The Maine Sportsman - November 2018 by The Maine Sportsman - Digital Edition

Sportsman The Maine

November 2018 • $4.99

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Whitetail Issue Snowmobile Pre-season Checklist Page 33

Catch Trout Now Pages 44 & 51

Readers’ Deer Stories Pages 20–23

Bowhunting Trophy Deer

Pages 24-25

Deer Tracking Tips Pages 37, 42 & 47

2 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

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Editorial

4 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

How Can We Thank Private Landowners Who Allow Public Access? Let Us Count the Ways

New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication Readership

Sportsman The Maine

ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 554 • 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......................... 68 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia...................... 26 Bird of the Month, by Erika Zambello............................... 14 Capitol Report by George Smith..................................... 16 Central Maine by Steve Vose........................................... 52 Downeast Region by Jim Lemieux................................... 55

Maine game wardens Joe McBrine (left) and Evan Ackley take a break after filling two pick-up truck beds with trash at a downeast location during Landowner Relations Clean-up Day 2018.

It’s deer season, which offers a great opportunity to express our appreciation to private landowners who allow us to access their property. And it’s really up to us – despite best efforts, maintaining good relations with landowners is too big a job for the state to handle for us. The headline this past April sounded pretty impressive: “IF&W Doubles Landowner Relations Staff.” The inside joke was, of course, that the number of employees dedicated to maintaining those important relationships did in fact double – from one, to two. In a state in which 90% of property is owned by private landowners, it is critical that the state, and all sportsmen and women, do what they can to establish and maintain good relations with generous landowners. While we think primarily of those owners who allow anglers, hunters, ATVers and snowmobilers onto their properties, a recent IF&W blog post by wildlife biologist Brad Zitske emphasized another important benefit – property owners who allow biologists to cross their properties to reach lakes, ponds and rivers to conduct fish counts, or grant access for important research on the “big four” game animals – black bear, moose, wild turkey, and white-tail deer. The state, motorized sports clubs and interested parties also show their appreciation with annual clean-up days. Once again this year – on September 9th – volunteers pulled tires, old cars, refrigerators and bags and bags of trash out of woods, swamps and fields, as a way of saying “thank you” to landowners who permit travel and activities within and across their properties. With the financial support and incentives provided by businesses such as Kittery Trading Post and others, folks have cleaned up more than 800,000 pounds of trash from public and private lands during the five years the landowner appreciation clean up events have been held. Maine lawmakers also did what they could to encourage property owners to open their lands, by enacting the “landowner liability” law, also known as the recreational use statute, found in Title 14, M.R.S.A., Section159-A. In a nutshell, if someone uses land for outdoor recreation, the owner incurs no liability for injuries to the person or damage to the person’s property. It’s a good and effective law. Finally, landowners of at least 25 acres who allow access receive well-deserved beneficial treatment in opportunities such as any-deer permit lotteries, in which they have their own “special landowner drawing” that features much better odds than those provided to the rest of us. These benefits are nice, but to the question, “How much appreciation shown these good folks is too much?” the answer is, “It’s never too much.” www.MaineSportsman.com

Editorial.................................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by Lou Zambello........................... 44 Jackman by William Sheldon........................................... 62 Jottings by Jon Lund............................................................ 8 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon............................. 65 Kate’s Wild Kitchen by Kate Krukowski Gooding........... 50 Letters to the Editor.............................................................. 5 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour....................................... 18 Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose................................... 42 Midcoast Report by Tom Seymour................................... 54 Moosehead by Tom Seymour.......................................... 60 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson.................................. 37 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie................................ 45 Quotable Sportsman by George Smith........................... 16 Rangeley Region by William Clunie................................. 42 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers................................. 71 Saltwater by Barry Gibson................................................. 58 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth......................... 49 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews...................... 67 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard................................. 31 Smilin’ Sportsman: Adults & Kids by Will Lund.................. 71 Sporting Environment by David Van Wie........................ 64 Sportsman’s Journal by King Montgomery..................... 10 Southern Maine by Val Marquez..................................... 47 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller...................... 57 Trading Post (Classifieds)................................................... 72 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour........................................... 51 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie.................. 39 Young Maine Sportsman by Luke Giampetruzzi............ 48

SPECIAL SECTIONS Deer Hunting in Maine by Ed Pineau............................... 19 Deer Hunting in Maine: Reader Stories............................ 20 Shooting Sports by David Miller........................................ 29 Snowmobilng in Maine by Shane Brown......................... 33

On the Cover: Deer season is upon us! Enjoy hunting tips from our columnists, as well as readers’ stories in this annual white-tail issue.

Letters

�� The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 5

To The Editor

Rollin’ on the River To the Editor: William Clunie’s “Off-road Traveler” column in the October issue of The Maine Sportsman on the topic of getting heavy boats up onto roof racks, brought back some very old memories. I agree about hoisting the Old Town onto roof racks – too heavy and awkward. I could not lift my Nucanoe “Frontier” up onto my 2004 Tacoma for the same reasons. But then I remembered my grandfather and the roof rack he made back in the 1950s. Gramps and I hung out together most of the summer, and it took the two of us to muscle the old Kennebec Canoe up onto the roof of his Dodge. I recall Grandfather had made racks from some oak cross pieces with rubber suction cups on the ends. These stuck to the car roof. In addition, Grandfather inserted a couple of eye bolts into the rack on the back end of the car, and suspended a long roller – a discarded broom handle or long dowel he scrounged from somewhere – between them. The eye bolts were screwed in near the ends of the oak cross piece, and stood up a few inches. Gramps drove big screws through the eyes and into the ends of the dowel, creating a long, skinny roller. He and I would lift the canoe up and rest the gunwales on the roller, then pick up the stern and push the boat forward onto the racks. After Gramps passed on, I inherited the Kennebec canoe and was faced with the same issue of how to hoist it up onto the roof racks. By then I owned a nice little Ford Ranger with a cap and aluminum ladder racks built in. I remembered Gramps’ wooden roller, and took myself off to Goodwill, where I bought two identical rolling pins, each about 12 or 14 inches long. I bought some “U” bolts, cut four spacer blocks to provide clearance, and mounted those rollers onto the aluminum crossbar, one on each side about where the gunwales of the canoe would land. This rig worked every bit as well as Grandfather’s broom handle. Actually better, because the rolling pins were larger diameter and turned easier. Because I had mounted the rolling pins with those “U” bolts, I just left them on the truck year ‘round – much to my wife’s disgust. I took a lot of ribbing about why someone would drive around with rolling pins attached to their truck. The Ranger is long gone, but I’ve still got the Kennebec canoe, and I believe if I looked

hard enough, I might find those two rolling pins. Randy Randall Marston’s Marina - Saco River —

Brown Trout at the Buzzer September 30, 2018 was the last day of river fishing in Southern Maine, and I awoke before dawn with a single thought – to catch my first Brown Trout out of the Ossipee River. Quietly, I left my sleeping wife and daughter, and drove to the river. As I closed the truck door and grabbed my fishing gear, I heard the sound of moving water. Locating an old wash-out, I scrambled down the steep embankment, using trees as handholds to slow my descent to the river. The spot that I landed on surprisingly looked fishy. There was a current break upstream that created a rocky pool of semi-calm water next to the shore. I opened the reel’s bail and made my first case, flinging the small gold spoon towards the edge of the current, then started a slow retrieve. As my line got shorter and shorter, I thought, “No trout this time.” But wait – what was that following my lure? A good-size fish was approaching the spoon. I was worried the fish was not going to take the lure, but at the last possible second, as the spoon neared my boots, it struck! What followed was a quick and glorious fight that ended with the fish in the net – a beautiful Brown Trout. My quest was complete!

I snapped a couple of photos, and gently released the Brown back into the river’s water. It was an incredible feeling, and so as not to diminish its significance I decided to stop fishing for the day and for the year. My Buzzer-beating Brown, caught on the last day of the season, was safely at home in the Ossipee, and so it was time for me to head home, too. Brandon Williams - Parsonsfield, ME www.TheCrustyTrout.com —

Tree Stand Safety – Complacency is Your Enemy To the Editor: It was just a month ago that Maine bear hunters removed their practice field tips, screwed their broadheads onto their arrows and headed out to their tree stands. (Continued on next page)

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6 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Letters to the Editor (Continued from page 5)

A safety harness should so comfortable you forget you have it on -- until you need it!

The prussic knot is designed to slide easily -until pressure is applied to it, at which point it locks tightly and prevent the user from slipping down the line.

It’s likely the majority of these hunters have long-standing bait sites established, and it’s also a good bet they hunt from long-standing, “established” tree stands. Given the extremes of the Maine climate, do you think maybe it’s time we removed those stands, gave them some much-needed attention and then re-hung or replaced them altogether? Since the state’s deer hunters are now joining their bear-hunting brothers and sisters in the woods, it seems – no, it is absolutely – the perfect time to think about tree stand safety. Many of you reading this know what we’re talking about when we mention old stands that have been hanging or chained to a tree for years. Once a bait barrel gets established and that stand produces every year, who would ever propose taking it down? Sadly, hunters all over the country fall from stands every single year because of worn or broken equipment. Straps deteriorate due to weather and rodents, cables rust and weaken, and even the platform itself becomes less safe every year.

It’s common for all of us to fall in love with a stand and spend our summers longing to sit over that magic spot. However, it only takes one time for you to place your weight on a stand with rusted cables or torn straps, and down you go. Follow the below ABCs of tree stand safety to ensure you don’t become another statistic. Always remove and inspect your equipment at the end of the season and store it inside (if possible) until next year. You can always put the same stand or a new one up in the exact same spot! When it comes to hunting safely from a tree stand, no piece of equipment approaches a full body safety harness. Today’s harnesses are light-weight, comfortable and very versatile. Convenient pockets and deer-dragging aids combined with fall restraint technology make wearing a harness a no-brainer. If buying a new harness is out of your budget this year, nearly every tree stand sold today comes with a complete harness. Ask one of your hunting partners – someone has more than one lying around that you can use.

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Buckle your safety harness every time you climb into your tree stand. It may surprise you to know that according to the Tree Stand Safety Awareness Foundation (TSSA), 60% of all falls occur when the hunter is either climbing (up or down) or transitioning (to or from) the stand So, even when a harness is being worn and intended for proper use, there’s still one element to address. A lifeline or safety rope wrapped around the tree above the hunter and attached to the tree at ground level will virtually eliminate tree stand falls. This type of rope is now widely used all over the country with hang-on stands, climbing stands and even wooden ladder stands here in Maine. A specialized (but very simple) knot, called a prussic knot, is used to connect your harness to the tree. As you ascend or descend, you simply move the knot along using two fingers. However, the magic happens when a sudden force is applied to the knot. The knot actually cinches itself to the safety rope, and will not allow you to fall. Connect your harness to a safety rope before your feet ever leave the ground, and stay connected until you are back safely on the ground. Whether you choose to apply these life-saving guidelines to your hunting style is up to you, but please remember – tree stand safety is about more than just you. It’s about your family, friends and the entire hunting community. We want you home safe and sound, and so do they! Sean Ferbrache, COO American Hunting Lease Association —

Proposed NECEC Corridor would be an “Open Wound” To The Editor: My Name is Rene Guay, and I am extremely concerned about Central Maine Power’s proposal (known as NECEC, which is short for “New England Clean Energy Connect”) to build a transmission line in Franklin County and Somerset County, solely for the benefit of residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I fear the adverse impact this transmission line would have on the pristine wood(Continued on next page)

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lands of the western Maine wilderness. The proposed transmission line would come in from the Canadian border and cross into Maine in Beattie Township. It would then continue south/southeast, gouging its way through brooks, rivers, forest and natural habitat. This area is one of the most remote wilderness regions of Maine. I was born in the Moose River Valley 60 years ago, and I’ve never left this area for any period of time. I and my family are outdoorsmen/women to the core. I personally make my living from the Maine woods, in addition to spending nearly all my free time just enjoying the woods. Whether it is fishing, hunting, working or simply walking and breathing in this gifted land, the Maine woods are and always have been part of life for my family and me. The transmission line would be like a gigantic open wound – a wound that would never heal – directly through Maine’s most pristine and remote wilderness. Machinery will contaminate the soil with leaking oil and fuel. Herbicides will impact all levels of wildlife. With the tree canopy gone, the sun will bake and overheat sensitive land areas. The corridor would become a high-speed freeway for fast-moving, powerful ATVs and snowmobiles. High-voltage wires may impact people and animals in ways we don’t understand and appreciate. But once these dangers are detected and understood, it will be too late. The final impact is an economic one – the visual impact of the transmission line. Northwestern Maine residents who live in areas like Jackman, Parlin Pond, West Forks, Forks and Caratunk feed their families from these woods, either directly (such as by logging) or indirectly, such as with tourism. The tourism industry, whether it is whitewater rafters, fisherman, hunters, ATVs, snowmobiling, cross-country skiers, hikers or – yes – even leaf-peepers – will be negatively impacted. And personally, a chunk of my heart would be gone. I would be forced to explain to my children and grandchildren that when big money is calling the shots, nothing is sacred – not even our beautiful State of Maine. Rene P Guay Dennistown, ME admin@birchbarkstore.com —

Proposed CMP Corridor “A Bad Idea for Maine” The Maine landscape is ever-changing due to our vastly different seasons. Changes by man also contribute, and some have been very beneficial to this state’s citizens. Then there are changes that benefit but a few. The CMP NECEC proposed power line is one such project. The project is solely for the benefit of CMP and Quebec Hydro.

Not even the one customer for this project is getting a good deal. Massachusetts put out requests for this project to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and the residents there will be paying a premium on a project that doesn’t even do that. The changes that will occur in Franklin and northern Somerset counties will be devastating to land, winter deer yards, prime brook trout habitat, upland bird cover and scenic vistas. Many consider this just another power line project. However, at 300 feet wide and 50 miles long, the amount of herbicide needed to maintain the line close to Maine Heritage Waters and moving waters that wild brook trout utilize for spawning and refuge, means it’s not just another project. Rather, it’s an incredibly bad one. Some will argue this line will provide access to wilderness. The access is already there for those who are willing to do what Maine sportsmen and women have done for generations – that is simple, to walk. Maine has a proud heritage and reputation for its water and its woodlands. Do we and visitors really want to hunt, fish and hike in an urbanized landscape where power lines dominate the view? Do we want to lose more habitat in an ever-shrinking woodland? Or do we want to pass on what we have now to future generations? I think the majority of Mainers will agree with me that NECEC project is a bad idea for Maine. If you agree, write and email the Maine DEP and LUPC with concerns, and join the Facebook page www.facebook.com/ groups/279944929428517/ Todd Towle Kingfield and Enchanted TWP, ME —

Says Power Line Corridor Would Destroy Wildlife Habitat

sion of civilization and be less attractive for tourism, hunting, and fishing. Fewer visitors could result in reduced business income for towns from Jackman down to Freeport. The corridor would have a very bad effect on the native brook trout. It would be visible from the Old Canada Road Scenic Byway along Route 201. Starting from the Quebec border in Beattie Township, it would go west to east, cross hundreds of streams, even the south branch of the Moose River, before hitting Route 201. It would be a permanent clearcut 300+ feet wide and sprayed with herbicide regularly. Many of the sandy bottom streams are breeder brooks and habitat for some of the last native brook trout. They are the first to die when water gets too warm, less oxygen, or contaminated. Many of the affected streams flow into the Moose River, Moosehead Lake, Spencer Lake, Spencer Stream, Rock Pond, Dead River, and Kennebec River – all popular destinations for anglers, hunters, trappers, campers, canoeists/paddlers and white-water rafters. The corridor would destroy existing habitat for deer, moose, bear, beaver, bald eagles, golden eagles, ruffed grouse, spruce grouse, Canadian lynx, fisher, pine marten, loons, ducks and Canada geese. The herbicides will have negative health effects on fish, wildlife, trees, plants and humans. Many folks come to this beautiful remote mountainous area to escape from their hectic lives and civilization. This area has been popular with hunters and anglers since the late 1800s. The popular film “Dead River Rough Cut” documented two men who trapped this area of Maine. We need to protect this wilderness from destruction. Say “NO” to NECEC. Duane Hanson T5 R7 BKP WKR, ME

To the Editor: My name is Duane Hanson. My wife Sally and I are the only year’round residents of T5 R7 BKP WKR. The proposed CMP NECEC power line corridor will come within 1500 feet of our home. I have lived, hunted, fished, and trapped here since 1980. Raised three sons who are avid sportsmen. We live off-the grid with two solar panels for house lights, grow a big garden for food, and hunt and fish for meat. We have camped, hiked, and canoed much of this remote area, which currently has no power lines and which many would label “pristine wilderness.” Once the power lines appear, this area will become an extenwww.MaineSportsman.com

8 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Jottings (Continued from page 8)

The Days Before Hunter Orange – A Sad Case Study My home phone rang on a Saturday morning. It was the Game Warden. There had been a fatal hunting accident in a small town west of Augusta. Would I be available to visit the scene? The answer was “Yes.” At that time in the 1960s I was serving as County Attorney (now called the District Attorney) in Kennebec County. State law required that the County Attorney or an assistant participate in the investigation of any accidental hunting death. Beyond that, if a prosecutor may be called upon to subsequently present a case in court, it’s an advantage to be familiar with the scene of the crime. It wasn’t difficult to find the scene, with a number of state vehicles parked beside the road. The shooter was in shock,

talking rapidly, excitedly. He and a group of his friends had been hunting in a small patch of cutover woods – a swale not far from the road. It was a misty morning, and a member of the party had jumped a deer among the small pines and alder growth, but hadn’t gotten a shot. They had been excited, confident the deer was close at hand. The group spread out, and slowly advanced down into the swale. Patch of White The shooter caught a glimpse of a triangular

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patch of white, that he thought was the tail end of a deer, and had fired his .401 Winchester rifle once. Tragically, the white triangle turned out to be a patch of the white T-shirt of his hunting buddy, showing beneath the red and black wool hunting jacket the victim wore. But there was something strange. The victim had two bullet entrance wounds. The shooter insisted he’d only fired once. The rifle was an autoloader, and it wasn’t difficult to locate the spot from which he’d fired, because the expended shell was found and the location marked.

Investigation At the autopsy, the medical examiner noted the two entrance wounds. He followed the two wound channels, and found a lead slug that was the core of the bullet in one channel and the copper jacket that had been wrapped around the core in the other channel. Something had caused the bullet to come apart. The next day, wardens strung a small, tight line from the position of the shooter to the spot where the victim had lain. Along the line, and not far from where the victim had found, they spotted a thin sapling hardly bigger than a finger that had been shat-

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The Defense Concedes The shooter’s defense was that the victim, clad in red and black wool hunting jacket and pants, and white t-shirt, looked to him like a deer. I wanted to counter that argument, and asked the warden to obtain a clothing-store manikin the size of the victim, and dress it in the wool jacket and pans and t-shirt the victim had worn. That seemed like a good idea at the time, but it led to an unexpected result. At the trial, after I addressed the presiding judge, I asked the warden to bring in the manikin. Two wardens brought in the manikin on a stretcher.

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tered by the passing bullet. The jacket of the bullet had separated from the lead core, which had caused two wounds. The shooter was charged with a negligent shooting, and trial was held in Winthrop Municipal Court.

In the 1960s, hunter orange was not required and had not yet come into common use. In the case I was called to help investigate, the shooter caught a glimpse of a triangular patch of white, and fired his .401 Winchester rifle. Tragically, the white triangle turned out to be a patch of a hunting buddy’s T-shirt, showing beneath his the red and black wool hunting jacket.

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�� The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 9 (Continued from page 8)

The shock of seeing the manikin in the dead man’s clothes shattered the defendant’s composure, and he burst into sobs and tears. The judge ordered a recess. The defendant’s attorney conferred with his client, who entered a guilty plea. Hunter Orange Requirement Becomes Law The accident impressed on my mind the dangers of wearing red and black hunting clothing in the woods, and especially the importance of avoiding anything white. Incredible as it may seem today, in those days Maine experienced as many as a dozen hunting accidents each fall. Hunter orange had not yet come into common use, and when I later served in the Maine Legislature, I determined to make hunting safer by requiring the use of hunt-

Current Maine law requires anyone hunting during firearms or muzzleloader season on deer to wear two articles of hunter orange clothing -- a solid-color hat, and a second item that covers a major portion of the torso, such as a jacket, vest or poncho.

er orange. Eventually, the Legislature agreed to require hunter orange in a trial zone. The trial zone had zero accidents, which convinced lawmakers and other previous skeptics of the merits of

hunter orange. Brush-busting Slug? In a side note, the consensus among deer hunters for many years was that a heavy, slow-moving bullet like the .401 Winchester was POLITICAL AD

a better deer cartridge than lighter, higher-velocity rounds, because the heavier slugs “bucked the brush” better. My observation in that case was that it required only a small sapling to

cause the .401Winchester 200 grain bullet to come apart. I understand that careful field experiments have since disproved the “slow-moving bullet bucks the brush better” theory.

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10 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

(Continued from page 10)

Hunting Ring-necked Pheasants, Chukar Partridge, and Bobwhite Quail – In Maine! Maine’s Western Mountains provide fourseasons of outdoors activities, including hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing, sledding and ATVing. Along the scenic foothills between North Waterford and Hunts Corner is Flint Mountain, soaring to a modest height of 1,312 feet. This gorgeous high hill commands some nice views all around. Only one hill in the immediate area is higher, and it shades the early morning rising sun, but doesn’t interfere with the gorgeous sunset over the scalloped horizon to the west. Atop Flint Mountain sits the 240-acre Setter’s Point in Albany Township, which is owned and operated by Master Maine Guide Dennis Jellison. Living a long-held dream, this Portland transplant offers yearround preserve bird hunting for quail, chukar, and pheasants. Sports hunting here do not need a license or permit, but must do their first hunt with Jellison or one of his guides. After that, guests may hunt on their own on forays into the fields. Llewellyn Setters Dennis breeds, boards and trains bird dogs, and likes to concentrate on training the owners along

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Ninety minutes from Portland, and offering hunting, fishing, clays, guides, Llewellyn Setters and all the amenities, Setter’s Point is an exciting and comfortable preserve for exotic bird hunting, as well as a starting point for an Androscoggin River “cast and blast” adventure.

Certified Maine Guide Frank Lepore brings sports to Setter’s Point to hunt upland game birds. Lepore has two superb Gordon setters to locate, point, and retrieve downed birds. All Photos by King Montgomery

with the dogs. Such training is one-on-one, rather than in group sessions. The dogs in the Setter’s Point stable are classy Llewellyn setters, and they are a joy to watch on the hunting courses. Dennis works with all gun dog breeds (and all kinds of people – sometimes the more challenging task). Setter’s Point also has a modern, 3-stand clays setup, with two wobble traps. Dennis and his son Torin, also a Master Maine Guide, teach shotgun shooting. And that’s not all – the Jellisons guide fish-

ing trips on local waters, including a full-day float trip in a comfortable and stable Clackacraft drift boat on the Androscoggin River for Eastern brook trout, landlock salmon and smallmouth bass. In addition, in October they run a cast-andblast on the Andro for trout and salmon, and hunt the islands in the river for woodcock and the occasional grouse. Here, clients need valid hunting and fishing licenses issued by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. There is a two-acre spring-fed pond just below the guest lodge, and it is open to visitors for fly fishing for a fee. It is stocked with some big Eastern brook trout. You can see the possibilities here if you are a bird hunter and a fly angler— this is a paradise! Setter’s Point Lodge is a split-level structure

housing two bedrooms, a full-kitchen, a living room/dining room, and all the amenities, including hot/cold running water and flush toilet. A big screen TV and two comfy sofas round out the common living area. Oh, yes, and it has heat too, which absolutely is needed in fall, winter, and spring in the Western Maine Mountains. In short, this is a very comfortable place to stay. Our Arrival The drive to Setter’s Point from the Portland area is about 1-1/2 hours on a scenic route that courses rural Maine. My hunting buddy Frank Lepore, his Gordon Setter Lexington, and I drove up about three-weeks before opening of Maine’s woodcock and grouse season to tune-up ourselves, the guns and the Gordon. (Afterwards, Frank and I still are in lousy shape,

and can’t shoot worth a darn, but Lexe was great at what he does best.) We hunted over Lexe the afternoon we arrived, cooked up some nice, lightly-marinated beef tenderloin with all the fixings, and hunted with Dennis and his Llewellyns the next morning with a light frost painting the ground. Setter’s Point is one of the very few full-service bird hunting preserves in Maine. It is completely self-contained, is open for hunting all year long, and guests can shoot clays and/or fish as well. Birds are raised on-site, so they are accustomed to the climate and get plenty of flying exercise. Action Right Off the Bat We’d no sooner put boots on the ground at the first hunting field when Lexe got “birdie,” then assumed a classic point peering into a dense tangle of undergrowth that included almost passé goldenrod that was everywhere. The wind was howling that afternoon, and it’s a wonder the dog was able to sort out all the smells that swirled over Flint Mountain. Without a word—we’d done this before together a few times—Frank moved to the right of the quivering but staunch black-and-tan dog, and I slid to the left. In my midstride, a chukar exploded from the cover and quartered slightly left, rapidly gaining speed as it flew with the strong wind. The first barrel barked and served only as a warning salvo, but the second barrel of the sleek, incredibly (Continued on next page)

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 11

Dennis Jellison, owner of Setter’s Point, is a gun dog trainer and Master Maine Guide for hunting and fishing. He has a stable of superb Llewellyn Setters. (Continued from page 10)

light Italian 20-gauge o/u dropped the bird. Lexe brought the chukar to hand, and the hunt was on. Less than four or so miles to the northwest, beyond the Crooked River at the base of Flint Mountain, Square Dock Mountain presented its majestic sheer cliff face illuminated by the sweet light. Farther to the north, beyond Bethel and the winding Androscoggin River, stood the exposed ski peaks of the Sunday River Resort. And all around the rounded, pointed, and scalloped peaks of hills and small mountains glowed in the gloaming as we headed back to the lodge, where a fine bourbon (or two), and a good dinner with a nice wine (or two) awaited our coming. We’d asked Dennis

Setter’s Point Lodge has two bedrooms, a full bathroom and kitchen, dining room/kitchen, and a number of other amenities.

to join us and we all had a great, companionable time – the sort that folks who love dogs, shotguns, birds, and the great outdoors always have together. The morning dawned clear and cool and a light patina of frost covered the terrain with a gauzy white blanket. And, thank goodness, the blustery winds of yesterday were gone—so we wouldn’t have that excuse for missing shots today. However, I was sure we’d think of something else. Day #2 – The Smell of Fresh Air What is that smell? I thought to myself as I closed the lodge door behind me and stepped into the yard. Of course, that’s fresh air, and it is crisp, invigorating and just wonderful. The gun was cold

A beautiful Setter’s Point hen pheasant is held by owner/head guide Dennis Jellison. Dennis has bobwhite quail, chukar partridge, and ringnecked pheasant available for hunters to order and shoot.

against my skin, so I reached in my jacket and donned light hunting gloves—though the thought crossed my mind that cold hands could be a fitting excuse/reason for yet bad shooting. Sofie, a relatively dainty and nicely-marked Llewellyn Setter, was joined by her larger and more exuberant kennel mate Romeo, both ready and eager for the morning’s hunt. We’d walk the lower field below the farmhouse and just up from the trout pond with the two setters, and I was anxious to see these wonderful dogs work. I would not be disappointed. Sofie was a joy to watch as she coursed the vegetation-ridden field, covered mostly by the ubiquitous goldenrod. Soon she locked up solid and we moved towards her, shotguns at the

Hunting guest Ken Mason, an owner of The Seaside Inn on Kennebunk’s Gooch’s Beach, is a crack shotgunner and is known for his ability to prepare excellent pheasant dinners.

ready, as Dennis directed us into proper and safe position. Romeo arrived on the scene and settled into an honor point, but then, at least to Frank and me, the unexpected happened. The larger dog broke point, did a deliberate and careful back out, and scurried to the side of the tangled patch of vegetation and stood there blocking the pheasant’s ground escape route. This rooster – we couldn’t see it yet – was not going to run out of this predicament since it was surrounded by people and dogs, and the only recourse was for it to burst from cover into the vertical flank and head for the trees lining the field. The bird jumped and flew fast and furious, but didn’t make it. I caught Jellison’s eye, and he was smiling. “You can’t teach that,” he

A cock pheasant has more colors than a rainbow. Fly tyers who are bird hunters are well-rewarded with exotic tying materials when they shoot chukar and pheasant--literally ‘killing two birds with one stone.’

said, talking about the clever blocking maneuver Romeo had executed. “But you can encourage it,” he declared as he reached down to scritch those floppy ears and tell Romeo what a good boy he is. We moved on to find another ring-neck, Sophie prancing elegantly and efficiently out front. Dennis Jellison also guides, and can arrange guiding in the area at several camps for wild ruffed grouse and American woodcock in the fall season. So just ask him about that if you are interested. This is superb timberdoodle and Old Ruff country. Contact: Dennis Jellison, proprietor/head guide, Setter’s Point, 613 Sawin Hill Road, Albany Township, Maine 04217, www.setterspoint.com, 207-357-4687.

