep up.

And I don’t just mean entry-level equipment – many parents these days

want high-end gear for their new archers.

Typically, kids start with entry level bows, but within a year or so they are ready to upgrade.

Why is archery generating so much excitement with young people? Being a youth archery instructor, I’ve given this a lot of thought, and think it’s because shooting an arrow at a target is a little like a video game. However, rather than sitting outside the screen pushing buttons, participants are inside the action, participating physically in the competition.

Coyote Creek Fills a Void Where to get started? Archery wise,

things have changed in southern Maine.

Sadly, Black Sheep Archery in Sanford closed its doors in November, leaving a large black hole for archers. Black Sheep had a large youth archery club, “The North Star Rangers,” consisting mostly of young adults. Owner Paul Bock told me he may open in a new location someday closer to his home in Old Orchard.

On the positive side, Coyote Creek Archery Pro Shop has built a completely new, state-of-the-art archery range in Rochester N.H. They offer a full indoor target range, indoor 3-D animal range, and a video archery range. They also offer a full line of bows, arrows and gear for archers of all ages.

Their video archery range is really cool.

It’s a Technohunt Center that has 740 different hunting scenarios – both big and small game animals – and also games like tic-tactoe, darts, cricket and balloon pop. Archers use their own bows and arrows, and shoot at a large arrow-stopping screen – it’s the ultimate real-action video game for kids and adults, as well.

Join Others Another great way to become part of the growing numbers of archers is to join the Maine Archery Association (MAA). They are the state National Field Archery Associa(Continued on page 50) www.MaineSportsman.com

48 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Small Waters Freeze First ’Round Here At Tripp Pond in Poland, anglers should fish around the boat launch area, a narrow drive off of Megquier Hill Road, as stocked fish often hang around their introduction point. Likewise with Worthley Pond – start out near the rough boat launch, and spread out your traps from there.

While the Big Lake won’t be ready for the start of the New Year, myriad smaller lakes and ponds in this region are generally safe and ready for ice-angling. Start with the smaller waters, test the ice thickness carefully, and enjoy early ice-fishing action!

Otter Ponds Veteran ice fisherman Greg Hamilton of Gorham enjoys his visits to the Sebago Lake, and I look forward to angling with him, catching up on old times. But he can’t wait for Sebago to freeze to get the ice bug out of his system.

While waiting for Sebago to ice over, Greg heads to a small

chain of ponds, each of which is heavily stocked and consistently produces trout.

The four ponds in the Otter Pond Chain (DeLorme Atlas, Map 4, D-1) in Standish are stocked both spring and fall with brook trout, and some big ones, to boot! Designated Otter Pond #1 through Otter Pond #4, these ponds range in size from six to 12 acres and have a maximum depth of only 39 feet. Fourteen- to 16-inch fish are regularly stocked, and these tank-scrubbers can put up a good fight on light ice traps or jig rods.

Anglers report good success using

Range Pond State Park Open ALL-YEAR! • Enjoy ice fishing (only plowed access to Lower Range Pond). Early Fishing permits available for access before gate opening at 9 A.M. Stocked with Brook and Brown Trout

• Kids only ice fishing Derby March 7th sponsored

by Kittery Trading Post and Sebago Rotary Club • 2020 State Park Passes now available to purchase at the park!

• 2 miles of groomed x/c ski trail, 1.5 miles of groomed snowshoe/ walking trail and 4 miles of additional trails • Park and Ride snowmobile access to Southwestern Maine • Remember, the park is open to hunting; special rules apply

Entrance Gate Closed Tuesday and Wednesday Call park for more information at 207-998-4104 26 State Park Road • Poland, ME Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry www.MaineSportsman.com

small shiners, worms, trout magnet bait and small jigs tipped with a worm. Although they are primarily bass and pickerel ponds, liberal stocking has made for some fine brook trout angling in the spring and winter. These ponds freeze fast and are generally ready for January anglers.

Crystal; Little Sebago Crystal Lake in Gray (Map 5, B-3) is one of the region’s more heavily-stocked waters with all three trout species – brookies, browns and rainbows – being introduced regularly. Crystal freezes rather early, and when you see the shacks on the ice, you know it is safe.

Little Sebago Lake (Map 5, C-3) is not as fast to freeze as the other waters, but generous stocking of brown and rainbow trout make for some great winter angling.

Head out from the boat launch parking area and set up close to the launch, and you should enjoy some flag-popping action.

Also setting up along the opposite shore will put you into fish that were stocked in the spring, or even holdover fish.

Angler Adam Farrington of Poland shows off a nice Upper Range Pond rainbow trout, while veteran ice angler Rene Lavoie of Lewiston looks on.

Photo by Tom Roth

Auburn Region To the north, Taylor Pond (Map 11, E-4) is one of the first waters to freeze, as it is relatively shallow. There is no public access so it’s not an easy water to fish, but anglers can enter the lake from the snowmobile trails that run into and out of the pond. Big northern pike are the real draw, and there are plenty to keep anglers busy.

Another top pike destination in the Auburn region is Sabattus Pond (Map 12, E-1). This place is pike central come wintertime. While it does get busy on the weekends, it produces a ton of pike, many very large specimens, so anglers keep coming back.

That fact, coupled with easy access and parking, make it the draw that it is.

Pike anglers on Sabattus or Taylor Ponds will do well with large shiners. “Big bait for big fish” is the mantra

for the pike crowd, for good reason!

Range; Tripp; Worthley One of the busiest spots in January is the Range Pond chain in Poland (Map 5, A-3).

These ponds are heavily stocked with all three trout varieties in large numbers. Most anglers park at the launch on Schellinger Road to access Middle Range Pond or Upper Range Pond.

Anglers can easily access Lower Range Pond, home to some whopper brown trout, from Range Pond State Park.

Tripp Lake in Poland (Map 5, A-2) is another top early January spot as this shallow lake freezes rapidly. Stocked with brown trout and occasionally brood-stock salmon, Tripp is less busy than the Range Pond chain, but does promise some decent brown trout an(Continued on page 50)

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 49

When the World Gives You Snowflakes, Go Snowmobiling Several years ago, I worked as a snowmobile guide for Sun Valley Sports in Bethel, owned by the late Rocky Freda and his wife Lisa.

Rocky has since passed, but my time spent in the shop and on the trails working with him, his wife and the other guides, stand out in my mind as some of my most enjoyable winter memories.

The shop, situated on the Sunday River Road in Newry, leads to the ski resort with the same name, and it always attracted a

With an insulated bib and jacket, good boots and mittens, and a sled with a well-designed cowling, windshield and heated grips, a snowmobile rider can be comfortable and warm even on a below-zero day. good number of customers. One of the first jobs of the day involved lining up the shiny snow machines along the road, so anyone headed to the skiing mountain could gaze at the sleds and think about how fun it would be to hit the trails on a snowmobile.

A large number of folks would stop in when windy or icy con-

ditions kept them off the ski slopes. When these skiers showed up at the shop to inquire about riding snowmobiles, their questions usually revolved around the cold weather, and they would ask: “Is it going to be cold riding that snowmobile?”

My response to this question was something like, “You’re not going to believe how

warm riding a snowmobile in temperatures below zero can be.”

Dressing Warmly At the shop, the guides outfitted each rider with insulated bibs, a jacket, warm boots with heat packets, good riding mittens, and a helmet with a neck-up liner.

Even when the temperatures dipped below zero, these folks

stayed warm.

Our guided snowmobile trips ran about twenty miles – ten miles out, and ten back. On the very first break we took on the trip, the new riders would remark, “You were right, I never thought riding one of these things could be so warm.”

The colder the weather, the bigger the impression – but it wasn’t just the clothing that helped keep the riders warm in such frigid weather.

Each machine was outfitted with several (Continued on next page)

www.MaineSportsman.com

50 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Off-Road Traveler (Continued from page 49)

items that provided comfort, and that really impressed the new snowmobilers.

The stable of Arctic Cat snowmobiles that the thoughtful owners of Sun Valley Sports maintained offered the finest in trail-riding sleds. To begin with, the Arctic Cats were from the touring line of sleds – snowmobiles designed to give a rider the most comfort and ease-ofride on groomed trails.

The big, heavy snow machines definitely deserve the label, “The Cadillac of snowmobiles.”

The heavy chassis and system of shock absorbers cushioned the ride, making trail riding a really smooth

affair. Gliding along on these well-equipped snowmobiles required a minimum of effort on groomed trails, a real enjoyment, especially on long trips.

Touring sleds also have a long track length – another reason for a more comfortable ride. Shorttracked snowmobiles ride choppier, rocking forward and backwards over each and every bump. The longer track has the effect of smoothing out many of these smaller bumps in the trail.

Also important in cold-weather riding are the designs of the cowling and windshield – Arctic Cat engineers did a great job on their line of trail

Southern Maine (Continued from page 47)

tion (NFAA) chartered club, and they hold indoor archery shoots at different locations around the state every weekend.

MAA as seen a large surge in youth archers lately. As an example, at the 2019 indoor state championship archery shoot held at North Berwick Rod & Gun, there were 27 junior member entrants and 37 adult entrants, along with guest shooters from other states.

MAA holds “shooter of the year” competitions on Sundays around the southern part of the state, and that program had good participation levels – a weekly average of 26 cub and youth participants, and 26 adults.

Any sport with these youth percentages has a great future. Now MAA has

Sebago to Auburn (Continued from page 48)

gling.

Anglers should fish around the boat launch area, a narrow drive off of Megquier Hill Road, as stocked fish often hang around their introduction point.

I’m not sure if they are waiting for their friends from the hatchery or think their ride back will meet them there – sort of www.MaineSportsman.com

sleds when it came to protecting riders from chilling winds. When riders tuck their feet up under the cowling, they stay out of the wind and even benefit from some of the warm air from the engine.

Warm Grips; Insulated, Vented Helmets Heated grips on the handle bars give riders a warm place to hang on – cold hands will stop a rider from enjoying a trip every time, but that does not happen with heated handles. Frequently, I had to turn the handle bar hand-warmers down to the lowest setting, because riders would complain about their hands getting too warm.

Another very important item for keep-

ing riders comfortable while riding in extremely cold weather is a properly-built helmet, which provides both comfort and safety. Helmets must have well-designed visors to deflect cold wind, and at the same time remain adequately ventilated to prevent vapor build-up from limiting clear vision.

New Riders: Don’t Get Carried Away During my time as a snowmobile guide, I really liked seeing the reactions from the new riders. Showing them how to fully enjoy a day afield, even when the cold temperatures drive most folks off from the ski slopes, made me feel like my guiding skills had real worth.

The downside to

this story would be amusing, unless you are the guide responsible for keeping a trip proceeding in an orderly fashion; namely, the fact that a few riders, giddy with their new-found joy of comfortable riding in cold weather, would just drive their sled off the groomed trail and into a deep snow bank.

Even though the safety talk we had before the guided trip clearly indicated how important it was to stay on the groomed trails, these over-excited new sled riders just couldn’t resist.

Their comments often were something like, “I just wanted to see what would happen.”

Well, it does take all kinds, I guess.

¶

to contend with large numbers at their shoots – a good issue for any organizing to have. Compared to other outdoor activities, these are amazing numbers.

Another option is Lakeside Archery in North Yarmouth. They have a large youth archery program, as well as an indoor range. Lakeside has a large “Junior Olympic Archery Development” (JOAD) team, and one of their students, Charlie Weinstein, has recently won a world archery gold medal.

Joining a JOAD program is a great way to get a kid or adult into the sport; Lakeside can supply all the gear needed, or you can use your own. Lakeside also has an outdoor 3-D NFAA target and the state’s only NFAA-certified 28-target field courses; it’s the premier archery facility in Maine. The NFAA, Maine State Championships will be held at Lakeside on March 20-22, 2020.

