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

Sportsman The Maine

BIG WOODS BUCKS Page 53

March 2019 â&#x20AC;¢ $4.99

ICE FISHING HEATS UP Pages 30-38, 59-60, 65-66

The Poacher Who Came Back from the Dead Page 12

Columnists Go Hunting Page 61

Moving the Abol Trail Page 63

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Rideout’s Lodge Rideout’s Lodge, located on 22-mile-long East Grand Lake, has been operating for over 70 years. Their very long history has included notable customers such as L.L. Bean himself. From their humble beginnings in 1947, they’ve grown to 15 fully modern cabins, a renowned restaurant, a fleet of superior quality rental boats, and much more. Most importantly, Rideout’s has long been the standard for Maine fishing. Early season anglers arrive at ice-out to troll for salmon, and similar techniques often result in netting large togue and healthy brook trout. Later, the bass spawn arrives, during which an experienced pair of sports can net up to 100 bass per day! With their reliable, quality rental boats (16’ Lunds with Honda 4-stroke electric start motors), customers will have all they need for a successful and comfortable day on the lake. They also provide an orientation of the lake (with courtesy map) and the latest fishing re-

port, and they can set you up with the proper lures and gear through their on-site tackle shop. Many of their customers return every year – some for over 25 years! If preferred, customers are welcome to bring their own personal boats. These are secured on their 215’ long dock....one of the longest docks in northern Maine. Tucked into Davenport Cove, your boat will be safe and wind-protected even under the most adverse conditions. Rideout’s also has access to an excellent selection of registered Maine guides, and again this year they will be offering sports the traditional shore lunch option while being guided out of a Grand Lake canoe. They can easily accommodate large groups in their panoramic lake-front dining hall and conference room, where wi-fi is always available – the perfect choice for family reunions or corporate retreats. Most cabins have fully furnished kitchens

for a budget-minded “cook-your-own” option. For a more carefree stay, book their full service American Plan, where they provide all the meals and superb accommodations with room service. Summertime brings sunny days for family time on their sandy beach, swimming, dock fishing, kayaking, canoe trips or just relaxing on the porch. They offer discounted family vacations, delicious meals and an ideal location with easy access for touring outlying areas. Count on Rideout’s Lodge for an outstanding fishing and vacation experience. From their docking and rental boats to their accommodations and meals, customers want to book their next fishing trip, family vacation or corporate retreat there. To arrange a trip or for more information, call 1(800) 594-5391; visit their web site: www.rideouts.com; visit on Facebook at Rideouts Lakeside Lodge or email info@rideouts. com.

Libby Camps Libby Camps is located in the vast North Maine Woods region of Maine. They specialize in fly fishing for native brook trout and landlocked salmon in small ponds and rivers; wingshooting for ruffed grouse and woodcock, trophy big-game hunting for black bear, moose and whitetail deer, as well as catering to snowmobile riders in the winter months. Libby is an award winning Orvis-endorsed lodge in both fly fishing and wingshooting – the only lodge in the east that’s endorsed for both activities. This endorsement is maintained by combining world-class fishing and hunting and exceptional service. Libby Camps’ commitment to service and conservation has been recognized, with the

camp receiving the 2006-2007 Orvis Endorsed Lodge of the year, and the 2010 Maine Tourism Hall of Fame award. Libby has also been referenced in numerous books and magazine as one of the greatest fishing and hunting lodges in North America. Libby is unique in the Eastern U.S. in that it has two Cessna seaplanes on site to access remote regions as well as their ten outpost cabins. This allows sportsmen to fish for trophy native brook trout or hunt a much broader region than at a typical lodge. Libby has ten guest cabins spread out around the historic main lodge where everyone congregates for meals. Each cabin is rustic, but offers all modern conveniences. Heat

is provided by wood stoves; illumination is from propane lights; and each cabin has a full bathroom. Homemade quilts and Amishmade rocking chairs put the finishing touches on these century-old cabins. Libby has been known for generations for providing their guests with food that is second to none. The Libby girls’ homecooked breads, pies and treats have people coming back for more year after year. The Libbys pride themselves on creating a family atmosphere, and guests will feel like part of the family as soon as they walk through the door. Go to libbycamps.com or call Matt and Jess Libby at (207) 435-8274.

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4 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

— Guest Column —

by Jeff Reardon, Director Trout Unlimited’s Maine Brook Trout Project

Proposed Rule Would Protect Wild Brook Trout, Charr Waters In the February issue, Young Maine Sportsman columnist Luke Giampetruzzi previewed a proposed strategy from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to protect brook trout from potential impacts of live baitfish introductions, noting how well a similar approach has worked in Baxter State Park since it was implemented in the 1960s. On January 29th, the Department presented the proposed change to the Advisory Council for the first of three rulemaking steps. “This is a strategy to better protect wild brook trout in the northern zone, by discouraging introductions of fish that compete with our native trout,” said Fisheries Director Francis Brautigam. Proposed changes to fishing rules to implement the strategy will be posted for public hearings in late February or early March to give the public a chance to weigh in. Sometime this spring, Commissioner Judy Camuso will make the final decision about whether to adopt it as a final rule for 2020. The Department announced last October that it was “exploring strategies to maintain fishing opportunities and enhance protections for Maine’s wild brook trout populations” in northern Maine. More details came in two December meetings in Augusta and Ashland attended by about 70 anglers. The new concept would change “General Law” rules for the northern zone—Franklin, Somerset, Piscataquis, Aroostook and northern Oxford and Penobscot Counties. Currently, General Law allows the use of live fish as bait unless there is a more restrictive Special Rule — No Live Fish as Bait (NLFAB), Artificial Lures Only (ALO), or Fly Fishing Only (FFO). Under the new proposal, General Law would change to NLFAB for the northern zone. Dead fish, worms, and other bait would still be allowed, except where ALO or FFO rules are in place now. Some waters — those where ice fishing with live fish as bait is allowed today, and others where the Department determines there has been a tradition of fishing with live fish as bait — would be covered by a Special Rule specifying that live fish as bait are allowed. The goal is to protect the nation’s most important wild brook trout and landlocked Arctic charr populations from the impacts of accidental introductions of bait fish. As Francis Brautigam told the Advisory Council, “Brook trout evolved in lakes with very simple fish assemblages. They just don’t do well with other fish. Introduced fish are among our most significant threats as far as native fish are concerned.” The state’s Brook Trout Management Plan states that it has “long been the policy of fisheries biologists to recommend the imposition of regulations restricting the use of live fish as bait on newly-surveyed waters that have brook trout populations but few if any competing species.” The new strategy applies that to all waters, rather than listing them oneby-one in the rules, recognizing that most waters in northern Maine support wild brook trout. Fishing with worms or bait other than live fish would not be affected, and Special Rules will be proposed for ice fishing waters open to use of live bait. In addition to better protection for brook trout and charr, this should have the benefit of simplifying the rule book by eliminating all the existing special rules for No Live Fish as Bait. Watch for the rulemaking hearings in late winter or early spring.

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New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication Readership

Sportsman The Maine

ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 558 • www.mainesportsman.com PUBLISHER: Jon Lund MANAGING EDITOR: Will Lund will@mainesportsman.com OFFICE MANAGER: Linda Lapointe linda@mainesportsman.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kristina Roderick kristina@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nancy Carpenter nancy@mainesportsman.com Second class postage paid at Scarborough, ME 04074 and additional entry offices. All editorial inquiries should be emailed to will@mainesportsman.com Phone: 207-622-4242 Fax: 207-622-4255 Postmaster: Send address changes to: The Maine Sportsman, 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta, ME 04330 12-Month Subscription: $30 • 24-Month Subscription: $49

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Almanac by Will Lund........................................................ 12 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves......................... 34 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia...................... 38 Big Woods World by Jim Bernardin.................................. 53 Bird of the Month, by Erika Zambello............................... 15 Capitol Report by George Smith..................................... 17 Central Maine by Steve Vose........................................... 62 Downeast Region by Jim Lemieux................................... 59 Freshwater Fly Fishing by William Clunie.......................... 45 Jackman by William Sheldon........................................... 48 Jottings by Jon Lund............................................................ 8 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon............................. 43 Kate’s Wild Kitchen by Kate Krukowski Gooding........... 47 Letters to the Editor.............................................................. 5 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour....................................... 29 Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose................................... 36 Midcoast Report by Tom Seymour................................... 60 Moosehead by Tom Seymour.......................................... 55 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson.................................. 70 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie................................ 50 Outdoor Chronicle by Ed Pineau..................................... 42 Quotable Sportsman by George Smith........................... 18 Rangeley Region by William Clunie................................. 66 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers................................. 76 Saltwater by Barry Gibson................................................. 22 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth......................... 65 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews...................... 63 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard................................. 74 Smilin’ Sportsman: Adults & Kids by Will Lund.................. 76 Sporting Environment by David Van Wie........................ 69 Sportsman’s Journal by King Montgomery..................... 10 Southern Maine by Val Marquez..................................... 68 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller...................... 57 Trading Post (Classifieds)................................................... 77 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour........................................... 52 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie.................. 72 Young Maine Sportsman by Luke Giampetruzzi............ 32

SPECIAL SECTIONS

Boating in Maine by Bob Humphrey................................ 19 Ice Fishing in Maine by Will Lund...................................... 30 Snowmobiling in Maine by Shane Brown........................ 25 ON THE COVER: “Red Foxes” by Paul Gauthier Paul tells The Maine Sportsman he’s been involved in wildlife photography for 25 years, and that our cover photo was taken exactly one year ago, in March, 2018. “I have been following red foxes for the past five years, trying to see what makes them tick; their lifestyle, breeding patterns, parents looking after babies (kits); how they have been forced to move into urban areas because of the increased population of coyotes; and their life expectancy in the wild. “The breeding time for red foxes is usually around the last of January. This photo was taken at the beginning of March, so as fierce as these two appear, they were probably a pair ‘playfighting,’ already mated, and as they are territorial, they would probably have had a den very close to where they were playfighting.” Paul travels to Maine from his residence in Prince Edward Island (or PEi, as the natives refer to it). Although we think of the island as far north, PEi is at about the same latitude as portions of Aroostook County; in fact, it’s due east of Houlton and Presque Isle.

Letters

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 5

To The Editor

H&R 999 Revolver has Roots and History

To the Editor: I recently read the article by your “Shooter’s Bench” columnist, JC Allard, on the H&R 999. Once again, he has connected with one of my soft spots. I was at Kittery Trading Post a few years ago looking for a revolver, and the S&W and Rugers were more than I wanted to pay. I saw that 999 in the candy display, and that was it. My dad had an H&R Trapper he always carried, and I faithfully do so every year, along with his worn Lensatic compass. The 999 filled my functional needs, and it was great to know its roots and history.

in the Upper Shin Pond area, and then the last 15 in the Baker Lake region. I have kept Joe’s article since it came out, and I read it every year before leaving for our Maine hunt. This year I was fortunate enough to take my 21st buck and my 5th 200-lb. buck in 43 years of hunting the north woods. It was a very nice 9-pt., which dressed out at 209 lbs. with an 181/4” spread. I have the Biggest Buck patches on my vest along with the Maine antler and skull trophy club patch, and I wear them proudly. Over the years, whether it was a 190-lb. eight-pt. or a 200 lb. ten-pt., I always looked past the antlers to judge the size of the body. Charles (“Nud”) Geraci, Jr. New Providence, PA

Nud Geraci and his 2018 buck.

Joe responds: Nud: Thanks for reaching out and for being a loyal reader. I went back and re-read that 2013 column. I’ve not earned six (Continued on next page)

I still hope Col. Allard can do the article on the Remington Model 8. It is deserving of his always-fine research and writing. Steve Holt – ME —

It’s a Challenge to Earn Buck Patches To the Editor: In the Maine Sportsman’s August 2013 issue, Joe Saltalamachia wrote about the challenges of earning multiple Biggest Bucks patches. I’ve been hunting Maine since 1973, the first 28 years www.MaineSportsman.com

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Letters to the Editor (Continued from page 6)

patches over the last 20 seasons. Those 200lb. bucks aren’t easy to come by, especially in my area. I’ve killed a few very nice bucks in recent years that just missed the mark at 197 and 195. I still love them all! The area you’re hunting may have fewer deer than we have in central Maine; however, the bucks are definitely larger in the body in order to survive those nasty winters. Congrats on your 2018 buck! Perhaps our paths will cross at the State of Maine Sportsman’s Show at the Augusta Civic Center March 29 – 31? Good hunting! Joe —

We’ve Got Fans at the ’Loaf! To the Editor: Thanks for each monthly installment of “Smilin’ Sportsman” jokes. They help keep things light when our jobs get busy on the crazy Sugarloaf weekends. Keep up the good work! Signed, The Kitchen Crew Bag & Kettle, Sugarloaf USA

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Jennifer Finkle of Andes, NY harvested this 750-lb. bull moose in a remote region of T8 R5 WELS. It was registered at Ben’s Trading Post, in Presque Isle.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 7 (Continued from page 6)

Ice Fishing Close Call To the Editor: Reading about the fellow who lit off the muzzleloader primer in his pocket (see January issue) … I just spoke with a fellow who’d gone up ice fishing in Jackman on a recent weekend. They were having good luck, despite a wicked sharp wind. Then he said he was lucky he avoided a trip to the hospital. They were drilling holes and when he yanked the auger up out of the hole, he rested the blade on the ice right beside his leg. The auger, still turning, caught the leg of his snowmobile suit and wrapped it up! He said it happened so fast it was an instant. Fortunately, the cloth stalled the motor, and with some effort his fellow anglers were able to unwrap the twisted pant leg. He felt his leg for a cut or break and found nothing. So he smiled at his buddies and said, “Let’s keep fishing.” Looking back, he said it was one moment of inattention, or perhaps a loose pant cuff flapping, in the breeze, and he nearly lost a leg! As with many things in the great outdoors and on the sea … it’s the simple stuff that’ll kill ya’. Randy Randall – Saco, ME

key behaves much differently than the Eastern Turkey of Maine, no doubt due to lots of hunting pressure down there. In the south, turkey hunting is as much a tradition as deer hunting. Not until I moved to Maine did I see flocks of turkeys that wouldn’t move out of the way of traffic or invade a yard to raid the bird feeder. Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t the turkey “re-introduced” to Maine, not introduced as last month’s letter-writer stated? If that is in fact the case, then the birds’ reintroduction is a success story. The real issue falls upon

This 12.08-pound, 35-inch Northern pike was caught February 3rd, 2019 by Cheryl Soucy in front of Terrance Martin’s camp on Cobbosseecontee Lake. “These fish are getting bigger every year,” Martin told The Maine Sportsman. “I guess the bass fishermen are going to have to start using steel leaders.”

MDIF&W to enact the proper legislation to properly manage the wild turkey as a viable and renewable natural resource. Why doesn’t MDIF&W increase bag limits, reduce fees and make tagging more convenient for hunters? Promoting the sport will help also, but until a substantial increase in the number of hunters materializes, the next best thing is to make it easier for current turkey hunters to fill their tags and freezers. Len Longo West Sebago, ME

Jeremy Roamer of Glen Gardner, NJ qualified for membership in The Maine Sportsman’s Biggest Bucks Club with this handsome 202-pounder, shot during the 2018 season.

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Make Maine Turkey Hunt a Tradition To the Editor: I agree with Ed Pineau (January issue) – Maine has a lot of turkeys. But I disagree with a subsequent letter-writer that the turkey should no longer be protected. I grew up in Florida hunting every type of game available, and must admit the Osceola subspecies of tur-

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8 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

A Sportsman’s Evaluation of Small-Boat Designs Bob Humphrey’s excellent boating special sections (Part 1 appeared in our February issue, while Part 2 is found on page 19 of this issue) about choosing a new boat covered a lot of ground, but he mostly reviewed 14-foot outboard-powered boats and larger craft. This column will look at some of the choices in smaller boats, principally as fishing and hunting platforms. The information is based on my own experience. And I have had quite a bit of experience with small boats. You see, some boats just follow me home, like stray dogs. Canoes The canoe was the watercraft most commonly used by our state’s original inhabitants for hunting and fishing. The traditional birchbark canoe’s design made it versatile and easy to use, and that same design makes the modern canoe a reasonable choice for today’s sportsmen.

Each small-boat design is a compromise among the qualities of portability, durability and stability. Here, the publisher offers insights gained from his first-hand experience with a long line of small boats.

The basic design of the birchbark canoe developed by Maine’s original inhabitants is still suitable today, especially for use in protected waters. Photo by Tony Hisgett, Flickr

A canoe is easy to cartop and carry or drag to one of the many streams, marshes and small ponds of our state. Most canoes 16 feet and longer are well-suited for use by two paddlers of moderate weight and size. On our larger lakes, a canoe’s limitations raise convenience and safe-

ty concerns that should make the inexperienced canoeist cautious. A canoe has a narrow beam. While a 14-foot skiff can be useful and safe enough for two persons, a 14-foot canoe may be safe in open water for no more than one person. A canoe with a solo paddler in the stern seat

without ballast in the bow will be extremely tippy and difficult to handle in a wind. A sandbag or a few big rocks low in the bow make a huge difference in stability. Some solo paddlers sit in the front seat facing backwards, and paddle the canoe stern-first. This helps keep the re-desig-

nated “bow” lower, since the bow seat is positioned closer to the center of the canoe than is the stern seat. Many Choices of Material Modern canoes are made of aluminum, plastic, fiberglass, or Kevlar and similar synthetics. An aluminum canoe is durable. I purchased a second-hand 16-foot Grumman in 1947, and it’s still going strong. Sun, rain and ice don’t damage it, if it is stored upside down and off the ground. It has a skeg, which minimizes drifting sideways in a breeze. If you don’t like the shine of aluminum, just apply a couple of cans of dull-colored spray paint. Dents can be pounded out. I patched a small hole in an aluminum craft that lasted for years. It consisted of several layers of pieces of a cotton handkerchief and epoxy resin. Major damage can be repaired by a specialized welder. (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 9

Durable Plastics Plastic canoes come in a close second in carefree ownership, and they slide easily over rocks in whitewater. They are quiet. The hull shapes are not as boxy as aluminum, and slice through the water more easily. However, the hulls tend to “oilcan” in the middle, and for that reason should be stored upside down. The shaped bucket seats found in some models are a pain. I prefer a plain bench seat, which allows you to shift around or face comfortably in any direction. Seventeen-foot Old Town Trippers are well suited to carry heavier loads, and fetch a premium price on the secondhand market, in part because they are no longer manufactured. They are also somewhat heavier than other plastic designs. Use of fiberglass and Kevlar and similar materials in canoes affords greater flexibility in design. Kevlar is lighter and pricier than glass, and if protected from sunlight, is quite durable.

operator doesn’t have to have a partner. Learning to paddle is instinctive and easy – a child can figure it out in a matter of minutes. They can be pretty fast. They have less difficulty in wind or waves than a canoe. They are fun. Ocean models are made to track straighter, and often feature a rudder. So how do they match up as a fishing vehicle? The jury may be still out on that one. One evening, after supper, I paddled my Old Town kayak around Hodgdon’s Island on Cobbossee, casting and trolling, at times, a 3/8-oz. red and white Jitterbug. Trolling though one shallow section, I felt a solid strike, and had on a bass in the three- or four-pound range. The largemouth fought hard, and had the advantage of being directly behind me. It was awkward, both hands being busy with the rod and reel, no hand free to work the paddle. Eventually, I brought the bass alongside and using forceps, unhooked the fish. Manufacturers have gussied up kayaks with rod holders and other gear, but I haven’t used the kayak for fishing as often as the Grumman Sport Canoe (see photo), which allows me to use a two-horse Yamaha or electric outboard to get there, and a paddle to move slowly when I want to. Part of the downside of the kayak for me is the fixed sitting posture, which, being an oldster, I find tiring.

Kayaks In recent years, sales of kayaks have boomed, outpacing canoes, and their popularity will probably last long after the novelty of standup-paddleboards has faded into the dustbin of history, along with windsurfers. The appeal of kayaks is simple and basic. They are easy to transport. The

A Speedier Canoe? One of the solutions to going a longer distance faster with a canoe is to use a small outboard on a side-bracket. But that solution has its own problems. It pushes the craft a bit sideways, and the motor controls may be difficult to reach. In some situations, and depending on the

(Continued from page 8)

Downside? Aluminum is noisy, especially in waves or a ripple. It is not good for sneaking up on waterfowl or game because of the noise. It is not a good choice for white-water, because aluminum does not slide easily over rocks like other materials. It gets hung up constantly, and collects dents. A skeg will make it worse and make maneuvering difficult.

weight of the outboard, when you get out of the canoe, it may tip over. A better solution may be a square-stern canoe, where the motor is centered, and the craft less likely to flip. The versatility of the Sport Canoe appeals to me. It is a bit heavier and beamier than a Grumman square-stern, and is more seaworthy. Oddly enough, if you happen to use a larger horsepower motor, say a 7.5 HP, the bow rises up to block part of the view of the horizon, and the boat planes on the flat stern portion of the hull. Pickup Boat An additional boating choice that appeals especially to pickup truck owners is a twelve-foot aluminum skiff or jonboat. Loaded stern-forward, it can fit in the bed of a truck. You don’t even need a trailer. A small outboard can be attached to a bracket or plank on one side of the truck bed. The light hull can be carried or dragged to the launch area, and the craft is suitable for a heavier skipper and crew. It is a versatile rig, and it doesn’t require a second mortgage on the homestead to bring one home. To save on the cost, skip the motor and buy a pair of oars. On a larger lake, however, a 12-foot craft bobs up and down in the waves a lot more than does a 14foot skiff. So caution on larger waters is advisable. One boat that followed me home was a 12-foot Sears aluminum skiff. It came with a 7.5 horsepower outboard. I asked the owner why he was selling. He said running it made him “scared.” I trailered it home and tried it out. The previous owner had it right. Wide open, the rig scared the daylights out of me, too. The aluminum hull went like a scalded cat. Too much power for that

The Grumman Sport Canoe is wider and more stable than a traditional canoe, and can easily accomodate a small outboard motor.

light and short hull. After I sold that motor and matched the boat with a smaller outboard, it handled just fine. Surveying the choices in smaller sporting craft, what Bob Humphrey says still holds true – every boating choice involves a compromise.

The advantage with small craft is that if you find your choice doesn’t work for you, it is easy to sell what you have and make another choice. Lots of people are looking for a bargain in a small watercraft.

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10 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Leen’s Lodge, Grand Lake Stream Almost everyone who hunts and fishes or just enjoys being exposed to the wilds of nature wants a log cabin in the woods on a lake or stream, but can’t afford either the time or money or both to get one. And that’s where the iconic, historic Maine sporting camps come in. You can stay at outdoorsy places all over Maine and fish, hunt, boat, hike, nature-watch, and such at will. Just call and make a reservation, grab your gear, and go. Someone cooks for you, takes you to the field or stream, and you live in rusticity, but with the amenities. And some camps are housekeeping-style where you clean and cook, but prices usually are much less. Leen’s Lodge Leen’s Lodge (Delorme’s Atlas, Map 35, B-4) at Grand Lake Stream (GLS) sits on West Grand Lake, a beautiful setting, and it and other nearby lakes have productive fisheries that can hold landlocked salmon, brook trout, smallmouth bass, togue, various perches, and others. Scott and Kris Weeks from Pennsylvania took over Leen’s in early 2017 from Charles Driza. Dri-

With outstanding fishing, productive hunting and wonderful food, Leen’s is a great location to let someone else do the work while you fish, hunt, or just sit back and enjoy some of outdoor bounties this beautiful state offers.

Leen’s Lodge at Grand Lake Stream (GLS) sits on a West Grand Lake, a beautiful setting. All around, you’ll find very productive fisheries and excellent hunting. It’s a sportsman’s paradise. All photos by King Montgomery

za owned and ran the lodge for about 17 years, and now the Weeks family, young Abby and Kyle included, are carrying on the traditions began by Stan Leen back in the 1950s. Grand Laker “canoes” originated in GLS in the earlier 20th century and still dominate, and I fished out of several of these fine watercraft in both West Grand and nearby Big Lake, concentrating on smallmouth bass.

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“Stretching from the Penobscot to the St. Croix, the boundary line between the United States and New Brunswick and from the Atlantic ocean on the south to an almost unbroken wilderness on the north, Washington County is probably one of the finest fishing and hunting regions this country.” That’s what the New York Tribune said on August 27, 1900, and today the area around remains an excellent outdoor sports destination.

A History of Serving Hunters and Anglers In addition to fishing, ruffed grouse and American woodcock abound in habitat influenced favorably by logging operations old and new, and provide wonderful sport in beautiful settings. Over 85 percent of Maine is covered with trees, and the part of Maine centered on the village of GLS probably exceeds 95 percent. Leen’s Lodge at GLS has been catering to an-

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glers and hunters for over a half-century, and the list of luminaries who have fished and hunted here “back in the day” reads like a who’s who – “Buffalo” Bob Smith of Howdy Doody fame, and baseball greats Ted Williams and Stan “The Man” Musial, just to name a few. I’ve fly fished the GLS environs a number of times for salmon, brook trout, and smallmouth bass in spring and summer, and, in the fall, had the pleasure of searching for grouse and woodcock out of Leen’s and nearby Weatherby’s. They were fine experiences, and I highly recommend hunting here with the excellent guides who work the wonderful and plentiful bird habitats in the region. Many of the same guides also guide on the lakes, the ponds, the St. Croix River, and the almost-legendary salmon Mecca Grand Lake Stream. On my last visit, I finally fished West Grand Lake just above Grand Lake Stream and the source of its waters, and Big Lake where GLS flows into to end its 2.5 mile journey. I wish I’d done it sooner.

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The meals in the main dining cabin and deck were great home-cooking. Make sure to bring your own libations when visiting Leen’s. (Continued from page 10)

New Proprietors I asked new proprietor Scott Weeks how he came about purchasing a fairly-remote Maine sporting camp. He explained that after about 25 years in the pharmaceutical industry, he and family decided to look for a camp/outdoor resort to buy, and their journeys took them to the US Great Lakes area, to Ontario Province, and other locations in the US and Canada. After several years, they came to Leen’s for a look-see, and the camp “met all the criteria to fulfill my dream,” said Scott, as he, Chris, Kyle and Abby neared the end of their first season in Maine. It’s just beautiful, and the people, both sports and locals, are wonderful, he related. West Grand Lake Guide David Irving pulled into the cove in his Grand Laker and tied up at Leen’s dock as I walked down from the camps with my gear. Irving is a retired high school math and science teacher. His son is a local forester, and

Guide Dave Irving prepares a scrumptious and sumptuous shore lunch in the rock grill in front of his camp on West Grand Lake. Traditional shore lunches are standard fare at Leen’s.

often joins his father at a neat little camp farther up on West Grand. It turns out Dave and I were in the Army in the late 1960s, and there was even a more interesting coincidence – We both served in the US Army Third Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), the president’s Army honor and escort guard. Dave came into Company D, very shortly after I left the same unit for parachute training and Vietnam. We started the day trolling for landlocked salmon, and it was a great time to hear, see and learn about the lake and the area. We got to know each other, exchanged several old Army experiences, and a very nice and relaxing day on the water in beautiful settings. Some camps on the lake were set back in the woods, and most were not obtrusive. The Down East Lakes Land Trust does its best to keep the shoreline and pockets of the region in a relatively wild condition. Smallmouth Abound The salmon weren’t awake yet, so Dave re-

The inside of the living room in the Westlook cabin, my home for a couple of days. All the amenities and a great view of the lake too.

located to shallower water where rocks and submersed vegetation abounded. The fly rod popper was scoring pretty regularly on healthy smallmouth bass, and a bit later the fish were responsive to watermelon and purple flake wacky worms delivered by a light spinning rod. Pure fun! Just about noon, Dave pulled up on the leeward side of a pretty little rocky peninsula, and we walked up to his comfortable camp for a delicious shore lunch cooked over an open fire. Grilled chicken, potatoes were joined by campfire coffee replete with a raw egg over the grounds brewed above the flames. A shore lunch is standard fare at Leen’s, and you can request a bag lunch if you don’t want one (I can’t imagine!). Big Lake The next day dawned as gray as an old man’s beard and a “mizzle” – a combination of a mist and a drizzle – added a pervasive dampness to the warming air. A light rain jacket was all it took to be comfortable as I walked

Guide Gary Santerre lands another smallmouth, one of many on a damp day on Big Lake. The lake is loaded with good numbers of bronzebacks, and some big ones live here, too. Big Lake is a 10-minute drive from Leen’s.

out of the dining cabin to meet Gary Santerre, my guide for the day. Behind his pickup on a trailer was a gorgeous Grand Laker he had built the previous year with local craftsman Dale Tobey, whose Grand Lakers are well-known and highly regarded. Santerre is a retired forester who lives just across the cove from Leen’s Lodge, and his family has been a fixture in GLS for numerous generations. As a youngster he had been one of Stan Leen’s “camp boys” and did whatever work was needed to provide the best service possible to visiting sports. We trailered the short distance to Big Lake and launched the boat at the town ramp, and motored out. Big Bass Pounced on Worms Big Lake is where Grand Lake Stream ends, and its shores hold many seasonal camps. The water is dotted with numerous islands, and around some of them we devoted most of our fishing time. We tossed wacky worms along the points,

The view westward from the back deck of Leen’s Lodge near sunset. With feet kicked up, a cold one in hand, and the pleasant beauty of Down East Maine all around, it’s a pretty good life.

and in the rocky, sometimes vegetation-bearing water on all sides. Smallmouth bass were plentiful, and they pounced on the slowly-sinking worms that undulated with the slightest movement. I was truly glad I decided on this all-too-short visit to concentrate on lake smallmouth bass, and surely will return again. The facilities at Leen’s are excellent, with all the comforts and amenities of home in an appealing rusticity. The meals in the main dining cabin and deck were just good home-cooking. Make sure to bring your own libations when visiting Leen’s. Leen’s is a friendly place that puts out good vibes for guests. A great location to let someone else do the work while you fish, hunt, or just sit back and enjoy some of outdoor bounties this beautiful state offers to those with eyes wide opened enough to see it. For more information and to book Leen’s Lodge, contact the Weeks family, 1-800-995-3367, www. leenslodge.com.