Frank Lepore’s Gordon setter Lexington works birds for clients at Setter’s Point. Bird-cleaning facilities are available at this fine upland bird hunting preserve. www.MaineSportsman.com

Almanac

12 • November 2018 • 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 The following excerpts can be found in the November 24, 1905 edition of “Maine Woods,” which was published in Phillips, Maine and enjoyed an extensive circulation as a leading outdoor publication of its day. Sportsmen from throughout the eastern seaboard subscribed to get the latest news from their favorite haunts in the Pine Tree

State. With the regular firearms season on deer upon us, tales from the past involving Maine’s venerable whitetail entertain today just as they did 113 years ago. Wisdom gained from these two stories might fall under the axioms; “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight

in the dog” … and “Always dream BIG.” Enjoy, get out there and make some outdoor history of your own (hopefully, not in my favorite hunting areas), and we’ll visit right here again next month! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Two Big Bucks Fight a Bloody Duel to the Finish (Special Corresponence to Maine Woods)

Greenville Jct., Nov. 21, 1905 – It is well known that buck deer are ferocious fighters, and this fact was well illustrated here recently. While looking for deer, a hunter from Greenville came across the scene of one of their fights. The snow for the space of a rod or more was trampled down and covered with blood showing that the deer had fought long and fiercely. On one side of the battle ground were marks made in the snow showing that one of the combatants had dragged himself away, too weak to stand. Following this trail, the hunter came upon the deer, dead. His entire body was covered with cuts and punctures. It was a magnificent buck weighing at least 225 pounds and with the best set of antlers seen this season. The victor in the fight was a much smaller deer, judging from the size of the tracks, and he was probably a spike horn, as their short, pointed horns are terrible weapons in a fight.

A successful days hunt at Billy Soule’s camp. Cupsuptic Lake, Rangeley Lakes, Maine

Augusta Hunter Kills Big Buck While in Land of Nod E. M. Abbott of Augusta has been passing a few weeks in the pursuit of greater health and happiness in the regions around Moosehead Lake, says the Kennebec Journal. He had the great foresight, when leaving the city, to take with him his gun, in the hopes that, possibly, he might encounter a deer. The story of his success in shooting one of the prettiest specimens of deer which has yet been brought from the big woods sounds rather remarkable. One morning, at about 4 o’clock he experienced a dream in which he saw a proud-head monarch of the deer to be staring fixedly at him through the south window of his room as he lay wrapped in his slumbers.

The window was not open, but what did that matter? The sight of the beautiful animal, stretched out at full length on the snow, would surely be worth the price of a pane of glass. Mr. Abbot is not sure that he was not awake when he first saw the deer, nor is he absolutely certain that he was not asleep when he fired the gun. It all happened so quickly that his brain, stirred into sudden activity at that time of night, was much confuse and his memory fails to serve him accurately as he tries to recall the circumstances. However, it happened, his first sight of the deer, whether visionary or real, was followed by the report of the gun. and the animal lay on the snow just as he expected

it would. The members of the household, sleeping in the upper rooms, subsequently arose and enjoyed an early breakfast of deer steaks. The deer bore a spread of antlers which the hunters and guides of that region declared were not unknown to woodcraft, but which they had never before seen. They were of the “web- horn” variety, and, since Mr. Abbot’s return home, have been placed in the show window at Augusta grocery. He has had several tempting offers, all of which were inconsiderable, compared with the satisfaction of preserving the head, mounted for a memento of the strange experience.

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

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 13

Downeast Salmon Federation Removes Dam on Smelt Stream in Sullivan Smelt Stream in Sullivan used to trickle slowly into Frenchman’s Bay, but in 1967, Tom Watson, Jr. (of IBM fame) dammed up the stream to create a trout pond. This fall, more than 50 years later, the 135-foot long dam is being removed.

shad from reaching their spawning grounds; they block nutrient flow between fresh and salt water ecosystems; and they cause bird and wildlife populations to decline because there’s less food.” Removing the dam, said the group, will reconnect Smelt Brook with Smelt Cove at the foot of Frenchman Bay, providing fish passage for rainbow smelt, brook trout, American eel, and tomcod. The project will also restore the stream banks, the stream’s natural channel, and restore more than a half-acre of salt marsh. Downeast Salmon Federation was instrumental in removing much larger dams on the Pleasant and East Machias Rivers. —

Ash Borer Spreading in Maine

Tom Watson, Jr., was the CEO of computer giant IBM in 1967 when he had Smelt Stream in Sullivan dammed to create a trout pond. Now, the Downeast Salmon Federation is having the dam removed, restoring access for sea-run trout and other anadromous species.

The pond will revert to its former geography as a tidal salt marsh. Such marshes are among the most productive habitats for anadromous fish and other animals that move between fresh water and the sea. Smelt, eels and sea-run brook trout are expected to use the newly-reopened passage. The Downeast Salmon Federation, headquartered in Columbia Falls, purchased the property last year, and raised additional funds this year to remove the granite-block structure. “Dams take a lot of the life out of a stream or river,” said Dwayne Shaw, the Downeast Salmon Federation’s executive director. “They prevent sea-run fish like smelt and

In mid-September, conservation and forestry officials in Augusta confirmed that the emerald ash borer had been found in western areas of York County; specifically, in Acton and Lebanon. This spring, the insect was also found in northern Aroostook County (in Madawaska, Grand Isle and Frenchville). The borer has now infested trees in 35 states and four Canadian provinces. Officials report that ash borers have killed hundreds of millions of trees in North America. The trees typically die within two or three years after infestation, causing financial loss to municipalities, lumber companies and homeowners. Ash trees make up an estimated 4 percent of all forest trees in Maine. —

Ropeless Lobster Pots? Lobster and crab fishermen connect their traps to buoys that float on the surface of the ocean, using rope (known in Maine as pot warp). Scientists are concerned that sea animals,

including endangered rare right whales, have trouble navigating through the maze of lines and buoys, sometimes becoming entangled. But there’s no way to haul traps unless they are connected by rope to a buoy at the surface, right? Well, some folks have developed “ropeless traps” in an effort to avoid snagging whales. They work like this: After the trap is baited, the fisherman heaves the whole rig over the side and to the bottom – trap, line and buoy. The line is coiled inside a weighted mesh container, locked with a special electronic mechanism. When the fisherman returns to check the trap, a signal is transmitted from the boat, which unlocks the electronic mechanism, releasing the buoy and line. If all goes as planned, the buoy pops to the surface, and the trap can then be hauled. The systems are not yet ready for practical, large-scale application in Maine – it’s a long process to coil and pack all that pot warp in the container. In addition, salt water wreaks havoc on all things metal and electronic, so these rigs will have to be tested over time to ensure their dependability. In addition, there’s the problem of one lobsterman laying a string of traps over those of other fishermen, since without buoys visible on the surface, it’s very difficult to determine where others have set their traps. But it’s an interesting approach, and one we may see developed and adopted in the distant future as fishermen change their practices to keep up with technology and respond to environmental concerns. —

Electronic System Connects Tagging Stations with Wildlife Biologists A new web-based game registration system is up and running at tagging stations statewide, according to the Maine DIF&W. (Continued on next page)

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14 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Almanac

(Continued from page 13)

The system will “provide our biologists and game wardens with real-time harvest data,” according to Commissioner Chandler Woodcock. The information network was connected in time for bear season, and has been providing instant data to department personnel about the progress of the hunt. For example, officials were able to report that during the opening week of bear season, hunters registered 1,141 bears. The prior

process utilized game registration booklets, requiring that agents fill in the data by hand. The books were kept by the agents until the end of the hunting seasons in December, and then shipped to Augusta, where all data was entered by hand. Beginning next year, the system will be also available for fur tagging. There’s no word, however, on whether it will be used for a purpose long sought by sportsmen – the ability to register kills such as turkeys using hunters’ home computers or smart-phones.

Bird of the Month: Cormorants by Erika Zambello

Maine is home to two species of cormorants: the Double-crested, and Great. They appear in our state during alternating times of the year – Double-cresteds in the warmer half, Greats during the colder. From afar, both varieties are ink-black, easily mistaken for Common Loons. Even with only a silhouette to judge, a birder can separate loons and cormorants by the simple (Continued on next page)

November 2018 Sunrise/Sunset

November 2018 Tidal Chart

Portland, ME

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

RISE 7:16 7:17 7:18 6:20 6:21 6:22 6:24 6:25 6:26 6:28 6:29 6:30 6:32 6:33 6:34

SET 5:32 5:31 5:30 4:28 4:27 4:26 4:25 4:24 4:22 4:21 4:20 4:19 4:18 4:17 4:16

DATE 16 Fri 17 Sat 18 Sun 19 Mon 20 Tue 21 Wed 22 Thu 23 Fri 24 Sat 25 Sun 26 Mon 27 Tue 28 Wed 29 Thu 30 Fri

RISE 6:35 6:37 6:38 6:39 6:40 6:42 6:43 6:44 6:45 6:47 6:48 6:49 6:50 6:51 6:52

SET 4:15 4:15 4:14 4:13 4:12 4:11 4:11 4:10 4:10 4:09 4:08 4:08 4:07 4:07 4:07

DATE 1 2 3 4* 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

5:50 6:56 8:00 7:59 8:52 9:41 10:27 11:10 11:51 12:27 1:11 1:57 2:44 3:34 4:26

HIGH AM PM 6:07 11:50 7:17 12:34 8:23 1:39 8:24 1:40 9:19 2:35 10:10 3:26 10:58 4:13 11:43 4:57 5:40 12:32 6:22 1:15 7:05 1:59 7:49 2:47 8:36 3:38 9:27 4:33 10:23

LOW AM PM 10:02 1:00 10:57 2:07 11:58 2:09 12:14 3:05 1:18 3:56 2:24 4:44 3:26 5:29 4:25 6:13 5:20 6:57 6:13 7:41 7:05 8:26 7:56 9:15 8:48 10:06 9:41 10:59 10:37

DATE 5:20 6:13 7:02 7:47 8:30 9:10 9:50 10:31 11:14 12:42 1:34 2:31 3:32 4:36

5:30 6:26 7:19 8:08 8:54 9:38 10:22 11:06 11:52 12:01 12:50 1:44 2:43 3:47 4:55

HIGH AM PM 11:20 11:53 12:17 12:43 1:10 1:30 1:59 2:14 2:44 2:56 3:27 3:37 4:10 4:18 4:53 5:02 5:38 5:48 6:26 6:37 7:17 7:30 8:12 8:28 9:11 9:32 10:13 10:40 11:17

LOW AM PM 10:53 11:36 11:50 12:37 12:50 1:37 1:49 2:32 2:43 3:22 3:32 4:05 4:15 4:44 4:54 5:19 5:31 5:52 6:07 6:25 6:44 7:00 7:22 7:38 8:04 8:19 8:50 9:05 9:41

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��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 15 (Continued from page 14)

way they hold their bill – cormorants hold their heads facing up, while the beaks of loons are held parallel to the water. These common birds are easy to find. Double-crested Cormorants hang out on rivers, lakes, estuaries and in the ocean, while their Great Cormorant counterparts prefer saltwater. Across the world, nearly 40 different species of cormorants can be found. If you are able to look past the seem-

ingly-uniform black color, however, the beauty of these seabirds may surprise you. Allison Wells, Senior Director of Public Affairs at the Natural Resources Council of Maine and author of Maine’s Favorite Birds explains: “Cormorants are among Maine’s more under-appreciated birds, in part because you need to be fairly close, or using a good pair of binoculars, to see how beautiful they really are, with their emerald green eyes and yellow throat pouches.” In fact, from a few yards away, their dark feathers can appear to shimmer, while their hooked bills warn that they are not to be messed with. In the 19th century, hunting nearly wiped both species out. In the first half of the 1900s, DDT and other pesticides further reduced their numbers. Since DDT’s ban, however, Double-crested and Great Cormorant continental populations have rebounded to nearly 740,000 and over 11,000, respectively. Unfortunately, threats to their numbers have not been eliminated. Wells continues, “Because they are completely dependent on fish for food, the health of their populations is an indicator of the health of fish populations.”

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16 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Zoning Maine Deer Yards Has Failed According to a University of Maine study, protecting deer wintering habitat is not effective if the surrounding forest is cut down, and/or the trees in that forest are changed. I’m wondering if DIFW will change its approach to protecting critical deer winter habitat, because of this research. For sure, this is important information, which I read in the Northern Woodland News. The article was provided by the University of Maine, and I urge you to read it. Here’s the article: Protection of only narrowly defined zones of winter habitat is not an effective means of regional habitat conservation for white-tailed deer, according to a new University study. The study found that zoning is not an effective wildlife conservation strategy if land use is unregulated for the surrounding landscape, and that habitat protection

confined to those narrow Zoning Wildlife Protection Subdistricts (P-FWs) has been ineffective. The study, “Ineffectiveness of local zoning to reduce regional loss and fragmentation of wintering habitat for whitetailed deer,” was led by Erin Simons-Legaard, a UMaine research assistant professor of forest landscape modeling, and published in the journal Forest Ecology and Management. When winter conditions restrict mobility and access to preferred forage for white-tailed deer, they require wintering habitat. Deer often choose wintering areas based on the characteristics of the surrounding forest, so the researchers studied the spatial arrangement of forest stands around P-FWs. The goals of the research were “to demonstrate how knowledge of wildlife-habitat relationships may be coupled

Quotable

Sportsman

by George Smith

It’s quite a remarkable change in a relatively short period. Dr. Robert Smith, infectious diseases director at Maine Medical Center about increases in cases of Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Babesiosis. Maine Sunday Telegram, August 12, 2018 — I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this department say the Heritage waters should be the best of the best. There’s no doubt that the state’s Heritage Waters [list] contains many of the state’s best brook trout and charr waters…. I’d suggest that the department’s proposal to put a nonindigenous [species] into Henderson Pond does nothing but create anwww.MaineSportsman.com

with remote sensing to monitor the effectiveness of laws and regulations to conserve wildlife habitat on privately owned and commercially managed lands and, more specifically, to evaluate the effectiveness of Maine’s land use regulations to conserve mature conifer forest as habitat for deer,” according to the scientists. Using forest harvest maps that document landscape change between 1975 and 2007, the researchers evaluated the effects of timber harvesting on mature forest in the study area, which included about 36 percent of deer wintering areas zoned by the state of Maine in unorganized townships. The areas protected for deer wintering make up 2 percent of the forested land in the study area. The researchers found that zoning was effective at protecting winter habitat within

zoned areas, but that “the zoning protections, which have exclusively targeted core use areas, have contributed little to reducing fragmentation or maintaining habitat connectivity region-wide in northern Maine.” In larger landscapes adjacent to P-FWs, effects of harvesting on the size and connectivity of mature conifer patches and shifts in forest composition were substantial, and accelerated the rates of habitat fragmentation and reduced the future habitat potential of the protected areas. Less than 1 percent of the mature conifer forest in the study area occurred in patches considered large enough to support deer through future winters. The team identified loss of mature conifer forest as a major limiting factor on efforts to increase the numbers of deer in northern, western and eastern Maine. “Our results suggest

other stocked water in the state of Maine. Gary Corson, a fisheries activist from New Sharon, speaking against a DIFW proposal to take Henderson Pond off the protected Heritage list so they can stock it. John Holyoke story, Bangor Daily News, August 16, 2018 — Some 80 percent of the state’s river habitat has been cut off by dams, causing declines in fish runs of as much as six orders of magnitude. John Waldman, New York biology professor, Kennebec Journal, August 17, 2018 — If I had known it was gonna cost this much, I might have opted not to have it, which probably wouldn’t have been a good decision. But it would’ve been cheaper to bury me. Karen White of Windham, on her medical bills of $17,000 for rabies treatment. Bangor Daily News, August 22, 2018 —

that northern Maine is losing the potential for future replacement of viable areas for wintering deer,” the researchers say. The substantial rates of loss and fragmentation documented show that “habitat conservation strategies that rely on reserves and ignore land use effects on the intervening lands may not be effective.” The study emphasized that monitoring is needed to understand the long-term benefits of zoning in wildlife habitat conservation, and that remote sensing can be a way to overcome the difficulty of monitoring protected forest areas. Deer Fed to Lions My friend Bob Miner recently told me that in the last year, he has picked up 858 deer killed along Central Maine’s roads. Bob and his wife Julie own DEW Haven in Mount Vernon, a zoo (Continued on next page)

Maine is 94 percent privately owned, and without the private landowners [allowing recreation on their land] recreation in Maine is going to be shut down. Some of these landowners are one bag of trash away from shutting [access] down. It’s the number one reason land gets shut down. Warden Rick LaFlamme, John Holyoke story, Bangor Daily News, August 24, 2018 — Protection of only narrowly defined zones of winter habitat is not an effective means of regional habitat conservation for white-tailed deer, according to a new University of Maine study. The study found that zoning is not an effective wildlife conservation strategy if land use is unregulated for the surrounding landscape, and that habitat protection confined to those narrow Zoning Wildlife Protection Subdistricts (P-FWs) has been ineffective. University of Maine study, described in Northern Woodland News.

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 17 (Continued from page 16)

and animal rescue facility with over 200 animals from all over the world (“DEW” is short for “domestic, exotic and wild”). They feed the deer to their lions. I was surprised so many deer were killed along the roads, because Bob travels no more than an hour in a particular direction to pick up the deer. He does get calls from all our area police agencies and game wardens. The Haven, which you can learn more about at www.dewhaven.com, is open to the public at times and is a fascinating place. Bob and Julie live with the animals and dedicate their lives to them. They strive to educate the community with fun, educational, interactive tours, in hopes to help people understand animals’ futures are everyone’s responsibility. When they start feeding the lions, the animals

roar, and I can hear them at my house about a mile and a half away. One year a fellow from Portland came up to hunt with me. He didn’t do a lot of hunting, so I decided to have fun with him. I told him that mountain lions had been seen on my woodlot, so he should be prepared. As we walked through the thickest part of my bog, the lions started roaring. It sounded like they were very close by. I glanced back at my friend, his eyes were huge and he was trembling. All I said was, “Be ready. Be ready.” I waited until lunchtime to tell him about the Haven, and he was not happy with me! We have been seeing lots of deer in my neighborhood, including one doe with twin fawns, so I’m predicting a really good deer hunting season this fall. The lions don’t get all the deer in central Maine!

Don’t Worry About Rabies There was a lot of panic – especially in in southern Maine – about rabies this summer. Much of the worry was driven by rabid fox attacks on seven people in Brunswick. Some folks are really scared, said Brunswick Animal Control Officer Heidi Nelson, “and rightfully so, to some degree,” in a Times Record story. In northern Maine, the U.S. Department of Agriculture distributed more than 351,000 doses of oral rabies vaccine bait, an initiative to reduce the occurrence of raccoon rabies. And even though most of the rabies cases are in southern and central Maine, the rabies vaccine bait project would not work there. The USDA hopes to eliminate raccoon rabies over the next 30 years, although they are still learning about the oral vaccination, wildlife populations, and ecology.

Scott Lindsay, a DIFW regional biologist, said “Rabies occurrences have been tracked for many decades now, and I think what is always revealed is that it is cyclic, and it is not unusual to see occurrences in a particular area rise, then subside.” Lindsay noted that the small animals most prone to rabies – raccoons, foxes, skunks and bats – have learned to live often undetected near humans and do well in developed areas. And that’s where I have to start. Please don’t lose the excitement of seeing one of Maine’s wild critters, even if it is in your yard. We once had a fox that would come up on the deck next to our front door and lay on the bench there. One day we drove into the driveway and the fox was up there snoozing. And it was a beautiful creature. This year we’ve had everything from snap-

ping turtles to skunks in our yard. (Okay – Linda wasn’t too happy to see the skunk!) Throughout the year we’ll see almost every wild critter around our house, including lots of deer, some with really cute fawns. And because we live along a stream, we also see stream critters, including beaver, muskrats, and ermine. Years ago, we did have an encounter with a rabid fox. I was not at home when Linda saw the fox acting strangely in our driveway. It walked past our dog, which was on the chain, and entered our garage. Linda called the local game warden, who came right over and shot the fox. It was sent to the lab and turned out to be rabid. We had to quarantine the dog for a while in case it had come in contact with the fox. But you need not be concerned unless that wild critter you are look(Continued on next page)

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18 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Maine Wildlife:

White-Tailed Deer

by Tom Seymour

Maine outdoors folks have a fiery passion for deer hunting. Diehard hunters arrange their schedules so that their vacation falls during open season on deer. Many sportsmen hunt deer exclusively, to the exclusion of gamebirds and other animals. In addition to hunting deer, Mainers love eating deer meat, and everyone has their own favorite cuts and cooking methods. From venison hamburger to deer meat sausages and from stew meat to deer chops, the white-tailed deer affords us delicious, healthful protein. Given the great popularity of deer hunting, it may come as a surprise to learn that Maine sits at the far northern edge of the range of white-tailed deer. And as with any species at the fringes of its range, deer populations are subject to fluctuations. Even so, parts of Maine abound in deer, especially Central and Midcoast sections of the state. These areas generally see milder winters than Northern Maine. Also, the presence of suitable winter habitat does much to bolster deer numbers. Conversely, clearcutting in the north has had an opposite effect, since it destroys critical deer habitat. Truly, The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries And Wildlife (DIF&W) has its hands full in managing the state for optimum deer numbers. Different Goals People hunt deer for different reasons. Some love the sport so much that they forego shooting an animal early in the season because that would end their hunting enjoyment far too soon. But it’s bound to follow that in many instances, the hunter who passes shots early on doesn’t get another opportunity for the rest of the season. Most people in this situation exhibit great equanimity. After all, even with no venison at season’s end, they met their goal of being able to hunt deer for the

Capitol Report (Continued from page 17)

ing at is acting strangely. I know, for folks who are not familiar with wild critters, that may be difficult. The best thing you can do is call your local police department, if you have one, or local game warden if you don’t. And never approach a wild animal, even if it appears normal. Okay I don’t always follow www.MaineSportsman.com

entire season. And then there are those such as me. Hunting upland game always interested me far more than hunting for deer. And yet, I continue to hunt deer. But it is for the meat and the meat alone that I venture out in November, rifle in hand. The opening day of deer season always makes me sort of melancholy, because for all practical purposes it marks the end of bird season. But grouse season lasts through December and even woodcock season persists through early November. So for me the best case scenario is to shoot a deer during the first week of the season so that I can go back to my favorite sport, bird hunting. This, though, happens less and less frequently, causing me to devote more time to deer hunting. Much of the reason for my frequent lack of success has to do with the condition of the local forest. Although deer numbers run high around my place, getting a fair shot comes hard, because of the thickness of mixedgrowth forest. Still-hunting in such a place seldom proves successful, because it is impossible to move through the forest without making undue noise. The deer know this, and I can picture them standing at a distance, chuckling at the feeble attempts of the local human as he tries his best to move quietly and discretely. Finally, we have the casual hunters, those people who can only spare one or two Saturdays during the entire deer season, if they are lucky. I’ve met lots of these folks, and most of them tell me that they don’t really care if they get a deer or not because their main goal is simply to get out in the woods and enjoy nature. Muzzleloading Season When DIF&W first instituted a December muzzleloading season, some met the move with great joy. Others, however, myself included, viewed this extension of deer season with jaundiced eyes.

that rule! I’ve had my own encounters with wild critters, including an ermine that ran up my leg and stopped on my chest, and a skunk that blasted me right in the face. But I still love all wild critters and enjoy seeing them. I hope you do too. Eagle Sandwich, Redux I was kidding! I couldn’t believe the number of people who read my piece about

December ranks as a bitter cold month, and sitting on a deer stand in the snow, with temperatures in the teens, seems more like work than sport. The cartoon depicting a man and wife sitting on buckets, jigging through holes in the ice, with the caption depicting the husband as saying, “It doesn’t get any better than this” comes to mind. The wife in the cartoon clearly does not agree, as evidenced by her scowl. And yet, since we now have a winter deer season, I feel compelled to take part. After all, the nagging thought that “Today might be the day” is never far from my mind. So I bundle myself in multiple layers of clothing and head out in the snowy woods, .45-caliber Hopkins & Allen muzzleloader in hand. Over the years, these chilly excursions have yielded few deer, but on the other hand, I’ve shot the heads off many grouse that unwittingly walked by within range. A grouse in hand is better than a deer in the bush, I say. As with the open firearm season on deer, muzzleloading hunters approach their sport in different ways. From the beginning, I saw the muzzleloading season as a chance to take a prized game animal with a primitive weapon. That explains my choice of traditional-style muzzleloading weapons. When the woods are snowy, I hunt with my underhammer percussion rifle and when drier conditions prevail, my choice of guns becomes a Pennsylvania flintlock rifle. But others enjoy less-traditional firearms and relish the tack-driving accuracy afforded by modern in-line muzzleloading rifles. These guns are anything but traditional, and some don’t even use standard black powder but rather, various forms of replica powder. Also, since scopes are legal, in-line rifles typically feature high-quality rifle scopes. Daniel Boone would scratch his head in wonder. Successful Hunts In years when I am fortunate enough to take a deer, all my balking goes out the window. And since nothing breeds success like success, a successful deer season stands as great inspiration for future seasons. Munching on fresh deer tenderloins the night after shooting a deer stands as a great comfort and a beloved ritual. Which points out that even a dyed-in-the-wool bird hunter such as me secretly enjoys deer hunting. But please don’t tell anyone – it’ll be our little secret. an eagle hunting season and the eagle sandwich, and thought I was serious. I got some really nasty notes. I thought about writing a new column reporting that I’d tried the eagle sandwich and it was not good. But I don’t need any more nasty notes.

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 19

Properly Packing Your Pickup Truck for Deer Camp by Ed Pineau Packing a pickup truck for camp calls for deployment of complex strategies, use of strong organizational skills and precise execution of a game plan. The process I follow religiously is one of lists, finding, staging, loading, shuffling, finding more, and re-shuffling. Packing for the annual Deer Camp is probably the most important task I undertake all year. (Are you surprised at that assertion? Just ask the wife; she’ll tell you.) The Start I start by looking around the house for my lists. I have a separate list for clothes, food, gear (including different gear list for hunting, fishing, camping, snowmobiling and UTVing....), and tools. The next stage finds me in my recliner, taking a short nap to recharge my batteries to begin the task of staging. I have staging area #1 by the bulkhead in the basement. Staging area #2 is by the garage door. Staging area #3 is in my bedroom. Staging area #4 is in the entryway. And staging area #5 is in the kitchen. Like Hercules Gathering the arti-

The first step in packing is to find all my lists. By the time I have located all the lists, I am required to head for the recliner for a nap to recharge my batteries before starting the second step – staging all my gear.