Howell’s Gun and Archery Shop, located in Gray also has an indoor archery range and active youth program along with a full archery shop. Both Howells and Lakeside hold NFAA Shooter of the Year archery shoots as well as North Berwick R&G and West Gardiner R&G. Youth involvement is the key ingredient for any organization, and compared to other shooting sports, archery is doing excellent. But kids need an archery program to get involved.

Youth archery numbers seem to cluster around archery ranges that cater to youth programs.

We should do what we can to encourage the sport. It’s safe and fun, and builds discipline and a work ethic that will help young adults more toward adulthood.

a hatchery Über. Whatever the reason, set up near the launch.

Worthley Pond (Map 5, A-3) in Poland off of Route 122 is another top January destination. Stocked with ample numbers of brown and brook trout, this small pond ices up early and produces some decent fish.

As with Tripp, start out near the rough boat launch and spread out from there. Worthley Pond is accessed by a

rutted dirt road, aptly named Worthley Pond Road off of Route 122. October stockings ensure there are fish for the first January anglers.

Anglers are anxious to get on the hard water this month. Be sure to check ice conditions before venturing out. January anglers get first crack at recently-stocked fish, and the fishing can be fast and furious.

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��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 51

January Night Hunters Occasionally in central Maine we have a winter with not a lot of snow. We get a little snow and then it melts and then we get a little more snow and that melts. It’s not common for us to go into January with no accumulation of snow, but it does happen, and it was happening this particular January.

It was January 11, 1983, and I was enjoying a day off. My wife Pat and I had been out to supper, came home, watched a little TV and then retired.

About 11:00 p.m., the phone rang. I answered it, and on the other end was a person down in the south part of Unity saying that they had just heard shooting near the intersection of the Ayer Ridge Road and Bryant Rd. right on the Unity-Freedom town line.

I got up, grabbed my uniform shirt, a pair of jeans that I had been wearing that day, and a pair of running shoes. I didn’t want to take the time to lace up my issued warden boots, so the running shoes fit the bill. I grabbed my gun belt and headed out the door.

I probably wasn’t looking very professional but still ready to deal with whatever was going on down at the town line. My thought was that there may have been a car-deer accident, and

Something about the way the car was being driven on that stretch of road late at night – slowly, then accelerating – convinced me the occupants were up to some kind of devilry.

Once he got the suspects out of the 1964 Chevy, the author found one loaded rifle under the front seats -- and another in the back.

the reported gunshots were someone dispatching a deer. ’64 Chevy – Accelerating When I got to the Erwin Nicholas farm on the Bryant Road and rounded the curve, I could see the lights of a vehicle coming toward me just over the hill. As the car approached, I was concentrating on their operation, which was unusually slow for that time of night and that stretch of road.

It was a 1964 Chevy with the front license plate hanging down on one side. As they came toward me, they began accelerating.

To this day, I can’t really say what it was that alerted me, but as the distance between our cars decreased, I knew that not only was this the vehicle I was looking for, but I was quite sure that they were up to some kind of deviltry.

In looking back at that moment, I suppose it was the totality of the circumstances and the experience that I had gained by working with some really, really good game wardens over the years.

The Stop, and Two Loaded Rifles I turned on the vehicle, got in behind it, and snapped on the

blue lights. The vehicle pulled over to the right and stopped.

When I got to the driver’s door, I didn’t recognize the operator but I did recognize the man in the passenger’s seat. He lived just beyond the field where the shooting had been reported.

While I was speaking with the driver, I noticed a rifle on the floor in front of the front seat and under their legs. I had both occupants get out of the car while I took possession of the rifle and checked the action. Surprise, surprise – it was loaded.

There was another rifle on the back seat, and that was loaded as

well.

I unloaded both weapons and put them in my vehicle.

Surprise Admission I decided I would interview the man from Freedom first, as his dad and I had always had a good relationship and I felt that he would be straight with me.

After we had a seat in my vehicle I read him his Miranda rights. I said, “Do you want to talk to me now, without an attorney present”?

He replied, “Well, it depends on what you want to talk about.”

I said, “I want to know what you’re doing out here tonight.”

Bobby looked me straight in the eye and said, “Well it’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? We were night hunting, and you caught us.”

Five Percent Luck Most apprehensions for night hunting require hours and hours of surveillance and varying degrees of luck, but this one was 95% luck and 5% effort, proving that game wardens don’t hope for luck – they depend on it.

In the end, both men pleaded guilty to night hunting in Waldo County District Court. The penalty back then was a $500 fine, three days in jail, and the loss of the weapon.

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www.MaineSportsman.com

52 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Maine’s New Crossbow Law I feel this new law, which allows for the use of crossbows during the October archery season and the fall season on wild turkey, is a step in the right direction. However, I believe we should take additional steps to encourage even more crossbow use during archery seasons.

Hunting opportunities in Maine were expanded last session when the Legislature passed, and Governor Janet Mills signed into law, LD 27, enacted as Public Law (PL) 2019, Chapter 98, “An Act to Allow the Use of a Crossbow for a Limited Duration during the October Archery Season on Deer and the Fall Season on Wild Turkey.”

Sponsored by Rep. Tim Theriault of China, the law’s intent is to increase crossbow hunting opportunities during archery season for a period of three years, beginning in 2020.

However, some confusion has arisen surrounding the recently-passed crossbow legislation, which allows for the use of crossbows during the October archery season and the fall season on wild turkey.

To help address some of the questions, here are some answers resulting from a review of the legislation and with feedback provided by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W).

Clarification Needed?

There is currentwww.MaineSportsman.com

ly some uncertainty as to whether the law will allow the use of crossbows during the expanded archery seasons.

In my discussion with IF&W, it was explained that there are still some aspects of the law that will require clarification before the fall of 2020.

In fact, the Legislature may make modifications to the current legislative language when they reconvene in January.

Possible changes include clarifying whether crossbows can be used in expanded archery zones during the September season, and consideration of whether some crossbow hunters would be allowed to shoot an antlerless deer during the October archery season without an any-deer permit.

From my conversation with IF&W, it appears that hunters may want to hold off investing in a quality crossbow until they have a complete idea of how these various issues will be resolved.

New Law’s Purpose The purpose of PL 98 is to provide additional opportunities for hunters to pursue deer. Currently, the

archery season on deer is four weeks long, and although there are 10,000 licensed archery hunters, to total take on deer is only about 500. This is obviously an abysmal success rate.

IF&W biologists believe that use of crossbows during the October archery season will increase harvest rates on bucks only slightly, with no negative consequences for the deer population.

Additionally, research studies conducted in states that have implemented similar laws, have shown that allowing more crossbow hunting tend to increase hunter recruitment numbers, adding more new hunters to the sport. According to these studies, increased crossbow hunting is good for our wildlife, our hunters and our state.

Law Not Popular with Everyone Not all of the state’s sporting groups supported the bill, and it was opposed by the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, the Maine Professional Guides Association and the Maine Bowhunters Association. Opposition was based on sev-

Many quality crossbows are currently available in Maine. The author’s TenPoint Turbo, for example, is sold at Cabela’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods and other outdoor retailers.

eral factors, including: 1) Enactment of the bill into law could cause conflict between bowhunters and crossbow hunters; 2) The effectiveness of crossbows could lead to many more deer being taken during the season, reducing hunting opportunities for firearms hunters; and 3) In many regions of Maine, the state has worked hard to increase the deer herd, and this could have the opposite effect.

However, once the Committee added the 3-year limitation, as well as a requirement for a report from the Department on implementation and results of the new provisions, the law gained the support of the majority of the Committee, and was subsequently enacted and signed.

My View – More is Better I feel this new law is a step in the right direction. However, I believe we should go even further to encourage crossbow use during archery seasons.

Crossbows have full inclusion in the firearm seasons in 26 states; and they are legal during archery and firearms seasons, in some capacity, in 23 other states.

In my opinion it’s time for Maine to take progressive steps forward by allowing even greater use of crossbows during all archery seasons.

What does not make sense to me is that the law is only, at this point, valid for three years, and that some aspects of the law still require clarification. Given 1) that a crossbow is a sizeable investment; 2) that IF&W requires a special course to use this weapon during hunting season; and 3) that sportsmen will need to practice to operate this weapon safely and effectively to harvest game, limiting the law to three years is badly flawed logic.

It is my belief that because of the current three-year limitation, few hunters will take up the crossbow until the law is finalized

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— Editor’s Column —

The Maine Sportsman Beef Jerky Championship

by Will Lund A distinguished panel of experienced hunters gathered solemnly at their remote camp south of Greenville a few days before Thanksgiving, 2019 to participate in the state’s first unofficial beef jerky championship.

Beef jerky is a mainstay of outdoor backpacks and game pockets everywhere.

Initially intended as a way to preserve high-protein strips of game meat without refrigeration, the process of marinating, salting and drying – or smoking – meat has become a thriving and competitive industry, both nationally and locally.

Nine samples of beef jerky were purchased from Maine stores, and were carefully unpackaged, numbered and arranged on sterile paper plates. Each sample was tasted, comments were carefully recorded and votes

taken and tabulated.

Judges’ Comments and Ratings The results, rated on a scale of 1 – 5, were as follows: • Sample 1: Bridgford – Comments: “Hint of smoky maple flavor”; “good, smooth texture.” Score: 3.58 • Sample 2: Cattleman’s Cut – Comments: “Pronounced liquid smoke flavor”, “substantive”; “slightly tough and stringy”; “salty.” Score: 2.75 • Sample 3: Matador – Comments: “Highly salted”; “tender”; “moderate soy flavor.” Score: 2.56 • Sample 4: Smith’s (from Smith family Smokehouse, Monroe Maine) – Comments: “Peppered steak”; “like steak on the grill”; “consistent square pieces”; “spicy – periodic IPA chaser recommended.”

Score: 2.85 • Sample 5: Food Club – Comments: “Neutral flavor”; “good taste and tex-

Central Maine (Continued from page 52)

and implemented on a permanent – not temporary – basis.

Currently Allowed Crossbow Special Usage in Maine Under current law, only those hunters 65 years of age or older, or hunters with a permanent disability who have been issued a special handicap permit, may use a crossbow to hunt deer during the archery season. This is, of course, as long as they have the required permit and license, and have successfully completed the mandatory crossbow

ture”; “thin slices are easy to eat”; “unique shiny characteristic.”

Score: 3.58 • Sample 6: Old Trapper – Comments: “Less processed than others”; “maple-sugary; natural flavor”; “good flavor, but not overpowering.” Score: 4.25 • Sample 7: Damn Good – Comments: “Strong soy flavor”; “shallow flavor, and somewhat lacking in depth, à la tortilla chips.” Score: 2.25 • Sample 8: Tillamook – Comments: “Thick”; “like a beefy fruit roll-up”; “sweet”; “no discernible grain.”

Score: 2.91 • Sample 9: Jack Links – Comments: “Sweet; tenderized”; “good flavor”; “slightly crumbly”; “natural meat taste.” Score 3.5 ***** “Top Five” Results • 1st place: Old Trapper • 2nd place (tie):

Tough work, but someone’s got to do it -- Here, a panel of experts begins the task of tasting and ranking various brands of beef jerky sold in Maine stores. From left: Alfred Lund, Mike Lund, Maine Sportsman publisher Jon Lund, Rolf Lund and Nick Lund. Will Lund photo

Bridgford; Food Club • 3rd place: Jack Links • 4th place: Tillamook • 5th place (and Maine-made winner): Smith’s Log Smokehouse Winner’s Reaction Kristyn Moll, Old Trapper’s publicist,

safety education courses.

I Own a Crossbow Despite my reservations about the new law, I am a crossbow owner.

Though I have had my crossbow for only two years, I am impressed with the capabilities of this modern weapon.

My TenPoint Turbo GT fires a bolt at 360 feet per second, and comes with almost everything needed (bolts, scope and quiver) to start hunting immediately. My model also includes a feature called AcuDraw, which allows the shooter to pull back the bow limbs with a hand crank mechanism instead of having to pull back the draw string

said she and her client are “thrilled” at the results of the contest. Her co-worker, Chloe Adrian, added, “We just heard the news, and we are very pleased to know that Old Trapper finished first in the taste test and that everyone enjoyed the experience.”

