Sportsman The Maine
October 2020 • $4.99
THE
MOOSE ISSUE Pages 22, 24, 37, 39, 77
Call in Fall Turkeys Pages 41, 45, 65, 73
Prepare for Whiteteail Season Pages 30, 32, 73, 76
Christi’s Cast ‘n’ Blast Weekend Page 50
Winter Riding Preview Page 42
2 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————
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4 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————
Editorial
Crossbows – An Old Hunting Tool Whose Time Has Come Again? Having bowhunted for years, we are now fans of crossbows. We have started by hunting fall wild turkeys, and we’ll consider Expanded Archery (for those of us 65 and over) or, after that, the regular archery season. To paraphrase a former President of the United States, “Ich bin ein armbrust benutzer” – I am a crossbower! Crossbows require a special permit, and also require special discretion and care. That’s because unlike a recurve or compound bow, they can be “cocked” and be ready to fire. And they are very powerful. The limbs are much stiffer than on a bow, since they must generate power through a much shorter power stroke. We’ve taken the required crossbow course (much of which is a refresher course from our archery training – tree stand safety, shot placement and the importance of landowner relations), passed the written exam and obtained our permit. We’ve heard muted complaints from our friends with recurves and compound bow that crossbows are, well, different. We resist pointing out that modern compound bows are quite “different” from those that Robin Hood and his merry men carried through Sherwood Forest. Instead, we are coming around to the idea of focusing on the similarities between crossbow hunting and bowhunting, rather than the differences. In both sports, you are in camo and trying to get close for a good shot. In both sports, shot placement is ultra-important, since an arrow or bolt does not have the shocking power of a bullet from a rifle. • In both sports, you can hunt in suburban areas without alarming abutting homeowners with the sound of gunshots. • In both sports, you are out hunting, and helping reduce turkey or whitetail populations in areas that can absorb the reductions in wildlife numbers. • In both sports, you are supporting Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife by purchasing licenses and permits, and you are also supporting Maine’s outdoor equipment merchants with purchases of gear, blinds, bolts and meat packaging services. • •
DIF&W understands this opportunity to enlist new hunters, and recently provided “structured shooting time with supervision” to introduce crossbows to the public at the Summerhaven range in North Augusta, including loaning crossbows to those who did not own one. Each successive year has seen a gradual expansion of permitted crossbow use, and after years of initial skepticism, we are now fully on board. Under current law, unless you have a special disability permit or are 65 or older, you can’t use a crossbow during the expanded archery season, and crossbows can’t be used in certain areas that permit bowhunting – such as Southport, the Wells Sanctuary, and Cranberry Isles. Open up these areas, we say – if reduction of the deer population is the goal, and if bows are permitted, there’s no reason for prohibiting crossbows. More hunters – whatever the tool used – means more support for access to land, better availability of retail supplies, and more allies in Augusta when anti-hunters threaten our state’s hunting heritage.
¶
On the Cover: “Bull Moose” was captured by Maine wildlife photographer Mark Picard. For more of Picard’s stunning images, which have appeared worldwide in books, calendars and magazines, visit www.MarkPicard.com. www.MaineSportsman.com
New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication
Sportsman The Maine
ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 577 • www.mainesportsman.com PUBLISHER: Jon Lund MANAGING EDITOR: Will Lund will@mainesportsman.com OFFICE MANAGER: Linda Lapointe linda@mainesportsman.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kristina Roderick kristina@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nancy Carpenter nancy@mainesportsman.com DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR: Carol Lund carol@mainesportsman.com Second class postage paid at Scarborough, ME 04074 and additional entry offices. All editorial inquiries should be emailed to will@mainesportsman.com Phone: 207-622-4242 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.................................................... 13 A Ranger on the Allagash by Tim Caverly.................. 63 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves..................... 45 Big Game Hunting by Joe Saltalamachia.................. 32 Big Woods World by Matt Breton................................. 29 Central Maine by Steve Vose....................................... 71 Downeast by Jim Lemieux............................................ 66 Editorial.............................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by William Clunie...................... 51 Jackman Region by William Sheldon.......................... 58 Jottings by Jon Lund........................................................ 8 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon......................... 56 Kate’s Wild Kitchen by Kate Krukowski Gooding....... 39 Letters to the Editor.......................................................... 5 Maine Sportswoman by Christi Holmes....................... 50 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour................................... 18 Maine Wildlife Quiz by Steve Vose............................... 20 Midcoast by Tom Seymour........................................... 67 Moosehead Region by Tom Seymour......................... 60 My Maine by George Smith.......................................... 20 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson.............................. 37 Nolan’s Outdoor World by Nolan Raymond............... 62 Outdoors & Other Mistakes by Al Diamon.................. 81 Outdoor Chronicle by Ed Pineau................................. 53 Quotable Sportsman by George Smith....................... 20 Rangeley Region by William Clunie............................. 77 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers............................. 83 Saltwater Fishing by Barry Gibson................................ 68 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth..................... 73 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews.................. 24 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard............................. 35 Smilin’ Sportsman: Adults & Kids by Will Lund.............. 83 Southern Maine by Val Marquez................................. 76 Sporting Environment by David Van Wie.................... 64 Sportsman’s Journal by King Montgomery................. 10 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller.................. 74 Trading Post (Classifieds)............................................... 84 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour....................................... 48 True Tales from the Warden Service by Ret. Lt. Doug Tibbetts.54 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie.............. 79 Young Maine Sportsman by Luke Giampetruzzi........ 65
GUEST COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS
ATVing in Maine by Steve Carpenteri......................... 26 Deer Hunting in Maine by Steve Carpenteri............... 30 Earl Taylor’s Deer Rifle by Randy Randall.................... 49 Moose Hunting in Maine by William Clunie................. 22 Snowmobiling in Maine by Steve Carpenteri............. 42 Turkey Hunting in Maine by Blaine Cardilli.................. 41
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Letters To The Editor
Getting Hosed Just to Get Out Onto the Water
