The Maine Sportsman July 2024 Digital Edition

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2 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 3

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Editorial

Of Successful Conservation Projects, and Fish Ladders First, the good news – we’ve seen a number of impressive conservation projects get underway in this state. For example, the Land for Maine’s Future provided funding for the addition of more than 2,700 acres to the Mount Abraham Public Reserve Land, and a coalition of players – including the Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust, the Nature Conservancy, and the State of Maine, worked with seven different landowners to acquire so-called “keystone” properties connecting existing conservation lands, such that a total of more than 100,000 contiguous acres in that area are now conserved. In a second initiative, the Atlantic Salmon Federation and the Appalachian Mountain Club formed a partnership, with the goal of reviving historic salmon habitat on the West Branch of the Pleasant River in Piscataquis County, through removal of barriers, habitat conservation, and forest management. Power-Hungry So what’s the bad news? Several Maine river dams that generate electricity are up for relicensing, and regulators are recommending that the licenses be granted. It’s understandable – we are a power-hungry society (electric power, that is), with electric cars and electric bikes and electric power tools, and it’s tough to take any “free” sources of power off the grid. But dams block fish passage, and so long as the dams exist in their current forms, no real progress will be made restoring river habitats. We’re Smart So here’s a question: Why can’t someone design a fish ladder that works? We are a nation of smart, innovative inventors – what makes a workable fish ladder such a challenge? By most estimates, only 3% of fish make it through current ladders. We are also a nation that promotes free enterprise – how about providing performance-based financial incentives? Designers would be rewarded for every fish that gets through their device. Or the dam’s licenses are conditioned on proving a certain success rate in getting fish to their spawning grounds. Like most things in life that beg for simple answers, the solutions will not be easy to discern. Fish ladders designed for salmon, for example, won’t work for other, slower species (think sturgeon). And getting upstream is only half the battle – you’ve got to provide a way to get fish back downstream, without grinding them into fish meal in the turbines. But we’re smart – aren’t we?

On the Cover: This amazingly-detailed original illustration of a largemouth bass was presented to The Maine Sportsman many years ago by renowned wildlife artist Peter C. Thompson, and it has been proudly displayed ever since. What better way to celebrate the increasing numbers of lunker bass being pulled from Maine waters? View a couple of recent trophies in our half-page pictorial on page 62. www.MaineSportsman.com

New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication

Sportsman The Maine

ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 620 • www.mainesportsman.com PUBLISHER: Jon Lund MANAGING EDITOR: Will Lund will@mainesportsman.com OFFICE MANAGER: Carol Lund carol@mainesportsman.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kristina Roderick kristina@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nancy Carpenter nancy@mainesportsman.com DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR: Jon Mulherin distribution@mainesportsman.com Second class postage paid at Scarborough, ME 04074 and additional entry offices. All editorial inquiries should be emailed to will@mainesportsman.com Phone: 207-622-4242 Postmaster: Send address changes to: The Maine Sportsman, 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta, ME 04330 12-Month Subscription: $33 • 24-Month Subscription: $54

TABLE OF CONTENTS Almanac by Will Lund.................................................... 11 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves..................... 38 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia.................. 36 Big Woods World by Mike Stevens & Hal Blood.......... 35 Editorial.............................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by Lou Zambello....................... 42 Jackman Region by William Sheldon.......................... 49 Jottings by Jon Lund........................................................ 8 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon......................... 46 Letters to the Editor.......................................................... 6 Maine Sportswoman by Christi Elliott........................... 53 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour................................... 17 Midcoast by Tom Seymour........................................... 58 Moosehead Region by Tom Seymour......................... 56 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson.............................. 68 Nolan’s Outdoor World by Nolan Raymond............... 32 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie............................ 54 Outdoors & Other Mistakes by Al Diamon.................. 73 Petzal Logic by David Petzal........................................ 51 Quotable Sportsman by Will Lund.................................. 9 Rangeley Region by William Clunie............................. 64 Ranger on the Allagash by Tim Caverly...................... 44 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers............................. 72 Saltwater Fishing by Bob Humphrey............................ 28 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth..................... 61 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews.................. 45 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard............................. 33 Smilin’ Sportsman by Will Lund...................................... 72 Snapshots in Time by Bill Pierce.................................... 10 Southern Maine by Val Marquez................................. 63 Tales from the Warden Service by Ret. Lt. Doug Tibbetts. 52 Tidewater Tales by Randy Randall............................... 59 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller.................. 60 Trading Post (Classifieds)............................................... 74 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour....................................... 41 Vermont by Matt Breton............................................... 70 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie.............. 66

GUEST COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS ATVing in Maine by Steve Carpenteri......................... 18 Bear Hunting in Maine by Staci Warren...................... 21 Boating by Bob Humphrey............................................ 24 Moose Hunting in Maine by Will Lund.......................... 30

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Letters To The Editor

Pets Know What We’re Saying

To the Editor: In the May, 2024 issue of The Sportsman, Bill Pierce included a piece from an issue of The Boston Herald in 1906 about a pet cat that allegedly overheard the woman of the household offer to make a rabbit pie if her husband, a skilled hunter, would bring home a rabbit. Understanding what had been said, the cat went outside, captured a rabbit, and brought it into the house, depositing it at the woman’s feet. Pierce opines that the story is likely true. He asks readers rhetorically, “How many among us are convinced our hunting dog understands most everything we say?” To that point, my son made a list of words that his one-year old lab understands 100% of the time. A dozen were training words (such as “heel,” “sit,” and “come”), but there were 49 altogether, many of which were not related to dai-

ly activities. These include “house” (go to house), “dock” (go to dock), “car” (go to car), “out” (go outside), “I’ll be back” (leaving for a very short time), “swim” (go to lake), “easy” (calm down), “leave it” (don’t pick up), and “school” (going to field training – said only when they’re ready to go, because the dog goes wild!). The number of words on the list continues to grow. I wonder if your readers will submit lists of words their dogs understand? Birney Dibble, Eau Claire WI —

More on the Hunting Cat Story To the Editor: Bill Pierce’s tidbit on the cat killing a rabbit reminded me of my old black-andwhite tomcat, Green Eyes, who was the fattest, laziest, friendliest cat I ever met. One long-ago October, I (the mighty hunter) took my $5,000 Browning Superposed shotgun (made in Belgium) and my $2,000 highly-trained Labrador retriever, out for a bird hunt. Green Eyes decided he wanted to go, too, but complained bitterly (and constantly) that our pace was too aggressive for him. He wanted to go slower. We soon left him behind, but about

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a half-hour into the hunt, we heard a commotion in the brush, and out came Green Eyes with a snowshoe hare in his mouth. Later, another commotion, and out he came with a garter snake. On the way home, yet another commotion, and the cat showed up with a small grouse in his mouth. Score for the day: Cat 3, Mighty Hunters 0. This is a true story. Steve Carpenteri, Lyman, ME —

Writer Asks: “Am I a Hypocrite?” To the Editor: After railing against NH’s online deer registration option in two recent columns, I, admittedly, took advantage of the online registration option for my Maine turkey harvest this spring. In my defense, I was more than an hour’s ride over a terrible dirt road from the nearest check station. And it was warm out. And there were shed moose antlers in the woods beckoning me to go find them. So, I drove a few minutes up the mountain to get cell service, punched the registration in online, then went back to camp, breasted the bird out, got the meat in the fridge, and was on my way to look for sheds in half an hour. Saved myself time, gas, and a registration fee. But I still think NH’s online deer registration is a bad idea. Ethan Emerson, Groveton, NH —

Maine-Made Axes To the Editor: I enjoyed David Petzel’s column on axes that are now being made in Maine (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 7 (Continued from page 6)

(see “Ax of Distinction,” June 2024 “Petzel Logic”). It’s nice to see that a company is making a product that is symbolic of the State of Maine, and it’s a shame that many other brands now have their products made offshore. In addition to Brant & Cochran (the South Portland, Maine company profiled in the column), there is

another company that makes USAmade axes, and that is Council Tool, located in Georgia. I have one of their axes, and it is very well made. I also have one of the Hudsons Bay axes made by Snow & Neeley when they were USA-made. Last year, I located it and “resurrected” it from the corrosion corner of the shed. Wayne Dengler, Danbury, CT

Trophy Gallery

First Member of Youth Turkey Hunters Club

Colton Cote, age 5, harvested a 16-lb turkey in Mapleton on Youth Day 2024 with a .410 single shot. He was accompanied by his father, Tyler Cote (a registered Maine guide), and grandfather, Daniel Cote. Colton has turkey-hunted since he was three years old, and he is the first member of The Maine Sportsman’s new Youth Turkey Hunter Club. Congratulations to Colton, as well as to his proud father and grandfather! Did a youth hunter in your household harvest a wild turkey this season? Order them a Youth Turkey Hunters Club patch! You can find the application at www.MaineSportsman.com/patch-clubs. No minimum weight restriction for a youth turkey. Photo by Daniel Cote www.MaineSportsman.com

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Early Outboards Could Try an Angler’s Patience In Gene Letourneau’s day, trolling with small outboard motors was more of an iffy proposition than it is today. Engineers had not yet invented solid-state ignition, so ignitions utilized magnetos and condensers to provide the spark needed to run an engine. Sometimes they worked smoothly, and sometimes they did not. Once, Gene wrote about the latter. Gene described watching an angler with a balky outboard motor in the days when the operator wrapped a rope around the flywheel of the outboard. The angler wrapped and pulled. Nothing happened.

Sometimes, small outboards start and run smoothly. Other times, they do not. Sometimes, they stay firmly clamped to the boat’s transom, where they’re supposed to be. Other times, they do not. Repeat. Same result. The angler tipped up the outboard, found the socket wrench in his toolkit, unscrewed the spark plug, cleaned it and checked the gap, and screwed it back into the engine. The angler wrapped the rope again, and tried to start the outboard. Same result – dead. The angler shifted in his seat and unscrewed the clamps that held the engine, lifted the engine off

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the transom, stood it up in the boat briefly, then heaved the balky engine out into the lake as far as he could, and started rowing the boat, at peace with the world. Hang On! Johnson manufactured some fine small two-cycle outboards. An angler friend of ours, Mr. B., had one that he was proud of. It started and ran reliably. Savvy trolling anglers of that day learned that at trolling speed, the oil added to the fuel of two cycle engines tended to accumulate in the engine, and that it had to

be burned off by short periods of faster operation, or by cutting back on the amount of oil in the fuel mix. In any event, Mr. B.’s Johnson ran reliably, and he was most proud of it and its performance. That little single cylinder Johnson would troll all day and not skip a beat. He was also known as being a frugal person. Mr. B. was fishing with a friend one day, running his Johnson outboard, when he tried to make a sharp right turn. He pushed on the tiller handle to the left to turn the craft, but in-

stead of just turning the boat, the force of the propeller caused the outboard to start sliding to the left, at which point the motor pushed itself off the transom and plopped into the water. The water bath caused the outboard to stall. Mr. B. was still hanging onto the tiller handle, his left arm now being in the lake. His companion was not sure what he should do, and he hesitated. Mr. B. bellowed, “Never mind me … get the motor!” His companion did as he was told, and the little Johnson was saved for another day. Into the Deep Friends of ours lost their two-cycle outboard motor while fishing along the eastern shore of Cobbossee, but they were (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 9 (Continued from page 8)

not sure of even its approximate location. Other, more knowledgeable friends said not to worry. You can find it. The next calm morning, we searched for a trace of an oil slick. The search paid off. The fuel and oil mix, being lighter than water, rose slowly in the water column and made a small slick when it reached the surface. The slick became visible, exhibiting rainbow colors. Several years later, we saw other friends cruising the easterly shoreline of Hodgdon’s Island, looking for a small outboard that had fallen off a sailboat. They did not spot it.

Sunken Outboard a Sanctuary? During the wintertime a couple of years after that, we were ice skating the shoreline of Cobbossee with friends, when someone saw a motor in shallow water. We noted the location, and came back the next day with a four-pronged grapple hook. The ice was thin, so we had to work carefully, spreading out our weight. The outboard had been submerged for several years, with rust showing on ferrous parts. Oddly enough, the piston and cylinder were not seized, but what a surprise the engine held. When we stood the engine up on the ice, small sunfish

Starting and operating an early Johnson outboard required a basic level of mechanical ability, and sometimes a great deal of patience. Photo credit: Yankee Chapter, Antique Outboard Motor Club, Inc., YankeeAOMCI.org

began tumbling onto the ice. We counted at least sixteen small sunfish that had occupied inside the hood, in

the narrow spaces between the sheet metal and the mechanical parts. Perhaps that is

Quotable

Sportsman

— “Nationally, 53.7% of campers brought their dogs with them to campgrounds last year. An additional 5.8% of campground customers brought their cats. Other campground pets included chickens, box turtles, guinea pigs and parrots.”

“To check if a muzzle-loading arm is loaded is as simple as using a marked ramrod. That firearm was safer in the closet than in the hands of [the nonprofit gun safety organization that ran the event].” State Representative Donnie Ardell (R-Monticello), when he heard of the incident referenced above.

by Will Lund

“This project, in collaboration with our partner’s projects and dam removals downstream, represents a significant step toward restoring salmon passage from the Appalachian Mountains to the ocean.” April 2024 press release from the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Atlantic Salmon Federation. The project includes removal of all barriers along the West Branch of the Pleasant River in Piscataquis County by 2030. “Ending 180 years of habitat fragmentation, AMC is giving salmon in the region access to their headwater streams for the first time since the installation of mainstream dams in 1835,” said Nicole Zussman, head of the Appalachian Mountain Club.

the only safe space for sunfish when Northern Pike are on the prowl all winter!

—

Photo credit: Brandon C., via Dyrt 2024 annual camping report

The Dyrt’s 2024 Annual Camping Report (thedyrt.com) —

“We have no idea what possessed him.” Bob Sealy, host of the annual Big Bass Splash tourney in Louisiana, upon the news that game wardens had found 2.59 pounds of lead weights in a bass entered in a May 17 fishing tournament, according to Outdoor Life online.

“We were not involved in the event organization or destruction of the weapons, other than providing our lot as a central location for Southern Maine departments to deliver their items.” Old Orchard Beach’s deputy police chief, after a muzzleloader turned in and being sawed in half, fired a musket ball, striking two parked cars, as reported in Maine Wire online. —

Photo credit: LA Dept. Wildlife & Fish, via Outdoor Life www.MaineSportsman.com

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“Snapshots in Time”

Historical Glimpses from Maine’s Sporting Past Compiled by Bill Pierce, Former Executive Director, Outdoor Heritage Museum

Three Stories from the Early 1900s The short stories below appeared in a column titled “Fish and Game Oddities” that was a regular feature of the front page in the MAINE WOODS newspaper, printed in Phillips, Maine.

Can you imagine a time when delightful anecdotes about adventures in nature were the topics of the front page? Wouldn’t that be nice? Enjoy what follows, and be sure to

Fishing Craft of Brick

E. P. Davis of Lewiston has a novel craft on Wayne Pond. It is a big scow, upon which he has built a small brick house. Mr. Davis will presumably fish from the windows, and sleep in the house. (Author’s note: Folks in Wayne may now know how that big pile of brick ended up in the pond). *****

Kingfisher Familiar with Deer

Ansel Soule of Rangeley says he was once watching a big buck deer feeding on the edge of a pond, when a kingfisher came flitting along and landed on one of its antlers. The buck shook its head several times, and although the bird’s balance was somewhat disturbed, it still retained its perch on the horn. Finally, the deer became tired of it, and plunged its antler into the water. That, of course, dislodged the kingfisher. (Author’s note: I love flyfishing in Maine and witnessing the natural marvels that I am often treated to, even more than landing a few speckled beauties. Henry David Thoreau once said, “Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” Amen to that, Henry!)

escape outside to our amazing woods and waters and make some great outdoor history of your own!

charging toward him. He had dropped the ax when he picked the cubs from the ground, and he had just time enough to get his knife from his pocket before the mother bear got to his side. As she made a swing at him with her paws, Stowell caught her in the throat with a thrust from his weapon. Stowell scrambled to his feet and started on a run down the hillside, the cubs following with leaps and bounds. The mother bear followed a short distance, and then fell to the ground, dead. Stowell then killed the cubs, removed the skins from the three animals, and started home. His left arm had been broken, so he was obliged to drop his load before he had gone far. Blood was flowing from several wounds in his body, and as he reached the lawn in front of his house, he dropped from exhaustion. When he had been revived, he told the story of the battle with the animals, and his two sons went out and found the pelts in the woods. (Author’s note: This industrialist Mr. Soule was hardy stock, and amazingly lucky to have hit the sow’s jugular. Can you imagine trying to call in sick to this guy? Until next time, see you on the trail.)

*****

Man Kills Attacking Bear with Pocketknife

Berry Mills, May 15, 1905 – Newton S. Stowell, the wellknown spool manufacturer of Dixfield, who owns mills at this place, has suddenly come into prominence as a bear hunter. His last adventure with the bears we clip from the Boston Daily Globe of May 8. His many friends at this place hope for his speedy and permanent recovery. Stretched on a wooden frame in the front yard of his house are the skins of two cub bears and the mother bear, which Stowell killed with a pocketknife after a fight lasting more than two hours. Stowell’s body is covered with cuts and scratches, and the physicians say he may not recover from his wounds. The battle between the man and bears took place late Thursday night, as Stowell was on his way home from a day’s work in the woods. He was within a mile of the town when he saw the cubs nestled at the roots of a big tree and apparently asleep. Stowell had no weapon with him except an ax and a pocketknife, which had a blade less than four inches long. Stowell grabbed both cubs by the necks and was putting one under each arm, when he was struck a blow on the shoulder that knocked him down and almost senseless. As he rolled down the hill, he saw the mother bear www.MaineSportsman.com

Image credit: Odd Old News

Almanac

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 11

The Original

L’Original

— Compiled and Edited by Will Lund — The Day Trip Adventure

Maine is a place where adventure is right around the corner. If you live in Maine, you can weekend warrior to your heart’s content. Get together with friends and a DeLorme Atlas for some good old-fashioned “Tavern planning,” and set a meet for the next day. A big breakfast, too much coffee, throw a lunch together, put a canoe on the rack of your truck, and the sky’s the limit.

4 SIZES

32 COLORS

Do-It-Yourself “Honey Hole” Food Plot If you’re like me and take in as much hunting and outdoor media as you can, you will eventually come across the modern phenomenon of deer food plots – well-manicured, beautiful rolling fields of oats, rye, brassicas, alfalfa, clover and other mixes of what is essentially deer cotton candy. The next thing (if you’re like me) is to think to yourself, “Wow! I want a food plot! How can I grow one?” The reality is a food plot is the same as a farmer’s crop, and with a farmer’s crop comes farmer’s equipment. Some may have the equipment, but I for one didn’t have $500K worth of farming tractors or implements in order to plant a crop. But not to fret! There is a more affordable and more attainable version – the “micro” or “honey hole” food plot.

Planting a variety of plants will entice deer. Shown here: white clover, red clover and cereal rye. Set up your hunting blind year-round, says the author, so the deer get accustomed to its presence in the food plot. Photo by John LaMarca (Continued on next page)

#54 Pink & White Dots DLY

MA IN

Maybe you just want to go on your own to a spot you’ve been going to for years. “Canoe Therapy” – that’s what I call it. I keep it simple, but I always tell someone where I’m going and when I’ll be back. After that, it’s pretty loose: a journal, fishing gear, canoe gear, and a GPS. There’s a lot to pack into a day – exploring, testing new gear, drifting, napping, daydreaming, cloud-watching, journaling, fishing … the snacks; the coffee. If it’s the weekend and the right time of year, you always run into other canoeists. Then you can talk canoes for at least an hour. Geek out on Old Town Canoe models, hull shapes, composite materials … you’re in a safe space! But seriously, after a heavy rain, or in the springtime, those little streams and rivers we chase for the whitewater are all over the state. Access points are more than adequate. The DeLorme has very good

WOBBLER

A day-trip in Maine with good friends and a good map can constitute a form of “canoe therapy,” says the author. Photo by Bob Holtzman

intel for this, and trip notes can be sourced through local Maine clubs like Penobscot Paddle & Chowder Society, Maine Outdoor Adventure Club (MOAC), and Zip Kellogg’s River Map series that DeLorme, Inc. published in the 1990s. Remember – a good day trip starts with good maps and good friends. — Guide Talk by John LaMarca

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12 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Almanac

(Continued from page 11)

These food plots are made as a small (one-half acre, to 5 acres) oasis in deer habitat that draws deer. They can be made with a little elbow grease and hand tools. Here are some things to consider for yours: Location – Deer do not just materialize into food plots. If there are no deer or low deer densities in an area, and you make a food plot, there will not suddenly be giant bucks. Make sure to scout the area, and then place your food plot where the deer are. Soil – Just as you can’t build a house on a bad foundation, seeds, no matter the quality, will not grow well in poor soil. It’s very easy and cost-effective to have a soil test done. It will cost about $15. You send out a sample to a lab, and in return you will receive an analysis of what you have, and what fertilizer you’ll need to improve your area. Seeds – It may be tempting to go to a big-box agricultural store and purchase a lot of inexpensive clover seed, rather than opting for the premium quality (and more expensive) clover seeds like those from companies such as “Whitetail Institute” (Alabama) and “More Wildlife” (Vermont). On that issue, let me save you a big headache. Last year, I planted half my food plot with generic agricultural seed, and the other half with Whitetail Institute seed. The Whitetail Institute seed was about twice the cost of the generic seed, but it out-performed the generic seeds’ growth. In fact, I estimate the premium brand was 7 to 10 times more productive, in terms of growth rates and plant sizes. In other words, in my opinion the

premium brands are worth the extra money. With good soil and good seed, you can scratch the earth’s surface, handcast your seeds, walk over the area to tamp in the seed, and then sit back and wait. Soon, you will have your own “honey hole”! —

New State Record Carp Ryan Brod is best-known for recently publishing a book, “Tributaries: Essays from Woods and Waters.”

Now he can add another item to his résumé: holder of the Maine state record Common Carp. And unlike any other anglers who hold state fish records, Ryan released his record fish after it was weighed, measured and photographed. The fish weighed 18.0 pounds, was 33.5 inches long, and had a girth of 21 inches. That weight easily bested the previous record of 16.3 pounds, set in 2014. Brod, who’s from Smithfield and who currently lives in Portland, caught the carp in the Kennebec River in Richmond on a nymph while sight-fishing. He used an 8-wt fly rod and 12-lb tippet. He weighed the fish on a set of digital scales, and then worked with State biologist Scott Davis, with Jon Mulherin at The Maine Sportsman magazine, and with Brad Bachelder, who works at the “weights and measures” Metrology Lab of the state’s Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, office of Quality Assurance & Regulations. Bachelder produced a Field Report confirming the scale’s calibration. Congratulations on your record, Ryan, and on the success of your new book. —

A Lake’s Cycle of Nymphs, Trout and Loons by Will Lund

Ryan Brod’s new state record 18-lb. carp was weighed, measured, photographed, and then carefully released back into the Kennebec River.