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by hand or by using a special pulley device.

Given the force needed to draw this weapon, I find the AcuDraw’s mechanical assistance a necessity.

In future articles, I plan to talk more about using a crossbow for hunting in Maine, as a way of communicating with sportsmen who are looking to explore the capabilities of this weapon.

Thanks to Nate Webb, Wildlife Division Director at Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, for providing background information for this column.

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www.MaineSportsman.com

54 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

A Possible Market Increase for Raccoon Trappers are awaiting the results of the fur auctions to see if the prices of our large Northern Raccoon have gone up, as was predicted in the trade magazines this past autumn. The demand for long furs for use on parkas has kept the coyote bringing decent wages for those trapping them. The best light silky western coyotes have been bringing over $100 a pelt, while our large darker northeastern coyotes have been averaging around $45.

Predictions that the raccoon will go up in price is a blessing in the current down slump in the fur market. Worldwide political issues as well as economic situations in Russia and China have had a negative impact on the international fur trade.

The domestic and Canadian demand for the parka long fur trim has been our only bright spot to date. It is speculated that the raccoon will also start being used as a trim fur.

If raccoons feel the trap move underfoot or sense it, they will simply dig it up and get it out of the way.

It is common to find a trap unfired lying upside down off to the side of the hole. Raccoons are highly intelligent animals; do not underestimate them.

Trapping the Raccoon The raccoon was once commonly trapped in Maine using the body grip trap in size 160 and 220.

This is no longer possible, due to the required use of exclusion devices for those using body grip traps in Maine.

The exclusion device “construction requirements” are not of sufficient size to allow an adult raccoon to be able to access the trap set within an exclusion device.

This leaves us with the foothold trap for the use of harvesting raccoons. The size 1 and 1 ½ coil spring traps and the size 11 double long spring trap are those most commonly used.

The double-jawed versions of these traps are the preferred ones for use when trapping raccoons. The double-jawed versions are designed to prevent or

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greatly reduces any damage to a raccoon’s foot.

Double-Jawed Trap

Trap Sets The types of sets used to take raccoon are many and varied.

There is only space here to describe a couple of the more common sets.

If water of sufficient depth is available, the set should be constructed as a drowning set. If not, the trap should be anchored solidly, or a drag should be used if legal in the area trapped.

In Maine, drags are not allowed in the Wildlife Management Districts 1 – 11, 14, 18, and 19. These districts are all within the Lynx Protection Zone.

It should also be noted that if a trap is staked solid, the set will be destroyed by the raccoon. They are a very powerful animal for their size.

Pocket Sets Trap sets for raccoon are varied.

Among the most common are the pocket

set, which is where a small hole is dug (or a natural one found) along the water’s edge.

The hole should have an up angle, with the entry just below water level. This allows the trap to be placed at the entrance of the hole under several inches of water.

Bait (normally a fish type) is placed in the upper dry end of the hole. A lure may also be used to enhance the set and is placed close to the entrance of the hole.

Another common set is made where a log slopes down into the water. A trap bed is chopped out of the log just below water level, and a trap is stabilized there.

A bait is placed out farther on the log on a vertical small stick, causing the raccoon to walk down the log into the trap on its way to get the bait.

Dog-Proof Coon Trap A very selective raccoon trap utilized in areas where domestic animals may be present, is called the Dog Proof Raccoon Trap. It is commonly referred too as a Coon Cuff.

Dog proof traps are designed primarily to catch raccoons and to avoid incidental

catches of other animals. Baits commonly used are non-animal based products, such as marshmallows or commercially-prepared baits. These are produced to be baits that are not generally attractive to animals other than raccoons.

Dog-Proof Trap

Blind Set A blind set placed along the edge of a body of water or where the raccoon have created a trail entering or exiting a cornfield while hunting food are good set locations.

When blind setting along the water’s edge, such as by a piece of ledge or an upturned root system, the trap should be set just under the water’s surface. If on dry land, ensure the trap is bedded solidly and is well concealed; if not, a coon will move the trap out of its way.

Dry-Land Trapping For dry land trapping, a dirt hole set may be used, which is similar to the pocket set. In this case, the hole is dug down at an angle that requires the coon to approach the set directly from the front of the hole.

The trap is set in a (Continued on page 56)

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 55

Lou’s Trip of a Lifetime to Chile

Mainers love their lupine, and southern Chilean lupine in a variety of colors covered gravelly plains.

Believe it or not, this fish isn’t a steelhead, salmon, or a sea-run trout -- just a rainbow trout the size they grow them in Chilean waters. All photos: Lou Zambello

Last January, my wife and I gave ourselves a once-in-a-lifetime fly-fishing trip to Chile to celebrate our 60th birthdays. We spent most of January in Chile because it is summer in the southern hemisphere.

I am sharing highlights of our adventure

One day, the author and his wife landed over a dozen doubles.

because (1) folks like to hear about exotic trips when in the middle of the long, cold Maine winter; and (2) because I learned a new few tactics that should apply to Maine fly fishing.

Our Chilean trip included sightseeing, birding, and of course,

fly-fishing. My wife, Lindsey, informed me early on that the trip couldn’t be all fishing.

“Of course, my dear,” I responded, “I was thinking roughly 80% fishing and 20% other things.”

“50/50,” my wife responded, “End of discussion.”

In parts of Chile, volcanoes dominate the horizon.

And so it was.

Epic Fishing We did spend

our first week at one of Chile’s premier fly-fishing lodg(Continued on next page)

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56 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

The author and his wife Lindsey at a glacial lake in Terres Del Panne National Park. The 12-mile hike up and back is not for the faint of heart.

The secret to catching mammoth trout: big ugly nymphs with rubber legs suspended under big foam dry flies. This is a typical guide’s fly box.

Freshwater Fly Fishing (Continued from page 55)

es, Martin Pescador (named after the local kingfisher bird).

The owners/operators (Anna and Frans) live in mid-coast Maine during our summer, when he guides and she operates a bakery in Damariscotta. This Maine connection gave me the confidence to book with them, and we were glad we did.

We fished a variety of rivers and lakes along the mountainous coast of mid-Chile until the names rolled

off of our tongues: the Rio Yelcho, Rio Rosselot, Rio Figueroa, and Lago Yelcho, just to name a few. O f t e n , the sizes of the trout were epic, and even in one lake where the trout were smaller, we had a 100-trout day The most productive fly-fishing approach, which I encourage everyone to try, was a dry-fly dropper combination with super-sized flies.

The golden ticket was a size 4 Chernobyl

Trapping (Continued from page 54)

depression dug six or eight inches out in front of the entrance.

As in the case of a canine set, the trap must be set solidly in the trap bed, and carefully covered to conceal it. Bait and lure are applied in the same manner as in the pocket set.

Ant or Foam Hopper, with three feet of tippet tied to the bend of the hook, and a weighted rubber-legged ugly nymph tied with mop fibers.

On lakes when a slight chop is on the water, the bobbing of the top fly causes the rubber legs of the nymph to wave seductively, and big fish crushed it. The currents in the fast-flowing Chilean rivers created the same lifelike effect and the same result.

Exotic Birding The birding was as

Chile also grows big brown trout.

thrilling as the fly-fishing, with exotic species that we would never see in the United States. For example, in 24 hours we spotted and photographed species as diverse as the Andean condor (the largest flying bird in the world), flamingo, Magellanic penguin, rhea (an ostrich lookalike), and parakeets.

Other activities included hiking to the glaciers in Torres del Paine National Park, climbing part way up an inactive volcano, floating a jungle river in a raft, and exploring

If raccoons feel the trap move underfoot or sense it, they will simply dig it up and get it out of the way. It is common to find a trap unfired setting upside down off to the side of the hole.

Raccoon are highly intelligent animals; do not underestimate them.

Cubby Set A dry land cubby set is another commonly used set on dry land. A cub-

a sheep ranch in the high desert.

Traveling to Chile takes a commitment of time and money, and DIY fishing is difficult (but not impossible).

But if you are starting to plan your trip of a lifetime, consider Chile.

I have been fortunate with my career at LL Bean and in the fly-fishing industry to be able to fish around the world, and if I made a return trip anywhere, it would be to Chile.

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by maybe constructed by using a wood box, pail, or similar man-made container into which a bait is placed. Natural materials such as wood, rocks, or debris may be placed so as to create a cubby.

A hollow log end or an opening at the base of a tree into which a bait may be placed is great. A lure to attract a raccoon to the set will only enhance it.

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Gene Bahr MASTER FISH CARVER

Be Sure to LIKE The Maine Sportsman on Facebook! www.MaineSportsman.com

Sebago, ME • (207)647-5238 • www.genebahr.com

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 57

Jigging for Panfish is Loads of Fun Jigging often requires a delicate and sensitive touch. Recognizing a gentle bite on a panfish jig requires the same skill set that fly-fishers use when slowly fishing a nymph on the bottom. In nymphing, the angler intuits, as much as feels, the bite. It’s the same when jigging.

Jigging for panfish has grown in popularity by leaps and bounds. And why not?

This laid-back sport doesn’t require live bait or even an ice shack. Just purchase a new 2020 fishing license, walk out on the ice, dig a hole and begin jigging.

Fast action becomes the name of the game, as anglers catch one fish after another during feeding frenzies. And for me, fast action on panfish such as black crappies, white perch and even yellow perch, excites me far more than watching a flag that may or may not pop up.

Jigging for panfish has several rather subtle points in its favor. First, anglers are not bound to one water. In most cases, when people set out ice shacks on a pond or lake that holds salmonids, they become tied to that water. After all, it takes time, money and effort to set up an ice shack, so it only makes sense to use it as much as possible.

Jigging, on the other hand, doesn’t necessarily require an ice shack, leaving anglers free to prospect on new and different waters.

There are excep-

tions. My friend Scott Davis, a fisheries biologist for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and avid crappie angler, sets his shack up over a red-hot crappie area, and fishes from it all winter. For him, there is no need to explore, because he already has his charmed spot nailed down.

But Scott stands as the exception.

In addition to the freedom from being tied to an ice shack, jigging is an “active” way of fishing, as opposed to the passive form employed with standing around watching and waiting for flags to fly.

Feel the Bite Jigging often requires a delicate and sensitive touch. I said “often,” because sometimes a fish will slam a jig with all its energy. But more often, the bite comes as a feeble “tic.” And that “tic” stands as the signal to strike.

Recognizing a faint bite on a panfish jig requires the same skill set that fly-fishers use when slowly fishing a nymph on the bottom.

In nymphing, the angler intuits, as much as feels, the bite. It’s the same when jigging.

Sometimes a fish

will take a jig on the way down, and the only signal the angler gets is when the line stops. In this case, if in doubt, set the hook.

The same goes for when a fish takes the jig so smoothly and gently that the strike is nearly imperceptible. So in any case, strike at the slightest suggestion of a bite.

And even if you strike for a bite that really wasn’t a bite, it hurts nothing, and in fact may prod a recalcitrant fish into biting.

Just let the jig go back to its original position, and get ready for the next bite.

As a rule, panfish bite gently, but another warmwater fish that also likes jigs, chain pickerel, really slams into them, leaving no doubt that something has hit the jig. In fact, I have taken three or four pickerel from one hole, using a Swedish Pimple jig. The venerable Pimple sometimes outfishes live bait, which says something about jigging in general.

Two Rods Sometimes two rods are better than one. That is, I’ll often tie a hook on the end of a jig rod line, bait with an earthworm (container easily carried in

A big crappie puts a strain on Tom’s lightweight jigging rod.

the pocket; no need for bait buckets) and set the worm on bottom.

With the bail open on the reel, fish can peel off line without feeling any pressure.

Often, a fish will nip at a jig but refuse to take it in. Reeling up the jig and dropping a worm down can inspire that tightmouthed fish to bite immediately.