To the Editor: I have been vacationing in Maine for 35 years. My family and I look forward to returning each year to the Belgrade Lakes area. We are part of the direct-spending tourists who contribute $4.7 billion to Maine’s economy, and $464 million to its tax structure. Each year I purchase a Maine one-week fishing license. I pay more for that license than in any other state in which I fish. To compound the situation, Maine instituted a “Lake and River Protection Sticker,” which cost twice as much for nonresidents as for residents, under the theory that we, as non-natives, were bringing invasive species into the state. This year, to add insult to injury, DIF&W raised the “milfoil sticker” to $35, a 75% increase, while only raising it $5 for residents. Further, it’s projected to increase to $45 in 2022. This means I’ll have to pay $80 before I even begin to fish. To place this economic burden on the backs of nonresidents is unreasonable. Lake and River Protection Stickers should cost the same for residents and nonresidents, since Maine residents are as likely, or even more likely, to move from one lake to another across the state in pursuit of fish. I have asked the Governor and the Legislature to reconsider the
unfair burden they have placed on nonresidents. Joseph Hummel – Sewell, N.J. —
Post Office “Not Gentle” on Mail To the Editor: Thank you for mailing a second copy of the August issue, which never made it through the US Mail system originally. You sent my replacement issue in a plastic envelope, and it arrived in perfect condition. That is not usually the case, as the front page is often torn. USPS is not the gentlest delivery system out there. I for one would happily pay an extra $12 per year for a subscription if envelopes were used, especially for long distance mailings. Or perhaps you could utilize the round adhesive stickers along the edges that some catalogs use to keep the covers tight to the body of the magazine/ catalog. In any case, thanks so much for your quick response to my request for a replacement copy of your magazine. I’ll really miss it when it doesn’t show up! HB Bartz – Plano, TX —
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Keep Politics Out of The Maine Sportsman To the Editor: I have been recreating in the great State of Maine for over 30 years – hunting big game and small, freshwater and saltwater fishing, snowmobiling, hiking, and ATV riding. I have subscribed to The Maine Sportsman for over 20 years, and I enjoy the news, tips and information all your writers present. Until now.
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Due to the current pandemic situation, Giguere Auction Co. POSTPONED our Spring Sporting Auction to an, as yet, undetermined date. Rest assured, this auction has NOT been canceled – only postponed! The ultimate date will depend on the progression of the pandemic and the relaxing of the current social distancing rules and travel restrictions. Please check our listing on www.auctionzip.com for lots of photos and info on what you will find at this auction. You will find it listed currently with a date of 5/30/2020. The actual new date will be announced on www.auctionzip.com and on our website – www.giguereauction. com – as soon as we can confidently set a final, new Date. WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING QUALITY ITEMS FOR THIS AUCTION EVENT – PLEASE CALL US! We are looking forward to seeing all of our friends – Old & New – again. Until that day arrives – Please Stay Safe and Be Well – See you all on the other side! AUCTIONEER GERARD P. GIGUERE (ME. LIC. 00884) Office (207) 892-3800 or Cell (207) 233-8724 • auctions@fairpoint.net
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6 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————
Letters to the Editor (Continued from page 5)
In my view, there’s no place for politics in The Maine Sportsman (see Sporting Environment, “New Federal Policies Will Harm Maine’s Environment,” September 2020 issue). I would think most of your readers would agree with me. Please dump the anti-Trumper, David Van Wie, and the “Sporting Environment.” Allen Austin – Dover, NH
Response from the columnist: Thank you for writing, Allen. The Maine Sportsman has a long history of expressing positions on laws, regulations and policies that affect the sporting community, mostly in Augusta but sometimes at the federal level. For nearly 50 years, this magazine has used its pages to hold those in our government accountable for the consequences of their actions. For five years, my “Sporting Environment” column has explored environmental issues that affect the Maine outdoor sports community, including laws and regulations relating to such topics as water quality and toxic chemicals. My September column reported on a number of recent changes in federal regulations that I believe will have a negative impact on Maine’s environment and sporting experience.
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The article highlighted statements by former federal EPA directors from both political parties, and used comments from Maine’s Commissioner of Environmental Protection. Because politics affects our laws and rules, I continue to believe that how we vote really matters to Maine’s environment and the future of our traditional outdoor activities. Thank you for your many years of loyal readership. David Van Wie “Sporting Environment” Columnist —
Likes His L.L. Bean Cresta Hikers – in Different Sizes for Each Foot? To the Editor: I really identified with Bill Sheldon’s piece on the importance of good fitting boots (see “Boots Made for Walking – Bean’s Cresta,” Katahdin Country, July 2020). I’ve had the same experience as Bill with the Bean Crestas, but I’ve taken up a notch. My feet are narrow too, like his, but one is a half size bigger than the other. Also, after a couple of days on the trail, my feet seem to lengthen a bit, such that my toes are rubbing. What to do? With help from the Freeport retailer, I have a pair of size 11, a left shoe size 11.5 and a right shoe 10.5. Nuts? No. For a short hike I use the left 11 and the right 10.5. For a multiday excursion, the go-to pair is the left 11.5 and the right 11. Problem solved.
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(Continued on next page)
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I’ve owned this setup for 20 years, and the shoes are still in good shape, partly since the usage is spread out over two pairs, and maybe because I don’t get out hiking enough! Rob Mann Colchester, VT —
“The One That Didn’t Get Away”
Thanks for Miller’s Column To the Editor: We here at the New England Forestry Foundation wish to thank “Trapping the Silent Places” columnist David Miller for his excellent recent write-up highlighting our activities in Western Maine (see “New Project Helps Landowners Improve Furbearer Habitat,” July 2020 issue). We appreciate his publicizing our willingness to work with private landowners to use forestry practices to improve wildlife habitat for martin and other furbearers, as well as for grouse, woodcock and other wildlife. Christine Parrish, Western Maine Project Coordinator New England Forestry Foundation Farmington, ME —
Enjoys Tim Caverly’s Articles To the Editor: My husband subscribes to The Maine Sportsman magazine. I read each issue, too. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading Tim Caverly’s articles. I look for them immediately, and I love to hear about the Allagash Waterway. Tim is a marvelous storyteller. In fact, I have all his books. Please continue to publish his stories. Virginia R. Nason – Island Falls, ME
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Young angler Eli Sheehan of Gray earned his “One the Didn’t Get Away” patch from The Maine Sportsman for this 5.3-pound, 24-1/2-inch splake, caught in Trickey Pond, Naples on July 12, 2020. The size and weight were certified by Jim Pellerin, DIF&W fisheries biologist.