The first sign that something was up, was the increased trout activity – not only rises, but fish jetting just under the surface of the water near shore, as if they needed to hurry to intercept prey before the intended targets were able to escape to dry land. Almost simultaneously, we spotted the objects of the trouts’ attention – dragonfly nymphs. A total of six nymphs were on the old wooden dock, each in a (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 13 (Continued from page 12)

All in all, it was an impressive and sobering display of nature’s cycle, from dragonfly nymph to brook trout to Common loon. —

Seal of Approval

different stage of metamorphosis. One, still a nymph, had climbed out of the water, and appeared to be waiting for whatever was to come next. Another had split its exoskeleton in half. Its head was sticking up, while the rest of the fly was still folded up inside. Yet another had pulled completely free of its shell, and was starting to unfold its double wings, which somehow had fit inside the compact nymph skin. And finally, several dragonflies, fully formed, waited in the warm sunlight for their wings to dry so they could take to the air. Meanwhile, taking their turn in the food chain, several loons appeared, and began driving the vulnerable trout toward shore. It looked like a miniaturization of a scene from “Jaws,” as the water’s surface boiled with the energy of loons trying to chomp down on the trout they had corralled into the shallows.

Photo by Dave Small (Continued on next page)

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We watched as this dragonfly emerged from its shell. Sara Holmbom photo

Our good friend, nature photographer Dave Small, sent us the following photo and message this month: “This is a photograph of a harbor seal taken at the Orland dam on the Narramissic River. The Narramissic River is a tidal river, and in the spring, alewives run from the ocean to the dam, followed by harbor seals, osprey, seagulls, double crested cormorants, and eagles. So, there’s lots of food for the harbor seals. “This is a very well-fed seal. I have a print of this photo hanging in my bedroom, and every morning when I get up, I look at the photo and I see a contented, happy-go-

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14 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

(Continued from page 13)

lucky, and taking-it-easy harbor seal. So, I’m reminded daily to try to emulate this seal.” —

Fishing Licenses Up; Revenue Down? It was a curious statistic, but there was a logical explanation. We received information from an organization called Captain Experiences, which had analyzed data from the US Fish & Wildlife Services about state-by-

state fishing license numbers and revenue. For Maine, the number of licenses issued increased over the past five years by 28%. However, license revenue decreased by 4% during that same time. How could that be? The answer points out how complicated it is for a state to offer such amenities as “lifetime fishing licenses,” while also predicting sources of revenue for future budgets. More than 73,000 Mainers now hold lifetime combination hunting and fishing licenses – a 20% increase in five years. When a lifetime license is issued, the revenues for those licenses are “booked” solely for the year they are received. The license gets added to the total number of active licenses. However, af-

ter the first year, no additional annual revenues are derived from those licenses. To further complicate the issue, revenues from lifetime licenses do not go into the general coffers of Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W). Rather, they are deposited into a special trust account. As explained on DIF&W’s website: “Your investment in a lifetime fishing license for yourself or as a gift, will allow the bearer to fish [in Maine] for their lifetime, regardless of where they live in the future. The revenues generated by the sale of these licenses are deposited in a special trust fund that provides long-term financial support for Maine’s fish and wildlife.” So now you know! — Wilderness First Aid by Stacey Wheeler arine RN, BSN

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Rabies: What to Know Cases of rabies in Maine have been on the rise over the last few years. The Maine CDC reports 66 cases of confirmed rabies in wild animals for 2023. The actual number of infected animals is likely much higher, considering animals that die in the wilderness and that are never tested. Cumberland County had the largest percentage of confirmed cases. According to the World Health Organization, the number one transmitters of rabies to humans in the United States are hematophagous (vampire) bats. In other areas of the world, such as Asia and Africa, 99% of cases are from domestic dogs, largely due to inadequate canine vaccination campaigns. Around the world, 59,000 people die from rabies each year. Only 5% of all cases occur in the Americas, and most cases of transmis(Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 15 (Continued from page 14)

sion are stopped at the outset, with proper post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP. There are two forms of rabies: • “Furious rabies” is the one everyone thinks of and remembers from the movie Old Yeller. Its symptoms include fear of water and fresh air, spasms of the throat, and foaming at the mouth, as well as hyperactivity, restlessness and agitation. • “Paralytic rabies” is less known, and accounts for about 30% of human cases. Muscles become paralyzed over time, starting with the affected wound area, and gradually causing a comatose state. The extent of the contact with the suspected rabid animal will direct the course of prophylaxis. Whether the wound is surface, superficial or deep will dictate the extent of treatment.

The Art of Camouflage Maine turkey hunters enjoyed a successful spring season. For many of us who hunt without a blind, it was time to dig out our favorite camouflage.

The author blends in with the woodsy background. Once again this spring season, he was able to fool a big tom turkey. Photos: Susan Cloutier

Maine’s Department of Heath and Human Services has distributed this rabies education poster, featuring a photo of the most fearsome-looking bat we’ve ever seen.

Washing with soap and water is the first response, followed by a rabies vaccination, and possible immunoglobin antibody administration. Rabies takes 2-3 months to incubate, and it can take up to a year before symptoms present themselves. This can lead to misdiagnosis. Initial symptoms mimic common viruses, including fever and pain. Bottom line – if you are in contact with an unknown domestic or wild animals’ saliva or are bitten, seek medical attention, and keep records of the incident. For more information, type “Maine CDC Rabies” into your computer’s search engine.

July 2024 Sunrise/Sunset

by Blaine Cardilli

The author, center, becomes one with the tree.

No matter the brand, whether you use leafy suits, face masks, ponchos, boonie hats, ghillie suits, or standard shirts, pants, and paints, remember that all camo performs at its best when used in conjunction with shadows and low-light conditions. I can’t wait for the fall wild turkey season – can you?

Bangor, ME DATE RISE SET 1 Mon 4:51 8:26 2 Tue 4:52 8:26 3 Wed 4:53 8:25 4 Thu 4:53 8:25 5 Fri 4:54 8:25 6 Sat 4:55 8:24 7 Sun 4:55 8:24 8 Mon 4:56 8:24 9 Tue 4:57 8:23 10 Wed 4:58 8:22 11 Thu 4:58 8:22 12 Fri 4:59 8:21 13 Sat 5:00 8:21 14 Sun 5:01 8:20 15 Mon 5:02 8:19 16 Tue 5:03 8:19

DATE Wed SET 17 Wed 5:04 8:18 18 Thu 5:05 8:17 19 Fri 5:06 8:16 20 Sat 5:07 8:15 21 Sun 5:08 8:14 22 Mon 5:09 8:13 23 Tue 5:10 8:12 24 Wed 5:11 8:11 25 Thu 5:12 8:10 26 Fri 5:13 8:09 27 Sat 5:14 8:08 28 Sun 5:15 8:07 29 Mon 5:16 8:06 30 Tue 5:18 8:04 31 Wed 5:19 8:03

July 2024 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

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

HIGH AM PM 7:38 8:02 8:43 8:59 9:44 9:54 10:40 10:46 11:32 11:37 — 12:22 12:24 1:08 1:10 1:51 1:53 2:33 2:35 3:15 3:19 3:57 4:05 4:40 4:53 5:24 5:43 6:08 6:36 6:56 7:33 7:47 8:31 8:38 9:24 9:28 10:14 10:17 11:03 11:05 11:50 11:54 — 12:37 12:43 1:24 1:32 2:11 2:23 3:00 3:16 3:52 4:14 4:46 5:15 5:42 6:18 6:41 7:25 7:44 8:32 8:46

LOW AM PM 1:26 1:38 2:31 2:38 3:31 3:35 4:26 4:29 5:18 5:20 6:08 6:09 6:54 6:55 7:37 7:40 8:18 8:24 8:58 9:09 9:38 9:56 10:19 10:44 11:01 11:34 11:44 — 12:27 12:31 1:22 1:23 2:19 2:16 3:12 3:08 4:01 3:58 4:49 4:47 5:36 5:36 6:22 6:26 7:08 7:17 7:54 8:09 8:42 9:03 9:32 10:01 10:24 11:01 11:19 — 12:04 12:17 1:11 1:20 2:18 2:24

www.MaineSportsman.com

16 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Grants Kennebago Camps If you travel to any destination in DeLorme’s Maine Atlas & Gazetteer this year, let it be to Map 28, C-4. You’re looking at Kennebago Lake and the Kennebago River – places you want to be for some fine landlocked salmon, brook trout, and brown trout fishing; and the Rangeley Lakes Region, where fall brings wonderful ruffed grouse and American woodcock hunting. And it’s at Grant’s Camps that you should stay. The 18 cabins range in size to accommodate large groups or single anglers. Each lakeside cabin has electric baseboard heat and/or a wood-burning stove. All have hot and cold running water, showers and flush toilets, and are con-

nected to the electrical power grid. Wi-Fi is available in the dining room, at the office, and in the comfortable lounge next door. Every cabin has a vintage 16-foot Rangeley boat with a 6-hp outboard motor available. Quiet, comfortable and stable, the boats are good platforms for fly fishing or just tooling around the lake checking out the history and watching – perhaps photographing – the wildlife. Angling and upland bird hunting guides with gundogs are available to help you maximize your time fishing and or hunting in this beautiful area of the Western Maine Mountains. In October, guests may fly fish in the lake and hunt

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woodcock and grouse in the nearby covers –a true cast-and-blast experience. Three meals a day are served in the comfortable dining hall, and bag lunches are available on request to take fishing, hunting or exploring. The food is excellent, and the table service is friendly and efficient. And the view of the lake and mountains through the large windows is photo-worthy. Grant’s Kennebago Camps: 1-800633-4815, grantscamps@gmail.com, www.grantscamps.com – a very fine historic and iconic Maine sporting camp, run by John and Carolyn Blunt.

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Emery Nadeau, age 7 of Turner, was fishing with his dad Jeremy at Aziscohos Lake on May 18, 2024 when he caught this 18.5-inch brook trout. He was trolling deep, with leadcore line and a DB Smelt streamer. Congratulations, Emery!

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 17

Maine Wildlife:

Creatures of the Summer Night by Tom Seymour

The landscape comes alive with sight and sound on warm, still summer nights. From dusk until dawn, birds, mammals, amphibians, and insects go on the move, hunting, mating, calling, and foraging. As late afternoon turns into evening, gray treefrogs begin trilling, their combined voices blending together to create nature’s white-noise machine. About the same time that treefrogs become active, bullfrogs begin calling, first one, then another, then up to a dozen deep “Jug-O’-Rums” resonate through the wetlands in a neatly choreographed pattern. As twilight thickens, a lone robin, tucked away in a nearby thicket, begins its sweet, liquid song, rising and lowering in pitch, announcing the end

As the sun sets and darkness spreads over a warm evening, certain birds, amphibians and insects come alive. It’s an alternate world of sounds and – in the case of fireflies – of luminescent lights. of another day. Following the robin, a barred owl, some distance away, begins its hooting. After some time, another owl, a bit farther away, may join in. Once, on the stillest of still nights, I detected yet a third barred owl joining in the chorus. Was there a fourth owl even farther off? Perhaps, but three owls marked the extent of my hearing capability. Insect Life Once darkness fully sets in, it’s time for insect life to come awake. The queens of the night, Luna moths, limegreen fliers with wings of 4.5 inches long, mesmerize those fortunate enough to spy one of them flitting around near an outside light. In fact, most Luna moths are seen near artificial lights than anywhere else. Lunas, like most moths, have a fascination for the heat and light of spotlights and porch lights. And it is this habit that jeopardizes them, be-

Luna Moth

Gray Treefrog

Photo credit: Geoff Gallice via Wikimedia

Photo credit: Peter Paplanus via Wikimedia

Bullfrog

Photo credit: Steve Begin via Flickr

cause avian predators nesting nearby are always on the alert for a fluttering Luna moth. This explains why some homeowners see piles of green wings on the ground beneath outside lights. The bird ate the body of the moth, and discarded the wings. Luna moths are not as common as they once were, and not because of natural predators. Pesticides and loss of habitat contribute to a shrinking Luna moth population. What youngster has not filled a Mason jar with flashing fireflies? These flying insects illuminate lawns, fields and even dirt roads. Some of the more spectacular luminary shows occur over fields where spreading dogbane, Apocynum androsaemifolium, grows. Dogbane is the friend of blueberry growers, because it produces a nectar that pollinating insects love. It also appears to have some sort of attraction for fireflies, too.

Barred Owl

Photo credit: Larry Koester via Wikimedia

Firefly

Photo credit: Katja Schulz via Wikimedia

www.MaineSportsman.com

18 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Lewiston ATV Dealer Rides the Wave of Side-by-Side Popularity by Steve Carpenteri

Maine outdoors enthusiasts looking for a wide variety of off-road options will find a good selection at Central Maine Powersports, in Lewiston. Options range from beginner’s mini-4-wheelers to advanced trail-master

The owner of Central Maine Powersports has knowledgeable opinions on ATV club volunteerism, trail maintenance, law enforcement, and Maine’s best riding trails. units with unlimited accessories designed and manufactured by national companies in-

cluding Polaris, Honda and Yamaha. According to owner Craig Anderson, his

dealership moved from Augusta to Lewiston in 2005. “Our new location

allowed us plenty of room for expansion,” Anderson said. “As a result, we’ve nearly doubled our volume of products and sales.” The so-called Recession of 2007 slowed sales somewhat, but (Continued on next page)

ADVENTURE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Wolverine RMAX2 1000

Yamaha is the leader in providing you an aspirational experience to explore new terrain, new vehicles, and exciting new destinations. Yamaha designs, engineers, manufactures and tests its ATVs and Side-by-Side vehicles in the Real World, fueling your off-road passion with superior Capability, Comfort, and Confidence! Visit Your Local Yamaha ATV Dealer for Current Offers Today!

LEWISTON Central Maine Powersports 845 Main Street • 207-689-2345 www.centralmainepowersports.com SKOWHEGAN Whittemore & Sons 257 Waterville Road • 207-474-2591 www.whittemoreandsons.com Side-by-Side (SxS) models are recommended for use only by operators 16 years and older with a valid driver’s license. Always wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Yamaha recommends that all Side-by-Side riders take an approved training course. For Side-by-Side safety and training information, see your dealer or call the ROHVA at 1-866-267-2751. Read the Owner’s Manual and the product warning labels before operation. Avoid excessive speeds and never engage in stunt riding. Always avoid paved surfaces and never ride on public roads. And be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Never ride under the influence of alcohol or other drugs; it is illegal and dangerous. Models shown with optional accessories. ©2024 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved • YamahaMotorsports.com

www.MaineSportsman.com

2024 ARCTIC CAT PROWLER PRO The Prowler Pro was built to perform to your standards with a classleading quiet engine, optimized suspension and easy customization for your everyday needs. See Your Local Arctic Cat® ATV Dealer For Current Promotions! GORHAM White Rock Outboard 351 Sebago Lake Road 207-892-9606 www.whiterockoutboard.com

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WARNING: Arctic Cat® vehicles can be hazardous to operate. For your safety, all riders should always wear a seat belt (Side-by-Sides), helmet, eye protection, and protective clothing. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Arctic Cat recommends that all operators take a safety training course. For safety and training information, please see your dealer or call 1-800-887-2887 (ATVs) or visit www.ROHVA.org (Side-by-Sides). Arctic Cat vehicles are for operators age 16 years and older with a valid driver’s license, except the Alterra 90, which is intended for operators 10 years of age and older. ©2024 Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. All rights reserved.

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 19

Amy Benner, parts manager at Central Maine Powersports in Lewiston, is a deer hunter and ATV enthusiast. She has the experience and expertise to match the right accessories to the right machine and rider. Photos by Steve Carpenteri (Continued from page 18)

Anderson said that even during the worst of the COVID epidemic, sales continued to be strong, despite restricted sales hours and other barriers. “We have grown from a previous staff

of 12, to 23 full-time employees,” Anderson noted. “We have been a leading Polaris supplier for nearly 20 years.” Best-Selling Models Anderson said that his best-selling models are the ones that

Central Maine Powersports owner Craig Anderson, right, and Richard Ferrara, sales manager, stand ready to help ATV buyers pick out the best machine for all-season riding in Maine.

include a wide variety of manufacturer-supplied accessories. “Polaris, for example, not only keeps coming up with new innovations year after year – they also offer plenty of accessory options on the front end,”

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LEWISTON Central Maine Powersports 845 Main Street 207-689-2345 www.centralmainepowersports.com WARNING: Polaris® off-road vehicles can be hazardous to operate and are not intended for on-road use. Driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license to operate. Passengers, if permitted, must be at least 12 years old. All riders should always wear helmets, eye protection, and protective clothing. Always use seat belts and cab nets or doors (as equipped). Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive speeds and sharp turns. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. All riders should take a safety training course. Call 800-342-3764 for additional information. Check local laws before riding on trails. ©2024 Polaris Industries Inc.

Anderson said. “Yamaha partners with Magellan in offering its GPS-based accessories. “Honda also has a well-deserved reputation for producing good, reliable machines.”

According to Anderson, Polaris is his top-selling brand, and side-by-sides are the most popular configuration. Not surprisingly, while the great pandemic-driven ATV (Continued on next page)

NEVER COMPROMISE

ZFORCE 800 Trail

See Your Local Dealer for Current Promotions! LEBANON Northeast Motorsports 451 Carl Broggi Highway • (207) 457-2225 www.nemotorsportsofmaine.com WILTON Mountain Side Powersports 912 US-2 • (207) 645-2985 www.mountainsidepowersports.com

WARNING: CFMOTO recreational vehicles are intended for off-road use only and can be hazardous to operate. Read Owner’s Manual and all product labels before operating. Never operate on paved roads. Operators and passengers must wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Operators must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license. Passengers, if permitted, must be at least 12 years old. Always use seat belts, cab netting and doors (if equipped). Never operate under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Avoid excessive speed and sharp turns, and never engage in stunt driving. Check state and local laws before operating on trails. Take a safety training course before operating. Contact your CFMOTO dealer for more information, call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887, or go to www.atvsafety.org. ©2015 Zejiang CFMOTO Power Co., Ltd.

www.MaineSportsman.com

20 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

ATVing in Maine (Continued from page 19)

sales surge has leveled off, outdoor enthusiasts including hunters, fishermen and campers, remain Anderson’s No. 1 market. Local Support is the Key Anderson added that his company invests over $30,000 annually in ATV clubs across the state through various means, including advertising, and the creation of a website to promote trail funding. “We also have a program for volunteers at local ATV clubs,” he said. “Anyone who puts in 40 hours of vol-

unteer trail work receives a $200 gift card, with options for even more awards.” Registrations on the Rise Anderson noted that ATV registrations in Maine are now exceed 100,000, up from 80,000 just a few years ago. Snowmobile registrations, he said, have decreased during the same period. “The sport (of ATVing) is growing on its own, but what’s needed now is more volunteers to maintain trails,” Anderson said. “Grooming a snowmobile trail is relative-

ly easy compared to working to keep an ATV trail open. There are trees to cut, holes to fill, bridges to repair and many other projects that keep cropping up. Currently, most clubs are small, and only a few members are willing to do the work. We need to encourage more riders to pitch in and help keep these trails open.” One option, Anderson said, is to use state and local grant money to hire contractors to build and maintain trails. Some of the needed funds will be distributed to local clubs that apply for grants, as a result of an increase in the

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©2024 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. Some vehicles depicted may include optional equipment. BRP highly recommends that all ATV drivers take a training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or, in USA, call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. In Canada, call the Canadian Safety Council at (6131 739-1535 ext 227. Read the Operators Guide and watch the Safety DVD before riding. Wear appropriate protective clothing and helmet. For side-by-side vehicles, fasten lateral net and seat belt at all times. Never engage in stunt driving and avoid excessive speed. Always observe applicable local laws and regulations. Side-by-side vehicles and ATVs are recommended for drivers aged 16 and older, and passengers aged 12 and older only. For off-road use only. Never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. Always ride responsibly and remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix.

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Support Law Enforcement Anderson also said more needs to be done to support local law enforcement. “There are always a few bad apples that make all riders look bad,” Anderson said. “Riders need to remember that they are always using someone else’s property. A little bit of respect and discipline can go a long way in keeping trails open year-round. Some landowners will allow snowmobilers on their property, but balk at the idea of letting ATV riders use their land,” Anderson said. “If more riders were respectful of landowners’ properties, some of those restrictions might be lifted in the future.” Maine’s Best Trails? Given that Central Maine Powersports is

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state’s ATV registration fee, which recently rose from $40 to $70. Grant money for trail maintenance is also available through Yamaha and Polaris, Anderson noted.

a leader in ATV sales in the region, where does the owner like to do his riding? “I think Western Maine has the best diversity of trails in the state,” Anderson said. “There are lots of flat, smooth trails for beginners, as well as some ultra-challenging trails for those who want to take things up a notch. Plus, the scenery is fantastic in the mountains.” Anderson said that his favorite trails are the ones well away from high-travel areas. Rather than plan trips around fuel and food destinations, he packs his own supplies, and heads for the distant hills. “We really appreciate being in this industry,” Anderson concluded. “We are riders who love dealing with other riders. We know them and they know us. Our customers like to do what we do, and it’s always satisfying to help them find the vehicles and gear they need for a good experience on the trail.”