And besides that, even though you are using a form of bait, you still reel in the fish on a jig rod – loads of fun.

In some cases, it becomes impossible to fish two rods because fish bite so quickly.

So then just reel up the worm and let it dangle in the water in the ice hole to prevent freezing. When action slackens, drop the worm down again.

And even with the extra rod, equipment remains simple and easy to carry. I love it when everything needed easily fits in a pack basket.

Where-To Any pond that holds white perch, yellow perch or black crappies can give good action to wintertime jiggers. Where to go on that water, though, differs with the species. In some cases, the same place fish bit in summer will prove useful in winter. But in other situations, fish head for deep water.

For instance, both white perch and yellow perch will hang in deep water in winter – often at depths down to 50 feet. This isn’t chiseled in stone, but in places with deep water, try the deeper areas first.

One of my favorite white perch waters, Megunticook Lake in Camden (see DeLorme Atlas, Map 14, C-3 and D-3), has a long stretch of 50-foot-deep water, and that is where I immediately head. Huge schools of white perch await in the murky (Continued on page 60) www.MaineSportsman.com

58 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Luke’s Most Excellent Monster Cusk Adventure I was hauling the huge fish up toward the hole. The inexpensive hook was slowly straightening out. The hole in the ice was only 8 inches in diameter, since both our 10-inch augers had quit. I got the fish part-way out the hole, but it started using its tail to grab the lower edge of the ice and pull itself back through the hole and into the depths of the lake.

Many anglers, including myself, consider the burbot (commonly known as the cusk) unique among the freshwater spices Maine has to offer.

I hate to give up my secrets, but cusk definitely do not get the fame and recognition of a brook trout, so maybe this will inspire more ice fishermen to try something new, and I’m in full support of outdoorsman trying new things.

Now I say they’re unique, and by that I mean they’re just as ugly as you could imagine, but in my opinion they are also pretty cool.

They have a very interesting camo pattern that seems to fit the bottom of the lake in which they are trying to blend in with perfectly. They are also built to hunt the cold deep waters of Maine’s big lakes.

They are kind of like a catfish in a way in that they are adapted to cruise lake bottoms in search of crayfish, minnows and dead fish.

Big Cusk are Predators However, don’t believe what you hear about them only eatwww.MaineSportsman.com

ing dead fish. In fact, the biggest cusk I ever caught (as shown in the picture) was cut open to find a 10-inch trout and an 8-inch smallmouth bass, together with the 12inch sucker I had used for bait!

So they are for sure a predator. Keeping all this in mind when targeting a monster cusk is important, because I have noticed when fishing for cusk, the fish population-to-size ratio can be visualized as a pyramid.

At the bottom of the pyramid you have what seems to be endless numbers of 8- to 14-inch fish.

However, as you go up the pyramid, the fish get larger but fewer in number, so unlike most other spices where this does not apply (for example, perch, bass and trout), I have found the only way to catch trophy class cusk is to use a really big bait.

And I’m not talking even large shiners and fallfish you would use for pike bait, since – believe it or not – a 10-inch cusk will easily swallow those large baitfish, leaving your lines filled with small cusk.

“I Think We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Sucker Bait” I figured this out one night when this happened, but one line was different – I could tell right away there was no movement.

I brought up the line. It turned out I’d had a small cusk on the line, but something had swallowed the cusk!

With my lines set the way they are, the big fish couldn’t run away with the bait, so it left it behind.

This experience made me think, “Well, the only thing I can do now is go bigger,” so the next trip up north we stopped at the bait shop and I bought 12to 16-inch suckers.

Now I had wondered for a while if I was wasting my time, as I would check my set lines to slackline, but at about midnight one of my ridges (which I’ll go into detail about later, but basically there a stick with string) was all the way back to the knot that attached the string, meaning this fish was strong enough to break the ice that froze the stick next to the hole. Also, it had been pulled way off to the side.

The author’s prize cusk weighed 16 pounds and was nearly three feet long.

Heavy Line; Big Fish; Big Hook It’s always exciting, for there’s a lot of anticipation at a time like this, so I kicked out the ice around the hole and went to grab the stick. It was just pulling as hard as it could right away.

I had heavy line and a big hook, so I wasn’t worried about anything breaking, but this fish pulled so hard that I was afraid of ripping the hook out. So I played it for a long time, and a weird thing happened that I had never seen before.

When I got the fish’s head got up near the hole, it was like he shifted in reverse!

With such a long tail, he was pulling himself backward! I couldn’t believe it.

To make it worse,

this is the one time I had ever drilled an 8-inch hole, because our 10-inch Ion X auger was dead, and the propane auger broke of course, so I’m thinking “Just my luck – I’m gonna lose this fish because the one time I have to deal with this hole that was way too small.”

Even the Stout-Hearted Get Squeamish Finally I managed to get the head up enough for me to grab him by the bottom jaw, but let me tell you – no matter how much you think you’re not squeamish, these fish will prove you wrong, especially a monster like this one in the dark.

After a lot of pulling and the use of (Continued on page 60)

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 59

New Year, New Saltwater Regs?

As I mentioned in my October column, stocks of breeding-age female striped bass along the East Coast were found to be lower than fishery managers had projected a while back, so new measures to protect these fish were being considered.

Well, the time has finally come. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), which manages striped bass from Maine to North Carolina, met in late October to review the alternatives. After much discussion, ASMFC voted to reduce the catch of stripers 18% in both the commercial and recreational fisheries.

The recreational measure voted up was a one-fish-per-day slot limit between 28” and 35”, which would result in a 19% mortality reduction. However, language was added at the last minute to allow each state to come up with a measure of its own as long as it meets the 18% minimum reduction requirement.

I emailed Dept. of Marine Resources (DMR) Commissioner Pat Keliher on November 11th and asked what Maine’s intentions might be. One of the options (other than the 28”- 35” slot) that ASMFC offered was a straight 35” minimum.

There was some support for this proposal, primarily by catch-and-release anglers and guides, at the Maine pub-

Tighter restrictions on striped bass, and the possibility of an expansion of the cod season, are on tap for Maine anglers in 2020.

Why isn’t Bob Damrell of Georgetown smiling over the beautiful, 15-pound white-bellied cod he caught on the author’s boat this past July? That’s because the law said he had to toss it back, which he did. Hopefully in 2020, Maine anglers will get a month or so when they can retain at least one cod per day. Barry Gibson photo

lic hearings earlier in October. However, anyone wishing to take a striped bass home to eat now and then is going to have a much more difficult time with this higher minimum, since we just don’t get nearly as many 35-inch-plus stripers along the coast of Maine as we did five or ten years ago.

I suspect that if Maine does go with a 35” or higher minimum, it will discourage a lot of everyday saltwater anglers from even attempting to fish for striped bass. Golf and bowling might start to look

Striped bass like this 33-incher that Jeff Cobb of Bradenton, Florida, caught in the Kennebec River this past summer may be legal -- or illegal -- to retain in 2020, depending on what Maine decides for a minimum striper length. Barry Gibson photo

pretty good.

I did not hear back from the Commissioner by press time, but as soon as I learn what the decision is I’ll let readers know.

Another measure that passed at the ASMFC meeting was a requirement that all states implement mandatory circle hooks for anglers using natural bait for striped bass.

This provision will go into effect in January of 2021. Maine, of course, has required circle hooks for stripers for a number of years now.

cod “season,” during which anglers were allowed to keep one cod per day, was an anemic two-week window during the last half of September when

winds gusts were over 18 mph for 9 of the 15 days.

Consequently, not many people fished, and not many cod were landed, and since few, if any, anglers targeted cod from April through mid-September (when possession was prohibited), the 2019 recreational cod catch is projected to be the lowest in history, estimated at somewhere between 50 and 70 metric tons (mt) out of the recreational quota of 220 mt.

The bulk of the recreational “catch” is due to the estimated number of cod that are caught and released while anglers are targeting other species such as haddock and pollock, since the official assumption is that 15% of all released cod die.

The final catch number will be available early in 2020. If it stays low, as projected, this may mean that a somewhat expanded “cod season” is a pos(Continued on next page)

Longer Cod Season?

The 2019 recreational Gulf of Maine www.MaineSportsman.com

60 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Saltwater Fishing (Continued from page 59)

sibility this year. A one-fish bag limit for the entire month of September is a likely scenario.

Personally, as a member of the New England Fishery Management Council’s Recreational Advisory Panel, which will make recommendation as to seasons at our meeting this month (January), I am going to push for at least part of the open period to run sometime in late June, July or August, in order to give Maine anglers a better shot at catching a cod while weather and sea conditions are most favorable.

Striped Bass Young-of-the-Year Survey Results Each year, Maryland and Virginia conduct surveys of striped bass spawning success in Chesapeake Bay. Samplers use small seine nets in the shallows to collect juvenile stripers that were born

earlier in the season.

The average number of total stripers netted at multiple locations becomes that year’s YOY (young of the year) index. The higher the index number, the better the spawning success.

The 2019 results are in. Virginia’s index was 9.4, just a bit higher than the state’s historic average of 7.77. Maryland didn’t fare as well, with a YOY index of 3.4, below the 66-year average of 11.6.

A low YOY number in any particular year doesn’t necessarily mean that there will be problems with striper stocks down the road, but obviously the more stripers that are spawned in Chesapeake Bay, the better. Both states have had some strong YOY numbers in the past five years, so I’d say overall that the outlook is still pretty good.

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On opening day of deer season, Darren Brawn of Bowdoinham went looking for whitetail deer. He didn’t find any, but he did encounter three coyotes, which he dispatched with his 30-.06 and Leupold scope. He friend, Will Wallace, assistant facilities manager at LL Beans, reported: “This happened in the middle of the day -- absolutely unheard of on my part in all the years I have been deer hunting here in Maine. You rarely see one coyote to shoot, let alone three.” www.MaineSportsman.com

Midcoast (Continued from page 57)

depths, and they will remain there all winter.

Black crappies, though, seldom frequent deep water. I usually don’t fish for them in depths much over 20 feet. These are just rules of thumb, of course, but they are useful rules of thumb.

A newcomer to Maine, bluegill sunfish, now swim in several ponds in the Midcoast region.

They, too, bite on small jigs. These slab-sided spiny-rayed fish grow

Young Maine Sportsman (Continued from page 58)

some choice words, I flung him up on the ice, and sure enough my hook bent right out and fell on the ice.

My heart dropped. I will never use inexpensive hooks again because of this.

I could not believe it. This fish was bigger than anything I had ever seen, even on Facebook and TV. This fish turned out to be a little over 16 pounds, and was 35 inches long. The state record is 18 pounds, 8 ounces.

So putting everything I had learned together about location, you want to find a big round point – not a sharp point or a big flat – and fish from 20 feet down to 3040 feet, because they spawn in the

to 10 inches and more. They fight hard and taste even better, so they are worth a try.

Gear Up So pick up a jigging rod and small reel and some panfish jigs. I use Crappie Magnets a lot.

Squirmin’ Squirts, available from Bass Pro shops, are killers too, but it is necessary to paint the lead jigheads before use.

Good luck this winter, and welcome to the wonderful world of jigging.

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winter around February-March, so you’re basically catching the fish coming into the shallows.

Depth, Location and Gear I’ve always had my best luck deeper than 20 feet, and for my cusk rigs I don’t like my regular ice traps because I usually have lighter leaders and smaller hooks on them than is desirable (also, they would normally spool your line, and it’s a pain to real it all back in), so I take a long stick at least 24 inches and put about 40 feet of cheap rope down to a big one ounce weight above a swivel and about 14 inches of 30 pound ice line leader to a big hook They do not seem to care.

If you plan on catch and release, use a circle hook. And you might not catch a lot of fish, but you will definitely catch bigger fish.

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Pete’s Still At It!

Readers will remember Peter Bryce (“Pete”) Vicneire, who at age 10 on Youth Day 2018 dropped a massive 255-pound monster buck (see November issue of The Maine Sportsman; page 55).