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8 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman ——————————————————————————————————————————————
Your Outboard, or Your Life? Howard Burgess was one of the Rangeley Lake salmon fishing regulars. Although he had a salaried job, he was well known among his friends for being modest in his spending. Despite this strong frugal habit, Howard owned a fine trolling outboard, a Johnson single cylinder engine of about two horsepower that would run for hours with a steady tick-tick-tick and never skip a beat. In those days of sometimes balky outboards, Howard was justly proud of his little Johnson outboard. For the Rangeley landlocked salmon angling insiders, the magic time came one
Lose an outboard off the stern of your boat? It happens more frequently than you might think. First, mark the spot as best you can. Then return with a grapple hook, and get to work. And next time, fasten it to the stern with a safety line! week after ice-out. The smelt were running in the brooks, and the salmon, hungry after a winter under the ice, were after the smelt in a big way. Even with the lake being barely above freezing temperature, a well-presented sewed bait was deadly. Some of the fancy anglers speeded along dragging streamer flies, but the serious fishermen trolled their sewed baits slowly, so you could see the bait rolling over like
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a wounded smelt. We enjoyed fine, fast fishing, especially in the half-hour around sunrise. Loose Clamps Burgess was running his motor as usual one morning, but he had apparently forgotten to double-check the clamps holding the motor to the transom. When he pushed the steering handle to make a right turn, the propeller climbed out of the water and the motor plopped into the lake. The good news was that Burgess was still clinging onto the steering handle as the motor sank. The bad news was that the weight of the motor sent Howard off-balance, and he also went into the cold Rangeley water. The good news was that his other hand gripped the gunnel of the boat. His partner, alarmed at this turn of events, rushed to the stern and asked how he could help. “Never mind me,” yelled Howard. “Get the motor,“ raising the hand that still held onto the steering handle. His partner was able first to bring aboard the outboard, and then assist Burgess in climbing
aboard. Fortunately both Howard and his Johnson outboard survived their dunking and went on to troll together again, providing material for fishing camp humor for coming years. Retrieving Fishing Rods from the Depths In his “My Maine” column in this magazine several months ago, George Smith reminded us that even fishing rods sometimes unexpectedly go into the drink. He told the story of a young friend who made such a mighty cast that the youngster let go of the rod, which flew into the water. George didn’t detail specifically what efforts were made to recover the rod, but if a line is out from a cast or trolling, a prompt dragging effort with sinker and treble hook or even a sinking lure with a treble hook is well worth trying. Dragging at a right angle to the line will likely provide good results. Hook the line and you should have the rod, assuming the bitter end of the line is properly secured to the reel.
Grapple Hooks An effective light duty grapple can be easily fabricated using coat hanger wire. See the photo accompanying this column of an improvised coat hanger grapple, as well as a WWII military surplus grapple which was probably used to set off land mines. Also shown is a grapple hook made by a local welder. Many of us have a poor sense of location on a lake, and reconstructing the location of a lost object after the fact is chancy. If a prompt recovery effort is not possible, then it’s important to mark the location with some sort of a buoy or float, or even a GPS location, if that is available. A bobber, line and sinker will work. A PFD tied to a rock or anchor will also serve. We learned that a neighbor had lost an outboard on Cobbossee Lake when we saw a scuba diver searching for the sunken motor. The search was unsuccessful. Several years later, we were on an early skating expedition, and a friend happened to see the missing outboard on the bottom in shallow water. It was much closer to shore than where the scuba diver had been searching. We returned with a grapple hook, cut a hole in the ice, and hoisted the missing (Continued on next page)
��������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 9
On the left, a military surplus grapple. On the right, a lightweight hook fabricated from a coat hanger which is nonetheless effective at retrieving small- to medium-size objects underwater. (Continued from page 8)
motor. Years ago, a family member on a duck hunting expedition lost a small outboard near shore on Cobbossee. We had an approximate idea of the motor’s location, so we dragged a grapple hook attached to about twenty five feet of light stainless steel cable, making curving passes over the area, until the hook snagged the
lost outboard and we hauled it to the surface. Surface Holds Clue to Location Older two-cycle outboards with a tank mounted on the engine offer a little-known advantage if they are lost, as a friend pointed out to me. Fuel will slowly leak out of the air vent hole. The fuel, being lighter than water, will slowly rise to the surface. On a dead
Welder-made grapple.
calm day where there is no current, each drop creates a miniature oil slick that can be spotted by a careful observer, giving away the location of the missing motor. A carefully deployed grapple hook or friendly scuba diver can then make the recovery. Prevention Strategies How to avoid the submerged outboard motor problem? Many
of the larger outboards can be bolted on so that they will never detach accidentally. With smaller outboards, first defense is a short piece of nylon line securely tied to the motor and the stern of the boat. If there is no attachment point in the stern, tie to a thwart or attach a stainless eye bolt where it will not interfere with any operation. Even a makeshift safety line is better
than none. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
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10 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Scientific Anglers: The Company That Banished Silk! From its beginnings in 1945, Scientific Anglers (SA) has been the go-to company for the very best in fly lines, and consistently has led the field in the modernization and innovation of this critical piece of gear in the fly angler’s arsenal. Fly line always has been the most important piece of equipment to get the “bait” to the fish, and once upon a time it mostly was made of horsehair and then silk. Good grief! Horsehair is the oldest known fishing line and goes back well over a thousand years. The hair was twisted tightly to form a line, and the number of strands determined how strong the line would be. Numbers of hairs were varied and tied together to form a tapered line down to a leader. Some fly fishing and Tenkara specialists still use horsehair lines, and there are companies that fabricate and sell the product. History though, progressed from a horse’s tail to a worm’s spittle for fly lines. Silk lines have been around since the Fins & Furs Adventures
TM
Leon Martuch, one of the founders of Scientific Anglers, became the president and was the face of the company as well as fine innovator of modern fly lines. He was also an avid fly angler. All photos courtesy of Scientific Angler (SA) unless otherwise indicated.