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 21

Choosing a Bear Hunting Bait Site by Staci Warren

Are you thinking of giving bear hunting a try this year? It’s not an impossible task, but it does require commitment and work to be successful. We have learned over time, there are some methods that just work better than others. If you’re considering bear hunting over bait or bear trapping, and you want to do it yourself, here are

A great deal of thought and planning is required to select and prepare a successful bear baiting site, including ease of access to transport bait, sun orientation, existing food and water sources for the bear, prevailing wind direction, and the presence of natural and manmade camouflage. some tips on choosing a bait site that will help take the guesswork out, and tip the odds in your favor. Scouting for Activity First, scout for

signs of bear activity. If you’re remote and in what is considered or known to be productive bear-hunting territory, then it’s a matter of picking your spot. If you’re in a new

spot and have never seen a bear on a camera, it doesn’t hurt to make sure there isn’t a reason why you haven’t seen a bear on camera. In the spring,

look for bear activity around rotten logs, as well as black, tar-like scat that’s often found in the middle of gravel roads. When you encounter areas with muddy or soft soil, study the ground for bear tracks. Take an inventory of the land and the species of trees growing on it. Bear especially love feeding on beechnuts and acorns. (Continued on next page)

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Bears made these claw marks on a beech tree. All photos: Staci Warren

Bear Hunting (Continued from page 21)

Examine beech trees for mature beechnut drop and signs of bear, which will consist of claw marks in tree bark, and broken tops from their feeding on beechnuts. Scat from bear feeding on beechnuts and acorns will be ev-

ident by the second or third week of bait season … the dreaded lull for those hunters sitting over bait. A mixed wood forest with stands of softwood nearby makes for cooler cover. A brook or water source nearby will not only provide

A bear tore up this pine log, looking for grubs.

water for the bear to drink, but it will also offer a cooler habitat for bear to be when it’s hot. Choose a Remote Site My motto: “The more remote, the better.” Choose a spot that has a lot of leaf canopy. I’ve found that bear are more likely to come out in daylight

A large bear left its track in the soft mud.

if they don’t feel exposed. If your bait barrel is facing an opening or clearing, they will almost always approach from the more wooded side. This may make it harder to bow hunt, since it will also get darker earlier. “Remote” also means avoiding vehicle travel, active hiking or ATV trails, and other hunters and

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their dogs. While a site needs to be remote, I also don’t want to have to carry five-gallon buckets half a mile to bait, so we make sure we have a way to access our bait site with an ATV. Luckily, there are plenty of logging trails to make paths. Just make sure the landowner is okay with cutting saplings so that you can access the areas desired. Consider how you will access the site and the wind direction, and whether you will be able to enter undetected. Will you be busted before you even get into your tree stand? Are there any natural game trails? Don’t set up directly on a trail; instead, set your bait site back and away from the trail. Preparing the Site When planning the layout of the bait site, look for a tree to secure the barrel and any other buckets. Check the ground to be sure you can not only secure your trap to the tree, but also dig the hole. Is the ground all rock ledges? This happened to me, so I had to reconfigure my site so that I could use a trap. Look for suitable trees on which to (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 23

The view of the bait barrel from the author’s tree stand – which offers total concealment! (Continued from page 22)

mount your camera, but at a distance so that a bear won’t be in reach to take a bite out of it. Whether you use a hang-on, ladder or tower stand, placement of your stand is always set with your back to the sun. With that in mind, find a location that will accommodate your stand. Staying Concealed I have a tower stand just for bear hunting. I like to use naturally fallen trees to break up the tree stand profile and give me cover, and I search for a flat spot so that I’m not sitting uneven. If using a tree stand, consider using a blind with it if you can’t be concealed enough, or to help if it means you

stay more comfortable by being able to move and shift positions occasionally. Lastly, do your alterations to your site early on, even before baiting begins. Use this early time of the month to trim your shooting lanes if needed, and trim the limbs of the tree to which the trap cable will be

This large bear, featuring a white blaze on its chest, is inspecting the author’s bait barrel.

secured. Clean your trails around your stand and where you’ll walk, and even dig the hole for the trap if needed. Make your site as normal as possible so that when baiting begins, the bear won’t be spooked by all the changes. Don’t get discouraged if you change your mind several times

before it all comes together. In the end, you will intuitively know when you’ve put in a sufficient amount of

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24 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Maine’s New Boating Course Requirement by Bob Humphrey

Maine has now joined most other states in imposing education requirements on certain boaters. Here’s how to determine whether our state’s new law applies to you, how to satisfy the requirement, and even a short quiz to get you prepared. The scene was serene at a popular anchorage on Casco Bay. Several dozen boats of various sizes were anchored individually or rafted up, and the air was filled with the scent of grilling meat and the sound of music playing and kids frolicking in the water.

All was well until a large vessel cleared the nearby channel, hit the open bay and throttled up, sending a huge wake toward the flotilla. We all saw it coming and braced as best we could – all except the family in the 16-foot Whaler. Three of the four tumbled

to the deck, while the fourth – a child of 6 or 7 – was launched off the boat and into the water. The good news was that he was wearing a life jacket, and was quickly retrieved from the water. Why Is It Happening? Unfortunately, in-

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cidents like that, and sometimes worse, occur all too often on the water. They range from rude wake-makers and failure to acknowledge the right of way, to collisions, strandings and drownings. Topping the list of causes is operator error, including inattention, lack of experience, and impaired judgment, the latter often due to the influence of alcohol or drugs. These problems have been exacerbated by the recent rise in boat sales and boat rental clubs, meaning a lot more inexperienced and uneducated recreational boaters are on the water. Another reason is mechanical failure. Things break on the water, but regular

maintenance and inspections can reduce the likelihood of occurrence. Bad weather is another cause of problems on the water, and while you can’t change it, you should watch it and take appropriate action to avoid it. The State Steps In This increase in incidents, and the need to raise the level of knowledge and improve safety, formed the impetus for a new law mandating a Boating Safety and Education Course in Maine. As summarized by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, “Beginning January 1, 2024, a person born on or after January 1, 1999, may not operate a motorboat greater (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 25

than twenty-five (25) horsepower for recreational boating purposes on inland waters of this State or territorial waters, unless that person is 12 years of age or older and has completed a boater safety and education course.” Not surprisingly, this new requirement hasn’t been universally accepted; few folks favor more regulations. But most experienced boaters who have encountered these nautical nitwits would probably admit, it’s not a bad idea. Besides, there are enough exemptions to satisfy many of the naysayers. They include registered Maine guides with hunting, fishing and recreational authorities, commercial fishermen, merchant mar-

iners, those carrying passengers for hire, and anyone born before January 1, 1999. It also includes daily boat renters, though renters do need to complete a temporary (often dockside) boater safety course that applies only for the duration of the rental. The Course The course isn’t particularly rigorous (in fact, if you can’t complete it, you probably shouldn’t be operating a vessel). It’s aimed more toward educating people how to boat safely, responsibly and courteously. Estimated course time is 4 - 8 hours, and it can be completed online and at your own pace. It teaches you things like what safety equipment to have on board and how to use it, rules of the road, and aids to navigation.

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*At participating dealers only. Qualifying retail customers may receive savings off the selling price of a Honda powered boat package or Honda Marine engine(s) sold for repower. This promotion is limited to new Honda Marine 40 HP through 250 HP outboard engines, 2021 and newer models, sold and delivered between April 15, 2024 and July 7, 2024 and registered by the Dealer in accordance with American Honda Motor Co., Inc.’s sales registration requirements. Only Honda Marine outboard engines sold for personal use qualify for this promotion. Fleet, commercial & government sales are ineligible. Engines sold under special pricing / promotions including (but not limited to) demo and tournament fisherman engines are also excluded. Honda Marine reserves the right to modify, amend, cancel or revoke, in whole or in part, this promotion at any time without prior notice. Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual.

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26 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————— Stay up-to-date on the latest MAINE OUTDOORS NEWS and receive SPECIAL OFFERS with

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Boating (Continued from page 25)

range in cost from free (with a suggested $10 donation) to $35. IFW also offers in-person classes throughout the State. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary provides an in-person Boat America course, and IFW also offers a proctored Maine Boating Education Equivalency Exam for experienced boaters. Like many, I cringe at the term “mandatory,” but I spend a lot of time on the water, and almost daily I witness examples of the need for more boater education. Even if they are not required to do so, everyone who operates a boat should consider taking a boating safety class. You might be surprised at how much you don’t know,

and you and those who boat with you will have a more enjoyable and safer boating experience. ***** Here’s a short pop quiz to test your knowledge: 1) You’ve dropped sails, started the kicker motor, and are motoring up the channel when you observe a power boat approach from your starboard side. Which vessel has the right of way? 2) Your boat capsizes. Should you stay with the boat, or try to reach shore? 3) Does a U.S.C.G.approved throwable device (seat cushion or ring) qualify as a Personal Flotation Device (PFD)? (Boating Quiz continued on page 29)

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28 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Bluefin Tuna are Plentiful My deckhand was fishing for tuna bait with a basic diamond jig when his rod suddenly bent over in a deep arc, and line began screaming off the reel. The run stopped momentarily, and we shared confused looks. I’d barely gotten “What the ...?” out, when another run commenced, and the rod bowed steeply. “What do I do?” he asked excitedly. Before I could answer, the line parted, and it was over. While we’ll never know for sure, I’m fairly confident the culprit was a bluefin, and our experience was not unusual. Healthy Numbers Despite what is implied by a certain reality TV show, bluefin tuna stocks are quite healthy, and their numbers are increasing. While it might be a nuisance to those anglers who are targeting smaller fish, it’s good news for commer-

The odds that you’ll be able to check bluefin off your bucket list are now better than ever. cial fishermen – those who try to earn their living “one fish at a time.” It’s also good news for recreational anglers aching to check a bluefin off their bucket list by battling the king of big gamefish. Even better, there’s been a recent resurgence in smaller bluefin in the Gulf of Maine, making this a very attainable goal for anglers not properly equipped to battle the real giants. How Most Maine bluefin anglers anchor and fish with live bait. However, this method increases the odds of hooking a commercial-sized fish (73” or greater). Other options might be better for targeting smaller specimens. One is trolling spreader bars and daisy chains. More experienced and equipped

anglers may put out a spread of 6 or more lines, strategically spaced in different positions. You can get by with 2 or 3. Try a variety of things until you find what works. Adding a “bird” ahead of the rig creates a splashing commotion that increases the rig’s attractiveness to fish. I generally run two spreader bars with 9or 12-inch squid, and a similarly sized daisy chain. Occasionally, I’ll add a single soft bait. Bluefin can be notoriously boat-shy, so it’s better to set lines as far back as practical. Avoid sharp turns to prevent lines from tangling, and check for weeds often. I generally troll between 5 and 7 knots – faster when it’s flat, and slower when it’s rough. For primary gear, you’ll need at

least 50-class rods and reels (with 80 or 130 being better), with 150 - 200 pound line and 300 pound test swivels. Casting to Fish on the Surface Another method, more popular in the waters around Cape Cod, is “run-and-gun” sight fishing. This requires first finding a school of feeding fish, then getting within casting range. It can be challenging along the Maine coast, because this type of feeding activity is less common up north. Furthermore, the fish are constantly moving. They’ll pop up in one location momentarily, then show up in another; and as previously noted, they can be boat-shy. Surface popper plugs or weighted soft baits both work. Mix and match until you

find something that draws a strike. Drop a Jig Yet another method is jigging. Terminal tackle includes conventional jigs with assist hooks, or leadhead jigs with soft baits that resemble large sand eels. You can fish blindly in likely areas (whatever that means), but will be more effective by “electronic sight fishing.” Cruise very slowly or drift until you start seeing marks near the bottom that indicate a school of tuna, then drop and jig. Some experienced anglers recommend specific techniques of alternately dropping and reeling. Others claim it doesn’t matter, and will literally set their rod in a holder and let the rocking of the boat do the jigging. Both jigging and casting call for at least 100-pound rods and 10k-class spinning reels. (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 29

— Genetics for Giants

This bluefin was trolled up with a pink squid daisy chain. Photos provided by Bob Humphrey (Continued from page 28)

Where Find the bait, and you might find the fish. Most commercial anglers target structure, anchoring on submarine sea mounts some distance from shore where bait congregates.

Smaller fish tend to be more mobile, and are often found in deeper water – 300 500 feet – but feeding on schools of baitfish close to the surface. They’re also more likely to show up in nearshore waters, where they target mackerel and pogies.

Boating Quiz (Continued from page 26)

A boating education course could help you avoid an embarrassing and potentially costly situation, such as this Yarmouth boater, who evidently failed to read the daily tide tables or study his navigational charts.

4) How far away from any shoreline must you be to operate at more than headway speed? 5) Does a U.S.C.G.-approved inflatable vest qualify as a PFD? Answers: 1) As both vessels are under power, the one to starboard (right) is the stand-on vessel, and has the right of way. In this example, the sailboat under power is required to yield (give way). 2) Stay with the capsized boat, but do not attempt to climb on it. 3) No, but most vessels over 16 feet are required to have a throwable cushion or ring, in addition to the required PFDs. 4) 200 feet. 5) Yes, but it’s only counted as a PFD if it’s being worn.

To be kept and sold commercially, a tuna must be 73 inches or greater. Anything under 73 inches is considered a “recreational” fish. Catching and keeping one requires a federal Angling permit.

When Bluefin generally arrive in late June or early July, and they linger through at least October. Smaller fish tend to be most abundant in June and August, particularly the latter, when baitfish are more abundant.

Capt. Bob Humphrey fishes commercially and recreationally for bluefin tuna, and runs the Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza tuna tournament out of South Portland; see www. bluefinbonanza.org

The University of Maine’s Pelagic Fisheries Lab at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute is conducting a close-kin mark recapture study to evaluate Atlantic bluefin tuna population status and they need your help by providing basic information and a small fin clip sample. For more information and to receive sample kits contact Dr. Walt Golet (207) 3515413, walter.golet@ maine.edu.

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30 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Five Things Your Moose Guide Wants to Tell You by Will Lund

Maine’s moose lottery was held June 15 in Fort Kent. We hope you or your hunting friends were selected. The successful winners are now choosing guides, outfitters and equipment. We’ve been on

moose hunts, and we’ve talked with moose guides. We asked them what advice they would offer their customers. Here’s the wish list from Maine guides and outfitters of what they want – and expect –

from their clients. 1. Be proficient with your firearm. Face it – you won the lottery, and you want to do things BIG. So the temptation is to gather up your grandfather’s .375 H&H from his last African safa-

ri, or his .416 or even his .450. No matter that you’ve never shot it; no matter that if you do take a practice shot or two, the recoil will make you flinch so badly that when a moose does make an appearance in front

of you in the Maine woods, you’ll be closing your eyes and jerking the trigger, with bad results. Most guides are in agreement – if you are comfortable with the .30-’06 or .300 Sav(Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 31 (Continued from page 30)

age that you use deer hunting, then that’s the firearm you should select for your moose hunt. And when you do make your selection, spend some time at the range this summer, finding the ammo that’s best suited to your firearm, your skill level, and the job at hand. 2. Be safe with your firearm. The Sunday afternoon before the first day of the moose hunt, when your outfitter invites you to sight in your rifle at the sporting camp’s range in the woods, it’s not your accuracy that’s first and fore-

most on the guide’s mind. Rather, it’s how you handle your rifle, including the direction you point it when it’s still in the case. Over the next few days, the guide and your subpermittee will be walking behind you, beside you and in front of you, on rough roads and through tangled clearcuts. When you pick up a gun, do you always check if it’s loaded? When you are walking shoulder-to-shoulder with your subpermittee on a gravel road, are you each aware of the direction in which your rifles’ muzzles are pointing? If you’re climbing a tree or

scrambling into an elevated stand, how have you secured your rifle to keep yourself and everyone else safe? When pressed, most guides will tell you they have witnessed first-hand instances of clients accidentally discharging their firearm. In most cases, no one is hurt, but – assuming the guide does not end the hunt then and there, which is often the case – what is irretrievably lost is the guide’s confidence and trust in the customer’s skill and reliability. 3. Do what the guide tells you to do. This seems like a simple rule, but especially if a few days pass without

Jeffrey Kimball (right) of Cornville enjoyed a successful 2023 moose season, Accompanied by his son-in-law Colby Prescott (left), Kimball dropped this 483-lb. bull on October 14 in the township of Misery. The moose was registered at Bishop’s Store. Photo by Kim Kimball

success, the temptation will arise for the clients to start thinking – and making decisions – for themselves. We know of two sep-

arate occasions when moose have appeared where a hunter was supposed to be, but the hunter was not there (Moose Hunting continued on next page)

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Fishing in Hot Weather If you’re like me, you like fishing regardless of the weather, and you won’t let heat, cold, rain or snow stop you. I’m not saying that’s the brightest idea, but I’ve never been accused of being the brightest guy, either. Fishing when it’s cold is easy – bundle up, throw a Buddy Heater on board, and consider a canvas-enclosed cabin on your boat. If it’s rainy, the solution is simple – throw on a raincoat, and stay under your boat’s canopy, if it has one. What About Heat? So what do you do to beat the heat? When it’s 90 degrees with the sun beating down, but you still have to satisfy the insatiable urge to go fishing, there are some options. I spend my summers on Sebago Lake, trolling for salmon and togue in an open 14-foot aluminum boat. It’s not the best at keeping me cool. Really, it’s more of an oven. Like cooking an egg on the hot hood of a car. And with no canopy, it can be tough to keep cool. Unless you’re me. I’m always cool. Here’s how I’ve found to stay cool when trolling in the summer heat. It’s Easy 1. Cool off before you get going. If conditions permit, I like to go for a quick swim before getting out on the water, or sometimes I swim from my boat. For one

Moose Hunting (Continued from page 31)

because he thought he knew more than the guide. But it’s the guide who knows the area, and who has been hanging scent wicks on trees for days in advance, and who also knows where other nearby hunters and guides – including (when seasons overlap) those parties hunting bears with hounds – are located. “If clients do what we tell them to do, and we don’t get a moose, then that’s on us,” a guide told us. “But if clients don’t follow our instructions, then the results are on them.” 4. Let the guide know your limits. Guides are willing and able to accomwww.MaineSportsman.com

There are many ways, says the author, to beat the heat.

The author’s mom, holding a nice-size mid-summer lake trout. Photo by the author

thing, it helps keep you cooled off when you’re on board. For another thing, I have found that it improves my catch rates – I try to become one with the fish when I go for a swim. 2. Get your skin out of the sun. I always wear a ball cap and sunglasses when I’m out. It keeps the sun off my face and head, which makes a big difference. Plus, when I’m driving to or from my spot, the sunglasses prevent rogue insects or debris from in the boat from blowing into my eyes. I sometimes wear a lightweight fishing shirt with long sleeves, as well. The material is supposed to keep you cool, and reduce the sun’s impact on your skin. I only do modate all manner of clients’ strengths and weaknesses – if they know about them. Can’t walk far without resting? Let the guide know. Allergic to bug spray? Scared to use an outhouse at night? Let the guide know. No one likes to talk about their own limitations, but it’s easier than dealing with a surprise situation in the woods far from civilization and medical care. 5. Be appreciative of the services being provided. Guides and outfitters work hard to make each trip successful, safe and fun. Even if a hunt is just safe and fun, that’s still a good outcome. Compliment the cook on the food. Contribute to the food pantry, candy dish or liquor cabinet. Stay up late to

this if I’m not working on my bodybuilder tan. If your boat has a bimini top, or you are able to add one, that will make a huge difference. Water, and Another Swim 3. Drink a lot … of water. Water helps keep your system running well, and keeps you from getting too hot. I usually bring a big bottle of water, ideally with ice and in an insulated bottle. Drink more than you think you need, even if you’re not that thirsty. 4. Cool off after your trip. When you get back to the dock or before heading to the ramp, take a quick swim to cool off. It feels refreshing, and if you’re driving home with a fishing partner, they’ll thank you. The aroma of sweat combined with baked-on fish slime does not smell great. 5. Try to fish in the mornings and evenings, when the sun isn’t so high. Sunrise and sunset are my favorite times to go fishing in the summer. The sun isn’t too hot, the boat traffic is down, and the lake is almost always calmer. Plus, the bite seems to be hotter at dawn and dusk. Just because it’s hot and sunny out all summer, doesn’t mean there isn’t some good fishing to be had! You may have to fish deeper and slower, but with some planning, the rewards can be impressive.

socialize, but not so late that you keep others awake past their bedtimes. Turn your phones off for the duration, and if you must make or take a call, do it out of sight and earshot of everyone else. And leave a big tip. The guides are the ones who located the moose, called it in, then dragged it, hauled it, or quartered it and bagged it. Most guides are not full-time professionals, but are part-timers who are at camp because they love the work. Often, they are not salaried, but rather are compensated primarily by client tips. If you have questions about financial arrangement or what’s considered appropriate, ask them privately – they’ll let you know.

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 33

Armalite AR-7 – the Ultimate Survival Rifle? Looking like something out of a James Bond movie, the AR-7’s barrel, action, trigger assembly and magazine fit snugly into the buttstock, and the entire package can then be placed inside a standard briefcase. The Boy Scouts got it right when they coined their motto, “Be Prepared,” more than 120 years ago. Anyone venturing into the woods and fields, mountains, and waterways away from civilization needs to anticipate contingencies and make provisions for dealing with whatever comes along. Sometimes, anticipating contingencies involves a firearm. In an emergency, a firearm may provide needed food or protection, or it can serve as a signaling device. In a true emergency, especially if you’re in the wilderness, a firearm is almost as valuable as food or fire starters. It also needs to be versatile, packable, and simple to maintain. The AR-7 Survival Rifle meets all of the above requirements, and then some. Originally designed in the 1950s by Eugene Stoner for inclusion as survival gear of U.S. Air Force pilots, the AR-7 found its way into civilian markets by 1960. Stoner also gave us the designs for the AR-10 and AR-15/M-16. Armalite Corporation sold the rights to make the AR-7 to Charter Arms

in 1973, Armalite apparently being too busy making M-16s for the U. S. and other militaries. Charter Arms produced the AR-7 until 1990, when they sold the rights to something called Survival Arms, which in turn sold it to a company called AR-7 Industries. Today’s version of the AR-7 comes from the extremely successful Henry Repeating Arms of Brooklyn, New York. Henry started making the AR-7 after previous patents on the rifle expired. Henry then reverse-engineered the design to develop one of their own, including several product improvements, without having to purchase the rights to do so. Today’s Henry version retains all of the desirable features

of the original AR-7 with several new ones, including options and accessories not found with earlier versions. Compact Package The genius of the AR-7 design rests with its simple takedown features that permit the barrel, action, trigger assembly and magazine to fit snugly into the buttstock for storage and transport. Original examples had the buttstock lined with Styrofoam to insure that the rifle would float if ever immersed in water. Current ones have the buttstock lined with plastic, which is not absolutely watertight over time. A semi-automatic chambering the .22 Long Rifle cartridge, the AR-7 uses an eight-round detachable box magazine.