The near-final step of staging -- piling hunting gear behind the pickup truck. Ed Pineau photo

cles needed for the trip is simply a herculean task. Rifles, ammo, shotgun, shotshells, range finder, compass, GPS, batteries, deer grunt, light plaid wool coat, heavy plaid wool coat, green wool pants, new-fangled Gore-Tex outfit, uninsulated boots, insulated boots, slippers for camp, fold-out chair, deer scent, soap that has no scent, orange wool hat, orange baseball hat, orange rain hat, orange marking tape, orange vest, orange everything … to name

a few items in the “deer gear” category. During this time, I pay no attention to the wife laughing at me as I stack gear in all the staging areas. Packing the Truck The next step is to back the truck near to the garage door. Once the tailgate is lowered, the real work begins. Only years of experience can guide a hunter when packing a truck. I have over 5 decades teaching myself proper technique.

The truck must be full of gas, and the tires are checked for proper air pressure. A spare tire is a necessity. First I load the tools, except, of course, for the mechanics toolbox, floor jack and star wrench. These need to be loaded last, in case of breakdown or flat tire. Next come plastic containers with dry foodstuffs. Clothes are loaded on top of said containers, crushing chips and bread loaves in the process.

My medicine bag is placed carefully in beside the clothes bags. (In fact, now that I think about it, the medicine bag has its own list and staging area. Each year the list grows). Coolers; Pies Coolers are next, leaving one directly in back, so I can load Aunt Jill’s pies when I pick up Uncle Lester. (The main reason I pick up Uncle Lester is so I can get some of Aunt Jill’s pies.) On top of the three coolers, I load gun case ammo bag, gear bags and gun cleaning kit. Binoculars, phone, eyeglasses, sunglasses, extra set of keys, camp key, and coffee are placed in the truck cab .Work shoes and gloves (in case of breakdown) are staged in the cab, along with raincoat, light jacket and hat. Then, and only then, do I strike off for the North Maine Woods. Occasionally I have return to pick up a forgotten item, like the dogs, or a kid, or Uncle Lester. ***** Sometimes I ponder why no one wants to be around me when I’m packing for camp. After all, I am a fun and flexible fellow!

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20 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

— Deer Hunting in Maine: Reader Stories — Accompanying My Dad on His Great 2017 Whitetail Hunt by Emma Bennett, Age 13, Windham, ME

It was a late November morning, well before sunrise. I woke up to the sound of my Dad’s voice. “Psssst.... if you want to come along with me, you’ve got to get up now,” he whispered. The digital clock read 4:45 a.m. I got dressed quickly. At age 13, I have not had much experience going along on a hunt, but I wanted to accompany my Dad as he gave it a try. We dressed in orange jackets and masks, looking like a couple of orange bandits. Then we drove up to Nash Road, where Dad had discovered a spot on a hill looking out over tall bushes along the pole line. We set up there. I was to be covered in an orange tarp sprinkled with branches and twigs to provide more camouflage, while Dad sat in front with his gun stand. I paused to look at the sky. The sun hadn’t risen yet. I glanced at my boots. They were soaked in mud, and I was already freezing. New Spot, and New Clothes After waiting an hour at this special spot, I couldn’t take it anymore. My back was hurting and my toes were getting numb. I did my best to stay quiet during the whole hour, giving the deer a chance to come towards us, but the biting wind was too much. “Dad,” I said in a quiet voice, “my feet are really starting to get cold, and I’m going numb.” He was cold, too, so we headed back to the car. Impatient, I dried my socks on the car heater www.MaineSportsman.com

13-year old Emma Bennett accompanied her Dad, Nate, and they teamed up to shoot, track and recover this handsome buck.

and sat on my feet to keep them warm. I didn’t think the hunt would end so quick without a prize. I could see in my Dad’s eyes that he wasn’t ready to back down, either. We decided to go to Casco to try our luck there, but first went to Wal-Mart, where I purchased five layers of warm clothes. When we got to Casco, we came across one of Dad’s friends, Ernest, who had just killed a doe. With the help of his own father, he was rolling it out of the woods in a carrier. I’d never seen a dead deer, and I became apprehensive. “Yup, that’s what it looks like,” Ernest’s Dad said, in response to my wide-eyed gaze. A Buck in the Woods? “We spotted a buck farther into the woods, over the hill and across the creek. You might get a shot at it if you hurry,” Ernest advised. Excitedly, we followed the deer carrier tracks backwards to where

they dead-ended. Soon afterwards, we came upon a foggy swamp. “Want to go through, or around?” Dad asked. “Through.” We carefully picked our way through the soft, mossy ground – quish, quash, quish, quash. After crossing a stream, we climbed a ridge and rested against a log that offered a broad view of the creek. “You know what?” Dad whispered. “I really think we’ll get something here. Meeting Ernest on the way in here and him telling us about a buck -- that happened for a reason.” I nodded. We waited. “Where are the frickin’ deer?” Dad said under his breath, as he made an effort with the antler call. “But the day isn’t over yet. There’s something about this place….” The Shot A swooshing noise caused him to stop talking. Then, through the bushes I saw a brown shape bobbing up and

down, and then antlers. A buck! It was prancing directly towards us. He came so close to us, I pressed against the rock. “Get it. Get it, Dad!” I whispered, covering my ears, waiting for a gunshot. BAM! “Did you get it?” I asked. “I don’t know,” Dad responded. We followed in the direction it had bolted. The path was spotted in red. It was losing a lot of blood. Then the blood trail seemed to end, and Dad was worried we’d lost the buck. But I took a closer look and found another few drops to the left. Dad encouraged me. “You can track it,” he said. “I’ll follow you.” Rejuvenated, I followed the trail. Soon, we found the big buck lying dead, two feet away from the creek. Field Dressing – the “Real Work” “This is where the real work begins,” my Dad explained. He took

out a knife and started field dressing the buck. To make certain we were doing it right, I called my grandmother in Wyoming, and her husband Ernie – who was the first one to take my Dad hunting – gave Dad a lesson over the phone on Field Dressing 101. After the buck was field-dressed, we realized it was too big for us to drag the long distance back to the car. We texted Ernest to see if he could bring one of his deer carriers. Ernest showed up, and we loaded up the deer. Dad started pulling the deer, while I toted the empty rifle and gear on my back. I led the way, clearing the path for 75 feet. The whole process, from gunshot to car, took two hours. “Thanks a lot, Ernest,” my Dad said. “We really appreciate it.”  Ernest replied, “Don’t worry about it – other people have helped me out many times. I’m glad to take a turn.” Full Freezer What an experience! We finally returned home with a fresh 162-pound buck, which we cut up and packed away in the freezer for winter days. The nice, juicy meat was worth the wait and effort. That day, we had faith, and didn’t give up. We persevered, and achieved our goal.

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��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 21

Second-Chance Buck by Jerry Scribner

How often do you miss a mature buck in Maine one day, and get another crack at him the following day? I’m sure it happens, but as that scenario played out during the 2017 season, it was a first for me in over 50 years of pursuing whitetails. The season had not been productive. I had passed up a young 6-point in Central Maine during the first week of firearms season for deer. Since then, I had not seen a whitetail to shoot while hunting in the Eustis-Rangeley area. Then, on November 24th, I was hunting in Redington Township on a couple of inches of two-day old snow. The amount of fresh sign indicated that the deer had been on the move since the snowfall. I followed a skidder trail up a ridge, and found a spot where two deer had crossed the previous day. Backtracking their trail led me to a well-used deer runway. I checked the breeze, and selected a tree to sit against. Although I love to track bucks “Benoit style,” at my age my stamina level is much better suited to a couple of hours of still-hunting interspersed with an hour or two of sitting in a spot with a view. First Shots After 30 minutes, I was about to move along when I heard a deer approaching. Initially I could only make out its lower outline, 75-80 yards away. As I watched, antlers came into sight. I picked out the best opening in the buck’s line of travel, and as the deer walked through the opening, I squeezed off the shot. The buck reversed direction and leapt back

buck, not so much.

After two frustrating days of hunting, the author combined persistence and some luck in tagging this big buck. In the process, he learned an important lesson about checking his gear before each hunt.

in the opposite direction. I fired twice more as it raced through the thicket, but was not hopeful of either of those shots connecting. I heard a deer walking away, then rose to investigate the result of the initial shot. My thorough search of the area indicated a clean miss. I determined that the buck had been following a doe. After my shooting had subsided, the stag had not run more than 50 yards before settling back to walk in pursuit of the doe. Within another 100 yards, he had taken the time to freshen a large scrape before moving on his way. Having established that the buck was uninjured and continuing unimpaired on his quest, I backed out of the area. That night at camp while rehashing the events with my hunting companions, Bill and Ryan, I attributed the miss to the intervening brush I was shooting

through. I was confident that an undetected branch had deflected my bullet on its intended path to the deer’s vitals. Returning to the Spot I decided to return to the same general area in Redington the following day. Early that morning, the last day of the regular firearm season, I stalked up the skidder trail to where the buck had crossed the previous day on his way to our encounter. I sat downwind, hoping he would repeat his travel circuit. After sitting for an hour, I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the buck working through the young hardwoods towards the point of traverse on the trail above me. The buck stepped out into the skidder trail, offering me a standing broadside shot at 75 yards. Second Chance Holding confidently on a point behind its front shoulder, I squeezed off what I expected to be a le-

thal shot. At the report of the rifle, the buck bounded off stopping approximately 100 yards away in a thicket. “Here we go again!” I mused. I held for what I could see of the head and neck area, and squeezed off another round. This time the stag took off running full tilt and low, sure sign of a solid hit, followed by what I hoped was the sound of the buck hitting the ground. Following the buck’s running tracks, I found where it had stopped in the thicket. My second shot had the desired result. Following the heavy blood trail, I found the buck piled up in another 25 yards. After thanking the “powers to be” for the buck’s sacrifice, I began the field dressing process. My second shot had struck the stag’s heart, even though I had been holding for the head/neck area. I was lucky; the

Note to Self – Check Scope Mid-Season It was obvious now that somewhere in my deer hunting endeavors this fall, I had hit my scope, causing my point of impact to be significantly low. I had sighted in my rifle as usual in late October prior to deer season, but that hadn’t guaranteed shot placement during the moment(s) of truth. Note to self: Expending a shot or two on paper during the hunting season wouldn’t be a bad idea. We took the deer over to the Pine’s Market in Eustis for tagging and weighing. After having chased the does all month, the 9-point buck weighed a gaunt 168 pounds, but sported a decent rack. As we were completing the weigh-in process, my 92-year-old Uncle Sheridan drove up in his Jeep. As he approached us, the first words he uttered were “Who shot that one for you, Jerry?” followed by “You can’t eat the rack!” Obviously, his dry sense of humor hasn’t faded. A postseason trip to the range confirmed my suspicions, and I learned one more thing on my never-ending quest to be a better hunter.

(Reader Stories Continued on Next Page)

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22 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Just Getting Started by Ari McCarthy, Age 16 My interest in hunting first came into clear focus four years ago when I was 12 years old and spent a week at the Bryant Pond Conservation Camp as part of a school program. One option open to all of us was to take a Hunter Safety Course. My mom and dad hunted a little around our home in Lovell when I was younger, but we were not a real hunting family and only owned one gun. The Hunter Safety Course beckoned to me, because I wanted to hunt. I don’t really know why, but I really wanted to hunt. A couple years passed after conservation camp when a friend of my mom’s got wind of my interest in hunting. He took me out for a day during deer season, during which I got my first taste of being in the woods with a gun seeking a buck. We saw no deer, but the experience whetted my appetite for more – much more. For several years, jobs and extracurricular activities prevented me from hunting, and the 2017 season began in a similar fashion. My mom understood my disappointment, so she planned a hunt for the two of us on Friday, November 24, the day after Thanksgiving and the next-to-last day of the season. I was ecstatic. Hunting with Mom When the morning finally arrived, we packed up snacks, grabbed the only rifle we owned, and headed for the woods behind our house. My mom and I saw no deer on that Friday, but we still had a great time. It was a wonderful mother/daughter experience, and at last I was seriously deer hunting. The next day, Satwww.MaineSportsman.com

Ari McCarthy and her first-ever deer, a 223-pound trophy buck shot she shot using her uncle’s .44-40 with iron sights.

urday, was the last day of the firearms season. My mom couldn’t go out again, but agreed to let me go, by myself, for a few hours. I had to be at work at 1:00 p.m., so my time was limited. Unfortunately, the sights on our .30-30 Winchester had loosened up, so I was suddenly without a deer gun. Uncle Ethan came to the rescue. He let me use a .44-40 that was about eighty years old, with iron sights. We took it behind his house and I fired it twice. I was back in business, and ready to head out on my first solo deer hunt. Heading Out Alone Wearing my camo pants, my orange vest and orange hat, and toting my borrowed rifle, I set out into the forest with five cartridges, some snacks, and a knife. Picking my way quietly through the woods, I eventually reaching my intended destination – an old overgrown log landing I had visited many times

over the years. I sat for a half-hour without seeing anything. I then decided to slowly move on toward the big swamp. I knew deer tended to walk along the edge of the swamp. I was carefully making my way through the dry leaves when my concentration was interrupted by the buzzing of my cell phone. It was a text message from Mom, warning me to be careful. As I stuffed my phone into my pocket, I glanced up and saw antlers – big antlers – about fifty yards away. The buck had obviously sensed my presence, and was heading for parts unknown. Big Buck; Big Rack I raised up my gun and snapped off the safety. Just as I was lining up my sights, the deer turned sideways to go around a downed tree. I had a clear view of its front half, and squeezed off a shot. I was barely aware of the roar and the kick. My heart was pounding

as adrenaline coursed through my veins. The deer continued to run off, so I did what any smart sixteen year-old girl would do – I called my mother. She then contacted a good family friend, Mark Moulton, who agreed to come out and help. Within a half-hour, Mark, my mother and my younger brother were on the scene. I had marked the spot where the buck was when I shot, so we went over and began investigating. Soon, we picked up a pretty good blood trail. As we moved along, there was more and more blood, and Within two hundred feet, Mark spotted my buck, cleanly shot through both lungs, and very much dead. I was so overwhelmed and excited that I began to cry with happiness. We soon realized this was a special deer – it was a big buck with a big rack! Mark did most of the work field dressing, after which we dragged it down

to the swamp, found a pool of clear water, and rinsed it out as best we could. Then, the real work began – getting the deer to a place where we could reach it with a four-wheeler. Mark and I pulled off our belts, strapped them around my beast’s antlers, and started to drag. With an assist from my mother and brother, we dragged for well over an hour, finally reaching a point accessible with a four-wheeler. We got the deer to the house, and I quickly headed off to work. At 5:00 p.m., when my shift ended, I excitedly headed back home. We brought the deer to the Stowe Corner Store to get it registered, where it immediately caused a stir. Making it Official The next day, we took it to Kezar Falls to have it weighed on certified scales. My trophy field dressed at 223 pounds, qualifying me for the Biggest Bucks in Maine Club. That, combined with the nine points and twenty-one inch inside spread, make for a wonderful trophy, regardless of whether you favor antlers or weight. I am hooked for life. I cannot wait to get back into the woods this year. Some hunters have suggested that this, my first deer, will be the biggest buck that I ever shoot. However, I don’t agree with that one bit. I have another 50 or 60 years of solid hunting ahead of me. As far as I am concerned, I am just getting started. Edited by Geoff Cummings

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��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 23

260-Pound Buck – “A Big Wood Smasha” by Joe Hanley My buddy and I were hunting up at his place in Aroostook County in November, 2017 when I noticed some promising deer tracks crossing the trail. I skirted around the area trying to cut them off, and spotted a group of does going back into some thick stuff. After sneaking down a nice moose track for a half a mile or so, I stopped and used my call to do a series of mild doe bleats and little grunts. When I got no response, I got more aggressive and did a loud, long grunt, trying to imitate a dominant mating buck. Sure as heck, I suddenly heard something

OLD TOWN

galloping in the woods. I waited a little bit, and did another set of doe bleats and another long grunt. Then I saw something big walking my way. Whatever it was, it had its head down and was methodically smashing into every branch it passed. The animal was making so much noise pushing through the cedars, slowly rocking its head back and forth, I initially thought it was a moose. It kept its head down, breaking branches all the way in to about 60 yards distance, but when the animal finally threw his head up I could see he was a giant buck. I knew I didn’t have long before it scented me, so I brought the scope’s

cross-hairs up on its head to see its rack, and then quickly traced the sight down to his shoulder and squeezed off the trigger. The buck made a huge jump forward, but when it landed, it hit the ground and never got back up to its feet. Turns out the shot hit its lungs and broke both its shoulders. As you can see from the photo, it’s a horse of a buck. Since we were half a mile down in the woods, we had our work cut out trying to drag the big deer out. We went back and got a 4-wheeler with a borrowed snow sled, and finally succeeded in bringing it out. We checked the buck in at the station – turns

Joe Hanley’s Aroostook County buck -- 260 pounds field-dressed.

out it had a dress weight of 260 pounds, among the biggest deer in Maine last season! Truly a Big

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24 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

— New State Record Archery Buck — Andy Brazier of Acton, ME shot this trophy 8-pointer while bowhunting in Charleston, ME on October 1st, 2018. After discovering scrapes in the area, Andy decided to use a grunt call while standing in his ground blind. The buck came into view at 60 yards, only to disappear traveling slightly away from him. Two subtle grunts sparked the buck’s curiosity, bringing him back into sight. A twenty-minute standoff ensued, the buck fully alert and only moving a few feet at a time. Each time the deer moved, Andy’s adrenyline ramped up. At one point, the buck was at 10 yards, using the overgrowth as its cov-

er. When the deer finally stepped into the shooting lane at 22 yards, keeping any type of composure was nearly impossible, according to Andy. Finally the arrow released, and could not have connected any better! The sound of crashing branches and leaves could be heard...and then silence. Twenty five yards away lay the buck of a lifetime. With a 21-inch spread, the antlers looked huge, but the body of the deer was overwhelming. The deer weighed in at an impressive 268 pounds fully dressed, thus setting a new record for the largest archery deer harvested in Maine.

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��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 25

Cory Dale of Porter, ME dropped this 17-point, 224-pound (dressed) buck on opening day of the archery season, 2018. It took Cory and a friend 2-1/2 hours to drag out the bruiser, which was taken in Oxford County using a Mathews bow and Rage chisel-tip broadhead.

Bonnie Silva bagged her first deer during the 2017 season -- this nice 8-pointer.

Dyna Dow of Bangor and her 238-pound buck, which was recovered with the assistance of deer tracker Paul House, and his young wire-haired dachshund, Turbo.

Terry Bombeke, associate editor of Shooting Sportsman, killed this handsome 213-pound, 7-point buck on October 6, 2018 in the Midcoast expanded archery zone.

Andrea Ferron of Berlin, NH earned her Biggest Bucks patch from The Maine Sportsman magazine for this massive 8-point, 200-plus pound trophy buck.

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26 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Win a Stare-Down with a Mature Buck The big buck grunted lightly as he closely dogged the big doe. Those soft vocalizations caught my attention, causing me to focus on the area they came from. As the big doe walked by about 40 yards to my west, I saw the big eightpoint following just yards behind. As I raised the rifle to my shoulder, the buck paused and looked in my direction. I was locked into a stare-down with a big buck again. It’s likely this scenario, or one very similar to it, has played out for thousands of deer hunters in Maine and throughout the country.

I’ve had young deer see me sitting on the ground and walk to within a few feet, trying to figure out what I was. But in 40 years of deer hunting I’ve never had a mature buck do that. I have, however, had them freeze and remain motionless for nearly a half hour, in an effort to catch me moving. Most times, the hunter ends up losing, and the deer gets away. Over the last 20 years, I’ve come out victorious more often than the deer. Sixth Sense? As a youngster I remember being fascinated watching Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. Marlin Perkins did an amazing job narrating film of predators stalking their prey on the plains of Africa.

I’d always wonder why a zebra or gazelle seemed to know when lions were watching them from the tall grass. I would complain to my parents that Perkins was tipping off the gazelle or antelope because they didn’t want the lions to catch them. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Predators and prey, no matter the species, often seem interconnected. It’s likely a sort of

sixth sense, developed over time as a means of escape. Some might call it paranoia; however, many animal behaviorists study these relationships, and paranoia doesn’t quite explain how some prey species, especially whitetails, seem able avoid predators. Avoiding predators places a tremendous amount of stress on an animal. Think what it’d be like to constantly look

over your shoulder in fear of being attacked and eaten. It’s not something any of us would enjoy. ] To quote a University of Minnesota biologist, “The fitness consequences of an ineffective behavioral response are immediate and irrevocable.” In other words, if you aren’t good at avoiding predators, you die. I’ve noticed younger deer are much more curious than older deer. Fawns and yearlings seem especially curious and willing to take chances when they see or smell something and can’t identify it. I’ve had young deer (Continued on next page)

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��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 27 (Continued from page 26)

see me sitting on the ground and walk to within a few feet, trying to figure out what I was. In nearly 40 years of deer hunting, never have I had a mature buck spot me and walk toward me in an attempt to identify me. I have, however, had them freeze and remain motionless for nearly a half hour, in an effort to catch me moving. Behavior like this is very common in areas of heavy hunting pressure. Readers who spend time hunting in northern, western and downeast Maine likely hunt deer that aren’t as pressured as deer in the southern and coastal portions of the state. Win the Standoff I remember sitting at my father’s side at the age of nine, having a big doe and fawn appear within 20 yards of us while we sat on the ground in the southern zone of NY on opening day of gun season. They seemed to stare right through us and I stared directly into the doe’s eyes. When I blinked, she snorted and ran off. Was it my fault? I never moved. Why did she run? When I told my dad I’d been staring directly at her, he told me not

to, from then on. “Those deer know we want to eat them. When you stare at them, it makes them nervous and they spook easier.” All I could think about were the lions staring at the zebra on Wild Kingdom. I learned my lesson, and have tried not to make the same mistake again. Over the last 20 years, I’ve won more of the stare-downs than I’ve lost. That’s especially true for my encounters with mature bucks. I feel especially accomplished with my results because adult bucks tend to be the spookiest of all deer. So my first piece of advice is, never stare directly into a deer’s eyes. When a predator sets its eyes on a prey animal, it’s doing so with the intent to kill. Making eye contact with covetous in your eyes is a sure signal of intent. Instead of direct eye contact, use peripheral (Continued on next page)

After a nearly 10-minute stare-down with this big buck, the author got his chance, he reports, by “staying perfectly still, not making eye contact and watching the buck’s body language.” The big 8-point grossed nearly 145 inches and dressed just under 200 pounds.

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28 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Big Game Hunting (Continued from page 27)

vision, and stare to the side of the deer. Let the camouflage do its job, and remember – deer are nearsighted. They don’t see detail like we do. Learn body language through observation. Flared rump hair is a sure sign of an alarmed deer. Relaxed hair and a tail flick often signals the

all clear. A leg stomp followed by a snort doesn’t always mean the hunt is over. Often, a deer will stomp and snort in an effort to get a predator to move. After a minute-long staring contest, a short and sudden snort has often caused me to jump or flinch so hard

that the deer knew I was not an inanimate object and fled. Stay completely still and eventually the deer will think there’s nothing to fear and move on. The buck I mentioned earlier caught me moving the gun to my shoulder, yet he never positively identified me as a threat. The wind was in my favor and the standoff began. Over the next 10 min-

utes, that buck would stare toward me, then back to his doe. The whole time, thick fir covered his vitals. At one point, he turned to walk away, making it just five yards before turning back toward his doe, satisfied there was no danger. I found an opening and ended the game. It’s true there’s an art to winning these staredowns, but applying

these techniques should increase the success of any deer hunter. We are predators like the lion; however, our brains are bigger, and lions don’t carry rifles. Let’s start winning more and losing less. Let’s see those big bucks fall this month!

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��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 29

My Favorite Maine Deer Rifle? The 250-3000 Savage by David Miller

Savage Model 99 in 250-3000 caliber. Source: GunBroker.com

A while back, J.C. Allard wrote a great column titled “What Makes a Certain Firearm Your All-Time Favorite?” That piece caused me to think long and hard about selecting a favorite rifle. I have several favorite firearms for different primary uses. If you ask me about hand guns, for example, I’ll choose the 41 Mag, 45 ACP, and the .22. Other personal favorites include the old 38-55 that I had growing up; a sweet 7x57 that got me through some great hunts; my big stick – the 8mm Remington Mag that I bought to use overseas and after many years here in the U.S. (I took it for my last moose hunt); and my old reliable the 700 Remington in 3006. So I decided to narrow the issue, and select a fa-

The 250 Savage is a great, light-recoiling cartridge, and it can be very accurate. In fact, three individuals shot one round each using my bolt action at 100 yards, and the three resulting holes could be covered with a quarter! vorite firearm for a single purpose relevant to November – whitetail deer hunting. My choice? The 2503000 Savage. Here’s why. History The 250-3000 Savage cartridge came about in the early 1900s, and was promoted by Savage Arms as being the

first American cartridge to reach 3000 feet per second. This was accomplished by Savage Arms using an 87-grain bullet instead of the 100-grain bullet that the cartridge’s designer Charles Newton had recommended for use on deer-size game. The sales promotion sold guns, but the use of 87-grain bullets on deer

size game left much to be desired. Bullets at that time were not of the capable designs that we have available today. The 250-3000 Savage is now most commonly referred to as the 250 Savage. This cartridge was and is in the same performance league as the better known 257 Roberts. Both of these cartridges

took a back seat to the newer 243 Winchester and 6mm Remington (along with several other new 6mm cartridges). This in no way distracts from the capability of these two cartridges, and most who have used both of them and the 6mms agree that the 25 calibers are a better large-game round. Many national gun writers have a habit of promoting the newest as the best. This is because it what they get paid for. (Continued on next page)

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30 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Shooting Sports (Continued from page 29)

They get to try out new hunting items, and in turn they promote them. Love Affair I have had a long time love affair with the 250 Savage. We had an older Model 99 Savage at home when I was a kid, with it I took great pleasure in reducing the local woodchuck population. I bought my wife a Model 99A in a Navy Exchange years ago for deer hunting. It is a nice lightweight rifle, and it has taken many deer over the years from South Carolina to Maine. While stationed in Connecticut, I got involved in doing some deer control work for a large commercial apple orchard and a large nursery. Another military member and I took many deer over the couple of years while doing control work. All the deer we took were donated to military families and several soup kitchens. (Before we started doing the control work, the owners were ALWAYS BUYING, SELLING & TRADING QUALITY FIREARMS Pre-64 Win. 94 .32 Spl .............$485 ca 1963 Refinished Stock. VG Ithaca Mod. 72 .22 ....................$395 Lever, Excellent. Savage 99-EG .300 Sav. ...........$475 Refinished Stock Rem. 1100 28 Ga. .....................$895 Tournament Skeet, ANIB Marlin 81-DL .22 ........................$295 Peep Sight, Very Good Savage Mod 1920 .300 .............$595 Ca. 1920s. Rare! VG Win. Mod. 94 .32 Spl .................$485 VG, refinished stock Pre-64 Win. 94 .30-30 ...............$485 Lyman Rec. Sight, VG Rossi Squire 20 Ga....................$350 SxS 26” barrels, Exc. Marlin Mod. 444 S .....................$695 .444 Marlin, ca. 1981, Exc. T/C R-55 .22 ..............................$575 A.N.I.B. 2 Mags Rem. 7400 .270 .........................$395 1 Mag. Excellent Cond.