1800s and persisted until the middle part of the 20th century. Oil and varnish were applied to braided silk, allowing the line to float on the water
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instead of slowly sinking. After each outing, the lines had to be dried thoroughly and re-oiled to ensure they didn’t rot in storage. There still are those retro-types that use silk fly today, and yes, there are companies that make and sell silk lines, replete with the appropriate oil to keep them afloat and stable. Let More Modern Times Roll In 1945, a gentle-
man named Leon P. Martuch, who later became company president, and two others, Clare Harris and Paul Rottiers, formed a company that forever would change the way we fly fish. These three gentlemen, fly fisherman all, hatched Scientific Anglers (SA) in 1945 in Midland, Michigan. By 1952, the company produced the first modern plastic-coated tapered fly line that signaled the end of the cumber-
some silk lines that frustrated so many for so long. That seminal line product was the beginning of a long life of fly-fishing lines designed to fit just about any fly angling need around the world in all kinds of waters and for many different gamefishes. Martuch and SA introduced the famous Air Cel, which is considered the first modern floating fly line. I remember this line when I was a kid of about 10-years old, and messing around some with fly angling. By high school I was a regular user of this product, and while trying other company’s lines now-and-then, formed a devotion to SA that persists to this day. My late friend Lefty Kreh initially was a SA customer, and by the 1960s was very involved as a consultant for the company. More on that a bit later. Not resting on laurels, SA continued moving forward with new technological advances. In 1959 they brought out Air Cel Supreme, using microballoons, that went on to revolutionize the way that fly lines float. Pockets of air integrated into the line’s structure helped keep it on the water, not under it. Lines that don’t float were also on SA’s menu, and in 1960, the first modern sinking fly line, Wet Cel, hit the market. (Continued on next page)
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 11
From laboratory to casting pool. SA’s Josh Jenkins, research and design manager, tests the latest fly line from the lab to see if it’s worthy of entering the marketplace. (Continued from page 10)
What’s My Line? By now in the world of fly fishing, more folks were practicing the sport, and not just for trout on streams and rivers. Warmwater and saltwater fly angling venues were seeing a lot more action, and specialty lines were needed to feed the beasts. In 1963, the year after I graduated from high school, the company’s Bass Bug and Saltwater Tapers were brought out, and our angling world entered yet newer dimensions. No longer did I have to fight to cast large bulky poppers; the new tapers made it so much easier and more accurate. The list of innovative lines continued in 1966 with the first shooting lines, and in 1969 SA introduced
Leon Martuch checks various fly line coatings in the lab at Scientific Anglers back in the days of black and white photos.
the first balanced rod, reel and line system, including the marvelous System reels that become one of the most popular reels in fly fishing’s storied history. In 1973, the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, better known as 3M, acquired Scientific Anglers, and SA flourished as the premier maker of quality fly lines, leaders of many kinds, and tippet materials. By 1980, SA was using a revolutionary idea to make sinking lines more efficient: adding powdered tungsten, a heavy metal, in place of leadbased lines. The tungsten lines sink faster, and are safer for human use and for the environment. In these lines, the sinking part of the fly line has
A young angler watches as Martuch fights a nice tarpon that came to the fly, probably in the 1960s or early 1970s. Lefty was a long-time consultant on SA products, and was a huge fan of SA fly lines.
tungsten in the coating. By varying the amount of tungsten, desired sink rates can be made, allowing the angler to know the distance in the water column the line sinks per second. (I’ll be doing a cast-and-blast for salmon/brookies and grouse/woodcock at Grant’s Camps in the Rangeleys in October, and my reels will be spooled with SA Sonar Stillwater lines for Kennebago Lake.) The line-up of SA lines I know the best – because I’ve used more of it over the years than any other – is the vaunted Mastery Series, from the late 1980s. And it’s the lines designed for freshwater black basses, mostly largemouth and smallmouth, that have served me so well for decades. Factor in specialty lines
Lefty with a nice flycaught fish, and you can bet it’s Scientific Anglers fly line on the fly reel.
Martuch hooks a spunky trout on a modern fly line first developed by SA in the early 1950s. No more silk and no more fly line problems.