Even at 60 years old, the semi-automatic AR-7 remains the premier survival rifle for anyone needing an extremely compact firearm while venturing into the wilderness. Photo credits: Henry Repeating Arms

Henry’s updated versions allow for stowing the action into the stock with a magazine in place. Two additional magazines also fit into the stock. Original AR-7s allowed just one magazine in the storage mode. With this one alteration, Henry tripled the at-hand capacity, from eight

rounds to 24. The AR-7 assembles and disassembles in seconds without any tools needed, and at 3.5 lbs. it fits into backpacks, airplanes, four-wheelers, boats, canoes, kayaks, and snowmobiles with ease. The 16.125-inch ABS coated steel barrel is topped with an (Continued on next page)

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Shooter’s Bench (Continued from page 33)

adjustable rear peep sight and an orange blade front sight. One of Henry’s improvements to the AR-7 is their version of a Picatinny Rail for mounting optics. Of course, adding optics negates the ability to fit the

piece back into the stock, but many potential buyers want the option of adding magnification, no matter what. Henry created three options for the stock finish on their AR-7. With an MSRP

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in the neighborhood of $344, the flat black finished version could be called the basic. For those wanting a camouflage finish, Henry offers two choices at an MSRP of about $420: the True Timber-Viper Western Camo, and the True Timber-Kanati Camo. In most environ-

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firearms. Survival Kit Henry also offers the AR-7 rifle in a package deal for something on the order of $625. This offer is aimed at those wanting to jumpstart their personal survival kit. Included with a rifle is a nylon carrying case. In the case, Henry adds an assortment of survival goodies such as a space blanket, folding knife, parachute cord, and even some emergency rations. Just add some personal choice items, and the kit is wilderness-ready. Beyond the idea of being prepared in a wilderness survival situation, the Henry AR-7 can liven up a lazy July afternoon in Maine, or anywhere else. Light, agile, and easy to use, the AR-7 makes a dynamic addition to any casual target shooting session. It’s spot-on out to 100 yards, and a few afternoons with an AR-7 can boost an inexperienced shooter’s confidence or give some thrills to an old pro. Not many of us are bush pilots or blue water, foreign-port sailors. Fortunately, neither will many of us find ourselves marooned and needing to hunt down dinner. However, the Boy Scouts were right when they called for anyone and everyone to “Be Prepared.” Wilderness survival situations do occur. And the Henry AR-7, with its roots 65 years in the past, is there to keep insuring good outcomes.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 35

The Big Woods – a Guide’s Perspective by Mike Stevens & Hal Blood When I was 15 years old, my friend invited me to go “up north” deer hunting with him and his Dad. This was my first taste of Big Woods hunting. I was in awe while walking forever, seeing nothing but woods and critters. There was a quietness I’d never experienced. Even at that early age, I was intrigued by the seemingly endless woods. Never did I realize what was to come. Twenty-seven years later, I started guiding full-time for Hal Blood at Cedar Ridge Outfitters. I had made up my mind – northern Maine was to be my home. This new endeavor allowed me to be in the Big Woods all day, every day. The more time spent in the woods, the more comfortable a person gets. They can feel and recognize good deer woods, or they can feel less favorable deer woods, as well. This mindset can only be experienced by spending endless hours in the woods, where we learn new lessons each day. I like to think the best lesson is respect for the woods and all that comes with it. Teaching Our Clients Experience in the woods allows hunters to blend in with the surroundings. Sounds complicated, because only folks that live it … get it. I can walk for

hours, then a surge/ feeling hits me. I look around. I know there are deer in near proximity. I can feel it. I can see it. The number of deer tracks might have increased, maybe showing signs of feeding, or deer trails, or my intuition tells me this is just a place where deer feel comfortable. As guides, we sometimes amaze our clients with this intuition. I always like to teach my clients about the big woods while hunting. I point out the unusual, including certain trees, animal tracks, feces, beds, hair and feeding sign – the things most nimrods walk by, never noticing because they don’t look. You must see everything. I feel a hunter should never stop learning. The Big Woods are a huge university. There is a bottomless pit of knowledge out there. All of these lessons not only educate us, but also make us better deer hunters. Living and working in the Big Woods has given me peace and even serenity. It’s more than a place to hunt and fish. It’s a second home. I encourage all Big Woods hunters to take in all nature offers you. Pay attention to the surroundings, while chasing deer. Your boots will lead you to good things. You’ll know it when you get there.

Hal’s Thoughts I, like Mike, made my first pilgrimage to the Big Woods when I was a teenager. My first trips were to fish with my father and some of his cousins and uncles. That was when I was introduced to the Jackman area, where I eventually settled down to make my living in the woods guiding. On those first fishing trips, I was in awe of the endless woods. Back in the 1970s there were not very many logging roads, and most of them were not maintained. We camped out near several trout ponds about 15 miles north of Jackman. It usually took us 3 or 4 hours to get there on Memorial Day weekend, as we had to do quite a bit of roadwork on the way. The fishing was really good, but I also noticed that there were deer tracks everywhere, and we always saw a lot of deer. That’s what brought me here for my first deer hunting trip in 1980. My father and I camped in the same campsite that we fished from. I spent that week wandering the ridges and mountains. We had snow for two days. I tracked a couple of bucks around, and finally shot a spike horn on Friday. That one week in the Big Woods hooked me on it to the point

Mike Stevens can be walking in the woods, when a feeling sweeps over him. “I know there are deer in near proximity,” he writes. “I can feel it. I can see it.”

where I didn’t want to hunt anywhere else. From then on, I knew I had to figure out how I could keep myself in those Big Woods.

Guiding ended up being the logical answer, and here it is 45 years later, and I’m still at it!

www.MaineSportsman.com

36 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Should Poaching Penalties Fit the Crime? On Friday, May 10, 2024, Ohio Attorney General, David Yost, on behalf of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, announced the indictment of a Wilmington, Ohio man who is accused of poaching an 18-point antlered white-tailed deer. “Blinded by greed,” said Yost, “the defendant set his sights on fame and fortune, while disregarding basic hunting regulations. Instead of the cover of Field & Stream, their notori-

Several states have enacted laws that penalize poachers more if they take deer with high Boone & Crockett scores, such as 150 inches or 200 inches. Should Maine adopt enhanced fines and sentences for those convicted of poaching trophy deer? ety will be a booking photo.” Unfortunately, sportsmen read too many articles like this one. Poaching has been a common occurrence since the term was used in the Middle Ages. Once upon a time, wild animals were poached because a family was poor and

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couldn’t afford to purchase meat. I’m positive this still happens, but it seems more and more commonplace that poachers are less in search of food, and more in search of fame, fortune, and the almighty dollar. Big Antlers Can Fetch Big Dollars Back in 2016, deer hunter Stephen Tucker killed a massive 47-point buck. That buck had the potential to bring the hunter more than $100,000. Today, that’s chump change when compared to the amounts of money some collectors are willing to pay for massive trophy

mounts. But I agree with the Ohio AG in his premise that the lucrative market for big antlers is not really what drives folks to poach trophy deer. Rather, what many people seek is the fame associated with harvesting a huge buck. They want folks in the hunting community to know who they are, and what they’ve killed. Big Deer Helped the Author I wouldn’t be writing for The Maine Sportsman today had I not killed a few great bucks in the late 1990s. I got my start because

Harry Vanderweide was impressed with my consistency in killing adult bucks. Compared to some of the nationally-known deer hunters we see on television and in videos, however, I’m small potatoes. Today, some of the deals being signed by hunters to sponsor gear, make TV shows or even use their likeness, can push into the millions of dollars. Deer hunting brings huge money to companies selling camouflage gear, calls, scents, blinds, stands, firearms and bows. In terms of dollars and cash value for antlers, the largest whitetail antlers in the world sell to collectors for high six figures. Elite racks can even sell in the seven-figure range. (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 37 (Continued from page 36)

There’s huge money available, and apparently the temptation is too much for some people. When I see a giant buck, the last thing I think about is money. I’m curious if these big dollar sales and TV/ magazine deals have changed some people’s views. What’s the Penalty for Poaching? The hunter from Ohio faces a total of 23 charges, including: • Five counts of hunting deer without written permission; • Five counts of taking possession of a deer in violation of a division rule; • Three counts of theft by deception; • Two counts each of hunting without a license, hunting deer without a valid deer permit, and tampering with evidence; and • One count each of jacklighting, theft, falsification, and sale of wildlife parts.

Ohio doesn’t mess around when it comes to poaching. Here in Maine I was curious what would happen if a person poached a trophy deer of this magnitude in Maine. The simple answer is, there would be no difference if a person poached a yearling “skipper” or a 200-inch buck. The penalties would be the same. However, Maine does have a large fine for poaching, when compared to other states. In fact, in 2015, Maine’s $1,000 fine was the highest in the country. I’m wondering if there would be leeway for a judge to impose even heftier fines for a trophy deer, if the higher penalties were recommended by DIF&W? In 2015, states like Georgia and Tennessee had no fines for poaching a deer. Today, not only do most states fine people for poaching deer, but some states have made protecting trophy whitetails a pri-

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ority. For example, in 2017, Iowa enacted laws fining a poacher from $2,000 to $5,000 for a buck scoring less than 150 inches. If a buck of over 150 inches is poached, the fine could be upwards of $20,000. Regardless of the laws on the books, the fate of someone who poaches a giant whitetailed buck is in the hands of the courts. Even if a Game Warden were to ticket a poacher, it’s up to the DA to prosecute, and a judge to make a final decision. If a poacher faces a DA unwilling to charge, or a lenient judge, they could be sentenced to community service, or even not lose their hunting privileges. Ultimately, a poached deer belongs to the people of the state. Poaching is a theft, and should be punished accordingly. I love states like Ohio and Iowa for getting tough with poachers.

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The alleged poacher in Ohio did himself no favors when he posted this cellphone photo on social media after completing the November, 2023 hunt. Joe Salty believes that even more than financial gain, the desire for fame within the hunting community drives some poachers to illegally take trophy whitetails. Credit: Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Wildlife Div.

Not only do these big bucks have monetary value to collectors, but their presence also brings money to the state in terms of tourism dollars, license sales, and jobs. I’m hopeful a “graded” system can be adopted in Maine

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Don’t Overlook Aroostook’s Small Brooks If an artist were to paint a mural of Aroostook County summer activities, one section would have to depict a fisherman wading and casting along a woods-lined, bubbling brook. Native brook trout migrate by the thousands from sunwarmed waters of rivers and large streams into the deep holes, ledge seeps and creek inlets of small brooks winding through Crown of Maine fields and forests. A young nimrod casting bait, or a purist floating a dry fly, can make memories that will last a lifetime. Winsome Whitney Whitney Brook originates from bogs, swamps, and small pond outlets near Number Nine Mountain in the woods west of Bridgewater Village. The section of

As summer progresses, warming the water in rivers and large streams, trout seek relief in spring-fed and tree-shaded brooks and small streams. The author reveals which of these tiny waterways are the most productive, and how to fish them for steady success.

Grasshopper imitations are deadly on Aroostook brooks that wander through farm fields and forests, so have an assortment in your fly box. All photos by the author.

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even form a canopy make bait fishing with a short rod the best option. Worms ensure action all summer, since foliage helps keep much of this upper section shaded and cooler, as do occasional artesian springs. Use a Tic Tac-size non-lead split shot for bottom bouncing riffles and quicker runs, while for slower, deeper pools, try a silver or pearl spinner with the worm. The lower section of Whitney, from Bridgewater to its confluence with Prestile Stream just above the Canadian border, will be far more suited to fly fishing. Much of the brook is wide and open, but I’d still suggest a 7- or 7½-foot rod in the 4-weight class. Some spots will still require a tight loop roll cast or perhaps a slingshot cast to drop a fly under overhanging foliage. During the day, a size 8 or 10 brightly-hued wet fly generally works well; my proven favorites include a Trout Fin, Parmachene Belle, and Professor. Towards evening I prefer to float a size 14 or 16 Light Cahill, gray Slim Jim, Mosquito or gold-ribbed Hare’s Ear. In full disclosure, on overcast days or in light rain, fishing these dry fly patterns wet will often yield steady action. Also, (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 39

Bill Graves wades a stretch of Prestile Stream just above Whitney Brook inlet where trout school up in the cooler outflow and respond well to dry flies at dawn and dusk. (Continued from page 38)

I never venture onto local brooks without swept-wing turkey feather grasshoppers in yellow and green bodies, since nearby summer crop fields are alive with the real insects. Peruse Delorme’s Atlas, Map 59, grids 3 & 4. Rocky Brook Formed from tiny Dilling Lake near Easton, then buoyed in size by Palmer and Hilt Creeks along its course, Rocky Brook finally joins Prestile Stream just off Main Street in Mars Hill. King’s Grove on the East Ridge Road provides close, easy access to the often-overlooked trout haven, well-populated with 7- to 10inch brookies. Summer heat and receding water in the Prestile sends many larger fish up Rocky Brook for its cooler, shaded pools. The farther an angler travels up or downstream from King’s Grove, the more fish and fewer other fishermen will be encountered. Dubbed “The Jungle” by locals, the upper section from Route 1A to East Ridge Road bridge is a worm-dunker’s paradise. The Serpen-

Mike Wallace floats a dry fly along a cold-water ledge seep along a forested section of Whitney Brook in Bridgewater.

tine flowage abounds with bank undercuts, stumps and large rocks, all ready to give up a bragging-size brookie or steal another hook. A good supply of extra hooks and sinkers, patience, and persistence will usually allow a young rookie or a veteran bait-bouncer to catch and release a dozen trout! Some rocky pools won’t see a fisherman a week, but plan on a 10- to 20-minute hike through fields and forest to the best remote runs. Still tight and brush-crowded, pools downstream of King’s Grove are far more suited to flinging feathers. While it’s possible to wade the

stream course between more open casting locales, sometimes it’s just as simple to walk along the bank. Newcomers are going to be amazed by the number of 10- to 12-inch beauties that will sprint from cover to engulf a fly in such skinny water. Grasshoppers and crickets are daytime deadly, but try using a Hendrickson, Green Drake or Blue Dun at twilight. Find your way using Delorme’s Atlas, Map 59, segment A-3. Backwoods Brooks Fishermen seeking native brook trout and a weekend camping foray need to head north into Crown of Maine forest land.

There are a number of easy-to-reach roadside pools on Whitney Brook that make for a quick outing with young anglers. Here, Connor Cushman is proud of his results.

Drive Route 161 to Fort Kent, then follow the St. John River to Allagash, Dickey, Little Black Checkpoint and beyond. Side roads and two-tracks off Hafey Road lead to Falls Brook, Johnson Brook, Little Hafey Brook, Rocky Brook, Dead Brook and Pocwock Stream. There are at least a dozen other wading waterways, as well as several small ponds and floatable rivers, to explore. Anglers wishing to be a bit closer to civilization could head to Ashland via Route 11 or 163 and through

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6-Mile checkpoint, to cast the brooks along the Pinkham and Realty Roads. Greenlaw Stream, Twenty and Twenty Five Mile Brooks and another Rocky Brook are simple to reach spots, with more options the farther you care to drive. I have a few thoughts and cautions for wading Aroostook’s small brooks, and heed what I’ve learned the hard way over the last six decades. Regardless of how sunny and sweltering hot it is, do not wear shorts or short sleeve shirts, since mosquitoes, (Continued on next page)

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The County

that can be easily carried and deployed for certain treacherous terrain. Lots of insect repellent, extra bait hooks and sinkers, and a few extra fly patterns to replace the ones the overhanging trees eat, are good precautions. Trout are plentiful, fishing pressure minimal, and the secluded scenery is relaxing in “The County.”

(Continued from page 39)

will help keep you upright and dry, with a smaller chance of broken bones and equipment. Regional brooks are notoriously rocky, uneven and slippery, and if you’re 17 or 71, slipping and tripping usually ends poorly. A wading staff is very useful, and there are foldable models

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 41

When Trout Congregate The difference between fishing now, in midsummer, and spring fishing, is that in spring, fish were widespread. Now, however, they are concentrated. Warming water temperatures of summer drive trout in lakes and ponds to the cool, oxygen-filled depths and to cold spring-holes in streams. Thus, fish are easier to find now than at other times of the year. As always, with a few exceptions, fishing early and late in the day brings the best results. However, on cloudy days, the bite may stay on all day. Also bear in mind that some of the places (e.g., points, drop-offs) that produced earlier in the season can still produce, given some cool, cloudy weather. Such variable conditions have become increasingly common in recent years.

The author recommends that summer anglers learn how to troll using a dodger. Set ahead of a baitfish or streamer fly, the dodger imparts motion to the bait or fly that trout, togue and salmon find irresistible. Ultimate Rig I never met a fishing rod I didn’t like, nor have I ever felt that I had enough fishing tackle. The lure of new offerings holds me in thrall, and sometimes it seems that the snazzier, the more complicated and offbeat some terminal gear is, the better it should work. But realistically, as in so many things in life, simple works just fine, and in fact much of the time, simpler is better. To that end, the best and most productive terminal rig I ever found consists of just two easily obtained items. The first is a baitfish, usually a shiner, but most legal forms of baitfish work equally as well. In

fact, I have found that a 2- to 3-inch sucker makes one of the most durable and long-lasting baits of all. The other component in my best-of-thebest rig is a chrome, #000 dodger. These two items, a baitfish and a dodger, will take all salmonids (trout, togue or salmon) anywhere, at any time. It’s just a matter of where – and how deep – to fish them. Effective at any depth, a dodger-baitfish combination suits all purposes. The only exception here is for those who troll from large boats with motors that cannot perform at slow speeds. Fast trolling with a dodger causes the dodger to spin and

tangle the line. And also, some people prefer hardware – metal spoons and so on – rather than bait. But for the majority of anglers who just want to catch fish, the dodger-and-baitfish combo stands as a dependable and trusted rig for any salmonids. Dodger Techniques For years, it seemed to me that dodgers were meant primarily for deep trolling. That was, however, until I learned a redhot brown trout trolling method that takes fish in midsummer. For me, much of what I know about fishing comes from hands-on experience. But some comes from listening to successful anglers

and asking pertinent questions. This summertime dodger method came to me second-hand from a person who fished a local pond on summer evenings. Brown trout, perhaps more so than any other trout, readily move from deep to shallow water as conditions permit. The big brownie that lurks in the depth by day has no compunctions about venturing into shallow water come evening. In the case at hand, the angler fished his dodger-and-baitfish combo just off lily pad beds in the evenings. Brown trout would prey upon schools of baitfish hiding under the cover of pond lilies. I had success with this method the first time I tried it, and have found it to be a very productive method of hooking brown trout. A fly rod with sinking (Trout Fishing continued on page 43)

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42 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Creating and Sharing Fishing Videos Our ancient ancestors, hunters and fishers all, memorialized their conquests in primitive cave paintings. Across time, this tradition persisted, evolving with our mediums – from parchment to paper, clay sculpture to taxidermy, and – most recently – from film to digital photography and video. In this month’s column, we embark on an experiment. While I hold the written word in high regard for communicating the nuances of fly fishing, I acknowledge the captivation of moving imagery in video clips. Now that smartphones are ubiquitous among most anglers, they

Scan the QR codes in this column, and your smartphone or tablet will take you directly to four of the author’s fishing videos. offer a unique opportunity to enhance our storytelling. I believe combining words and video in a few columns could be fun, especially for sharing adventures, new fishing tactics, or fly-tying techniques that are difficult to visualize. QR Code Within this column, you will find novel addition – four QR codes. For those unfamiliar, a QR code is a square mosaic of black and white that offers a link to a video through your smartphone. I

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know, I know – you are not all fond of technology, but this is a snap. Simply point your smartphone or tablet camera at the code. (If you don’t have a cell phone with a camera, borrow one!) In a second or two, a link will pop up and you can click on it, and through the link, watch the videos I have supplied. You can also download them, or send them to a device with a larger screen. Showcase Videos In this column, I have provided you with four varied and interesting videos taken in different ways to showcase the possibilities. 1. Witness my wife, Lindsey, battling a 4-pound native brook trout in Western Maine – taken by me through the lens of an iPhone 14.

— 2. Dive beneath the water through an underwater video of a school of brook trout trapped by drought – captured by an underwater video camera, the GoPro.

— 3. Experience the underwater release of a gorgeous cutthroat trout videoed with a smartphone with a waterproof cover. (Watch ’til the end!)

4. Join me in a candid moment of releasing a big salmon, while videoing with a phone camera in the other hand.

— If you enjoy my multimedia columns, please drop me an email with your thoughts. If the response is positive, I will create more. If not, I will return to the printed word and photos, leaving the videos for YouTube and Instagram. Videography Tips For those inspired to capture their angling exploits on video, consider these tips: 1. Keep your cell phone or GoPro within reach but secure. I always wear a fishing shirt with a pocket-flap breast pocket large enough for a cell phone – I prefer Velcro because it is easier to rip open than unbuttoning or unzipping, but they all keep the phone from falling out when you bend over. 2. Invest in a waterproof clear case to safeguard your phone. If it unexpectedly plunges into the water, it will be undamaged. Photo quality is not compromised by shooting through the case. (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 43 (Continued from page 42)

3. Practice makes perfect: Hone your self-videography skills before attempting to immortalize your once-ina-lifetime catch. Practice taking selfie photos or videos holding or releasing any object or creature. Remember: Your goal is to get the fish back in the water quickly, not to drop your phone in the water, and hopefully to capture a decent photo or video at the same time. 4. Enlist a fishing companion to help you capture some video of your fishing adventures. Game-plan beforehand. Who is going to

carry the camera or phone and have it accessible? What videos are you looking for? Playing the fish? Releasing it? Capturing the surrounding natural environment? 5. When solo, follow a simple process for capturing your catch on video. • Keep fish in the water or net, still hooked. • Take your phone out, open the camera, find the video setting, and press the touch button, turning the video recording feature on. • Put your phone down on any safe and flat surface nearby, lens side up (yes, you are videoing the tops

Trout Fishing

of the trees – doesn’t matter). • Unhook the fish and hold it securely but gently with your left hand or in a shallow plastic mesh net. • Grab your camera with your other hand and look through it to ensure the fish is in frame, then slowly release the fish.

(photos) from your videos. I hope you find these videography hints useful. Despite being an amateur, I still manage to capture useful videos. Not every time, mind you, but enough to justify the effort.

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line works great for this, because the long rod enables you to better manipulate the position of the dodger. One great feature of dodger fishing lies in your ability to change how much action the dodger imparts to the baitfish. Basically, the closer the bait to the dodger (6-8 inches), the more the dodger whips the bait up and down. And the longer (20 inches, more or less) the distance between dodger and bait, the less the motion. The longer distances are more suitable for slow trolling; the shorter distance for fast trolling. Slow trolling with a longer separation allows the baitfish to swim behind the dodger naturally, and fast trolling whips it around, giving trout and salmon a fleeting chance to pounce upon it – a chance they often take. In summer, I like to troll for togue on a local lake, and for that I set my rod in a downrigger and using a dodger-and-baitfish combo, troll between 40 and 50 feet down. I like to troll as slowly as conditions permit. I’ll begin in the early morning, and by midmorning, when breezes increase, I may need to increase my trolling speed in order to stay on course.

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44 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Will Brook Trout Sweat to Cool Off? One of my first assignments as Allagash Wilderness Waterway supervisor was to monitor environmental exposures which would adversely affect wildlife and fishery habitat. Miles of brooks and streams curl through the riparian zones of our northern forest, after which they empty into the Allagash. Each flowage is at risk of becoming polluted, contaminated or tainted due to the carelessness of workers and visitors. In the 1970s and 80s, rangers routinely discovered streams flowing brown with mud and silt through the one-mile zone on the way to Allagash lakes and rivers. Visitors often told us, “the water in the Allagash is too dirty to use.”

In 2020, mud flowed from McNally brook into the Arm of Chamberlain T6R11.