Scott and Kris Weeks from Pennsylvania took over Leen’s in early 2017 from Charles Driza, who owned the lodge for about 17 years. Now the Weeks family, young Abby and Kyle included, are carrying on the traditions began by Stan Leen back in the 1950s. www.MaineSportsman.com

Almanac

12 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Compiled and Edited by — Will Lund —

“Snapshots in Time”

Excerpts from the Annals of Maine’s Sporting Past Submitted by Bill Pierce, of the Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum in Oquossoc, Maine

What follows is an interesting article from the “Maine Woods” dated March 31, 1905, originally taken from a story that appeared in the “Bangor Commercial” in that same year. It’s the story of the shooting and eventual capture of one of the most notorious poachers of his day, Peter Fontaine. The Warden who shot him during their first arrest, later exhibited great compassion and harbored no ill will toward his former adversary. One of the wardens who eventually nabbed Fontaine was Ed Lowell, a rookie who would later go on to serve 46 years in the Maine Warden Service (see photo). Lowell is a true legend. He had a stellar career at a time

when the woods of Maine were vast, far less forgiving, had few roads, and more closely resembled the Wild West than what we have today. Lowell would go on to hold a national reputation as a premiere woodsman, and was considered “The Dean of American Game Wardens.” Lowell was in just his first year on the job when then Commissioner Carleton sent him and his fellow Warden Nate Carr, also from Rangeley, upcountry in an effort to nab Fontaine once and for all. The histories of true legends like Ed Lowell are born in the Maine Woods. Be sure to get outside and make some legal and safe history of your own!

An older but still-vibrant Ed Lowell posing next to a float plane in a vintage photo (circa 1945), taken while he was well into his 46year career as a Maine Game Warden.

Maine’s Famous Poacher

Natt Carr and Ed Lowell, Rangeley Guides, Capture Him Taken on the St. John River and Brought to Bangor

After a lapse of three years since he was apparently fatally shot by Game Warden Herman O. Templeton in his camp near Turner Pond, March 19, 1902, Peter Fontaine, Maine’s most famous game poacher, was taken into custody last week; brought to Greenville and down to Bangor Wednesday morning by Game Wardens Tim Pollard, E. F. Lowell and N. R. Carr. After a conference with Game Commissioner Carleton, who arrived Wednesday evening, a weak Fontaine was arraigned in the Bangor police court on Thursday on a charge of illegal killing of game. The wardens were reluctant about telling of the affair further than of the arrest. It is thought that the officials will not insist on a full punishment of the prisoner and that he will be let off with a sentence which will be light, considering what there is against him. Fontaine was taken by Wardens Lowell and Carr on the St. John River early Saturday morning. Fontaine made no resistance, and accompanied the officers to Bangor as any ordinary person would have done. He was arrested but a few miles from www.MaineSportsman.com

the scene of the shooting of three years ago.

Began the Journey The wardens and Fontaine at once began the journey toward Greenville, covering 150 miles in getting out of the woods. The prisoner is a broken-down man, and shows it in his appearance. Since he was shot by Warden Templeton three years ago last Sunday, March 19, Fontaine has spent most of his time on the Canadian border, rarely venturing across to the American side. He has been across several times, but never have the wardens been able to catch him in that wild and wooded country. Trapping Otter During the past winter, Fontaine has been setting traps for otter on the St. John River, which was supposed by the wardens to be neutral ground. On receiving instructions recently from Game Commissioner Carleton, they took him on the river and brought him down for trial. On Saturday morning, Fontaine came down to the river with an ax and pail, for water, and while in the middle of the river he was taken by the officers and the jour-

ney to Greenville and Bangor begun. Fontaine admitted to the officers on the way down that he had taken one otter out of the spring hole, which is on the American side of the river. No Ill Feeling Warden Templeton said to the Commercial Wednesday that he had no ill feeling against Fontaine and had no desire to see him severely punished. “There are many up that way a great deal worse than Peter,” said Mr. Templeton. “If he was a younger man and still engaged in the work, I would like to see him severely punished for what he has done in the 15 or 20 years that the wardens have been after him, but he is a broken-down man now. That pill took the life out of him, and he is not the same man he was three years ago.”

Doesn’t Look Badly Fontaine does not look badly, but those who know him say he is not the man he was three years ago. He says, himself, he is well and that the bullet, which entered his body but two inches over his heart and went out through the shoulder blade, (Continued on next page)

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

causes him no inconvenience. “I felt it some the next summer,’’ he said, “and sometimes I feel it in wet weather, but not much. It is like rheumatism.” “It broke my wind,” he continued, placing his hand over the spot where the bullet entered. He is a man 51 years old but looks all of 60. Story of Former Arrest The shooting of La Fontaine on March 19, 1902 by Warden Herman O. Templeton was one of the sensations of that time in Maine. La Fontaine had a camp at Baker lake, away up near the Quebec boundary, and had a line of traps extending for miles around in which, it was said, he had taken many beaver. Complaints became so numerous that finally, although many unsuccessful attempts to capture him had been made, and the job was regarded dangerous, Commissioner Carleton directed Warden Templeton to take a good man or men with him and go after the poacher. Templeton selected as a companion George Houston of Caribou. They came to Peter’s camp at dusk, and Templeton, knowing the risk he was taking, stepped up with cocked revolver and suddenly threw open the door. La Fontaine lay on a bed of furs, with his rifle in easy reach. At the click of the latch, the poacher had half risen and grabbed his rifle. It seemed to be a question, merely, of who could get in the first shot, and Templeton, being erect and ready, was quickest on the trigger. The bullet went in just over La Fontaine’s heart and came out under his left shoulder blade. It seemed that there was no chance for him to live, and, in any event, transporting a dangerously wounded man through the wilderness to the nearest railroad station, which was Greenville, was out of the question. So when friends of the poacher who were at work in a nearby logging camp begged that he be allowed to go home to die and offered to carry him by tote and team to his native village of St. Francis, P. Q., the wardens consented, and away went Peter over the border. It was supposed that that would be the last of the famous poacher, but he didn’t die. He survived, to get more traps and give the wardens more worry. The bullet wound took most of the snap and ginger out of him. His poaching days are about over. —Bangor Commercial

Gimme the Wheel

BoatUS (Boat Owners Association of the United States) sponsors a “Foundation for Safe Boating.” A recent offering of the Foundation is a three-hour, ladies-only boating course taught by instructors in 20 - 26 foot, single-engine powerboats, providing what the organization calls an opportunity to “learn boat-handling techniques in a supportive environment.” The name of the course? “Women Making Waves.” —

Meet Maine’s Newest Wardens: Game Warden Kayle Hamilton

Game Warden Kayle Hamilton grew up in the small town of Buxton, Maine. He developed a passion for the outdoors from an early age by learning how to hunt and fish from his father and grandfather. Hamilton graduated from Bonny Eagle High School in 2008, and attended the University of Southern Maine, where he graduated in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Finance. After college, he was able to earn his registered Maine guide license for both hunting and fishing. In his free time, Hamilton enjoys salmon fishing in the spring, striped bass fishing during the summer, duck and deer hunting during the fall and ice fishing in the winter. Hamilton was hired by the Warden Service in 2016, and attended the 31st Basic Law Enforcement Training Program at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Warden Hamilton said he looks forward to a career that makes him responsible for helping conserve the resources of the State of Maine that have given him much enjoyment throughout his own life. According to Major Chris Cloutier of the Service, Warden Hamilton was first assigned to the Clayton Lake District, but then transferred to the Estcourt Station District, in the top northwest corner of the State, late last summer. (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

14 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Alamanc (Continued from page 13) AMC Selected to Build Trails in Katahdin Woods and Waters Monument The National Park Service has contracted with the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) build a series of hiking trails in the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, giving visitors access to remote areas within the monument. Currently, development has been limited to the main Loop Road, a 16-mile dirt road that leads to access points and trailheads, meaning most of the park is still too wild and rugged for some travelers because there is no welcome center or onsite staff. With the AMC trail addition, each trail will be one to two miles from the main Loop Road. AMC’s trail crew started work in October 2018, and will continue work through the fall of 2019. —

Updates to Fish and Game State Records The Maine Sportsman maintains records of our state’s fish and game, and several categories have been updated in recent months. They include: 1) Antlered doe: Justin Ridlon, 222 pounds dressed, 6 points, taken with a .308 on November 27, 2009 in Wayne, Maine. Weighed and certified at Ballard’s Meats, Manchester. 2) Pumpkinseed sunfish: Phil Moon

of Turner, Maine; January 19, 2019; 12.8 ounces; weighed in at Dags Bait and Tackle; certified by a member of the Warden Service. Stay tuned – an application for an even larger fish is pending. 3) Bluegill: Liam Clayton; 0.51 pounds; 8-15/16th of an inch long; caught on a minnow in Knight Pond in South Berwick. (You didn’t know we had bluegill in Maine? Yes, confirmed Francis Brautigam, Director of Fisheries & Hatcheries at DIF&W: “Unfortunately, we do have introduced populations of bluegills in Maine,” he explained.) —

Moose Permit Lottery Application Process Now Open The 2019 Maine moose permit lottery application process is now open. Applications for the moose permit lottery will be accepted online only. To apply online, go to mefishwildlife.com and complete the online moose permit application. Applicants will be able to indicate several preferences, including which wildlife management districts (WMD) they are willing to accept a permit in, and if they would accept a permit in another WMD if their name is drawn and all of their top choices are filled. Applicants will also be able to select their preferred hunting season, whether or not they would accept an antlerless permit, and their choice of a sub-permittee. The deadline to apply for the lottery is 11:59 p.m. on May 15, 2019. The 2019 moose lottery permit drawing will take place at Cabela’s in Scarborough, Maine on June 8, 2019 (see advertisement on page 5). —

How Much Should the Public Know about Sensitive Wildlife?

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King Eiders are stunning sea ducks, with black and white bodies like our Common Eiders, but sporting an ornate and brilliant orange, violent and green head. Their beauty is enhanced by their rarity – only a handful of King Eiders are spotted off the coast of Maine each winter. That combination makes the King Eider a sought-after bird. When one was photographed in Wells, Maine in December, it became the header image of “MAINE Birds,” a Facebook group with more than 20,000 members. Sightings of the bird were regularly posted to the group, one of which, it was later revealed, was seen by a hunter who used the locations in the posts to track and har-

King Eider. National Audubon photo

vest the bird. While the hunter does not appear to have violated any of Maine’s hunting rules, the MAINE Birds community was devastated to learn that their public love of the bird led to its demise. Birders frequently struggle with whether and how to reveal the locations of sensitive wildlife. Before the age of the internet, the locations of rare species seldom made it to a wide audience until long after the initial sighting. Today, however, a birder can see a bird or snap a photo and nearly instantaneously share the news with millions of others via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, email listserv, eBird.org, or other avenues. If precise location information is included, which it often is, all those millions know exactly where the bird is. This widespread and immediate knowledge can be a problem for a number of reasons. Hunters could use the info, shared in celebration of the bird’s existence, and get a private trophy. Falconers have reportedly used public sightings of nesting raptors, such as Goshawk and Peregrine Falcon, to collect eggs. Wildlife photographers are often accused of harassing owls, luring them out of day roosts with store-bought mice, and the locations of roosting owls are now rarely shared publicly. Often, it’s birders themselves who cause problems. For very rare birds like the Great Black Hawk that spent a few months this winter in Portland’s Deering Oaks Park (see Erika Zambello’s discussion on page 15), a mob of interested viewers could spook the bird or prevent it from feeding. Some birders attempt to lure rare birds by playing audio recording of calls, which can be harmful if done too frequently to the same individual. In response, birders are being more careful than ever with keeping location information private. The MAINE Birds Facebook page now encourages no greater detail than town or county for posts related to rare birds or owls. The popular bird sightings database eBird.org encourages a number of steps to limit precise location information for sensitive species, including submitting information from general locations or delaying reporting. Despite the concern, these occurrences of conflict remain the exception. Thousands of people saw Portland’s Great Black Hawk, the vast majority from a respectful distance. King Eiders and other waterfowl continue to be reported without being collected. Though the internet has brought rare species within a much quicker and easier reach for some unsporting observers, it has also given millions (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 15 (Continued from page 14)

more a chance to enjoy wildlife they might otherwise miss.

Bird of the Month:

Though the bird did not survive its trek north, it brought joy to thousands of people who traveled to see its temporary home in Maine. Many became interested in birding and avian species for the first time, learning more about the hawk and its native habitat. —

Overnight Rescue on Sebec Lake, February 9th

January’s frigid weather proved to be too much of a challenge for this Great Black Hawk, seen here in Portland’s Deering Oaks Park. Photo by Ericka Zambello

Great Black Hawk

by Erika Zambello A crowd gathered on a chilly morning in December, eyes and necks craned upwards at a bare tree. I was part of that crowd. Tucked onto one of the tree’s outstretched limbs sat a Great Black Hawk, calmly peering down at the people milling about below. I stood in awe as I gazed at the beautiful species through both binoculars and a camera lens, taking in the sharp bill as well as its brown and white feathers. Normally a resident of Mexico, Central, and South America, this raptor was far from home. Like many of our native hawks, this bird has a large range, feeding on just about anything it can catch. Bats? Check. Reptiles? Sounds like lunch. Fish? Absolutely. There are even reports of the Great Black Hawk feasting on fruit and eggs. Interestingly, the birds will look for food on the ground, running after prey or making short hops or flights to catch their meals. In Portland’s Deering Oaks Park, the raptor mostly fed on squirrels. The bird was seen first in August and then off and on throughout the winter months, and no one knows for sure why the bird was so far from its native range. While food seemed plentiful, the hawk was unprepared to deal with icy Maine weather. During a January storm, it suffered frostbite, falling from its perch to the park floor, unable to move. The hawk was discovered by locals who knew of its rarity, and eventually a team of volunteers transferred the bird to Avian Haven for recovery. Once warmed, the hawk began to revive, even eating voraciously. Unfortunately, frostbite takes at least a week to fully show itself. At the end of January, veterinarians in charge of the hawk’s care realized the bird would need both legs removed, and rather than subject the bird to a lifetime of suffering, made the sad but necessary decision to euthanize the Great Black Hawk.

Four snowmobilers encountered thin ice on Sebec Lake early in the morning on February 9, 2019, according to the Maine Warden Service. Two avoided going in the water, but the other two – and their machines – got submerged in the water, which was 12 feet deep at the scene of the accident. Both men managed to get out of the water and onto the ice. One of the three men drove a snowmobile to an unoccupied camp to find warmth. The three remaining men were stranded on thin ice near portions of open water. One of the stranded men called 9-1-1. At approximately 1:20 a.m., Sebec Fire Department, Mayo Ambulance and Game Warden Jeremy Kemp responded. Game Warden Kemp secured a canoe from a camp owner, and along with Sebec Firefighter Jason Horne, ventured out onto the ice with the safety of the canoe. The canoe was brought close enough to the three men for them to get in. The canoe became overloaded, and one of the snowmobilers had to get out of the canoe, at which point he partially broke through the ice. He managed to hold onto the canoe as rescuers pulled it across the ice to safety. The three men were brought inside a nearby camp to warm up. Game Warden Kemp then went searching for the fourth snowmobiler. The fourth snowmobiler was found in an unheated nearby camp at 2:20 a.m., hypothermic and unable to walk. Game Warden Kemp summoned the help of several firefighters and EMS members to carry the individual through two feet of snow to the closest plowed driveway, after which the snowmobiler was transported to Mayo Regional Hospital in Dover and treated for hypothermia. Had the fourth snowmobiler not been located, game wardens were of the opinion that he would have succumbed to hypothermia. —

Book Review: Black Ghosts and Art in a Maine Guide’s Wilderness, by Herbert L. Welch Reviewed by King Montgomery

After successes with their books Carrie Stevens: Maker of Rangeley

Favorite Trout and Salmon Flies and Bogdan, Graydon and Leslie Hilyard attain new heights with this superbly-illustrated and meticulously researched and documented volume on Herbert L. Welch (1879-1960). Welch, a longtime resident of New England’s outdoors Mecca in the Rangeleys, was one of the first celebrity angling personalities, and the Lefty Kreh of his day when it came to fly casting and fishing. It is said he could cast a silk fly line almost 150 feet, and he once gave a casting lesson to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. An accomplished taxidermist, excellent painter in several media, sculptor and woodcarver of note, and fly fishing expert, Herb was a fixture in the quaint village of Oquossoc within close view of Mooselookmeguntic Lake, in his outdoors sporting and fly shop with his home just across the street. Both still stand silently in blankets of dense trees. The largest amount and some of the highest quality of Welch’s work, is located at the nearby small-but-mighty Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum across from the firehouse. It is worth a visit here just to see Welch’s works, though it’s best to linger longer at other superb exhibits that trace the history of outdoors activities over the centuries. Through their pens, Graydon & Leslie Hilyard (neither is a trained historian), take you on a fascinating journey through some of Maine’s iconic past, making you part of the many interesting things that happened back in that day – including Welch’s somewhat close connection to a murder that really never was solved. —

Book Review: Living the Dream, by John Ford Reviewed by George Smith

John Ford was an exceptional game warden. He then became an author, writing several great books full of amazing and entertaining warden stories. I think even John was surprised that he became a very popular public speaker, giving book talks all over the state, some of which drew hundreds of people. Sadly, John passed away in November, 2018, and he will be missed by many of us. I am especially grateful to him for leaving us with one final new book titled Living the Dream, published by North Country Press. In the introduction John writes, “My story begins with what life was like as a youngster, living in a house filled with a wide variety of wild critters. All of them in need of a little special care if they were to survive. Being raised within their lifestyle is what prompted me to (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

16 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Alamanc (Continued from page 15)

pursue the career I did. Eventually, that career brought me to where I was truly Living the Dream.” I really enjoyed the stories about his mom’s caring for lots of abandoned and injured wild critters, from fishers and foxes to owls. John inherited that sense of caring as an adult and took many wild critters into his home. His story about Fritzi the Fisher was one of my favorites. There’s a delightful photo on the cover of the book of Wiley, an adorable fox that John originally thought was a coyote when it was delivered to his house as a tiny baby. I ended up with many favorite stories in this book, from the times John

ran after night hunters sprinting away, to the amazing trap some hunters set to catch and later kill a deer. Yes, John saw it all! And he would sometimes sit hidden in the cold woods day and night for several days to catch a poacher. Toward the end of the book, John shares a series of stories about a fellow he called Grover, a notorious poacher who John arrested – along with his poaching buddies – many times. Incredibly, John and Grover became great friends, and would get together after every hunting season is over. There’s even a photo of the two of them laughing and smiling at a public event. You do not have to be a hunter or angler to enjoy Living the Dream. And I am so grateful that John shared his dream with us.

First Annual Maine Sportsman Youth Writing Contest The Maine Sportsman is hosting its first annual Youth Writing Contest! The contest is open now through May 15, 2019 to New England boys and girls in grades 6–12. We’re looking for stories about fishing, hunting, sporting firearms, snowmobiling, ATVing, trapping, boating/canoeing, taxidermy, conservations, or archery.Winners in four different categories will receive $100!

For full rules, visit www.mainesportsman.com/blog

Good luck to all contestants!

March 2019 Sunrise/Sunset Portland, ME

DATE

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

RISE 6:14 6:13 6:11 6:09 6:08 6:06 6:04 6:02 6:01 5:59 6:57 6:55 6:54 6:52 6:50 6:48

SET

5:31 5:32 5:34 5:35 5:36 5:37 5:39 5:40 5:41 5:42 6:44 6:45 6:46 6:47 6:48 6:50

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29

30 31

DATE

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

RISE 6:46 6:45 6:43 6:41 6:39 6:37 6:36 6:34 6:32 6:30 6:28 6:27 6:25 6:23 6:21

SET

6:51 6:52 6:53 6:55 6:56 6:57 6:58 6:59 7:01 7:02 7:03 7:04 7:05 7:07 7:08

*Daylight Savings Begins at 2:00 AM Sunday, March 10th

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 17

Old Legislative Ideas Get New Look The Legislature is tackling lots of outdoor issues, many of which seem to get debated each and every session. For example, bills authorizing Sunday hunting have been introduced again this session, even though they have no chance of being enacted. Throughout my 18 years at the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, I tried everything I could think of to win Sunday hunting opportunities, with no success. One year, I convinced Gov. John Baldacci to authorize Sunday hunting as part of his state budget. The hearing before the Appropriations Committee was a disaster. I was the only one who spoke in favor of it. Even the guides and sporting camps opposed it, and it was quickly killed after the hearing. My final effort was very reasonable, in my opinion – a proposal to allow landowners to hunt on Sundays on their own property. Alas, no one supported the bill except me. Firearms Bills As you might expect, there are a lot of gun bills as well. One bill would prohibit large-capacity magazines; a second would permit school employees to carry firearms on school property; and a third would require background checks for all private firearm sales or transfers. Hunters will want to pay attention to all the hunting bills, from authorizing a spring bear season to a significant expansion of turkey hunt-

ing, including eliminating the permit fee and expanding the bag limit. Other Outdoor Topics Deer, bear and moose will all be debated at the Legislature this session, too. Issues will include everything from deer baiting to the use of crossbows. And there are bills proposed on many other aspects of outdoor recreation, from ATVs and snowmobiles to watercraft and fishing. One of the more interesting fishing bills, sponsored by Senator Paul Davis, Sr. of Piscataquis County, would require freshwater hooks and lures to be biodegradable. Lots of information about these bills and hearings are on the Legislature’s website, www. legislature.maine.gov. Click on “Public Hearings and Work Sessions,” and then look for the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee’s schedule. I encourage you to get informed on these bills,

and to let your own Senator and Representative know your thoughts. If any of those lawmakers happen to be on the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, this is especially important. New DIFW Commissioner -Judy Camuso Judy Camuso is a great choice for Commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and we must thank Governor Janet Mills for choosing Camuso and the Senate for its unanimous confirmation of her nomination. Commissioner Camuso is well respected, both outside and inside the department, where she served for years as director of the wildlife division. Many of us recommended Ms. Camuso to our new Governor. I’ve spent some time talking to both Governor Mills and Commissioner Camuso about my suggestions for changes and improvements at DIFW.

I’ve written outdoor news columns about some of those ideas, including a proposal to reorganize the Fisheries Division so it mirrors the Wildlife Division. And I can tell you, Commissioner Camuso knows the department very well, and she has some great ideas of her own. I anticipate sportsmen will be pleased as she begins to advocate for her ideas to improve the Department. And some will require your active help. I’m also very pleased that Governor Mills has a personal interest in DIFW. She is an avid fly fishing angler. And it tells you something that DIFW’s Commissioner is one of the first positions she filled in her cabinet. Private Land Access We’re very lucky in Maine to have free access to so much private land. You probably know that access to private land in many states is not available.

I recently read a story about an online marketplace in the Western states that allows landowners to list their property for use by hunters, anglers and other recreationists who must pay a trespass fee. Check this out at EntryG8.com. There’s another platform, WikiparX, that allows land owners to sell permits for many types of recreation on their property. The story reported that “these approaches are helping turn access conflicts into cooperation between property owners and recreationists.” It is important to all of us who recreate on private land in Maine, to develop good relationships with the landowners and to make sure they know how much we appreciate the opportunity to enjoy their properties. Let’s make sure Maine landowners never feel that they need a trespass fee. (Continued on next page)

Don’t miss the Maine Professional Guides Association’s

40TH ANNUAL BANQUET & MEETING April 6, 2019 Jeff’s Catering 15 Littlefield Way, Brewer 5:00PM - Happy Hour/Cash Bar 5:30PM - Welcome Speech and Annual Meeting 6:00PM - Dinner SEATS GO QUICKLY! Email pgross@maineguides.org for reservations Send check to: MPGA, c/o Pat Gross 3 North Stonington Road, Stonington, ME 04681

See you there! www.MaineSportsman.com

18 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

★ ADVANCE TICKETS ★ show.mainesportsman.com ORDER NOW & SAVE!

The 39th Annual

State of Maine

Sportsman Show March 29–31, 2019 Thousands of outdoors-minded folks will gather at the Augusta Civic Center for an entire weekend of everything outdoors March 29th–31st. There truly is something for everyone: over 100 exhibitors, kid zone, demonstrations, seminars, taxidermy, art, photography and carving contests, and LOTS MORE! Tickets at the Door: Adults $8, Kids 5-12 $6 (Under 5 Free), Active Military & Seniors $6, 3-Day Bracelet $15

PRE-ORDER YOUR SHOW TICKETS AND SAVE! PLEASE MAIL ME ______ TICKETS AT $6 EACH FOR A TOTAL OF $______ Checks (Payable to State of Maine Sportsman’s Show) & Visa/MasterCard Accepted. Tickets will be mailed in March:

Full Name: _________________________________ Address: ___________________________________ ___________________________________________ City: ______________________________________ State: _______________Zip: __________________ Email: _____________________________________ Phone: ____________________________________ CC#: ______________________________________ Exp: _________________CVV: _________________ Mail Form & Payment to: The Maine Sportsman 183 State Street, Suite 101• Augusta, ME 04330 YOU CAN ALSO CALL TO ORDER BY PHONE BY CALLING SAM AT (207) 623-4589 (Sorry, No Online Sales Available)

SAVE EVEN MORE BY PURCHASING PRE-SALE TICKETS IN PERSON –

ONLY $5 EACH!