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The author and a 200-lb. plus Pennsylvania buck, taken with a 250 Savage.

burying the deer to dispose of them.) During this time, I used several different rifles, but found the 250 Savage was an excellent rifle for the task. I bought another 250 Savage in a bolt action that was a limited special run made by Savage during that period. Reloading – Follow the Manual I have been reloading since I was a young kid. I find it a rewarding pastime, as long as you pay attention to safety issues. I have never screwed up (yet), but have had friends who did and got injured or ruined good firearms. Black powder arms are much more forgiving. I have for many years hand-loaded the cartridge for deer hunting with a

100-grain Hornady bullet over a charge of IMR3031 powder in the Model 99A. Due to its greater strength, the bolt action rifle gets fed 32.5 grains of IMR3031 powder for its 100 grain bullet, and 34 grains of the same powder with a 75 grain bullet for my woodchuck and coyote hunting. Remember – if you want to hand-load any cartridge or shell, use only the data and methods found in upto-date reloading manuals. The load listed here for my rifle should not be duplicated for use in any other rifle. To do so may result in damage to one self or the firearm. Several years ago, I started using the 100-grain Nosler Partition bullet in the bolt rifle for deer hunting. Both

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The author’s friend and hunting partner, Frank, displays the result of precision shooting with a 250 Savage. Dave Miller photo

the Hornady and Nosler 100-grain bullets have performed wonderfully for me. There are many combinations of bullets and powders that can be used in hand-loading any rifle cartridge, so one must use the combination of components that results in the best accuracy for each shooter. Accurate, and Takes Big Deer The 250 Savage is a great light recoiling cartridge and is normally very accurate. If I told you that three individuals shot one round each using the same gun (my bolt action) at the same point of aim on a target at 100 yards, and the three resulting holes could be covered with a quarter – would you believe me? The first deer taken with the Nosler was also the largest deer I have ever taken in the 30-plus years I hunted in Pennsylvania (see photo). It weighed 208 lbs. on the scales of a local slaughterhouse. It was taken with one shot at approximately 200 yards. The other deer taken by a friend from Louisi-

ana two years before, was not weighed, but was well over 200 lbs. We both took many deer in Pennsylvania over the years, but those animals were never of this size. This is a direct result in thinning out an over-populated deer herd. If You See One, Grab It The 250 Savage may be little known by most of today’s hunters, but is still a great deer hunting cartridge. Sadly, Savage Arms no longer makes the great lever action Model 99; in today’s world, it is cost prohibited. For several years in the very recent past, Savage manufactured two bolt action models in the 250 Savage. About 40 years ago in an article in the NRA magazine, it talked to Weatherby making a very limited run of 250’s called “The Whitetail”, but I have not ever heard of one since. If you run across a used 250 Savage in good shape, it would be a shame not to grab it. They were – and still are – a great deer rifle.

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 31

It’s a Tough Life for Lefties Just as November signals the transition toward winter in Maine, November means it’s time to talk of deer rifles here at The Shooter’s Bench. For this November, a short conversation with our editor, Will Lund, about the old Thompson sub-machine gun caused me to focus on lefthanders – an oft-neglected segment of the shooting public. The editor sent me a quote concerning the right-sided placement of the safety and mode selection switches on the Thompson. The writer of that piece declared, “Left-handed shooters (operating the machine gun) are screwed – but they should be used to that by now.” And so they should. Left-handed shooters are disadvantaged by nearly

Experts say that eye dominance, not whether you are customarily left-handed or right-handed, should determine how you shoot. The problem? Left-handed shooters are disadvantaged by nearly every piece of equipment available to them.

The ubiquitous bolt-action deer rifle, so well-known in Maine, often proves awkward, inconvenient, and dubiously safe for left-handed shooters. J.C. Allard photo

every piece of equipment available to them.

Empathy I empathize with all

left-handed shooters. I am left-handed in all things except for shooting and swinging a base-

ball bat. I have known the disadvantages of the port side my entire life. Conveniently, due to

eye dominance, I shoot right-handed. Lefties possess all the same skills as right-hand shooters. It is an equipment issue that causes their disadvantage. Since the creation of the matchlock musket, shouldering a firearm to the left has been at best cumbersome, and at worst, dangerous. Though numerous, the numbers of lefties in the marketplace has always been insufficient to encourage manufacturers to produce suitable equipment in great numbers. Retailers avoid stocking in quantity, and makers avoid many of the options and variations available on right-handed firearms. In other words, southpaw shooters are forced to take what they can get. Left Leaning A left-handed friend and sometime shooting (Continued on next page)

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32 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Shooter’s Bench (Continued from page 31)

partner from up in the Rangeley region says, “The worst hunting rifle for a left-handed shooter is a right-handed bolt action. These are very hard to manipulate, and the stock does not fit right. It’s not comfortable to shoot.” “The second worst selection,” he added, “would be a semi-auto.” Writing for American Rifleman in 2015, wellknown gun writer Craig Boddington said, “I grew up reaching over the top to work a right-handed bolt. Today, as a gun writer, I have little choice but to use and write about a lot of right-handed guns, and I can still run them just fine. But, properly, it is not just handier, but also safer, for righties to shoot right-hand guns and southpaws to shoot left-hand guns.” No small amount of wisdom in that

statement. Shooting instructor Steve Jacobs once wrote that eye-dominance, not left- or right-handedness, should determine how folks shoot. “Contrary to popular belief,” he wrote, “a shooter who is left-eye dominant but right-handed, should shoot as a lefty, and a right-eyed left-handed person should shoot right handed.” “Doing so” he added,” makes the rifle and shotgun much more natural, and allows the shooter to improve their natural point of aim and be able to keep both eyes open, rather than having to close their dominant eye in order to align the sights with a rifle or to properly track the target when using a shotgun.” Jacobs goes on to say, “Usually handedness and eye dominance align,

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but there are many who are cross-dominant from birth or switch eye dominance as they age.” Unfortunately fewer options exist for those who need to choose the left side. Best & Worst Few would dispute that the bolt-action gives the leftie the most trouble. Reaching over the receiver and sights is awkward. Lifting the bolt handle moves the shooter’s wrist in an unnatural motion. Leaning into the motion breaks the cheek and shoulder away from the stock, resulting in a loss of sight picture. Monte Carlo stocks, or those with a cheekpiece, compound the problems. They make it near-impossible to gain a comfortable and steady hold. Having to reach over a scope adds to the awkwardness. Much of the same applies to semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, with the added irritant of hot brass flying in the shooter’s face or down the shirt collar. I remember Dad coming home from the

training range, his forehead and left cheek cut and bleeding from expended brass from the M-1 carbine. The military makes deflectors for shooters of the M-16 or M-4 carbine. A plastic device clips to the ejection port and propels expended brass over the shooter’s head rather than into the face. Sad to say, there really is no civilian equivalent. On the plus side are rifles and some shotguns made for left-handed shooters. The Weatherby Mark V “Vanguard,” Ruger Model 77 and Model 77 “Hawkeye,” and the Remington Model 700 CDL all offer viable, good-quality alternatives. The Montana Rifle Company and Germany’s Blazer and Cooper Firearms offer more expensive top-quality rifles for those hunters without budgetary restraints. Others might prefer the left-hand variant of the Browning X-Bolt, Tikka T3, or the odd looking “Dimension” from Thompson/Center.

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Other Alternatives With a nod to the utility and reliability of the Encore by Thompson/ Center, I would recommend the Ruger #1 to any left-handed shooter. Its straight stock and falling-block action make it ideal for the southpaw. Ruger makes it available in several barrel lengths, together with a good variety of calibers, from .204 Ruger all the way to .458 Winchester Magnum. Some might find the single-shot action less desirable, but it will suit others just fine. And then there is the tried-and-true Winchester Model 94 lever action. For lefties, no finer deer rifle ever existed. With its straight line throw for the lever and the top ejection to carry the spent shell casing up, up and away from the shooter, it is nearly the ideal rifle for a lefthander. The Model 94’s only drawbacks include the loading gate on the wrong (right) side for a true lefty, and the challenge of mounting a scope that accounts for the top ejection. Untapped Market? Left-handed shooters deserve more attention than they are accustomed to getting. Internet sites are a good place to start looking for firearms designed and built for a lefty’s particular requirements. Specialty sites will offer more selection of brands and features than most firearms retailers are accustomed to stocking, although be sure to check first with your local dealer and work through them, if possible, on the sale. Bottom line? Lefties should not be forced to endure any guns designed, engineered and manufactured for right-handers.

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 33

Is Your Snowmobile Ready for the Season? by Shane Brown

Photo by Taylor Walker

Well, sled friends, with Old Man Winter coming at us fast, it’s time to start getting serious about knocking the dust off your snow machine and getting it ready for the season ahead. While different sleds have different specifications, tolerances and access points, the basics of pre-season maintenance are the same regardless of manufacturer and

Battery, fuel, oil, clutches, belts, skis, skid and track – there are many service components in today’s snow machines, but taking care of maintenance items now will let you ride with confidence all season. model. After many years of caring for my own machines and those of my customers, I have developed an approach to “commissioning” snowmobiles that have been

stored all summer. Let me share with you how I tackle each project, and the checklists I use. Get Ahead by Thinking Back Start out by thinking how last season ended.

Were there any mechanical or performance issues that you were putting off, or minor problems you said to yourself that you would fix next year? If so, the time is now to get these small issues

resolved, before they become bigger problems part-way through the season. Next, consider your battery, and the fuel in your machine. What steps did you take last season to care for both those items? If you did nothing with the battery and it sat in the sled all summer, chances are it might (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

34 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Snowmobiling in Maine (Continued from page 33)

be ruined. Most batteries discharge by a small percentage every day, and if

the charge gets too low the battery’s longevity will be shortened.

Some owners plug their batteries into “tenders” (trickle-chargers) during the warm months, while others take the batteries out and use them in their motorcycles or

ATVs. Steady use does not seem to harm a battery, but extended discharge does. If yours has been sitting idle, charge it up now and have it load-tested to

see if it will withstand all the cold temperatures of winter. Fuel and Fluids I also like to know (Continued on next page)

This case of “track sag” will be remedied with the proper tensioning. Shane Brown photo

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Clutches are considered a “wear item” on snowmobiles. Once your machine starts getting a lot of miles on the odometer, it’s likely the clutches will require a re-build. Shane Brown photo

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��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 35 (Continued from page 34)

if the fuel was properly treated to prevent ethanol from breaking down critical components over the summer. We run K-100 in everything we service, to keep the fuel from breaking down. K-100 is designed to stabilize fuel and absorb water. Similar products are offered by Heet and STP, while fuel stabilizers are also sold by Stabil and Startron. After checking the fuel (and draining, if necessary), I recommend checking and changing engine and transmission fluids. It’s often awkward to access, check and change lubrication in the chain case, but it’s an important part of the pre-season program and a good way to keep your machine running at its peak. This fluid breaks down over time and loses its viscosity; therefore, it should be changed before each sea-

son. Check the coolant level, to make certain you do not have a leak, or to top off the system if you’ve lost coolant to summer heat and evaporation. Fill ’er Up Next, fill the fuel and oil. If it’s a 2-stroke engine, I recommend locating and using ethanol-free fuel for your first fill-up. Check with other riders to locate sources of ethanol-free fuel – if you can’t find it at a station, then try airports (pilots use it in their planes), or auto supply or big-box stores. With the evolution and growing popularity of 4-stroke engines, many of you who own newer machines will need to do a full oil-and-filter change this fall. Some machines are easy to work on, while others are more difficult, but these steps should be followed before every season, even if you did not reach the mileage at (Continued on next page)

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36 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Snowmobiling in Maine (Continued from page 35)

which such maintenance is recommended by the manufacturer. Clutches Having dealt with fluids and filters, it’s time

to look at the machinery, starting with the clutches on your sled. The clutch is considered a “wearable” item. Each manufacturer is

a little different in how their clutches operate and what you’ll need to replace/repair, but as a general matter, the more miles you have on your machine, the more frequently you’ll need the clutches serviced or rebuilt.

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Each manufacturer has its own belt tension recommendations, and different sleds have different processes for tightening the belts. Sometimes, problems can be avoided simply by installing a new belt on the sled. Belts are also wearable items, and if you are piling on the miles during the season, it’s often better to be safe than sorry, and just replace the worn one on your machine. Skis, Skids and Track – And You’re Ready to Go! Next, lift each ski to check how much life is left in the carbides underneath. These carbides are designed to increase turning performance, and also to protect the skis by taking the brunt of friction and drag; failure to replace them when needed will result in a loss of turning response, and eventually to ruined skis. Now it’s time to make your way to the back of the sled, and service the skid (the framework that supports the track). Start by cleaning everything and giving it a good look-over to check for stress cracks or broken pieces. Then get out the grease gun and get

pumping. Be sure to use the proper grease as recommended by the owner’s manual. Check for excessive play in any of the bogie wheels, and make sure your slides are all ready for a full season of fun. If they are looking worn down, this is the time to replace them – in the clean and warm garage. If everything else checks out, then ensure the proper track tension. Again, determine the correct tension from your owner’s manual or tech sheet, and use a tension tool designed for your machine. If your track is studded, replace or fix any missing or loose studs, so you will have good traction for acceleration and to prevent unnecessary skidding on hard-pack and ice. Finally, check your owner’s manual for any maintenance items unique to your manufacturer or model, and then get ready to have the season of your live, secure in the knowledge that the steps you’ve taken should give you the confidence to ride without concern for preventable breakdowns. See you on the trails!

See Your Polaris Dealer for Current Promotions Today! HODGDON Tidd’s Sports Shop 154 Calais Road 207-532-6476 tiddssportshop.com

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��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 37

Two Important Life Lessons from the Deer Woods There are several reasons why we hunt. For many, it’s simply for the meat; for some, it’s for the trophy; and for others it’s for the experience. I can’t help but be attracted to all three. I savor medium-rare backstraps on the charcoal grill; I love studying a nice set of antlers and holding them in my hands; and I feel cleansed after spending a few hours hiking around some remote woods. It is these two months of the year that I live the other ten for. There are many things I’ve learned over the Octobers and Novembers that are simple truths: everything tastes

We can learn a great deal from hunting white-tail deer that we can apply to our personal and professional lives, about the importance of getting out there and making the most of every day, and about the different ways to measure success. An individual’s approach to hunting tells you a lot about how they live their life. better in the woods; every deer is a 200-pounder when dragging it uphill; compasses really do point north, no matter how much I tend doubt them at times; and guns shoot better when they are loaded. There are other things learned in the deer woods, though, that are applicable in situations far from the remote ridges and far from the month

of November. I certainly wouldn’t be the same person, in a lot of ways, having not had the experiences granted to me by the fall deer woods. Here are a few of those lessons: 1) Carpe Diem: The Latin phrase meaning “seize the day” is an important guiding principle when it comes to hunting big woods bucks. Between work (or school), pre-winter projects, honey-do

lists and other obligations, it is tough for a lot of us to find the time we’d like in November to be in the woods. Some of us only get out on the weekends (those in Maine only get out on Saturdays), and some of us may only get one or two days in a whole season to hunt. Therefore, we have to make the most of the time we have. That means getting up early, and getting

back late. I have one hunting companion who will walk an hour or two deep into the woods before daylight, so that once daylight comes, he’s already on the top of the ridge where the buck lives. Another friend of mine starts slowly still-hunting every morning just at daylight, and continuously works away from the his truck all the way until the last minute of shooting light—then he worries about finding his way back to the truck with a flashlight (sometimes miles away). And he’s shot a pile of deer in that last half hour of (Continued on next page)

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38 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

New Hampshire (Continued from page 37)

the day: the half-hour that most guys are either scurrying back to their trucks with the gun slung over their shoulders and head down, or blasting the heater in the truck on the way back to camp, or already stoking the woodstove and hanging their socks to dry. A lot of deer have been shot on miserable rainy days, but many have gone unscathed by hunters who didn’t want to get wet. Perfect tracking conditions may only come one or two days in a season. If you wake up in the morning and find a fresh dusting of snow, take advantage of it— seize the opportunity. Put off the honey-do list for a rainy day; don’t climb in the treestand you sit in every other morning. Instead, put your hiking boots on and get trucking

Brian Emerson tracked this 6-point, 173-pound buck for three consecutive days, getting shots at the big deer each day. He never gave up, even as the odds looked bleak and the season waned. He eventually caught up to the big deer and put it down with only 15 minutes left in the season.

on a track. Just as it’s easy to pass on climbing a mountain on a frigid, blustery November morning, it is easy to pass on a job opportunity that would require a couple hours of filling out a lengthy application and revising your résumé. I’ve found that it is easy to give up things that you don’t already have or can’t guar-

Welcome to

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antee the result of. But it is so sweet to reap those rewards when you push through and succeed, knowing that they are a product of your own sheer determination and output. Even in times when I haven’t “succeeded,” I’ve felt better and more fulfilled for having tried. I’ve often found myself internally saying, “At

Fred Sullivan took this 6-pointer in the last half hour of daylight while bare-ground still hunting miles from his truck. Fred and his deer didn’t make their way back to camp until very late that night, with some help from a search party. Fred famously makes good use of every minute he gets in the woods, and is consistently the last one back to camp.

least you’re not wondering what could have been; at least now you know.” That, in itself, is a success. Each day is what you make of it. With hard work and an unrelinquishing willpower, you’ve got life—and deer—by the horns. 2) Success isn’t always tangible: Being successful doesn’t necessarily mean put-

ting something on the ground. It can’t always be measured in Boone and Crockett inches or weigh-station pounds. I consider every day that I spend in the woods to be a success: if not for any other reason than for simply not taking the easy way out and sleeping in and watching TV or the computer screen all day. (Continued on page 40)

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��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 39

November Means Deer Season in the Western Maine Mountains I haven’t made up my mind which rifle to use for deer hunting this year. I’ve enjoyed great success with my lightweight scoped rifle, a little Ruger “Gunsight Scout” in .308 Win., but I’m thinking about heading into the woods with a Marlin 1895CB lever-action in 45/70 Win. Okay...let’s get real here. November, simply put, is the month for deer hunting. Of course, I would enjoy hunting ruffed grouse this month, but only after dropping the big buck first. I often carry a .22 caliber Ruger Mark II pistol while deer hunting and have always said I just might pop a grouse if I saw one. Well, I’ve seen plenty of grouse while deer hunting and have never shot at one, yet. I guess I didn’t want to alert the deer and spoil the possibility of taking a nice buck. I still haven’t made up my mind on what rifle to use for deer hunting this year ... since my eyes are not getting sharper as I age, I’ve stuck with using a scoped rifle. I have enjoyed great success with my lightweight scoped rifle, a little Ruger “Gunsight Scout” in .308 Win., but I’m thinking about hunting with my Marlin 1895CB, lever-action, in 45/70 Win. I’ll get the Marlin to the range soon and will be really tuning in on a load for this deer season. I installed a ghostring peep-sight with a white front post on it from XS Sights (Xssights. com), and should do fine out to around 100 yards ... it’s that big buck across a clearcut at 200 yards that keeps me thinking more of using my bolt-ac-

tion Ruger. Deer Haunts If deer hunters knew about the large number of white-tailed deer that inhabit residential and commercial properties in and around the towns that line the Androscoggin River in the Western Maine Mountains (WMM), they might decide to forget about looking for deer in remote sections of this region. Folks who live in towns like Mexico (DeLorme Atlas, Map 19, E-1), Dixfield (Map 19, E-2) and Rumford (Map 19, E-1) routinely complain about hungry deer coming into their yards and eating shrubs or vegetables in their gardens. Seeing an occasional whitetail in the yard might create a nice woodsy atmosphere for some folks, but when deer ruin a vegetable garden that took months to prepare, residents living in these communities get upset. Many of the local homeowners would enjoy having hunters remove shrub- and vegetable-eating deer from their neighborhoods. Start a search for residential hunting by consulting with the game wardens who patrol the woods around the towns. Local residents also offer loads of information, and they serve as the prime source for access to these nearly untouched populations of deer that have

learned to adapt to finding their nutrition close to town. Elevated stands and archery equipment work best for hunting around residential areas; most folks don’t want to wake up to hunters walking around their backyard or listen to gunshots too close to their home. And remember — unless you have a homeowner’s permission, you can’t discharge a firearm within 300 feet of a residence. Hit the Hills Even though deer that hang out near the towns along the river seem to be plentiful, I’ve noticed that most of them happen to be does or yearlings. The big bucks stay away from town, hunkering down in the mountains and ridges surrounding the homes and business along the river bank. I have spotted several nice bucks on the edges of town, but the sly creatures only seem to appear near town during darkness. I’ve caught several good bucks coming from town and moving towards the hills in the early-morning shadows, probably after checking in with a few receptive breeding does that stick closer to town. Deer hunters would do well hunting the mountains and the ridges leading to the towns. Bucks feel safe in the security of elevated bed-

Big rubs like this mean big bucks, and deer hunters can find big bucks in the higher elevations around the towns that line the Androscoggin River. William Clunie photo

ding areas, and if a water source happens to be nearby, the area may qualify as “deer-hunter’s bingo.” The Webb River (Map 19, E-2 and D-2) flows from Webb Lake to the Androscoggin River, in Dixfield. Several feeder streams pour out of the mountainous ridges surrounding the valley formed by the river. Fol-

low the incoming water sources upstream, and look for game trails used by deer that follow the same course. Bucks will be more concerned about mating than food during November, but they follow the feeding females to mast-producing ridges. Rutting bucks travel (Continued on next page)

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40 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Western Maine (Continued from page 39)

a tremendous distance during this month, and also need plenty of drinking water. Bird Bonus Ruffed grouse will be found in similar kinds of cover as whitetails. Look at Route 142 on the map, as it heads north out of Dixfield (Map 19, E-2). Notice all of the small brooks that flow from

the higher elevations to the Webb River as noted above. Hunting along these same feeder streams produces plenty of flushes. Follow logging roads that crisscross the areas around the Webb River to find even more grouse covers. Number 6 Road, between Weld (Map 19, C-2) and Byron (Map 18, C-5),

New Hampshire (Continued from page 38)

Honestly, I learn stuff every day I am in the woods. Sometimes it’s fairly trivial things, like what color paint that particular town’s survey blazes are. Sometimes it’s valuable hunting information, like where a stand of mature oak trees are on a mountainside; while still other times it’s how to resolve internal conundrums or how to take on troublesome issues in my life or job. I recently spoke to an insurance agent who told me he recently had a week during which he didn’t close any deals. Nonethe-

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also holds plenty of perfect habitat for partridge. The mountains on both sides of the old gravel logging road fill the lower land with cool water from deep springs within the rocky ledge. Savvy bird hunters parallel these tiny brooks as they wind their way to higher elevations. Much of the fast game-bird’s diet consists of berries and buds that readily grow in the moist banks of these watery

mountain trickles. Granite, broken down by age, also provides the birds with a coarse grit in their diet. Grouse don’t have teeth and need this grit to complete their digestion. Many of the best grouse covers won’t be right next to the well-traveled routes. When driving the back roads, always look for gated trails. Hunting on foot, beyond the gates, gives hunters access to many miles of excellent

less, when his boss asked how his week went, he reported that it was a “fantastic” week and had “great success.” He described to me how he had met with several prospective clients and found they all had had insurance plans through other sources that could offer better services and prices than he could. But he also helped them figure out how they could get even more bang for their buck within their own plans. He didn’t try to shove his product down their throats or trick them with salesmanship into buying something that wasn’t a good fit for their circumstances. Instead, he gained their trust and re-

bird-hunting territory – as long as landowner permission has been obtained. Lots of hunters prefer to ride along in their warm truck, only taking birds they find next to the road. Hiking hunters, willing to do a little walking, can go farther into the woods to flush birds that find food and security in more remote parts of this region.

spect. That, in itself, was a success. He also thinks that that will pay dividends as they will recommend him to other potential clients as being an honest, helpful professional. Knowledge gained and experiences had in the woods can be applied and reapplied in a thousand ways, creating success down the road both in and out of the field. Success lies in the eyes and scope of the beholder. With optimism and appreciation in your crosshairs, you are sure to eventually hit your mark.

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42 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Start Tracking White-tailed Deer Now In my opinion, tracking deer offers a hunter the biggest reward for the effort expended. Sure, walking through the forest on the trail of a big buck burns more energy than sitting in a stand, but the payoff comes at the end of the trail. For some, a bigracked, heavy buck is the main reason for hunting deer, no matter what method of hunting is used. For others, the whole experience of hunting is what keeps us coming back to the woods, year after year, in November. Tracking a big buck takes some real woods skills – something seemingly lost on many members of the current generation. I guess the primary

reason I enjoy tracking is because it forces the hunter to become proficient at a wide variety of tasks. Check out Big Woods Bucks (BWB) at their website (bigwoodsbucks. com), and find out how a deer hunter can become more successful at taking dominant, heavy-bodied white-tailed bucks more often. Maine’s own deer-tracking legend, Hal Blood, and co-owner Chris Dalti, formed BWB years ago and have been promoting this tracking method of hunting big bucks in the big woods. I have hunted with Hal and listened to his hunting techniques at seminars, read all of his books and watched his videos. Recently I joined the BWB Club and now

enjoy member’s benefits like pod-casts, videos and monthly deals on products. I can’t get enough of BWB. New Suit Some readers might have guessed by now that I’m not a business kind of guy at all ... that is to say, I only have one “Sundaygo-to-meetin’” suit. Now this year will be different – I will be wearing a new suit in the November woods this season. BWB designed a wool jacket and pants especially made for tracking, and worked out a deal to have it sewn together by one of the tops in the business – Silent Predator. Hunters won’t believe just how perfect this high-quality wool is, until they wear it in the woods. I’ve worn many var-

ious kinds of wool suits and prefer wool to anything else for keeping me warm and dry in the fall and winter ... nothing beats wool. There are varying degrees of wool quality, and BWB’s latest tracking suit utilizes the best wool available from Woolrich, a company that has been known for many years for their high-quality products. I tried other, less expensive wool suits and wound up replacing them after a short period of time. I prefer to spend the extra money on quality products that work perfectly, rather than saving a little cash and always having issues with the items and replacing them too often. The benefits of wool over other materials

makes a world of difference when a hunter actually steps out of the heated truck and puts the boots to the snow trail. Wool insulates hunters from the cold, even when it gets wet. And most importantly, for me, wool clothing stays quiet – no noise from branches scraping across the surface of the material or whacking noises from branches that whip the jacket or pants. Boots I just listened to one of Hal’s BWB pod-casts the other day and still crack up when I think about his easy-going manner of speaking the direct truth that is needed when explaining how to hunt in the big, remote woods where big bucks (Continued on next page)

MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ: White-tailed Deer by Steve Vose

The white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) belongs to the family cervidae. The cervidae (“deer family”) contains 47 species of antlered, ruminant (cud chewing) mammals, and includes caribou, elk and moose. The white-tailed deer has a wide geographic distribution, stretching from southern Canada to parts of South America. Populations have been introduced in Europe and New Zealand. In the Americas, it is the most widely-distributed wild ungulate (meaning “hoofed mammal”). An herbivore, white-tailed deer eat only plants. Their varied diet includes leaves, apples, acorns, beechnuts, clover, lichens and even certain types of mushrooms. They are nocturnal, and feed mainly at night or during the early morning or early evening hours.

Unfortunately for motorists, Whitetail deer frequently cross roads, and salted highways may even serve as an attractant. The Maine Department of Transportation reports that about 3,000 deer are hit every year, occasionally with fatal results for both deer and motorist. Deer collisions are most common during October to December, and 70% of the incidents occur when it’s dark.

Questions 1. How many different species are there in the deer family cervidae? 2. To what distant lands have white-tailed deer been introduced? 3. What does “ungulate” mean? 4. About how many white-tailed deer are reported by MDOT as being hit every year? www.MaineSportsman.com

White-tailed deer possess incredible speed and agility. They can run 30 miles per hour and can leap 10 feet. When pursued by predators (such as bobcats, coyotes or humans), they can swim great distances across open water. In November, mating season (called the “rut”) occurs. During this time, fighting between male deer (bucks) is common. They use their sharply-pointed antlers in battles for supremacy over territory and females (does). Bucks annually grow antlers, which fall off in the winter after breeding season ends. Females give birth to one to three young, usually in May or June. Young deer (fawns) sport a white-spotted brown coat that helps them blend in with their environments and hides them from predators.