Often such sedimentation was caused by skidders pulling logs through streams, poor road construction, and graders leveling gravel onto bridges. There were also crushed culverts, and straight road ditches that allowed rainwater to run directly into such streams as Thoroughfare Brook in T9R13, and Five Finger Brook in T14R11. Five Finger Brook was so flushed from heavy flows that cobblestones from the bed of the brook were forced out into the river. The February 5th, 1980, issue of the Maine Sunday Telegram recounted the testimony of Robert Jalbert, a guide for 45 years, before the legislature’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee: “Stream and brooks leading into the pristine Allagash Wilderness Waterway have been ruined by development of logging roads and temporary facilities,” he told the committee. In that same article, Jalbert was quoted as saying that the river was flowing so brown, it was hard to find enough clean water to cook food. www.MaineSportsman.com

To understand causes of sedimentation flows, each spring AWW Rangers were trained by staff of Department of Environmental Protection, and enforcement coordinators of the Land Use Regulation Commission, on zoning laws, setbacks, road construction and harvesting regulations. Also addressed were the required sizes of buffer strips along brooks that ensured the shaded watersheds were protected. For more information about riparian zones in Maine’s unorganized territory, see information found on Maine’s Land Use Permitting Agency website, maine. gov/dacf/lupc/plans_maps_data/index. shtml For a while, landowners and logging operators became sensitive to environmental concerns, and they worked with rangers. In some instances, foresters would inform us of a land use violation, and ensure that the situation was being resolved. Goals Lost Today? According to Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation Director Don Hudson, the AWWF funded a three-year cold-water fisheries study of the 500-foot AWW Restricted Zone.1 The report concluded, “Summer water temperatures in the Allagash River

DACF Zoning Map T14R12.

exceed the lethal limits for brook trout, documenting a need for cold water refugia. Several tributaries are contributing critical thermal refuge to the Allagash River, some of which are vulnerable to warming and land use practices. This data represents baseline thermal conditions with implications for cold-water biota in the face of a warming climate. The relevance of this work, and its implications on the ecological, cultural, and intrinsic value of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway’s resources, especially its native brook trout, cannot be understated.” To answer my question posed in the title to this column: No, brook trout cannot sweat to cool off. Nor can they live in hot water. To recover inhabitable waters, no-cut buffers should be expanded along streams and rivers, and cutting practices should be closely monitored by Allagash Rangers. Unless such actions are taken, Maine’s native brook trout will leave their natural habitat and spawning grounds along the Allagash, to seek an area where they can survive. For the full Allagash Wilderness Foundation report, see www.awwf.org/ wp-content/uploads/2024/01/AWWF_ Report_Final_2023_FROST.pdf 1

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 45

Surrounded By Off-Road Bike Trails I’m not one of the 140 bicyclists who were involved in crashes with motor vehicles last year in Maine. But I had some close calls, and I expect that most cyclists who regularly ride on roadways have their own stories to tell. I’ve become more cautious about road-biking in recent years as the numbers of pedestrian and cyclist fatalities have risen. At one time, I trained annually for the Maine Cancer Society’s 160-mile Trek Across Maine tour each spring. Back then I gave little thought to riding along with traffic on busy roadways. The tour itself was safe enough – no motorist could ignore the presence of 1,500 brightly-clad riders on rural roadways as we pedaled west to east across the state. But training through the spring

The author needs to train for a bike tour, but he wants to stay off the busy roads and their oftendistracted drivers. Here, he provides an excellent summary of several of Maine’s off-road trails that are available for cyclists.

This photo shows the bridge across Temple Stream, along the Whistlestop Trail in Farmington. Ross Donihue photo

months was a solo endeavor, and often the only clean pavement with a consistent breakdown lane was found on busy Routes 2 & 4 near Farmington. Tractor-trailer trucks, speeding cars, winding

curves – what could possibly go wrong? Plenty could, and plenty did – I had close calls with increasing frequency over those years. Safety seriously declined as smartphones became more

Here’s a portion of the Whistlestop Trail in Jay. Photo by the author

common and more all-consuming. I’m a slow learner – but age brings caution if not wisdom. Bike Tour Calls Again I thought my bike touring days were

pretty much over until I learned about the Cycle the Eerie Canal Bike Tour in upstate New York. So, this month, I’ll be riding almost 200 miles over 4 days along what was once a mule path adjacent to one of America’s greatest 19th-century infrastructure projects. The pathway is mostly paved these days and is one of the northeast’s longest recreational off-road trails. The tour is hosted by the non-profit New York Parks & Trails organization. I registered online, and gulped twice before I hit the send button last winter. But how to train without becoming roadkill? Local Delights Fortunately, as I and other cyclists have gradually retreated from the roadways, (Self-Propelled Sportsman continued on page 48)

The Kennebec River Rail Trail, with Augusta’s Memorial Bridge in the background. Photo by the author www.MaineSportsman.com

46 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

How to Create (a) Full Outdoors Calendar(s) As the page turned to another month, my schedule looked awfully full. That’s a good thing, because it includes an assortment of outdoor excursions designed to rock the calendar. I guess they call it a “hack” today, but I’ve got a great tip for trip planning. I have four calendars scattered around our home. I’ll mark out the dates for a fishing trip on one. A second calendar, not too close to the first one, might have some dates reserved for camping in Baxter State Park. Keep at least one, if not two, calendars in the basement. Once again, keep them far enough apart so a person’s eyes can’t see both at the same time. Mark out the larger trips on the more re-

Your outdoor trips won’t look so numerous on the household calendar, if you put different trips on different calendars!

Spending time planning out a calendar of outdoor events is the first step in creating lifelong memories. Here, the author and his daughter, Hannah, set out on a idyllic kayak tour. The author built both kayaks, along with two Greenland paddles. Bill Sheldon photo

mote basement calendars. The key is to mark only one trip on each calendar. When I talk to Mrs. Sheldon about vacation days, I pull out the correct calendar. One lonely trip on a big empty calendar

looks reasonable. A few days before each trip, I pull out the appropriate calendar, and review with my spouse. I find in the early stages of planning, this works like a charm. By the end of the month,

questions concerning excess days afield simply revert back to the pre-approval process. Any questions that come up when it’s time to leave get swiftly addressed. “Honey, we talked about this months

ago,” I’ll report, as I grab the “correct” calendar. “See, remember?” as I point out the clearly-marked dates I’ve gotten a few stares, but Mrs. Sheldon always nods in agreement. I’m sure she knows. She just lets me think I’m smart. That’s okay, too. Kayak 2.0 With the recent completion of my wooden kayak, there are a few days marked on the calendar for parting water in Katahdin Country. As readers know, I kayak with my daughter, Hannah. Last summer we kayaked Lake Matagamon. We’ve actually logged several trips on this majestic body of water. We thought we would tackle the Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes. This includes Ambajejus, Pemadumcook, North and South Twin, and Elbow Lakes. To my point, that’s a lot of water to cover, and way too much to put on any one calendar. That one will have to get “scheduled” as four separate excursions over two months of summer. Trips with Hannah go on the upstairs calendar. As much as I like to fish when I go with Hannah, I strictly tour. If I try casting (Continued on page 48)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 47

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Katahdin Country (Continued from page 46)

a line at every piece of good-looking water, we’d never get anywhere. Touring is touring, and fishing is fishing. They have two different paces, and are best put on different calendars. Penobscot Smallies July’s calendar, usually the one in the basement, deserves to have some time blocked out for fishing the West Branch Penobscot River between Medway and Bangor. This iconic river offers fast fishing for these hard-charging smallmouth bass. Smallmouth bass on a six-weight fly rod rate as an absolute blast. River bass spend their entire lives swimming in current. Fighting the current makes them strong. They also seem to know how to use the river current to their advantage. I’ve heard them called “poor man’s salmon.” Expect lots of action. Not all the bass

will stretch the ruler, but even the runts put a healthy bend in the rod. Favorite tactics include attaching black wooly buggers or poppers to the business end of a fly rod. Ultra light spincast outfits do a fantastic job bringing bronze-backs to hand. A simple assortment of small spinners, like the classic Mepps or Red Devil, rate as a good, inexpensive place to start. Experiencing the rush of a bass blasting a popper off the surface promises to make a bass fisherman out of even the most die-hard trout bum. Poppers work well with both fly rods and ultra-light spinning tackle. A casting bubble helps deliver fly-sized poppers with spin cast equipment. Baxter State Park An absolute must on any calendar this month includes some serious time reserved for exploring Baxter

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State Park. While the park does a great job of accommodating day visitors, nothing beats spending a few nights camped out in a leanto built from logs. The park has canoes, available for a small fee, located at some of the remote hike-in ponds. Fishermen looking for native brook trout need

to spend the night at one of the backcountry ponds in order to take advantage of the legendary evening hatch and the morning’s first light. Something that doesn’t show up on the calendar, perking cowboy coffee over an open campfire, fits right into daybreak activities. I now have a small two-

Self-Propelled Sportsman (Continued from page 46)

Maine has developed a robust offroad trail system of its own. What was once a rarity in Maine, has become almost commonplace. I rarely start my training rides from the end of my driveway anymore. But I make one exception to quickly reach auto and truckfree riding. The trailhead for the four-season multi-use Whistle Stop Trail is a half-mile from my door. This 14-mile gravel path along the abandoned Maine Central RR railbed connects Farmington to Wilton and Jay. The trail isn’t paved, and the surface can be soft when ATV use is heaviest. I switch to a mountain bike under these conditions on any trail shared with ATVs and UTVs. Even a portion of this twenty-eight mile round trip is a hearty helping of a training ride. ATV use is low during early mornings and most weekdays. Soft surface conditions make it slower but also more strenuous – mimicking hill climbs on this otherwise railroad-flat pathway. For real trail climbs, this trail connects with the single-track mountain bike trails at Titcomb Mountain Ski area in Farmington. Narrow Gauge Days Less than an hour northward is another rail-trail; this one is non-motorized. The Narrow Gauge Pathway follows the railbed of the long-abandoned narrow-gauge railway that served northern Franklin County for many years. A 6.5-mile section of the railway bed, first developed in 1900, runs

cup coffee pot in which I perk some homeground coffee beans. Check with the Baxter State Park website for park rules and reservation information. Here’s to hoping your calendars are full this month.

along the Carrabassett River between the Carrabassett Town office and Bigelow Station. One hundred years later, the Town of Carrabassett, in coordination with the state, created this non-motorized trail for bikers, hikers, skiers and snowshoers. A big plus is that this gently sloped rail-trail provides offroad connections to the extensive mountain-bike trail system with the trailhead at Sugarloaf Outdoor Center and the Maine Huts and Trails off-road hike/bike/ski trail system. That’s more than 100 miles of additional off-road, non-motorized trail accessible from this rail-trail. A More Civilized Ride When I want to train on an actual paved trail, like the conditions I’ll find in New York, I head south to the Kennebec River Rail Trail that runs from Augusta to Gardiner on its 13.5-mile route. I recently heard the splash of a jumping sturgeon while training on this trail; I got just a quick glance at the pre-historic monster as it slipped back beneath the surface. On parts of this trail, near the river’s edge, it’s difficult to believe that busy Route 201 is only a short distance away. The paving is excellent, and it is all off-road except for one short section in downtown Hallowell. A heart-pounding 13mile round trip does wonders for the training schedule. For details on all these trails, go online to MaineTrailFinder. com. If I’m out of shape when I get to Buffalo, NY this month to start the Erie Canal Tour, it will be my own fault.

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 49

Save a Small Boat – Rescue a Good Time! “That’s way too quiet,” said a fellow boater. A nice complement from any vessel, but given that the speaker was sitting in the rear of a two-person canoe as we went by, it was a tribute to the stealthy quietness of a fourstroke engine. My old trusty “Green Lady,” a stately 12 feet long, putt-putted up the south shore of Lake George in Canaan. Those late 1960s aluminum boats sported a narrow beam, and cut through the water similar to a large freighter-style canoe. Old aluminum hulls with tightened up rivets suit me just fine. Paired with a modern 4-stroke engine, the boat moves effortlessly through the water. Many moons ago

With the two of us and some fishing gear, the Green Lady had my GPS speed-measurer flickering between nine and 10 miles per hour.

Small boats are magical, says the author, whether you prefer a traditional riveted aluminum 12-foot boat powered by a quiet four-cycle outboard, or an ultra-modern specialized kayak propelled by an electric motor that’s energized by a lightweight lithium battery.

Electric trolling motors excel at propelling small watercraft through Jackman Region waterways. Modern, lightweight lithium batteries provide plenty of power and longevity for extended touring. The small craft movement has picked up steam with the advanced battery technology available today. Perry Correll photo

Tom Seymour, Maine Sportsman columnist and author of several

books, took the little boat fishing on the Sebasticook River. Just

north of Pittsfield, the river widens out and forms Douglas Pond.

Electric Motors and Lithium Batteries For ponds where gas motors aren’t allowed, an entry-level electric trolling motor puts out enough power for a morning of fishing. Technology has come to the rescue of skeptics who don’t buy into power-supply longevity. Enter a brand-new lithium battery. Because I use my trolling motor on various boats, I decided to go for light. My new LiPo battery weighs exactly half the weight of my old lead acid unit. (Continued on next page)

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50 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Jackman Region (Continued from page 49)

Not only does it weigh significantly less, but it lasts a heck of a lot longer. Of course, similar to lightweight camping gear, that convenience comes with a price. After buying that light, long-lasting battery, my wallet needed recharging. However, since my sore back was not stressed when moving the battery from boat to boat, I quickly forgot about the steep price tag. And modern wonders never cease. I purchased a battery box that displays the battery power and has a couple of auxil-

iary power ports. This allows me to spend a day on the water without the dreaded dead phone syndrome. And the handles on the side of the box make transport even easier. Messing about in small boats with minimal power provides astute outdoorsy types with an up-close, real-time nature connection. The self-propelled crowd have mastered this age-old reality. Native American Roots Native Americans navigated Maine’s waters searching for food in birch bark canoes. Today fiberglass, Kev-

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lar and plastic-hull crafts part water with the stroke of a paddle. Quiet, yet efficient. What’s to say those first Americans didn’t take those hand-crafted classics out for spin just to soak it all in? My own roots go back to the romance of a wood boat. I grew up spending idyllic days in an 18-foot Thompson wood boat. In later years, I built a McKenzie River drift boat and two wooden kayaks. All three made the “Launchings” column in Wooden Boat magazine. For all the banging around in different boats, I probably spent the most time in my father’s old 10-foot aluminum Jon boat. He took my brother and me fishing a couple of times a week from early spring to ice forming. In the 1970s, it was an inexpensive way to spend a Friday night with his kids. By the early 1980s, he purchased an electric outboard from a company called Minn

Kota. That little motor coupled with a heavy 12-volt battery pushed our small boat loaded with his now-adult boys all around small ponds loaded with fish. Fishing/Cruising Kayaks Those simple boats provided plenty of safe enjoyment for years. Today, anglers have discovered a fascination with fishing kayaks. Kayaks set up specifically for fishing can easily do crossover duty for just plain messing about in boats. Some utilize conventional paddle power. Next-level fishing kayaks use pedal power. This gives anglers the advantage of hands-free propulsion. It wasn’t long before some genius decided to market kayaks with built-in electric motors. I have a friend who fishes the coastline in one of these units. He swears by his boat and raves about the long life of his small, lightweight lithium bat-

tery. These boats easily do double duty for the person who wants to spend sunsets on one of the region’s postcard waters. It’s all about slow and quiet. Select any lake or pond, and launch as the sun starts to tickle the top of the tree line. As the sun starts picking its way through the foliage, wildlife activity heats up. On more than one occasion, I’ve observed moose splashing in the shallows, beavers swimming about, and loons bobbing along. One memorable night, a loon swam directly under my buddy’s 14foot aluminum boat. Those birds look absolutely HUGE underwater. As I travel around Maine, I see way too many boats languishing on lawns and in backyards everywhere. It’s time to rescue one, so you can start messing about in Jackman’s many waters.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 51

“But I Was Aiming Right At It” The online definition of buck fever reads as follows: “An acute extreme excitation of the nervous system in inexperienced hunters when game appears.” Part of this – the “extreme excitation” part – is correct. However, the “inexperienced” part is pure malarkey, for this reason – lifetime hunters can get buck fever just as badly as people who have never hunted before. Research-Proven Buck fever has been scientifically measured. In the early 2000s, one of the fish and game departments in the Midwest attached heart monitors to a group of hunters and turned them loose on a preserve that was home to monster whitetails. When one of these giants appeared, the average heart rate leapt, in only a few seconds, from 70 beats per minute to 140. According to the Wilderness Medical Society, a similar study performed in 2016 showed that of 19 deer hunters tested, 15 got buck fever, which it defined as “acute extreme excitation.” Short-Circuit Buck fever means that everything short-circuits, most especially that part of your nervous system that controls your ability to aim. Buck fever is highly unpredictable.

Do you think buck fever affects only beginner hunters? Well, think again!

If you don’t experience at least some symptoms of buck fever when you encounter a huge deer, says the author, then you’ve got no business being in the woods. Photo credit: Pixabay

I know of a Texas hunter who stood up to a Cape buffalo charge and didn’t pull a deep breath, but when he was confronted with a bugled-in bull elk, screaming and growling, he burst into tears and dropped his rifle. Attacks of buck fever have varying outcomes. Some people freeze on the trigger and are unable to shoot. Some fumble with the gun. They forget the safety is on, don’t know whether there’s a round in the chamber, or cycle the magazine empty but forget to pull the trigger. Or they do shoot, and miss outright, or they hit and wound. Almost always, these are easy shots at can’tmiss range, and what you hear afterward is, “But I was aiming right at him.”

Before we get into cures for this malady, I should remind you that if you don’t feel anything when a really big deer approaches, you have no business in the woods and should be buying your meat at the supermarket. Hunting should provide an excitement that is not available elsewhere, and if it’s just time in the woods for you, why bother? How to Prevent Buck Fever Let’s start with this homily: “Amateurs work at something until they get pretty good at it. Professionals work at something until they’re incapable of making a mistake.” If your shooting is limited to the half-box of ammo you use once a year to sight in, you’re an amateur.

See that your gun works, and works every time. This would seem to be a no-brainer, but over the years I’ve seen lots of them – old, new, and in between – that didn’t. Shoot in competition. Plinking in a sandpit is fun, but useless. What you need is shooting under pressure, because buck fever is pressure. Learn how to function in the face of public humiliation. Trap is the best thing I know of, because it’s fast-paced, and if you come apart, you’re really going to come apart. Bear Fever Here’s my favorite buck fever story. In 1952, Field & Stream’s Shooting Editor, Warren Page, was asked by the Peabody Natural History Museum at

Yale University if he could collect a specimen of the Alaska glacier bear, an exceedingly rare (the last one taken by a hunter at that point had been in 1905) variant of the black bear. Sure, said Page, and set out with his guide, Ralph Young, to do so. The odds were all against them, but find one they did, and Page got the chance to take a shot. The bear was steeply uphill, running from right to left. Page was squeezed down into a half-steady prone position. Calmly, he made the near-impossible shot, and the beast cartwheeled down the mountainside past the two men. Page spoke not a word, and reached in his parka for a pack of cigarettes. Finally, his guide broke the silence, asking incredulously, “Don’t you have any nerves at all?” Page still said nothing, but he held up his two hands, which were shaking so hard he couldn’t light his smoke. It was buck fever, but the deferred sort, which is the kind you want if you’re going to get it. Warren Page, I should add, shot all the time, and shot in competition every chance he got.

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52 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

I Think They Will Come This Way It was the fall of 1971, and the opening day of firearms season was upon us – always an exciting time and full of anticipation for hunters as well as wardens. Back in the day, it was a time when all the wardens were expected to put forth every ounce of energy they could possibly muster. That meant working to combat illegal pre-season hunting all Friday night, and staying at work all the next day and often into that evening. Come Sunday, you wouldn’t have much left in the tank, but the old-time supervisors put a lot of stock in apprehending Sunday hunters, especially in the north country. Roland and I Make a Plan Two camps were located at Weeksboro siding, along the Bangor & Aroostook railroad tracks in Dudley TWP. For undisclosable reasons, one of these camps had appeared on our radar screen as a likely operational headquarters for several hunters who were inclined to hunt on Sundays. Equipped with this intelligence, Warden Roland Pelletier and I designed a foolproof plan that would require us to be in position well before daylight at a proper location to apprehend the hunters on Sunday morning. www.MaineSportsman.com

Shortly after daybreak, the author and another warden were roused by the sound and vibration of a diesel locomotive passing closely by their position. Photo credit: John Mueller

First, we would try to get a little sleep Saturday night, and I would meet him at his house Sunday morning at 2:00 a.m. (good luck, with a new baby in our house). At any rate, that would give us two hours to get back into the Howe Brook, St. Croix Lake area, and to head down the tracks to Weeksboro siding by 4:00 a.m. Getting in Place With a few supplies in a pack basket, we struck out in Roland’s Dodge truck for Smyrna Center, where we hooked up with the Kennedy Tote Road, which more recently has been re-named The Duck Pond Road. We took our time travelling up past Duck Pond, then the turn-off road to Cut Pond and on to Howe Brook Village. Howe Brook had

four residents, and two were Mr. & Mrs. Shaw. Mrs. Shaw was my deer-tagging agent, and I had brought a pack of hunting law books for her, as I had forgotten them the last time I was in. I placed them in their mailbox next to the tracks, along with a note. I told Roland that it was too bad it wasn’t daytime, as Mrs. Shaw always had a piece of pie for me. Leaving the Shaw residence, we proceeded to a road on the easterly side of Smith Brook that would lead us towards Weeksboro. We could only drive part of the way, where we found a spot to stash Roland’s truck, out of sight. From there, we went on foot, and we did find two other vehicles that had been left at the end of the road.

Arriving at the railroad tracks, we picked out a spot on the west side of the tracks, up on a bank where we could have a good view of the hunting camp in question. The information we had was that the guys always walked up the tracks to Smith Brook, and then cut off westerly towards Weeksboro Ridge. I put my faith in Roland, as he stated, “I think they will come this way.” Waiting As we settled in, there was not yet any sign of life at the camp, but it was still early. It was after 5:00 a.m. when a light came on, and some activity could be observed. We could tell by the smell of smoke that the wood stove had been stoked up, and I was immediately jealous of the people in there who

were next to a warm stove. Before long, the light went out, and everything went all quiet. It stayed that way until after daylight, whereupon a man came outside, split up a little wood, and went back inside carrying an armload. After that, things went silent again. We waited and waited, but nobody seemed all that anxious to go hunting. The sun began to peek up over the trees, and that was a blessing to our cold bodies. A Dark Spell Takes Over The combination of the warming sun and our overly-fatigued conditions got the best of us. We lapsed into an unconscious state, dead to the world. I really don’t know how long we were “out,” but at some point I felt the ground vibrating, along with a rumbling sound. I sat up, just as a diesel locomotive was passing by, with the engineer waving at us. Subsequently, Roland came around, and he also sat up. Without a doubt, things had not gone as planned, and as I came to my senses, I asked Roland, “Do you think they came this way?” Roland didn’t answer; he only said, “Let’s go boil a kettle, make some coffee, and eat some hot dogs.” We did that. – The End –

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 53

Paddling in a Storm The forecast looked fine when you checked it this morning, but you see dark anvil-shaped clouds, hear thunder, and feel strong gusts of wind while you’re in the middle of a lake. You know you should get off the water, but what if it’s too late? Here are some storm safety tips if you’re caught in a storm while canoeing or kayaking. Prevent the Situation Being struck by lightning is rare, but extremely dangerous. One in 1,000 boats get struck by lightning every year, according to BoatU.S. Before you head out, double check the local forecast, and if it’s calling for thunderstorms, postpone your trip. Most thunderstorms take place in the afternoon, so plan to have your paddling complete by lunchtime. Learn and master proper canoe strokes before your trip, and always wear your PFD. At the First Signs of a Storm As soon as you hear thunder – or see dark, anvil-shaped clouds – head for shore. From there, you can assess the direction of the storm, and determine if you’re in danger. If you see lightning, count the seconds between it and the sound of the thunder. Divide this number by 5 to

If you take enough paddling trips, sooner or later you will find yourself in a sudden wind storm, or even in a thunderstorm. The author sets forth a plan of action, including preparing yourself, as well as the steps you can take to reduce risk if you encounter dangerous weather.

get the approximate number of miles away the storm is, but realize that lighting can strike as far as 15 miles away from the storm’s center. Once On Shore Leave your watercraft and gear on the shore, and get away from the shoreline. The best place to take refuge is in a building, and the second best is a vehicle. If neither of these are options, find a low-lying area without tall trees and large boulders. Remove your PFD and sit or crouch on it, with your hands on your knees and your head tucked. If you’re in a group, separate from each other to minimize the number of people who are injured if lightning strikes. Thirty minutes after the last clap of thunder, it’s considered safe to go back onto the water.