We expected young Pete would simply rest on his laurels and retire from the sport for life, but NOOOO -- he’s still at it!

From his Mom Hollye Dunphy comes this 2019 update:

“No retirement for Pete Vicneire! He shot this 8 pointer from 120 yards away, dropping the 190 pound buck. He wanted me to share this with you and your readers.”

Nice job, Pete. Please take next season off, and leave some for the rest of us.

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 61

Hancock County Offers Ice Fishing, Plus Rabbit and Sea Duck Hunting For good wing-shooting prospects on sea ducks, set up a shore blind on one of the small islands on the western channel of the Bagaduce River in Castine.

Access can be gained at the small Bagaduce River public boat landing at Hatch Cove.

Many lakes and ponds in the Downeast area produce notable ice-fishing opportunities each January.

This month’s article will explore exciting hunting and fishing possibilities in Hancock County. Next month, we’ll cover Washington County.

To start your exploration of Hancock County, I suggest perusing Maps 15 and 23 in your DeLorme’s Maine Atlas. You will notice some of the most productive fisheries in Hancock County – with names like Green Lake, Branch Lake, Tunk Lake, Toddy Pond and Echo Lake.

These are some of the region’s best known hard-water fishing grounds and are productive in January.

Eagle Lake, Bar Harbor One water that attracts a lot of winter anglers is 436-acre Eagle Lake in Bar Harbor (Map 16, B-3/B-4).

Brook-trout enthusiasts catch fish midway down the west shoreline. Brook trout also gather near the inlet streams running into the southeastern end of the lake.

Brookies in the 10- to 12-inch class are regularly part of

a day’s catch at Eagle; however, folks also ice a few fish that exceed 15 inches in length.

Anglers fishing near the shoreline take fish in about 3 to 5 feet of water. Last year, fish-hatchery personal dropped off 3,375 7to 8-inch brook trout, 400 13-inch brookies, and 50 18-inch brook trout. Smelts, shiners or worms are the most popular baits used to entice these beauties.

Brook trout are the principal game fish caught on Eagle; however, ice anglers also catch salmon and lake trout. Anglers can often increase their chances of catching a 2 ½- to 3-pound togue by placing a cut-up sucker on bottom. Ice fishers, at times, catch larger lake trout, including some in the 4to 6-pound range.

Brown-Trout Water A second wellstocked pond in the area is Walkers Pond

(Map 15, C-3). Walkers produces a few hold-over browns in the 3- to 4- pound category each winter.

This water was stocked last fall with 500 13-inch brook trout, and 750 12-inch brown trout.

Even though trout fishing can be fast-and furious in January, many anglers set a couple of their traps to fill in the time trying to catch a variety of warm-water fish. Most folks set their traps along the west shoreline; however, easy access and good brown and brookie action can at times be had by fishing the east shore.

Chase Bunnies and Trout Singing beagles are often heard in thick-cedar habitat on either side of the Penobscot River. Several areas where rabbit populations seem to flourish are also located near well-stocked

Several sites along the Penobscot Bay shoreline and islands will put a shotgunner within range of Long-tail Ducks, formerly known as Old Squaw.

Photo Credit: Sea Duck Joint Venture

lakes and ponds.

A water in the Bucksport Region that ices over before January is Mud Pond (Map 23, C-3). This pickerel-infested water has the potential of producing more flags per outing than any water in our area.

Wall-hanger pickerel are the sought-after prize; however, success is more often measured by the number of flags per day, than the weight of the day’s catch.

In addition to ice fishing, the west side of the East Bucksport Road, near Mud Pond, is also a great place to hunt rabbits with a beagle. The terrain surrounding this body of water contains

dense cedar-bog cover and fir thickets. Several logging roads allow gunners good visual opportunities to connect with an elusive bunny.

Beagle Music Rabbit hunter Eric Peddle of Bucksport mentioned that he had experienced many successful hunts at several locations in the Bucksport area. Peddle said that rabbit covers in the Millvale region (Map23, E-3) often ensure some fast shooting.

Several small streams feed this low-lying landscape, creating ideal habitat to sustain a healthy population of snowshoe hare. The boggy (Continued on next page)

www.MaineSportsman.com

62 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Winter Rabbit Stew There are always textures and layers of flavor that make a dish successful. This one is no different, as I began the flavor-layering with Porcini Powder.

(You can now buy mushroom powder or dried mushrooms at most grocery stores.)

Get to know your mushroom flavors – raw and cooked, they are delicious both ways.

The most important thing is to compliment, not overpower, the mushrooms in a recipe. The Shitakes come out shin-

ing in presentation, flavor and texture in this dish.

Enjoy, and Bon Appétit!

Place Porcini Powder, salt, and pepper into plastic bag and mix. Add rabbit pieces, toss to coat mixture.

Heat olive oil in Dutch oven over medium heat until lightly smoking.

Sear rabbit on both sides until golden brown and set aside. Stir in onions and cook until softened, about 3 minutes; add mushrooms, garlic, and rosemary; cook 3 more minutes. Add salt and pepper.

Place browned rabbit pieces into

pot, and pour in beer and stock. Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rabbit is tender – 30 minutes.

Stir flour into softened butter until smooth. Remove rabbit from pot and set aside. Whisk in butter paste. Simmer 4 minutes until thickened, season with salt and pepper if needed.

Serve thickened sauce with braised rabbit.

are several small islands located on the western channel of the river. At low tide, these islands are difficult to get onto to set up a shore blind; however, the extra effort is often worth the trouble.

Ducks, especially at high tide, fly close enough to the islands to present good wing-shooting prospects.

Access can be gained at the small Bagaduce River Public Boat Landing at Hatch Cove in Castine. Easy access can be accomplished by getting permission to travel the dirt roads off from Route 166.

Another place to find a few ducks is near Steven’s Bridge in Blue Hill. This

bridge spans a reversing tidal flow.

A camouflaged boat-blind is the easiest and safest way to hunt this piece of water. Sea ducks fly from one side of the bridge to the other throughout the day, depending on the tide and prevailing weather conditions (Map 15 C-5).

A third excellent place where I have set up shore blinds in the past is found on Carlton Island on the adjacent Salt Pond, which can be accessed by traveling Route 172. A short paddle will get you to the island in a matter of minutes. Ducks pass by this island frequently during the early dawn hours or during foggy mornings.

WINTER RABBIT STEW Sweet potatoes, rice or noodles all work well to sop up the delicious sauce in this dish.

It’s one of those sauces where you just want to stick your head in the pot with a spoon!

Ingredients: • 3 tablespoons Porcini Mushroom Powder • ½ teaspoon salt • ½ teaspoon white pepper • 1 (3-pound) rabbit, cleaned and cut into 8 pieces (Shaw Farms, ME) • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • 1 cup leeks, thinly sliced • 1 cup sweet onion, thinly sliced • 2 cups fresh Shitake mushrooms, thinly sliced (North Spore, ME) • 2 tablespoons garlic, chopped • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped • 16 ounces amber beer (Burnside, Foundation Brewing, ME) • 1 quart game bird stock (or chicken stock) • 2 tablespoons flour • 2 tablespoons softened butter

Downeast Region (Continued from page 61)

edges provide ample opportunities to release a beagle. A few logging roads provide access to this location.

Feather Hunting Die-hard duck gunners can continue their duck-hunting season in January by placing decoys on the coastal waters of Penobscot Bay. It’s a real possibility that old squaws, eiders and coots will give hunters good shooting prospects.

An isolated, lesser-known haunt for picking up sea ducks is situated on the Bagaduce River (Map 15, B-2). There www.MaineSportsman.com

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��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 63

Hot Hardwater Action on Tap for Moosehead Lake Dependable action and a chance for trophy brook trout lure anglers to Moosehead Lake each January.

In addition to offering brookies of an unheard-of size, Maine’s largest lake also holds double-digit togue and trophy salmon.

Despite the chance to take a world-class wild brook trout, the majority of anglers head to Moosehead for landlocked salmon, and anything else comes as a bonus. But salmon don’t become legal fare until February 15. Prior to that, all salmon must be immediately released alive without removing the fish from the water.

For many, that’s no problem, because for brook trout, early season fishing usually sees the best action.

Besides that, ice gets well over three feet thick on Moosehead by February, sometimes requiring an extension bit on ice augers. In January, though, cutting holes in the lake’s frozen surface takes little effort.

A picture that ran in this column some years ago says it all. It was of a 4-pound brook trout, caught at dawn on opening day, January 1, in Beaver Cove.

I can envision the scene, with sunlight just darting its beams through the pine trees and an angler playing tug-of-war with a trout of a lifetime.

Early-season anglers have every

chance to recreate this scenario – and not just in Beaver Cove, but at any spot along the lake.

Gearing Up For those planning on fishing Moosehead Lake and other waters in the region, it will pay to plan ahead regarding equipment.

Northern Maine, including the Moosehead Region, has an entirely different climate than the much of the rest of the state.

For instance, even though the big lake is only about 100 miles from my Midcoast home, temperatures in the Moosehead region run, on the average, about 10 degrees colder. And that makes a world of difference, not only comfort levels but also in ice thickness.

For that reason we need to dress warmer, as well as using specialized gear designed for deep snow and thick ice. Nothing could be more frustrating than to plan an ice-fishing trip to the region, only to find once you arrive that your tackle is inadequate for the task.

To that end, make sure to use the longest ice-fishing traps available, so the flag will be seen above the snow. And make sure that spools are loaded to capacity with good, strong line. If a trophy togue or trout hits, it is imperative that terminal gear, lines, leaders and also hooks, be in perfect condition.

And speaking of

hooks, I’ve recently developed a new respect for circle hooks. Having tried them some years ago and found them wanting, I gave them another go this past summer, with surprisingly good results.

My initial problem was that instead of following the directions (sound familiar anyone?), I just tied a circle hook on and went for it. But instead of letting the fish take the bait and then simply reeling in as directed, I attempted to set the hook, which resulted in most fish getting away.

For ice fishing, then, just wait for the fish to take the bait, and instead of jerking the line, just begin pulling. This will hook the fish in the side of the mouth – something useful now for releasing salmon between now and February 15.

Insider Outlook Eric Holbrook, Moosehead region guide, shared his thoughts on what hardwater anglers will encounter this year on the big lake. Eric guides on Moosehead summer, spring and winter, so his thoughts are particularly insightful.

First, Eric predicts lots of brook trout coming through the ice in early January because more people are now targeting them at that time.

Regarding salmon, Eric envisions a decline in salmon size – a

This giant Moosehead Lake brook trout came through the ice last winter. Eric Holbrook photo

phenomenon he attributes to the decline of smelts. Eric noted that smelt numbers have begun to decline since the smelt-stocking program, a cooperative effort between the Moosehead Lake Coalition and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W), was discontinued.

And regarding smelt availability,

Eric, who himself operates a bait shop, suggests that while early season anglers will experience no problem finding live smelt for bait, by midseason, smelt numbers in region bait shops will decline.

A word to the wise, then – don’t throw out those unused smelt after a fishing trip, but save them in a shed or (Continued on next page)

www.MaineSportsman.com

64 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Moosehead Region (Continued from page 63)

other protected area so they are available next time out.

Finally, Eric sees people taking more togue this year than in recent years. It seems that the last several breeding seasons were successful because more and more small fish showed up. These will be hungry, says

Eric, and anglers will be running for lots of flags. That’s good news for those wanting fast action and for those who appreciate the value of these deepwater delicacies.

Moosehead Togue Speaking of togue, remember that populations are never static and will vary in

MAYNARDS ROCKWOOD, MAINE

year to year. In the not-too-distant past, small- to medium-size togue were a mainstay of Moosehead Lake.

Big fish were always present, but smaller fish made up the bulk of the catch.

And then DIF&W intervened, lowering fall water levels in order to put a hold on the togue population. Togue, like brook trout, spawn in fall.