Purchase with CASH at The Maine Sportsman 183 State Street, Suite 101 • Augusta, ME 04330 or Purchase with CASH or CREDIT at Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine 205 Church Hill Road • Augusta, ME 04330

show.mainesportsman.com www.MaineSportsman.com

Capitol Report (Continued from page 17)

Duck Harvests Duck harvests declined significantly in the 1980s and have not been restored. From 1976 to 1980, Maine waterfowl hunters bagged to more than 83,000 ducks. By 1989 that number had fallen to fewer than 46,000, a 45% reduction. During that same time, we saw a 40% decline in duck stamp sales. A lot of people at that time blamed the decrease on loss of habitat and hunting space. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report at that time estimated that Maine lost more than 1.2 million acres of historical wetlands. A lot of those acres were lost to development. Brad Allen at DIFW provided me with numbers for the 2017 season. A total of 40,900 ducks

were taken: 32,200 dabblers and divers and 8,700 sea ducks. Maine hunters also shot 15,200 Canada geese. Only 9,800 hunted ducks and geese in Maine in 2017 – a very small number. I used to love duck hunting with my Chesapeake Bay Retriever Blake, along Hopkins Stream, which flows by my house. I also have very fond memories of duck hunting with my dad when I was very young. I can still see that first black duck I ever shot, flying by us on the little stream that flowed into Annabessacook Lake. Dad said shoot, and I did, and that duck plunged into the stream. Yes, I was thrilled! Blake was a great retriever, but my favorite story was one time he

really fouled up. I shot a duck that fell into the middle of the stream. Blake jumped in and swam out to recover it, but instead of bringing it back, he took the duck to the other side of the stream and ate it! Note from the Author: I hope you’ll visit me at the Maine Sportsman booth at the upcoming March 29 - 31 Sportsman’s Show in Augusta. I worked at SAM when we started the Sportsman’s Show in partnership with The Maine Sportsman. For the first few years, the show was at the Augusta Armory, before we outgrew that venue and moved to the Augusta Civic Center. But I don’t think we ever anticipated what a huge success – and fantastic show – it would become!

Quotable

Sportsman Brautigam said the department was spurred into action by the Legislature, when pending bills looked to change the way that the state’s “Heritage Waters,” which hold wild or native trout, were managed and nominated for special regulations. But in the “other” Maine — the North Zone — brook trout remain king, and the resource that exists there is unique to the lower 48 states. Therefore, it was important to send a message to the state’s anglers: Brook trout matter. “We’re really trying to set the stage and get people to rethink how they think about fishing and the resources that they have in the northern part of our state. They are resources that make our state truly unique when you look around the country,” Brautigam said. John Holyoke story quoting Francis Brautigam, DIFW Fisheries Division Director; Bangor Daily News, December 14, 2018 — It’s just very strange behavior. They generally don’t want to be seen by the public. There could be other possibilities. They could be old. They could be tired. People aren’t seeing them every day.

by George Smith

Bangor’s animal control officer, Trisha Bruen, about coyotes appearing in city neighborhoods. Charles Eichacker story, Bangor Daily News, December 28, 2018 — The people have already spoken on background checks, and they spoke pretty loud and clear. Thirteen of sixteen counties voted against background checks. That’s a significant thing to me – the will of the people. We should listen to the will of the people. Governor Janet Mills. Scott Thistle story, Portland Press Herald, January 9, 2019 — Georgia voters stepped up last Election Day and passed an amendment that will direct up to 80% of the state’s sales tax revenue on outdoor gear toward land water and wildlife. Wyoming’s legislature is considering a $10 annual pass that would fund upkeep of trails used by hikers, bikers, and other nonmotorized recreationists. Posted stories on Facebook, January, 2019

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 19

What Boat Best Fits Your Needs? – Part 2

by Bob Humphrey Last month, we covered the most popular styles of freshwater and smaller saltwater boats, from john boats to bowriders, and from center consoles and bass boats to pontoon boats. Did you miss that issue? If so, call the Sportsman office at (207) 622-4242 and order a subscription – and ask Linda to include as a bonus the February “Biggest Bucks” issue that contained Part 1 of this two-part series. And now, on to Part 2 – considerations of overall size, interior layout, appropriate accessories and specific brands that will help you match your boat to the particular use you have in mind. Natural Progression Let’s assume by now

Figure out the bare minimum boat you’ll need, then look at your budget and see if you can afford to step up one or two levels. Open water can be a dangerous place when wind and weather pick up, and you should always have more boat than you need, so you are prepared for any conditions.

Since his priorities have shifted to salt water, the author employs a 20-foot center console, featuring a T-top build by Cumberland Ironworks of Pownal.

you have owned or used a small aluminum john boat or other open-floor,

tiller-outboard lightweight boat, and you are ready to move up.

2019 MAINE BOAT SHOWS

Once you’ve settled selecting a boat with a flat deck and a console,

then you need to figure out the best configuration and layout of the console and seats. In my own ownership of a series of boats, I followed what is a natural progression for many boaters: • First, a 14-foot, tiller-controlled, bench seat Grumman john boat. • Next came a 17foot side console, flatdecked Sea Nymph. • Then I upgraded to a Lund Tyee bowrider (the word “tyee” means a large Chinook salmon). It was a phenomenal fishing boat for fresh and saltwater. It was about as much boat as you could put into 16 feet, and it gave me the option of a collapsible top with full canvas and curtains. (Continued on next page)

Large Discounts on Leftover Boats! Pontoon Boats

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

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

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20 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Boating in Maine (Continued from page 19)

• And finally, since my priorities shifted to salt water, my latest upgrade was to a 20-foot

center console. There’s a little less protection from the cold during those first few weeks after ice-out, but it’s much more convenient on the ocean. And no matter what you’re fishing for, when you’re fighting a fish that’s circling around the boat, it’s always easier if you can move the angler, rather than the boat. Size Despite what you may have heard, size most definitely matters when selecting a boat. Again, think primary application. Figure out what the bare minimum is for the use to which you’ll put the boat. Then go back, look at your budget, and see if you can afford to step up one or two levels. The water can be a dangerous place when wind and weather pick up, and you should always have more boat than you need

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for any conditions. You should also consider what you will be towing it with. You can pull a 16-foot john boat with an Escort wagon, but anything much bigger will require a truck. Here again, go bigger than you think you’ll need so you’ll be ready when you decide to take a road trip. I could pull my 24-footer back and forth to the local ramp with a ½ ton, but any destination farther away required a 3/4 ton pickup. Accessories Options and accessories will also factor in your decision. Rod holders should almost be standard equipment in a fishing boat, but if the style you like doesn’t have them, you can always add some. Storage is another important consideration. I can promise you, no mat(Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 21

The Honda Power of Boating

CELEBRATION!

When properly camouflaged, this aluminum PolarKraft can double as a duck boat. (Continued from page 20)

ter how big your boat, you can never have enough storage space. And there are different types of storage, depending on whether you want your gear just out of the way, or out of the weather, too. You may even want some lockable storage. And if fishing is a primary use, give strong consideration to a live well. Beyond that, you can start adding options, such as a trolling motor, downriggers, collapsible blinds, and a stereo and VHF radio. Those decisions will be based on intended use and budget. And then there are engines – but that’s a subject for another issue. So is buying a used boat. Brand In these two articles I’ve talked a lot about models, but not much about makes. Here again, we can take a step-down approach. You’re trying to save money, but ultimately you get what you pay for. Certain brand boats cost more money, for a good reason. There are some real bargains out there, especially during show season, but when something seems too good to be true, it usually is. If you stick with known brands and are willing to pay a few extra dollars, you’ll be happier and much better off in the

long run. This is where doing your homework can also pay big dividends. Talk to people you know, or even people you meet, and ask them what they like and don’t like about their boats. There’s a lot of personal preference involved, like Ford and Chevy, Coke and Pepsi, but people who buy cheap boats to save money usually end up regretting it. Whatever you decide on, give it time. Once you get it home, drop it in the water and start using it, you are going to experience two things. The first is buyer’s remorse – questioning whether you made the right decision. That will pass when the first fish or duck flops on the deck. The second is frustration over specific things your boat is not particularly well-suited for. But like I said, that’s unavoidable. Instead of becoming frustrated, focus on the things it is well-suited for, but keep notes you can refer back to when it comes time to upgrade. See you on the water! Bob Humphrey is a wildlife biologist, outdoor writer, registered Maine guide and U.S.C.G. licensed captain who has pursued large and small game and fish across North America for more than five decades.

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

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

www.MaineSportsman.com

22 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

New Salty Tackle for 2019 There’s lots of new salt water tackle out there for 2019, so here’s a roundup of ten reasonably-priced goodies that may be of interest to Maine anglers for the coming season. Quantum Accurist S3 Inshore Spin Reel Quantum’s Gen 3 Accurist S3 reel is now

Quantum’s New Accurist S3 Inshore spin reel has uni-body construction, an improved drag setting system, and looks to be ideal for stripers, blues, and other nearshore gamesters. Photo courtesy Quantum

Our “Saltwater Fishing” guru Barry Gibson tells ocean anglers about new products on the market for 2019, from rods, reels and lures, to snips with titanium and stainless steel micro-serrated blades that will cut through line, wire and fish bone. available in the Inshore model, which features aluminum uni-body construction. The one-piece gearbox does away with side-cover flex to maintain gear alignment under load, and the patented ceramic drag system includes an improved adjustment mechanism to enhance reliability. The proprietary SCR Aluminum Safeguard corrosion protection, Duralok clutch, titanium bail wire and six anti-corrosion ball bearings are all backed by a three-year warranty and protection plan. The new model is available in sizes 35 and 30, and retails for $99.

quantumfishing.com Gamakatsu Outbarb Circle Hook This new circle hook has its barb on the out-

Gamakatsu’s new Outbarb Circle Hook has the barb on the outside of the point, which the company says results in a point twice as strong that stays latched in the fish’s jaw even if the line goes slack. Photo courtesy Gamakatsu

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

Roll-A-Dock

Classic Docks

Hydraulic Lifts

Boatlifts

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

www.MaineSportsman.com

side of the point (rather than the traditional inside placement), which the company says results in a point twice as strong as a conventional circle hook. Gamakatsu also says that the barb will stay latched better in the fish’s jaw, even if the line goes slack. The 1X light wire is forged for extra strength, and the hooks retail for $3.99 per pack. gamakatsu.com YoZuri Hydro Minnow LC Yo-Zuri’s latest addition to its line of popular Hydro Minnows comes in 6- and 6 ½-inch models,

with a new weight transfer system that makes it one of the easiest-casting minnow lures on the market, even into a headwind. It’s fitted with quality 3X strong trebles and heavy-duty stainless split rings, and is available in 12 different finishes, including the hot new “school bus yellow.”

Penn’s new Pursuit III spinning combos are factory-matched, reasonably priced, and come in nine different sizes. Photo courtesy Penn fishing Tackle (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 23 (Continued from page 22)

This should prove to be a dandy striper and bluefish lure for casting or trolling. Retail price is $9.99. yo-zuri.com Penn Pursuit III Combos Penn’s Pursuit III spinning reel is now available with a factory-matched Penn graphite rod, for an affordable and durable fish-taming setup. The reels feature a 4+1 bearing system and HT-100 carbon fiber drag washers, and the rods are fitted with Penn’s Dura-Guide guides. Nine different combo sizes are available, ranging in price from $79.99 to $99.99. pennfishing.com Cuda Professional Snips If you need to cut through mono, braid, wire, fish bones, or whatever, Cuda’s new 8-inch snips will do the job. The blades are titanium, nonstick coated German 4115 stainless steel with micro-serrated edges for unbelievable sharpness and durability. The handles are made of comfortable multi-layer, cold-molded Micarta, to provide a sure, non-slip grip. The snips come with a custom hard-molded sheath and lanyard, and retail for $59.95. cudabrand.com

Cuda’s new 8” Professional Snips will cut through mono, braid, wire, fish bones, and more. The blades are titanium-coated stainless, and the tool comes with a sheath and lanyard. Photo courtesy Cuda Fishing Tools

Tsunami Surface Blaster The new Platinum Surface Blasters from Tsunami are designed for long casts, maximum splash during the retrieve, and trophy fish.

The new Platinum Surface Blasters from Tsunami are designed for extra-long cast and maximum splash during the retrieve, ideal for big stripers and school tuna. Photo courtesy Bimini Bay Outfitters

They feature throughwire construction, extra-strong VMC hooks, 3D eyes, and vivid color patterns that range from “electric school bus” and “green mackerel” to “Wonder Bread.” The Blasters look to be ideal for grabbing the attention of big striped bass and school bluefin tuna, and retail for $16.99. biminibayoutfitters.com

Fin-Nor Tidal Series Rods Fin-Nor’s Tidal rods feature solid graphite construction that prevents the blank from collapsing under pressure, and provides a balance of strength and sensitivity. They feature heavy-duty reel seats, stainless guides with aluminum oxide inserts to handle braided lines, and the boat rod models sport EVA grips and rubber gimbals. The heavier action models have EVA foregrips as well as slick butts and aluminum gimbals. The Inshore Spinning Rods feature premium cork handles. Tidal Series rods run $98 to $129. finnorfishing.com Seaguar Gold Label Fluorocarbon Gold Label leader material is said to be as much as 23% thinner per pound-test than other Seaguar fluoro leaders, affording a stealthier presentation of baits and lures, and the thinner diameter also enhances the action of jigs and plugs. Seaguar’s co-extrusion method results in a Dou-

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

ble-Structure leader that unites two fluorocarbon resins for a strong, sensitive core and a supple

exterior. It’s available in 25-yard spools in 15- to 40-pound test for $18.99 (Continued on next page)

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

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

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

www.MaineSportsman.com

24 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Saltwater Fishing (Continued from page 23)

to 34.99. seaguar.com Spro Power Bucktail This new jig from quality tackle-manufacturer Spro is designed to get down deep. The super-strong Gamakatsu O’Shaughnessy hook features overdressed natural bucktail to provide a beefy profile as well as buoyancy to keep the hook out of the rocks. It’s ideal for surf casting or

jigging for stripers, and is available in 1-, 1 ½-, 2-, and 3-ounce sizes on 7/0 and 8/0 hooks. Prices run from $8.99 to 10.99. spro. com Bass Pro Frigate II Spinner The 3000 to 6000 models of the Frigate II spinning reel from Offshore Angler feature an all-aluminum frame with a composite rotor, and

the larger 7000 and 8000 models have a forged aluminum rotor. A stainless main shaft, brass and zinc alloy gears, and an 8-bearing system all combine to enhance performance. Carbon fiber and PTFE washers provide up to13 pounds of drag as needed, and the 5.2:1 retrieve ratio takes in over 30 inches of line per turn of the handle. The Frigate IIs start at $76.99. basspro.com

Pland! DON’T WAIT UNTIL APlan head! NEXT SPRING! Ahea — Boat Tops, Covers & Interiors — Schedule boat top, cover and seat repair work for the off season. Some items can be left with us all winter for spring pick-up! We do pontoon boats, too!

Terrance Swinghold of Myerstown, PA harvested this 22.97-lb. tom turkey on May 17, 2018 in Norridgewock, ME. It was registered at John’s Bait, Bolts and Bullets, on South Main Street, Solon.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 25

Maine Snowmobile Association (MSA): Its Goal is to Speak as “One Voice” for Clubs by Shane Brown When the average sledder thinks of leadership in the snowmobile industry, they generally know that their club is at the local level, while the Maine Snowmobile Association (MSA) is at the state level. However, do they really know the advantages of joining a club that’s affiliated with the MSA? I interviewed John Monk, president of the MSA, and asked him how MSA tries to meet its goals of providing a unified voice for the snowmobile industry, and how they advocate among the competing interests of riders, landowners and the State of Maine.

Question – What are the MSA’s primary purposes? John Monk – We provide education regarding the proper and safe use of snowmobiles; we promote the sport by acting as a liaison among clubs, landowners and state agencies; we focus on minimizing the environmental impact of trail building and snowmobile use, and teach our members to appreciate the natural and scenic areas of the state; we teach members how to respect landowners and other outdoor recreationalists; and we advocate for laws and regulations that are in the best interests of snowmobilers and

landowners. Question – Before we get into the specifics of MSA, can you tell us what economic benefits the snowmobile industry brings to the State of Maine? John Monk – The economic benefit of snowmobiling in Maine is incredible. The last formal study was done in 1998, and that report estimated a yearly benefit of $226 million. That figure was updated in 2003 and reflected a benefit of $350 million per year. There’s a brand new study underway right now, through Forest Resources at the University of Maine. Once we get those re-

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sults it will be helpful in our dealings with the Legislators, since lawmakers, in my experience, underestimate the positive financial impact of snowmobiling. New York completed a study in 2011. That state has only 10,600 miles of trail (to Maine’s 14,000), and they calculated the overall economic benefit as $868 million. It sure will be interesting to see the result of the study here in Maine! Question – What does the MSA membership offer to the rider? John Monk – MSA membership serves to improve communications among members – both those

who are club members and those who are independent. Seven times a year, we publish a newsletter covering the latest news and developments in the world of snowmobiling. Each local member club has an opportunity to contribute information to that newsletter. Together with the state’s snowmobile program, we provide members with the latest ITS (Interconnected Trail System) trail map. But we are primarily a communication and lobbying group, and our goal is to move our sport progressively forward, and to speak as “one voice” for all the local clubs. (Continued on next page)

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Snowmobiling (Continued from page 25)

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IThe MSA was born in 1968 when six riders got together to work for the betterment of clubs throughout Maine. Now, more than 50 years later, the association is thriving, more than 200 clubs are members, and MSA is a formidable lobbying force at the Maine Legislature.

Question – What does the MSA offer to the local clubs? John Monk –Each fall, we provide clubs with a packet of information regarding each club’s responsibilities for the upcoming season, including guidance on grant deadlines, volunteer worksheets, groomer logs, and liability insurance. That way, Maine’s 200-plus local clubs do not have to research that information individually. We also provide tickets, posters and information for our Super Raffle, which is our primary annual fundraiser. Officer update forms and State of Maine info is also provided. MSA maintains an office with two or three employees who are ready to respond to questions from riders, the press or the public regarding snowmobiling. Bob Meyers, our executive director, is a full-time lobbyist, and he works diligently on all the issues and legislation facing snowmobiling. He does a good job

of protecting our rights, as there are many groups that clearly are not in favor of motor sports. The agenda of meetings and events for the season are also planned by the MSA Executive board for clubs to participate in. We were organized more than 50 years ago, in 1968, and we are looking forward to serving clubs for another 50 years. Question – What is the cost to join the MSA, and how do you join? John Monk – The cost to join an MSA club is usually about $30. Of that account, $15 is forwarded to the MSA. Riders can either join at the local club with a paper application, or they can join online through the MSA website, www.MeSnow. com. If joining online, a $15 credit to the local club will be granted to the club that the member selects. We strongly encourage joining where you live, as well as joining where you ride. (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 27 (Continued from page 26)

Question – When is the MSA banquet, and who can attend? John Monk – The MSA Banquet is usually the 3rd or 4th week in April after season wrap-up. Any current paid membership is open to attend. Question – When and where are MSA meetings held, and who can attend? John Monk – Meetings are open to everyone, but only club directors can vote. In August we schedule meeting dates for the entire year, so folks will be able to plan ahead. This year’s February ride, for example, is at EMSC in Holden, and March’s will be in Littleton.

Question – If someone wants to get involved, how do they do that, and what positions are clubs looking for? John Monk – Anyone is welcome in the MSA. Most clubs could use volunteers to help in various aspects of club leadership. One challenge is to find folks to do trail preparation. Everyone wants to drive the groomer, but first it’s best to learn from the ground up by performing trail maintenance and pre-season work. Owning a snowmobile is not a requirement, and volunteers who don’t ride are also welcome. A happy, outgoing, upbeat person generally brings the most to the table in terms of helping a club

thrive. Question – How are the relationships between the local clubs and the MSA? John Monk – Many clubs are strong MSA club supporters, as they recognize the value of having someone to lean on for information. A few, maybe 10 or so, are not members of MSA. We encourage all clubs to join, but that’s their prerogative. We are strongest as a group if we can truly speak as “one voice” with assistance and input from as many clubs as possible.

John and Melanie Monk are passionate about snowmobiling and about the value of the Maine Snowmobile Association. John serves as president of the association.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 29

Maine Wildlife:

Woodchuck by Tom Seymour

On a sunny, warm day toward the end of March, a hiker noticed a set of tracks in the fast-melting snow, leading from a large hole in the ground. Based on the tracks, it’s clear the animal had walked hesitatingly, perhaps a bit unsteadily. The tracks wound around the little hillside before re-entering the hole. However, these weren’t just any tracks. Each forefoot had four toes, and the hind feet had five toes. What’s more, the toes were spread apart, one from the other. What kind of critter left these tracks? The animal was a woodchuck, Marmota monax, also known as groundhog. Woodchucks hibernate from October through February, so it wasn’t surprising for our hiker to see woodchuck tracks in late March. The animal had no doubt just bestirred itself, and this was the first time it had left its burrow for several months. During a warm spell the previous January, the woodchuck awoke from its slumber, left its burrow and took a short stroll outside. After that, the ’chuck returned to its burrow and fell back asleep, not to awaken until the following March. Woodchuck Habits As vegetarians, woodchucks appear gentle and serene. And they are, most of the time. However, woodchuck males engage in vicious fights, often biting and scratching such as to cause injury. This occurs in early spring, when males contend with each other to win the favors of females. Female woodchucks, too, become aggressive when they perceive a threat to their young. The first line of defense is a low, growling sound. Usually, that serves to disabuse any potential enemy of any thoughts of attack. And woe to any intruder that a female woodchuck manages to clash with, since woodchucks are extremely powerful, using their teeth and claws to good advantage. Like other wild animals, woodchucks have their favorite food, clover being their preferred crop. But any tender greenery will do in a pinch. In addition to clover, woodchucks love our homegrown vegetables, a habit that has caused generations of farmers and gardeners to wage war on these furry members of the squirrel family. Woodchucks are diurnal, meaning they

Woodchuck meat is greasy, making it difficult to cook and eat. In fact, when I volunteered to shoot a woodchuck and bring it over to my grandmother so she could make a meal out of it, she flatly rejected my offer. are most active during twilight hours of dawn and dusk. All the same, woodchucks frequently raid gardens in daytime. In early spring, woodchucks become active at night. Woodchucks often sit alongside a burrow entrance, watching for predators. At the first sign of trouble, the animal emits a sharp whistle before darting back into its burrow. Despite their chubby shape and short legs, woodchucks are tree climbers. The animals don’t climb straight trees, though. Instead, they prefer to ascend leaning trees. The question of why woodchucks climb trees remains largely unanswered. Perhaps it’s to take advantage of cool breezes, or perhaps for protection from predators. Worthy Opponents For those who watch a woodchuck slowly waddle around the edge of our garden, the animals appear clumsy and plodding. But scare it, and a woodchuck will run faster than seems possible. Couple this with keen eyesight and excellent hearing, and it becomes plain to see that woodchucks aren’t pushovers. Woodchucks dislike being too far from protective cover, so when danger threatens – as in a gardener with a gun – the ’chuck can make a quick dash to safety. Every so often, though, fortune favors the human. Several years ago, I spied a woodchuck nibbling some greens in my garden. The woodchuck didn’t see me, though. The stage was set for one of those rare encounters where the woodchuck’s luck runs out. And so it was that after loading my .22 rifle, I gently slid the kitchen door open and slowly stepped outside. The woodchuck kept

nibbling away, oblivious to my presence. We were about 75 feet apart when the woodchuck realized its predicament and took off at top speed. Swinging on the running animal as when swinging on a partridge or a woodcock, I squeezed the trigger and followed through. And to my astonishment, the woodchuck tumbled, dead as a doornail. Other woodchucks required far more time for me to accomplish their demise. Much of this included waiting for the woodchuck to return after initially being frightened off. It may take a while, but woodchucks almost always return to the scene of the crime. Groundhog Grease As a youth, the late country singer Grandpa Jones was one of my favorites. And among his many songs was one called, “Groundhog.” This song extolled the culinary value of groundhogs, or woodchucks, as we in Maine refer to them. But part of the punch line indicated how greasy woodchuck flesh is. The line ended with, “…groundhog grease all over his chin.” This idea of woodchucks as a main course stuck with me. My grandpa once told me how, during the Great Depression, he shot woodchucks in order to stretch out the family’s food budget. The old man said they tasted good enough, but like raccoons, were difficult to clean, in that they had so much greasy fat – a big drawback. So it was no surprise that when I suggested shooting a woodchuck and bringing it home so grandma could cook it, my offer was flatly rejected. Over the following years I have shot a number of woodchucks, but never ate a one. The reason was that woodchucks kept popping up at the most inconvenient times, often when there was no time to skin and clean the animals. Burrow System As opposed to certain opportunistic mammals that borrow dens made by others, woodchucks dig their own burrows. And they don’t just dig one tunnel and call it good. Woodchuck burrows include both hibernating and nesting chambers. Sometimes a woodchuck will construct a summer burrow and a winter burrow. Burrows have two entrances. Ones with a pile of dirt in front indicate a main entrance. Holes with no pile of dirt are “plunge holes,” and are dug toward the surface from beneath the ground. Look for burrows just inside the treeline around fields. Also, woodchucks often situate their burrow entrances on small hillsides. For all the damage woodchucks do to crops, most Mainers have a tender place in their heart for the cuddly-looking marmots. www.MaineSportsman.com

30 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Wheaton and Friends having a Good Winter for Ice Angling and Photos Written by Will Lund — Photos by Jonathan Wheaton

Les Marcue of Norridgewock is frequently found out on the ice of East Pond in Smithfield early in the morning, with his pack basket full of ice-fishing gear.

As we saw in the February issue (“Norridgewock Angler Combines Passions for Ice Fishing, Photography”), Jonathan Wheaton knows his way around an ice shack and a camera. He often fishes with a buddy, 28-year old Les www.MaineSportsman.com

Marcue, also from Norridgewock. Marcue has been fishing seriously for the past eight years. “I try to get out bright and early,” said Marcue. “I typically fish at different depths until I have some success locating the fish.”

“Our choice of bait is medium to large shiners,” Marcue reports. “In terms of the time of day for the most productive fishing, we’ve had the most success in the mid-morning.” Inevitably, Wheaton and Marcue are accompanied by Wheaton’s 6-year

old Brittany Spaniel, Trigger. “Trigger goes ice fishing with us every time we step foot on the ice,” said Wheaton. “He typically rides on the front of the snowmobile or the wheeler with me. He has his own bed in the shack next to the woodstove,

and his bed features a handrail fabricated from an axe handle.” All of which proves that it’s good to have friends of all types to share the enjoyment of ice fishing in Maine.

(More photos on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 31

The Norridgewock area experienced some extremely cold weather earlier this winter, as demonstrated by the fact that Les Marcue’s breath condenses when it hits the frigid air.

Trigger, Wheaton’s Brittany Spaniel, keeps warm in his own custom Carhartt jacket from LL Bean.

Wheaton and Trigger enjoy a day on the ice.

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32 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Are Electric Ice Augers Worth the Money? We have gone through a lot of ice augers throughout the years – two-stroke gas augers, propane augers and now electric augers. We recently purchased an Ion X; other electric augers are manufactured by companies such as Jiffy, StrikeMaster, Arksen and Landmark. In my opinion, electric is the way to go. Our first augers were gas-powered. The old model we had was always a struggle to get running, and it seemed as though something mechanical was always going wrong with it when we were out on the ice. Finally Had It with 2-Strokes We’d finally had it with 2-stroke auger, and switched to propane. Now the propane auger

My electric auger features all the bells and whistles, including reverse – which allows me to push all the skimmed ice and snow down through the hole – and an LED light that lets me see what I’m doing when I’m drilling holes at night in pursuit of cusk. worked well for a while, but the same mechanical issues started to appear after a couple years of use. Sometimes the auger would spin for a bit and stop; you would have to let off the gas to get it going again. On other occasions, the propane leaked – no matter how tight it was. Because of the potential for a leak, we couldn’t have the auger inside our vehicles while traveling to and from the lake. Instead, we had to keep it in the back of the truck in case it leaked again. Of course, it tended to get beat up while being

transported in the bed of the truck. Take It Inside! But with electric augers like our Ion X, you don’t have to worry about that. You can keep it right in the back seat, and there is nothing that will spill in the back seat or leak into the interior air of your vehicle. A few years ago when the Ion models came out, we didn’t get one because they didn’t have the teninch bit available. However, this year, when they did offer the 10 inch bit in stock, we bought one and used it. When we went out to

the lake, the ice was already 6 to 8 inches thick. However, the batteries on these newer electric rigs are so powerful that we were able to drill about 30 holes, and had absolutely no problems. The manufacturer says the Ion will drill about 40 holes, 10 inches in diameter, through 16 inches of ice. All the major top-shelf brands have in indicator on the battery to indicate how much juice you have left. The first day we tried it, it was quite cold out – about 10 degrees above zero. Even in that temperature, the battery

lasted all day on the initial 2-hour charge. The Ion has a 40-volt lithium battery, and the battery only weighs about a pound and a half or so. With an electric auger, there’s no more mixing gas and no buying propane bottles – just plug it into an outlet for two hours, and you’re ready to go with a push of the button. Features Galore! The Ion model features reverse – a function that’s not shared with some other brands. When you cut through the ice and then reverse the auger, it has the effect of pushing all the snow down into the hole, meaning you don’t have to skim the hole. Our model has one more valuable feature – (Continued on next page)

For more information

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�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 33 (Continued from page 32)

a bright LED light that shines down when you are drilling, to illuminate the hole. I found this really useful when drilling holes at night for cusk fishing. There’s another quality to electric augers – they are quiet. They don’t spook the fish, and they also don’t kick up clouds of smoke like the older 2-stroke engines used to do. Drilling holes is a peaceful process, which is especially important if I am putting traps near the shore for brook trout.