If You Can’t Get to Shore If the storm catches you while you’re still on the water, stay about 100 feet from any other watercraft. This way, if one of you gets struck, you won’t all be affected, but you’re close enough to render aid quickly. Since lightning strikes the highest point, in a canoe or kayak it will likely be a fishing rod or the tallest person. Lay fishing rods down, and remove your paddle from the water and lay it flat, too. Don’t get in the water. Water is an excellent conductor of electricity. Remove metal jewelry, drop anchor if you have one, and get low in the center of the craft. Don’t lie down – you want the least amount of your body touching your watercraft as possible. If you have an extra PFD or

inflatable cushion, sit on that. What About Wind and Waves? If you feel the wind pick up or it starts raining, but there are no other signs of a thunderstorm, head closer to shore so you can get to safety quickly if the storm worsens. Avoid being parallel to high

waves, but instead paddle at a 45-degree angle. This may mean zig-zagging instead of paddling a straight line. Keep your weight low and centered, and your hips loose. If you’re in a canoe, get off the seat and get into a kneeling position. Stow gear so your vessel is properly trimmed, such that neither your bow nor stern ride high out of the water. Keep your paddle in the water, as that provides more stability. If waves begin crashing over the bow or pushing in over the stern, it’s time to get to shore. Ideally you should take out in a sheltered area, such as the lee side of a point, not a shore battered with waves. As you approach shore, beware of boulders and fallen trees. (Maine Sportswoman continued on page 55)

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54 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Effective Insect Deterrents for the Deep Woods Face it – clouds of biting insects can ruin an offroad camping, hunting or fishing trip. Here are some ideas on how to combat the blood-thirsty horde. I pulled into a remote campsite in the North Maine Woods (NMW) and proceeded to set up camp. I had a moose hunting client with a permit for Wildlife Management District 5 (WMD5) in late September that year, so I planned on getting a little scouting in and some fishing. I knew the bugs might be bad because of the waterfront

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campsite, but never expected it to be excessively buggy in late July. It always seemed to me that most black flies disappeared in June, and all you had to deal with were mosquitoes at that point. Well, the mosquitoes were as terrible as I’ve ever seen them that July. By the time I was done setting up camp, it was all I could do to

zip up the tent door, slap the biting insect that slipped into the tent, and watch as the rest of the bloodthirsty bugs swirled around like a dark and hungry cloud outside the little tent. I lathered on another layer of bug dope, and headed out the door of the tent to get a fire going in the fire pit. By the time I got a decent fire going,

Biting insects are repelled by a smoky fire.

the bugs had found out how to get around the bug dope and chew on my eye lids, under my collar, and all over anywhere I missed applying the toxic bug repellent. Smudge Pit I got to thinking, between slapping at

the crafty bugs, “I need something more than bug dope if I want to enjoy this evening by the pond.” These bugs were taking the fun right out of my time in the north woods. As one after another mosquito drilled for blood, I remembered (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 55 (Continued from page 54)

skinning several bear one year at a camp in the Allagash. The bugs were so bad that one of the old guides said, “We need a smudge pit to drive these dang insects back a bit.” He had us drag a few 55-gallon barrels upwind of our bear skinning operation, and get a good fire going in the bottom of each one. Then he proceeded to drop evergreen boughs into the fire in the barrels, and to the delight of the rest of the skinning crew, huge clouds of smoke wafted throughout the area and actually did drive the clouds of bugs back into the woods. For the next few hours of skinning, we would occasionally have to refill the barrels with a few evergreen branches to keep the bugs at bay. The old guide’s trick worked perfectly, and we finished the bear skinning job insect-free – even the non-biting flies stayed away! Modern “Smudge” Another episode in the outdoors found me wanting a “magic” insect deterrent like the smudge pit mentioned above.

A friend of mine walked ahead of me on a path to a pond way back in the woods. He wanted to show me the location for a possible campsite later in the year. As we approached the water’s edge, a huge cloud of biting insects surrounded our location. I thought insects might be a problem, so I had packed a small insect-repelling “Thermacell” (thermacell. com) device on my belt. My friend laughed when I pulled out the cell-phone-sized unit and turned it on. He stopped laughing as the cloud of bugs immediately dispersed from about a ten-foot circle around our position on the shore. I knew the Thermacell unit would work because I had experience with them in the past. Several bear hunts, turkey hunts, and fishing trips were saved by the insect-repelling device – they really work! As long as there isn’t a big breeze blowing, this hightech unit works great. I even have a larger unit for the back porch that’s effective in keeping the bugs off from us while we enjoy the open porch all spring and summer. Keeping biting

insects from ruining what should be a good time in the woods while off-road camping can be difficult. I’ve tried everything, believe me … from bug nets to cigar smoke, to all kinds of chemical repellents. I own a full body suit mesh that stops the biting critters, I use it for keeping biting insects off me while sitting in a turkey or bear stand. Ticks I will say one word when it comes to ticks, and that is “Permethrin.” This product is toxic, but if used properly it repels disease-carrying ticks. Several companies sell the product … I get mine in a spray form, and follow the directions closely. I hang the clothing outdoors, out of the reach of children and pets, and spray the Permethrin on socks, pant legs, shirt collars, bandanas, hats, dog vests, and dog collars. I make sure to avoid spraying the product on anything the dogs or kids might chew on. Once dried, the product kills any ticks that come in contact with it. I hate ticks, and this stuff works.

Trophy Gallery

Wild Turkeys – We Grow ‘Em Big in Maine

Harold Hatch of Penobscot, Maine was hunting in Blue Hill on May 4, 2024 when he called this 20-lb., 12-oz. tom turkey into range using a slate and glass call. The bird’s spurs averaged more than 1 inch long, and the tom sported an 11inch beard.

Maine Sportswoman (Continued from page 53)

Equipment Paddlers should always wear a personal flotation device and have bailers in their watercraft. An emergency kit should include items such as: • Emergency blanket for each person • Waterproof fire starter • Satellite phone • Whistle • First Aid Kit • Signal Mirror On-the-water safety begins on shore with planning and mastering paddle strokes. Thunderstorms usually pass quickly, and sitting them out on shore is always preferable to riding them out on the water.

James Haynes of Phillips joined The Maine Sportsman’s Turkey Hunters Patch Club with this massive 27-lb., 6 oz. tom turkey. James was hunting in Strong on May 4, 2024. The big bird had 1-1/4-inch spurs, and an 8-1/2 inch beard. www.MaineSportsman.com

56 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Lake Trolling Brings Great Results in July I love ice-out trolling with streamers and wobbling spoons, and fall fishing excites me, but for overall enjoyment on the water, coupled with great fishing, give me July. A typical July day’s trolling on one of the Moosehead Region’s large lakes begins with little zephyrs of mist swirling over the placid surface. As morning mist dissipates, a gentle breeze may kick in by midmorning, followed by stiffer winds in the afternoon. Boaters must pack a warm jacket in preparation for the afternoon winds. Of course, a perfectly calm day throughout is possible, but more often or not, plan on some afternoon winds. The best trolling depths also vary according to time of day. In the morning, fish may hover in the 35- to 40-foot range, but by afternoon, especially

The author shares the secrets of successful fishing for trout, salmon and togue in and around Moosehead Lake, and also bemoans the introduction of smallmouth bass (which seem to be coexisting with the lake’s traditional game fish) and white perch, which can grow to three pounds. if hot weather has prevailed for some time, coldwater game fish will hit the 50- to 55foot levels, and sometimes even deeper. So you see, everything about a day on the lake is predicated upon conditions at the moment. Savvy anglers need to anticipate and embrace these changes. Even trolling speeds may need to change during your time on the water. I’m all for slow trolling, but sometimes the slow troller sees little action, while those going a bit faster hook more fish. Trolling Thrills I liken the flag on an ice-fishing trap popping up, to a rod in a downrigger popping

up when a fish strikes and releases the line clip. That one moment, short and sweet, gives rise to a wide range of emotions. What might this be? Trout? Salmon? Togue? Is it the lunker I’ve waited so long for? These and other thoughts cascade through the angler’s mind while reeling in the slack line and waiting for the hookup. When you hook a fish and begin to reel it in, it’s often difficult to determine if it is large, small, or somewhere in between. Togue, for instance, fight harder than many give them credit for. An 18-inch togue can masquerade as a much larger specimen. We never know until the moment when we slip the net under the fish and swing it into the boat. The Moosehead

Region contains many large coldwater lakes, with excellent fisheries for trout, salmon and togue. Tactics used on one will serve for any of the others. So on to Moosehead Lake, the crown jewel of Maine’s coldwater lakes. With a lake as massive as Moosehead, it takes some years to become truly familiar with its intricacies. But knowing the basics of trolling, anyone – even on a first visit – can experience a fulfilling day taking togue and salmon. Also, the possibility of hooking one of the big lake’s massive brook trout always lurks just around the corner. Mixed Bag Moosehead Lake has made its name for itself over the years by producing togue, brook trout, and salm-

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on. Thus, a mixed bag of coldwater game fish was always an exciting possibility. But now, by virtue of criminal actions – that is, illegal stocking of spiny-rayed invasive species – a mixed bag may also include both smallmouth bass and white perch. Smallmouth bass showed up not many years ago in Lily Bay, where they have now successfully established themselves. Subsequently, anglers began taking bass in Moose River, on the other side of the lake, and then in the Rockwood section of the lake. However, smallmouth bass haven’t negatively affected togue or salmon populations, to my knowledge. And while I’m told that some brook trout spawning areas near Lily Bay see fewer trout, Moosehead Lake’s brook trout have nonetheless experienced a surge in numbers, especially of trophy-sized fish of 4 pounds and over. Other lakes can produce brook trout of this size, but not on a regular basis. For that, you would need to visit some of Canada’s famed trout lakes. Hopefully, smallmouth bass will coexist with the lakes (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 57 (Continued from page 56)

game fish. Part of this may be because smallmouth bass do not live in the extreme deep, cold water that coldwater game fish inhabit in summer. White perch, however, may be a different story. White perch happily swim in 50-foot depths and unfortunately, in summer, schools of smelt also inhabit deep water. That means perch predation on smelt may at some point become a factor. Currently, white perch in Moosehead Lake don’t make their presence known with any regularity.

When you find them, they make for an interesting experience, since these outsized perch (it is Moosehead Lake, after all) run up to 3 pounds. A white perch of 3 pounds can pull a 3-pound togue backwards. As long as the perch population remains spotty, they probably won’t do much harm, and in fact can offer an excellent bycatch for those who enjoy their spirited fight and extremely flavorful fillets. Visit the Moosehead Region this July and get in on the fun.

Even in July, cool temperatures can warrant bringing a jacket when trolling in an open boat. Photo provided by the author

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58 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

The Mackerel Are In Some time in early July, the word gets out that the mackerel are in. Besides mackerel, striped bass and harbor pollock are in, too. Squid are also a possibility. Saltwater fishing, either from floats, docks, piers, or boats, heats up now. Midcoast Maine, on Penobscot Bay, holds lots of seasonal fish species, and come the warm days of July, Mainers head out to catch a “mess of mackerel.” This time-honored tradition continues to hold its share of adherents, but as anglers buy larger boats, many turn their efforts to larger game, notably stripers. For me, the simple draw of the first meal of mackerel of the season is impossible to ignore. As my grandparents did, I eagerly anticipate a meal of mackerel, along with some of the first garden vegetables of the season, and in July, that’s entirely possible. In years past, living in the Belfast area, I would head to Belfast Bay, but nowadays, recreational boaters

July signals a seafood smorgasbord along Maine’s Midcoast, with harbor pollock, striped bass, squid, and Tom’s favorite – Atlantic mackerel. The author even lets you in on his mackerel grilling recipe! by and large rule the water, and there is no place left to fish off the shoreline. But Lincolnville, Rockport and Rockland all offered, and still do, places to catch mackerel and other saltwater species from shore. Sometimes these places see large numbers of anglers, and when the run is at its height, a festive atmosphere prevails. Northern Bay My new home in Frankfort brings me closer to the northern reaches of Penobscot Bay, so I do not frequent such mackerel-fishing destinations as the Fisherman’s Pier at Fort Point State Park in Stockton Springs and the pier at Searsport. Fishing at these places seldom produces the fast action seen at the more southerly locations, but then again, the lack of crowds makes up for that. Fort Point State Park, in particular,

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A Maine squid, solidly hooked on a bristly squid jig. Tom Seymour photo

continues to hold my attention. Vistas there are worth the visit. From one point by the bell tower, visitors have an open view down the bay to the south, as well as a view of the West Penobscot shoreline in Hancock County to the west, and the mouth of the Penobscot River to the north. The Fisherman’s Pier extends far out in Fort Point Cove, not far from the northern tip of the peninsula. Schools of mackerel swim in and out, as do harbor pollock. I hit the mackerel halfway through an incoming tide. My usual practice is to use two rods, one with a bit of shrimp that’s allowed to drift with the current, the other with a small Diamond-style

jig for casting. I have never filled a 5-gallon pail from this spot, but then again, I’m happy with a half-dozen for the grill. Butterflied, with freshly ground pepper, some fresh dill leaf and a squirt of lemon, the Atlantic mackerel becomes a gourmet treat. As for pollock, my best luck comes at low tide. For some reason, pollock become more active at this time, and you can take quite a few of them in a short time. Striped bass do come along the pier, but most anglers choose the sand spit at the northern tip of the park. Here, swift currents converge, bringing baitfish in, along with predatory striped bass. Beware of wading here, because of the dangerous rip tide. Better to stand on shore and make long casts. Searsport Pier Fishing from the Searsport Public Pier puts you out in the open part of the bay, providing a better opportunity to load up on mackerel. People fish here at night for stripers, using mackerel as bait, and on years when they come into the bay in numbers, squid regularly wrap

their tentacles around specially designed squid jigs, available at most tackle stores. For me, mackerel stand as my chosen species, and sometimes huge schools of mackerel swarm around the pier. Or not. Mackerel are as capricious as the March wind, and some years see great fishing, while other times it’s only so-so. But even during so-so times, you can usually take at least some mackerel on each tide. Lots of people use Christmas tree rigs, consisting of 4 or 5 mackerel flies tied in on a stout line, with a mackerel jig on the bottom. These certainly help you load up on fish, but I find it more enjoyable to use a light rod and either a jig or a bit of shrimp, and take one fish at a time. That way, the fish fights harder. Some people come to Searsport strictly for the squid, and often they do well. There is a caveat regarding squid. Remember that when pulled out of the water, a squid will eject its black “ink,” and anything the stuff gets on may become permanently stained. So allow the squid to squirt its ink over the water, not the pier. No matter where you head this July, if you hit a moving tide, you should come home with some fish.

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 59

Maine is So Big My father-in-law had a talent for inventing words. He kept his kids and his friends amused by the quirky terms he made up. When Jean and I were dating, he called us “snuggawumps.” We asked him, “What on earth are snuggawumps?” He said, “Two larkusses in a boat,” and that’s all the explanation we ever got. But he’s not the only one to make up words. The author John Koenig is another person who invents words. His book is “The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows.” Koenig recognizes that English is deficient in words that express deep meanings and philosophical concepts, so he invents the missing words. The one I’m thinking of is “onism.” The definition is: The Awareness of How Little of the World You’ll Experience in your Lifetime. That’s kind of a sobering thought, if you think about it much. Off the Rails? Okay, by now you’re wondering if Randall has gone completely off the rails. But you see, I thought of this word when we were staffing the Maine Sportsman booth at the State of Maine Sportsman Show on April 19 - 21. We had a great deal of fun meeting many, many families – men, women and kids who love the outdoors. Everyone had so much to talk about and so many stories to tell. I loved listening to them. These folks were totally committed to hunting and fishing and camping and everything else that might pertain to the Maine woods. Upta Camp As I listened to their stories, I kept remembering that new word, “onism” – because I realized all these people are having adventures in parts of Maine I’ve never seen. This was especially true when we got talking about camps. Every outdoor family in Maine has a camp – somewhere. I think that’s a fact. If it isn’t, it should be. When they told me where their camps were, I was embarrassed because I often didn’t know that part of Maine. They talked about ponds and lakes and streams and places I’d never heard of. Likewise, I’d tell them about our log cabin on Spectacle Pond, and they’d look inquisitively at me and ask, “Where’s that?”

To fully enjoy our state, is it necessary to visit every camp, lake and stream? Or should we be content with what we have and where we are? The author contemplates these weighty matters at his camp in the evenings, sitting on his porch enjoying a brown ale and looking across the Spectacle Pond.

To get an idea of how many places in our state you haven’t yet seen, review all 70 pages of maps in your DeLorme Maine Atlas and Gazetteer. Randy Randall photo

It turns out there’s more than one Spectacle Pond in this state. Where in Maine? I was thrilled to hear about all these remote places, and I tried to store away the names so I could look them up later in my Maine Atlas and Gazetteer. Places like Aziscohos, C-Pond, Bowerbank, Kennebago, Pleasant Pond, Onawa and Dyer Township, to name only a few. People talked about the Allagash, the St. Croix, and the Machias Rivers. I have been to some of those places – camping, canoeing or fishing – but there are many more spots I’ve never seen, and I’ve lived here all my life. We are blessed to live here in Maine,

where there is more forested land than in any other state, and where lakes and rivers abound. Not to mention our convoluted seacoast, which goes on forever. I would love to see all the places those folks told me about. In my head I could hear the Maine comedian Bob Marley inviting us all to come “upta camp.” And then that idea of “onism” hits home, and you realize there’s just you, and unless you are flying for the Warden Service, there’s a whole lot of Maine you are probably not going to see. Real Estate Dreams I’m a sucker for the real-estate ads in the back of the Maine Sportsman and online. Nowadays, brokers make videos of the cabins and cottages, and fly drones over the rivers and lakes, showing you the property from all angles. I think to myself, “What a beautiful place. I could live there.” But it’s a long way from Kittery to Fort Kent, and there are thousands of lakes and streams in between. Maine’s a big state. I admit there are many sportsmen and women who have been all over Maine. They travel extensively, maybe because of their job, or perhaps they take the RV out every weekend, visiting sporting camps, fairs, state parks, outdoor gatherings, off-shore islands, remote bear sites, hidden trout ponds and moose hunting zones. They get around. I met some of these people, and marveled at all the places they have been. I envy them. But as you grow older, traveling long distances isn’t as much fun anymore. Going to the camp is a day’s journey, so you stay for a few days. When it’s evening and you sit on the porch enjoying a brown ale and look out over the lake, you might decide Koenig and his new word “onism” isn’t really needed. Maybe it’s not necessary to go everywhere and see everything. Maybe it’s enough to be content with what you have, and to be where you are. What does it matter that you won’t be able to visit every camp or lake or stream? There are untold beautiful places all over Maine, and being in one of them is enough. I think. Life is good.

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60 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Trap Placement in Farmlands, Forests and Wetlands Having trapped for 70 years, I have learned a little of trapping’s mysteries. It all started here in Maine when I was growing up, and off and on during a Navy career. After I returned home, I trapped extensively for 25 years. This included trapping coyotes for a number of years in the deer yards along the Dead River for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. In Maine, there are three basic types of areas or terrain in which to trap. They are farmland, forest, and wetlands, with each requiring a different approach. Farmland Depending on the type of farm you are accessing, the land may have field and woodlot edges, farm roads between fields, tree lines, streams or drainage ditches, and fence lines. All of these provide wildlife funnels and pathways. This is an advantage for the trapper, as furbearers – like people – normally take the path of least resistance.

Trapping on farmland requires an understanding of the travel patterns of furbearers, including where they pass from one field to another. All photos by author

Canines follow the edges, and usually pass from field to field by using the farm access roads. The flat harvested ground or hay fields allow the trapper to create or use natural points of interest. Canines are drawn to things that stand out and grab their attention. These are the places where you want to make your sets. Scents and bait draw furbearers to the trap set. Large clumps of sod, hay, stumps, or old fences post all serve the purpose. These are good places to use dirt hole sets, scent post sets, or flat sets. Any drainage ditch or stream will be a focal point for the trapping of available raccoon, mink, muskrat, otter, or beaver. Old unused farm buildings are good places to trap raccoon, opossum, and skunk. In fact, these species of furbearers may show up anyplace. They will www.MaineSportsman.com

After trappers gain a certain level of experience, says the author, they will intuitively understand the terrain and they’ll know where to place blind, scented or baited sets that will prove productive. surely get caught in your canine sets, since they are drawn to the scents and bait. Wetlands The streams, ponds, swamps and bogs are the places where you seek muskrat, mink, beaver and otter. Muskrat and beaver are normally located by their houses or underwater dens, while mink and otter are the wanderers. Feed piles and toilets are specific places to look for and set up for muskrat. Beaver houses and feed piles are more obvious, and serve the same purpose. Trappers need to look for otter toilets and crossovers on bends in streams, or where two bodies of water are close to each other. Blind sets in pinch points in small streams are good locations. Baited and scented sets along the shorelines of ponds and where streams enter or exit, are good sites, as the otter is a traveler. The same applies for mink – just on a smaller scale.

In wetland areas, abandoned beaver dams are used as cross-over points by many animals, making them idea trap sites.

Mink can be located by their tracks in sand, and points where they enter or exit the water are key locations for blind sets. Baited sets with fresh fish or a chunk of muskrat also work well for mink. Any baited set with fish or flesh is also going to be visited by any raccoon

that comes along. If you want to avoid incidentals like raccoon, blind sets work well for both otter and mink, plus you have fewer items to weigh you down. Forest We are fortunate in Maine to have extensive forestlands to trap, especially in the northern half of the state. The forest is the primary trapping grounds for those seeking bobcat, fisher and marten. Many coyotes are present, and the State of Maine contracts a limited number of trappers to work the deer yards to help protect deer in their wintering areas. Coyotes are taken along logging roads and edges of clearcuts.

Maine’s forests yield bobcat, fisher and martin. Increases in numbers may lead to removal of current limits on fisher and martin.