5. What time of year and what time of day do the most whitetailed deer/vehicle collisions occur? 6. How fast can a white-tailed deer run? 7. What are male deer called? 8. When do female (does) white-tailed deer give birth? Answers on Page 53 9. What are baby white-tailed deer called?

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 43 (Continued from page 42)

hang out. Someone asked Maine master guide Blood about boots, he calmly told the fellow, “You better be sure to get a good pair of boots, because you won’t get very far without them.” Truer words were never spoken – without a good pair of boots, a hunter won’t go far, and going far is usually what it takes to tag a nice, big buck. I’ve tried several different brands of rubber boots (rubber is the best for tracking), and find the “Alpha Burly” by LaCrosse (lacrossefootwear.com) to be my favorite. Good rubber boots don’t give off odors like leather boots do, and thrashimg through shallow bogs or streams is a breeze in these 18-inch boots. My boots have a couple-hundred grams of insulation in them and keep my feet nice and

toasty as long as I don’t stop moving for very long – even when the temperatures hover around zero. Of course, I spend big bucks on SmartWool socks and sock liners (smartwool.com). I wouldn’t have anything less, because foot comfort is paramount to staying on the trail in cold winter weather. Road Time If a deer hunter wants to become a deer tracker, I would suggest taking one of Hal Blood’s tracking seminars. Get out into the woods with Hal and find out what it is really all about. One thing most hunters aren’t prepared for is the long hours of driving around looking for the right track and scouting out new territory. Personally, I live for riding the roads in search of a track. I like everything about it, especially finding a nice track early in the day. Load your truck with the proper gear, maintain the vehicle, and leave a

description of your whereabouts and estimated return time with someone back home. Always take more food than you think you’ll need, and stash the bulk of it in your vehicle for the drive home. Learn to use both a compass and a GPS unit, and really test your map skills throughout the summer on hikes, bird hunting, and any other time you are in the woods ... don’t wait until deer season. Hit the range hard with the selected rifle and get good with it. Sight the rifle in, and then get off the bench. Try to hit a paper plate consistently at 100 yards offhand, and if available, shoot at rolling targets to simulate a running deer. Then when you drop the big bruiser buck, send the photo in to us here at The Maine Sportsman magazine and see if it makes the February issue’s top-ten biggest bucks in Maine line-up!

A familiar sight for those traditional deer hunters who choose to track big bucks in remote places. William Clunie photo

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44 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Fly Fishing Techniques Guaranteed to Catch Big Trout – Part 1 On Labor Day weekend last year, I was out in Montana fishing but also checking my cell phone every time I was back in cell phone range for a call or text from my 25-yearold daughter, Mary. You know, the call all fathers wait for – to hear about the specifics of the big event. Finally, I got a text. A photo, actually. Of my daughter holding … a beautiful brook trout. I had been waiting for the results of my daughter’s first fishing trip without me. Did you think I was referring to something else?

The author’s daughter with a male brook trout in spawning colors caught with sinking line.

but had recently taken a renewed interest, and I wanted her to be successful. Although last fall was dry and hot, during the first few days of September a cold rain fell, raising the rivers. I thought that my daughter could

She Took My Advice You see, my daughter was visiting our Kennebago Lake camp with a friend, and since I couldn’t be there to guide them, I gave them some advice remotely. Mary had been a casual fly fisher since she was a kid,

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intercept some early migrating pre-spawn fish in a nearby deep Kennebago River pool. Because of the high water, I encouraged her to fish with a full-sink line, and my favorite prospecting pattern – a Wood Special. Mary balked at casting the heavy line, but I was insistent. My daughter did cast sinking line, and the result was that she hooked and landed a good-sized male brook trout. Other anglers fishing the same

pool with floating line and dry flies caught just a few modest specimens. The photo she texted me is the one accompanying this column. New Techniques For most anglers, casting a dry (floating) line and the visual suspense of fishing a dry fly is the essence of fly fishing. Others enjoy the Zenlike quality of casting a streamer and retrieving it methodically, waiting for the sudden strike and pull.

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I can’t blame either group of anglers – both methods are straightforward, easier to learn, and often produces results. But the challenge of catching trout and salmon on a fly is a never-ending puzzle. Sometimes, the key to catching more or larger fish is to try less-familiar fly-fishing techniques that can put the right fly right on the fish’s nose. Gaining confidence in new approaches is critical to broadening your repertoire of solutions to tricky fishing problems. In this column and in next month’s column, I will describe a full range of fly-fishing techniques. Space limitations prevent me from providing every detail, but hopefully I can intrigue you enough to encourage you to investigate and try new fly-fishing skills. Besides dry-fly fishing and streamering (if I may coin that verb), both with dry lines, the other fly-fishing techniques I will cover are: • sinking-line fishing (I call it dredging), • high-stick (sometimes termed Czech or shortline) nymphing, • indicator nymph fishing, and • wet fly swinging. Sinking Line Fishing with a sinking line or leader allows the angler to present flies deep under the surface, even if the current’s strong. Large trout and other big game fish spend most of their time near the bottom where the water is cooler, they’re not (Continued on page 46)

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 45

Deer Camp from the Back of the Truck I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock grinding out its chatter in the dead and dark silence of the early-morning hours. A friend, who will remain anonymous to protect his foolishness, suggested that we camp out in our favorite deer hunting territory and avoid the long drive to the remote location, which is why we now found ourselves way back in the willy-wacks of Northern Maine. At that time, I hadn’t done any cold weather camping, and didn’t really have a clue about the details of getting a good

night’s sleep outdoors in fall or winter. Actually, the temperatures that November seemed to be pretty mild, and I didn’t think sleeping out in the woods would be too bad ... but I was wrong. With the opening day of the season looming ahead in the next sunrise, my friend and I decided to let the fire burn down early that night. We figured we could fall asleep around the warmth of the glowing embers of the dying campfire. I didn’t know any better, and thought my plastic air mattress would provide a comfortable

sleeping surface for the night. I also mistakenly thought my cheap, boxstore sleeping bag would keep me warm – even if the November night got a little chilly. That morning, after a terrible night of restless sleep, I shut the alarm off, wiped the frost from my nose and promised myself that I would never again allow my friend to make decisions about “camping out” during deer season. Let me explain how things went from bad to worse that sleepless night before deer season.

Sleepless in Seboomook First of all, never use an air mattress for a sleeping pad when it gets anywhere below 50 degrees at night. They might be fine for a hot summer camping trip, but they really pull your body heat to the cold ground below the mattress. One of the best ways to avoid this warmth-robbing air mattress is to use a layer of closed-cell foam – like one of those cheap, blue pads from Wally-World that conveniently roll up and get carried on a backpack.

For some technical reason, the closed-cell material allows the body to retain its heat and won’t let the heat escape to the cold earth below. In the episode I described at the beginning of this column, I tossed and turned all night long in discomfort. No matter how many layers of hunting clothes I put on, the cold ground sucked my body heat from me and left me sore and sleepless – not a good way to greet the opening light of the first day of that deer hunting season. I felt like I had been (Continued on next page)

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46 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Off-Road Traveler (Continued from page 45)

run over by a fully-loaded logging truck and then stuck in a refrigerator for the night. After a few cups of hot coffee that morning, my body started warming a little, but the rest of the day my hips and back ached as if I had been tossing bales of hay all day. I spent most of my time sitting on stumps and trying to stay awake. I wasted most of that opening day taking an extended nap in the seat of my pickup truck. My friend didn’t fare any better, interrupting my nap and declaring, “I’m whipped. I don’t want to be wimpy or anything, but I’m going home to a comfortable bed. I can hardly stay awake.” The Solution After years of winter camping, I have found the perfect sleeping pad. Several companies make a similar pad, with a layer of closed-cell foam on the bottom and a layer of air for cushioning. Each deer-hunting camper will find their own pad; the selection process comes

down to a personal preference. Just make sure to have that layer of closedcell foam protection. Even if the hunter decides to sleep in the protection of a covered truck bed, without a closed-cell foam layer between the floor of the truck bed and the sleeping hunter, there will be way too much precious heat lost. I’ll be camping from the covered bed of my Toyota Tacoma this fall, and I don’t care how cold it gets – I’ve got the perfect set-up for staying comfortable throughout the night. It starts with a piece of plywood cut to fit the bottom of the truck bed. I cover the wood floor with indoor/outdoor carpet with plenty of padding below the carpet. Below my sleeping bag, I’ll make sure to have a sleeping pad with a layer of closed-cell foam, and one of those memory-foam pads. My sleeping bag, rated for below zero, is constructed to retain my body heat as much as possible. I use those chemical heat

Freshwater Fly Fishing (Continued from page 44)

exposed to predators, don’t have to swim against the current, and can ambush prey. Big fish are lazy and wary and may not come up from the bottom to eat your fly, no matter how delectable it is. So, often you have to fish down to them. Sinking fly lines and leaders are available in various lengths and sink rates. If you tend to fish deep holes or small pools surrounded by shallow water, then sink-tip lines or four-foot sinking leaders are all you need to reach the bottom. Longer lengths would cause snags as you retrieved your fly though shallow water. On the other hand, if you are fishing deep in the ocean, large rivers, lakes, or ponds, then full-sink lines will allow you to keep your offerings on the bottom longer, increasing the chance for hook-ups. Sinking line sink rates (say that three times fast!) range from one to five inches per second, depending on the specification. I purchase the fastest sink-rate line availwww.MaineSportsman.com

packs, placing one in the foot of the bag and one near my lower back, and I’m good for the night. Avoid wearing too many bulky clothes – I usually stick with a light pair of long johns, and a pair of wool socks. I also like to wear a thin stocking cap ... I think it helps to avoid heat loss through my head. I make sure to park the truck at a slight uphill angle so the head of the sleeping surface is higher than the feet, to avoid waking up in the middle of the night with all the blood pounding uncomfortably in my head. Comforting Details Keep the windows of the tent or truck bed cap slightly open to avoid moisture build-up inside the sleeping space. I have woken up many a night to the sound of dripping condensation inside the tent or truck cap when I have forgotten to keep a window open for ventilation. Be sure to have a warm, comforting meal well ahead of bedtime – too much food too late in the evening can also keep a hunter tossing all night.

Whether it’s in a covered truck bed or under a canvas teepee, winter camping teaches us how to get a good night’s sleep in the harshest climates. William Clunie photo

Alcoholic beverages will also keep the hunter up, making extra visits to relieve the bladder all night long. I like to have the coffee or tea pot all set up the night before, so when I wake I simply light the stove, wait for the boil, and kick back while enjoying the warming brew. Way back those many years I could not find humor in the lost sleep on that restless night be-

able, because it minimizes the time I have to wait for the line to reach the bottom and it will cut through the fastest currents. Slower sink lines have their uses, though, in still water where you might want to keep your flies suspended above bottom – perhaps to avoid snagging on bottom-hugging aquatic plants. What fly patterns should you fish with a sinking line? Any pattern that imitates a bottom-dwelling creepy-crawly – leech, worm, crayfish, sculpin, minnow, or nymph. Casting Adjustments Because of the weight of the line, casting a full-sink line requires adjustments. In a nutshell, the caster must slow his or her casting stroke down, always keeping the rod tip high to compensate for the pull on the rod tip from the heavy line. With full-sinking line, the cast becomes more like a sling. With a weighted streamer, we call it, “Chuck and duck.” No question, sinking line is more difficult to cast, which is why my daughter was reticent, but it’s so rewarding when you can lure a big ol’ brookie off the bottom.

fore the opening day of deer season. Now that I’ve learned how to stay warm and comfortable, however, I can wake up in the remote woods in total comfort, sip my tasty morning coffee, and laugh out loud at all of those other hunters out there who find themselves driving for miles in the early morning hours to reach their destination before daylight.

For my upcoming book on trophy brook trout (shameless plug), I summarized my guiding notes going back years, and found that more than 50% of trout and salmon weighing more than 2-½ pounds were caught with sinking line. The lesson to be learned from this statistic? Every fly angler should carry a spare reel with sinking line or a sinking leader. Wet-fly Swing Ever fish a popular pool where the trout and salmon have been hammered for hours, if not days? You see rising fish, but despite throwing everything at them but an illegal nightcrawler on a bait hook, they spurn every offering. What if you had a technique that triggered those fish to eat your fly as eagerly as though they had never seen another artificial before? That technique is the wet-fly swing. Remember to read this column next month for more information on the wet fly swing and other fly-fishing techniques.

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 47

Where to Hunt Deer in Maine? First, Decide the Type of Hunt You Want Every November, thousands of sportsman travel to Maine to take advantage of our great deer hunting. They stop at Kittery Trading Post, Cabela’s and L.L.Bean to stock up on gear, then continue north to hunt the big woods. Some have hunting cabins in the north woods, while others plan DIY hunts. Many have booked hunts with a Maine Guide. Hiring a Registered Maine Guide is always a smart choice when hunting in the north woods for a large Maine buck. Folks that choose DIY hunts and research scout and hunt on their own should consider hunting in southern Maine, where deer populations and hunter success rates are higher than northern sections of the Pine Tree State. There are some tradeoffs that should be considered when hunting in the southern tier of Maine. For some people, coastal deer hunting lacks the true Maine deer hunting experiences like those portrayed on the covers of old Outdoor Life magazines. So why consider southern Maine? For one thing, that’s where the most deer are, according to a Portland Press Herald article from a few years ago by staff writer Deirdre Fleming titled: “Which Maine Towns Have the Lion’s Share of Big-Game Kills?” This article was a real eye-opener. The Numbers After analyzing

Years ago, I bowhunted deer within sight and sound of busy Route 1 in Kittery. Now, however, I dislike hearing traffic while hunting, and prefer solitude and lack of human contact.

One of Val’s favorite deer hunting stands is located behind this old grave site on a mountain in Parsonsfield. The stand offers a quite, tranquil hunting experience with a chance at a mature buck during the rut. Val Marquez photo

years of statewide tagging stations’ data, Fleming determined that close to half of all big game animals killed in Maine by hunters since 2000 were killed in areas from York County to the mid-coast, and then up to WMD 17, making a rough geographic shape that many consider to constitute the “golden triangle of deer hunting.” I have decided to dive into the numbers a little. First, the excellent article covered all big game animals, and we all know that northern sections of the Pine Tree State result in more bear and moose kills than any other eastern state. It’s whitetailed deer that cause the numbers to swell into the higher southern towns kill numbers. Guess what? It’s deer season again, so I decided to check the numbers of deer tagged by town here in Maine. My numbers are from an IF&W report

dated June 15, 2017. The town with the largest number of deer tagged in Maine was the up-scale, heavily-populated town of York, with 224 deer tagged. The tourist-laden town of Wells tagged 170, Kittery 104, and Kennebunk had 82 deer tagged. Numbers remained high a few miles north of the coast in towns like Berwick (114), Lebanon (176), Sanford (100) and my home town Shapleigh, 98. Now compare these numbers with northern Maine towns like Jackman with 12 deer tagged, and Greenville’s 22, and the numbers are eye-popping. Numbers Can Hide the Details? As always, however, numbers can often hide the details. High deer kill numbers in coastal towns are the result of extra doe tags

issued to archers with Expanded Archery Permits (which can double or even triple kill numbers), also high hunter densities and large deer populations living in small woodlot type forests. These factors contribute to easier hunting, compared to big woods deer in the north. The state also features extreme differences in hunting conditions between the far south and the far north. Likewise, lifestyles differ. There are two Maines, according to northern Mainers – they consider southern sections of Maine as “Almost-chusetts” and in fact it is highly populated. I would rather have root canal than drive in Route 1 traffic along coastal Maine. Deer hunting-wise, there are three Maines – coastal Maine, northern/ big woods Maine, and in between is sandwiched great deer hunting which combines quality and

quantity. Towns in northern York County and southern Oxford County offer the best of both worlds —good deer populations and large tracts of forested lands are found from the town of Shapleigh northward, So what’s a Quality Hunt? The description of what’s a quality hunt differs among hunters. Some consider quality as the best chance to kill a deer, while others factor in the hunting experience as well. As an example, last month I talked about killing a deer while bowhunting in an archery-only area in Kittery – a stand location where I could look across the bay and see the Kittery Trading Post sign. I chose to bowhunt in these coastal areas because I worked at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and hunted the coastal area after work. After retiring, however, I haven’t hunted there since. If I continued hunting there, I could have racked up my deer-kill success rate somewhat, but that’s not what I’m about now. I now prefer large forests inland that are laced with historic, abandoned homesteads, cemeteries and rock walls. Hunting success rates are lower than in towns like York, but I enjoy the solitude and lack of human contact, I dislike hearing traffic while hunting. To locate your own hunting paradises, check Google Earth and look for areas with large tracts (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

48 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Duck Decoy Spread Tips and Tricks Decoy placement is a very important part of duck hunting. It can make the difference between killing birds and flaring birds or scaring them away. The first thing I can say is that you want to do your homework and scout out your spot and see how many birds you are seeing. This will dictate how many decoys to put out in the morning. The second thing to keep in mind is what kind of species you are seeing. Here in Maine, you’re going to probably see mallards, black ducks, wood ducks – and in the early season, green- and bluewing teal. The majority of my decoys are mallards. You are likely going to see either big flocks of blacks or mallards. Other ducks will come into those decoys, but it never hurts to add wood ducks or other decoys, because sometimes they like to land with each other. Having a few black ducks is nice, because the dark decoys can be seen from a long ways away. I like to have a dozen to two dozen mallards, six wood ducks and two black ducks. Usually that’s all I need, unless – if there’s a

possibility of geese being around – I also want to have goose decoys. Geese decoys are also good to have, because they act as “confidence decoys” for ducks. Confidence decoys are decoys that aren’t necessarily ducks. They can be coots, cranes or other water birds, and their purpose is to make the ducks feel safer. Now as for placing the decoys out, you want to think the exact opposite from when you’re deer hunting. When it comes to wind direction, the ducks will always try to land into the wind, because it slows them down. For the hunter, this also has the advantage of presenting the best shot opportunity. So if you are set up with the wind at your back, make kind of a “U” shape with your decoys so it kind of creates a pocket. This will make the ducks come in and prepare to land right where you want them. If they are not liking something, it never hurts to change the look of your spread. Move some decoys around, and if they are still landing out of range, move where they want to go, because it’s probably not the decoys

Southern Maine (Continued from page 47)

of forest and few roads. Then log in to the town’s tax maps to locate landowners. From there, drive all the roads surrounding the area. Then it’s time for footwork – get out there and scout for good hunting locations. Earlier I mentioned the deer hunting golden triangle. To locate it, follow the anydeer permit allocations. IF&W issued southern Maine’s WMDs numbers 20, 21, 22, and 24, 40,200 any-deer www.MaineSportsman.com

that are the problem. You can also hunt a cross wind. If you are hunting a cross wind, make a “J” hook shape with your decoys. This way, the ducks will still land into the wind, and they will still have a pocket to land in. Just try not to make these patterns look too obvious. The other thing to work on is motion. This is key on those days where the water is calm and there’s no wind. The cheapest and most productive method to create movement is to use is a jerk string. This is an anchor attached to a bungee, with decoys attached to the rope. Tugging on the rope makes your decoys move, creating ripples. You can make one or buy one – they are worth the cost. You may ask – What about spinning wing decoys? Well, in my experience, these work great when they work, but not so much when they don’t. I would recommend getting one, but not before the jerk cord. The best time to use spinning wing decoy is in the early season when birds haven’t seen them, and when it is sunny and windy. When you have

Just because Luke’s decoy spread consists of mallards and black ducks with an occasional Canada goose, that doesn’t mean other species, such as this drake wood duck, won’t be attracted to his set-up.

these conditions they work great. You want them out in the open and up high, but on a cloudy day with little wind it’s best to tuck them in the brush where they can just get to see the flickering. Plus, you also want

permits. Then follow northeast to WMD 17, where 10,000 permits were issued in that one WMA. From there, draw a line south to the coast. This area has the best deer hunting in Maine. Maine hunters are extremely lucky to have such diverse hunting opportunities – anything from deep, dark endless cedar swamps and large tracts of forest with more animals then people in the north, to subur-

to put it out of the way of where the ducks are going to land. And if you are hunting ducks and geese at the same time, it’s best to have a remote, because spinning wing decoys cause geese to flair.

ban bowhunting on the coast with high deer populations. The bottom line? Deer hunters traveling to Maine who want to kill a lot of deer – mostly does and small bucks – should grab a bow, get an Expanded Archery Permit, and hunt the coast. Folks who want to kill a deer every few years but require whatever they consider a quality hunting experience should hunt in the golden triangle. For those who want a big, bruiser buck, hire a guide and hunt northern Maine.

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 49

Tom and Rene Bag Their Deer! Rene Lavoie and I have been hunting together for 30 years now. We met when I was a young, wet-behind-theears cop and he was a seasoned Lieutenant. We worked together, day shifts and night shifts, and hunted and fished in our free time. We’ve enjoyed many great outdoor memories, lots of laughs and even managed to catch a fish, shoot a bird or two and watch each other tag a deer. One thing we had never done was tag out the same day while deer hunting. I’ve pushed deer to him and he’s done the same. We always tried to “circle back” and get the “other one,” but it never worked out. Hunting Buddies Some hunters, I’m certain, “help” their buddies by shooting two deer. That never crossed our minds, likely due to our professions and our respect for hunting ethics. I won’t say we’ve never joked about it, but that was where it stopped. On several occasions, one of us would shoot a doe, only to watch a buck bound away. As soon as the deer was dressed, we’d hatched a plan to try and intercept the buck or other deer. We know the areas we hunt well, so I’m surprised we never connected. On one hunt, I missed an easy shot at a big doe. Upon closer inspection my bullet struck a small whip I never saw in my scope. Rene and his brotherin-law came over when I fired, and told me to set

I saw a large doe bound away from me, and I radioed my discovery to Rene. I didn’t realize how close he was to me, and he whispered for radio silence. Maybe not that politely. up on the trail just down from where I shot. Sure enough, they knew where the deer went and pushed her right at me again. This time I connected, and won a big doe contest with that whopper that dressed out at 144-pounds. The Hunt Last November we had been hunting one of our regular haunts when I saw a group – I’ll call it a small herd – bust loose from a field edge. I radioed Rene on my trusty walkie-talkie and gave him the good news. He told me to sit tight and worked his way toward me. Sure enough, out popped a deer. I had a coveted Superpack any-deer permit which allowed me an antlerless deer and a buck. I convinced myself at the start of the season to shoot a “meat deer” right away if the opportunity presented itself. This was just that opportunity. I aimed at the deer

and fired, dropping it instantly. When I got to it, I saw I had taken a button buck, with antlers under the three-inch mark. I had filled one of my two chances. I confirmed with Rene that I got the deer, and he told me that the others were still between us. I hastily field dressed and tagged my deer and got ready to push his way. Sure enough, I saw a large doe bound away from me, and I radioed my discovery to Rene. I didn’t realize how close he was to me, and he whispered for radio silence. Maybe not that politely. Seconds seemed like an eternity as I looked toward where the deer was headed. I saw the deer walking slowly away from me, crouching down low. I heard the shot, and the doe crumpled instantly. Rene made a perfect spine shot using his old .30/.30 with an ancient Lyman peep sight. We had done it! Two deer on the same

hunt. There were one or two deer still running around, but no sense being greedy. Rene went to work on his deer, and I went to start the drag with mine. Once at the truck we looked over our successes

and shook hands over the pair. One for the memories, for certain. Any-Deer Allocations This season we have the chance to repeat our feat. Again, Rene and I both drew any-deer permits for the same zone. His is a regular permit and mine is a Superpack. We shall see how it works out this time. (Continued on next page)

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50 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

After-Thanksgiving Curried Turkey Stew We are so feeling “the comfort food desires”! Spices that help comfort food are usually some of your favorites. You can go from herbs to hell or

mild to wild! All ways are great as long as you love the dish in the end! One of my favorite things about comfort foods I like is to layer and

layer flavors. This turkey recipe is no different. You do not have to include my every step – smoking the turkey is optional; letting it sit for a day to

adjust spices is optional too. As a recipe creator I am constantly adjusting recipes. I pretty much cook out of my own cookbooks, yet every

time I make a dish it is new because I am always testing new additions. Bon Appétit!

What am I going to do with all this leftover turkey? I ask the same question every year, and every year I try something new. I love to make all my own homemade stocks, even though there are very good stock and broth options out there on the market. One of the reason comfort foods taste so good is all the layering of flavors. You do not have to smoke your turkey, as I did; yet it adds another subtle depth to the soup. You should try it sometime. —— Ingredients —— • 3 cups smoked turkey, chopped • 3 garlic cloves, minced • 1 teaspoon Smoked Sea Salt • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated • 2 tablespoons curry powder* • 3 cups turkey broth (made from • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil bones), separated* • 1 yellow onion, finely chopped • 1 tablespoon Arrowroot (or • 2 cups carrots, chopped cornstarch) • 2 cups Sweet or Red potatoes, • 1 cup frozen peas, thawed chunked • Freshly ground black pepper ———— Combine turkey, Smoked Sea Salt and curry powder; set aside. Heat oil in stockpot over high heat until just smoking. Reduce heat to medium-low and add onions, carrots, potatoes and cook, stirring, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, ginger and cook two more minutes. Add 2 cups stock and simmer for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk 1 cup broth and Arrowroot together to dissolve. Add to stockpot and cook until sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Add turkey to vegetables, and simmer to heat turkey through, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat, stir in peas and then season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Sebago to Auburn (Continued from page 49)

Hunters in this region got a whopping number of permits. This year, a staggering 84,745 permits were up for grabs statewide. In this region, which consist of parts of Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs) 15, 16, 21 and 22, hunters have a chance at more than 22,000 permits, more than a quarter of the statewide total. This is a great region to hunt! WMD 21 and 22 got the lion’s share, with 10,500 and 11,000 permits respectively. Only WMD 23 got more permits (12,375). Of course an any-deer permit doesn’t guarantee success, but it sure gives the hunter, especially a “meat hunter,” an edge. From Sebago Lake to the Lewiston-Auburn area, we are fortunate to have good deer habitat. While development is increasing, especially around the cities, we still have plenty of farmland, older farmland www.MaineSportsman.com

that has started to re-forest, and dense woods. I shot my first deer in a field at first light, and I love to hunt fields at dawn and dusk. There is something mystical to me how a deer will seemingly materialize from the forest edge silently and instantly. At first there is nothing there and then a deer appears, causing me to blink or look over my scope in disbelief. We do have fields aplenty, primarily used by farmers for hay production. Become friends with such a farmer, and you may get a chance to hunt their fields – a productive venture. Other hunters target old homesteads and look for food sources such as abandoned apple trees or oak ridges. These are both great spots to stalk or sit for a deer this month. Last year there seemed to be so much feed in the woods for deer that you couldn’t accurately pattern them. You can be sure that Rene and I will be

Hunter Rene Lavoie of Lewiston shows off the doe he got last November when he and the author tagged out together. Photo by Tom Roth

out to our familiar haunts again this year, looking to repeat our good fortune. Good luck to all hunters!