Folks with houses and camps near the shore appreciate the lack of noise and fuss. In short, I recommend you give electric augers a try. So far, my experience with them has been incredible. Special note from the author: I’ll be at the State of Maine Sportsman’s Show March 2931 at the Augusta Civic Center. As I’ve done the last couple of years, I will be fly tying at The Maine Sportsman booth. See you there!

Durable, powerful ice augers are now being manufactured by companies such as (left to right) Ion, Jiffy and StrikeMaster.

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34 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Late Season Action Rewarding Up North All sportsmen seem to possess a chromosomal trait of wanderlust – they just have to explore and investigate new areas and fresh endeavors. Regardless of how many productive lakes and ponds are nearby, fishermen need to head to other, more distant options. Why? Just because! A couple of regular ice fishing buddies and I are prime examples. There are no fewer than half a dozen sure-bet ice fishing spots within 30 minutes of home, but we can’t stay local. There must be bigger fish and faster action on that frozen gem 90 minutes away that other anglers brag about. A Grand Option For those hard-water fishermen from northern or Central Aroostook, it’s no small trek over rough, winter roads to visit the vast surface and extensive shoreline of East Grand Lake. Nonetheless, I’ve seldom regretted the time and effort involved, and the action

Aroostook’s still a month away from green grass and fresh fiddleheads. However, fresh fish chowder from a catch through the ice at East Grand Lake or Pleasant Pond, or a tasty rabbit stew after hare hunting along the snowy field roads in Robinson, keeps hope alive in The County!

Sam Delano of Blaine brings a hefty trout through the ice during a March outing to Squa Pan Lake. That day, the weather and fishing were both warm. All photos by Bill Graves

never disappoints. Ice-drillers are drawn by the wide variety of at least eight different species of fish – salmon, brook trout, togue and smallmouth bass com-

prise the premier fin and scale quartet, with pickerel, yellow perch, white perch and smelt filling the final four. Bragging-size fish are fairly common, and trophies are yet an-

other drawing card for sports who prefer a single wall-hanger rather than a dozen run-of-the-mill. Aroostook outdoorsmen consider Long Lake to be a large body of wa-

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ter at 6,000 acres. By comparison, East Grand runs 16,000 acres, and bottoms out at 120 feet! Crowding is not a problem, even in the more popular spots, and a snowmobile expands the options even further. Visiting anglers need to be aware that East Grand is a boundary waterway, and while the entire open water lake may be fished, American fishermen who have not passed through customs and immigration cannot legally go ashore on the Canadian side of the lake. Over the last decade, Border Patrol personnel in vehicles and boats regularly patrol border water, so to prevent any problems I’d suggest visiting anglers stay on the main body of water and avoid the land and even coves on the Canadian side. Those who want to go through customs and purchase a Canadian fishing license are certainly welcome to do so, but there is plenty of fine fishing areas on this huge lake that you can access with your Maine license. Also, be sure to check the Maine fishing rules and regulations (don’t look under “E”; you’ll find East Grand Lake listed under “G” for “Grand Lake, East”), where you’ll see you’re limited to one togue a day, and two bass, only one of which can exceed 14 inches.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 35

March ice fishing can be the most comfortable of the season, and action is often first-rate as well, as shown by this angler as he lifts another keeper from the ice hole. (Continued from page 34)

nesses and individuals keep lanes plowed all along the western shoreline. Dozens of packeddown snowmobile trails also offer access, and for hearty visitors who don’t mind fishing near shore, snowshoeing is always an option. Check out Delorme’s Atlas, Maps 45 & 53 for a full overview. It’s the only Maine lake I can find that’s in two countries, two counties and no less than six Gazetteer grids – now that’s a grand lake! The deep water between Little River Cove toward the mouth of The Arm offers likely togue action, and Davenport Cove near Butterfield Landing provides plenty of salmon and trout. Meeting House and Thoroughfare Coves as well as Norway Point are other proven drill sites for tip-ups. Additional popular sites to visit, when you can avoid weekend pressure, are Hayes Point, Little River Cove and Five Islands. Thanks to Grand’s vast expanse, even during the busiest times there are many spots where you can enjoy a bit of solitude.

Josh Ash of Ashland really has to work and struggle to reach water through the very thick ice -- in fact, the auger just about bottoms out. At least the March weather is comfortable.

Other fishermenfriendly amenities of East Grand include several commercial and private camps and cabins for rent, as well as some ice fishing shanties rigged and ready for action. There are several area locations to purchase live bait, and a handful of village stores carry a limited selection of ice fishing gear. A couple

of businesses will even rent smelt shanties, ice augers and snowmobiles to accommodate visiting sportsman. East Grand Lake offers excellent fishing, and I prefer March visits because the weather is generally more comfortable and there are fewer anglers as the season fades. Check it out for yourself.

Jim Shaw of Mars Hill brings another fish through the ice on a fast action day at Pleasant Lake in Island Falls. Action was so steady that day, it was hard to get time to jig for smelts.

A Pleasant Diversion Another Southern Aroostook lake with dependable March fishing as well as several other recreational options is Pleasant Pond, in Island Falls. I’ve fished this waterway year-’round with

steady success, and jigged smelt through the ice for 50 years – perhaps my favorite endeavor, thanks to thanks to a cozy, warm smelt hut after a long day at work. Pleasant is renowned (Continued on next page)

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Over 75 exhibitors from throughout Maine, New Brunswick, Labrador, Quebec and New England will be on hand. Great food with table seating from the Riverside Restaurant. There will be several demonstrations throughout the weekend by the Maine Spaniel Club and the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association as well as other demonstrations including Bass Fishing, Life Saving and Canoeing/Kayaking demonstrations.

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36 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

The County (Continued from page 35)

for fat, feisty salmon, and I’ve caught many on baited smelt handlines as well as on tip-ups. Of course, brook trout are plentiful as well. Birch Point Cove is a favorite haunt, and there is always a small village of smelt huts erected there each winter. Three generations of the Edwards family have overseen Birch Point Lodge, and they offer cabins, smelt shanties, RV sites and even snowmobile to rent by the hour, day, or week for the convenience of visiting sportsmen. In addition to a lunch counter and some miscellaneous fishing gear on site, there’s a full bowling alley downstairs in case the fishing slows down. There’s nearby access to a wide system of snow sled trails, and several options for cross country skiers and snowshoeing. While Birch Point Cove is easily reached and fished on foot, exploring Outlet Cove, Sand Cove and the productive shoreline near Outlet

Here are Thunder and Lightning, and they really do whip up a storm of rabbit once they scent a trail. The baying begins, and it’s just a matter of waiting for the bunny to circle back by for a shot.

Mountain will require a snowmobile. Pleasant is a simple lake to fish and seldom crowded – just drive I95 north or south, turn onto Route 2, and then travel The Pond Road right to the maintained boat ramp or a bit farther to

Birch Point Lodge. See DeLorme’s Atlas, Map 52, B-4 & B-5 – that map will fill in the blanks for newcomers to visit a very “pleasant” option to ice fish. The March Hare I spent the first 17 years of my life growing

The author, Bill Graves, stands beside a snowmobile track with his first snowshoe hare of the day. Now it’s time to pack up the dogs, a try a new spot nearby.

up in the small village of Robinson – a half-dozen businesses, perhaps 50 houses, and lot of forest and farmland. I still visit my old rod and gun haunts regularly, and hunting snowshoe hare during the Ides of March continues to be

a favored venture. The weather is warmer, the days longer, and snow is shallower … and best of all, it’s mating season, and the rabbits are moving all day looking for companionship. The woodlots, brushlines, hedgerows, and (Continued on next page)

MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ: Woodchuck by Steve Vose

The woodchuck (Marmota monax), also known as the groundhog, inhabits a native range stretching across the Eastern United States, Canada and Alaska. In New England, resilient and adaptable woodchucks inhabit urban yards, rural fields and woodland clearings. These members of the rodent family grow to a length of 16-20 inches, and weigh between 6-12 pounds. Woodchucks have short, round bodies covered in coarse grayish-brown fur. For their size, woodchucks have incredibly powerful legs, tipped with heavy claws used for digging and even climbing trees. Woodchucks consume a wide variety of plants, including grass, clover, plantain and wild flowers. To the dismay of gardeners,

woodchucks also eat broccoli, peas, beans, lettuce and squash, and entire gardens may be destroyed by their voracious appetite. Woodchucks feed primarily during the day, and at night they retire to the protection of their extensive maze of underground

Questions 1. By what name is the woodchuck also known? 2. What is the native range of the woodchuck? 3. How much does a woodchuck typically weigh? 4. What is the primary diet of a woodchuck in the wild? www.MaineSportsman.com

5. 6. 7. 8.

borrows, to better escape predation. Woodchucks have many natural enemies, including foxes, coyotes, dogs and humans. If fortunate enough to avoid being eaten, Woodchucks usually live 5-6 years. Woodchucks in captivity have been recorded living as long as fourteen years. One of Maine’s few true hibernators, woodchucks hibernate from October to March. Shortly after emerging from their winter dens, woodchucks breed and give birth in April to one litter containing 4-6 kits. At six weeks of age, young leave the burrow with their mother, and by autumn the young woodchucks are able to venture off to seek their own territories.

What animals prey upon woodchucks? How long do woodchucks typically live in the wild? How long do woodchucks live in captivity? Do woodchucks hibernate?

Answers on Page 78

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 37 (Continued from page 36)

second growth fields are still plentiful in Robinson, and they abound with hare. A brace of beagles assure steady action, but stop-and-go stalking with a couple of hunting buddies will kick up plenty of furry, fast-moving quarry. Just over the Prestile Bridge in Robinson is the Trafford Road on the right, which wanders through field and forest prime for rabbit gunning. After a couple of miles, this two-track joins the East Blaine Road. Young Brook wanders along the east side of East Blaine Road near the Canadian border, and no fewer than

a dozen field roads offer snowshoe or snowmobile access to great hare cover that receives only light hunting pressure. Peruse the Atlas, Map 59, B-4 for precise direction. All the secondary and back country gravel roads can be reached from Route 1, just a couple miles west of Robinson. For the most part, March yields the most comfortable conditions and dependable action of the winter season. Aroostook’s still a month away from green grass and fresh fiddleheads, but a tasty rabbit stew or fresh fish chowder keeps hope alive in The County.

A trio of enthusiastic hounds make for an action-packed hare hunt this month. In just an hour, a sufficient number of bunnies were bagged to supply a big stew.

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38 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

March is the Month for Ice Fishing and Planning your 2019 Deer Season As the saying goes, March comes in like a lion. The temps still average below freezing for much of Maine at the beginning of the month. That means there’s normally plenty of ice on our lakes, and ice-fishing is going strong. March also goes out like a lamb. That means parts of southern Maine and portions of the coast can be void of snow or ice for sportsmen to play on. It’s a big state, however, and as long as people aren’t averse to a two- or three-hour drive, we can usually find some outdoor fun to be had. Normally my time in March is spent searching for salmon on northern Maine lakes. Ask any of the guys I fish with, however, and they’ll tell you the conversation rarely revolves around fishing tactics. Instead, we discuss missed opportunities the previous whitetail season, the health of the deer herd, our ideas for stand placement, and our plans for out of state trips for the upcoming season. I wouldn’t say I’m an ice fishing addict like some of my buddies, but

Ice fishing is great this time of year, and if the fish aren’t biting, it’s time to discuss and debate last year’s whitetail season – ammo choice, stand placement and missed opportunities – as well as fantasizing about future travels to Iowa for deer, New Brunswick for bears or Oregon for elk.

Ice fishing is fun, but if the action is slow, it’s a good time to review last year’s hunt, and to plan for 2019!

I do enjoy it most of the time. If flags are flying and my jigging rod is bent from the weight of a good fish, I’m happy to be on the ice. When the fish are tight-lipped and flags are few, a good home cooked meal of venison sausage, egg sandwiches and some cold homebrew make fishing more bearable. The crew I hang with doesn’t go hungry on the ice! When we catch fish, we get as excited as the

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Game Planning the 2019 Deer Season This past season, I didn’t kill a buck. My wife and I were both fortunate to take mature does, and our freezer is full of excellent deer steaks, burger, sausage and stew meat. Much of this meat will be consumed in our ice shack or on ice fishing trips to northern Maine. Sharing the harvest with friends is part of what makes this time of year so awesome. More often than not, conversation in our ice shacks end up revolving around deer. By March, we’ve got a pretty good idea of how winter has gone. Deep snow pack and ultra-cold days over a long period of time spell disaster for our deer herd, and we all know it. Happy conversations are had when the winter is missing one or both of those things. We’ve really lucked out over the past few years, with mild winters over much of the state. Our deer herd and our hunters have benefitted tremendously from the mild winters too. (Continued on next page)

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man to know if the fish are present, what depths they’re feeding at, and if they’re active and just want a different presentation. There’s nothing like a mark showing up on the screen, dropping a jig or bait to it and watching it move and hit! Friends without flashers liken this to playing video games. However, in real life it sure helps to pass the time on those

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�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 39 (Continued from page 38)

Our group will absolutely shoot coyotes when given the opportunity; however, none of us actively pursues coyotes anymore. We talk about baiting, but to date we’ve only tried our hand at it once or twice. We all know coyotes kill deer year-round, but during recent winters of mild weather, the evidence of this has not been great where we live. Minimal or not, it’s always on our minds. Planning of new food plots, renewing permission from landowners, new treestand placement and even new hunting equipment are all topics to discuss. Ammo Debate This year, a good friend tried some new loads in his .308, and he wasn’t happy with the bullet performance. I shoot the same type of bullet in a 140 grain and he’s shooting a 180 grain. My guess is that the bullet is too heavy – it’s just passing through and not mushrooming enough. There’s no doubt we’ll spend significant time discussing how to fix this problem. My friend lost a very nice buck shooting those new bullets. Unfortunately we never recovered that deer. I have no doubt we’ll spend time in March and even April in search of that buck or of any sign of what may have happened. An early thaw or a slow fishing day might even trigger a search party for that buck. With a little luck, we could still find the deer. During my 2018 deer season, I got onto two mature bucks and just couldn’t seal the deal. No matter – I know more about each of them, and 2019 is a new year. Having serious deer hunters as friends, it’s nice to be able to bounce ideas off of them. It’s likely I was too close to a doe

bedding area last year. With the help of my buddies, I’ll look over aerial photos, and plan out new stands as well as entry and exit routes. Heck, if I’m lucky, I might even be able to convince them to help me cut the lanes I’ll use to get in and out of my stand. 2019 could be another year for an out-of-state hunt. Ice fishing affords us all opportunities to fantasize about trips to other states and hunting deer or other animals. Whether it’s Iowa for

deer, New Brunswick for bears, Oregon for elk or somewhere else for something new, we all dream when we’re on the hardwater. What else would anyone expect when the fish aren’t biting? March may be slow for big game, but our favorite winter pastime provides us all an opportunity to enjoy the fruits of season past and to discuss the future. Enjoy March on our frozen ponds, and get ready for the thaw, shed hunting and turkey scouting for this year!

TROPHY DEER, BEAR & MOOSE HUNTS

Special note from the author: Attending the State of Maine Sportsman’s Show (March 29 - 31, 2019) is something I look forward to each year. Time spent seeing old friends, catching up on previous hunting seasons and making new friends, can easily fill three fabulous days. My favorite thing to do is talk deer hunting; however, I

absolutely love watching Blain and Patti Carter with NAVHDA. I have German Shorthaired Pointers (GSPs), and my wife and I have been part of that show before, so we’re a bit partial. I’m looking forward to this year’s event and to seeing our readers at The Maine Sportsman booth!

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40 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

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

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42 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Go Figure! OK – I have to come clean. I don’t just hunt or fish or ATV or snowmobile or snowshoe or putter around camp. I, like so many other poor souls, have to show up at work, occasionally. I need to work to support my all important hobbies. Simply telling the wife I am headed out in the field to “feed the family”, just doesn’t cover the bills. Luckily for me, my job is to haunt the halls of Augusta when the Legislature is in session. Every now and then I get to add my “2 cents’ worth” to bills being heard and decided. I have been hanging the halls of the Statehouse now for 31 years. My job has provided me with a front row seat on how policy is made, and the folks who make it. Years ago, when I was a cop, I used to wonder, “How did these laws happen?” Many of them seemed nearly impossible to read or understand. Kind of like the “Hunting and Fishing Laws” the department releases. One does need a Harvard Law degree or a Doctorate from Yale to sift through. (The part I like the best is the language in the rule book that specifies that these brochures are not the “real” laws!!!) How Laws are Made Once in Augusta, I realized how laws happen. Take 13 people from around the state, stick ’em in a room, have the departments defend the status quo, have folks complain about everything they do, and voila! Laws! www.MaineSportsman.com

What a novel idea – to have a legislator who actually gets out into the fields, woods and waters with fish and wildlife biologists before considering laws governing sportsmen!

The House Chair of the Legislature’s Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Cathy Nadeau, is shown here during a visit to a bear’s den with Maine’s wildlife biologists.

Every Legislator I have met in these halls has come to Augusta to give their best effort to represent their district and the State. It is truly a public service – six months the first session, and four months the second. The policy issues I’m most attentive to are the bills that come before the Joint Standing Committee of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. This committee handles policy bills on fishing, hunting, trapping, snowmobiling, ATVing and access.

Here, Rep. Cathy Nadeau shows off a nice brook trout. “I would rather be outside,” she told the author, and he believes that’s just the kind of policymaker Maine sportsmen and -women need in Augusta.

IF&W Committee House Chair: Cathy Nadeau This session, the House Chair of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee is Representative Cathy Nadeau, of Winslow. Her district encompasses Winslow and part of Benton. She is serving her 4th term in the House So that is 6 years of folks complaining to her, with two more to go! I recently sat down with her over a coffee to ask what her goals were for the session. First off, Rep. Na-

deau is an avid outdoorswoman. In fact, she has a camp on the same pond I am on! She hikes, she bikes, she fishes, and she gardens. She boats, paddleboards and kayaks. This past deer season she worked in a deer processing shop. She also has been known to shoot squirrels harassing her at camp. Her quote to me was, “I don’t like being inside!” Hands-On Legislator Rep. Nadeau has been on the IF&W committee for several sessions. During that time, she has

gotten out into the fields and woods of Maine, following biologists as they complete eagle counts, fish stockings and bear taggings. I asked her why she participated with the Department in those tasks. She said she felt she should understand what actually happened in the Department as she was voting on policy directing it. What a novel thought! Four years ago, she ventured to Caribou to witness her first moose lottery drawing. It was a long way from Winslow, but she wanted to see for herself what it was all about. Last year she was in Skowhegan for the drawing. Rep. Nadeau told me her primary goal in the committee is to come to unanimous votes on bills, and to give a fair hearing to ideas. She doesn’t care if the ideas come from Democrat, Republican or independent legislators. Good ideas will get a thumbs-up, and others will fail. Personally, I like having a legislator chairing this committee who spends so much time outdoors. Her tagging along with department folks shows a deep appreciation for their job. It also says she wants to protect and enhance with good policy our Maine traditions. Of course, we ended the conversation with me asking her to do something about the infestation of turkeys. After all, enough is enough is enough!

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 43

Baxter State Park Tote Road: “Life in the Slow Lane” I’ve got one complaint about snowmobilers – they go too fast. Aside from the obvious dangers of cruising along at breakneck speed, riders in a hurry miss most of the ride. I get it. For some, it’s about getting “from here to there” as quickly as possible. These destination-driven trail runners boast about miles run and hours logged. Fortunately, snow travelers looking to take in the scenery and smell the frozen roses along the way have found a trail devoid of high speed and runaway sleds – the tote road around the perimeter of Baxter State Park. Most folks think about Baxter State Park as a protected wilderness that caters to self-propelled outdoorsy types. Thankfully, that’s fairly accurate. However, during the winter season, the park

Trip preparation is important. Back in the day, I would show up with a can of soda and a bag of M&M’s. But Lenny Potvin taught me not only to bring stuff for myself, but also to bring extra gear for the guy who shows up with a can of soda and a bag of M&M’s.

The Katahdin Region offers many well groomed trails designed for safe navigation in the remote North Country. The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument has 22 miles of trails that traverse the lands east of the East Branch Penobscot River. The Baxter State Park Tote Road is open to snowmobilers who obey the 20 miles-per-hour speed limit. Photo courtesy 5-Lakes Lodge

allows snowmobiling on the Park Tote Road. This gravel (summer terminol-

ogy) road encircles much of the park, giving riders a well-rounded introduc-

tion to many of the park’s natural features. Snowmobiling along

the Park Tote Road comes with a few rules. The established speed limit – 20-miles per hour – reminds snow travelers of the park’s theme: “Wilderness first, recreation second.” Slow Tour Also, forget about the friendly groomer, as the park does no grooming on the tote road. During the winter, the tote road turns into a multiuse trail. This requires snow machine operators to share the road with cross-country skiers, snowshoers and winter hikers. It’s important for motorized trail runners to follow the strictly-enforced 20-m.p.h. speed limit for the safety of the self-propelled crowd. In addition to making it safer for other users, this low-speed approach to snowmobiling allows for a relaxed and reflective (Continued on next page)

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44 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Katahdin Country (Continued from page 43)

sledding experience. Years ago, I headed out for a day of snowmobiling with a small party and a guide. We thought we were in for a relaxing day on the trail. In the first ten minutes, however, the guide slapped the throttle and took off, leaving two of our sleds in the snow. Try as we may, it took over an hour to find the guide, who was waiting for us quite a ways up the

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trail. The situation repeated itself throughout the day. After 150 miles, we were exhausted. We put on way too many miles and had to go way too fast for my taste. Baxter State Park offers trail runners a chance to enjoy the journey and let the destination take care of itself. The wilderness landscape and scenery make this slow ride into the heart of Katahdin Country well

worth the time. Katahdin Woods and Waters The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument also allows snowmobiling, and offers 22 miles of trails. The lands that lie east of the East Branch Penobscot River are open to snowmobiling. The Interconnected Trail System (ITS) 85 crosses into the Monument at three different locations. Like Baxter, much of the trail system here is also open to cross-country skiers, snowshoers and winter wanderers. Sledders must exercise caution and extend courtesy to these self-propelled winter explorers.

Local snowmobile clubs, like the Rockabema Snow Rangers, maintains the trail system, posting updated trail conditions on their Facebook page. The trails in the monument traverse through thick forests in mostly-undeveloped acreage. Traveling through these remote parcels requires extra preparation. M&M’s? Decades ago, my friend Lenny Potvin taught me the value of trip preparation. Back then, I’d show up to most any outdoor adventure with a can of Coca Cola and a bag of M&M’s. Potvin taught me to pack not only the things I might need if things

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went south, but to bring along extra gear for the guy who showed up with a can of soda and a bag of M&M’s. (For the record, it was always a large bag of M&M’s.) Both the Baxter State Park Tote Road and the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument offer remote trail riding worthy of a relaxed pace. The internet has a great deal of detailed information for snow travelers looking to back off on the throttle and enjoy the ride. NEOC The New England Outdoor Center is located on Twin Pines Road, in the town of Millinocket. In addition to all the firstclass amenities, they do a really good job introducing newbies to the sport of snow travel. They have a threehour snowmobile tour geared towards letting folks dab their toe in the snow to see if mechanized snow travel works for them. For a reasonable fee, a novice receives a sled, learns the do’s and don’ts of trail riding, and experiences the Interconnected Trail System (ITS) first-hand. This guided tour calms the newbie jitters, operating much like an LL Bean Outdoor Discovery class – giving folks from all walks of life a chance to learn about one of Maine’s most popular winter sports. Those wanting to bring along a friend on the trail can purchase the two-up sled option. The guided instruction alone makes these Saturday and Sunday afternoon tours a great value. Last Chance Bunnies Hunters looking for some hopping action this month can take advantage of the snowshoe hare season, which stays open until March 31. Toward the end of the month, the snow will (Continued on page 46)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 45

Prepare for a Successful Fishing Season by Starting Now Assure yourself a great fly fishing season by planning now for the upcoming months of spring and summer. Make solid reservation choices for a special fishing trip this year by attending outdoor shows and booking with a reputable lodge and guide. Fishing season never lasts long enough. I dream all winter of the upcoming season, of gently laying a line out on new waters known for their trophy potential, or meeting some new angling friend at a remote lodge full of history and tradition. The season goes by so quickly that sometimes I don’t get a chance to fish all the places I dreamed of during those cold winter nights, because of poor planning. I’ve got a couple of ways I’m going to get a jump on this problem this year – I’m booking early. After scouring maps, reading fishing forums, and listening to several fly-fishing buddies, I’ve come up with a few select choices for fishing this year. The next trick I’m going to use to avoid missing out on any prime fishing this season is to start checking all my gear and making sure it works properly, well before the season arrives. I’m going to take care of things like re-stocking my vest with missing items, sharpening hooks, straightening out and refilling fly boxes, checking and cleaning fly lines, cleaning and greasing reels, and final-

David Rockwell helps disabled veterans fish the Douglaston Salmon Run (DSR) section of the Salmon River in New York, and the fishing can get fast and furious. One moment anglers are streamside laughing and enjoying hot cups of coffee with the guides, and the next moment they are knee-deep in the river, fighting a three-foot fish that wants to rip the line right off the reel. ly – this year I’m going to start keeping a fishing journal. Fishing Partner This year’s fishing season should also be very interesting for one simple reason – I have a new fishing partner that will need my special attention. Our home has a young addition this year – a little Vizsla puppy that is growing fast. I’m going to have to re-learn how to row the drift boat, how to paddle the canoe, how to cast, how to tie a fly on ... all with this sweet bird dog at my heels.