Liberal regulations

approaches combined to decrease togue numbers and increase average size. Also, the smelt stocking program served to create the perfect environment by multiplying the forage base, thus giving fewer togue (and other species as well) more food with less competition.

So today, fishing remains at nearly its all-time peak, with plenty of fish and many

future, though, remains to be seen.

Many in the Moosehead region would like to see the smelt stocking program reinstated. We shall see.

Meanwhile, it looks like a busy winter for those plying icy Moosehead Lake.

Good luck!

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��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 65

Jet Sled Makes Up for Ugly with Utility I love my wooden canoe.

And I wouldn’t be without my cedar packbasket, my ash and spruce paddles, also my wooden snowshoes and skis. There’s something about the warmth and texture of wood, shaped by talented hands, that calls out to the sense of tradition in the lives of outdoor sportspeople.

But sometimes life just calls for a big hunk of ugly rotomolded polyethylene, to get the job done.

Practical Mid-Westerners The Shappell family from upstate Michigan knew that outdoorsmen have always been a utilitarian bunch. And nearly 40 years ago they began producing tough, capable, synthetic outdoor sleds to match the needs of fishermen, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts. In 2015, the family-owned company joined Eagle Claw, the famous fishhook manufacturer, and vastly expanded their distribution and product lines. Now you can easily find their iconic sleds even at your local hardware store.

It’s easy to tell when a piece of outdoor gear has become indispensable. When I own several identical items that are in progressive stages of wear and dis-repair – but all still in use – that item is a keeper.

I currently have three Jet Sleds in two

The Jet Sled’s high sides and sturdy construction make it a utilitarian hauler.

different sizes. All three are in near-constant use.

Motor-Less Issues It’s a nice idealistic theory that, without motors and machinery, a hunter or fisherman can go light, go fast and go far into roadless areas where solitude and wilderness await.

But motor-less sportsman in remote places have the same transportation problems as any other outdoorsman: • How do I get the deer from this ridge to the back of my far-off truck?

• How do I get these stove-lengths from this tree to the woodpile at a roadless camp?

• How can I get a hundred pounds of winter gear from the north gate parking lot at Baxter State Park to the winter cabin at Trout Brook Farm?

When the obvious answers (e.g., ATV, snowmobile, 4x4 truck) are not options, it helps to have a multi-use, tough-asnails container that can be pulled by hand

When a mouse-infested couch had to be removed from the author’s remote hunting camp, he convinced a teen-aged assistant to slide the couch toward the municipal dump on a Jet Sled.

across all kinds of terrain.

Year-Round Use The Jet Sled shines in the month of January. The classic use is hauling ice-fishing gear to the desired spot for drilling holes and setting traps. The inventors obviously had this in mind.

The alternative, back in the day, was to carry a packbasket loaded with gear, or maybe use a flat wooden toboggan.

Later on, I used the inexpensive, lowsided, plastic sleds that were popular with kids. But the pack-basket and other gear was constantly falling out of these toy sleds. Deep snow was sure to upset the load and the tracking over frozen snow was abysmal.

A Jet Sled, with its high-sides, ample width and molded runners on the bottom, was a huge improvement. Using a fitted, waterproof cover kept out spindrift snow.

For remote winter camping trips in Bax-

ter State Park, we attached flexible poles to the smallest version of the Jet Sled and pulled it behind us as a pulk.

Towing could be done by skiing, snowshoeing or simply trekking on firmer terrain with micro-spikes and trekking poles.

Heavy Loads with Ease The combination of serious traction available with micro-spikes, and the huge capacity of the Jet Sled, inspired a family trip to the winter cabin at Trout Brook Farm in Baxter. Instead of loading individual packs with heavy gear, I pulled the Jet Sled with the bulk of the family gear for 5 miles along the ungroomed snowmobile trail on the tote road.

I started using the big black sled for spring yard work almost by accident. For heavy, wet yard waste, it beat my wheelbarrow for both capacity and ease of dumping.

Also, the front lip of the loaded sled could be lifted up to rest on

the edge a pickup tailgate; then, by lifting the rear, the entire heavy load would slide up and into the truck bed.

The ease of this one-person loading procedure was not lost on me as a solo deer hunter. And I employed it multiple times to load deer alone after using the sled to twitch the deer out of the woods.

From Moose to Couches For remote moose hunts by canoe, the sled has become essential gear. It fits nicely into the bottom of a big tripping canoe and holds all the retrieval gear, ropes, saws, pulley systems and butchery equipment up above the inevitable bilge water. When a moose dies in an inconvenient place, the sled is ideal for towing quarters back to the canoe.

When a heavy, mouse-infested couch needed to be removed from our deer camp one year, I knew just what to do. The camp is way beyond any road access, and even the ATV that carried the couch in many years ago couldn’t get close these days.

With some teenage manpower, the couch came out in style – perched on top of a Jet Sled and tied down with canoe straps.

Ahhh!! The simple beauty of rotomolded polyethylene.

¶

www.MaineSportsman.com

66 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Navigating Jackman’s Winter Playground With Grand Falls looming around the next bend, I slowed my rented snowmobile to a crawl. As the cascading sculpture of ice, water and snow came into full view, it was time to shut the machine down and reflect.

In the spring I’ve fished Grand Falls. In fact, one of my most memorable salmon came from the frothy tail waters beneath the 40-foot falls. Lots of cold, moving water

lured me and a sixweight flyrod waist deep trying to hook a silver leaper.

Now, just two seasons later, Maine’s cold north winds have totally reconfigured the landscape. It’s utterly amazing what a couple feet of snow can do to change the lay of the land. And, yet, in just the cycle of a few short months I’ll be back swinging the slender wand and remembering how treacherous it looks

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Much of the landscape from The Forks to Jackman changes dramatically when serious ice, cold and snow sweep across the countryside. In many ways, I think this winter makeover benefits outdoor sportsmen just as dramatically.

Deep snow has a way of smoothing out the ankle-breaking terrain that fair-weather travelers endure. Also, bogs and other water-soaked areas freeze over, grant-

ing easy access to those of us willing to dress for single-digit temperatures.

While bird hunting during the fall, I often end up on snowmobile trails. It’s hard to believe that these rough and tumble paths turn into super smooth, award -winning winter highways for snow travelers.

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to navigate. The real estate between The Forks and Jackman provides enough trails to keep this writer busy.

Of course, more ambitious riders can slap the throttle and head east to Rockwood or Greenville. Winter wanderers looking to head south, or west, can easily end up in Eustis or Rangeley.

Weighing the options starts with looking over a good map.

Most of the snowmobiling websites for the region have downloadable trail maps. Northern Outdoors (www. northernoutdoors. com) has a quality color coded map with all the major trails, and pinpoints many of the local businesses located on or near the trail system.

In Jackman, for (Continued on next page)

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��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 67 (Continued from page 66)

example, it shows Bishops Store, located along Main Street.

Bishops Store has earned a reputation for stocking everything the traveling snow wanderer could possibly need. They also make one heck of a pizza.

A pin in Rockwood shows the location of Moosehead Sled Repair. Tips like that turn to gold when snow machines, as with all mechanical marvels, eventually need some expert attention to keep them safely navigating Maine’s winter highway.

Another important icon all winter travelers must take note of involves the emergency phone numbers for the various areas.

While West Forks uses the standard 9-1-1 number, folks in Jackman need to dial 6682691 for emergency help. Before heading out, please verify the appropriate emergency phone number.

Prepare for the worst, while hoping for the best.

Finger Tapping Another worthwhile endeavor involves a little finger tapping. All the major towns have a Chamber of Commerce website that contains loads of helpful information.

They include maps, lodging options and a list of local businesses ready to assist folks from away with their various needs.

The next Google search should pull up all the local snowmobile clubs. These unsung heroes not only spend their nights grooming trails for the next day’s ride, but also post real time trail conditions on their websites.

I’ve found snowmobile club websites the most accurate. The way it works, each club maintains a dedicated section of the trail system. Listening to their reporting makes sense, because in most cases they groom their entire section of trail every night and have the best, most up-todate set of eyes on the trail.

Sled jockeys in the know consider Janu-

ary the peak month for trail riding. By now the trails have seen enough grooming to build a solid base.

The January snowfall amounts to icing on the cake.

Most lodging accommodations have direct access to the trail system. The Border Riders Sportsman’s Club allows parking for rigs with trailers for day-riders at their clubhouse located just north of the hamlet of Jackman on Route 201.

Self-Propelled Travel Not everyone chooses to use the internal combustion engine to navigate Maine’s winter playground.

Snowshoes and cross-country skis adorn the roof racks of many of the vehicles navigating north on Route 201.

While I’ve seen both self-propelled types traversing slowly along the side of snowmobile trails, I don’t think it’s safe.

It would be way too easy for some speeding sled to lose control and

Here, a gang of trail runners takes a few minutes to view the scenery on the way to the summit of Coburn Mountain. Experienced snowmobile operators know to enjoy the journey and the destination. Photo courtesy Northern Outdoors

take out an unsuspecting foot soldier.

Snowshoe operators have a great opportunity to create their own route. All it

takes is a good map, add in a GPS and plot a course through the woods on virgin snow.

I have the Earth(Continued on page 69)

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68 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Cold Weather Sports Just an Old Family Tradition Growing up Sheldon had its major plusses along with a negative or two. When the mercury plummeted below freezing, especially on weekends, the Sheldon phone would start hopping off the hook.

“Can Billy and Steven come over and play?” one neighborhood mother after another would inquire.

That usually meant a day of playing street hockey and drinking hot chocolate in the warmth of our playmate’s basement.

Maybe even a little TV time.

Of course, TV time didn’t always work out so well – someone always had to hang on to the rabbit ear antenna and hold it just right to keep the snowy reception, well, snowy.

Being a little tall for my age, I was usually voted in as the designated antenna-tender.

“Sorry, they can’t come over today,” my mother would inform the callers. “They’re going ice fishing with their father.”

Staying Warm I learned early that ice fishing was the ultimate cold-weather sport. That reality necessitated dressing in as many layers of clothes as I could dig out of my bureau drawers. No high-tech clothing back then – just lots of layers.

We never had much trouble staying warm out on the ice. It was surviving the ride to the lake or pond in the back of my old man’s 1965 Ford truck that tested my “keep warm” ingenuity.

Yup, back against the cab, knees pulled in tight, arms stretched around the shins, chin tucked hard against my chest, coat pulled up over my nose and the bottom edge of my hat touching the top of my collar. My brother and I must have looked like two bags of laundry going down the road in the back of that old green Ford.

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grandchildren, to the cold weather sport of ice-fishing. Over 50 years have flown by since experiencing my first flag, and each season I look forward to giving my traps their annual tune-up and test run.

A few things have changed over the years. No more cold weather rides in the back of an open bed pickup truck. Something about seatbelt laws nowadays.

Also, staying warm has gotten easier over the years.

My brother and I never had wool clothes back then, but they were certainly available. Today’s cold weather options can boggle the mind. Just selecting a base layer of insulated underwear gets confusing (Continued on next page)

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these days.

Something I learned from riding around in the back of a truck for most of my childhood – layers.

Along the way some genius invented those wonderful little chemical handwarmers that I strategically place in boots, gloves and pockets for a toasty outdoor experience. Those handwarmers would have made those fresh air rides a piece of cake.

Jerry Pond Local waters make great places to introduce young children to hard water fishing.

Jerry Pond, located just a short drive north of downtown Millinocket (DeLorme, Map 43, A-3), makes a great starter pond for both the young and young-at-heart.

Easy access and a plowed parking lot create a great opportunity to turn a few extra hours into a lifetime of memories. And, should the troops lose interest or get cold, some warmer intown hospitality waits just a few miles away.

This 66-acre jewel falls under general

fishing regulations, with an “A” (open to ice fishing and open water fishing for all fish from Dec. 1 through April 30), with an S-9 regulation (“Open to fishing only for persons under 16 years of age or persons holding an eligible complimentary fishing license. Restricted to two lines per person.

Daily limit on trout: 2 fish.”)