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 51

Fall Fishing Now Wildly Popular In days past, trout fishing after September was unheard of. And then the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) began opening selected waters to year-round fishing. The rest, as they say, is history. Initially, only a few stocked rivers were opened to year-round angling, but in recent years more rivers, some so small as to be “rivers” in name only, have joined the list. Better yet, at least in the southern half of Maine, many lakes and ponds now see a yearround season. Most of these fall under no-kill regulations, but some stocked waters are listed under general law. Fall Techniques For fall fishing, think spring. Fall fishing closely resembles springtime fishing, because the water has cooled and fish now prowl much closer to the surface, negating the need for deep-trolling tactics. For many, that means using a fly rod and trolling with streamer flies or bucktails. For me, a whippy, lightweight downrigger rod fills the bill. This rod has plenty strength, though, and it can easily whip even the largest trout and salmon. Key to success here lies in setting the downrigger at relatively shallow depths, and going slightly faster than when deep-trolling in summer. Salmonids now still pursue smelt, and smelt imitations will take fish the same as in spring. However, it often pays

The fish are still biting this month, but the water’s cold, so remember to wear a life jacket. They are more comfortable now than in the old days, and have features including autoinflation. However, you need to get it out of the hold and put it on at all times, since a life jacket stored in the boat at the time of an accident amounts to no life jacket at all.

This salmon took a bright-orange fly -- a great color for fall fishing. Tom Seymour photo

to use slightly smaller streamers and bucktails than when spring fishing. That’s because the current year’s batch of smelt have not quite reached their maximum length. Larger smelt are still present, and because of that it makes sense to use a small bucktail or streamer on one rod and a standard-sized fly on the other rod. Metal lures take fish now, as well. These are equally productive on a fly rod or downrigger rod. Sometimes, especially on bright days, it helps to fish lures from a leadcore line. However, since fish are usually around 15-20 feet down, depending upon the body of water fished, it pays to let out only two colors of line. This points out something that most of us fail to consider, and that is that lead-core line has uses beyond plumbing the depths. It can take

lures and baits down to any depth we wish. It takes only a basic familiarity with how deep any given length of line will sink based upon any given speed. Besides all this, the modern, ultra-thin leadcore line has far less weight than older versions, and thus a graphite rod and reel equipped with the new, lighter line doesn’t weigh much at all, allowing for any fish hooked to give up a good account of itself. Lures vs. Bait While many yearround rivers allow fishing under general law regulations, many lakes and ponds switch to artificial-lures-only after September. This doesn’t serve as a drawback at all, since artificials take lots of fish – more than bait, in fact. Some no-kill waters allow fishing with artificial lures in fall, and that,

too makes sense Bait, notably frozen or preserved smelt or live shiners, generally take larger fish than lures. But sometimes these big trout and salmon hit bait so hard that they become deeply hooked – not a good thing in catch-andrelease waters. Most of the time, fish taken on lures are either lip-hooked or hooked somewhere in the mouth, making hook extraction relatively easy. Fish released after being taken on artificial lures have excellent survival rates, especially in fall when cool water temperatures

enhance survival chances. Here’s something to note regarding taking salmon in November – adult males exhibit “kypes,” or hooked jaws, at this time. For many, a 3-4 pound salmon, replete with a kype, is an awe-inspiring, memorable sight. Regarding salmon, November anglers often do well by fishing near shore. Since salmon spawn in fall, fish tend to inhabit more shallow water than during the warm days of summer. Also, chances of taking a large salmon are good now – probably better than in summer. So if you want the opportunity of taking a large, perhaps a trophy, salmon, now is the time. Do have a camera ready at hand to snap a quick photo before releasing your prize. Longer Season In years past, November in Maine could be downright cold, with snow and sub-freezing temperatures a distinct possibility. But given the warming trend experienced in recent years, winter-like conditions often hold off until well toward month’s end and sometimes, even until early December. This means an exten(Continued on page 53)

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52 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Here’s How to Get Your Deer This Year By the time November arrives, a hunter’s dreams have turned to the pursuit of large-bodied deer. To assist hunters in achieving the goal of harvesting one of these impressive animals, I am going to share the surprising, #1 secret to successful deer hunting – mental preparation. A positive attitude is infinitely more important to an outdoorsman than scent-blocker clothing, a high-end ATV or the latest fad in ballistics. Success in the field is about the ability to remain positive despite the weather, moon phase or week of the rut. A motivated individual will hunt longer, harder and through more adverse conditions then someone who is unprepared mentally to go the distance. Hunters who truly be-

Deer hunting in Central Maine is becoming a greater and greater challenge, as more land gets developed and as more landowners restrict access to their property. So maintain a positive attitude, scout areas in advance, obtain landowner permission where necessary, stay scentfree, and learn to use a call and even a deer decoy. lieve “This is going to be the day” are much more likely to be in the woods during that critical time. Theories Abound Hunters employ a wide range of techniques in an effort to develop and sharpen their mental focus, and maintain a positive attitude. For example, taking a deep breath to settle one’s shooting hand, counting footfalls while climbing a steep incline, or even pinching yourself to keep from falling asleep. In fact, I had a friend who, prior to last season had been on a seven-year

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losing streak. They he purchased a rabbit’s foot, and … bingo! Success! While scientists would have a difficult time proving a causal connection between a rabbit foot and deer on the game pole, if someone believes in such a talisman, the result may be increased confidence, and that is a key quality exhibited by successful hunters. Pre-Season Scouting It may seem obvious, but one of the basic truisms of whitetail season is that a hunter must first determine where the deer are located. A favorite tree stand may be located in a beautiful spot with a lakeside view and long shooting lanes, but if there are no

deer signs (rubs, scrapes, tracks or droppings) in evidence, then an entire season could go by without the hunter spotting a single deer. To increase the chances of putting a whitetail in the crosshairs, start walking. Absolutely no replacement can be found that’s more effective than thoroughly and personally scouting an intended hunting area. Maine’s subtle terrain features and the obvious physical signs of deer can only be effectively understood through intimate firsthand knowledge. Pay close attention to the minute details. Bring a notebook, and write down GPS coordinates, prevalent wind direction, food sources, game trails, sign and location of sheltered bedding areas. Then use this information to devise a plan as to where to set up stands or still hunt. Start your search with an overview using DeLorme’s Maine Atlas and Gazetteer. Maps 12 and 13 open up to illus-

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trate the area from Richmond northeast to China Lake, while Maps 20 and 21 cover Belgrade, Waterville, Skowhegan and Pittsfield. It pays to start early, and to identify landowners and ask permission before the crowds arrive. Deer hunting in Central Maine is becoming a greater and greater challenge, as more land gets developed and as more landowners restrict access to their property. Scent Control Highly-technical clothing creates the illusion to some hunters that they can pull off miracles in body odor elimination by simply putting on scent-blocking apparel, using an Ozonics generator or covering their bodies in no-scent spray. While these products certainly provide a level of scent control, hunters can further increase their chances of success by following a few additional suggestions. The traditional approach in scent control relies on practicing impeccable personal hygiene, and using wind direction to gain the advantage. I advocate the use of this approach at deer camp, only to find that my advice falls on deaf ears of individuals who are dressed head to toe in scent blocker, while chain-smoking cigarettes. To be more effective this season, use a pee bottle, as well as no-scent detergent, shampoo and deodorant. No-scent hygiene products are available at local drug stores (they (Continued on next page)

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 53 (Continued from page 52)

are stocked primarily for individuals who have fragrance allergies), and are typically cheaper than at a sporting goods store. Wash hunting clothes frequently (not once a season), and seal in a plastic bag with a few spruce boughs to lessen the chance for cross contamination with smells that may be lingering in the basement. If you’re driving to a hunting location, dress in civvies for the drive, and change into hunting clothes and boots upon arrival. Your clothes won’t pick up odors from the car, gas station or local convenience store. Packing for Success Finalize mental preparations by believing one hundred percent that success will occur. To enforce this belief, include a gutting kit (deer tag, pen, sharp knife, drag rope, florescent orange marking ribbon, dish washing gloves, paper towels and a one-gallon ziploc bag for the heart and liver) in your backpack, to make it easier to field-dress and bring that trophy to the

tagging station. Electronic Calls and Deer Decoys I remember the first time I showed my “traditional” deer hunting family members my buck call and bottle of deer urine – they practically fell over backward laughing. Several dead deer later, their laughter had subsided. They all became converts, began using the same products, and consistently started shooting more deer. I was met with this same comical reaction when I began using a remotely controlled electronic deer call and a doe deer decoy to attract bucks. Despite the mockery, let me offer an assurance that these two products (in the right situations) bring the deer running. They work because hunters create a distinct advantage when they set up an electronic call and a decoy along a field edge several 100 yards upwind or cross wind from their positions. The decoys create confidence by showing deer that it is safe to be out in the field feeding,

The author’s sons,Wildman and Manimal, help their Dad haul out a 5-pointer on Opening Day of the 2017 deer season.

tempting others to follow and emerge from their hiding places before the end of legal shooting. The remote call has deer homing in on an upwind location, allowing less of a chance that their keen noses will detect human scent. Also, for those not entirely proficient on

all of the various deer vocalizations, the electronic calls allow novice hunters a chance to call deer like champions and truly “speak” the whitetail language. With electronic calls, one truly gets what is paid, so make sure to invest at least $200 or more

when purchasing one of these units. My personal favorite electronic calls are those made by FoxPro, but many other quality calls exist on the market. Good luck out there!

Wildlife Quiz Answers: White-tailed Deer 1. 47 species exist in the deer family cervidae.

2. White-tailed deer have been introduced into Europe and New Zealand.

5. The largest number of white-tailed deer collisions occurs in October and November, and when it is dark.

3. “Ungulate” means “hoofed animal.” 4. MDOT reports that about 3,000 deer

Trout Fishing (Continued from page 51)

sion of good fishing without worry of frozen digits and other winter-related problems. Now, many of us defer putting our boats in storage until at least late November. Despite this, water is still cold, and an unexpected spill can quickly cause hypothermia and worse. For maximum safety, make sure to take that personal flotation device (life jacket) out of the hold and wear it. A life jacket stored in the boat at the time of an accident amounts to no life jacket at all.

collide with motorists every year.

6. A white-tailed deer can run as fast as 30 miles an hour. Many object to the bright-orange of traditional Mae-West-style life jackets, and that alone causes many anglers to forgo wearing life jackets. But now, modern life jackets come in a variety of softer colors. My own life jacket, a Mustang-brand offering, features auto-inflation, something important when fishing alone, as I usually do. Just remember, it’s always important to practice safety on the water, and more so now, with November’s colder waters. Bright Colors Lure choice now isn’t quite as important as lure color. Let the reds and yellows of fall

(Quiz on Page 42)

7. Male white-tailed deer are called bucks. 8. Female (doe) white-tailed deer give birth in May or June. 9. Baby white-tailed deer are called fawns.

leaves dictate color patterns. I find that for brown trout and brook trout, yellow beats all. Whether using a metal wobbler or a bucktail fly behind a dodger, aim for yellow, especially if fishing specifically for brown trout. One of my favorite brown trout lures, a Williams Wabler, in yellow and red, takes brown trout now when all others fail. These lures have good action, but it’s the color that drives fish wild. Any wobbling lure in shades of yellow and perhaps a bit of red and even orange, should do well in November. Good luck!

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54 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Deer Aplenty Await Hunters This November A burgeoning deer population has Midcoast hunters primed with high expectations going into the 2018 season. If anecdotal evidence is any indication, deer are even more plentiful than they were last year, and that’s saying a whole lot. The animals came through the winter in excellent shape, somewhat surprising given the amount of snow that fell. But spring arrived on time and deer were able to find browse toward the end of March. Also, coyote predation was less rampant than in previous years. In other good news, last year’s fawns had a good survival rate. The current season’s crop of deer have shown up in good numbers in fields and along roads. In fact, one day last August a young deer walked down the road in front of my car, seemingly unconcerned about my presence. The critter finally walked off in the woods. Of course deer numbers alone won’t guarantee success, since lots of other factors come into play – most importantly, weather. An overly warm beginning to the month can slow deer movement. But with patience and perhaps a wee bit of luck, hunters have a good chance to fill their tickets. Picking Spots For years I would take a stand on the far reaches of my Waldo woodlot. However, my success rate was never very impressive. But people tend toward being creatures of habit, and because that www.MaineSportsman.com

I am tired of being passed by as I sit in my deep woods deer stand. This year, I am taking a position nearer the edge of the forest. Perhaps now those deer that walk up and down my long dirt driveway will find something new to contend with – that being me, and my Model 1894 Winchester .30-.30 carbine!

Dave Small holds just- landed harbor pollock. Tom Seymour photo

was the way it was always done, there was no reason to change. However, from time to time a gunshot, from a point closer to the road, made me wonder about my choice of stands. Sure, deer traveled far back in the woods, but getting even one shot during the course of a season always came hard. Patience, it seemed to me, was a virtue. Still, friends and acquaintances would constantly tell me of seeing deer along the road at the precise time I was sitting and fidgeting on my remote stand. Even worse – and this irritated me no

end – passers-by would tell me of seeing deer, often bucks with big racks, walking down my driveway. And where was I at the time? You guessed it – way back in the woods. This year, though, I’m changing my tactics and am getting places ready to sit that are not far back in the woods at all. Perhaps now those deer that eat my garden vegetables and walk up and down my long, dirt driveway will find something new to contend with, that being me and my old favorite Model 1894 Winchester .30-.30 carbine! Hunting closer to

roadsides rather than far back in the woods has another benefit. The task of dragging a deer out of the woods becomes easier the shorter the distance from the kill site to the car. With the passing of the years, such tasks become more and more difficult. All in all, I can, with a good degree of confidence, recommend siting a deer stand no more than 300400 yards back in the woods in areas that hold a heavy concentration of deer. Fishing, Too “That was a mackerel,” my fishing buddy Dave Small said after

a fish slashed at and missed his Crappie Magnet panfish jig. We were fishing for harbor pollock in Lincolnville, and were overjoyed to see that a few mackerel lingered around the float. Mackerel were a pleasant but not wholly unexpected treat. Typically, groups of larger mackerel remain around structure, including floats and piers, until well into November. Of course by then most anglers have retired their tackle for another year. But that’s a mistake, since pollock and also the occasional mackerel bite like mad in November. The mackerel that missed Dave’s jig struck on his next cast. During the course of an incoming tide, we both caught several mackerel. Dave was only interested in pollock at that time and so gave me his mackerel. It was a delight to sit down to a meal of fresh broiled mackerel in the middle of deer season. Dave and I both use ultralight spinning gear for harbor pollock. These fish average around 12 inches, and when hooked on such diminutive gear, they fight as well as any fish in the sea. In fact, I compare the fight of a 12- to 14-inch harbor pollock to a brown trout of similar size. Pollock, like brown trout, make long, powerful runs, punctuated by short bursts of activity just when the angler thinks the fish is licked. Note that while harbor pollock were under certain bag and size limits in the past, that restriction (Continued on page 56)

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 55

Downeast Region Holds Pockets of Deer for Hunters Last year’s deer hunt was exciting; however, one great opportunity to get my deer early in the season eluded me. This deer-hunting story has stuck in my mind for the last 10 months. My son Rick, my nephew Mark and I decided to hunt on a small woodlot in Southern Maine. They were going to start their hunt a half-mile away. Eventually we planned to meet up at on a lightly-traveled dirt road. I cautiously inched my way along the gravel tote road for about 150 yards, stepped cautiously on the grass growing in the middle of the road. Reaching our previously agreed-to destination, I quietly pulled my 30-06 clip from my camouflaged-pants pocket and placed it into my Model 742 Remington semi-automatic. The bolt slid back easily and then forward, chambering a 160-grain, soft- point bullet. At the crest of the hill,

Even for whitetail hunters who have successful seasons year after year, it’s almost impossible not to dwell on the shots that result in a clean miss. I stopped, brushed away leaves and stood motionless. After several minutes of scanning my surroundings for any sights or sounds of deer, I set up my folding chair, sat down and waited. To my left, I had a clear, unobstructed 100- yard down the road. I watched and waited for an hour before noticing the head of a 6-point buck emerging into the road. In breathless anticipation, I slowly raised my rifle and focused my scope. The 6-point buck glided silently out through the thick fir growth and started to cross the trail. The deer took a couple of more steps into the road. It was much heavier than its rack might have indicated. After bringing my scope up to my eye, I squeezed the trigger. The

explosive sound of the shot caused the buck to bolt out of sight.

but for some reason it seems harder to forget the deer you don’t get.

My Bad Luck Turns Good Rick and my nephew arrived within five minutes. I stayed on my stand and directed them to walk to where the deer had emerged from the woods. After an hour of searching the ground for any tell-tale signs of deer hair or blood, we gave up the search. Sure enough, the 6-pointer had presented me with a great shot; however, the trophy deer got a chance to live for another season. However, later in the season, I shot an 8-point, 194-pound buck. Who knows, maybe it was GOOD LUCK that I missed the 6-pointer earlier in the season. The 8-point buck story was no less exciting,

Any-Deer Permits This year, thousands of hunters applied for the 84,745 any-deer permits that were issued statewide. According to the Department of Inland Fisheries (DIF&W) biologists, this number reflects an increase in the availability of any-deer permits in most of Maine’s Wildlife Management Districts

(WMDs). Some of the top deer harvests in the state occur in WMD 23. This district includes parts of Knox, Waldo, Kennebec and Penobscot Counties. This region contains thousands of acres of cultivated fields, apple orchards and recent logging operations, and is therefore capable of supporting a healthy deer herds, even in low population years. Some of each season’s top harvests occur in the towns of Unity, Appleton, Albion, Winslow and Vas(Continued on next page)

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56 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Downeast Region (Continued from page 55)

salboro. An examination of Delorme’s Atlas, Maps 22 and 23, will help hunters select prime deer-hunting habitat. For example, a high deer-density exists on the forest and farmlands between Routes 137 and Route 7. Deer are bountiful near the less-traveled roads that branch off these two routes. This region of the state boasts one of the highest deer populations. Therefore, hunters in this district were allotted 7,800 any-deer permits. WMD 23 has traditionally claimed the highest adult-buck kill in the state. WMDs 26 and 27 In WMD 26, where I live, only 270 any-deer permits were issued. However, there was also an increase in spring and summer deer sightings, especially in this year’s fawn population. In the towns of Bucksport and Castine, deer are so numerous that both towns have an expanded-archery season. Annual figures published by DIF&W list the 2017 deer harvest, and show that hunters in a number of District 27 towns tagged around 50 deer last year. Some of the top harvests occurred in the towns of Addison, Machias, Milbridge and Machiasport.

Areas where prime deer habitat exists are along the Georgetown Woods Road, Map 25, D-4. Other areas that contain pockets of deer are located in the coastal area along the East Shore Road in Addison. Ducks Black ducks and mergansers should be plentiful on most Downeast lakes, ponds and streams. According to DIF&W biologist Brad Allen, the outlook for duck and goose hunting is optimistic for this upcoming season. By checking Map 23 of the DeLorme Atlas, hunters can find numerous freshwater duck habitats that contain some fast wing-shooting. Most of these waters are suitable for a canoe or a small boat. An area where migratory-duck populations abound is along the inlet stream of Alamoosook Lake (Map 23, D-3). Duck-gunning is often fast and furious at the point where the river empties into the lake. Jump-shooting is an excellent method on this water; however, a well-placed duck blind and a raft of decoys can also create outstanding duck-hunting results. Black ducks and mergansers will still be plentiful this time of year.

Midcoast Report (Continued from page 54)

no longer exists, and anglers can feel free to keep as many harbor pollock as they wish. And Trout! The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries And Wildlife (DIF&W) stocks several Midcoast rivers with fall yearling brook trout and brown trout each fall. Time of stocking depends upon both water temperature and water level. During the last few years, the region has suffered under drought conditions, and www.MaineSportsman.com

The author and his 194-pound, 8-point buck from November, 2017.

stocking didn’t take place until well into fall, meaning November and even early December. One of my favorite November haunts, the Megunticook River in Camden, now sees annual fall stockings of both rainbow trout and brook trout. Last year during the first week of November, 86 11-inch rainbows were released in the Megunticook River, along with 200 13-inch brook trout. Note that the 11-inch rainbow trout were well below average length for fall stocking, a result of unexpected circumstances which I’m told will probably not be a factor this year. As for the fishes’ fighting qualities, No-

vember’s frigid water invigorates trout to the point that they fight like demons. And using ultralight spinning tackle allows the angler to reap the most possible enjoyment from the fight. Note that when fishing the Megunticook River, trout may show up almost anywhere, depending upon changing water levels, which are controlled by a dam on the river’s upper reaches. So my advice is to try every access point and keep on plugging, because once stocked, trout remain in the river all season, with some even showing up early the following spring.

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 57

Rabies and Wildlife Management In some states, local populations of furbearers are managed to help to reduce or eliminate human-wildlife conflicts. This past summer’s rise in rabid animal attacks in southern and coastal Maine is in part due to an over-population of some species. Whenever there is an overpopulation problem, Mother Nature’s solution is to allow disease to increase, or to cause animals to starve because of lack of food. In recent years, the general public here in Maine has been able to observe a marked increase in the numbers of skunks, raccoons and fox. This increase in population brings with it increases in problems related to specific animals: • Skunks dig holes in lawns looking for grubs; • raccoons raid garbage cans; • fisher kill the family cat; • beavers flood the back forty or eat the homeowner’s landscape bushes and trees; • coyotes attack the family dogs; and • fox reduce the family chicken flock. These are the normal observations. After a period of time, and without notice, the offending animals will seem to have moved on. In actuality, what has most likely happened is that they have had an outbreak of rabies, distemper or another disease. If it is a rabies epidemic, hopefully no humans are bitten. Once the population is decreased by the death of a percentage of the pop-

Animal Damage Control agents are used most frequently in Maine to reduce beaver populations, when the animals’ dam-building activities cause properties to flood and roads to wash out. Beaver trapping in the winter is tough business, and with the fur worth only $18 per animal on average, it’s not very lucrative.

Fisher numbers are increasing in Maine, and in response this year’s trapping season for the furbearer was extended. Miller photo

ulation, the disease fades into the background, and a healthier remaining population results. Another Option – Scientific Management The other way many wildlife populations can be maintained is through the scientific management of the species. This is where the trapper comes in, helping the environment to maintain a healthy and sustainable population of a variety of species. Many are furbearers, while a few others are not. There are several types of trappers here in Maine that are utilized in the management of our wildlife. They include the fur trappers and Animal Damage Control (ADC) agents of the state, and those of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Fur trappers are used to reduce populations of

common offenders such as the skunk, raccoon, fox, fisher, beaver and coyote. These are all furbearers, and have value as such. Beaver Economics Not Like the Old Days The ADC trappers in Maine are mostly used in controlling beaver populations. With today’s low fur prices, many fur trappers do not harvest the numbers of beavers they once did. Beaver trapping is hard and sometimes dangerous work. Chopping holes big enough to set in traps and then removing the beaver from under thick winters ice here in Maine is a tough business. Beaver once brought real good money; today, at an eighteen-dollar average, it is not worth the effort to many trappers,

although a few more dollars may be realized for those who sell the castor glands and the beaver carcass (for human or animal consumption). If more people in the southern and coastal regions of Maine understood wildlife management better and allowed trappers to harvest furbearers (many of the offending animals), then the attacks by rabid animals would be greatly reduced or even eliminated. One can only hope that no one runs across a rabid bear, bobcat, or coyote while out of doors. It would require a lot more medical care than a few injections for rabies. Bear Snaring As you’ve likely heard, the bear snaring (trapping) season received a real setback this year. Just a couple of days prior to the season

opening, an Emergency Ruling was issued that restricted the use of several types of traditional sets. Many trappers were hit financially because of pre-baiting expenses and by new equipment purchased that could not be utilized under the ruling. Some guides’ customers had to be handed a game plan change at the last moment. Others were already at their remote camps and could not be notified in time. This would cause some to be illegally setting their snares. This situation has happened several times before with trapping laws and regulations. These kinds of surprises are not welcomed by the trapping and guiding communities. Fisher Season Expanded In southern Maine’s Wildlife Management Districts (WMDs) 12, 13 and 15 – 29, the fisher season was reduced by one month a few years ago. This allowed evaluation of fisher in these WMDs, while the rest of the state continued a two month season. Well, the studies are completed, and meanwhile the fisher populations have increased, in part due to reduced harvest because of the requirement to use the lynx exclusion devices. In response, the season has been expanded for two more weeks starting this year in those WMDs.

Feline Hybridization People in general out(Continued on page 59) www.MaineSportsman.com

58 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Mike’s Mega-Mako! It was one of those fishing trips that didn’t start out very well. My son Mike and his family were coming up for a week’s vacation, and he had asked about a possible shark fishing trip. I was a bit less than enthusiastic, as I had given up shark fishing nine years ago – and hadn’t caught one since – but I agreed. Mike’s wife Erin, who was driving up separately from Massachusetts, stopped by Johnson’s Sporting Goods in Brunswick, and picked up a four-gallon pail of frozen chum. On the day of the trip, August 23, Mike and Erin took their two children, Jakey (2-½) and Samantha (1) to a local park to burn off a little energy before being deposited with my wife Jean for the day. But Jakey, in his zeal to get to the swings, tripped and badly scraped his knee in the parking lot, which necessitated an immediate trip to the Urgent Care Center. The doctor patched Jakey up, Jean came and collected the kids, and Mike, Erin, and I finally

The shark rocketed itself 20 feet into the air, executed a perfect double-axel, and came back down nose-first in a thunder of spray. “It’s a big mako!” I hollered.

Mike’s mako at boat-side shows its impressive rows of teeth, just prior to its release. Erin Gibson photo

got off the dock in Boothbay Harbor at 11:30. “The Hot Dog” After a quick stop to catch a dozen mackerel, we headed south some six miles below Damariscove Island to a spot that used to be called Great Ledge,

but is now more widely known as “The Hot Dog.” The name is derived from the fact that it’s a sausage-shaped piece of hard bottom rising to 220 feet from the surrounding depths. Sea conditions weren’t idea – a southerly swell with a chop on top – but when we reached “the Dog,” we found it reasonably fishable. Chum in the Water We set out two lines on matching Shimano two-speed, 50-poundclass stand-up outfits. Terminal gear consisted of a couple of old leaders I had made up back when, each consisting of ten feet of 150-pound mono, a short section of #10 stainless wire, and

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a now- rusty 8/0 halibut hook (which are thin and made of mild steel, so I had believed they would rust out quicker if left in a shark’s jaw). I fastened a bridle to each hook, and then a lively mackerel to each bridle. We set the first bait out 50 feet under a foam Redi-Rig float, and a second bait some 30 feet under another float and closer to the boat. We drifted along quite nicely, the ball of frozen chum thawing in a mesh bag over the side and spreading an oily, fragrant slick behind us. But nothing happened. After an hour we pulled in the chum and lines, and headed back to make

another drift over the ledge. Again, very quiet; not even a nibble. At 2:15 we decided to give it until 3:00, and then head in. Dorsal Fin At 2:40 pm, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a little motion around the closest float. I stared at it, and sure enough, a shark of some sort was lazily swimming around underneath the float and nosing it with its snout, with just the tip of its dorsal fin showing. Mike picked up the rod from its holder, but I cautioned him to wait. “That shark will disappear and go down and find the mackerel,” I predicted. “Then the float will go under.” Sure enough, that’s just what happened. Mike set the hook hard and the rod arched over, but within a few seconds the hook pulled free. I was pretty sure that was going to be our only shot for the trip, but since we still had a little time left to go, I pinned on another mackerel and re-set the line. Unbelievably, just minutes later, the same shark (or so it looked) was back under the same float, nosing it. Again I told Mike to wait – that the shark would shortly go down and find the mackerel. Bingo, same scenario! The float was yanked under, Mike set the hook, and this time the battle was on. Screeching Reel At first the shark went down 50 feet and sulked, but then surfaced and streaked off for (Continued on next page)

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 59 (Continued from page 58)

30 yards, the reel’s drag screeching in protest. It then rocketed 20 feet into the air, did a perfect double-axel, and came back down nose-first in a thunder of spray. “It’s a big mako!” I hollered. Mike held on. Erin and I got the gimbal belt around him and attached the harness, and a tug-ofwar ensued. Mike would pump and gain some line, only to lose it all when the mako streaked off or dove deep. He started using his thumb to clamp the line on the rod’s foregrip to apply additional pressure, and expertly worked the shark closer and closer to the boat. After 45 minutes, the mako seemed to tire, and rose to the surface. What a massive shark! I announced that it might go 400 to 500 pounds, and Mike redoubled his efforts to bring the critter to boat-side. Finally the snap swivel hit the rod’s tip-top, and Mike backed up. Now it was show time. “What a Job with that Fish!” I quickly donned a leather glove, took a wrap on the mono leader, and led the fish alongside. The mako was tired, but not beaten. It thrashed

its head violently several times, but I was able to slide the wire cutters down the stainless leader and clip it about a foot from the hook, which was planted neatly in its jaw hinge. The big shark, now free, slowly finned its way back down into the inky depths. “I don’t think it was four or five hundred,” I conceded to Mike and Erin, “but it was a solid three-fifty. No question about that! And a good eight feet long!” Mike was bushed. “Well it felt like five hundred!” he exclaimed. “My arm feels like Jell-O!” All I could reply was “What a job you did with that fish! What a job!” For a day that hadn’t started out very well, it ended just fine. It was the largest shark ever caught on one of my boats in my 48-year charter career here in Maine, and was released to fight another day. Grins all around! To view the video Erin took of the last two exciting minutes of the battle, you can visit www. SaltWaterMaine.com, click on the “Fish Photo Gallery” tab along the top border, and start the video. You can also view the video at http://bit.ly/ MikesMegaMako.