for the saltwater flats, the open ocean, pike and musky, trout and nymphing – it’s all on www.scientificanglers. com/product-category/ fly-lines. Also in the late 1980s, SA introduces silicone – synthetic polymers that typically are colorless oils – as a “slickness” agent in fly lines. This was a first, and was immediately copied by other line manufacturers. It’s still in use today. Line slickness became the rage, and in 1998 SA brought out AST, Advanced Shooting
Technology, and patented the process. It remains the industry standard in slickness and durability. 21st Century The 2000s have seen some major happenings in fly line technology and a change of ownership for SA. In 2001 gel-spun fly line backing was introduced. In 2007, the first textured fly line, the Sharkskin, hit the market. This line configuration reduced friction, causing it to float higher, cast farther, and last longer (Continued on next page)
Lefty Kreh on a Pennsylvania spring creek in the early 2000s. He didn’t fish much for trout, particularly in later years, but he always used SA fly lines. Photo by King Montgomery www.MaineSportsman.com
12 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Sportsman’s Journal (Continued from page 11)
than any line ever made. Orvis, another old and high-quality company, purchased SA from 3M in 2013, and a cosmetic rebranding took place. SA products now look different, but are still “Made in America” and are the best products available to fly fishers around the world. The Sharkwave debuted in 2014. It’s a triple-textured and triple-colored fly line. The tip part of the line has diamond-shaped embossing à la Sharkskin line, while the heads and running lines have the golf-ball dimpling of the Mastery texture. A smooth section is found where the head meets the running line. Lefty and Bruce Bruce Richards, well-known fly angler and wicked good fly caster/instructor, worked for Scientific Anglers/3M from
1976 until his retirement in 2009. His jobs included product development and improvement that took him from the lab to the water, and he held just about every management position in the storied company. He still helps out SA when he’s needed, but now lives in the Madison River Valley in the Ennis, Montana area. (See his impressive bio at https://tforods.com/ bruce-richards.) He was a good friend of Lefty Kreh. I recently asked Bruce about his and SA’s relationship with Lefty, and here’s what he wrote: “I started with SA in 1976, and was very fortunate to get that job as I had no experience in the fly fishing industry, or much else, really.... “The very first phone call I received on my first day on the job was from Lefty Kreh. He was on our
Pro Staff at the time, and he thought it would be nice if he introduced himself (as if he needed that... ) and welcomed the new guy to SA and the fly-fishing industry! “That call started a long, close friendship. One of my first responsibilities at SA was to manage the Pro Staff, and that meant traveling and fishing with them on occasion. Time spent with Lefty on the road was gold for me. His advice on all things fly casting/ fishing was invaluable, but his advice on life in general was more important. There is a reason Lefty was universally loved! “Later I spent most of my time developing new fly lines for SA, Lefty was almost always the first person to get field test samples, and his input was always right on the money. We all miss Lefty – I’m just one of many people fortunate enough to know him well and call him a friend.”
On our last fishing trip in Maine in September 2016, Lefty Kreh still could cast the entire fly line, which most certainly was from SA. That long a cast wasn’t needed here on the Androscoggin River fishing with Matt Bickford, who is hiding under the hat! Photo by King Montgomery
It was outdoorsmen like Leon Martuch, Bruce Richards, and a host of others that contributed to making Scientific Anglers the industry’s foremost manufacturer of fly lines, leaders, tippets, and other products essential to fly fishing. It is the fly line I went to back in the proverbial “day,” and the fly line I use now for all types of angling situations. Today, an old friend I’ve never met in person is president of SA and one of the reasons the company continues to do so
well. Brad Befus was in marketing at the Ross Reel Company in Montrose, Colorado in the 1990s. I was the first Pro Staff member of Ross, and after Brad came aboard, he took over the program as part of his duties. We’ve remained in contact ever since then. SA continues to have top-notch people to maintain and increase the momentum of this fine company. You won’t find better fly lines and other products anywhere.
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Mimicking the original box, this offering by Scientific Anglers helps celebrate their 70th anniversary. The original Ultra came out in the mid-1950s.
Scientific Anglers Pro Cassie Sperling is one of a number of Pro Staff members who test lines and other products in real-world situations and report back to the company. A North Carolinian who has fished since she was a child, Cassie fishes for trout in mountain streams or bass in lakes not far from her home. www.MaineSportsman.com
Vintage Air Cel and Wet Cel lines from the 1950s and 1960s, respectively, still can be found on the internet.
Bruce Richards, a very well-known fly angler and wicked good fly caster/instructor, worked for Scientific Anglers/3M from 1976 until retirement in 2009.
Almanac
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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
Today, in the age of social media, when a proprietor, service provider or seller screws up, the “customer” can instantly bring his dissatisfaction to the attention of thousands the world over.
And that is a pity – no matter what the vendor has done or their level of responsibility, their business reputation often becomes besmirched. It’s a Goldarn shame.
The following story was first told in a Philadelphia paper, then reprinted in the August 6, 1896 edition of the Rangeley Lakes.
A Philadelphia Man Tells His Experience with Rangeley Guide:
How a Straight Course in the Woods, Proved to be a Circle “Yes, I have knocked around quite a bit,” remarked a visitor at the Lawrence Hotel yesterday to the editor. He desired we use only his initials when he had learned we would like to publish his story, so we introduce our interesting informant as Mr. A. B. F. of Philadelphia. We give the words of Mr. F. as nearly as we can remember what we could not write out at the time: “It was last July, I left home for the celebrated Rangeley region in Maine. The last fifty miles is done on a narrow-gauge railroad, the rails only 24 inches apart. It is wonderful how fast those little trains run, and they fly round a curve and go back onto the reverse so quickly, it will nearly snap your head off. “We reached Rangeley at night and you find a mighty good hotel (Rangeley Lake House) there, and lots of guides hanging about. They are waiting for a job, and as I heard very little complaint, I judge they are all good fellows. “I fell into the hands of Natt Carr. I told him I wanted to see a moose or deer in their wild state, and Natt was highly elated when he learned my desire. ‘I’ll take you to a place where you can see lots of ’em this very night,’ said he. “It was closed season for large game, but Natt took along a rifle as ‘protection from bears and other wild varmints,’ and loaded with a knapsack containing blankets and provision, and with an axe hanging to his belt he presented the appearance of one of the old frontiersmen.
“Mr. A.B.F” and his hard-fought, 8-pound landlocked salmon.