Additional rules consist of S-6 (artificial lures only) and S-7 (all trout, landlocked salmon, and togue caught must be released alive at once). Check with the current DIF&W regulations and a Philadelphia lawyer to clear up any confusion.

Nearby Amenities Most of the ponds my dad took us to were close to home. That’s probably so he could easily take us home in case we got cold. When Steve and I tell the story we conveniently neglect to mention it was usually a short ride. Besides, our beagle usually rode in the passenger seat.

In the spirit of keeping up with the times, I’d like to sug-

Jackman Region (Continued from page 67)

mate GPS (by Garmin) on my phone. I simply plot a course after looking at the online map and satellite imagery of the area I’m considering. Next, I sync the route with my cell phone, and I’ll have an exact course, exact distance and a real plan for heading off grid.

Earthmate Technology While I’m loving my electronics, I still bring my trusty map and compass along. To keep my phone from burning up the battery, I put it in “airplane” mode. This way the phone isn’t constantly searching for a cell tower that might not exist.

This photo shows Bill Sheldon, age two, ice fishing in 1962. I’ve shown readers this black and white photo before, but this time I am doing so in order to encourage all of you to send to our editor photos of yourself early in your outdoor journey. I’m claiming, and here’s the proof, that I started at two years old. Send those old photos.

Jackie Sheldon photo

gest that perhaps modern anglers would like to pick up a pizza or sandwiches in- town before heading over to Jerry Pond.

Ice fishing in my youth involved a roaring fire on the ice, usually along the shoreline. That not only kept us warm, but with the right length stick we could cook all the hot dogs we could eat.

Dad’s gear was simple. Wooden traps with felt flags and a hand ice chipper. He

For multi-day excursions, a folding solar panel comes along.

However, if I manage my phone prudently, I can get three days out of it. The solar charging is strictly a bonus at this point.

The Earthmate GPS works off the satellite system and doesn’t require cell towers. If I load the route from my base computer before heading out, I’m good.

Most snow travelers, mechanized or self-propelled, can benefit from GPS-assisted travel. The trick is not to totally rely on it, at least in the early phases of learning the technology.

I’ll probably reuse those same snowmobile trail routes to go fishing in a few months.

¶

Here, Lenny Potvin instructs the next generation on the finer points of setting the hook. Both boys look on eagerly as line reels off and Potvin gets ready to hand the over the controls to his eager apprentices. It only takes a few ice traps and a couple hours to mentor our future sportsmen. Bill Sheldon photo

most always chipped out a square hole just short of the water level to keep our catch cold.

Steve and I always wondered why he didn’t just keep them in the bed of the pickup truck.

Naming Traps My ice fishing buddy Lenny Potvin is an avid hard water angler who lives to take his grandchildren ice fishing. Of course, Potvin has one of those modern four door pickup trucks so his grand-

children can ride to fishing destinations in a heated cab. Nice touch!

Anyway, he taught me something a few years ago that I’ve started doing.

Potvin started naming some of his traps. Because I have a collection of traps that date back to my grandparents, I’ve started doing the same. All of my trap collection was given to me by friends and family over my lifetime.

(Continued on page 73)

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70 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

An Interview with Todd Langevin, Hatchery Superintendent Todd Langevin, a soft-spoken man with a welcoming smile, greeted me in his office at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (DIF&W) building at 284 State Street, Augusta.

Langevin, who lightheartedly referred to himself as a “production manager,” stands as the point person behind every fish stocked in the State of Maine. When regional fisheries biologists determine their needs for the upcoming year, they submit their applications to Todd.

Todd Langevin worked his way up through the ranks, beginning as a creel-census worker and finally landing the position as superintendent of hatcheries. That he loves his work is plain to see, which makes me think that here is someone who would happily go the extra mile to assure that he gets the best possible results.

Being in charge of the hatchery system for Maine entails being thoroughly acquainted with all aspects of hatching, raising and distributing coldwater game fish. For instance, one of Todd Langevin’s myriad duties is to perform annual fish quality surveys for every hatchery in the state. This he does in conjunction with the state fish pathologist. The two record fish length and www.MaineSportsman.com

Todd Langevin, Director of Maine’s hatchery system. Tom Seymour photos

weight, after which they assign a grade.

Fish Food One of my questions for Langevin, something that has long vexed me, was why does flesh of trout from different hatcheries vary in color, and also taste? The answer, it turned out, lies in the feed.

In the past, Maine used Corey brand fish food. This resulted in a deep, orange coloration for all fish and a sweet taste.

But the state’s relationship with the Canadian brand developed difficulties, and Maine was obliged to seek a different supplier. The current brand, Bio Oregon, is used in all Maine hatcheries.

The difference in color, Langevin said, was due to a coloring agent in the feed. It seems that different size feed pellets have differing amounts of coloration. Thus, the orange-fleshed brook trout stocked in northern waters are grown with pellets having a high amount of coloring agent, while those in southern areas appear to have fed on

MDIF&W biologists checking brook trout caught in a trapnet.

pellets with a lesser amount of color.

While at first glance it seems that flesh color shouldn’t affect taste, but in fact it does, at least in hatchery-raised fish.

After being released into the wild and acclimating to their new home, trout will usually develop orange flesh as a result of natural feeds. A fish released in spring will very closely resemble a wild fish in fall, at least as far as flesh color and taste.

Wish List Everything about fish stocking in Maine waters is thoroughly researched and well planned. Numbers of fish, age, size, strain and species to be stocked in any given water are proposed by regional fisheries biologists, and their requests are then sent to Todd Langevin. This isn’t as simple as it sounds, since numbers are often determined two years in advance.

The final number of fish requested in any year represents the sum total of research by fisheries biologists.

Often, a water may

hatchery-raised

see similar stocking numbers each year, especially in put-andtake waters. In other instances, research entails analyzing creel survey results, angler comments, and also trapnetting (and rarely, gillnetting) results.

Only after all these data are assembled, does the regional biologist then submit a request to the hatchery superintendent. “Send me the request, and I’ll make it happen,” Langevin told me.

In addition to stocking fish, Langevin and the regional biologists, work on proposed changes in rules and regulations when it appears that change is necessary or desirable. And new stocking programs just don’t “happen,” either. Instead, after biologists determine that a new program (stocking salmonids in waters that were never previously stocked, introducing new species where they didn’t exist before or other similar changes), must go through a rigid peer-review process before implementation.

So when anglers wonder why proposed changes took so long to come online, it is important for them to understand the often-complicated processes needed in order for changes to come to fruition. According to Langevin, everything – every contingency, every possibility – must come under close scrutiny prior to adoption of any rule or procedure amendments.

Good Times I’m a long-time angler, and over my 72 years I have observed many changes to Maine’s fisheries management. In my lifetime, brown trout have become not only widespread, but a much-desired fish species, present in Maine lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. Rainbow trout, once no more than a dream of a handful of anglers and biologists, have become an accepted species, and now swim in places where previously, little coldwater fishing opportunities existed.

Not only that, hatchery brook trout, through careful breeding, now average between 10 and 15 inches, where once, 6- to 7-inch liver-fed trout were the norm.

Finally, here’s something to consider. The long-term goal of everyone in the DIF&W Fisheries Division is to provide Maine anglers with the best possible (Continued on page 73)

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 71

Early Season Ice Fishing Offers Hot Action Most winters, Aroostook lakes are ready for ice fishing on January 1. However, Mother Nature is nothing if not unpredictable, and there’s often a question of safe ice thickness. Even if most of a lake offers safe ice, rain, snow cover, water currents or spring holes may affect ice depths in other areas.

And “safe ice” for a fisherman doesn’t always equate to safe ice for a snowmobile, or an ice shanty, or especially a truck!

Vehicles with tires or tracks aren’t designed to be submersible, and conditions are certainly not conducive for swimming.

Assuming Jack Frost has done his job, New Year’s Day offers hardwater anglers a new season, and the chance to visit a favorite lake or investigate new ice drilling territory. The County offers a wide variety of lakes; there’s probably at least one easy-access, productive winter fishery within 20to 30-minutes of your village, town or city.

Fishermen generally use one of three main criteria when selecting a waterway, regardless of the season: 1) proximity and ease of access; 2) availability of multiple species; or 3) the possibility of a trophy-size fish.

Fish River; Saint Froid In all likelihood, the Fish River chain of lakes are the most

Quimby villages offer shoreline access via open water boat launches. It’s not unusual for local ice fishermen to plow parking areas and path right onto the lake.

Kevin Lajoie of Presque Isle displays a 5-pound salmon taken during a January outing on Long Lake of the Fish River Chain. Early-season angling is often the most consistent of the year. All photos: Bill Graves

popular destinations in Aroostook County, perhaps the entire state, for year’round action, variety and large fish. Long, Square and Eagle generally garner the top trifecta, but to avoid the crowds and enjoy variety and steady early season action, Saint Froid deserves some attention. I’ve found it rewarding to make an early Janu-

Ethan Cushman of Mars Hill shows a nice salmon he caught, while the family dog, Bandit, looks on during an outing on St. Froid Lake last winter.

ary visit for the smelt jigging alone.

Located in Winterville Plantation, at 2,400 acres and a max depth of 114 feet, this lake has a lot to offer.

Route 11 is the main access highway and is kept well plowed all winter. Turn West at Winterville, with a short jaunt to Quimby and then either the North or South Shore Road, also well-plowed

byways.

There are multiple locations to park and snowshoe onto the lake and fish, but of course a snowmobile offers farther and faster travel. Check Delorme’s Atlas, Map 63, A-4 for an overview of the waterway and travel options.

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Early-Ice Smelt Jigging Many folks set out smelt shanties, and once the ice is thick enough there are dozens of plowed paths all over the surface to reach these fish huts.

It makes easy walking with gear on a tote road sled for visitors without Ski-doos.

There are about a dozen brook, stream and river inlets around St. Froid, and these offer fantastic early-ice smelt jigging. Traveling visitors often bring portable huts, or on calm, sunny days they drill holes and handline from the seats of their snowmobiles.

Since there are

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72 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Early January fish can be action packed as soon as a safe thickness of ice forms.

Here, writer Bill Graves pulls up a fish from an urban-edge pond only 20 minutes from his home in Presque Isle.

Often times in January there is ice thick enough to allow fishing, but not for snowmobiles. Here, Bill Graves makes a long trek through heavy snow to auger trap holes on St. Froid Lake. As usual, it was worth the effort.

Aroostook County (Continued from page 71)

lake trout, brook trout and salmon aplenty, many smelters use a short, sturdy, jigging rod just in case it’s not a smelt grabbing the cut bait. Others set out a legal complement of tip-ups, less one, and purposefully man a jigging rod with a small lure or spoon at the last drill site for hands on attention to attract larger fish.

Some anglers set deep rigs dedicated to foraging cusk, while others try for a bucket of yellow perch.

Togue average 4 to 5 pounds, but there are double-digit brutes finning about. Brookies run 12 to 16 inches,

and salmon average 15 to 17 inches; however, there are many larger versions to be hooked.

A very dependable drilling site for smelt and brookies is at the mouth of Red River inlet. The small cove at Birch River inlet is another top-rate site to set tip-ups for salmon and trout, and be sure to check out Togue Point at the southernmost tip of the lake.

St. Froid is a long, narrow waterway and crowding is seldom a problem, but I do think January offers the most consistent day-to-day action with the least hindrance by snow depths.

Urban Edge Drilling Sometimes you just have a short window of time to fish or perhaps you’re introducing a youngster or newbie adult to the chilly world of winter angling.

Someplace close, comfortable, and with cooperative fish are the keys to a fun outing.

For folks in and around Presque Isle area, visit Arnold Brook Lake – it’s only a 10-minute drive from Route 1 and Maine Street via the Chapman and Niles Roads, and it boasts simple plowed access all winter and plenty of parking. See Map 65, E-1 for an overview.

You’ll find lots of

It can be brutally cold some days this month in Aroostook, but the fish still bite.