Trapping Silent Places (Continued from page 57)

side of the trapping and houndsmen communities are unaware that DNA testing has confirmed the rare hybridization of Canadian Lynx with Bobcats here in Maine. When a cat is trapped and its appearance is found strange (whether it is, or is not, a bobcat or a lynx), the trapper must immediately contact the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W). This situation is treated the same as any lynx trapping would be handled. The trapper is required to call a special IF&W phone number, and if the department cannot be reached, then the trapper must get a hold of the local regional biologist or a game warden. IF&W will verify which species it is, or that it is a possible crossbreed.

The 350-pound mako struck a live mackerel bait, and took 45 minutes to subdue on a 50-pound stand-up outfit. Erin Gibson photo

Increased Trapping Interest This past year’s trapping-related activities to date have revealed a marked increase in things related to trapping, in my opinion. The second Annual Trappers Clinic held at the Clinton Fairgrounds in July has become an established annual event. The 42nd Annual Neal Olson’s New England Trapper’s Weekend held in Bethel in August was well attended. There are many trappers from outside of New England that attend this huge event. I talked to quite a few that I knew from Pennsylvania, New York and other states even farther away. There appeared to be hundreds of campers in the field, and I knew some folks who were staying in area motels and hotels. The Maine Trappers Associations (MTA) Rendezvous at the Winsor Fairgrounds in September also brought good crowds.

Another popular attraction is the MTA Museum located at the Fairgrounds. This is open during the Winsor Fair and is a popular attraction. There is also new Sportsman Show proposed that will include trapping demonstrations along with gold panning, fly tying, and edible plants. It is currently scheduled for August 2nd, 3rd and 4th, 2019 at an old farm at 28 Little Houston Brook Road, Concord TWP, Maine. See DeLorme Atlas Map 30, C-3, and for more information call Hillbilly Furniture and Furs at (207) 672-3240. It is that time of year with trappers working their trade. Although fur prices are still very low, marten, fisher, coyote and bobcat remain profitable for those who pursue them.

www.MaineSportsman.com

60 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

November’s a Perfect Time to Visit the Moosehead Region November in the Moosehead Region has much to recommend it. Summer’s crowds have long dispersed, and locals and visitors both settle down to a slower pace. That is, except for deer hunters. The region has a reputation for growing big deer. Last season’s results kept that tradition alive, with a 215-pound, 8-point buck being registered at Indian Hill Trading Post in Greenville. Also, according to Jamie Brown of the outdoor section of the trading post, a total of 107 deer were tagged in 2017. Fortunate hunters with antlerless-deer permits took 15 does, and these are included in the 107 figure. Bringing back a limited number of antlerless-deer permits indicates an improvement in health of the local deer herd. Remember, too, that November 2017 was a warm, dry month, not conducive to deer hunting. However, weather and climate reports predict near-normal conditions for November 2018. This means hunt-

With seasonal temperatures in the forecast and larger deer herds in evidence, it looks like it’s going to be a great deer season ahead for hunters in the Moosehead region. ers should have a larger pool of deer to hunt, and it seems likely that deer-registration numbers will surpass those of last year. It looks like a great deer season ahead for hunters in the Moosehead region. Leisure Time Not everyone hunts deer, and for them the area has lots of other activities of interest in November. The season on small game, grouse and hares, remains open, and few people take advantage of it. Later, when snow blankets the ground, area guides will take hare hunters out to follow behind rabbit hounds. But in November, only the rare hunter pursues hares. For those without their own hounds who would like to take some bunnies this November, road hunting early and late in the day will prove

productive. Early in the morning, hares leave the dew-laden brush and head out to the roads where drier conditions exist. A shotgun or even a .22-caliber rifle will serve well for hare hunting. Of the two firearms, the rifle offers the toughest challenge. However, since hares begin to acquire their white pelage in November, a scope-mounted .22 makes for grand sport, since the white, or partly-white hares stand out in stark contrast against the browns and grays of November. Long-distance shots on far-away hares can become the stuff of legend. For those with hound dogs, rabbits will run the same now as when snow is on the ground. Other types of dogs can hold their own too. For instance, one bowhunter working out of the Rockwood area hunted hares with his all-purpose hunting dog. This dog not only pointed grouse, it also pointed hares. So with the dog on point, the hunter would slowly walk up to a hare and shoot it with his bow. I’m not a bowhunter, but this would be enough

to get me interested in the sport. It sounds like a great challenge, and great fun. While hare numbers remain low in many areas of Maine, that isn’t the case in the Moosehead region. As in so many other ways, the Moosehead region stands as perhaps the last, best place for small-game hunting. Cool Fishing Fishing in November has become a popular activity, and it’s no wonder. Several ponds remain open to fishing through November, and one river, West Outlet of the Kennebec River, stays open year-round. Mountain View, or Fitzgerald Pond, probably ranks as the most popular brook-trout hotspot in November. Mountain View has much going for it in the way of fish stocking. Last November’s stocking figures show that The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries And Wildlife (DIF&W) released 1,400 13-inch brook trout, along with 50 17-inch brookies here in 2017. These figures may be taken as an average number of fish for fall stocking, and we can expect similar sizes and

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numbers now, in November, 2018. Also, many of the 2,700 9-inch brook trout and 1,879 10-inch brook trout DIF&W released at Mountain View Pond during May and June of 2018 should remain still-uncaught this fall. A state-of-the-art boat landing and parking area make Mountain View Pond a prime target for boaters this November. So if you haven’t yet packed your boat away for the winter, a trip to Mountain View Pond might put the finishing touch on the 2018 open-water fishing season. West Outlet I often mention West Outlet of the Kennebec River in this column, and for good reason. The West Outlet remains open year-round and although anglers can find good fishing here most any time, fall fishing opens up the chance to catch truly large brook trout as well as landlocked salmon. Tim Obrey, regional fisheries biologist with DIF&W out of Greenville, recently shared some exciting information regarding West Outlet. Tim mentioned that the occasional huge brook trout taken in fall from West Outlet are probably fish that survived from previous stockings. Beginning in October and lasting into November, these fish head upstream to the outlet at Moosehead Lake in Rockwood. This points out that stocked fish can survive and thrive for a considerable time in the river, growing to respectable sizes. (Continued on next page)

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 61 (Continued from page 60)

I had assumed that some of the big brook trout I have taken at West Outlet were possibly retired broodstock fish, released there for our angling pleasure. But Tim Obrey says that DIF&W does not stock broodstock fish at West Outlet. Instead, it appears that large brookies from West Outlet are those from past stockings that have migrated up to the dam pool at Mooseh-

ead Lake. However, DIF&W does stock West Outlet in fall, and these fish run 13 to14 inches – plenty big enough to put a respectable bend in any fishing rod. Also, given the strong current swirling around in the dam pool, these fish fight even harder when hooked. Some of these fallstocked trout remain in the river over the winter and show up the following spring, just after iceout.

The salmon-stocking program at West Outlet continues to make for good fishing in upstream areas, including beneath the Route 15 Bridge and the dam pool. No-kill regulations on salmon apply here. November in the Moosehead region is definitely a month of great hunting and fishing – come and see.

Moosehead guide Eric Holbrook and a moose antler he found during hunting season.

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62 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Wildlife “Tracker” Leaving Footprints in Jackman Mount Everest has its “base camp,” strategically located 11,429feet below the summit. Adventure-seekers from around the world gather at this staging area before launching summit attempts on the world’s tallest peak. Likewise, deer hunters from all walks of life converge on the hamlet of Jackman and use it as a “base camp” for this month’s deer season. The firearms season opens Oct. 29 and continues until the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Last year I caught wind that one of America’s top wildlife trackers was here in Maine, and in fact was deer hunting

points of how animals and habitat coexist. For more information on “Keeping Track,” visit www.keepingtrack.org.

After an anxious few moments, Sue Morse spotted the buck again, this time a bit closer, moving through the typical dense forest found in the Jackman Region. She picked a pie-sized opening ahead of the deer. When the buck stepped into that small window, she began squeezing the slack out of the trigger of her .308. in the big woods between Jackman and Canada. With the selfish goal of improving my marginal tracking skills I contacted the tracker, Sue Morse, to see what I could learn from this nationally known authority. I quickly learned that the energetic, 70-year old Morse has a long list of impressive credentials. She’s not the typical Jeremiah Johnson-style

tracker. As a biologist, forester, founder and science director of an organization known as “Keeping Track,” she adds a healthy dose of scientific data to the world of tracking. This life-long conservationist realized that animals needed an advocate and some hard data to help preserve the wild habitat required for healthy animal popu-

lations. Basically, she’s added scientific data to the conservation argument. Morse founded “Keeping Track” nearly 25 years ago in an effort to document species sensitivity to their surrounding habitat. “Keeping Track” has a broad mission that ranges from habitat concerns for various animals, to training biologists in the finer

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��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 63 (Continued from page 62)

When I put the question to her she gave me a couple reasons that I’ve heard from many people at many times; namely, she likes hunting big woods, thoroughly enjoys tracking big deer, and loves the relationship she has with the folks at Cedar Ridge Lodge. That just reaffirms the notion that guiding is truly a “people” business built on relationships. Often, it’s those very relationships that keep outdoorsmen returning year after year. Morse couldn’t say enough good things about the job Ron and Lynda Hamilton, owners of Cedar Ridge, do when it comes to assisting deer hunters. She is also a fan of the first class cabins, the family style atmosphere, the great food, and the guides who have their fingers on the pulse of the local deer herd. She also mentioned that she and previous Cedar Ridge owner and local legend Hal Blood enjoyed exchanging deer tracking information. Blood has established himself as one of the best deer hunters in the country. Injecting a little science into a hunt can only help trackers understand deer movement.

sure giveaway that the deer had more on its mind than just browsing. The buck soon sauntered off into thick woods – gone, but not forgotten. Deer have many ways to communicate. Just the ear position on this buck broadcast an animal that’s experiencing some sort of stress. Perhaps does in the area – or even worse, another buck horning in on his territory. A stressed deer equals a distracted deer – a distinct advantage to an astute hunter. Bucks communicate in a variety of ways. Rubs, rub lines, scent and scrapes all tell a story. Morse told me that dominant bucks have shown to have a complex mix of scent chemicals in their forehead. Pawing also leaves messages. Experts spend thousands of hours trying to decipher this “deer language.” I’m not smart enough

Guided Hunt On last year’s hunt, Lee Schanz guided Morse. She highly recommends using a local guide, because one or even two weeks just isn’t enough time to really get a lay of the land and gain a total understanding of local deer habits. She put it bluntly: “They know their woods.” When Morse arrived at Cedar Ridge last season, Schanz had already done some excellent scouting and had located a rub line. While Morse enjoys tracking, she agreed to spend some time sitting along the rub line. This showed confidence in Schanz’s scouting. Also, Morse was open minded and was willing to LISTEN TO THE GUIDE, even though she is recognized as one of the top trackers in the country. From behind Morse, a buck worked slowly toward her position. The animal’s ears lay flat, a

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(Continued on page 66)

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64 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Election Day Should Be All About Climate Change With Election Day upon us, it is important for sportsmen and women to recognize that no single issue affects hunting, fishing and outdoor sports more than climate change. Virtually every aspect of the sporting environment is being affected by warming temperatures – and not for the better. Scientists and citizen observers have documented changes in seasonal migrations, nesting success, mating, critical habitat quality, pests, pathogens, and ultimately populations of fish and game and non-game species throughout New England. These observed differences may not always be obvious to the casual observer, but they are real nonetheless. Seasonal trends are hard to discern because of the natural variation in weather from year to year. It takes careful, scientific observation over wide areas and extended periods of time (see my September, 2018 column on #phenology) to document definitive changes amidst “noise” in the data. We can’t fully understand all the consequences of these changes, but as long as humans continue releasing greenhouse gases – primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) – near current rates, these trends will continue and accelerate. A warming climate has very real implications for sporting camp owners and guides, fishermen, farmers, and those who work in our forest and tourism industries that www.MaineSportsman.com

A warming climate has very real implications for sporting camp owners and guides, fishermen, farmers, and those who work in our forest and tourism industries that rely on our northern New England climate and resources for their livelihoods.

Frosty autumn mornings have always been the norm in the western Maine mountains, but now we’re more likely to see warm, misty mornings and warmer water even in October and November, according to the author. Photo: David Van Wie

rely on our northern New England climate and resources for their livelihoods. Massive Emissions from Fossil Fuels The primary cause of our warming climate is the massive emissions of CO2 from burning fossil fuels during the past 150 years. How massive? Humans have burned about 50 trillion gallons of oil globally since 1850. That’s a puddle of oil half the size and depth of Lake Erie. We’ve also burned approximately 300 billion metric tons of coal. That much coal would be like stacking 60,000 of the Great Pyramids in Egypt into a mountainous heap. And, we’ve burned over 135 billion cubic meters of natural gas, enough to fill a tank

32 times the size of the Grand Canyon. And here’s the thing – it doesn’t matter whether all that fuel was burned last week or fifty years ago, because on our finite planet the CO2 that’s released has no place to go. Most of it is still in the atmosphere or has been absorbed by the oceans (which causes another problem: ocean acidification). Deforestation, and Methane The second biggest cause of climate change has been deforestation, mostly from the conversion of rainforests to agriculture. For the world as a whole, carbon stored in forest biomass decreased during the period 20112015, mainly because of a reduction in global forest area. Fortunately, in the

US, changes in forests and land use have resulted in a net absorption of carbon recently. A third major cause is methane, a greenhouse gas with 25 times the warming effect of CO2. Methane is released from agriculture, livestock (cows “release” large amounts of methane), landfills, oil & gas production, and coal mining. From all these sources, humans have boosted the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere from around 310 parts per million (ppm) prior to 1960, to over 410 ppm today. In just 100 years, human activity has increased CO2 in our atmosphere by more than 30% compared to the highest concentrations at any time during the last 800,000 years. We know this from very

reliable measurement of air bubbles trapped in ancient layers of polar ice. Deafening Silence? In such an important election year, I’ve been amazed how little attention climate change and other environmental issues are getting in competitive races at all levels of government. This year’s election should be all about taking decisive actions to combat climate change and protect our environment. In September, the UN Secretary General issued a global call to action. “Climate change is the defining issue of our time, and we are at a defining moment,” he said. “If we do not change course by 2020, we risk missing the point where we can avoid runaway climate change.” Every week there’s another scientific study or news reports documenting large scale insults to the planet: record temperatures on four continents, melting ice in the Arctic or Antarctic, and “100-year storms” that now happen several times in 20 years. This summer we again experienced record temperatures in Maine. The National Weather Service reported that we had 88 days in a row when the minimum daily temperature at the Portland Jetport was above 50 degrees, the third-longest streak since 1940. What was startling, however, is that all of the top 10 yearly warm streaks in the past 88 years have been since 1996, with 2016, 2017 (Continued on page 66)

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 65

Electronic Scouting Leads to Prime Deer Country Like most deer, this eight point buck appeared out of nowhere. I’d been sitting for hours in a tree stand with my compound bow, studying every movement and sound. Therefore, it came as a great surprise (as it always does) that a 200plus pound animal could show up without making a sound or showing even a flash of movement. At 75 yards, the buck had put enough distance between his rack and my stick and string to insure his continued growth. However, what the buck did next rates as one of my all time best deer hunting experiences. He lined up on a 12foot spruce tree, lowered his head and proceeded to knock the crap out of it. While he sent spruce needles and dirt flying in all directions, I sat watching in total amazement. He used every point on his eight-point rack to cause the carnage. The show lasted for a good half an hour, but the memory of that performance sticks with me all these years later. When he finished leaving his calling card, he simply disappeared into a mix of conifers. “Guide” to Success A lot has changed since I started deer hunting some 40 years ago and I’ve learned a lot going through the school of hard knocks. Despite all the change, two things remain the same – big deer roam the deep woods of Maine, and “lucky” hunters often make their own luck. It takes a lot of effort to bag a wall-hanger. The Katahdin Region has miles and miles of forest available to hunters looking to make some

I still like paper topographical maps, which allow me to understand elevations and to get a feel for the overall area. Then I use the GPS and Google Earth to obtain more detailed information, especially about transitional areas and land along waterways. “luck” and put a serious bend in the meat pole. The problem of selecting that perfect spot where hunter and deer can meet has tortured buck-chasers for generations. It’s not that there’s too little real estate to select from; rather, the problem is that there’s too much! Those with the resources to do so record higher levels of success employing the services of a Registered Maine Guide. Most hunters forget about the long hours spent scouting ahead of a client’s arrival. That type of diligent, pre-trip planning allows guides to immediately put their customers in the thick of active deer country. Sometimes it’s pretty simple – they know their home woods, and they have decades of firsthand experience dealing with the local deer population. Deer hunters lacking the time to do some serious pre-season scouting arrive at deer camp

at a severe disadvantage. A good guide overcomes that shortfall. Electronic Scouting Others of us just don’t have the funds to pay for that valuable scouting work. In that case, it’s time to roll up the flannel sleeves and get to work. In many ways, I enjoy the scouting challenge as much as the hunt itself. This year, I’m scoping out the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. For the record, hunting is allowed on the real estate east of the East Branch of the Penobscot River. A perusal of page 51 of DeLorme’s Atlas gives me a good layout of the roads that access this extensive parcel. Unfortunately, a paper map doesn’t come with deer icon that tells me where old wide-horns roam. For more information on the foliage and topography, Google Earth has turned into a great friend of mine. The balsam that

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aggressive eight pointer selected grew right along the edge of a grown up field, not far from a long-abandoned stone wall. He obviously felt comfortable in the 10- to 12-foot tall greenery. In fact, without my eight foot high ladder stand, I never would have witnessed the buck “communicating” to the rest of the herd. Maybe that’s why when I set up a ground blind or ladder stand, it’s almost always near some type of transition. I look for cut-offs, bog edges and other areas that quickly transition from thick woods to semi-open areas. Hunting along waterways has also been productive for me. Here’s where Google Earth really shines. By zeroing in on the area I’m

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planning to hunt, I can look for open spaces bordered by large tracts of forest. When my boots hit the ground, I’m not just wandering, but moving with a plan and a purpose. I still like my paper topographical maps. By using the paper maps, I get a better feel for the overall area, and I use the GPS along with Google Earth to get more detail. I’ve found the Google Earth images fairly upto-date. If there’s logging activity in the past year or two, it seems to show up just fine. The topographical maps, both paper and electronic, satisfy my need to understand the elevations I’m dealing with. Bog Country I’ve had real good luck over the years hunting along the edges of bogs. The luck seems to come when I get myself in the center of the bog and watch the tree lined edges. (Continued on next page)

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Katahdin Country (Continued from page 65)

The Hopkins Academy Grant (Map 43, C-3) has multiple bogs that ambitious deer hunters can access. These low-lying areas have everything a bog buck could ever want or need. Getting to these remote bogs takes some effort, and figuring out a way to get mid-bog is even more challenging.

Bucks often set a rub line along the transition line. However, nobody ever said chasing big bucks in remote areas was easy. Another bog-rich area located in the lower reaches of Katahdin Country starts at the southern tip of Endless Lake and follows the West Branch Seboeis Stream South

Jackman Region (Continued from page 63)

to figure out exactly what these communications tell me, but I do know enough to pay attention to scrapes and rubs that seem to require the efforts of a large animal. I’ve also learned to look for the all-important footprints to gauge a buck’s body size and direction of travel. I’m betting that big bruiser re-runs the route in the same direction sooner or later. Pay attention to the wind, pick a well camouflaged spot, and practice

Sporting Environment (Continued from page 64)

and 2018 each in the top 10. Warmer nighttime temperatures mean surface water doesn’t cool off as much after a hot day. This summer, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute observed ten daily water temperature records after seeing 18 records set last winter. Meanwhile, Canadian researchers recorded deep water temperatures in the Gulf of Maine at 11 degrees above normal. These trends will ultimately affect hunt-

into Seboeis PLT (Map 43, E-3). One section of the stream cuts through Maine Public Reserve Land (MPRL). A lot has changed in 40-years, but not my definition of a successful hunt. Only occasionally do those memories revolve around the harvest of an animal. For the most part, it’s the life memories of time spent living large in the great outdoors.

Deer hunters looking to gain an advantage on Katahdin Country wall-hangers often take advantage of technology to locate prime deer habitat in the region. Google Earth has helped this author identify clear cuts, transition lines and bogs that he hopes will lead to November success. Shutterstock photo

patience. After an anxious few moments, Morse spotted the deer again, this time a bit closer, moving through the typical dense forest found in the Jackman Region. She picked a pie-sized opening ahead of the deer. When the buck stepped into that small window, she squeezed the slack out of the trigger on her bolt action Kimber .308. Big Buck Club A perfect heart shot dropped the seven-point buck in its tracks. This Jackman bruiser field-dressed at a healthy 224 ing, fishing, the ski industry and snowmobilers. Many have noticed negative effects already during the past couple of decades. Decisive Action Required In my opinion, when deciding who we elect to office at any level – federal, state or local – we must consider first and foremost whether that candidate understands what is causing climate change and why it is important to our economy and ecology. We should also ask whether that candidate will support immediate actions to significantly reduce greenhouse gases. At this stage, voluntary feel-good actions

pounds. Sue Morse – welcome to the Biggest Bucks in Maine Club! Many hunters roll into Jackman this month looking to join hunters like Sue Morse in that coveted Biggest Bucks in Maine Club. While she has a greater understanding concerning the science of deer communication than the average Joe, she openly gave credit to her lodge owners and guide for her successful hunt. And, I guess it goes without saying – the lady can shoot!

are not enough. We need large scale policies that will take a big bite out of the problem, such as further tightening fuel efficiency standards on vehicles, replacing fossil fuel power generation with renewable sources, and reducing methane emissions from oil and gas production. The biggest thing each of us can do to combat climate change is vote. I believe we need to elect political leaders who will take serious action now, before we pass the tipping point to a world none of us would recognize.

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Deer in Back Yard, but Trouble in the Big Woods The deer tracks in the compost pile, and the scattered piles of droppings on the back lawn, can only mean one thing – Maine’s deer population is on the rise again. My backyard is so close to downtown Farmington that signs of deer are unusual, except when populations are high. And so, the increased allocation of Any Deer Permits for this area was no surprise. Backyard Bucks in Maine Plenty of deer have been showing up in the local farm fields here as well. And nearly every local canoe outing this summer included at least one deer sighting. It all adds up to great news for local hunters here on the northern edge of Maine’s “deer belt” that covers the southern tip of the state and runs up into the central highlands on either side of Interstate I-95. Farmington sits on the border of Wildlife Management Districts (WMD) 13 and 16. District 16 extends southeast and includes the Route 2 corridor, the Belgrade Lakes region and the river farmlands between the Androscoggin and the Kennebec River west of Route I-95. This district is bursting with deer, and hunters will enjoy 6,650 permits for non-antlered deer in 2018. But just north of Farmington—in WMD 13—it’s a completely different story. Here in the foothills of the mountains, west of the Kennebec, deer numbers are not nearly as robust. Only

Southern and central Maine whitetail deer hunters are expected to enjoy one of the best deer seasons in years. However, the same cannot be said for those in western, northern or eastern portions of the state, where icy winters, decreased deer wintering areas and increased predation – including by bears – have negatively impacted deer populations.

Deer sightings -- like this photo, taken from the author’s canoe -- bode well for increasing populations, at least in central and southern Maine. Jim Andrews photo

625 Any-deer permits were allocated for 2018 over this vast area. “Two Maines” in Deer Hunting The contrast in deer numbers, and deer management, that exists between these two districts is a microcosm of the entire state. It tells us two things about deer management in Maine. First, it proves the 30year old Any-Deer Permit program works. The previous method of treating the entire state with a single set of one-deer-either-sex regulation did not allow for precision deer management. Maine has never had a uniform, state-wide deer habitat. And being able to micro-manage

smaller sections of the state according to habitat changes, local winter severity and natural predators is a winner. It has allowed MDIFW to respond to yearly blips in the deer population with much more speed and precision. This works best in areas where the deer herd is large enough to respond to this type of manipulation. Permit System a Success In 2017, Maine hunters enjoyed their most successful season in the last 10 years – with 23,000 deer harvested during the firearms season alone. Consequently, the statewide number of Any-Deer Permits allocated for 2018 rose by

44%. So, when we talk about maintaining overall deer numbers and statewide averages of hunter success ratios, the Any-Deer Permit system is a success. The second thing pointed out by the current data, is that the deer population in vast areas of the state has not benefitted from thirty years of effectively banning the shooting of female deer. The rise in deer population, the rise in the availability of Any-Deer permits, the better hunting success is all concentrated in Maine’s deer belt. Nearly all other areas of the state have continued to slowly decline. And the relatively poor hunting conditions in the

rest of the state will never be addressed by the Anydeer permit program. It manages one thing -- legal hunting’s impact on doe survival rates. But the source of woe in Maine’s northern forest, western mountains and eastern woodlands was never this one thing. Not a Mystery Maine’s Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife, to its credit, has been pointing out for years that low deer numbers in these areas are the result of an interrelated series of factors, including: • winter severity, • diminished deer wintering areas, and • increased predator threat. Recent news on these threats has not been encouraging. On the predation front, bear numbers are increasing beyond the capacity of the department to control the population with current hunting regulations. Bears have been found to have significant impacts on fawn fatalities – as much as 10% in some studies. And of course the ever-present coyote population rises and falls with deer numbers – limiting the impact of good population years for deer. Meanwhile, the Maine Legislature’s hesitancy to give deer wintering areas (DWA) meaningful legal protection has devastated critical winter habitats. The effectiveness of the largely voluntary compliance programs with private landowners and harvesters is ineffective. (Continued on page 70) www.MaineSportsman.com

68 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

Whitetails and Waterfowl Keep Aroostook Buzzing! Throughout the Crown of Maine, and likely in the entire state, deer hunting isn’t just a season; it’s not simply another sport. In fact, for most sportsmen, tagging a whitetail is a pursuit, a challenge, a notable point of pride. Venison in the freezer is always a tasty reward, but the true prize, the premium that lasts forever, is the individual experience, the memories and the ongoing opportunity to share stories of the adventure for months, for years, and even for generations. That’s because each and every successful hunt is special. Whitetail Woods Aroostook County may not boast as many deer per square mile as Southern Maine, but population is improving, and there are a lot of 200-pound-plus smasher bucks out there. Also, it matters not if you’re a stand hunter, stalker, still hunter, tracker, food plot or field gazer,

cedar swamps and dark growth swales, where big bucks travel heavily during the rut. Use the McDonald Road for access to this region, which seldom receives heavy gunning pressure. Being the neighborly sort, I often slid across the boundary line between counties via Land Brook Road to tramp around Hay Brook Mountain. My Dad and his three brothers enjoyed great success there over the years, bagging many heavily-racked whitetails. My cousins and I do our best to maintain the tradition.