“We crossed the lake and struck into the woods for a three-mile walk. Three miles in the woods means ‘three times three and a tiger’ if the distance was measured, and this did not fall short; rather it overran, as the sequel will show. “During the first hour my guide imparted to me many of the secrets of woodcraft – how to keep your course when the sun was hidden, as it was at the time, how to follow the trail of moose or deer and tell by signs how far ahead of you they were, and many other tricks known only to guides. He told of the habits of moose, but when he pointed out a round wood
tree, barked up twenty feet from the ground and said a moose did it, I felt that I was getting natural history in advance of the reality. However, I took it all in, and we journeyed on. “There was no trail nor blazed trees to guide us, but Natt said there was no danger of missing the pond, and we kept on. I noticed that he was looking about him more than usual and mistrusted he thought we were off the right course, and as it began to get nearer night fall, he admitted that we had probably gone past the pond. He proposed to climb a tree, to take an observation, and selected a spruce, having an abundance of dead limbs, up which he started. “He didn’t go very far up before a limb gave way and he started back suddenly. Visions of a dead guide, and I, a stranger in an unknown forest, flashed through my brain, but quick as were the thoughts a stout limb had caught the stout ‘knickerbockers’ and Natt was suspended with legs and arms gesticulating wildly. “When I found he was uninjured and only a few feet from the ground I could not resist the temptation to have a little sport. I suggested that he take his knife and cut off the limb as the quickest way down; that he would be safe there from wild beasts, and that I could pass his food up to him on a pole as they feed bears in a pit. But I cut a small tree and stood it up so he could ‘unhitch,’ and he climbed down. “Undaunted, he tried it again and saw the pond but a short distance away, but it was dark before we (continued on next page)
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14 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Almanac
(Continued from page 14)
reached it. Natt did not know what part of the shore we had struck, so we did not know which way to look for a boat, but we went back in the woods and had our supper where the light of the fire would not show on the water. “Natt built a little shelter of boughs and a bed of the same and I turned in to await the result of his search for a boat. He found one and for several hours we paddled silently along the shore listening for a deer. ‘Not a sound was heard’ and we gave it up, returned to our camping ground and were soon asleep. “Next morning when I awoke, I found Natt had breakfast nearly ready; the coffee had just begun to boil, and the bacon was spread on birch bark plates. When he saw I was awake, he arose from his culinary duties and approached. The expression on his face was such that I will never forget it. For a moment he looked in silence, then he asked this conundrum: ‘What is the difference between me and a confounded ignoramus?’ I said I give up. ‘Well,’ said he, ‘there ain’t any difference; come out here.’ “We walked to the shore of the pond. It was a pond no longer, but a lake. Right across, a mile away, was the hotel we left the night before, and the boat we had been jacking with was the one we had rowed over in!”
Maine Fisheries Regulators to Study White Sharks
The project will involve the placement of 20 passive acoustic receivers in near-shore Maine waters that will capture data from tags placed on great white sharks in research conducted by DMF since 2010. Currently there are approximately 210 great white sharks that have been tagged in the on-going research work. The work will be supported by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, a non-profit that works to advance white shark research, education and public safety. AWSC will fund the purchase of twelve receivers. Data will be uploaded to an app called “Sharktivity.” More information can be found at www.atlanticwhiteshark.org/sharktivity-app —
Test Ticks, Don’t Toss Them! by Paula Jackson Jones “What do you mean ‘The doctor tossed your tick in the trash’?” I asked the caller on the phone, after they reached out to me for help connecting them with a lyme-literate provider. “Well, the doctor said it was a dog tick and so I had nothing to worry about,” came the response. At times like these, I take a deep breath and choose my words carefully. I don’t want to add to this patient’s concern, but with so much good/bad, old/new information floating around, you want to know that what you’re being told is accurate information. It infuriates me when patients tell me that their doctor threw away the tick they removed or brought in.
Submitted by Barry Gibson The Maine Department of Marine Resources will join the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries in a research effort that will provide information about the presence of great white sharks in Maine’s inshore waters.
LISTEN TO ME VERY CAREFULLY – Doctors cannot test ticks in their medical offices. They do not have the proper equipment to do so, and based on the growing epidemic of new cases of patients being misdiagnosed, many apparently lack the knowledge to accurately diagnose and treat. This is why infectwww.MaineSportsman.com
ed patients are chronically ill far longer than they have to be. Here are some common examples that I deal with: “Bob” is bitten by a tick over the weekend and calls his doctor Monday morning. He goes in with his tick in a ziplock bag. The doctor states it is just a dog tick but not to worry because they are not known to carry Lyme, and throws tick in the trash. Since Bob has no symptoms, he is sent home. Weeks later, Bob calls back with a list of symptoms, and thus begins his long and expensive journey of tests and treatments that sometimes works, sometimes not. “Joe” is bitten by a tick over the weekend and calls his doctor Monday morning. He goes in with his tick in a ziplock bag. The doctor states it is a dog tick and recommends sending it to UMaine Tick Lab in Orono for testing. The doctor explains that dog ticks carry other debilitating tick-borne diseases. Since Joe has no symptoms, he is sent home with tick testing instructions. Four days later, Joe gets an email with his tick testing results – the tick was negative for pathogens. (ALTERNATE ENDING) Since Joe has no symptoms, he is sent home with tick testing instructions and products to boost his immune system while he waits for results of tick testing. Four days later, Joe gets an email with his tick testing results – the tick was positive for Ehrlichiosis and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. He calls his doctor with results and when asked if he is symptomatic, to which he responds NO, is told that he’s “probably fine.” WAIT! WHAT?? He’s “probably fine”? Weeks even months later, my phone rings and it is Bob, calling for help because he has remained symptomatic even though his doctor told him he was fine. Oh, and Joe is calling in too because he’s nervous about having been exposed to a tick-borne infection and is seeking more information. If this sounds like you or someone you know, contact us info@mldse.org or visit our website www.mldse.org for more information, available support and resources. Paula Jackson Jones is the President of the Midcoast Lyme Disease Support & Education. She served as 2018 Co-Chair of the Access to Care Services and Patient Support subcommittee of the Federal HHS Tick-borne Disease Working Group, the Maine-partner of the national Lyme Disease Association, and member of Maine’s CDC Vector-borne Workgroup. — (Continued on next page)
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Is Climate Change Impacting Maine Weather? by Lou Zambello July 2020 was the warmest on record for Maine, beating out July 2019, which had set the record the year before. According to IFW’s Fisheries and Hatcheries Division Director, Francis Brautigam, writing in the Windham Eagle newspaper, the summer of 2020 marks either the third year out of four, or the fourth year out of five (depending on how you look at the statistics), that the Maine summer has been hot and droughty.