Therefore, hardy fishermen like Mitch Wheeler of Bridgewater dress in layers and venture out to drill ice.

brook trout. Get out as early as safe ice allows, since there are usually two late fall stockings – one with hefty 16- to 18-inch fish.

Some ice-drillers set traps near shore, then sit in a warm vehicle to watch. Later in the season when there’s thick ice, many folks plow a path and set up traps right next to their truck.

A few locals take a long lunch, bring a brown bag sandwich and set out a couple of tip-ups.

Sportsmen can walk or snowshoe to any part of this manmade reservoir in 15 minutes if spots near the parking lot are crowded.

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Houlton Area Ice-chippers farther south near Houlton who are seeking a close-to-home spot to drop a line will want to check out Hodgdon Mill Pond, also called Hodgdon Deadwater.

It’s a great spot for youngsters and rookies, since late fallstocked trout offer dependable action.

Actually no more than a wide spot created by the South Branch of the Meduxnekeag River, the Mill Pond is close to several towns and villages, and is reachable using Route 1 and Hodgdon Mills Road. It occupies the upper north corner of the Lt. Gordon Manuel WMA; see Map 53, B-3.

Each of these urban edge ice fishing spots has special regulations regarding baits, fish, and trap limits, so check your law book or online.

Weekends tend to attract more anglers than weekdays, but there is always space to auger a couple of holes.

Don’t forget: New Year – New license!

And that early-bird adage works with fish too – early season is prime time, so carefully check ice depths, and then have at it!

¶

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 73

Katahdin Country

Trout Fishing

(Continued from page 69)

(Continued from page 70)

I recently added a few more tilts when my dear friend Bernie Derjue passed on. There will be a new trap on the hard water in 2020 named B-D, in honor of a man who took the time to spend countless hours pursuing fish and game with a young, reckless lad named Sheldon.

The Katahdin Region has plenty of hard water fishing opportunities, so do what my dad did – find a way to introduce the next generation to fishing on the ice.

¶

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angling opportunities. Hatchery workers brave freezing conditions to nurture their charges, and biologists spend long, often cold and wet days afield, assessing and gathering data. Regional biologists must employ long-term vision in planning for the future.

And Todd Langevin, once given the biologists’ requests for the coming year, does whatever it takes to put it all together.

In all, our hatchery system is a well-oiled machine, with everyone working toward a common goal.

On a related note, a new chapter of Trout Unlimited has formed.

It’s called “Downeast Trout Unlimited.” For more information or to join, contact Tammy Packie, (207) 288-5422 or tpackie@gmail. com. Also visit their Facebook page, Downeast Trout Unlimited.

Best wishes to this new organization.

¶

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74 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

The Morning Bite The light from our headlamps sliced through the predawn haze as we walked out onto Cathance Lake.

Travis stopped pulling the jetsled, and I set down the bait bucket full of smelts from the 24-hour, self-service bait shop in Harrington.

We were ice fishing for salmon. Travis pulled out his phone and opened up the Navionics app, and we discussed where to drill our ten holes.

We wanted to be able to see our traps from camp—the camp my great grandfather built more than a century ago.

We decided to set them in a line, perpendicular to shore, spaced every 50 feet or so, with a few extra traps in the middle.

I pumped the primer on the Jiffy three times, and pulled the cord with all my might.

It sputtered and died.

It was finicky, and we hadn’t brought it inside to stay warm the night prior.

I tried again, and after coughing and smoking, it started.

It broke the ice at my feet and the silence of the morning.

Classic Maine Camp As I drilled and scooped the ice out of each hole, Travis went behind me and set traps. The sun was starting to rise, and wasn’t it magnificent.

Shades of gold and merlot welcomed me back to the lake of my childhood. www.MaineSportsman.com

My great grandfather built our camp at Cathance Lake more than 100 years ago. There’s no running water or insulation. There’s a boathouse, an outhouse, and an alligator skin hanging on the wall. We tell some guests that it came from the lake.

Travis sets traps as the sun rises over Cathance Lake. The author recommends that anglers not miss the morning bite. All photos by Christi Holmes

I spent every summer growing up kayaking, swimming, and playing Parcheesi at the two-story, primitive camp. Evidence of my growth was marked on the door frame, beside my brother’s, dad’s, grandfather’s and great grandfather’s respective heights.

There is no running water or insulation at camp, and no renovations have been done since it was originally built in the early 1900s. The original blue and white curtains still hang, albeit tattered and faded.

The porch is about 15 feet from the wa-

ter’s edge. There’s a boathouse, an outhouse, and an alligator skin hanging on the wall. I’m not sure where it came from, but it’s tradition of telling gullible people that it came from the lake.

Flag Up Before All Traps Set When I finished scooping slush out of the tenth hole, I knelt down to set the trap.

I took out a 24” Jack Trap with a black flag and stretched the leader Travis had tied on the night before. I reached into the small bait container and struggled to grab a smelt. The water was icy cold, and they kept squeezing through my fingers.

Finally, I nabbed one, hooked it behind its dorsal fin and plopped it into the hole. It swam in circles, trying to swim up.

I waited and watched, slowly feeding it more and more leader until I had about a foot of leader out below the ice. I turned the spool so it was set at a hair trigger, bent the flag down and secured it around a ring, and set the trap down on the ice, pushing on both sides to anchor it.

I looked up and saw Travis running towards the second trap he had set. The flag was up. We hadn’t even finished setting all of our traps and we had a flag. The morning bite was on.

Better Luck Now I ice fished Cathance Lake twice in high school with friends, and we were skunked both times. My friend Justin lives on the lake and averages one or two salmon per day, so when Travis suggested we go to Machias to (Continued on next page)

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 75

When she was younger, the author got skunked ice fishing on Cathance. Now that she understand where to drill holes, and how to prepare and maintain equipment, she’s experiencing high rates of success.

(Continued from page 74)

visit my parents and ice fish at my camp, I had low expectations.

I warned him it was a slow lake, but he insisted.

That day we caught ten salmon, between 14” and 24”.

Now ice fishing there is an annual tradition, we always catch multiple salmon, and we don’t see a single other angler—a big perk of getting out of Southern Maine, where we live now.

What were we doing differently from

The author’s family camp is rustic, with no insulation and outdoor facilities. But it offers tradition, and great fishing.

when I fished it in high school? Travis and his friends have taught me a few key tips for ice fishing in general, not just salmon.

Hints for Success 1. Don’t miss the morning bite. Really.

Don’t even go if you’re going to miss it. We wake up at 4 a.m. to ensure we have traps set for sunrise.

2. Spread your traps out. You’re not going to find a good fishing spot if all of your traps are a 30-second walk away. Sometimes we bring a snowmobile

and have to use binoculars to see our farthest traps, especially if we are fishing a lake for the first time.

3. Take a hike. Don’t be afraid to walk a ways to get away from the boat launch where everyone else is fishing.

4. Try different depths and baits —dead baits, smelts, chubs, shiners, killifish. Keep track of what baits and depths were successful.

5. Check your traps every couple of hours – even more often if you’re using smelts, since they have a ten-

The author has experienced minus 20 degree mornings, but the fishing has been productive. She recommends bomber hats, and hand and toe warmers. Warm anglers are happy and successful anglers.

dency of swimming in circles and tangling up your leader.

6. Make sure your hooks are razor sharp, leaders long, and knots secure. There’s nothing like losing a fish because a knot gives.

We put new hooks and leaders on every time we go ice fishing.

7. Study the lake’s topography, inlets and outlets. Try fishing near sharp contours, natural bottlenecks, or ridges in the lake.

8. Buy quality traps such as Jack Traps, to avoid windflags. We never get them.

9. Fish like falling pressure systems and degrading weather, but be prepared and safe. We’ve fished minus 20 degree mornings and caught brown trout. Bomber hats, and hand and toe warmers, will keep you happy and fishing all day long.

Have a great ice fishing season, and maybe I’ll see you on the Crystal Lake in Gray, where I just bought a house!

¶

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Give a gift subscription to The Maine Sportsman by sending in the form on PAGE 20 or calling us at (207) 622-4242 for special gift subscription pricing!

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76 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

Smilin’

Sportsman Little Johnny asked his mother: “Where to humans come from?”

“We are descendants of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden,” replied his mother.

“But Dad said we are evolved from apes,” said Johnny.

“He’s talking about his side of the family,” explained his mother.

••••••••••••••••••• Question: What happened when the sultan entered his harem unexpectedly?

Answer: His wives let out a terrified sheik.

•••••••••••••••••••

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

A Greenville doctor accepted an invitation from the local women’s club to speak on the subject of sex.

However, so his wife would not get concerned, he told her the subject of the speech was sailing.

A week after the presentation, his wife ran into one of the women who had been in attendance.

“Your husband gave an excellent presentation last week,” reported the club member.

“I can’t really understand that,” replied the wife. “He’s only tried it twice, and both times he lost his hat!”

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

Little Johnny: “Hey Fred – our new teacher is getting ridiculous! Yesterday she told me to stop acting like a flamingo.”

Fred: “So what did you do?”

Little Johnny: “Well, I finally had to put my foot down.”

••••••••••••••••••• Dad: “Hey, Johnny, guess what? I saw a bull moose on the way to work this morning.”

Little Johnny: “Gee, Dad – how do you know it was on its way to work?”

••••••••••••••••••• Little Johnny: “Daddy, Daddy! I was out in the woods and a badger bit off my toe!”

Dad: “Which one?”

Little Johnny: “Well, I dunno – if you see one badger, you’ve seen them all!”

www.MaineSportsman.com

��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 77

— TRADING POST — • Subscribers may place one free 20-word line classified ad per month (2-month limit) • Items for sale must include a price • Real estate ads must include an address or location

• The regular rates are $15 for up to 20 words and 50¢ for each additional word • Check, money order, MasterCard or VISA (Credit or Debit) are accepted

• You may submit your ads by: Phone: 207-357-2702 E-mail: classifieds@mainesportsman.com Mail: 183 State Street, Suite 101

Augusta ME 04330

SUBMIT AD AND PAYMENT BY THE 30TH OF EACH MONTH AND YOUR AD WILL APPEAR IN THE NEXT ISSUE. Terms may be availrates- nightly, weekly, COMMERCIAL CAMPS COMMERCIAL able. $122,00. 207monthly. $75/night for BUSINESS FOR SALE PROPERTY LOG CABIN North Maine Woods Cedar Cabin- Elm Pond Twp. T4R16, 20x24 Log Cabin For Sale. Fully Equipped, electricity, propane, full sewer system, sleeps 8. 30 acres privately owned land, private locked gate.

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(Continued on next page) PRICE REDUCED!

Wildlife Quiz Answers: Moose

(Quiz on Page 42) 1. A moose is the largest member of the deer family 2. Moose have palmated, or “open-hand”- shaped antlers.

3. An adult male moose is called a bull.

4. A moose can eat 50-60 pounds of plants per day.

5. A moose can dive to a depth of 20 feet underwater.

6. An adult moose can run 35 miles per hour.

7. A moose can swim up to 6 miles per hour.

8. A moose calf weighs 25-35 pounds at birth.

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78 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————— (Continued from page 77)

ment. Potential for restaurant, function venue, entertainment, more. $139,900, financing may be available. 207-357-2702 —

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Two lots being sold, could potentially sell one lot and keep the other. The well is on lot 14 while the buildings and septic are on lot 15. $139,000

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¶

DEER/MOOSE ANTLERS BUYING any size deer

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Edward LaRue, of Columbus, New Jersey, who already wears a “Biggest Bucks in Maine” patch from The Maine Sportsman on his hunting shirt, qualified for a second patch this past season with a 224-pound, 7-point buck taken November 6, 2019 in Molunkus Twp. with a 30-’06. It was tagged at the Winn General Store. Look for many more trophy photos, and the “Top 10” bucks in Maine for 2019, coming next month in the February issue of The Maine Sportsman.

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��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • January 2020 • 79

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80 • January 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————

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