November duck hunting in Aroostook is a rare treat, since most waterways are frozen tight. However, the mallards and black ducks flock to the streams and rivers, and a well-trained retriever is worth its weight in shotgun shells. All photos: Bill Graves

or a drive-and-spot guy, there are myriad roads, fields, and acres of forest to be explored here in the North land. I’ve previously mentioned likely locations in Escourt and Allagash at the tip-top of The County. I’ve touched on hunting small woodlots, pastures and fields from Caribou to Houlton in Zone 6. Many times I’ve pinpointed locations in the North

Maine Woods, but this month let’s review an old family favorite region in southern Aroostook. Way down in the southwest corner, where Aroostook crowds Penobscot, lies Knowles Corner, the intersection of Routes 11 and 212. Delorme’s Atlas, Map 58, E-2 overviews the main roads as well as a cobweb of dirt roads and two-tracks extending in every direction

Cold Weather Honkers Hunting Canada geese during November in northern Maine is not without tribulations – frosty temperatures, frozen topsoil, and more often than not, some snow cover hinder most outings. On the plus side, however, more than a (Continued on next page)

★ The Crown of Maine AMP BU W S E

Aroostook County

through a large tract of top-rate whitetail woods. The Bugbee and Lake Brook Roads have several-dozen side tracks perfect for stop-and-go hunting, and once a skiff of fresh snow arrives, options increase appreciably. Traveling south toward Moro, there are a quintet of small ponds that encircle another set of roads and trails with

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Brian and Buddy Horr of Dedham, and Beaver Pierce of E Plantation, joined writer Bill Graves for a snowy morning goose hunt. They filled limits in quick order. It was so cold and snowing so hard the flocks didn’t even bother to circle -they buzzed right into the dekes. (Continued from page 68)

few hunters stay home, discouraged by the conditions and waiting for better days. Many early-season goose gunners transfer their attention to deer this month, also helping to reduce shooting pressure and freeing up more prime locations. On top of that, more migrating birds keep piling into Aroostook agri-land to feed and fatten until heavy snow and frozen waterways force them farther south. While warmer, layered garments are needed, as well as white covers for the layout or haybale blinds, it takes fewer decoys to entice geese into range. They leave water later in the morning, giving the sun a chance to soften the soil and food plots, and often stay out all day winging from spot to spot, stuffing themselves for warmth and energy. On some brisk days, it takes more time to put out the blinds and set up a 3 or 4- dozen decoy spread than to shoot a 3 per hunter limit of honkers! Frigid weather also tends to keep birds feeding in fields close to their roost waters, so selecting a spot to hunt becomes

Roger Shaw of Mars Hill and Mike Wallace of Freeport enjoyed fast shooting and a quick limit on a frigid November morning in Aroostook County. The author reports that it took longer to set up the decoy spread than it did to bag the geese.

a bit simpler. Once the geese take wing, if they see decoys nearby, it’s highly likely they will investigate. There are plenty of agri-field options around St. Agatha up in the St John Valley, and nearby waterways such as expansive Long Lake and several other smaller lakes and ponds harbor hoards of geese until ice forms. DeLorme’s Map 69, coordinates C-3 and C-4 overview prime gunning sites. Use Route 162, then Beaulieu and Lavertu Roads, to scout, and always request and obtain landowners’ permission. More to the south, between Littleton and Houlton, is another large

pocket of farmland and multiple small lakes and ponds offering great goose gunning. From Route 1, use any of a dozen side roads to reach the Foxcroft Road, which meanders through likely hunting locations. Check Map 59, E-4 to get started scouting. Weekends tend to be busier, but weekdays will have very light pressure this month. Red Legs and Greenheads Every day of duck hunting in Aroostook beyond mid-November is an unexpected reward from Mother Nature. During a very rare fall, we actually have been able to decoy waterfowl clear into December, and while most

Beaver Pierce had to break up 1/2-inch-thick skim ice on an Aroostook pond to set out a dozen decoys and a motorized mallard. November duck hunting is a lot of work, but the big birds are plentiful and they’re looking for company.

of the small species have flown south, huge red-leg black ducks and fat mallards abound. As the month progresses, more and more ponds ice over, and then the larger lakes seal up as well. It’s possible to break up skim ice, often up to an inch thick, and toss out a few decoys, but when nighttime freezing temperatures persist, opportunities narrow quickly. Thankfully, persistent duck hunters in over a dozen towns and villages have a rewarding option. The last bastion (Continued on next page)

When river and stream edges are frozen in Aroostook County during November duck season, a canoe is necessary to set decoys, and a tough retriever is a gunner’s best friend.

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Lefty Graves and his brother Phil celebrate their success after dragging a big buck back to camp near Hay Brook in Southern Aroostook.

The County (Continued from page 69)

of flowing water to finally freeze each year is the Aroostook River. Rather than wing south, many ducks opt to take up res-

idence along the river when their roost ponds ice up. An abundance of eddies, coves, backwaters

Self-Propelled Sportsman (Continued from page 67)

The previous state Big Game Management Plan called for a goal of 9% of Maine’s forestland to be designated and protected as DWA. The current 15-year plan, released this summer, acknowledges that the protected area remains at about 2%. A recent University of Maine study sug-

While most of the smaller species of ducks wing south by the end of October, hefty red leg black ducks and giant greenheads hang around through November. In short, if there’s open water, there’s duck hunting in The County.

and sheltered turns offer perfect sites to set out small decoy spreads, and with a road paralleling each riverbank, it’s less than 100 yards from parked vehicle to the water’s edge. Another viable and

Seth Rooney of Easton is an experienced still hunter and haunts the Big Woods beyond Machias Lake out back of Ashland. Even without November snow cover, he enjoys annual success.

productive option is to put in a stable canoe or small boat and float between towns, enjoying steady jump-shooting. While there are multiple options and few other hunters, the river runs between Washburn and

gests that even where local wintering areas are protected, it has done nothing to prevent the fragmentation of surrounding conifer forests. And the possible result, according to the study, is that “northern Maine is losing the potential for future replacement of viable areas for wintering deer.” Those words should strike fear into the heart of every northern Maine hunter.

set this month to enjoy one of the best deer seasons in years. If the weather cooperates, the total harvest could exceed even last November’s 10-year high-point. But it’s worthwhile to remind ourselves that the struggle for higher deer populations goes on in northern, western and eastern Maine. Those of us who hunt outside of the deer belt know that hoofprints in the compost pile are a lot less likely out there.

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ON CHEMQUASABAMTICOOK LAKE

Map 55 in Maine Gazetteer

For Fastest Response, E-mail:

info@rosslakecamps.com

or call to leave a message at 207-227-7766 Andrea Foley and Donald Lavoie, Registered Maine Guides

Year Round Hunting and Fishing Opportunities

www.MaineSportsman.com

Smallmouth Bass & Trout Fishing

Paul Dorward 207-694-1185 – eastbranchlodge@gmail.com

Loon Lodge in the Allagash Lake Region “Just the Way You Like It”

BOOKING 2019 BEAR HUNTS

15 Miles from the Trail Head to the Chamberlain Trains! www.loonlodgemaine.com loonlodgemaine@gmail.com • SEE US ON FACEBOOK! P.O. Box 404, Millinocket, ME 04462 • 207-745-8168

Be Sure to LIKE The Maine Sportsman on Facebook!

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 71

Smilin’

Sportsman A Greenville man constructed a par 3 pitch-and-putt golf course in his backyard. Frequently when he was lining up a putt, his neighbor’s teenage son would disturb his concentration by roaring by on an ATV with no muffler. Finally losing his cool, the man stalked over to his neighbor’s driveway. Spotting the parked ATV, he began pounding it with a pitching wedge. Later, an officer who came to arrest him for malicious mischief was filling out the police report. “How many times did you hit that ATV with your golf club?” asked the officer. “Oh, six or seven times,” replied the golfer, “but put me down for a five.” ••••••••••••••••••• The other day my wife hollered, “You haven’t heard a word I’ve said, have you?” I thought to myself, “Now that’s a pretty

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

weird way to start a conversation!” (Thanks to Ellen Liddle, Sportsman reader in Hawaii) ••••••••••••••••••• Luke: “Hey, Earl – I won $100 on an instant scratch-off lottery ticket today, and I gave a quarter of it to charity!” Earl: “I’m proud of you, Luke – that’s really generous!” Luke: “Well, I guess so. Anyway, that leaves me $99.75 to spend on myself!” ••••••••••••••••••• And by popular demand, two more true “Church Bulletin” items: 1) The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday. 2) Irving Benson and Julie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days

The Smilin' Sportsman Youth Edition Kids! Send your best hunting & fishing stories, and your favorite jokes, to the editor at will@mainesportsman.com. UMaine Researcher: Eureka! I have invented a universal solvent! It can dissolve anything – metal, glass and even concrete! Kid: That’s great, but ....” Researcher: But what? Kid: What are you going to keep it in? ••••••••••••••••••• Luke: “Hey, Earl – I took the shell off my racing snail, thinking it would make him go faster.” Earl: And …? Luke: “It only made him more sluggish!” •••••••••••••••••••

A man walked into a butcher’s shop, and said: “I’d like a pound of kidleys, please.” Butcher: “What?” Man: “I said a pound of kidleys.” Butcher: “Don´t you mean a pound of kidneys?” Man: “That´s what I said, diddle I?” ••••••••••••••••••• Question: Why is Toblerone chocolate bar triangular-shaped? Answer: So it will fit in the box.

www.MaineSportsman.com

72 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

— 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. BOATS FOR SALE RADISSON 12’ POINTED CANOE Purchased new in 2010; never used. Foam side sponsons, Web seats, Paddle/Oars, Trolling motor mount. Many extras included. Asking $750. 207-725-5236 1950 Old Town Boat, 15’ in great condition. Trailer included. Original documentation. $2,900 Call 207-244-4021

SNOWMOBILES FOR SALE

CAMPS FOR SALE NEWLY BUILT JUST FINISHED HUNTING CAMP Good enough for retirement home with 40 acres at end of Merrill Mills Road on Rt 7 in Dover Foxcroft, ME. 36x24 2 bedrooms full bath meets latest state codes R44 & R21 wood stove & oil furnace new well & septic has log siding V match pine. $100,000 call 207924-5052

SNOWMOBILES & TRAILER FOR SALE 2006 Arctic Cat T660, 2-up touring, turbo 4-stroke $2,500. 2011 Arctic Cat TZ1, 2-up touring, turbo 4-stroke -$5,900. Both sleds in very good condition, fully-equipped, serviced every spring. Also, Blizzard Hybrid 12’ snowmobile trailer used one year $2,500. All stored at Kramer’s. Call Eric 207-547-3345 or Ray 518-766-3688.

Kersey Real Estate visit www.kerseyre.com to view our complete listing

V NEW

Custom built 3 bedroom, 2 bath home with incredible views. Open concept with cathedral ceiling in the living/dining area. Basement has heated vehicle storage and workshop. 24X26 detached two car garage and a large 26X28 one and a half story barn with full basement and two garage doors. $389,500. MLS # 1370906

RUM

FOR

Rumford - Look no further than this fifty acres in an incredible private country setting with stunning views of local mountains all the way to New Hampshire and Mt Washington. This lot is set up with a driveway, power and is ready for the next step. If you’re looking for that once in a lifetime building site here it is...! And it’s only 8 miles from Sunday River & The Bethel Village. $125,000. MLS # 1369414

INEY

ARD

207-585-2411 207-585-2412

IL TRA

Well maintained cabin off the grid surrounded by stonewalls and old growth trees. If you have been looking for a camp well here it is. $49,900. MLS #1307502

Peru - 59.3 Surveyed acres walking distance to Worthley Pond.This lot offers 231’ of paved town maintained rod frontage plus your own water frontage on Worthley and Thomas Brooks come see why this is great spot for your own private resort and get away. $69,900. MLS #1363508 Carthage - Exceptional building lot with southerly exposure and incredible sunset views..This lot is located in ATV and snowmobile friendly community and it’s only 2 miles from Mt Blue State Park & The Webb Beach camping which has a beautiful sandy public beach,boat launch and shower rooms...come enjoy the hiking,biking and all the recreation opportunity’s the Western mountains have to offer. $39,500. MLS #1358742 Bethel King Lot - This land boasts exceptional development potential or enjoy the vast land with your friends and family, excellent road infrastrucure and beautiful views of local ski areas. 1356 acres offered at $1,250,000. MLS #1335965 Weld - Looking for a remote spot for your cabin or camper? Here it is! 8 acres with easy access, nice view right in the heart of the Western Mnts, a few miles to Mt. Blue State Park & Webb Lake. $18,500. MLS #1282348 Woodstock - An absolute dream come true! 97 Acres near Sunday River. This property has nice brook meandering through the lower portion of the property and a series of old roads and trails will lead up to spectacular views from Mollyockett Mountain in Woodstock. Come enjoy all the seasons and activates Maine has to offer! $69,900. MLS #1326728 North Rumford - Very private 17 acres with great brook frontage and a common area on Meadow Pond located deep in the Western Mountains. $32,000. MLS #1269352

www.MaineSportsman.com

BB WE

RIV

New Vineyard - 25.9 acres with 953’ of road frontage, mostly wooded with a nice cleared field. The lot has plenty of large pine and hardwood plus is very flat with some stonewalls and access to ITS trail and ATV trails. Owner has a small camp/shed on property so it’s ready for the next step. MLS #1360567. Webb River Waterfront Lots. 1.6 to 5.9 acres. $49,500 $39,000-$59,900

T WIL

CAMP WITH 40+ ACRES IN T4R16 Established bear site includes one ATV. Fully furnished with septic. $150,000. 207-620-2975 or 207-620-4920 HUNTING CAMP FOR SALE North Maine Woods T13R10 Great Moose hunting Zone 2, also bird,

bear, deer. Furnished, sleeps 6, shower, propane fixtures, finished in Cedar, P&C lease, $47K, 207-944-0873 ———————————

CAMPS FOR RENT 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 (Continued on next page)

“No Blarney Spoken Here”

506 West Side Road • Weld, ME 04285 •Mike Kersey, Broker WE

CAMP FOR SALE 166 acres in Anson, Maine. $240,000. For more information contact Jerry at 207-938-3533 or Pat at 207-754-1187.

ACC

ESS

NEW 14’ X 36’ CAMP with 6’ screened porch. Located on 4.18 acres with direct access to ATV and snowmobile trails from your property, plus you’re in the heart of Maine’s recreational area! $28,900

Near Bethel in Albany Township - This 40 Acre lot has several hidden building site well off the paved road with beautiful Southeasterly views. Some areas would make great spot for passive solar cabin. The Crooked River meanders on through the lot for great wildlife watching. Only 7 miles from downtown Bethel. $45,000. MLS #1325975 Carthage - Excellent building lots w/ easy access to ATV and snowmobile trails. All lots surveyed and have driveways into building site. Ready for your new cabin in the woods? Then come check em’ out. $26,500. MLS #1205057 Phillips 40 Acres - Set up your camper next to the fire pit while you pick your building site. This 40 acre lot offers privacy, views and a wonderful babbling brook an acre or so of nice field with some small planted trees. $54,900. MLS #1309063 Rumford - 347 Acres with unique road systems that will lead to pinnacles and peaks with views of the Mountain Valley and Swift River Valley and beyond. This parcel also has frontage on Goff Brook along with frontage on a no name Brook. The recreation opportunities are endless with great hunting, ATVing, snowmobiling, hiking, skiing and all the other great activities available in the Western Mountains of Maine. $225,500. MLS #1369627 Roxbury - If you have been waiting for the right time and the right lot then here is the one spectacular views of mountains and valley. Large 26 acre lot on a private association road. 10 acre common area for all lot owners. All lots have protective covenants to insure investment and privacy. $69,500. MLS #1205455 Albany Twp - Excellent 6.8 acres on the Crooked River. Surveyed and soils tested. What a great spot for your cabin in the woods! $27,500. MLS #1372779

TROY - If you are looking for a turnkey getaway retreat camp with 100 plus acres, this is it. The camp is insulated, wired for a generator and finished. The property is located in the Chain of meadows in the heart of Central Maine. Privacy, seasonal road, drive a 4 wheel drive vehicle to your doorstep. This is the property you have been waiting for. MLS #1370873 - $84,999 MADISON - Built in 1900, a unique cottage historically part of the Lakewood Theater colony on the shores of Lake Wesserunsett, full of original rustic charm inside and out! Legend has it, it was once an after-hours get away for many celebrities at Lakewood Theater. Sitting on a hillside, a glassed in porch and 2 raised bedrooms give a view of the theater and lake. Morning sun streams in the porch to greet the day, and sunsets shimmer over the lake. Enjoy the gripping call of the loons. An attached dance hall features the close-fitted birch dance floor with a private stable below. Enjoy the well-landscaped fenced in courtyard, with a cozy garage below the building. An antique stove and other appliances convey. A beautiful natural river-washed stone wall greets you at the front walk. Enjoy your vacation home in Maine! MLS #1369748 - $52,000 WEST FORKS - Fantastic camp on 4.37 surveyed acres in the heart of the North Maine Woods. Enjoy year round access right off Route 201 on a town maintained road. This is a perfect outpost camp to enjoy hunting, fishing, trapping, ATVing, and snowmobiling. Easy access to nearby trails. This camp comes complete with a large dining room table, refrigerator, range, and beds to sleep a dozen guests. This camps sits on a poured concrete foundation/crawl space and features two forced hot air heating systems and electricity. This is a must see. MLS #1368761 - $85,000 MADISON - 147 acres of mostly wooded land just outside of the town of Madison. Good amount of road frontage on the Shusta Road. Jones Brook runs through the property. MLS #1369798 - $147,000 SOLON - Looking for the perfect piece of property? This could be it! Approximately 71 acres with about 900 feet frontage on the West Road. Tons of room to build a camp and then roam and hunt until your heart is content. Currently in tree growth for tax purposes. (Hb356) MLS #975096 - $65,000 BINGHAM - Approximately 123 acres of land with about 3.700 feet frontage on Mahoney Hill Rd and about 2,500 feet frontage on Brighton Rd. Lots of room to roam in this parcel. Currently in tree growth for tax purposes. (Hb323) MLS #983202 - $89,900 LEXINGTON TWP - Approximately 3,750 feet frontage on Route 16 in Lexington Township with this approximate 97.12 acre parcel. Currently in “Tree Growth” for tax purposes. (Hb337) MLS #979168 - $95,900 SOLON - LAND WITH WATERFRONT. Approximately 19 acres of wooded, open and flat land with about 1056 feet frontage on Rowell Pond. Awesome spot for camp! Have a look! MLS #1282488 - $39,000 CORNVILLE - Approximately 4 acres on a corner lot, public road, power at street. Great access to ATV and snowmobile trails. Drive by and take a look. (Hb001) MLS 11/18 #1233725 - $12,500

��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 73 (Continued from page 72)

IN WMD 17 Comfortable, clean, secluded CABIN for rent, with all amenities. Sleeps 4-5. Available May-Dec $450/wk. Call:207-2774565 ———————————

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY LIVE IN NORTHERN MAINE AND MAKE MONEY Restaurant, Linneus, ME. Grammy’s Country Inn. $1.2 million average food-only gross sales last 6 years. Opportunity for sales growth with addition of alcohol. Featured in Down East, Bangor Metro, Yankee Magazines. Named Top 10 Restaurants in Maine. Over 35 awards. 65+ year

restaurant tradition, 28 years under same ownership. This is a step-in opportunity! Price reduced $999,000. 207-532-4500 www.firstchoicerealestate.com ———————————

FOR SALE HOLLIS- GREAT HUNTING. 35 ACRES Gated Property, Private Gravel Rd. nearly surrounded by State-owned land with 435’ on beautiful Killick Pond. Fish, hunt, or watch wildlife, ATV/Snowmobile Trails abound! 35 minutes to Portland, 25 minutes to I-95. Single floor living, over XL 2-bay heated garage. Open concept kitchen/dining area with cozy living area. 2 Bedrooms, full bath, large living room that could be used

as bedroom. Additional 1500 sq ft industrial size garage. You will be self-sufficient with multiple heating options and back up diesel generator to provide power, if needed. $335,000. Contact: Assist2Sell Cliff Santamore 207-229-0487 ———————————

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

cants must be highly motivated, focused on excellence in all aspects of the work, capable of working as part of a team and the ability to complete work independently. Minimum of 2 years’ experience is required. Pay is based on experience. Call: 207465-7847 or go to: coversitallupholstery.com

North Maine Woods Camp For Sale Camp in the North Maine Woods on little Indian pond. Camp is only 5 years old and has solar power and a septic system installed. Camp is on leased land. $150,000. Call for more information. (207) 568-3940.

(207) 943-5225 www.dewittjonesrealty.com

Pittsfield - 600 acres dedicated to wildlife management. Abundance of native game. Frontage on Johnson Brook, with trout. HARVESTABLE TIMBER, road system & 2 small ponds. $275,000

Calais - Scenic acreage lot on 627± acre 56’ deep Nash’s lake stocked w/ Salmon. Over 1,000’ of unique shore front w/ its own point of land extending into the lake with numerous coves & peninsulas. $75,000

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.

Freeman Twp - Views to the north & east, good public road frontage with easy access and power at road. Highest elevation is around 720’ along Huff Rd. Nice brook. Just surveyed. $64,000

1341601 – MILO – 40.3 ACRES – Great location to build your hunting or get-away cabin. Located on a seasonal 4-wheel drive road which access to ATV and snowmobile trails. Close to Sebec River, great loacation for hunting and fishing. $32,000

GARLAND 1369885 - Quaint hunting camp situated on 2.08+/acres. Electricity at road side not to the camp. Drilled well, pit privy, gas lights & range. Heated by wood stoves. Located near snowmobile and ATV trails. Branns Mill Pond close by. $24,900

1333429 – SEBEC – 93+/- ACRES – Recreational woodBARNARD TWP ed lot that is close to Sebec Lake. Ideal acreage for - Low a 4 seasons cabin or a house if you so choose. Power 1371500 at roadside. Great views and a small brook that runs taxes, privacy, through the property. $85,000 great views, eco-

nomical house, 2 garages one 24’x28’, and one is 20’x30. Year 1296978 – PARKMAN – 100+ ACRES – Large parcel with round home with 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, a mixture of fields and woods. Perfect location for a full dry basement and lovely fieldstone hunting camp or recreational get away. Recreational fireplace. Sebec Lake just a short drive. trails close by. Located on a seasonal road. $99,500 $129,900 1315348 – MEDFORD – 115 ACRES – Wooded property on a paved maintained road. All of the acreage is in tree growth expect for 6 acres. Great place to build a house or your get-away cabin. $110,000

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR OVER 100 LAND LISTINGS!

665 ACRES Pittsfield - Custom built 4k sf cedar log home on 665 acres. Outdoor lovers paradise. Hunt, ATV, snowmobile from back door. Land dedicated to wildlife mgt. Harvestable timber. $499,000

11.5 acres of old growth trees with 618 ft. of beautiful lake frontage on Lower Sysladobsis Lake. Nine mile long cold water lake with good fishing. This is part of the West Grand Lake chain of lakes and you can access several other lakes. ATV and snowsled trail runs through the lot with hundreds of miles of trails nearby. Good hunting area. Frontage can be split into 200 ft. minimum lots - keep it all or split and sell two lots; a good investment. Very few camps on this end of the lake. $130,000.

Call Larry (207) 290-1710

SEEKING SKILLED UPHOLSTERER Covers It All Upholstery in Oakland, ME, to make, repair & replace Tops, Covers & Interiors on Vehicles & Boats. Appli-

600 ACRES

LARGE WATERFRONT LOT LAKEVILLE, ME

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. $135,000

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.

Bucksport, Maine ITS trail through property, big buck territory, abuts hundreds of acres of undeveloped and conservation land.

Passadumkeag - 433± acres of room to roam. Hunt, snowmobile, ATV on this contiguous parcel. Good internal road system. Last major harvest 20+ years ago. Light harvests conducted more recently. PRICE REDUCED! $179,000 Dover/Foxcroft - Affordable lot w/ small stream, good access, internal road system & 1,570’ Parsons Landing Road frontage. Recently harvested. Great area for recreating. Lot can be split. $70,000 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

George MacLeod, Broker Cell: 207-944-8771 mainemacleod@gmail.com

www.MaineSportsman.com

74 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman �� 515 Main Street • Presque Isle, ME Chuck Johnston • (207)764-4600 cbjohnston72@hotmail.com MLS #1357479

MLS #1357480

Own (not lease) your waterfront lots in the North Maine Woods. Enjoy the 4+ acres (750 frontage) with two very well maintained traditional log camps on Spider Lake near the Allagash River. Sleep 12-14. Enjoy some of the best fishing and hunting in Maine. Buy them as a package for $395,000 or check them out on mainelistings.com. MLS#1357479 & MLS#1357480

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

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

RANGELEY PLT - Desirable WATER ACCESS is available with this little “cabin in the woods”. 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 built 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 - don’t miss it! $39,300

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

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

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 - Ideally located for 4-season adventures - solid older home offers spacious kitchen with recent addition used for dining area, cozy living room with wood stove, 1-2 bedrooms that sleep a crew. Sited on a nicely wooded 2 acre lot close to Mooselook/Rangeley Lake boat ramps, snowmobile trails, Oquossoc amenities. $129,000

Lincoln - Modern 3 bedroom home has large yard with lake frontage. Many recent upgrades: new heating system, vinyl siding, and upstairs bathroom. Cold water fishing on Big Narrows. $259,000

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, a knotty pine interior, cathedral ceiling and a huge insulated and heated garage. End of road location for privacy. Boating, swimming, fishing, and snowmobiling right on Junior Lake. $269,000

Lowell - Large lakefront lot, driveway installed and shore land area ready for your picnic table. Exposed beach in low water on Eskutassis Pond. Opportunities like this don’t come around often so you need to come look today. $85,000 Chester - Bass Fishing. Boating. Blue sky. Clean air. Your own little slice of “heaven”. Build a home, or camp or simply park your camper here on Medunkeunk Stream. The driveway is already in place. $27,900 Howland - Large acreage with lots of road frontage. Two driveways have been installed so you can decide where you want to build. Atv and snowsled trails. Lots of investment potential here right on Route 116. Take a look today! $19,500 Carroll Plt - With a small, meandering brook cutting through the lot and potential views- the owners have priced this large parcel to move. They are even offering OWNER FINANCING to qualified buyers. A wonderful spot for ATVing and many other forms of outdoor activities on Vinegar Hill. $17,900

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

RANGELEY AREA PROPERTIES

R E A L

#557 – Enjoy 20 private acres in Avon with a well maintained trailer. On ATV and sled trail, hunt and fish. Generator ready, bathroom, new roof, very clean interior. $55,000

E S T A T E

#307 – Upper Dam, fly fish, hunt. Access to Mooselookmeguntic and Richardson Lake. Annual Lease $1525. Cabin $145,000

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

#556 – A furnished hunting/fishing camp near Rangeley Village. Turn-key, large garage, brook frontage. $95,000

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

#405 – Aziscohos Lake. Large home, level entry to the lake. Gas appliances, generator, Fisher wood stove. $350,000 LOOKING FOR ACREAGE, CALL US OR CHECK OUR WEBSITE – 10 TO 2,000 ACRES AVAILABLE!

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��The Maine Sportsman • November 2018 • 75

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76 • November 2018 • The Maine Sportsman ��

2018 SILVERADO 1500

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