is variable, but the weather the writer has experienced in Windham this year, certainly gives me pause. We had virtually no precipitation from early May to early July. Then in two days we received over seven inches, and then between that flooding event and mid-August, little rain. Much of Maine has been in a drought during this growing season, as our farmers can attest. The summer of 2019 was similar, with little rain falling from July to early October. This weather negatively impacts our coldwater river fisheries, as the trout and salmon have to survive both low and warm water and then navigate major floods in between. Sudden heavy rainfall on dry ground leads to nutrient runoff into watersheds, and coupled with warmer water can lead to algae blooms in lakes and ponds. —
Milfoil Found This Summer in Cobbosseecontee
The surface of many of Maine’s lakes exceeded 75 degrees as early as the third week of June. Maine is not alone. The Great Lakes recorded their highest water temperatures on record this summer. Ocean temperatures from Florida to Maine are much warmer than normal. Climate change science predicts warmer temperatures and more periods of drought, interspersed with major rain events that can cause flooding. One year, or even a decade, does not prove the climate is changing because weather
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection reported in July that variable-leafed water-milfoil was found in Cobbosseecontee Lake. According to a story in the Washington Times, plant surveyors with Friends
$
of the Cobbossee Watershed found the plant in Jug Stream, just downstream from the Annabessacook Lake dam. The stream is not far from the lake’s public boat launch. —
Maine Birding by Nick Lund, Maine Audubon
...But Do They Eat Ticks? The question I receive frequently when talking about the amazing recovery of Wild Turkeys in Maine is: “Great, but do they eat ticks?” The surge in tick populations in Maine is a genuine threat. Lyme-disease carrying Deer Ticks are proliferating. New species like the Lone Star Tick are increasing in the state, and carry their own diseases like tularemia and heartland virus disease. Winter ticks are surviving Maine’s warmer winters and climbing aboard moose in the tens of thousands. Are birds a possible solution? They eat all kinds of bugs, so why don’t they eat all the ticks? Well, many of them do. Many of the heavy, ground-feeding birds in the Galliformes family, including our Wild Tur(Continued on next page)
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16 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Almanac
(Continued from page 15)
keys, munch on ticks. In fact, the Pennsylvania Game Commission found that Wild Turkeys can eat up to 200 ticks a day. A study in the journal Veterinary Parasitology put a flock of another galliform, the domestic chicken, into a tick-infested cattle farm. After just one hour in the field, the chickens consumed up to 331 ticks. Many people employ free-range chickens (or even guineafowl) to control ticks in their backyards.
Canada Jays eat their share of Winter Ticks. Nick Lund photo
Other birds will eat Winter Ticks, sometimes even right off the backs of moose. The Canada Jay of northern Maine, also known as the Gray Jay, Camp Robber, or Whiskey Jack, is a voracious predator of insects, including Winter Ticks full of moose blood. Common Ravens have also been seen scavenging for Winter Ticks from snowy moose beds. Unfortunately, tick-eating birds are not likely to solve our problems. They’re simply outnumbered. Individual moose have been found carrying up to 100,000 Winter Ticks on their bodies, enough to feed a huge chunk of Maine’s Canada Jay population. Even though there are lots of Wild Turkeys in southern Maine these days, there aren’t nearly enough to eat all the ticks, and the turkeys aren’t in the same areas as the ticks – coastal areas and islands. To control our ticks, we’re going to have to control ourselves, by cutting back on our emissions to slow climate change and adapting to our changing world. Let some chickens forage in your backyard, sure, and yell some encouragement to any hungry Wild Turkeys you see, for these birds will help. But they’re already doing their part – now we need to do ours. —
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Got Too Much Money? Impress Your Other Rich Friends with a Gold Fishing Lure A Swedish company has introduced what’s being called “the world’s most exclusive lure.” The target audience are those Swedes who each year become millionaires by winning a popular scratch-ticket lottery in that country.
The Miuras Mouse “Guldkant,” made with real gold.
The lure, known as the “Miuras Mouse,” has been issued in a limited run of 20, and each is individually numbered. It is large, and is described as “pike bait.” The lures are made using – you guessed it – real gold. And how much do they cost? Well, as the saying goes, “If you have to ask, you cannot afford one.”
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 17
October 2020 Sunrise/Sunset 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 16 Fri
RISE 6:37 6:39 6:40 6:41 6:42 6:43 6:44 6:46 6:47 6:48 6:49 6:50 6:52 6:53 6:54 6:55
DATE
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DATE 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 31 Sat
RISE 6:57 6:58 6:59 7:00 7:02 7:03 7:04 7:05 7:07 7:08 7:09 7:10 7:12 7:13 7:14
SET 5:55 5:53 5:52 5:50 5:48 5:47 5:45 5:44 5:42 5:41 5:39 5:38 5:37 5:35 5:34
October 2020 Tides
“Sparky” Wheaton, an accomplished wingshooter, and a handsome ruffed grouse. The Maine season began September 26. Jonathan Wheaton photo
★★★★★
SET 6:22 6:21 6:19 6:17 6:15 6:14 6:12 6:10 6:08 6:07 6:05 6:03 6:01 6:00 5:58 5:56
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
Portland, ME HIGH AM PM 11:44 — 12:00 12:19 12:37 12:52 1:13 1:23 1:48 1:56 2:25 2:31 3:05 3:10 3:50 3:55 4:40 4:47 5:36 5:45 6:35 6:47 7:35 7:49 8:32 8:49 9:24 9:44 10:13 10:36 11:01 11:28 11:49 — 12:20 12:38 1:13 1:28 2:07 2:20 3:03 3:16 4:05 4:18 5:10 5:23 6:15 6:30 7:19 7:36 8:19 8:36 9:11 9:28 9:56 10:14 10:35 10:56 11:12 11:35 11:46 —
LOW AM PM 5:33 5:49 6:08 6:26 6:40 7:01 7:12 7:35 7:45 8:11 8:20 8:50 8:59 9:34 9:43 10:23 10:33 11:17 11:28 — 12:15 12:28 1:15 1:31 2:14 2:32 3:09 3:28 3:59 4:21 4:47 5:13 5:35 6:05 6:24 6:57 7:14 7:49 8:05 8:44 9:00 9:44 10:00 10:47 11:05 11:53 — 12:12 12:59 1:21 2:02 2:24 2:57 3:18 3:44 4:05 4:24 4:47 5:01 5:25 5:35 6:01
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18 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Maine Wildlife:
Ruffed Grouse
by Tom Seymour