At ten weeks old, this little bird-hunting machine is all over the place. In the upcoming weeks, she will learn basic commands and how to be a good fishing partner. I think the command “Stay!” will be the most important command, as in “Stay out of the fishing hole until I’m done catching fish,” “Stay in the boat while I’m fishing,” “Stay away from the fish in the net,” and many other “Stay” commands. She certainly is a sweet dog, and displays that instinctive investigative quality of a great bird dog. I also may try and rig

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up some kind of doggie vest for her to help carry her part of the load. I might even fill a few of the pockets on that vest with extra fishing sup-

plies. That way, she can help me out during our fishing adventures this season. This plan could either go very well, or it could go very badly. Net Gain George Santayana, the famous writer and philosopher, wrote, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” I sure do (Continued on next page)

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46 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Freshwater Fly Fishing (Continued from page 45)

think he must have been a fly fisher, because whatever you forget about last season will surely come back to haunt you the following season. I started out last season with a broken net and began a search for a new one. I already had a longer-handled boat net, but needed to replace the shorter-handled net I use when wading streams. I looked around at other anglers and noticed a fishing friend of mine, Rangeley streamer specialist Steve Marsters, effectively used an awesome-looking net and carried it with the handle shoved down the back of his vest. I watched as he conveniently carried it that way and deploy it in a real hurry when necessary. For some reason, or other I decided to try something different. I purchased this cool net that comes built right into a wading staff. I always have a wading staff with me, so why wouldn’t this be a great idea? Well, the wading staff/net idea seems awesome until you try to fish with it at your side on the stream. It catches quite a bit of water and flops back and forth, allowing your line and feet to get tangled up easily. I’m learning from the

past and dumping the combo net/staff for a good quality net that will ride behind my head securely in my vest, like my good friend showed my last year. Stream Crawling So with the new net tucked securely behind my neck in the vest, I’ll still need to have a good wading staff. Another friend of mine, Salmon River guide David Rockwell, carved and decorated a wooden wading staff that works perfectly for me. Mr. Rockwell helps disabled veterans fish the Douglaston Salmon Run (DSR) section of the Salmon River in New York on a regular basis. He and his group of talented guides are the greatest and kindest group of angling guides you would ever want to fish with. Rockwell’s wading staff attaches to my wading belt with a bungee-type of cord, and it’s easily carried out of the way by flinging it up over my shoulder and letting it hang behind me, dangling at my lower back area. The staff is actually lighter than my original take-down staff – an old, heavy metal staff that has served me well

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over the years. It’s just that the metal staff has warped and doesn’t takedown so easily anymore. I’m giving Mr. Rockwell’s wood staff a chance this year, and I’ll report back at the end of the season. David Rockwell and his guide crew really put

on a great show. One moment anglers are streamside laughing and enjoying hot cups of coffee with the guides, and the next moment they are kneedeep in the river, fighting a three-foot fish that wants to rip the line right off the reel.

Katahdin Country (Continued from page 44)

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DSR guide David Rockwell (left) directed Gardiner angler Keith Dirago to this steelcolored Coho Salmon trophy. William Clunie photo

have settled enough to allow both dogs and hunter access to some prime rabbit cover. The frozen edges of bogs and lowslung conifers rate as prime bunny covers. The Katahdin Region, with its extensive network of tributaries, has plenty of options. Take note of the various boggy areas, denoted by a series of blue flecks on the map, that often border at least

Contact Mr. Rockwell by visiting the DSR website at www.douglastonsalmonrun.com. So remember – plan for success this fishing season by getting gear in order now, and booking trips early.

parts of the tributaries. A Google Earth search will help identify forest areas tight with conifers. Review Map 43 of The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer, and select from any of the tributaries and bogs that trickle through the region. Also, on Map 51, note much of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument land east of the East Branch Penobscot is open to hunting. It seems to me the opportunity exists to combine some snowmobiling and snowshoe hare hunting!

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 47

Stuffed Free-Range Chicken Roulade As hunters, we are all aware that the meat or fish we bring home is all natural. We enjoy the hunt, the kill, the meat, and feeding our families. We love the flavor. This is true of everything (including Maine local wineries, breweries and distilleries). This recipe uses local, farm-raised, free-range chicken, which are very delicious!

My homemade chicken stock with farm raised, free-range chicken bones, is to die for. No, really! I love making my own stock. Compare for yourself – make stock with freerange chicken, and put that up against storebought chicken. You’ll notice the amazing taste difference right away!

Special invitation: Come to the Maine Sportsman’s Booth at the Sportsman’s Show in Augusta on Saturday, March 30th between 11-3pm. I’ll be handing out FREE cookbooks when you sign up or renew for two years of the Maine Sportsman Subscription! Bon Appétit and Happy, Healthy meals with wild game!

I remember the winter after I turned 13. We had moved to a new, big house my parents had built in Enfield, CT. My parents became friends with neighbors, Bob and Shirley Hayes. Bob was a mechanic at a local Chevy dealership, and my mom and Shirley both had a bunch of kids with similar ages. (Bob had my dream car at the time – a Corvair! How I loved that car. Both families were dedicated Chevy fans.) That Thanksgiving, Shirley had me try her stuffing. Sage, she used lots of Sage in her stuffing. She got me hooked on Sage, and lemon yoghurt, though not together. It is still a favorite of mine. What is your favorite spice or herb? Ingredients • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil • 1 tablespoon butter • 4 6-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/8 inch thickness • 8 slices Prosciutto • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper • 7 ounces goat or cream cheese, room temperature • 3 heaping tablespoons Fig Preserve, or Apple Fig Chutney (recipe below) • 1 cup fresh baby spinach • 1 cup dry white wine • ½ cup chicken broth • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice • 2 teaspoons dried rubbed sage, or fresh Sage chopped Line baking sheet with waxed paper; brush with oil. Arrange chicken breasts in single layer on sheet and brush with oil, season with salt and pepper. Combine goat cheese and chutney. Set aside Lay Prosciutto over chicken, 2 per chicken breast, spread cheese and chutney and top with spinach. Beginning at narrow end of chicken, roll up, enclosing filling as you

Apple Fig Chutney • • • • • • •

1 pound dried Turkish Figs, quartered 3 tart apples, peeled and cored Rind and juice of 1 small orange Rind and juice of 1 lemon 4 cups water 3 cups sugar ½ teaspoon cinnamon

would a jelly roll; tie with kitchen twine at 1” intervals to secure. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts. Preheat oven to 450°. Heat oil and butter in large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken roulades and cook until brown on all sides – about 10 minutes. Transfer chicken roulades to small roasting pan, and bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of roulades

registers 160°, 5-13 minutes, depending upon the thickness of the roll. Add wine, broth, and lemon juice to skillet; bring to a boil and cook, scraping up any brown bits, until reduced to ½ cup, about 5 minutes. Cut strings from roulades and place on plates, and slice. Spoon pan juices over chicken and enjoy!

• 1/8 teaspoon mace • 1/8 teaspoon salt

stirring often. Add fruit juice; mix well. Pour into hot sterilized jars. Seal and turn jars upside down on towel to cool overnight. Fills six 8 ounce jars. Can refrigerate for 1 month, or can to winter over.

Food process figs, apples, orange and lemon rinds and put into a stockpot. Add water and boil for 10 minutes, reduce to simmer and cook 20 minutes more. Add sugar and salt, mix well and simmer for 20 minutes,

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48 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Winter-Weary Coyotes Throw Caution to the Wind The bright red fox raced from the wood line and closed to within 30 yards of my blind. His distinctive form created a sharply-featured silhouette against the virgin white snow. Like many of my outdoor excursions, this hunt had veered off in an unexpected direction.

THE LAST RESORT

When hunting coyotes, carefully monitoring wind direction will prove critical to success. The wily animals usually circle around to check the wind from all angles before answering a call or approaching a bait scent. I had set up a tent blind along the edge of a small farm pond. The landowner, concerned about his horses, had given me permission to hunt coyotes

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on his 800-acre farm. The farm pond in the back corner seemed perfect. I’d set up along the edge of the frozen water to try calling the coyotes out of the bordering woods. A nice ravine between the pond and the wood line seemed like an ideal travel route. Of course, waiting for coyotes with temperatures struggling to hit ten degrees can get uncomfortable. Instead of freezing, I’d brought along one

of those portable “Buddy” heaters to take the chill out of the blind. One thing I’ve figured out over the years involves comfort. If I’m comfortable I’ll stay out longer. The more time spent in the field the greater my chances for success. I’d added a nice folding chair and a thermos of hot chocolate for good measure. Of course, those “Hot Hand” chemical hand

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warmers also do a great job keeping body parts warm. I recently spent six hours in 34-degree water, fishing for winter steelhead in New York. A couple of warmers in the wading boots and a few more scattered in different pockets kept me from turning into an icicle. Snow Roadmap Hunters reluctant to put away their deer rifles can quickly adjust their sights on tricky coyotes. Chasing these canine predators in March offers some distinct advantages unavailable when the snow melts and the temperatures soar. (Continued on next page)

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�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 49 (Continued from page 48)

Snow provides a roadmap for coyote activity. Scat becomes easy to spot. Even their dining habits show up more clearly. Well-used travel routes can help determine ambush points. Look for tracks heading in both directions. This important and easily-identifiable information disappears as the snow melts. Also consider that snow may change the coyote’s travel routes. I’ve had reasonable luck spotting coyotes traveling in ravines. Drifting snow may fill those in and make it more difficult to navigate, forcing a temporary detour. Take advantage of these natural funnels. Do not overlook prey sign. The Jackman region boasts a robust snowshoe hare population. It’s unusual for the opportunistic canine to overlook all that hungry protein hopping around. By now all the easy

meals have dried up. Just like the blind hunter using the “Buddy” heater, these critters prefer to stay warm. Coyotes on the move will stay warmer, but also burn a lot more calories. Coyote-Speak With hunger as a great motivator, the wild dogs often take chances a well-fed coyote might pass on, and on occasion they seemingly throw caution to the wind. This makes March the ideal month for animal-in-distress calls. Think dying rabbit. A cold hungry belly hears an easy meal.

When it comes to calling coyotes, experts have fine-tuned this down to a language all its own. To save time, I purchased an electronic caller, which has all the common vocalizations. Because I don’t speak coyote, I’ll bank on the hungry belly/easy meal theory. Hunters looking to speak coyote can access the internet and You Tube videos to view demonstrations of advanced calling techniques. For example, because coyotes mate in February and March, a couple of “love tunes” might even override the

hungry belly theory. I like hunting from a tent blind. It covers my movement, allows me the luxury of a little heat on really cold days, and allows me to bring my favorite folding chair and warm beverage. One successful coyote hunter I know swears

by his inexpensive white Tyvek painter’s suit. This one-piece suit fits over standard hunting clothes, blends in well with snow, cost very little, repels water and is breathable. He simply dresses in layers, throws the suit over everything, and hunkers (Continued on page 51)

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50 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Vehicle Preferences for TMS Columnist Steve Vose This month’s Off-Road Traveler column features the vehicle preferences of another fellow Maine Sportsman columnist, Steve Vose. Steve writes the “Central Maine” and “Wildlife Quiz” monthly columns in this magazine, and seems to have the same attraction for Toyota Tacoma trucks that I have. What’s not to like about Tacomas? They go through anything, last a long time, require little maintenance, and ride pretty good on the pavement, too. While the overall size of the Tacoma might feel too small for some who

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During last year’s moose season, Vose went through some rough country, and in the process added several new dents and some fancy custom “Downeast pin-striping” to both sides of his truck. He also broke a leaf spring. Bottom line? Good trucks will get you wherever you want to go, including some areas you’d be better off not going. want full-size pickups, both Steve and I prefer the Access Cab or Double Cab models for the extra interior room. I also like a cap on the bed to handle carrying even more gear. (I remove the cap in the winter to open my truck bed up for carrying a snowmobile, so I can get back into the woods for hunting. It’s easier than trailering a sled in tight

spots.) Vose prefers to keep his truck bed without a cap so he can transport his ATV. I can appreciate this, but I’m capping my truck bed and trailering the ATV. I’ve got a plan to replace the ATV with a side-by-side at some point, and will be trailering this bigger machine. I asked Vose to

tell about his vehicle preferences for hunting and fishing in wild places, and he kindly responded by providing the information below. I hope by looking at other folks’ vehicle ideas, that the reader can come away with a clearer picture of what might work for them in their own situations.

Vose’s Vehicles Vose told me, “I currently drive a 2012 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 Double Cab. It’s only the third vehicle I have ever owned and I’m 47 years old! My first truck was a used 1994 Toyota 4x4 that had a single bench seat. Three guys could fit in it, but they had to sit literally shoulder to shoulder. I drove that truck until the wheels practically fell off and then traded it for a brandnew 2008 Toyota Tacoma 4x4 Access Cab. “Well, I was driving that truck across the Maine Interstate bridge (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 51 (Continued from page 50)

just outside of Waterville one early December morning, towing an ice shack on a trailer, when I hit a patch of black ice. I lost control of the vehicle when the trailer jackknifed, and I ricocheted between the concrete barriers for about half the length of the bridge. If one looks while driving through that bridge, they can still see black streak marks embedded in the concrete. Unfortunately, that truck, the trailer and the ice shack were all a complete loss.” Replacement “When I started looking for a new truck,” Vose continued, “I made two big changes. Number one, I selected my first automatic. My wife can’t drive a standard, so this was a logical choice. “Second, with two rapidly-growing sons, I needed more room, and that meant picking the double cab over the access cab. Quite honestly, I never thought I would say this but the automatic is really nice. It’s easier to rock the vehicle out when stuck, makes Boston

stop-and-go traffic a breeze, and I don’t have to put down my morning coffee to shift. The double cab – well, that speaks for itself. What sportsman doesn’t like more dry storage?” Big Enough to Fit a Moose? “Speaking of dry storage, lots of sportsmen love to put a cap on their truck. While I understand this decision, for me it’s just not practical. Instead of trailering my Yamaha Grizzly ATV, I now use a set of ramps to put it in the back of the truck. If I need a place to sleep while out deer or moose scouting, I bring a tent. I find it more comfortable than being surrounded by all that cold metal. Plus, when I shoot that moose, I need to be able to winch it into the bed of the truck – a cap would just get in the way! (See photo.) “Last year on the 2018 Maine moose hunt, I explored some really rough country, and in the process added several new dents and some fancy custom ‘Downeast pin-striping’ to both sides of my truck. I also broke a leaf spring. Trucks with good tires, four-wheel-

Jackman Region (Continued from page 49)

down. He uses a rifle set-up with a tripod, and carries a small day pack with a few survival and comfort items. This type of arrangement works well for hunters on the move, whereas my ground blind offers much less mobility. Hunters gunning for coyotes this month have no shortage of country to select from. The areas north of the Dead River (DeLorme Map 40, E-2) and west of Route 201 all the way to the hamlet of Jackman boast solid snowshoe hare populations – a fact not lost on hungry coyotes. Many of the local guides maintain bait sites throughout the region. These ambush locations often offer some form of shelter and heat overlooking a baited site. Night Hunt This brings up taking advantage of the coyote night hunting season (December 16th to August 31st), available to sportsmen for only $4. For more information, check the current regulations at www/maine.gov/ifw.

drive, and a come-along behind the seat will get you just about any place you want to go (and a few places maybe you’d be better off not going!). “When my friends ask me if I’m afraid of scratching the paint, I remind them that it’s a truck, and trucks have a purpose – and that purpose isn’t driving up and down Congress Street in Portland, looking pretty. Trucks are utility vehicles, vehicles built to get sportsmen into their favorite hunting and fishing spots and back home safely.” Could Not Have Said it Better After reviewing the information Vose provided, I thought to myself, “I couldn’t have said it any better than that.” I’ve had two Tacoma 4x4 pickups, and found the same thing – they seem to go forever and without much maintenance at all. One accessory, a good cap over the bed, will definitely be added to my own 2010 Tacoma Access Cab pickup. I need the addition storage space, and enjoy the idea of simply pulling over

Kathy Lloyd, columnist Steve Vose’s mother, with her bull from the 2018 Maine moose hunt in the bed of Steve’s Tacoma. Steve Vose photo

somewhere way out in the woods and having an immediate shelter. We now have an energetic young dog, so another item I’m looking is one of those heavy-duty seat protectors that hook onto the neck supports on the top of the front seats, draping down over the back seat and covering all the gear stored there. That helps to keep the dog’s muddy, wet paws from slopping-up all of the gear in the “access cab” portion of the truck. I can picture my new bird dog laid out in the hammock-like seat

Hunting after dark requires planning and caution. For best results, use a guide who has taken the time to set up a good blind with a safe shooting lane. Do-it-yourselfers need to spend some daylight hours scouting and setting up not only the blind but the access trail. Much like deer hunting, carefully monitoring wind direction will prove critical to success – even more so with coyotes. Coyotes have a sneaky way of circling around to check the wind from all angles before answering a call or approaching a bait scent. That’s a major reason for hunting this month, as hunger clouds their usual cautiousness. Nevertheless, their sharp noses go a long way towards keeping them alive. Also, folks who harvest a coyote this month get a fur that’s cold-weather prime. A friend of mine had a hat made out of a Jackman Region coyote. The dog’s heavy winter coat definitely has some practical uses. And yes, that red fox also fell for a dying rabbit call. I suspect, like his coyote cousins, he was hungry from a long winter and threw caution to the wind. As a result, I was able to bring a gift to a friend of mine who

protector, ready to take off from the “launch pad” and jump into action this fall. I’ll have to call Vose and see if he has one. Other than that, the Toyota line of 4x4 pickups provide miles of off-road travel for those folks that enjoy recreating in the vast wild land that surrounds us in the remote parts of this region. Next month, I’ll be asking another Maine Sportsman columnist about their own personal vehicle selections, so stay tuned.

Jackman hunters target winter-weary coyotes this month. Hunting these cagey critters on the snow offers many advantages -- the snow allows the hunter to spot well-used trails, and deep snow funnels the animals into specific, narrow travel routes. Josef Pittner photo

collects and processes fox fur. Note from the author: I am looking forward to connecting with readers and fellow writers at the 39th Annual State of Maine Sportsman’s Show. It’s a great time to mingle and exchange ideas with sportsmen, guides and outdoor enthusiasts from throughout New England. More than one of my outdoor excursions started with a discussion in Augusta! Sincerely, Bill Sheldon

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52 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Taking Trout Close to Shore Late-season ice fishers almost intuitively move closer to shore in March. Even before ice becomes porous and honeycombed, trout change their patterns and prowl near-shore areas in search of forage species. This explains why when ice finally melts sometime in late March or early April, we take trout by trolling only 10 – 20 feet from shore. And make no mistake – the fish didn’t just swarm in closer to shore as soon as the ice melted. Rather, they were already there when the ice finally broke up. On lakes and ponds open to year-round fishing, an early ice-out can trigger some fine fishing. But besides that, trout become hungry and willing to bite as soon as we can get our boats in the water. Indeed, I have taken brown trout in shallow coves where the remnants of the previous winter’s ice had become clear, needle-shaped pieces of ice – like billions of tiny, floating roller bearings. Many small stocked trout ponds remain open year-round, and even if ice hasn’t fully departed by late March, open water usually can be found along windswept shores. Trout prowl this narrow

Anglers casting from shore of ponds can take fish now, even if the only open water is found in a narrow band with ice in the middle. Sometimes I cast a worm across the water and onto the ice. Then I pull the worm slowly back, plunking it into the water. This excites waiting trout.

Big brown trout bite in the very early season. Seymour photo

band, and people casting from shore can take fish now. Indeed, I have often cast a worm out and had it land on the ice. Then, as I pull it slowly back, the worm plunks into the water in a natural manner. This excites waiting

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trout. This method is especially effective on brook trout. Big Fish In many smaller lakes and ponds, whatever trout remain are usually carryover fish, the most recent being from stockings the previous fall. But two- and three-year trout also make themselves available now, qualifying very early spring as a prime time for big fish. It pays to take advantage of this, since after a week or so of open water, fish become harder to catch. The bulk of them revert to

deeper water, only to filter back near shore when May sun warms the water. Fishing along open water from shore in March also has another benefit. Sometimes stocked trout remain near the point of stocking for many months after being released. Schools of these recently-stocked trout prowl shorelines now. And while some may eschew eating freshly-stocked trout, these fish have had time to become acclimated, as evidenced by their orange

flesh and sweet flavor. Even retired broodstock fish can survive through the winter and become available in spring. Such fish often weigh 3 or 4 pounds. When an angler is fishing ponds that are open year-round, the first week or two after ice-out can produce some quality trout. Once, when seeking photos for a fishing book, I went trolling just after ice-out. The main body of the lake had open water, but slushy ice still rimmed the shoreline of protected coves. This was strictly a poke-and-hope venture, since it was so very early in the year. But within minutes of when I’d launching my boat and let my line out, a 3-pound brown trout nailed my orange-andgold Flash King wobbler. I killed it and took some black-and-white photos, since my book was to come out in black-andwhite. With my trout in hand, everything after this was icing on the cake. But 30 minutes later, I hooked another fish, which was bigger than the first and easily weighed 4 pounds. My soft-hearted fishing buddy netted the trout and then, before I could take a decent photo, surreptitiously released the fish. Before the day was over I had taken three brown trout, all bigger-than-average. River Fishing Some year-round rivers offer early season fishing for stocked trout. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and (Continued on page 55)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 53

Defining the “Big Woods” by Jim Bernardin I’m often asked to describe what I define as “Big Woods Country.” Having cut my eye-teeth hunting whitetails in northern Maine, I never gave it much thought during my formative years. Every direction from my view was vast, unbroken woodlands, and I was hunting in Big Woods Country no matter where I roamed. During the years in the early 70s and 80s, the woods of northern Maine were just beginning to experience modern wood harvesting practices, and finding large stands of spruce, white pine and white cedar was simply

If you can find a tract of woodlands where there are no agricultural fields, no food plots, no houses and no paved roads, then you’re likely in The Big Woods. Remember that a buck living in big country is totally different from the one living in the croplands of Iowa, Illinois or Kansas, or in the woodlots around where you live. a matter of going in any direction to hunt. And woods roads were few and far between. When I was a young man, one could drive from the town of Ashland to the village of Daquam, Quebec, a distance of some 85 miles, and the only main road was the Realty (pronounced ree-alty) Road. Obviously, that country still exists, and al-

though transformed by thousands of miles of woods roads, it is still Big Woods. If you can find a tract of woodlands where there are no agricultural fields, no food plots, no houses and no paved roads of any consequence, and you are confident that the wanderings of a big buck will not be interrupted by any of those impediments,

then you’re probably in The Big Woods. Remember that a buck living in big country is totally different from the one living in the croplands of Iowa, Illinois or Kansas or the woodlots around where you may live. Locating Big Woods Big Woods Country can be found in several, very widespread regions. The northern reaches of

Maine and New Hampshire, the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont and the Adirondack Mountains of New York are well-known and can be defined as Big Woods Country. Perhaps not as wellknown are the forests found in north-central and northwestern Pennsylvania. The Hickory Creek Wild Area and the Hammersley Fork Wild Area are two of those areas. I have seen some very good, heavy-antlered bucks come out of that country, and there’s plenty of room for tracking. (Continued on next page)

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Big Woods World (Continued from page 53)

I’ve hunted the Yaak River Valley in northwestern Montana for the past several years. This area is definitely Big Woods Country, and it’s 95 percent National Forest lands. And not to be overlooked are the northern reaches of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Traveling Bucks I have proven to myself just how large an area may be part of a buck’s range by setting up trail cameras that captured photos of a particular buck that roamed through thousands of acres in a single night during the rut. His core area may only be 20 percent of his home range and he may spend 80 percent of his time in that core area, but during the rut and most of the hunting season, that all changes. Remember too, as a general rule, big bucks in big country travel a circuitous route in their travels. Obviously not a perfect circle, but bucks will often cover the same general country within their core areas and expand that area during the rut. Despite the changes

and development that have occurred over my lifetime, there are still many areas that afford us all the opportunity to pursue our passion for hunting the wonderful whitetail deer in Big Woods Country. Hal Blood Adds His Thoughts Big Woods whitetails are much different than any other whitetail deer – so much different that I tell hunters coming to the Big Woods for the first time to forget what they know about deer hunting and start from the beginning again. I say this as you will be hunting a different animal. I equate this to the difference between hunting a mule deer and an elk. When I first hunted the Big Woods of Maine in 1980, after hunting southern and central Maine, I immediately realized that I needed to change my hunting tactics to be successful. I learned that these deer randomly wander about where they live and are rarely in the same place every day. I learned that feed in the Big Woods was diverse and found just about any-

Trout Fishing (Continued from page 52)

Wildlife (DIF&W) sometimes stock 12- to 14-inch trout in such rivers. This makes for fast action. However, keep in mind that some people monitor stocking dates and arrive at the appointed spot in droves. So don’t expect solitude, or anything near it. But in March, any kind of fishing, even for freshly stocked trout under crowded conditions, beats staying home and waiting for April. One myth that needs busting is that under cold conditions, as in March, trout don’t fight well. But the opposite is true. Trout now have plenty of punch, and a 14-inch brown trout can pull line off a reel in powerful rushes for freedom. Add to that high water levels, and it becomes easy to see that the featherweight, ultralight spinning tackle I always use and recommend might stand www.MaineSportsman.com

Jim Bernardin hunted and guided in the Big Woods of northern Maine most of his life.

where; therefore, a deer could wander anywhere and still have access to food. The bucks travel far and wide and have huge territories that they call home. I learned this lesson on one of my first trips to northern Maine when I followed a buck all day and he went cross-coun-

try in a straight line for miles on end and my walk back to the truck at the end of the day was tallied up in miles. For these reasons, a Big Woods buck cannot be “patterned.” Sure, you can find where a buck travels, but you will never know when or how often he will be in any one

some beefing up. Instead of 3-pound-test line, I recommend 4-pound or even 6-pound, because it allows the angler to put the muscle to a fish in order to keep it away from streamside vegetation. During periods of calm water, this usually doesn’t present a problem. But now, with the rushing water of early spring, fish use the quick current to their advantage. Tidal Trout I’ve had some reports of people taking anadromous, or sea-run, brook trout from tidal pools. These folks wait until low tide and then approach the mouth of streams known to host runs of anadromous trout. Trout, waiting to ascend the streams, sometimes find themselves stuck in tidal pools. Since these pools are low and clear, trout become ultra-wary, meaning light lines and lures are absolutely necessary. Some people use meal worms, purchased from pet shops.

place. This is the mystique of hunting the Big Woods Buck. Jim Bernardin has hunted and guided in the Big Woods of northern Maine most of his life, and now lives and guides in Wyoming.

It seems that angleworms might work as well. This fishing method carries a caveat. Since under general law brooks and streams don’t open to fishing until April 1, carrying a fishing rod down the stream on the way to tidal water would constitute an illegal activity. This means that the angler must find a quick way to the beach, since even walking down a woodland path could be considered a violation. Fortunately, many coastal communities have dedicated sea access, so it is possible to park along the shore and walk to the stream mouth, all very legal because it doesn’t entail venturing on upland ground. Anyone interested in joining this exclusive fraternity should probably plan on going this March, because anadromous trout numbers have dropped precipitously. More on that topic in a future column.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 55

Moosehead Holds Big Togue, While Brassua and Prong Provide Lunker Smallmouth March often sees mild, sunny days – perfect for hitting area lakes and ponds for a day of ice fishing. Two fish species bite better now than ever; namely, togue and smallmouth bass. Togue rank as standard fare on Moosehead – Maine’s largest lake – biting well throughout the ice-fishing season. But as good as togue (a/k/a lake trout) fishing is throughout the year, they feed even more heavily in March. What’s more, some of the biggest togue of the year fall to angler’s baits this month. Consider the fish taken in March of 2009 by Bill Maynard of Rockwood. Maynard landed a togue that was officially recorded on a certified scale at 29.67 pounds, extremely close to the state record 31-pounder. And this was after several hours on the ice, which may have resulted in a significant weight loss. Still, this fish set a new Moosehead Lake record. Do bigger togue swim in Moosehead Lake? Most people who fish the lake regularly believe they do. But these huge fish don’t bite every day. Still, Moosehead constantly puts out double-digit togue, which ranks as a good fish by anyone’s standards. But the most commonly-caught fish are in the 3 – 4 pound range. However, March presents us with the best chance to catch a huge togue, perhaps one that might later grace a lucky angler’s wall. So for a good chance at a trophy togue, make sure to set

Once warmwater fish populations are established in a lake or pond, the damage is done. The fish will never be eradicated – only controlled. And one way to control them, is to catch and keep them!

Typical catch of late-season Moosehead togue. Tom Seymour photo

aside a day or two to hit Moosehead this month. It just might end in a hefty surprise. Hardwater Bass Most of us consider the Moosehead Region the coldwater game fish capital of Maine. But spiny-rayed fish have made their way here, mostly through illegal introductions. The damage

is done, and once bass and other warmwater species have established themselves, they can never be eradicated – only controlled. One way to control them is to catch them. And for those who want a chance at these newcomers, March ranks as the top month for ice-fishing for bass.