Fisher and marten prices are currently rising, and that will draw more trappers into the state’s northern forestlands. The fisher and bobcat are both available statewide, while the marten is located in the more heavily-forested northern half of the state. Many trappers seek fisher and marten during the trappers’ holidays or vacation time away from their jobs. Those who live close to or in the northern areas or who are retired, can work these areas at their leisure. The law requiring exclusion devices has reduced the take of both fisher and marten, so a trapper with limited time must put out an increased number of traps to have a chance to take a limit of either one. These are the only two furbearers that have an annual limit. The population of both species has increased to the point it is expected that in the next few years, the limits will be lifted. Other Things to Consider Active or abandoned beaver dams are magnets for many furbearers. They use them to cross over water, while many seek prey in and around the aban(Trapping continued on page 62)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 61

Fish Deep or Shallow for Lakers in July By using rods set for different depths, anglers can cover the water column and improve their chances of encountering lunker togue and salmon. And don’t forget to listen carefully if someone with local knowledge drops a hint or two about where and at what depths the fish are holding. It was an early July morning. I was at my home on the shores of Sebago Lake, waiting for the arrival of some new clients – a family of four who were staying at Point Sebago Resort. They wanted to try some trolling. I enjoyed the orange sunrise from my deck, drinking a cup of coffee in my Registered Maine Guide mug. We guides are superstitious, so my morning ritual involves a cup of coffee in that specific mug, in the hopes of ensuring a productive day for my clients. Mom and Dad, and boys Josh and Ben, showed up at my place, and we headed down the dock to my boat. The boys were excited about fishing, so after a quick safety briefing, we were off. We headed up to the outlet of the Songo River, where the baitfish were congregating. I set my boat to follow the 60-foot contour, setting out two fly rods with sinking line, tipped with large shiners. Despite warm July water temperatures, the lakers were chasing the bait balls of alewives up close to the surface, and I’d been picking up fish on the fly line all summer long. Nothing beats

a heavy laker on a fly rod! Next, I set my downrigger rods just off bottom, so between the two sets of rods, I had the water column covered. Things were slow at first, but finally a downrigger rod “popped,” and we had a fish on. Ben reeled in a 17-incher, our first fish of the day. Big Laker We trolled by the buoys coming out of the Songo, and the port fly rod started screaming. This time it was Josh’s turn. It took him some time to get accustomed to the small handle of the fly reel, but soon he was making progress with what looked like a hefty laker. When Josh had the fish close to the boat, it dove down and start-

ed the patented lake trout head nod, pounding the rod down. I had the net ready, but this fish was not having any part of it. Brother Ben was watching intently. Finally, I was able to scoop the net under the fish and bring it to the boat. A hefty lake trout, about 4 pounds, was in the boat, and Josh was ecstatic. We measured the big fish – 25 inches – and I showed the boys how we release a laker after a struggle. We managed to dredge up a few more lakers and a salmon before the trip was over. The boys had such a good time that their mom booked another trip this year! Good Intel It used to be that (Continued on next page)

Brothers Josh (left) and Ben Johnson admire the whopper laker that Josh dredged up while fishing with the author on Sebago Lake last July. Photo by Tom Roth

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62 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Trophy Gallery

Maine is Producing Some Decent-Size Largemouth Bass

John Trant of Tewksbury, MA was fishing at Salmon Lake in Belgrade in May of 2024 when he landed this massive largemouth bass. Trant was a guest at Whisperwood Lodge and Cottages, which are managed by Cam and Renee McCafferty.

Sebago to Auburn (Continued from page 61)

lake trout angling in July meant fishing on bottom and bottom only. Salmon fishing was spotty, as the fish were suspended. As of late, the alewives – and this year, the smelt – are hanging up higher in the water, drawing the fish. I am fortunate to be able to spend a fair amount of time on the lake, so I have a good idea where the fish are. But I am also very lucky to be friends with good guides, and

we share fishing information amongst each other. Instead of being stingy with the info, we share it freely, supporting the fishery, the clients and each other. That week, Guide CJ Harmon of Burnt Meadow Guide Service told me he’d been catching fish in 60 feet of water off the Songo River. His intel paid off, and I made some great memories for a family visiting the area. This is what it’s all about.

Trapping (Continued from page 60)

doned beaver houses and dams. Many furbearers cross over higher country through-passes between hills and mountains. Dispersal locations of furbearers are good areas to increase your take of nonresident ones. Beaver and coyotes are two animals www.MaineSportsman.com

Best Bait Last year, we also learned that big shiners worked best as bait. I postulate that the alewives have a deep belly, and that a shiner more closely mimics the alewife than does a smelt. I bought dozens of large to extra-large shiners, and froze them or used them fresh. They caught a great number of large lakers, so my hypothesis worked. I netted fish from five to eight pounds for clients, and experienced many days catching ten or more fish per trip. Lures also work

Harvey Wheeler of Cumberland Foreside, Maine earned his Maine Sportsman “Catch and Release Club” patch for this 7.8-lb., 22-inch largemouth. Wheeler was fishing with a jig on April 19, 2024 at Moose Pond in Bridgton. Congratulations!

well for July lake trout. Northeast Troller copper/nickel spoons are my go-to lure, and I often put a wobbler about two feet in front of the lure to give it more action. Bottom-draggers love the Flatfish for lakers this month, too. I run the big Flatfish, either in orange, or my favorite – the frog pattern. I remove the middle hook and leave the tail hook, as that’s all you need. Fish sandy spots, like the Camel Pasture or the north end of Frye Island. Fasten the Flatfish to your lead-core rod, and let

that are commonly taken during the annual dispersal of the young. Making trap sets in areas on pure faith that look promising is hard to do at first, but over time you will establish these key locations. Good dispersal areas will out-produce regular locations over time, because you take not only the resident furbearers, but also those passing through. Pay attention to the prevailing winds, and use them to your ad-

out the line until you feel it dig into the sand. Reel in just a bit until the lure digs in occasionally. Now sit back, hold the rod, and brace yourself! July angling typically means going deep, but follow the bait and the advice from local anglers. Set a deep rig, but also run a fly rod or lead core up higher in the water. This way, you can cover all the possibilities, thereby increasing your chances on some great of Sebago’s lake trout and salmon.

vantage in spreading the odor of scent or bait in the direction of a furbearers’ approach. This is especially useful in canine trapping. Setting more than one trap in good locations is called gang-setting, and it may produce several furbearers per trap-check. A double on coyotes or foxes is exciting, and tells you that what you are doing is right.

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 63

Public Lands Open for Summer Use Most towns have public lands that are open for recreation, including in some instances, hunting and fishing. And then there are larger contiguous parcels – Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). The author believes the Vernon S. Walker WMA – a massive 5,600-acre land mass in Limerick, Newfield and Shapleigh – offers the most diverse landscape in Southern Maine. There are more outdoor activities available to Maine sporting folks other than fishing and hunting. Consider, for example, hiking, biking, ATV-riding, and camping. These adventures are great ways to spend time with family members, and they also help to fill the void between hunting seasons. Southern Maine has lots of public land available, and most of it is never used, other than during hunting and fishing seasons. Many of these public lands are town-owned properties, taken for unpaid property taxes. Others are town forests, with hiking trails, and they feature convenient parking lots. These parcels are easy to locate by accessing town tax and GSI maps that are often available on town websites. Shapleigh, for example, offers Town Farm Forest, featuring miles of trails, with maps at the trailheads. Acton, Waterboro and Alfred also have many public lands available for outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing. Actually, most

all Southern Maine towns have these types of lands open for public use – although some municipalities own more land than others. Other Options This region has large tracts of land placed in “land trusts,” and these lands are available for public recreation, including (in many instances) hunting and fishing. Most have hiking trails with parking, and signs and arrows to guide folks throughout the properties. Land trust properties are managed for conservation, recreation and education, and their stewardship means these lands will not be developed in the future. Recently, a large section of land that I often hunt and fish near my home was placed in a land trust managed by “Three Rivers Land Trust.” Their home office is in Alfred. I was happy to see that they had dedicated this area as a land trust – placing it in a trust prevents it from development or becoming a sand pit. That’s good news – one of my favorite forests

will remain that way. Many of my hunting areas have become housing developments or – even worse – sand pits over the years, and it will only get more crowded as folks from other parts of the U.S. move here to escape wildfires, floods and tornados. They realize what we already know – that New England states are great places to live. Land trusts and other public lands will protect a least some wild areas from development. WMAs Luckily, outdoor enthusiasts in Southern Maine have a few “Wildlife Management Areas” (WMAs) to hunt, hike and fish on. Two that I spend a lot of time in are located in Shapleigh and Newfield. They are in the heart of this region, and they’re easy to access. The Vernon S Walker WMA consists of mountainous terrain, but also brooks and marshes, and even a few ponds that hold trout. Davis Brook and Spicer Pond both offer good brook trout fishing. In my opinion, this WMA offers the most

The “Mousam Way Trail” in Springvale follows along the Mousam River. The area offers good hiking, swimming and fishing. Worm-dunking plunge pools along the river near “Indian’s Last Leap” produces trout, which migrate there during mid-summer heat. Val Marquez photo

diverse landscape in Southern Maine. The WMA has ATV trails that lead into remote sections, and they also connect with other trail networks in the area. ATVs are a delicate subject in Southern Maine. ATV enthusiasts should follow all rules and read all signs posted along trails – also, join an ATV club. For a list of ATV clubs in the area, check ATV Maine’s web page (ATVMaine. org). Mousam Way Trail If you’re looking for a different family adventure combined with fishing, then consider the Mousam Way Trail. The trail is located in Springvale, and it runs north along the Mousam River. I feel the section from the Springvale Recreation Area north to the Back Road at Butlers Corner, offers the best hiking and fishing options. The recreation area offers a playground and swimming. The trail that runs north is marked with green dots, and it’s rugged in spots.

Following along the trail, you come to “Indian’s Last Leap,” a popular swimming hole. From there, the river winds through rocky ledges that form plunge-pools – these are where trout hang out, escaping from summer heat. These are classic worm-dunking pools, because the terrain makes it difficult to cast lures. Using the “depth-charge” methods will work great in these deep pools. You will need to add nonlead sinkers to your line, then drop the baited hook and sinker from the ledges into the pool. When your bait reaches the proper depth in the water column, and if the trout are hungry, you will hook a colorful trout – kids love this type of fishing. Traditional fly anglers may clear their throats and shake their heads in disapproval, but worm-dunking works for the rest of us – and keeping a few for the pan is okay, too.

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64 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Fly Fishing Rangeley’s Cool, Moving Waters in July Early July provides anglers with a perfect time to be on the water … aquatic insects are hatching like crazy, and water temperatures usually remain cool enough to keep fish actively feeding. Some July days, especially later in the month, have high midday temperatures that shut down fishing on still waters. If anglers stick to fishing ponds early morning and late evening, good fishing can last until the end of the month. When the ponds get too hot for productive fishing, I like to fish in the running waters. Rivers and small brooks that are shaded offer cooler and more oxygenated water for

“Mending” a fly line means lifting it from the water in order to reposition the line upstream from the fly. Hungry trout want to see a fly coming at them, not a length of heavy line. But there’s another way of mending, says the author, in which you don’t even wait for your line to hit the water. the fish – a healthier aquatic environment where fish can escape high water temperatures. Bug activity on these moving waters remains at a peak during July, just like the ponds, so get ready for some wild fishing action. The Mend Cast Fly fishing anglers really need to know how to mend a line to present a dry fly during a hatch on moving water.

Years ago, a young up-and-coming guide watched me try to catch a huge brook trout that was consistently rising out in the middle of some fast-moving water. I was having trouble preventing my fly from presenting an unnatural drag, because when I laid my line out, there were several differing current speeds that twisted and turned my line. By the time the floating fly reached the area

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where the fat fish was feeding, it was dragging so much that the big brookie would not hit it. This young guide showed me a casting technique that I had never seen before. He told me to cast as usual, and when the rod got to the ten o’clock position and I was ready to lay the line down, he instructed me to simply perform a mend upstream, before the line hit the water. Most folks cast a line out and then mend it after the line hits the water. This smart young guide showed me how to mend it before it hit the water, getting the fly well ahead of the line as it moved through the swift and varied current.

I practiced this mending cast on a different section of the river, and then moved back into position to see if I could catch the big feeding brookie. On the first cast, the huge brookie inhaled the drag-free fly so fast I almost missed the hit. When it came to the net, I couldn’t give the excited guide enough high fives and hugs. Another way to get the line upstream from the fly is to use a reach cast. When the fly hits the water, the angler lets loose of the line with the non-casting hand and lays the rod quickly upstream. This brings the line upstream and slack, allowing the fly to drift drag-free. Swinging Flies Sometimes anglers can use the current to their advantage by allowing it to drag their fly across the surface of the stream or river. Caddis flies come to the surface and skitter across the water, (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 65 (Continued from page 64)

so this kind of drag looks natural, and the technique can cause a smashing strike. When fishing streamers and other bait fish imitations, the current can be used to present the fly as if it were swimming swiftly through the moving water. The current actually brings the fly to life, enticing a predatory trout or salmon to ferociously attack the offering. After swinging a fly in the current, I like to give the rod tip a little shake as I bring the fly back in. Try this, and watch as the fly flutters in the current like a fleeing bait fish. It just might be the little twitch that urges a big fish to come out from its hiding location and strike. Another helpful hint is to mend your

line upstream when nymphing, to get the line down deeper and to keep the fly ahead of the line. When done properly, mending a sinking fly can drive it deeper into a hole where the fish might be hiding. A proper mend will also hardly upset your strike indicator if you are using one while nymphing … sometimes, an angler must use multiple small mends to achieve a natural presentation. If a river or stream is deep enough, I’ll even throw a mend in while I’m swinging a streamer to get it deeper in the water column – usually as soon as it hits the water. This causes the fly to sink deeper, hopefully tempting a big fish to strike … something all anglers strive to achieve.

Fast water provides extra dissolved oxygen for fish during extremely warm weather. However, fly fishing moving water requires different techniques from those used when fishing the still waters of a pond. William Clunie photo

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Bird Dog Season Prep Starts Now Take steps during the summer months to keep your dogs in shape and fine-tune their hunting senses, all the while keeping it fun for the dogs – and for their owner! Most folks understand that bird dogs don’t just train themselves, and that the hunter doesn’t simply warm the dogs up a little before hunting season and then turn them loose. This method would not produce effective bird dogs. So, what does a bird dog owner do during the off season? Well, in between fishing trips and yard work, I train my dog in a very leisurely fashion … nothing hardcore or demanding. I do like to get my dogs out running, es-

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pecially after a long winter. Icy winter conditions can tear up a dog’s feet, so the dogs do a lot of couch-sitting during the winter months. And in the early springtime, heavy downpours and nesting game birds limit our running in the woods. So when July rolls around, it’s time for getting the dogs out more, but it’s not just about conditioning them to keep them in shape – I like to throw in a few games to keep them in the bird-hunting mode.

Fetch Probably the mostplayed game of all time is “fetch.” My wife and I constantly throw toys for the dogs in the house, then take it outside, and kick a ball around for them to retrieve, and sometimes toss a Frisbee to get the game more airborne. I like to make the fetch game a little more formal, incorporating a series of commands into the game so the process sinks into their heads. Before throwing anything out for them to

From left, Andro, Ginger and the author pose for a family portrait. William Clunie predicts that all three of them will be “ready to rock” when October’s upland game season arrives. Photo by the author

fetch, I call them to my left side and say, “Mark.” This gets the dogs used to visually seeing where the objects land, or at least the general direction. Then, I make the dogs wait for a varied amount of time before releasing them with the “Fetch” command. As soon as a dog has the object in their mouth, I say, “Good boy (or girl)” and then give the “Come” command to have them return to my left side. When I say “Drop,” they release the object into my hand. Most of the time they do pretty well. As soon as they don’t seem interested in fetching, I move onto something else. I want to keep it fun. Throughout the day, I am mixing a few commands in

with playtime. For instance, if the dogs are lying around in the back yard I will call them to me, praise them, and then have them “Heel” around the yard. I also have them “Whoa” three or four times a day, just to reinforce that command. When the dogs are under the “Whoa” command, I like to walk around them and provide a few distractions to solidify their position. If they take one step at all, I move in, lift them off their feet, and place them back where they started. I throw twigs to hit their tail end, shuffle my feet, bounce a ball, and do any number of things to try to break their attention. I’ve been doing this repeatedly, and they both (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 67 (Continued from page 66)

will now hold a very tight “Whoa” position. Real Birds At some point this summer, I’ll get the dogs on some real birds. This will provide them with the ultimate distraction. After they chase a bird that they bumped several times, they will understand that chasing is futile. They will learn that they have to sneak in and freeze, hear my “Whoa” command, and then when the bird flushes and a shot is fired, they are released to fetch the bird. This sounds easy on paper, but will take a few years to perfect. I did this with Ginger (five years old), and it only took two birds for her to understand. We’ll see about Andro (one year old) this summer … he’s very prey-driven. I like this extra drive, and I’ll work on gently controlling it this summer. I don’t want to quash the heavy drive in any way, but will carefully teach him to work for

me and not for himself. Even though it gets frustrating at times, I will always attempt to keep things positive and fun. I’ve noticed most bird dogs (especially Vizslas) require a gentle hand to get them on the right path. Rough treatment, even verbally, can turn a dog off. If the dogs start getting sloppy on commands and I feel myself getting impatient, I give them an easy command and heavily praise them – but I stop all training and go to some kind of play activity. I keep the training sessions at no more than ten minutes. I also like to have the dogs fetch a bumper (throwing dummy) that has scented feathers tied to it. I toss it into high grass or weeds, and have them find it with their noses rather than by sight. This keeps their amazing noses working all summer long, making them ready for action in the fall.

Trophy Gallery

We recently heard from Alex Kaiser, proud father of 5-year old Myles: “I’ve been bringing Myles fishing with me since he was 2 years old. He has learned to cast by himself, and he knows just where to cast! “On May 5th (his birthday), he caught and released this 20-inch landlocked salmon out of the Aroostook River where it runs through Ashland and Garland. He was using a handmade copper spinner with red beads. “When the big fish struck the lure, Myles exclaimed, ‘It’s a big one, Dad!’ My heart was pounding -- I was more excited than my son! It’s the largest salmon I’ve seen come out of the river. “A quick photo, and a perfect release, as the fish was still strong and swam away.”

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68 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Smartphone Trophy Photos Interfere with Traditional Storytelling Whoever said “a picture is worth a thousand words” never heard a good deer story. Many, perhaps all, of my favorite outdoor stories are ones in which I’ve never seen proof of their happenings. They don’t have photos or mounts that accompany them. Most were told to me by “old-timers” who really knew how to captivate their audience and spin a good yarn. Unfortunately, I think that the art of yarn-spinning may die with those “old-timers.” Who needs an opening hook, vivid details, and a crescendoing narrative, when you can flash some photos or high-definition videos, instead? Well, I for one, prefer the former. My senses have become so dull from a constant inundation of trophy grip-and-grins that I crave hearing a full story first-hand. I don’t care if I even see a photo of the end result. And if I do, I hope it comes well after hearing the tale, rather than seeing it before and having it spoil the suspense. Photos pale in comparison to the captivating cadence of a well-told critter chase or trout tug-of-war. You don’t get adrenaline by proxy through a mere photo. You get it from the trill in the teller’s voice as he recounts squeezing (or www.MaineSportsman.com

Don’t show him the photo, says the author – rather, tell him the story. A trophy buck’s magnificence, he says, should not be boiled down to simply a gripand-grin pixelated image on a screen.

There’s nothing quite like recounting the story of the hunt while admiring the results hanging from the deer pole. The pastime of swapping stories with campmates is one of the author’s favorite autumn activities. Photos courtesy of Brian Emerson

yanking) the trigger. You hear his quick breathing and see his hand tremors and think that they must match his mannerisms in that magnificent moment he is recounting. Spoiler Alert I’ve had pictures

spoil the fun of hearing stories. But much worse than that, I had pictures spoil the fun of telling stories. More times than I can count, I’ve had people start a conversation with me in the following manner: “Hi Ethan, I saw you got a nice buck up

to camp. Somebody sent me a picture of it. Congrats! Well, anyway .…” Or even worse, I’ve started to tell someone about my deer season and have the story of my buck locked and loaded, ready to go – and then the per-

son cuts me off to say, “Yeah, I already heard about it. So-and-so posted a bunch of pictures on Facebook. Picture of yours said it was an 8-point, 198 pounds. They said you got it with your .270 pump. Well, anyway ….” What an odd situation. Perhaps some of the Facebook Famous crowd would love to find out that others are buzzing about them and their photo is getting shared around. But I felt utterly deflated, even violated. What transpires in my outdoor pursuits is such a personal experience. It’s a drama, or – more accurately – an epic. It can’t be surmised by a couple of inconsequential details like a weight and number of points. And most importantly, it is my experience to share with whom I choose, and in the manner in which I choose. Course Correction Of course, I’ve been guilty of this same behavior in the past. I’ve shared photos and stats of deer and other game and fish. I’ve been making a concerted effort, though, to do less of that in the past couple of years, after having my own story-telling ambitions squelched. I stopped sharing photos of people I didn’t know, and I told others who were sending them to me that I (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 69 (Continued from page 68)

wasn’t interested in receiving those kinds of pictures anymore. I started asking permission to share the firsthand photos I receive – if I even feel compelled to share them at all. I’ve reduced the number of people with whom I swap photos or “hunting news.” Now, I’ve taken on the practice of caveating most news with “You’ll have to ask soand-so to tell you his deer story – it’s a good one!” Or if people ask me the stats or details on a friend’s kill, I’ll respond, “You’ll have to ask him. Here is his phone number if you want to call and congratulate him and hear the whole story.” When I run into someone who I’ve heard had some success, I don’t ask them

the stats. I say, with genuine curiosity, “Tell me all about it; what’s the story?” People light up at that. They want to tell it; they are just rarely asked anymore. Most important, I’ve been really cautious about who I share photos of my own game and fish with. I’m sure to the annoyance of my friends, I’ve repeatedly and explicitly requested that they don’t share my photos with others. It’s not that I’m trying to keep secrets. It’s that I really enjoy telling the whole tale. I feel that I owe the whole tale to those great hunters, woodsmen, and yarn-spinners before me. And, in a genuine and empathetic way, I feel I owe it to the animal whose life I took. The story of their magnificence shouldn’t be

The kitchen table at camp is the hub for yarn spinning. One can only imagine all the stories told around this one.

boiled down to just a couple of numbers and a grip-and-grin trophy photo. Whoever said “a picture is worth a thousand words” can keep their picture. Give me

the words. And give them to me in the eager, raspy voice of an old-timer who may not remember many things well – but who can recall with vivid clarity how the frosty

air glittered and the buck’s beam gleamed in the sunlight as the animal locked eyes with the hunter at twenty yards!