Over the years I’ve mentioned Prong Pond in Beaver Cove as a place for stocked brook trout and white perch. But Prong Pond also holds smallmouth bass and some mighty big ones at that. Area guide Eric Holbrook hits Prong Pond in March, and as the accompanying photo attests,

smallmouth bass attain large sizes here. Eric says that March is the absolute best time for bass, and that goes along with what I have experienced in other parts of Maine as well. Bass bite to beat the band in March – better than all the other winter months combined. But as opposed to, say, January, when bass hold in deep water, March sees bass heading in toward the shallows. Fishing in 10 – 15 feet of water will likely prove fruitful now. Also, don’t waste valuable smelt on bass, since these hungry marauders will bite on any live offering, with golden shiners taking top billing as bass bait. So get some shiners and save the smelt. At month’s end, leftover smelt can go into the freezer, there to wait until summer, when smelt become difficult to obtain. Bass also bite on artificials, and my best luck comes when using crappie jigs, the kind with (Continued on next page)

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Moosehead Region (Continued from page 55)

painted lead head and plastic bodies. Catching a 3-pound smallmouth bass on a little ice-jigging rod has its tense moments, since the fish are supercharged now, fighting hard and with

a lasting determination. Swedish Pimple jigs, perhaps tipped with a bit of shiner, work well too. See Prong Pond on the DeLorme Atlas, Map 41, C-3.

Brassua Lake Brassua Lake, a flow-

through lake for Moose River, now holds lots of smallmouth bass. Several years ago, this column posted a photo of dead bass on shore near the dam. Well-intended anglers had taken the fish and killed them, hoping to cut down on their numbers. And since

lakes in the North Region have no size or bag limit on bass, with a few exceptions that are noted in the fishing laws rulebook, anglers can indeed put pressure on these aggressive invaders. This being a new fishery, few if any anglers, at least to my knowledge,

have done much bass fishing at Brassua. But bass are bass, and they have the same habits and preferences no matter where found. So try fishing in relatively shallow water, and get set for fast action. And remember, bass have flaky, white (Continued on page 58)

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Teaching a Young Person to Trap? Start with Muskrats When youngsters are just starting out as trappers, the furbearer they most frequently trap first is the muskrat. These animals are found across a wide range of our state’s geography, and are a present in abundant numbers. Some states have very large populations, and a trapper may catch several hundred out of a large marsh. In some places they are also found in brackish saltwater marshes – New Jersey is one such place. Young trappers also often take their first mink in a muskrat set. Muskrats are trapped in huge numbers across the country and are a staple in the fur industry. Mink as well as other predators, both mammal and avian, hunt muskrats as a food source. Muskrat have also appeared on many dinner tables over the years. When I was first trapping in the 1950s, there was a man that used to come around towns in Maine periodically to purchase muskrats for a restaurant in New York City. If I remember right, when we cleaned the rats we had to leave a hind foot attached so that its identity was ensured. I also have done this in 1960s and 1970s in the south for raccoon and possum. Small Traps Easy for Youngsters to Handle Catching muskrat is about the easiest of all trapping. Small foothold traps of the size #1 and #1½ of all types (jump, long spring, and coil springs) may be used. In

Mentoring of first-time trappers – especially the younger ones – is critical in keeping future trappers in the field as an important part of wildlife management.

Brian Cogill, President of the Maine Trappers Association, shows Tanner Hale from Hiram, Maine what beaver trapping is all about. Tanner grew up hearing about his great grandfather who was a beaver trapper, and he wanted to know what it was that his ancestor did and loved so much. Tanner had a great time tagging along with Brian to see what his great grandfather had done so many years before. Photo by Brian Cogill

addition, the size #110 body grip trap’s use is widespread. The #110 is the preferred muskrat trap by many. Young trappers need to start with the smaller furbearers like the muskrat, as well as the smaller foothold traps and the #110 body grip trap. These they can set and use safely. Another type of trap that is safe and suitable for young people to use is the colony trap. These different styles of traps have been covered in previous articles in this “Silent Places” column.

The small size footholds and the #110 body grip traps normally used are great for the young trapper, since they can safely and easily set and place the trap. There are other traps they can “move up to” as they gain experience. The older and more experienced trapper can utilize other sizes and types of traps for the muskrat. The #120 (a double spring the same size as the #110) normally is not used in large numbers because they are a little too powerful, while the larger sized #160 body grip is

sometimes used in a bottom edge set. The larger #160 size does not deter the muskrat from trying to pass through the trap while swimming along the bottom as is sometimes the case with a smaller size trap. The larger sized body grip traps (#280 and #330) are excessively powerful, and they allow most muskrats to pass through the trap without firing it. These larger body grip traps are designed to take larger furbearers, such as otter and beaver.

Muskrat A bonus for trappers and especially the young trapper is that some wildlife management districts in Maine have an early muskrat trapping season. This allows a young trapper some better weather conditions in which to learn the basic skills of trapping. Trapping the muskrat is as simple as placing a slice of apple or parsnip on a stick at the shoreline with the foothold trap set under water an inch or so just in front of the bait. The trap is placed four or five inches out from the bait, and it’s staked out in water deep enough to humanely dispatch the muskrat. The #110 body grip is commonly set where muskrats are entering feed beds, traveling through vegetation in bogs and marshes, or in their runs underwater. Both types of trap may be used under the ice. In Maine, muskrats are not commonly trapped under ice because of the thickness of our winter ice, though it is common in the Midwest. Both types are also used on open water muskrat floats. Maine laws have restrictions on a floats configuration during certain seasons, so always refer to the Summary of Trapping Laws published annually before building and utilizing muskrat floats. Importance of Mentoring Our mentoring of first-time trappers – and in particular the younger ones – is critical in keeping the trapper in the (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

58 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Trapping Silent Places (Continued from page 57)

field as an important part of wildlife management. This also is true of hunting and fishing. Mentoring our youth will ensure that our legacies will endure the test of time. Many organizations and individuals want to see trapping and hunting become an activity of the past. Fishing is also on

their agenda, just further out in time. Many young folks out there want to experience trapping, hunting, and fishing. They have read stories about it or heard family stories of older members who trapped, hunted or fished. They want the experience, in order to see if it is an activity they may enjoy.

Moosehead Region (Continued from page 56)

meat and taste great when rolled in flour or special fish-fry mix and fried to a golden brown. Bass fillets also freeze well, so those who wish can catch a near-unlimited supply and thus have a steady source of tasty fillets, all while helping to keep bass numbers down for as long as possible. Before illegally stocked bass showed up in Brassua, the lake was known for its high-quality salmon fishing as well as its self-sustaining brook trout population. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries And Wildlife (DIF&W) stocks Brassua with salmon each year. In 2018, DIF&W released 500, 8-inch salmon in this wild, 8,979-acre lake. Those targeting Brassua for salmon can still have excellent sport. Finally, Brassua Lake also contains another warmwater species, this one a native species. Yellow perch abound here, and they grow to amazingly large sizes. The lake holds lots of 10- to 12-inch yellow perch, as well as plenty of 13- and 14-inch fish. Yellow perch have sweet, flaky flesh and while most people consider them as “trash

The first step should be to take them out for just a short period to see what the activity is actually like. If they show an interest, then a full day under favorable conditions should be next. Many young boys and girls out there would like to experience what we do. The ranks of all sportsmen and women have grown smaller in recent years. If we want to have these activities enjoyed

by future generations, we are the ones who need to show our youth what it is that we love so much. Our ranks need to grow if we want to continue to have a say in wildlife management. It is our monies that pay for the management and research of our wildlife and its protection. A larger membership within any of these ranks increases the benefits to our wildlife. Remember

we the sportsmen are the ones who support all wildlife – not the animal rights organizations. Special note from the author: I hope to see you at the Maine Sportsman’s Show on its Friday opening day, March 29 at the Augusta Civic Center. Let’s talk about wildlife management and deer yard protection.

fish,” yellow perch taste great. Many years ago, I rented a cabin at Brassua specifically to load up on huge perch. I wasn’t disappointed, either. So for a fun time this March, hit Brassua. Perhaps you’ll take some salmon and maybe even a brook trout. But surely, bass and perch will bite, and a day spent chasing flags for these species seems like a day well spent. Look for Brassua Lake on Map 40, B-4. Transition Month While few look for anything resembling open water in March, warmer conditions, especially toward month’s end, make for enjoyable days afield. So get out and have some late-season fun. Special note from Tom: Again this year, I look forward to meeting and greeting readers at the Annual State of Maine Sportsman’s Show at the Augusta Civic Center. I plan to help staff the Maine Sportsman’s booth on Sunday afternoon, March 31 – the same afternoon as the State of Maine Firearms Auction, being held in conjunction with the Show.

Eric Holbrook and a nice smallmouth bass taken while ice fishing Prong Pond in late winter. Tom Seymour photo

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Best Ice Fishing Downeast: Branch Lake, and West Grand Lake The crimson flag on my first ice trap flew high in the stiff breeze. Did I have a fish on, or was it just an annoying wind flag? I ran to the ice hole, and saw the reel whirling, rapidly releasing yards of line. Now I knew it was a line-spooling fish, not the wind, that had caused the flag to fly skyward. I set the hook and tried to grip the line. At first, the 6-pound-test monofilament line slid through my slippery hands. Finally, I was able to hold the taut line and start the fish toward me. Cautiously, I eased the rocketing, silver-sided salmon toward the hole. After several tries, the fish’s head finally came through the ice. I clipped the leader and freed the 18-inch salmon. I hooked a lively 3-inch emerald shiner onto the line, lowered the bait several feet below the ice and set my Heritage ice trap back into the hole. The wind was blowing out of the north at 10 mph. The temperature held steady at 30 degrees, while the blowing snow nearly obscured the surface of Branch Lake; see Delorme’s Atlas, Map 23, D-5. After setting up a shore camp for protection, I drilled my second ice hole, hooked on an energetic shiner and set my trap. After pacing off about 80 feet, I drilled my third ice hole. In the next two hours I tended six more flag-flying traps, the majority having been tripped by several bait-stealing salmon. I left the ice at the

Ever since a public boat ramp was constructed at the Narrows on Branch Lake, DIF&W biologists have been able to stock 1,000 salmon each year year, and the salmon population is back at “optimum levels.” A tip of the Maine Sportsman cap to the Region C biologists, who worked hard to bring public access back to Branch Lake and rebuild its premier salmon and lake trout fisheries.

Special rules and an agressive stocking program have resulted in outstanding ice fishing opportunities on the Downeast waters of Branch Lake and West Grand Lake.

end of the day, having released a 17-inch salmon and a 20-inch landlock. During those two hours, I baited two more traps with cut-up suckers and sent them to the bottom of the lake, in hopes of catching a togue. Local anglers, myself included, believe that setting a cut-up sucker on bottom will better entice slow-feeding lake trout. The two deep-water traps I set did produce a fish that day – a hefty 23-inch

laker. Salmon Status Redeemed This above fishing outing in 2017 was quite productive; however, prior to Hanson’s boat launch closing in 2000, my wife Donna and I would set out our ice traps and race all morning for 15-to 20-flags per outing. Even though we didn’t keep any of the 12- to 20-inch landlocked

salmon we caught, we did experience some of the best salmon fishing in the state. So will we again see catch rates matching those of 19 years ago? The answer is a resounding “Yes!” Branch Lake is once again considered the top-producing salmon water in Hancock County. According to Greg Burr, fisheries biologist with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

(DIF&W), “Branch Lake anglers are again experiencing good salmon fishing.” Several years ago, a new access road and a boat-launching facility were completed on the 1,200 acres of stateowned land near the Narrows. Therefore, DIF&W has been able to stock 1,000 salmon there annually. “Lake trout and salmon numbers,” according to Mr. Burr, “are back in balance with the smelt forage and the fisheries are at optimum levels.” “Biologists’ nettings in the last year,” he continued, “have shown that salmon growth and condition are at an A+ grade, with good numbers of salmon between 3 to 6 pounds. Anglers are also commonly reporting lake trout between 6 and 10 pounds.” A tip of the Maine Sportsman cap to the Region C biologists, who worked hard to bring public access back to Branch Lake and rebuild its premier salmon and lake trout fisheries. Washington County Salmon West Grand Lake (Map 35, B-3/B-4) is one of the finest salmon fisheries in Washington County. This 14,340 acre (Continued on next page)

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60 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Take Your Choice – Last of the Ice Fishing, or the Beginning of Open Water? It’s March, and even as winter maintains its grip on Maine, signs of spring become evident. Southerly winds bring fair tidings from the south in the form of warmer temperatures and even the faint scent of thawing earth. Ice fishing will soon come to an end, but not quite yet. And open-water fishing remains at arm’s length, with a few exceptions. So for a brief moment, we can enjoy the best of what winter and spring have to offer. And for me, that includes both late-season ice fishing and early-season open-water fishing. Most lakes and ponds still have plenty of ice, and until truly warm conditions prevail toward month’s end, anglers can enjoy pleasant days on the ice. However, the two big-name waters for salmon, Saint George Lake in Liberty and Swan Lake in Swanville, close to ice-fishing at the end of February, so we must direct our efforts in another direction. And for me that means panfish. Fortunately, the Midcoast region holds plenty of panfish waters. Even better, as winter draws to its conclusion, panfish such as white and yellow perch go on savage, pre-spawning feeding sprees. A jigging rod and a handful of panfish jigs put the angler in a position to clean up on tasty panfish. Open Water Under general law, brooks, streams and rivers don’t open to open-water fishing until April 1, a date rooted in tradition. But this arbitrary openwww.MaineSportsman.com

There’s still some ice fishing to be done, and perch bite fiercely now. And you can also wet a line at one of the DIF&W-designated year-round open water sites, including the Medomak River and the Megunticook River.

Crappie coming through the ice hole in late March. Tom Seymour photo

ing day has little to do with fisheries management. Rather, it is just the way it was always done. I have, for years, pleaded with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries And Wildlife (DIF&W) to switch opening day to an earlier date. My feeling is that anyone with courage enough to go wading through snow and ice in winter just to fish a trout stream ought to be allowed to do so. And perhaps someday my urging will fall upon receptive ears. And then the sacred cow of that April 1 opening day will get turned into the finest hamburger. But until then, we here in Midcoast Maine do have several selected streams and rivers to fish on a yearround basis. M e d o m a k River, for instance, designated by DIF&W as a year-round water, sees heavy stocking of trout in

spring and another good shot of fish in fall. Some of these fish persist over winter, and the diligent – and yes, lucky – angler can catch these holdover trout. A stream crossing on the Medomak saw me trying my luck one warm March day last year. My timing was poor, since a string of warm days had caused water levels to rise precipitously. Anyway, my lures were too light to get down to where trout were holding. But my fishing buddy had brought live shiners, and after adding sufficient (non-lead) weight to take his offering down to bottom, he tied on to a whopper of a brook trout. The hook eventually pulled out, but not before giving both of us a real thrill. So a word to the wise – if water levels run a bit high, forego artificials, and try fishing a live bait-

fish near bottom. Look for Medomak River on the Delorme Atlas, Map 13, D-5 and E-5. Megunticook River Water level plays an essential role at Megunticook River in Camden. Water levels fluctuate wildly on the main body of this freestone river, making fishing success hard to predict. The only way to find out what shape the river is in, is to visit in person. But Megunticook River has two parts. The lower section, toward town, ranks as the most unpredictable. But the upper section, between the dam at Megunticook Lake and the dam further downstream on the river, is more forgiving. My favorite spot here lies at the first road crossing below the dam on the lake. Here, rainbow trout become active in early

spring, and anglers hitting the spot in March stand a good chance of tying on to a beauty of a carryover rainbow trout. This place consists of a section of swift water leading into the head of a larger, flatwater section of river. But the place holds lots of rocks and snags, to which countless lures are fastened. So when fishing with lures, don’t allow them to sink to bottom, because to do so can result in a hangup. My solution to this came in a flash one day after losing several lures. My next visit would see me using live shiners fished under a small bobber. This setup works, and it takes trout. My preference of offerings always tends toward artificial lures, but if live baitfish are what it takes to catch trout now, I’m not too proud or stubborn to fish with whatever is required to bring success. Check out Megunticook River on Map 14, D-3. Hardwater Perch Hey, all you late season ice anglers – do you want to load up on white perch? Then head to the Route 105 boat landing on Megunticook Lake, and from there head directly out to the open lake. Upon reaching a section of huge boulders sticking up from the water, bear left and walk at least 100 yards. This puts you in approximately 50 feet of water. Here, huge schools of hungry white perch await. Not liking to cut more holes than needed, I only (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 61 (Continued from page 60)

fish two traps. When perch begin biting, it requires all my attention just to tend two lines. Also, I like to jig during lulls in the action. Given the depth here, a Swedish Pimple works best, since its weight and streamlined shape quickly take it down to bottom. Morning ranks as the best time – the earlier the better. By mid-morning, things slow down a bit and fish bite more sporadically. Usually, noontime sees me with enough perch to satisfy my cravings for a fish fry. So whatever your chosen sport, ice-fishing

or open-water fishing, March brings a chance to partake of both. An energetic angler could take advantage of both ice-fishing and open-water fishing now, and success on both counts would rank as a big accomplishment. Good luck and have fun. Note to readers: I will be helping to staff the Maine Sportsman booth at the March 29 - 31 State of Maine Sportsman’s Show in Augusta. I’ll likely be there Sunday March 31 – the same day as the state surplus firearms auction. Hope to see you there!

Downeast Region (Continued from page 59)

lake provides an exceptional environment for salmonids in Downeast Maine. Again, according to DIFW fisheries biologist, Greg Burr, “The fishing should be very good. The salmon on West Grand that we saw this past fall showed good growth, and when the hatchery staff were netting, they caught more salmon than they ever have.” Locals agree. Charlie Towns, a West Grand Lake resident, told me that “salmon catches this winter are good, with many

Rainbow trout taken while ice fishing in late March. Seymour photo

anglers catching fish in the 17- to 19-inch range; however, larger football-shaped salmon are also being iced.” Some of the best salmon fishing on West Grand is found along the left side of the lake on Upper Whitney Cove, or the areas around South Twin Sister Islands. West Grand is stocked annually with over 10,000 8-inch salmon. The goal of the regional biologists has been to produce an abundance of salmon in the 2-pound range. West Grand also provides a good lake trout fishery. According to Mr. Towns, most lakers iced by winter anglers are in the 3to 4-pound category; however, 5- to 6-pound

fish are not unusual. Charlie also cited that he had heard of togue in the double-digit figures being pulled from the lake. Two areas that are heavily fished for togue are near Munsen Island, and Sandbar. West Grand Lake is open to ice fishing during the months of February and March only, and is subject to a number of additional ice fishing regulations. These include: 1) no minimum length on togue; 2) daily bag limit on togue: 2 fish, only 1 of which may exceed 33 inches; and 3) all togue between 23 and 33 inches must be released alive at once.

— The Maine Sportsman Columnists Go Hunting — Congratulations to all of The Maine Sportsman columnists who were successful at their fall 2018 hunts! Here are just a few of their photos:

Ed Pineau (author of “Outdoor Chronicle”) and his trophy buck, November, 2018.

Columnist Steve Vose (“Central Maine”) helped guide his mother to this bull moose in September of 2018.

Jim Lemieux (author of “Downeast Region”) and his 131-pound doe, shot November 10, 2018

William Clunie (author of numerous columns including “Rangeley Region” and “Western Maine Mountains”) and his 188-pound buck, taken in early November 2018. www.MaineSportsman.com

62 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Get Prepared for Bigger Climbs by Hiking Central Maine Last spring, my two sons informed me that it was my fatherly duty to take them up Maine’s highest peak, Katahdin. While in my 20s and 30s, I had climbed Katahdin over 30 times, including 7 winter ascents. However, tired knees, a bad back and a 47-year old cardiovascular system had me realizing that before attempting the mountain, I needed to train. (Side note: before starting the Katahdin hike last summer, I packed a small container of Bayer aspirin in my backpack in case I had a heart attack! When I later told my wife, she didn’t find it nearly as funny as I did!) While millions of people head to the gym to prepare their bodies for a wide variety of outdoor pursuits, I have always found that the best way to train to climb mountains is to ... well … climb mountains. No elliptical machine, stair-stepper or treadmill can prepare muscles, ligaments and tendons to handle slippery, unstable rocks, adverse weather, airy heights and the full-body workout required to drag oneself up Katahdin Stream Trail. Because I knew this to be true, my training regimen consisted of hiking some of the “larger” mountains in the central Maine area. Bond Brook Anyone starting out on a new exercise program should first consult a doctor. If you have not exercised in a long time, it’s also a good idea to start out with something relatively easy. www.MaineSportsman.com

A wide selection of recreational trail systems, hills and even small mountains are found within 15 miles of Augusta. Highlights include “Kennebec Highlands,” encompassing 6,400 acres and containing McGaffey Mountain, Kennebec County’s highest peak at 1,310 feet.

Here’s the author and his son “the Wildman” on the Summit of Mt. Katahdin in the summer of 2018. Several hikes along recreational trails, and up local hills and small mountains in Central Maine helped prepare and condition the climbers for this expedition.

In Augusta, the Bond Brook Recreation Area (Delorme’s Atlas, Map 12, C-5) is a 270-acre urban wilderness area owned by the City of Augusta. Although the overall size is relatively small, visitors will be pleasantly surprised to discover a

network of over 12 miles of trails here. These trails are popular during the summer with mountain bikers and hikers, while in the winter they are enjoyed by snowshoers and Nordic skiers. The Bond Brook parking lot is located directly

behind the Augusta airport. To get there from Downtown Augusta, head north on Mt Vernon Avenue and turn left onto Bond Brook Road. From Civic Center Drive, head south and turn right on Bond Brook Road. Turn left on Tall Pines Way;

there is parking located before and after the bridge, and more parking is available at the stadium. Follow Tall Pines Way up the hill to the Stadium Parking Lot. Parking is also available at Mt. Hope Cemetery off Winthrop Street. Mt. Pisgah Conservation Area Once a new exercise program is started, it’s helpful to slowly increase the intensity of your workouts to continue to strengthen muscles and cardiovascular systems. Mt. Pisgah (Map 12, C-2) is a perfectly “moderate” hiking trail. The 0.7-mile trail to the summit is up a steady grade, but isn’t overly oppressive. The forested summit of Mount Pisgah features the former Maine Forest Service fire tower, which was in use from 1949 to 1991. The tower provides spectacular 360-degree views, and on a clear day, Mt. Washington can be seen looming on the western horizon. To get to the Mt. Pisgah Trailhead from Route 133 in Wayne, turn south onto Fairbanks Road. At the end, turn left onto the Mt. Pisgah Road. Travel south about 1.7 miles; the parking lot is on the left. From Route 202, turn onto North Main Street and go into North Monmouth. After about seven-tenths of a mile, turn right on New Road, which becomes Mt. Pisgah Road. Continue for approximately 1.6 miles; the parking lot is on the right. Kennebec County’s Highest Peak After maintaining a (Continued on page 64)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 63

Maine’s Old Trails Challenge Hikers and Trail-Builders Maine hikers traverse some of the oldest mountain trails in the nation during their summit attempts. The final section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) is said to have been put in place as recently as 1937. At least that’s when Myron Avery bushwhacked the final connection on the slopes of Maine’s Sugarloaf Mountain. But trails on wellknown peaks, that later became part of the AT, had been summitted for many years before that by various outing clubs. The Appalachian Mountain Club formed in Boston in 1875. And Maine had its own version, the White Mountain Club, which was headquartered in Portland in 1873. Rusticators from Portland, Boston and other cities were hiking trails up rugged Maine peaks shortly after the Civil War. Early guides and explorers had established those trails – sometimes many years earlier. Thoreau hiked Katahdin in the 1840s. The early trail blazers in Maine took a very utilitarian view of their work. Their goal was to get to the peak of the mountain. The most direct route to that goal was straight up the slope. If a handy avalanche field or streambed had torn away some of the brush and other obstacles – well, that was all the better. The hiking trails we have today seldom strayed far from those early paths. In a state that boasts only 14 peaks over 4,000 feet tall, Maine has some of the steepest and most challenging

Many of Maine’s mountain hiking trails date from the 1800s, when the fastest way to the peak was often straight up an avalanche field or streambed. Now, to deal with the resulting deep erosion and constant rockslides, trail engineers are relocating some routes, and adding switchbacks and angled ascents.

The author’s 10-year old daughter Grace, a veteran of steep, rocky Maine hiking trails, was nonplussed by the gradual ascent of a “climb” in the California foothills of the Sierra Nevada range. “When do you think the hiking trail will start?” she asked her dad.

trails in the nation. The earliest version of the Appalachian Trail in Maine often followed old logging roads in valley contours between existing sporting camps. But

later, the route was relocated to traverse over the highest peaks, most frequently linking together steep, ancient summit routes. Maine’s wet climate,

prodigious winter snows and the seasonal freeze/ thaw cycles, work in concert to cause deep erosion on the vertical chutes we use as hiking trails. Often, trail beds are worn

away as much as two feet below the surface of the surrounding slope. What remains at the bottom of these troughs is essentially a steep, seasonal stream bed – full of loose rock, mud, water, boulders and bedrock. Changes Coming Abol Trail in Baxter State Park is one of Mount Katahdin’s oldest and steepest summit trails. Henry David Thoreau hiked here along the ancient avalanche field, which was visible to paddlers on the West Branch of the Penobscot, in the mid 1800s. Until recently, the trail gained nearly 4,000 feet in elevation over a tortuous 2.6-mile route that departed from the park’s perimeter road and climbed straight up the scars of a landslide. A favorite of day hikers and peak-baggers, the short route allowed a strenuous one-day assault on Maine’s highest peak. But in 2013, rock slides made the trail so unstable that the park closed it to hikers. It was a recurring problem, and park authorities decided a more permanent solution was called for. Over the next two seasons, the park spent more than $100,000 rerouting the most dangerous section of the trail. Switchbacks and angled ascents added nearly a mile to the overall length. Then-director Jensen Bissell reported that the re-routing was part of a “continuing effort to identify, prioritize and relocate or reconstruct sections of Park hiking trails (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

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Self-Propelled (Continued from page 64)

with significant safety and/or maintenance concerns.” In fact, the park spends a substantial amount of its annual trail budget on relocation projects. California Dreaming It’s difficult to appreciate how much the history, terrain and climate impact the hiking trails we take for granted. I had never known any other kind of hiking, until the spring of 2010. On a family vacation to southern California, we hiked in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. From our rental cabin, there was a view of a modest local mountain called Stonewall Peak. My 10-year-old daughter Grace and I were eager to make the climb. She had already scrambled up Tumbledown, Mount Blue and other family-friendly Maine peaks with me. I told Grace the trail would be a mile or less in length, given the elevation gain from the trailhead of 900 feet. We set off on a bright, cool morning and were soon on our way along the Peak Loop trail. The trail had a soft, sandy base that started out with a very gentle ascent.

After a mile or so, my daughter asked: “When do you think the hiking trail will start, Dad?” At mile two, as the gentle, sandy path stretched out endlessly ahead of us she asked, in a bored voice, how much farther it would be to the top. I looked up through the sparse, semi-arid vegetation and assured her the peak must be right around the next bend. I could see the top of the mountain; it appeared to be very close. I fully expected the trail to hit a headwall at any moment and climb steeply to the summit. We climbed yet another mile to the tip of the rocky peak. The view was great, but I couldn’t figure out when we had climbed the mountain. The ascent had been so gradual, along constant switchbacks that it felt like a long walk on level ground. We took summit photos and enjoyed the view. But Grace had one more question: “Do you think we’ll hit a real hiking trail on the way down the other side?”

Central Maine (Continued from page 62)

fairly steady hiking program for a couple of months, most individuals will be ready to take on more challenging mountains. The Kennebec Highlands comprise about 6,400 acres in the towns of Vienna, Rome, Mount Vernon and New Sharon. The area forms the largest contiguous block of conserved land in Central Maine. Fantastic hiking opportunities exist in the Kennebec Highlands, including Kennebec County’s highest peak, McGaffey Mountain (Map 20, E-3). The summit of McGaffey Mountain (1,310 ft.) is accessible via the “A” trail, a moderate hike that follows a gradual uphill grade. After 3.3 miles of hiking, the trail opens www.MaineSportsman.com

The 2015 - 2016 Abol Trail Relocation Project moved the trail westward, added more than a mile to its length and decreased the average grade from 38 degrees of elevation, to 27 degrees. Source: 2014 Annual Baxter Park Report

For Mainers, this is a recognizeable type of hiking trail -- a steep path that has eroded to boulders, bedrock, mud and loose stones. Andrews photos

up onto a beautiful overlook. Then the trail continues another 1.2 miles across a rocky ridge line, and terminates at the view-filled summit of McGaffey Mountain. The McGaffey Mountain Trail starts off Watson Pond Road, which branches from the west side of Route 27 about a mile north of the intersection of Routes 27 and 225. Several other small mountains, exceptional for hiking and well worth exploring, include: 1) the 2.9 mile loop trail up 854-ft. Sanders Hill; 2) the 4.5-mile loop trail up 1,133-ft. Round Top Mountain; 3) the 1.3-mile loop trail up 755 ft. Mt. Phillip; and 4) the 1.5 mile trail up 665-ft. “The Mountain.”

Special note from the author: This will mark my 20th straight year attending the annual State of Maine Sportsman Show in Augusta (March 29 - 31; Augusta Civic Center). The show boasts an impressive array of vendors, exhibits, demos and seminars led by outdoor experts. This year’s specialty event is that on Sunday, March 31, state surplus is holding their seized gun auction at the Show! I look forward to seeing you at the Show and at the Maine Sportsmanbooth. I have never encountered a finer gathering of sporting men and women, anywhere, than I do at the Show each year.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 65

Tom Targets Cusk This Month It was early in the month – mild during the day, but still cold enough to make ice at night. I was working night shift, and on my days off I found it easier on my sleep cycle if I stayed up late. On a whim, I loaded up my ice fishing gear and headed to the family camp on Sebago Lake (DeLorme Atlas, Map 5, B-1) to cusk fish. My parents owned the camp at the time, and while they were gone to Florida for the winter, we kept it heated, and it served as my ice fishing base camp. I had pulled my shack a few days earlier when the holes around it started to open up, not wanting to lose it if a heat wave came in. Cusking I enjoyed a nice supper and watched the sun drop. I could use my old holes as they were just skimmed over, but decided to set traps closer to shore where I surmised the cusk would be. Motoring out on my Ski-Doo, I cut five holes along the shore toward Jordan Bay. My chocolate lab at the time, Luke, loved to ride on my sled, but he couldn’t figure out what I was doing out at night. Nevertheless, he made no bones about it, and went along for the adventure. I must have been the only soul on the lake that weekday night, as I couldn’t see any lights or snowmachines. I had been saltwater smelting a week earlier and I had a dozen smelt left over. These big smelts get

For certain, the cusk is an odd-looking fish. I liken it to a cross between an eel and a hornpout. Whatever you think about its appearance, however, the cusk is a fine-eating fish, and I wanted one to use for chowder.

mushy in the refrigerator but make ideal cusk bait, especially if they start to get pungent. Using a lead depth sounder, I found bottom and dropped in a baited hook. I peeled off several additional feet of line and watched it sink in the headlight of my idling sled. Repeating this scenario four more times, I had my legal number of five traps, and I had an hour before I had to check them again. Back at camp, I lit a fire in the fireplace and commandeered my Dad’s recliner. With a cup of coffee and book, I relaxed until my watch indicated an hour was up. Out we headed with high hopes. It’s amazing how direction at night changes. I always look for the radio tower on Rattlesnake Mountain when I need a point of reference for the camp. It’s lit with a flashing red light to warn low flying aircraft, and it serves to direct me no matter where I am on the lake. It was erected in 1959 and at the time, it was the tallest structure

in the world at 1619 feet. I headed toward the blinking tower and then made a hard right, finally picking up my first trap in the headlight of the old Safari 503. Nothing. Four more traps checked, and no action at those either. I motored back to the camp and settled into the warmth by the fireplace. I made five or six more trips, all with no luck. I thought Luke would stay behind, but he insisted on accompanying me on each sortie. Finally, close to 1:00 a.m., I had a flag on my second trap! I whizzed the sled over as soon as I saw the red felt flag in my light, and shut the machine down as Luke jumped off, sensing something was afoot. I used my small flashlight to look at the spool of the trap but it sat motionless; however, the line was off to the side of the hole. Normally I would wait for the fish to swim, but I know cusk will swallow their prey and sit while digesting it, so I pulled lightly but firmly on the line. I could feel

the fish writhe, and knew instantly I had my intended quarry. This one came up easily but I was pleased to see a two-pound fish curling up on the cold ice. Luke got a nose-full of cusk odor, and I slipped my prize into my pack basket. Checking the rest of the traps produced nothing, so I motored back to camp and put the fish in the sink for later. Alotta Lota Related to saltwater cod, the freshwater

cusk, or Lota lota, is also referred to as a burbot, which draws its Latin meaning from “barba” or beard, likely due to the single whisker under the fish’s chin. For certain, the cusk is an odd-looking fish, and I liken it to a cross between an eel and a hornpout. Whatever you think about its appearance, the cusk is a fine-eating fish, and I wanted mine for chowder. Like its saltwater cousin, cusk are high in vitamin D-rich oil from their liver, and that organ makes up ten-percent of its body weight. That’s more than sixtimes the size of livers in other freshwater fish, in case you were curious. Cusk move into shallower water in the winter, and a sandy or mucky bottom is preferred. The shallows just off the Route 302 beach in Raymond are perfect habitat for these bottom-dwell(Continued on page 67)

Range Pond State Park Open ALL-YEAR! • Enjoy ice fishing (only plowed access to Lower Range Pond). Early Fishing permits available for access before gate opening at 9 A.M. Stocked with Brook and Brown Trout • Kids only ice fishing Derby March 2nd sponsored by Kittery Trading Post and Sebago Rotary Club • 2019 State Park Passes now available to purchase at the park! • 2 miles of groomed x/c ski trail, 1.5 miles of groomed snowshoe/ walking trail and 4 miles of additional trails • Park and Ride snowmobile access to Southwestern Maine • Remember, the park is open to hunting; special rules apply

Entrance Gate Closed Tuesday and Wednesday Call park for more information at 207-998-4104 26 State Park Road • Poland, ME Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry www.MaineSportsman.com

66 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Cold Weather Fun in the Rangeley Region During the deep of winter, I often marvel at how the animals manage to survive such frigid temperatures and snow that’s measured in feet. The animals must be tough to make it through a winter in Maine. A large percent of modern-day humans could never adapt well enough to withstand a Maine winter in the wild. I’ve camped out during the winter months and enjoyed the solitude, but I’ve carefully planned the trip with freeze-dried meals, a box stove for a heat source, and hightech clothing and sleeping gear to make it through sub-zero temperatures. In Bernd Heinrich’s gripping book Winter World, he writes about the little golden-crowned Kinglet, and details its survival techniques in a way that will simply amaze the reader. I’ve never seen such a detailed study of wild animals. The book simply captured my complete attention years ago, and I still remember his tale of the little bird and its survival techniques.

One surprise in the woods has been the huge increase in bobcat sign and sightings. I have also seen several lynx and lots of their tracks throughout the region. These big cats can do a number on the deer population. So will Maine ever have a hunting or trapping season on lynx again? And why can’t we snare coyotes, if the lynx population continues to rise?

The author (right) and grandson, Cody St. Germain, begin the hard-water drilling process. William Clunie photo

The book got me thinking so much about cold weather survival, that I can hardly step

outside without thinking about some of the finding within the pages of Heinrich’s book. I’ve read his other books and enjoyed them, but this one is a favorite by far. Whitetail News As much as I enjoy deer hunting, I also look forward to spending time in the woods right after deer season. I enjoy watching deer as they move into their winter yarding areas, and I can also find evidence of where they “hang out” during the hunting season.

www.MaineSportsman.com

I mark certain areas on a map that hold the deer during November and December, and make plans to return during the hunting season the following season – all of this deer-watching helps out in many ways. As I watch the deer, I also keep an eye on the predators that follow them into their yarding areas. One surprising note here has been the huge increase in bobcat sign and sightings. I have also seen several lynx and lots of their tracks throughout the region.

These big cats can do a number on the deer population, and I’ve asked this question before – will the State of Maine will ever have a hunting or trapping season on lynx again? For that matter, why can’t we snare coyotes, if the lynx population continues to rise? I don’t think folks realize how many deer – fawns and adults alike – fall prey to lynx, bobcats and black bear. Predation, together with heavy snow and the continued loss of yarding areas, contribute to lower deer numbers. Ice Fishing The Rangeley Lakes watershed offers great opportunities for open-water fishing. Traditionally closed to ice fishing, the huge system of major lakes and rivers in the region remain filled with trout and salmon when spring open-water fishing begins. Some folks complain that the big lakes would still hold plenty of fish even if the law allowed ice fishing. Others, content with the restrictive laws, enjoy catching plenty of big fish during open-water season. Ice anglers in this region can still find a few remote ponds with good numbers of fish by looking elsewhere in the waters that surround Rangeley’s big lake system. Sturtevant Pond (DeLorme Atlas, Map 17, A-5) is open for ice fishing. It is located near the New Hampshire border, just south of Wilson’s (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 67 (Continued from page 66)

Mills. The 518-acre pond gets stocked with landlocked salmon every spring and fall, and holds a good number of other fish, including rainbow smelt, brook trout, splake, yellow perch, and chain pickerel. This cold-water pond has only been opened to ice fishing for a few years. It has a good population of rainbow smelt and other baitfish to feed the hungry game fish. The maximum depths

reach 58 feet, providing plenty of room for roaming fish to grow to impressive lengths. The pond can be accessed from Route 16, on the last road before the New Hampshire/Maine border crossing. Most anglers hug the shoreline, fishing for brookies in shallow water, while others dangle their lines at 15 to 20 feet in the deepest parts of the pond, in search of roaming salmon that chase the smelt. More Ice Choices Folks in this region

Sebago to Auburn (Continued from page 65)

ers. My saltwater smelt work wonders, as do fillets from a large sucker or regular shiners. I think cusk prefer dead bait over live, but that debate could go on for days. Another top cusk water nearby is Thompson Lake (Map 11, E-4) in Casco. Thompson has a great winter togue fishery, but cusk also prowl the shallows at night. It pays to know the lake, as much of Thompson Lake

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have several other ice fishing choices on outlying bodies of water around the Rangeley Region. If ice anglers travel a little, they can find many lakes and ponds within a short driving distance. Haley Pond (Map 28, E-5), right off Main Street in Rangeley, routinely gets stocked with plenty of trout. Traditionally a family ice-fishing spot, this little pond holds plenty of smaller fish for the kids – good for the pan and for teaching the young ones about ice

angling. Lufkin Pond (Map 19, A-2), a few miles east of Rangeley, holds a sufficient number of hungry trout to satisfy an ice angler’s appetite. The small pond, located just off Route 4, can be easily accessed within minutes of leaving the pavement. Another great little ice fishing spot, Toothaker Pond (Map 19, A-3), can be found a few miles north and east of Lufkin Pond, on the opposite side of Route 4. During the ice-fishing season,

is boulder-strewn, so if you know where the sandy shoals are, you will be in some good territory. If you are at the north end of the lake in Oxford, a sandbar with shallow water lies in the middle of the channel as you head toward the outlet. Also, the shallows in Potash Cove are good spots to set up for cusk. Cusk aren’t the most glamorous fish, and fishing for them isn’t, either. Cold nights on the water into the early morning hours aren’t always fun, but they are productive if you want a nice winter chowder.

this body of water remains a “kids-only” pond – anglers 16-years-of-age and older cannot legally fish on the pond. Be sure to check the rulebook for specific laws concerning each individual body of water to be fished. Also remember to get enough bait before coming up to the Rangeley Region – ice fishing bait has always been scarce in these parts, and the fish seem to be quite hungry.

That night on Sebago I didn’t catch any more cusk, but I managed to stay up late and sleep in, maintaining my night shift schedule and I caught one of the lake’s unsung heroes, the lowly but delicious burbot. Note to readers: Make plans now to visit the three-day State of Maine Sportsman’s Show, March 29 – 31 in Augusta. I will be helping to staff the Maine Sportsman’s writers’ booth on Friday afternoon.

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68 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Sand and Gravel Pits are Maine’s Equivalent of Strip Mining Webster defines strip mining “a method of mining by laying bare a mineral deposit near the surface of the earth, instead of sinking a shaft.” For example, mining operations in Pennsylvania and Virginia strip topsoil, rocks and gravel from the earth to expose layers of coal. Critics of the practice claim when trees, plants and topsoil are removed, strip mining destroys landscapes, damages forests and wildlife habitats, leads to soil erosion and – of particular concern to sportsmen – displaces wildlife and reduces hunting and fishing opportunities. On the other side of the argument folks, feel that we need the extract resources from the earth to fuel the economy, and construct homes, factories and malls. Long-term Impact There’s no doubt that strip mining has an effect on the earth, and that it’s a long-term impact. Once the delicate natural balance that has evolved for millions of years is disrupted, then the manmade changes caused by strip mining can have a domino effect on the surrounding areas. Rain washes loosened sand and silt into streams, smothering plant life downstream, which then reduces viability in the affected streams. A case in point – I had a little trout honey-hole deep in a forest located in Porter. A pool in the brook harbored wild brookies, I never told anyone about it, and I released all the fish I caught in order to maintain the wild fishery. www.MaineSportsman.com

Could construction companies do a better job of restoring abandoned sand and gravel pit landscapes, to reduce erosion and restore wildlife habitat? The author believes they could.

This old sand pit located in Sanford was once a Federal EPA Super Fund hazard site. Today, after the EPA reclaimed the site, the location features a pond and is landscaped with natural plant life. The many wild raspberry bushes located on the site feed wildlife year-round. Val Marquez photo

For a number of reasons, the spot became my number one location to bring kids fishing. One reason was the half-mile hike along a beautiful forest trail surrounded by a mature forest into the area. The other was the forsure fishing excitement in a pool full of hungry wild trout. That little pool never failed me. I hadn’t fished the spot for a few years, and decided to check it out. I found that a logging operation had constructed a make-shift bridge to skid logs over the brook upstream of my hidden trout honey hole. The result of that construction? The work had removed topsoil, trees and plants, exposing sand. The sane then washed downstream, completely filling the pool and killing aquatic plant life. This was not a result

of surface mining, but does serve as an example of how altering the natural surface of the soil can have long-term erosion effect on the environment, and of the possible negative effects for sportsman. Strip mining over hundreds of acres is much more devastating than one skidder road in Porter, Maine. Strip-Miners Required to Restore Land Because strip mining has a drastic effect on the environment, it’s controversial, and has been the target of many laws and regulations, both state and federal. These regulations require mining operations to return unused materials that were removed during the process to be returned to the area, landscaped, and re-seeded. Federal laws and regulations like the Resource Conservation and

Recovery Act (RCRA) require surface mining companies to replace the removed tailings (rocks, gravel and soil) in a way that restores the landscape and ecosystem more closely to its premined state. This, of course, is costly, and really doesn’t work well, because re-vegetation is difficult. In fact, most trees that are planted fail to grow. In some locations, ponds were constructed and then stocked with fish. This has worked well. For example, a sand pit on New Dam Road in Sanford that was once an EPA “Super Fund” hazard site was cleaned up, and a fishing pond was built on the site. That’s what the law intended – that sand pits be reclaimed as usable areas. Maine Requires Registration of Pits Maine statutes con-

tain a law titled the “Maine Metallic Mineral Mining Act.” That statute establishes performance standards for operators who “borrow” material by excavating clay, topsoil or silt. According to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), regulations require “borrow” pits (sand and gravel pits) with more than five acres of active area to be licensed and registered. Smaller excavations for sand, gravel or fill generally don’t need to be registered; neither do “inactive” pits. However, excavations of fewer than five acres must be operated in accordance with established standards to insure environmental protections. A list of licensed sand and gravel pits is found on the DEP web site, at www.maine. gov/dep/land/mining/licensed_facilities_perf_ stds.pdf. Both state and federal laws require mined landscapes to be returned to a natural state, but there is quite a lot of flexibility in the language (e.g., a requirement that the land be returned “closely to its pre-mine state”). Industry Wants Low Costs The industry, on the other hand, promotes the business perspective – that we need sand and gravel to create aggregate that is used in construction of roads, as well as concrete for buildings. Seventy percent of aggregate used in Maine comes from sand and gravel, while 30 percent is from crushed stone. The mining industry points out that addition(Continued on page 71)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 69

In Praise of Groundwater Out of sight; out of mind. Groundwater is everywhere, but because it remains hidden from view, we often don’t think about how critical it is, both ecologically and economically. I was recently reminded how important groundwater is in the lifecycle of brook trout and many other species of both fish and wildlife. Keith Fritschie, a PhD student at Dartmouth College, gave a talk at a Trout Unlimited meeting about his research on brook trout spawning in the Dead Diamond River in New Hampshire. Keith has documented – with field measurements and video – that female brook trout select their nest sites in the fall where groundwater flows up through the gravel, thus keeping their eggs warmer and preventing them from freezing in the winter. Constant Temperature The temperature of groundwater stays fairly constant all year at a depth of 20 or 30 feet underground, averaging 37 degrees in northern New England to 47 degrees in southern Maine. When the temperature of the river water drops below the groundwater temperature, the female trout look for locations with good gravel and steady warmer groundwater flows. When the eggs hatch, the fry will hide in the gravel, where groundwater provides proper temperature for early growth. In the summer, of course, trout and other species rely on colder groundwater and springs as thermal refuge. Keith

We don’t think much about groundwater, since it’s out of sight. However, its temperature-moderating abilities play a critical role in determining where trout lay their eggs, and where fish go to seek relief from summer heat. Think about this – there’s 30 times more fresh water in the ground than in all the world’s lakes, ponds, rivers and streams.

Female brook trout builds a nest where groundwater seeps through the gravel. Keith Fritschie still from video

and his colleagues have tagged trout with radio antennae and monitored their movements in the watershed. They found that trout will migrate many miles within the watershed in search of cool temperatures – usually from groundwater – and enough oxygen needed to survive the heat of summer. One hot June day, I learned a memorable lesson when I was fishing a stream while wearing sandals. I was standing on a gravel bank casting my fly upstream and down. As I cast, my feet worked down into the pea-sized gravel until I felt the cold groundwater – probably at 45°F – seeping between my toes. My feet started to feel numb. I soon realized that the colder, denser groundwater would sink to the bottom of the pool,

and the trout were staying down deep in cooler water, ignoring my fly on the surface. Water Cycle Groundwater is a critical part of the water cycle. About 97% of all water on Earth is saline, mostly in the oceans. Fresh water is only 2.5% of all the water on earth, with about 69% of that locked (for now) in ice caps and glaciers. About 30% of all fresh water is groundwater, while less than 1% is in lakes, ponds and rivers. Here in Maine, we have plentiful groundwater, because it is constantly recharging from rain and melting snow. The subsurface saturated zone, or water table, may be 10 to 20 feet beneath the surface, but in some places, it is just a few inches down.

Aquifers An aquifer is any geological structure that holds groundwater in significant quantities. In Maine and New Hampshire, virtually all of the land area is over an aquifer of some type. We have sand and gravel aquifers left behind by the retreating glaciers that hold huge quantities of groundwater in the porous sand layers. Bedrock aquifers hold water in the fractures, allowing the water to move was if through a pipe. Groundwater Discharges Groundwater emerges or “discharges” when gravity forces water at a higher elevation out through the soil, through cracks in bedrock, or into a river, streams, ponds and wetlands. We notice groundwater when we see

springs or seeps, when ice forms on rocky outcrops or cliffs, or even when “ice needles” push up from the soil in November or December before snow covers the ground. Such groundwater discharges are critical to wildlife. Wetlands are important habitat for a huge diversity of plants, birds and animals. Springs and seeps provide important drinking water during dry months. Some spring holes stay open even in freezing weather, giving birds and wildlife access to water during winter months. Just after Christmas last year, I was in Utah on a family vacation visiting Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks. While I was there, I decided to try fishing in the spring creeks that are fed by groundwater flowing from the limestone and sandstone formations. Spring-fed creeks stay open even in cold weather. When we arrived at the creek, the air was barely 20°F, but trout were rising to midges and blue-winged olives! With some excellent help from my guide, I landed two rainbow trout over 16 inches, despite ice forming on my line and the guides on my fly rod. The water stays at about 40°, so the trout continue feeding all winter long. Drinking Water Here in northern New England, over half the population gets its drinking water from groundwater, mostly from private wells. In many small towns, the local water utility extracts groundwater from high yield sand and gravel aquifers. (Continued on page 71) www.MaineSportsman.com

70 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Get Stuck in Some Memories The adventurous outdoor traveler is bound to find himself mired, ditched, broke-down, or just plain stranded at some point or another. This writer happens to be an expert in these situations. Below are two stories to prove so. A Ditched Expedition While my father was in Wisconsin bowhunting with a friend, he let me,

his 16-year-old son, borrow his Ford Expedition to use on the slick roads of NH muzzleloader season. What could go wrong? Opening morning saw roads of condensed sticky snow topped with a layer of glare ice. After fish-tailing up a hill and trying to abort the effort a little too late, I found myself cocked sideways on the side of the traveled

portion, just spinning. Another truck came along just in time for the driver to see my inexperience hard at work on the accelerator. When the other driver got out with an amused look on his face and asked if I needed any help, I replied “I’ll be fine – I’m just about out!” He hooked a chain to me anyway. In a few minutes I was

on my way, bombing back down the icy hill, nearly ditching it on several corners. I decided it would be thoroughly embarrassing if the same guy had to twitch me out twice, so I headed across the valley to Mill Brook Road. I hastily drove up the end of the road in search of a buck track, to no avail. Off the Road On the way back

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down, while going relatively slowly, I started to slide. The portion of the road, ever so subtly curving, was sucking me toward the ditch, and there was nothing I could do about it … especially with my foot locking the brake to the floor and my shaking hands holding the steering wheel tight cranked all the way to the left. After about 50 feet of slow skidding, I was entirely off the road, nose deep in the steep ditch, rear wheel spinning high in the air. Though it was utterly pointless, I revved the engine and spun the contactless tires anyway—just for good measure. I got my rifle out and took a walk—four miles down the road to the nearest house. I was relieved to hear the occupant tell me that I wasn’t the first to borrow his phone for that reason. After getting a ride home, I was able to make arrangements through AAA to have a tow truck driver pull me out later that evening. Incredibly, there was no damage to the vehicle, though my dad still wasn’t impressed with the picture I sent him. It sure wasn’t the big buck picture he was hoping to see when he opened it. Anniversary Break Down On our two-year dating anniversary, I wanted to take my girlfriend (now my wife) to one of my favorite hidden places: Whitcomb Mountain Firetower. The abandoned firetower, which overlooks Phillips Brook Valley, sits on a forgotten, indistinguishable (Continued on next page)

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

half-trail off a forgotten, indistinguishable, half-drivable twitch-trail. It’s one of those places that you can only find if someone takes you there. Most of the way up the steep, grown-in, waterbarred “road,” my old truck started to lose its get-up. Within a couple of seconds, the engine faded out and we started to roll backwards. I stomped on the brake and found it stiffer than a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich discovered in your pack from last year’s deer season. Having to stand on the brake, I got the truck stopped. I pressed the emergency brake, which promptly broke with an emphatic SNAP! Luckily, I was able to restart the vehicle and get it into park, before it petered out again. The parking brake held it enough to keep it from rolling backwards. I surmised that I had lost the fuel pump. Not wanting to let it entirely ruin the day, we hiked to the firetower anyway, hoping that the truck would be magically fixed when we returned.

It wasn’t. And there was no way in the world that a tow truck would be able to get up there to get it. There was only one option – get it down to the main road. Closer to Civilization Luckily, the truck started again, just long enough to shift into neutral. I didn’t have any power steering; no power brakes; no ability to shift. The only thing in my favor was gravity. Knowing it would be dangerous, or at the very least, extremely bumpy, I made Maylynda follow along on foot, out of the way. After bunny-hopping a dozen waterbars in reverse, and snapping quite a few hanging tree branches, I decided to take a chance to make my driving a bit easier and turn the truck around at one of the old, grown-up landings. The transition had to be perfect, keeping a fast enough pace to swing the rear of the truck around and up the slight incline, but still be able to transfer that momentum forward without stopping, and heading down the hill. It worked. I

Southern Maine (Continued from page 68)

al requirements on their operations would drive the cost of construction higher. It’s clear that Maine’s sand and gravel pits are a form of strip mining (“laying bare the surface”). Also, that there are definite laws to return affected land to its natural state. Finally, it’s also a fact that to burden companies with more regulations would increase costs, impacting Maine’s construction economy.

Sporting Environment (Continued from page 69)

Groundwater is also important to agriculture for irrigation, and to our forest products industries. And let’s not forget the craft brewing industry! As water moves through the soil, it is naturally filtered and cleaned; therefore, much of our groundwater is safe to drink. We think of spring water as being clean and pure, which is generally true, but certainly

drove the rest of the way down the steep section, standing on the brake. After parking the truck on the main road, we started walking the 11 miles back to the hot top. Maylynda made it clear that she wasn’t happy with the idea. She asked what the chances were of anyone coming along and picking us up. Considering that it was a Wednesday on a sweltering hot summer day, with no active logging operations around, I replied, “About zero.” As if on cue, I almost immediately heard the distinct sound of tires on a gravel road, and a couple of loggers pulled up. (They had just started a new job that week.) The loggers told us they didn’t have much room in their single-cab truck, but there was another truck from their crew coming along right behind them and he should be able to give us a ride. After walking for another hour, the other truck came along “right behind them.” I distinctly remember telling Maylynda that “someday we’ll look back on this and laugh.” She

Slippery roads caused this young and inexperienced driver (the author) to put his father’s Expedition into the ditch of a mountain logging road. Luckily, a great AAA driver was able to tow him out.

Brian Emerson, the author’s father, tries the tree-branch traction method of getting a vehicle unstuck from the end of a snow covered bridge, in a successful effort to avoid a 15-mile hike out to civilization.

replied, through tears, “No we won’t!” Well, here we are, remembering and laugh-

ing. Do I dare say “I told you so…”?

Hug Trees, or Cut Them? This brings us to the age old debate, “Do you hug trees, or cut them?” Tree-huggers will surely want affected lands returned to a natural state, while radical-minded advocates what it stopped completely. These folks live in glass houses (by the way, you need sand to, produce glass, as well). I think the people working at DEP at the state level and the EPA at the federal level are working hard to protect the environment. However, their work is influenced by politicians and lobbyists. I also feel that sand pits companies could blend in the edges once the work is

complete, making the landscape look more natural. In fact, they could even plant species that thrive in sandy soil, without much added cost. Many are already doing this, and their former pits fit into the landscape quite well. So are sand pits an environmental wasteland, or a natural way to use the earth’s resources? Are federal and state laws adequate when applied fairly and properly? And finally, could construction companies do a better job of returning the landscape to a more natural look? I believe they could.

not always. Maine groundwater has naturally high levels of arsenic in some areas, and radon in well water can be a problem, especially from wells drilled in bedrock aquifers. Bacteria can get into wells from a wide variety of natural and human sources. It is important to test for these possible problems. Groundwater can also be contaminated from human activities – leaking underground storage tanks, old landfills, salt from roads, failing septic systems, pesticides, or

a variety of chemicals dumped or spilled by industry or careless homeowners. It doesn’t take much to pollute an entire aquifer. Once contamination gets into the groundwater, it can be very expensive or nearly impossible to remove it. Clean groundwater is critical to Maine people and our fish and wildlife populations. Just because we don’t see it every day, we should never take our precious groundwater resources for granted.

www.MaineSportsman.com

72 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Outdoor Shows Keep a Cold and Windy March Smokin’ Hot When the last of winter’s snow stacks up during those cold and windy March days, what’s a Maine sportsman to do? Sledders and ice anglers enjoy the cold and white winters, and those with dogs chasing rabbits or coyotes. Fly anglers meticulously tie up next year’s batch of offerings, being sure to include a few new “killer” flies that will certainly be big hits. Other tasks include patching waders, cleaning fly line, and an assortment of chores that never get done during Maine’s fast and furious fishing season that always seems too short. During the colder months, I enjoy going to outdoor shows and dreaming about swimming and fishing during the warmer summer months. I like to check out the booths that offer fishing packages, fishing gear, boats, and anything to do with warm-weather fishing. As much as I like chasing coyotes and rabbits through the coldest and snowiest winter weather, I still long for those warm summer days when March give us a hint that the season might be changing soon. It’s only natural – let the fishing season begin, even if there’s still a foot or more of snow in the yard. Maine’s Show The 39th Annual “State of Maine Sportsman’s Show” takes place at the end of this month, March 29 – 31, at the Augusta Civic Center. There will be plenty of fly fishing things to do there, but so much more.

www.MaineSportsman.com

This year, the State of Maine Sportsman Show is sponsoring the Maine surplus and seized firearms auction on Sunday, March 31, starting at noon. This should be a crowd-pleaser, and with more than 100 firearms to be auctioned, there will be something for everyone.