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70 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

Long Hikes As July opens, the Hex hatch is usually winding down and the water is heating up, so I tend to shift a bunch of my focus to fall preparation. Sure, I’ll hit some tailwater stretches periodically, but that fishing often starts to get technical, which isn’t my strong suit. I’d rather watch a take on top or feel a violent hit as I strip in a streamer. I’m fine with other people nymphing a run for hours while I go exploring, either to find some new country or to check on some familiar spots. I hesitate to call it scouting, because the green growth limits the degree of detail I can find compared with early spring or the fall, but I can get some good info on an area by cruising through. In VT, those cruises often take the form of a long hike. While I don’t love seeing an extensive network of trails through big, unbroken country, I do think a little path through the woods can be a nice way to get in there. In lots of spots, those trails and trailheads can be overcrowded, which is an issue that I won’t get into here too deeply, except to say that it’s a real problem in many of the high-tourist areas across Northern New England, New York’s Adirondack Park, and in many www.MaineSportsman.com

There’s nothing like a two-day, 25-mile midsummer hike up and across a New Hampshire ridge line to get the author in shape for guiding or hunting in the fall season.

Setting up new bivy sacks on a hike as a test for hunting season use. Photo provided by the author

other areas of the country. I also acknowledge that I’m part of that problem, as I plan our vacation to Yellowstone. I’m not sure if we can love a place to death, but it sometimes feels like we’re trying. The Long Trail Let’s start with Vermont’s Long Trail. To quote information available from the Green Mountain Club (GMC), “Ver-

mont’s Long Trail follows the main ridge of the Green Mountains from the Massachusetts-Vermont line to the Canadian border. Built between 1910 and 1930, it was the vision of James P. Taylor and later became the inspiration for the Appalachian Trail. The LT and AT share 100 miles of trail in the southern part of the state.” This 272-mile trail is the oldest continuous footpath in the

U.S., and has 166 miles of side trails, as well as 70 backcountry campsites. It is described by the GMC as being “perfect for day hikers, overnighters, and thru-hikers,” and I concur, for at least the first two. I regularly hit sections near me for day hikes or trail runs. My buddy Chad and I usually plan an overnighter or two in the summer as a good adventure. He has dreams of thru-hiking the LT

when his daughter is old enough and hopefully interested. I’d rather save my vacation time for fall hunting. Go Hike By July, I usually know if I’m headed to Colorado to hunt or to guide. In either case, I find hiking with a pack is great physical preparation for a Western hunting trip, and it gets a guy in great shape to chase bucks, too. Last year, Chad and I planned a 25mile hike up and over a long ridge, with an overnight that was about halfway through. I trained through spring and summer knowing that event was on the calendar with weekly hikes and runs, building up my legs. I did a little gym-based strengthening, but 3 sets of 10 doesn’t get you up the mountain very far. I loaded up my Exo Mountain Gear pack for our trek, carrying some old gear and some new stuff to test. With food and water, my pack weighed just over 30 pounds. I had my trusty trekking poles and UV water purifier, broken-in boots, and a small camp stove. We carried gorp (trail mix) and PB&J sandwiches, as well as some freeze-dried meals for dinner and breakfast. I’ve shifted to some higher-end instant coffee that works reason(Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 71 (Continued from page 70)

ably well. The main new thing I was testing was a bivy sack for sleeping, rather than a tent. Early Start We parked one vehicle at our destination in the first glimpses of daylight on a Saturday morning and headed around to the start, arriving there to find no one else departing with us from that trailhead. We shouldered our packs and eased into a ground-eating

pace, knowing we had to gain elevation to the ridgeline so we could cruise along the tops. The two-day hike unfolded without incident, with regular breaks for water, food, and views along the way. That night I unrolled my sleeping bag into the bivy sack and tried it out. It proved to be far better than the space blanket I slept in during a sideways moment on a CO elk hunt years ago. With no rain in the forecast, I was

able to sleep with the bivy fly open, covered just by the screen for bugs. As the sun set, our tired legs and full bellies sent us quickly to sleep, after we’d shared a few laughs about a previous hike where there were serious concerns about being stepped on by a moose. The celebratory beer when we finished may not have been part of the training plan, but it sure tasted delicious!

Trophy Gallery

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Doreen K. Brown of West Paris is an enthusiastic turkey hunter. On opening day of the 2024 spring season, hunting in her hometown, she used her new Remington 870 to drop this 21-lb. 10-oz. tom turkey. The big bird, which featured 1-inch spurs and a 10-inch beard, earned Doreen entry into the Maine Turkey Hunters Patch Club. The turkey was registered at DOE’s Inc., 183 Park Street in South Paris.

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Smilin’ Sportsman The secret to a happy marriage? Two times a week, we go to a nice restaurant, have a little beverage, good food and companionship. She goes on Tuesdays; I go on Fridays. — A man and a woman who had never met were forced to share a bunkhouse in a Maine sporting camp, with the man in the upper bunk and the woman in the lower. The woodstove went out at midnight, and the cabin got cold. The man leaned over the side of the bunk and said, “Excuse me – could you get me a blanket from the trunk by the door?” “I’ve got a better idea,” said the woman. “Just for tonight, let’s pretend we’re married.” “Wow,” said the man. “That’s a great idea!” “Good,” replied the woman. “Now go get your own damn blanket.” — There are two excellent theories for how a man can win an argument with a woman. Neither one works. — My wife accused me of being immature. I told her to get out of my fort. — Husband to wife: “If I die, I want you to promise me, in the funeral procession, you’ll let my mother ride in the first car with you.” Wife: “All right, but it will ruin my day.”

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 73

How Not to Starve in the Woods There are two things wrong with hiking in the wilderness: 1. Hiking 2. Wilderness The first of these is easily solved. Stay home. If you must move, do so in moderation. No specialized footwear. No backpack. No silly looking walking sticks. Just put on your slippers and move slowly from your recliner to the beer refrigerator and back. Try not to step on the dog. The second issue is more difficult. The wilderness (defined as any place without wi-fi, pot shops or political signs) lacks amenities. No restrooms. No fast-food restaurants. Not so much as a vending machine. The first of these omissions can be dealt with by going behind a bush, of which the average Maine wilderness has a plethora. The other two require planning ahead, an annoying intrusion on my innate laziness. Plan Ahead Before risking exposure to wilderness, it’s necessary to pack sufficient sustenance to negate the need for slipping into the first bar & grill you encounter on your hike for a quick pick-me-up, such as a club sandwich and a bourbon highball. Come to think of it, you should pack one of each before setting out. (Also, if you come across a bar & grill while hiking in the wilderness, you are not in the wilderness. Check your GPS coordinates.) But perhaps you’re a traditionalist. You carry nothing in your pack but energy bars, trail mix, bananas, peanut butter sandwiches and a flare gun, because you know you’re gonna need all those carbs (and rescuing) to survive in the wild. You aren’t the sort to worry about expiring from eating a boring diet. Nevertheless, you should consider these scientific facts: Energy bars are made from the residue of the Lego manufacturing process. They just add hay. Trail mix is the stuff they sweep off the floor at the energy bar factory. Bananas will produce fruit flies in your backpack. And peanut butter does not contain any actual butter. That’s just propaganda from the anti-cow lobby. Like oat milk.

You could eat roots and berries, or you could follow our columnist’s unorthodox advice.

The author and his wilderness hiking companions prepare another meager meal of energy bars, trail mix, bananas and peanut butter sandwiches.

Speaking of oat milk, another dreary thing you’ll have to drag along with you is some sort of restorative liquid, such as water, Gatorade, or tequila. Experts say that for every four hours of hiking, you’ll need at least a liter of beverage. More if you salt the rims of your margaritas. While you pause to hydrate, let’s consider some upgrades to your sad hiking menu. Food on the Go The easiest method for assuring yourself of tasty and nutritious meals while soaking up the glories of the great outdoors is to pre-order your food with DoorDash. Just have its couriers deliver your favorite restaurant dinners to selected sites along the trail, allowing you to offset whatever health benefits you obtained in somehow avoiding black flies and poison ivy. Scarf down some oysters, caviar, pigs in a blanket and bacon-wrapped scallops. It’ll be almost as if you never left the Old Port. If that somehow seems like cheat-

ing, consider that there are even more egregious methods of making your wilderness dining experience ritzier. Hire a hiking chef. This individual, part of a grand tradition dating back to the old camp cooks of western cattle drives, follows along behind you on a specially equipped ATV complete with gas grill, water tank and refrigerated compartment. When hunger compels you to pause, the chef springs into action, whipping up cocktails, steaks, salads, soups, and elaborate desserts that wouldn’t be out of place on the screened deck of some hoity-toity joint on the Kennebunkport waterfront. For a modest additional fee, you also get a white tablecloth, wine glasses and real silverware. Food from the Sky Yeah, I know, not all that rustic. You might be the sort who needs something that provides not only the mundaneness of nutrition but also the thrill of adventure. Got just the thing. Arrange to have your food parachuted from a plane. These sorts of air drops should fit right in with your desire to bushwhack through brambles and swamps to recover the precious packages. Imagine your excitement when, nearing exhaustion and starvation, you finally locate the bundle. You eagerly tear it open and spill out the contents: Energy bars. Trail mix. Bananas. Peanut butter sandwiches. Flare gun. Gooey GU There’s one last alternative to the dreadful state of woodland cuisine. According to online postings, runners use a substance that comes in small lightweight containers, provides a rapid energy boost, and is sold in flavors such as salted pineapple, caramel macchiato, and berry pomegranate chia. It’s called GU (pronounced “goo”). It seems like another excellent reason to stay home. Al Diamon writes the monthly column Politics & Other Mistakes for The Bollard magazine.

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74 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

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www.MaineSportsman.com EBEEMEE TWP – This furnished lakefront cabin nestled on 1.95acre lot on Russell Island provides access to all that Maine’s recreation has to offer. Electricity, gas appliances, and an incinerator toilet make this cabin comfortable and convenient. Enjoy swimming along the tranquil sandy beach in the front after taking a boat ride across the serene 905-acre Ebeemee Lake. Located roughly halfway between Milo and Millinocket. MLS #1583230 – $179,900 HARTLAND – Lakefront at its absolute finest with 200’ of pristine waterfrontage on Great Moose Lake. Convenient heat pump, a newer standing seam roof, and a recent concrete basement underneath the camp. For over two centuries now, Great Moose Lake or “Moose Pond’’ has been a popular destination for sportsmen and recreational tourists. Another 1.69-acre parcel across the street can be purchased. MLS# 1590839 – $374,000 ACTON – Business Opportunity! 44+/- acre parcel with several manmade ponds, gorgeous rock walls, and lots of wildlife throughout the property. Remodel the post and beam gambrel home into a clubhouse or leave as is and live and operate a business. Sellers willing to purchase and negotiate additional materials and equipment for the right offer. Verify permitted uses with the town of Acton zoning ordinance. See residential listing MLS#1592890. MLS# 1592882 – $2,200,000

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�� The Maine Sportsman • July 2024 • 75

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PARKERTOWN TWP – Three-season off-grid fishing/hunting camp on owned land with 100 ft. on Aziscohos Lake. Two bedrooms, knotty pine throughout, propane heater, gravity fed indoor toilet and sink, wired for generator, plus storage shed. Sold partly furnished. Wrap around deck overlooking the lake. *NOTE: Camp is located 15 miles out on dirt roads, alternative power needed, no cell service, not plowed, winter access by snowmobile. MLS #1592887 – $299,000 RANGELEY – Quiet subdivision off the beaten path! Walk to no-motors, fly fishing only Quimby Pond, snowmobile, snowshoe, X-C ski from your door, watch the local deer! Bring your building plans, this nicely wooded 1 acre lot has been surveyed, soils tested. Great 4-season location between Rangeley and Oquossoc. Come see what makes this area so special. Don’t miss out on this one, inquire today! MLS #1586097 – $78,000

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RANGELEY PLT – Fully year-round two bedroom cottage. Recent updates include new heat pump, gas fireplace, flooring, interior/exterior paint, appliances. Furniture is included in sale. Ideally located for 4-season recreation – snowmobile trail access from your door, minutes to Saddleback ski area, Rangeley/Oquossoc public boat ramps, and restaurants, shops. This new to market gem is sure to please – don’t miss out on this one, inquire today! MLS #1592423 – $299,000

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BINGHAM – Three season living, ATVing, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling. This property, located midway between Solon and Bingham on the Mahoney Hill Road, is unique. Its 8 acres of land is surrounded by hundreds of acres of Weyerhaeuser timberland. You’ll have all that land to hunt, fish, hike, and not have to worry about your next door neighbors. Road is approved for both ATV and snowmobile travel, and the property is accessible for three seasons by auto or ATV. Winter access is by snowmobile or a two mile snowshoe jaunt from the Brighton Road. The land is largely open and arable, and there are areas suitable for a large garden or your own personal food plot. Many deer and a number of moose have been harvested out of the camp, and deer are frequently seen grazing its fields. Nearby Fall Brook holds native brook trout, and offers a picnic area and deep water swimming just 100 yards up from the bridge. The place of your dreams for the right buyer! MLS #1592524 – $70,000

You’ve been successful at the hunt, now wear your pride by entering one of The Maine Sportsman’s exclusive patch clubs! To find a club and download an application, go to

www.mainesportsman.com/patch-clubs to download, print and mail your application with fee to: The Maine Sportsman, 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta, ME 04330 Don’t have a computer or printer? No problem! Give us a call at (207) 622-4242 and we’ll mail you an application.

SKOWHEGAN – Approximately 3 acres of wooded land with driveway in place. Power is available at the road. This location is on a paved, public road and is an easy drive to Skowhegan and surrounding area. This would be a great spot for your new home! MLS #1592172 – $39,900 NEWPORT – This 108-acre parcel of Maine woodland is located 3/4 of a mile down a private with deeded ROW. Lot is generallly flat and well-wooded. There are multiple year classes of timber with a mix of hardwood and softwood stands. Property also boasts over 4,000 feet of frontage on Stetson Stream. With an abundance of wildlife, water frontage, and a snowmobile trail that bisects the property, this parcel truly has something for everyone. MLS #1590402 – $150,000 HARMONY – 95 + acres on a town maintained road in Harmony. There is an entry onto the property already. This would be an exceptional spot to build you quiet camp or home with privacy galore. Land is surveyed and there is power already on site. MLS #1588527 – $175,000 SKOWHEGAN – Are you looking for some waterfront property on a budget? Or maybe a spot to tie up your boat, canoes, and kayaks for the summer? Here is a 1.5 acre parcel with long frontage on the Kennebec River. This lot is not buildable as the entire parcel is in the Resource Protection Zone. Enjoy miles of great recreation water from the Shawmut Dam to the Weston Dam in Skowhegan. This is the perfect launching point for boating, waterskiing, fishing, paddling, or just relaxing on the water. Call today for more information. MLS #1588068 – $15,000 RIPLEY – Three bedroom, two bathroom home nestled on 1.56 acres of land and sits with a beautiful 325 feet of water frontage on Ripley Pond. Home offers metal roofing, an on-demand generator, loads of windows for calming water views and a stunning master bedroom ensuite bathroom. Ripley pond offers relaxing sunset views, which you can enjoy from home in the 4-season sunroom. Loads of room for vehicles and toys in the 2 detached 2 car garages with heat! The snowmobile trail crosses a corner of the property and the Dexter and Cambridge ATV clubs offer trails in the area for your ATV riding. No trailering required for either: leave from your front Door! MLS #1589066 – $490,000 SOLON – Two bedroom, one bath mobile home on 8.7 acres offers a very private setting with plenty of parking and room to roam. This location is perfect for anyone that loves the outdoors with many lakes and streams in the area as well as the ATV and snowmobile trails. Enjoy this home as it is or stay in it while you build your new home or camp. There are three additional buildings on the property for all of your storage needs. MLS #1590928 – $129,900 CORNVILLE – Large lot on a paved, public maintained road with many possibilities. This lot contains a nice landing area with easy access right off Beckwith Road. There is power at the road and approximately 400 feet of frontage on Route 150. This is a great area for deer and other wildlife. This is a rural location, but it is only minutes to downtown Skowhegan. Currently in Tree Growth for tax purposes. MLS #1537634 – $88,000 7/24

Lincoln – This large lakeside home has an oversized garage, lawn to the lake and a paved driveway right on Mattanawcook Lake. Many mechanical updates completed, leaving cosmetics up to you to make your own. Come take a look today. $225,000

T5 R7 Wels – Gorgeous frontage. Wellbuilt 2 bedrooms with 3 full baths, a laundry, enclosed screen porch and open covered porch on Lower Shin Pond. Generated power and propane. $509,000

Danforth – Lot offers relaxing sunset’s views, has electricity available at the road and is level and well wooded right on Lower Hot Brook Lake. This is a beautiful, quiet part of northern Maine- ready for you. $99,000

Lincoln – This rolling lot with a driveway, gravel pad and firepit installed is the perfect place for camp, camper or home on Coffin Brook. Publicly maintained dirt road, electricity available. $47,500 T5 R7 Wels – Wonderful cold water lake with views across the entire water and of Mt. Katahdin. Nice frontage on Lower Shin Pond and year round access (privately plowed). $209,000 Lee – Year round road with electric available on Thomas Hill Road. Well wooded. Near ATV and snowsled trails, with dozens of lakes all within an hour’s drive and being a wonderful place for your getaway cabin, home or the RV. $20,900 T3R1 – Remote. Private. Wooded and beautiful. With deeded access to Bill Green Pond, this would be a wonderful place to build your seasonal cabin right off Engstrom Road. POSSIBLE OWNER FINANCING. The driveway is shared with lot 17 and is partially installed. $24,900

207-794-2460 • 1-800-675-2460 cwa@cwalakestreet.com R E A L

E S T A T E

5 Lake Street, P.O. Box 66 LINCOLN, ME

— Call any of our brokers to work for you! — “Tate” Aylward 207-794-2460 Peter Phinney (207) 794-5466 • Kirk Ritchie (207) 290-1554

Visit www.cwalakestreet.com for more listings! www.MaineSportsman.com

76 • July 2024 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————————

— THE MAINE SPORTSMAN —

FISHING CHARTER DIRECTORY BATH / BRUNSWICK / MID-COAST Captain Andrew Gibbs Striped Bass • Mackerel

Fishing Charters: 4 Hours $550 • 6 Hours $750 Ground Fishing 8 Hours $850 Puffin Tours $400

Bay & Lighthouse Tours $300

(207) 323-9713

www.marshriveroutfitters.com Stripers Bluefish 4 Hours $400 6 Hours $500 8 Hours $600

Kennebec River Casco Bay Tackle Provided Light Tackle Fly Rod

KENNEBUNKPORT/OGUNQUIT

DEEP SEAon FISHING

• Full & Half Day Fishing Trips

Captain Tim Tower

• Charters Also Available • Rods & Reels Provided

KEY:

207-646-2214

Perkins Cove • April 1–November 15th Daily For Info Write: Tim Tower, PO Box 837F, Ogunquit, ME 03907 www.bunnyclark.com • e-mail: bunnyclarkdsf@gmail.com

PORTLAND/SOUTH PORTLAND

GO FISH! CHARTERS

102 Rita Way, Brunswick, ME 04011

OBSESSION CHARTERS Light Tackle and Fly Fishing Lower Kennebec Area STRIPERS, BLUEFISH, & SMALLMOUTHS Departing from Downtown Bath

Full & Half Day Trips • Tackle Provided • Family Friendly Stripers and Bluefish • Light tackle sportfishing at its best! Capt. Ben Garfield: gofishben207@gmail.com

(207) 232-1678 • gofishmaine.com

Fishing year-round in Maine & Key West, Florida since 1996

Fishing Charters for Striped Bass, Mackerel & Shark

Capt. Dave Pecci

Credit Cards & Venmo Accepted

Orvis Guide of the Year Award Recipient Quality Fishing Experience Since 1991

Call or Text 207-841-1444 e-mail: obsessionscharters@gmail.com www.obsessioncharters.com

(207) 671-5995

foreriversportfishing@gmail.com

Penobscot Bay Outfitters

www.ForeRiverSportfishing.com

SACO BAY

Morning & Afternoon Trips for Striped Bass 4-6-8 Hour Trips • Shark Trips Available — Captain Todd Jackson —

Saco Bay, Maine • Capt. Robin Thayer, Master Maine Guide

Sea Ventures Charters

NOW FISHING YEAR ROUND Tuna Trips • Inshore Fishing • Full & Half Day Trips Fishing Out of Boothbay Harbor for Over 35 Years

Charger.Marine@yahoo.com • 207-380-4556

~ Captain Dave Sinclair ~

Custom Schedule, Personalized Charters Commercial Diving/Salvage • Recreational Dive Trips • Island Cruises Offshore & Inshore Fishing Sharks, Giant Bluefin Tuna, Mackerel, Halibut, Bottom Fishing

207-446-5484 • dave@divefishmaine.com Credit Cards Accepted

Fish the Kennebec River for Striped Bass, Bluefish, Mackerel Fish Offshore for Groundfish, TUNA, Shark Capt. Jordan Caron KEY:

(207) 380-2791

www.MaineSportsman.com

www.DiveFishMaine.com

KEY:

Book Your Chartered Fishing Trip Today! +

www.ReelAddictionFishingME.com

Wilson Harbor Lake Ontario, NY 270 Sea Ray Amberjack —

Captain Roger Young

USCG Lic. #811007 (860) 480-3395 papasmurffc@hotmail.com www.papasmurffishingcharter.com

KEY:

+ (UP TO 6)

Fishing April–September Out of Mexico Bay of Lake Ontario King & Coho Salmon Steelhead Trout Brown Trout • Lake Trout Smallmouth Bass — Captain Rich Nau — USCG Licensed

KEY: How Many Anglers Per Trip

1 or 2

Up to 4

Lake Ontario, NY Salmon • Brown Trout Steelhead Captain Bruce Mattison

802-558-9675

PORT CLYDE

Fishing is Our Main Business!

LAKE ONTARIO, NY

EAGLE CHARTERS SPORT FISHING

Charger Sportfishing

— Captain George Warren —

Wentworth Marina, Newcastle, NH • 603-205-5318 pawhelan@comcast.net • www.shoalsflyfishing.com

OSWEGO COUNTY, NY

(207) 322-7919 • www.Seaduck.net

WE FISH ON OUR DAYS OFF! KEY:

USCG Lisc. • Registered Maine Guide Striped Bass • Tuna • Bluefish 23 ft. Mako • Furuno Radar-GPS • Furuno Color Fish Finder Fly Casting Instruction • Family Trips Welcome

(315) 387-1000 • (203) 912-9915 www.PrayingMantisSportFishing.com

KEY:

BOOTHBAY HARBOR

Captain Peter A. Whelan

PULASKI, NY

Lighthouse & Harbor Tours Family-Friendly Trips 2-4-6-8-Hour Trips • Max 6 People Spring Point Marina, South Portland, ME

KEY:

SHOALS FLY FISHING & LIGHT TACKLE

SALMON & TROUT

Fishing the way it should be...FUN!

Captain John L. Nowinski 207-831-2922 • ncreek@comcast.net KEY:

YORK/KITTERY/PORTSMOUTH, NH

www.EagleChartersLLC.com

KEY:

Book Your Chartered Fishing Trip Today!