The Maine Sportsman magazine’s own Luke Giampetruzzi tying his creations while talking to folks at the show. Luke will be staffing our magazine’s booth at the State of Maine Sportsman’s Show again this year, March 29 - 31 in Augusta. William Clunie photo

The three-day premier outdoor show will host more than 100 exhibitors, a kid zone, demonstrations, seminars, taxidermy, art, photography and carving contests. The State of Maine Sportsman Show is also sponsoring the State of Maine Firearms Auction, Sunday, March 31, starting at noon. This should be a crowd-pleaser. Even if show-goers aren’t plan-

ning to buy a firearm, it’ll be entertaining just to watch the auction take place and see what kinds of armament that gets put on the auction block ... like they say, “There will be something for everyone.” I will be helping to staff the Maine Sportsman booth, as well as manning the “Back in the Maine Stream” veterans’ both. I hope to see you

there! WMFF Expo The 8th Annual Western Maine Fly Fishing Expo, held at the Gould Academy Field House in Bethel on Saturday March 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., allows anxious anglers get over their winter blues in a hurry. Kick the snow off your mukluks and walk around the spacious Expo

to experience a little bit of warmth during a very chilly March. This year’s theme, “Young Folks: Energizing the next generation of fly fishers and conservationists,” brings more than 50 exhibitors, including; fly shops, guides and outfitters, sporting camps, fly tiers, rod builders, artists, authors, fishing conservation organizations, and camp and fishing-related accessories and services. This year will continue with an expanded seminar and presentation program, including fly fishing, fly-tying, stream-side entomology, fly fishing destinations, and related conservation issues. Also returning will be the indoor casting area, where folks can test all of the new rods the reps bring. Attendees can receive casting instruction from some of the best teachers around. As always, there will be a kids’ tying bench. Each child who ties a fly will be entered in a raffle for a beginner’s fly tying kit. Some lucky children will be going home with nice fly tying kits, heading into the season with some great flies to fish with. Make sure to check out the silent auction again this year, as well as various raffles held throughout the exhibition floor. There will be lots of fly fishing items on the auction tables, to support the Mollyockett Chapter of Trout Unlimited carry out their fine fly fishing conservation programs. Be sure to really look around for exactly what (Continued on next page)

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 73 (Continued from page 72)

you want, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. I have been attending several shows, year after year, and noticed that I missed quite a bit just because I felt like I didn’t want to bother asking questions. Marlborough: Lots of Options I have attended the Marlborough Fly Fishing Show in Massachusetts for several Januarys in a row. I thought I had thoroughly checked out everything and everybody

that I wanted to check out after the second show I attended – but boy, was I wrong. This year, I was reading the roster of events from the show, and I noticed several folks, booths and events that I didn’t ever get to connect with at previous shows. From now on, I will be making lists of the things I’d like to do and the folks I’d like to meet at each show before I go. That way, I won’t miss any important events, seminars or booths, and I won’t fail

to meet up with fly fishing friends. I especially want to have several of the professional casting instructors watch me cast and help me with technique. I’m always looking for suggestions, and I really enjoy the fact that such a large number of expert fly fishers will be present at these shows. All year long I read about these professional anglers, and then during the shows – boom! – I’m standing right next to them, talking about our

Fly tying veterans from “Back In The Maine Stream” man the booth at The State of Maine Sportsman’s Show. William Clunie photo

love of the sport. Every year I look forward to meeting up with these awesome anglers ... some of the best fly tiers, rod builders, casting instruc-

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74 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

All Remingtons, All the Time Responding to an unexpected invitation, I shuffled through four inches of slush on top of the ice in the driveway, crossed the Civil Warera porch, and stepped into the old farm’s kitchen. My host and new acquaintance boomed out a welcome. A woodstove popped and crackled in its struggle with the cold that followed me through the doorway. Invited there to sample a selection of single malts and raw oysters from the coast of Maine, I pulled off my coat and took the chair my host waved me toward. The Pronghorn antelope head mounted on the wall beyond the dining table revealed I had entered the home of a sportsman. Gazing around the 175-year-old kitchen in the dim light of a winter afternoon, I concluded I was in the presence of

My host was fiercely loyal to Remingtons, a rifle brand that has served him well for decades. “I’m old school,” he explained. “I use that Model 721 in .270, and my daughter uses the Model 722 in .300 Savage.” a serious hunter. A half dozen rifles and shotguns reclined in a stack against one of the handhewn posts that framed the room. Devoid of ornamentation, each of the firearms appeared as if at rest between forays afield. Working tools, I thought to myself. For an hour or more we sat at the table and bantered about Vietnam, where my new friend lost a foot to a booby trap, the politics of our adjoining towns, the best sauce to spoon over oysters, and the benefits of adding an ice cube to Scotch – “just to open it up.” Darkness fell before the conversation drifted around to hunting and the guns

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stacked against the beam. Speaking of rifles, my host declared, “I’m old school. I don’t use anything but those Remingtons over there. Actually, my daughter uses the Model 722 in .300 Savage. I use that Model 721 in .270.” With that, he rose and handed me one of the vintage rifles. Late-Comer In production from 1948 to 1962, the Model 721/722 marked Remington’s attempt to catch up to other manufacturers in the post-World War II sporting arms boom. Designed by Mike Walker and Homer Young to replace the older Remington Model 30, the Model 721 and 722 form two parts of the same whole. The 721 handles long-action cartridges, while the 722 accommodates shorter ones. A mostly plebian workhorse, the 721/722 gained a reputation for accuracy, and later

spawned the Model 700 so well-known and popular today. For a two year period between 1955 and 1957, Remington offered variations of the 721/722 with upgraded wood and cut checkering, but most of the 118,000 total units produced remained working -class rifles. The rifle was originally available in 13 of the most in-demand calibers of the day, but near the end Remington offered a variant they called the Model 725 in .375 H&H Magnum and .458 Winchester Magnum. Standard calibers ranged from the .222 Remington to the .300 H&H Magnum. Remington offered the 721/722 in several of its own calibers, such as .244 Remington, 6 mm Remington, and .280 Remington, in addition to the .222 Remington. However, popularity reflected in sales dictated that most of the Model 721s or 722s built came in .270 Win-

chester, .30-’06 Springfield, and the then-new .308 Winchester. Less popular but interesting calibers included the .264 Winchester Magnum, .257 Roberts, .222 Remington Magnum, and .300 Savage. The Remington Company’s wartime manufacturing experiences made returning to the pre-war Model 30 impractical and economically unfeasible. While Winchester hung on with the 1936-vintage Model 70, Remington embraced new production technologies and cost-saving measures. No Frills Features of the Model 721 and 722 include an unadorned American walnut stock, a rounded action turned on a lathe rather than a milling machine, a tapered barrel mounting an adjustable rear sight and ramp front sight (factory iron sights are not often seen these days). The factory also drilled and tapped the receiver for scope bases. Barrel lengths varied depending on the cartridge involved. Magnum cali(Continued on next page)

Maine’s 43rd Annual Twin City

GUN SHOW March 30-31, 2019

Saturday 9AM–4PM • Sunday 9AM–3PM OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Lewiston Armory • Central Avenue, Lewiston, ME • Sponsored by the Auburn Exchange Club Admission $8.00 per Person • Children under 12 FREE, Must be accompanied by an Adult

200 8’ Tables Available $65 Each Exhibitors may set up 3:30 –7PM Friday and 7:30–9AM Saturday Guards on Duty 24 Hours Daily • Food Available at Show • Plenty of Free Parking

ALL FIREARMS LAWS WILL BE OBSERVED Applications for table reservation must be submitted on our official table application form obtainable from Jamie Pelletier, J.T. Reid’s Gun Shop, Phone 207-777-3579, Fax 207-333-3399.

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 75 (Continued from page 74)

bers used a heavier 26inch barrel, and there were a few calibers that used a 22-inch barrel. Most rifles utilized a 24inch barrel. Most Model 721/722s carry four rounds in the internal magazine. However, the .222 Remington version holds five rounds, while the larger Magnum versions have room for only three rounds in the magazine. Oddly, the 721/722 does not come with standard sling swivels. Only those few higher grade rifles made between 1955 and 1957 came with factory sling swivels. According to the 1963 third edition of The Book of Rifles by W.H.B. Smith and Joseph E. Smith, “This rifle has a recessed bolt head with enclosed extractor which permits encasing the entire cartridge head when the bolt is closed. This design of bolt has proven to be extremely strong.” Current production of the Remington Model 700 incor-

porates this same bolt head design, as well as the Model 721’s adjustable trigger mechanism and safety design. Priced around $90 when it first hit the market, and buoyed by its reputation for strength and accuracy, the Model 721/722 gathered fans fast. In subsequent years, many of those fans moved on to the Model 700 – the largest selling rifle ever. But many others did not. The Model 721/722 remains a viable choice, and has a following among Maine hunters. Reasonable Prices No longer a $90 selection, the Model 721/722 remains affordable for most shooters, especially if they avoid the rare high grades or scarce calibers. The 38th edition of Fjestad’s Blue Book of Gun Values prices a standard grade Model 721 in 100 percent condition at $500. Many more come available in 90-95 percent condition, which the book prices between $350 and $400.

The book says examples in .222 Remington Magnum and .243 Winchester bring about 25 percent more than the average price. Others in .257 Roberts or .308 Winchester also command about 20 percent higher prices. For unexplained reasons, the book’s authors say to deduct 10 percent for rifles chambered in .300 Savage, which my oyster shucking friend would find baffling. As I passed the veteran Model 722 back into its owner’s hands, I sensed a fierceness in him – the fierceness of a dedicated hunter loyal to the rifle brand and cartridge that has served him well for decades. That loyalty is wellplaced. The 721/722 still gets the job done, whether the quarry is deer and black bear in Maine or sheep, mountain goat, antelope somewhere in the West. In the right caliber the Model 721/722 will even suit for moose, and that is not bad for a 70-year-old.

NOW AN AUTHORIZED

Note from the columnist: I’m looking forward to seeing many readers and fans of the Shooter’s Bench at the upcoming State of Maine Sportsman’s Show, March 29

- 31. Also, don’t forget the state auction of more than 100 seized firearms that’s taking place on Sunday noon (March 31) at the Show.

Sanford Armory Gun Show — APRIL 26 & 27, 2019 —

Saturday: 9AM–4PM Sanford Armory

88 William Oscar Emery Drive • Sanford, ME

General Admission: $5.00 12 & Under Free 70+ Vendor Tables • Food & Drinks

Hosted by Midcoast Promotions Inc. • (207) 249-8344 • midcoastpromotions@mail.com

DEALER Tagging Station

Hunting & Shooting Supplies Muzzle Loading Supplies Scopes, Binoculars, Decoys Handguns Shotguns Rifles

At 70 years old, the Remington Models 721 and 722 still make great tools for hunters.

We Buy, Sell & Trade

Scents and Scent Lures

L.L.Bean Hunting & Fishing Store

Complete Archery Department: Arrows Bows Targets Sights

We Pay Top Dollar! Please Contact One of Our Gun Buyers at

WE BUY, SELL, TRADE GUNS One Gun or Entire Long Gun Collections

1-800-221-4221 207-552-7746 x27746 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed ~ Since 1912 ~

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Always Buying, Selling & Trading New & Used Firearms 22 Peck Farm Road, Winthrop, ME

207-377-2711

Open 8-5:30 Monday–Saturday, 9-2 Sunday

— Special Orders Always Discounted —

WOODMAN’S SPORTING GOODS

427 Main Street, Norway, ME

OPEN: Tue–Fri 10AM–5:30PM Sat 10AM–4PM

207-743-6602

www.MaineSportsman.com

76 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Smilin’

Sportsman A turkey hunter called a plastic surgeon. “I sure hope you can help me, Doc – you see, I have 5 noses!” “Hmmm,” said the doctor. “You’re a turkey hunter, right? How does your camouflage turkey-hunting face mask fit your face?” “Like a glove!” replied the hunter. ••••••••••••••••••• Two pretty young chemists were gossiping in a bar. “And when I heard that Oxygen and Magnesium hooked up,” exclaimed one, “I was like, OMg!” ••••••••••••••••••• A ventriloquist was giving a performance in Greenville with a dummy on his lap. He was telling a joke about clueless people “from away,” when a young fellow from Massachusetts jumped to his feet. “What gives you the right to stereotype out-of-staters that way?” he demanded. “What

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

does my place of residence have to do with my level of intelligence?” Flustered, the ventriloquist began to stammer out an apology. “You keep out of this!” yelled the out-ofstater to the ventriloquist. “I’m talking to that little jerk on your knee!” ••••••••••••••••••• Patient: “Doctor, Doctor – people at your clinic keep ignoring me! Doctor: “Next, please!” Patient: “No, really, Doctor – I feel like I have only 50 seconds to live!” Doctor: “Just a minute – I’ll be right with you.” ••••••••••••••••••• “Things aren’t going too well with my wife,” said Luke. “Every night, she drives around to every bowling alley, pool hall and dive bar in Greenville.” “What does she do that for?” asked Zeke. “She’s looking for me!” explained Luke.

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

Q: Why don’t anteaters get sick? A: Because they’re full of little antibodies! ••••••••••••••••••• “I’ve been doing just want Mamma told me to do,” said Johnny to his young classmate, Sam. “I’ve been putting on a clean pair of socks every day.” “So what’s the problem?” asked Sam. “Well, today is Friday,” replied Johnny, “and I can hardly get my shoes on!” ••••••••••••••••••• True statistic: The number of kids who exaggerated about the number of fish they caught went up one million percent last summer! •••••••••••••••••••

www.MaineSportsman.com

Q: Why does a duck have tail feathers? A: To cover its buttquack! ••••••••••••••••••• “Those three poachers I was chasing weren’t too smart,” explained the Warden at the press conference. “They ran down the field and then they climbed a tree. I looked up into the tree and I could see them, hanging onto the branches.” “How’d you get ’em out of the tree?” asked the cub reporter. “Oh, I just waved to them,” replied the Warden. “When they let go to wave back, they fell out.”

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 77

— TRADING POST — • Subscribers may place one free 20-word line classified ad per month (two-month limit) • Items for sale must include a price • Real estate ads must include an address or location

• The regular rates are $15 for up to 20 words and 50¢ for each additional word • Check, money order, MasterCard or VISA (Credit or Debit) are accepted

• You may submit your ads by: Phone: 207-357-2702 E-mail: classifieds@mainesportsman.com Mail: 183 State Street, Suite 101 Augusta ME 04330

SUBMIT AD AND PAYMENT BY THE 30TH OF EACH MONTH AND YOUR AD WILL APPEAR IN THE NEXT ISSUE. CAMPS FOR RENT CAMP ON SMALL POND IN SHIRLEY $500/wk. Great hunting, fishing & ATV trails nearby. Also, local hunting club 1/4 mi. away is actively looking for five new members. 207-6363689 PARKMAN, MEBUCKS CROSSING WMD 17 Rental Cabins. Turkey,

deer, moose, upland game. All amenities included. Great ratesnightly, weekly, monthly. $75/night for two people. 207-277-3183 ———————————

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY FOR SALE LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION! Land & Building in West-

ern Maine Mountains on busy US Rt 2, on the Androscoggin River. Two full floors, plus stage & balcony with carpet & hardwood floors, full basement, commercial kitchen, two bathrooms, lots of storage, large paved parking lot. Great potential: restaurant, function/entertainment venue, fishing outfitter, more. Must see! $142,800. FMI: call/text 207-357-2702

DOGS

FOR SALE

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

SCHRADE CUTLERY Federal Duck Stamp commemorative knives. Fourteen in all 19881989 to 2003-2004. $125 each or $1,700 for all 14 knives. Call John 207534-7464. ONE-HORSE CUTTER SLEIGH Reconditioned by Craftsmen from Norland’s His(Continued on next page)

Your Own Sporting Domain

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

106 acre fishing/hunting paradise in Greenwood, ME. Deeded ROW and access from road. Moose, bear, deer, birds, brook, and brown trout galore. $135,000 Call or text owner at (917) 513-3004

Caryn Dreyfuss, Broker • (207) 233-8275 caryndreyfuss@morton-furbish.com www.realestateinrangeley.com

RANGELEY - SNOWMOBILE, fish, play cards from this sweet 2 bedroom cottage abutting conservation lands. Many recent updates including all new kitchen, Rinnai direct vent heater, 1/2 bath. Enjoy filtered Rangeley Lake views, the Mingo deer and wildlife galore in your yard. Super location just minutes to town with easy sled trail access, walk to Hunter Cove boat launch, golf at Mingo Springs. Nice spot for your full time or vacation home don’t miss it! $148,500 RANGELEY - Neat as a pin 1 room camp with built-in sleeping platforms, sitting area offers a cozy space to shelter from the elements. Level, well wooded lot to get away from it all with covered picnic area, out house. Enjoy as is or build new. Water access to beautiful Bugle Cove Landing with sandy beach on Mooselookmeguntic Lake for small yearly fee. Easy snowmobile trail access, ATV from your door, low plantation taxes. Worth a look and PRICED TO SELL - don’t miss it! $35,300 RANGELEY - SNOWMOBILERS TAKE NOTE - the trail doesn’t get any closer than this! Located in Oquossoc this cozy 2 bedroom cottage, plus heated bunk house that sleeps a crew offers DIRECT TRAIL ACCESS in YOUR BACK YARD! Short walk to village shops, restaurants, marina on Rangeley Lake. Enjoy watching the local deer and the neighboring pond with wildlife galore. Super spot for 4-season adventures, being sold furnished... don’t miss it! $157,000

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

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

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

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

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

Beauty runs deep. So does our land sales experience.

John Colannino – Broker & Forester American Forest Management, Inc. 40 Champion Lane | Milford, Maine | 04461 O: 207.817.9079 | C: 207.266.7355 John.Colannino@afmforest.com For more information on available properties please visit: AmericanForestManagement.com www.MaineSportsman.com

78 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Noyes Real Estate Agency 2388 Main Street • Rangeley, ME 207-864-9000 • info@noyesrealty.com www.noyesrealty.com

RANGELEY AREA PROPERTIES

#557 - MLS# 1372557 - Private 20 acres in Avon off grid, on ATV and sled trails. The well maintained trailer is generator ready, with bathroom, new roof. $55,000 #556 - MLS# 1355432 - Furnished hunting/ fishing camp near Rangeley village. Turnkey, large garage, brook frontage. $95,000 #428 - MLS#1363084 - Remote, private, gated, waterfront log cottage on Big Beaver Pond. Completely renovated, very well maintained. Walk to Richardson Lake. Land is a lease. $275,000 #319 - MLS #1143550- Own 7.8 secluded acres in Rangeley Plantation. Access to Mace’s Landing on Mooselookmeguntic Lake. Includes driveway, septic system and dug well. $89,000 #303 - MLS#1221546 - Cabin and 41 acres, off-grid with all amenities. Quad, sled and water access, drilled well. $109,000 #307 - MLS# 1368735 - Upper Dam, fly fish, hunt. Access, Mooselookmeguntic, and Richardson Lake. Annual Lease $1525. Cabin $145,000 #967 - MLS# 1294281 - Beaver Mountain Lake lot with 292 feet on the lake and 2.28 acres. Includes a boat house, driveway, and open views to the lake. $179,900. #404 - MLS# 1265231 - This Rangeley Lake-front property is a bargain with a year round camp on 190’ of waterfront, western exposure. $259,000 #483 - MLS#1286042 - Kennebago cottage on the Logans. Views, world class fishing. 3 bedrooms, loft and 2 bathrooms. Includes 2 buildings at the lake and new roof. $399,000 Aziscohos Lake - Call us about land and cabins on Aziscohos Lake, great fishing, remote, close to NH line off Route 16!!

NORRIDGEWOCK - This beautiful home was built with hand-scribed logs right from the property. 10 beautiful acres with 1500 feet of frontage on the Kennebec River to enjoy all of the outdoor adventures available. Wildlife, campfires, privacy all combined in this 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom Log home. Detached, oversized 2 car garage with storage above. Open wood shed to keep the Jotul woodstove fired up. So many things for your family to enjoy here. Close commute to surrounding towns. MLS# 1403045 - $198,000 CANAAN - Camp Life!!! Perfect for a nice getaway for hunting or some needed private downtime. Come and snowmobile or ATV as well. Nice enclosed porch area! Bunk area, kitchen and living area with oil forced hot air and an Ashely woodstove for heat. Lug in water for your indoor shower/lavatory area. Gas lights for back up. Camp is mostly furnished. MLS# 1400289 - $34,900 ATHENS - Looking for a hunting camp or vacation retreat at a great price? Look no further. 23 acres with a small, unfinished camp in the heart of Maine deer country. 12x12 insulated camp on posts with a nice gravel driveway and pad. Bring your ideas and make this place your own. MLS# 1400219 - $29,900 CORNVILLE - Great opportunity to put some finishing touches on your four-season recreational retreat. Property offers 15 acres with frontage on Smith Pond. Snowmobile trail is at your doorstep. Smith Pond is open to ice fishing and open water fishing. Enjoy year round access off paved road. There is a drilled well and septic system on site. The camp is unfinished and requires some work. There is a wood stove and pipe that is not hooked up. Being sold AS-IS. MLS# 1376299 - $39,000 CANAAN - 10.6 acres on the backside of Lake George with 543’ of water frontage. Property has no ROW from Pinnacle Rd. Currently boat or snowmobile access only. Great way to get acreage with long frontage at an affordable price! MLS# 1403107 - $49,900 ATHENS - Surveyed and soil tested 7.75+/- acre parcel with frontage on a lightly traveled country road. There is a driveway on property. RV can convey with property. Great place to build your dream home, hunting camp, or vacation retreat. MLS# 1402746 - $24,000 EMBDEN - Nicely wooded 20.87 acres of land on a gravel road. Power is available at the road. Great location to build a home or camp and maintaining lots of space around you. MLS# 1302444 - $29,900 EUSTIS - 158 acres with your own private pond! Approximately 3000 feet around the pond. Great spot for a private home or camp setting. Snowmobiling, 4-wheeling, hunting and fishing paradise. Currently in tree growth for tax purposes. MLS# 1235550 - $145,000 CORNVILLE - Major road access to this 65.83 acre parcel. Mostly wooded, power at the road and approximately 450 feet of road frontage on Route 150 (Beckwith Road). Snowmobile from this site to ITS trails. A little piece of peace and quiet paradise just waiting for you! Currently in tree growth for tax purposes. MLS# 1331961 - $55,000 03/19

www.MaineSportsman.com

Camp needs employees for general labor- late April thru late October. Good wages. 207-7318888 or www.nahmakanta.com

Trading Post (Continued from page 77)

tory Center in Livermore, ME. Dark Green. In storage 15 years. Asking $1,100. 207-225-3294 ——————————— 2011 ARCTIC CAT TZ1 FOR SALE 2-up touring, turbo 4-stroke. Very good condition, all the bells

& whistles, fully serviced and checked every spring. 7,600 miles. $5,900 OBRO. Call Eric 207-547-3345. ———————————

WANTED DEER/ MOOSE ANTLERS Buying any size deer & moose shed antlers/ racks or antlered skulls. All grades bought by the pound. 802-875-3206

WANTED EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Remote Maine Sporting

Wildlife Quiz Answers: Woodchuck (Quiz on Page 36)

1. The woodchuck is also known by the name “groundhog.” 2. The woodchuck inhabits a native range stretching across the Eastern United States, Canada and Alaska. 3. A grown woodchuck typically weighs between 6-12 pounds. 4. In the wild, woodchucks consume a wide variety of plants, including grass, clover, plantain and wild flowers.

5. Woodchucks have many natural enemies, including foxes, coyotes, dogs and humans. 6. Woodchucks usually live 5-6 years in the wild. 7. Woodchucks in captivity have been recorded living as long as fourteen years. 8. Yes, woodchucks are one of Maine’s few true hibernators; they hibernate from October to March.

Winn - Beautiful 4.7 acre lot is home to Maine hunting and recreational cabin. Drilled well plus a rocked up spring. An outhouse, flush and shower are there too. You need to bring only a smile and your toys to Mattakeunk Road. $42,900

Lee - A new cabin tucked away on a 5 acre lot with a cute, little brook. Insulated, live edge siding- well-built and ready for you on Ludden Hill Road. $39,900

Lincoln - 3 bedrooms with 1 full bath downstairs and both a 3/4 master bath and 1/2 bath upstairs. Paved drive, attached 2 car garage, enclosed porch, covered porch, and patio all overlooking 191’ frontage on Cold Stream Pond. $310,000

Lincoln - 2 bedroom cabin sitting right on the water’s edge. The deck is only inches from the water. Beautifully maintained inside and out, with a huge, two story garage, for “toy storage”. Only a few minutes to town right on Little Narrows. $219,000

Pukakon Twp - Beautiful year round cottage has hardwood floors, knotty pine interior, cathedral ceiling and a huge insulated and heated garage. End of road location for privacy. Boating, swimming, fishing, and snowmobiling on Junior Lake. $269,000

Springfield - Many renovations already done in home could be comfortably lived in now. First floor: windows, fully insulated sheet rock, bathroom, electric, plumbing. New roof ‘17, large lawn, wonderful spot to raise a family right on Main Street. $42,000

Lincoln - Great 2.59 acres, 305’+/deep water frontage on Long Pond, driveway installed, electricity available, snowmobile and ATV trails, owner financing. $65,000 T3 R1 - Inexpensive 1.81 acre lot with driveway, privy and tent platform already onsite. Remote area with low taxes, seasonal access, kayak, fish and swim, path to the 224’ along Bill Green Pond. $29,900 Mattamiscontis - Great Frontage to enjoy all this beautiful River has to offer, fishing, hunting or paddling. Located on a year-round Road, choose from the 1.6 or 2.4 acre lot for your new getaway on Penobscot River. Owner financing. $21,900 Mattamiscontis - 1.6 and 2.4 acre lots, year round access, close to I-95 and Lincoln’s amenities, owner financing, enjoy fishing, paddling and hunting along the Penobscot River. $21,900 each

R E A L

E S T A T E

5 LAKE STREET, P.O. BOX 66, LINCOLN 207-794-2460 www.cwalakestreet.com E-mail: cwa@cwalakestreet.com

1-800-675-2460 Call any of our brokers to work for you!

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

FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION ON OUR PROPERTIES VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT CWALAKESTREET.COM

�� The Maine Sportsman • March 2019 • 79

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80 • March 2019 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————————————

SPRING FISHING EXPO March 16–17 AT THE L.L.BEAN HUNTING & FISHING STORE FREEPORT, MAINE

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Real Anglers. Real Expertise. Reel It In at Our Freeport Store. When you step inside our Hunting & Fishing Store, you won’t just find hundreds of innovative items designed and tested to perform flawlessly; you’ll also be assisted by anglers as passionate about the sport as you are, ready to share their fish stories and decades of experience with you. Find directions and see upcoming clinics at LLBEAN.COM/FREEPORT

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