One of my bird books describes ruffed grouse as “a common, chicken-sized gamebird of forests and brushy clearings.” That’s all true enough, but such a bare-bone description fails to impart the endearing qualities of this, the king of gamebirds. Ruffed grouse, grouse, partridge, pa’tridge – they’re all the same bird. No matter what we call them, grouse rank as the Number 1 gamebird in Maine. It’s easy to see why, too. Grouse are totally unpredictable, and may flush nearly underfoot, while at other times they may take to the air well out of shotgun range. Grouse have the ability to crawl away from a pointing dog, leaving the dog pointing at thin air after the grouse has long since made it to safety. When flushed, grouse may stay close to the ground or may rise up and level off in a thunderous roar of beating wings. Grouse in trees sometimes allow hunters to pass by and then flush from the tree behind the hapless hunters’ backs. Grouse can manage to put a tree or stand of thick brush between them and the hunter, and finally, a grouse may fly like a jet fighter, twisting and turning as it goes. Grouse can attain a speed of 40 miles per hour, lightning-fast, in my opinion. Grouse Morphs To add to their allure, grouse come in two color phases, or morphs. These are the gray morph, the most common here in Maine, and the red morph, which is quite scarce. While the gray morph is truly a shade of gray, the red morph is more of a rufous brown. In my estimation, the red morph is much more attractive. www.MaineSportsman.com
For me, any grouse taken on the wing represents a great achievement, but shooting a bird in the red morph ranks as a home run. Grouse, no matter the color phase, are subject to population swings. One year can see the woods teeming with birds, and the next year might find hunters pushing brush all day for one or two grouse. Also, grouse broods sometimes fare poorly because of cold, wet springs, the result being fewer birds available in fall. And of these, the majority, by default, are older individuals. And old grouse rank as the most canny, intelligent gamebirds around. These oldsters have seen it all and know every trick needed to escape a shot string. As for boosting hunter egos, taking one of these wily old birds stands as a memorable achievement. I once had a season-long contest with a mature grouse that seemed to have a PhD in hunter-evasion tactics. The bird lived in an alder cover across the road from my house. Every time I entered the cover, the bird managed to outsmart me by waiting for me to pass and then flushing from behind. What’s more, it would put thick brush between me and it as it sped off, making it impossible to see to shoot. Then one day a tropical storm hit Maine. Trees were swirling and even the alders switched back and forth in the high wind. The wind blew so
hard that it was hard to hear, and this gave me an idea. Here was my one chance to outwit the smart old bird across the road. I followed my same route, walking slowly and silently. And then the grouse flushed in front of me, within feet of where I stood. That accomplishment continues as a source of pride today, even though it happened nearly 50 years ago. Gliding Grouse Sometimes, when fortune smiles upon us, a grouse, flushed some distance away by a wild animal, will travel great distances and at the end of its flight, it glides down to the ground. These, as they say in pool, are our “bunnies.” It’s not only live grouse that glide on their descent. Grouse that we hit solidly will sometimes assume an airplane-like posture, both wings straight out and tail straight back. This happens every once in a while, and it can prove frustrating to the hunter without a dog, since such a bird can glide an amazingly far distance from where it was shot. Once, I was walking into a cover behind my house when a grouse thundered out from a fir thicket. I glimpsed the bird momentarily and then lost it as it sailed behind the trees. But this gave me enough time to swing, follow-through and shoot. I was certain that I hit the bird but search as I may, I could not locate it. After hunting the entire piece, which was quite large, I followed a different route back to the starting trail. And there, on the edge of a field a great distance from where it was shot, lay my grouse. It was spread out in that airplane fashion. Even in death, the indomitable grouse used every trick in the book to elude the hunter. Maine’s Favorite Maine has lots of game bird species, among them ducks, geese, woodcock, snipe and rail. But grouse are our hands-down favorite. Whether you pursue these majestic birds solo or behind a bird dog, or even if you just enjoy watching and listening to wildlife, ruffed grouse continue to hold their title of Kings of Maine Game Birds.
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— Maine Women Anglers Find Success —
More and more women each year take up fishing in Maine, and as you can see below, they have shared images of their successes with The Maine Sportsman. Sportsman.
Andrea Guptill of Bristol was fishing with her husband Kim in Aroostook County in May, 2020 when she caught this nice lake trout.
Nine year old Arianna Brooks hooked this trophy trout on January 1st in Worthley Pond, Poland. Her guide was her mom, Kayla Burnham, who is also an accomplished angler.
Emily Cram pulled this northern pike from the waters of Lake Cobbosseecontee. Photo by Emily MacCabe
Bethany Roberts caught this 22 1⁄2inch, 2 lb. 2 oz. salmon fly fishing at Grand Lake Stream using a bead head hare’s ear nymph.
Emily Parker, an accomplished hunter, angler and former contributor to The Maine Sportsman, shows off a colorful emerald tinker mackerel. www.MaineSportsman.com
20 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Family Stories, Including Whitetail Doe Alarmed at Baby’s Cries When my granddaughter Ada Claire Smith was 3 months old (she’s now a grown-up 6 year old!), she was wailing away on my shoulder, so I stepped out onto the second-story deck of our son Josh and daughter-in-law Kelly’s Bridgewater, Massachusetts home, thinking the change of scenery might quiet her. Unfortunately, it did not. As she continued to screech, I was startled when a doe deer burst out of the bushes from the woods in back of the house, a look of alarm on her face, and dashed to the stairs leading up to the deck. She looked up at us and snorted. I thought she was going to come right up the stairs, and I’d started to back up toward the door into the house when she turned and leapt back toward the woods. But the deer stayed on the lawn, darting all over the place, stopping suddenly here and there, pawing up the ground, looking up at us, and snorting. Finally, she ran back into the woods, and I took a deep breath. Apparently, the doe took Ada’s cries to be those of a fawn in distress. That’s the only explanation I could come up with. Perhaps during those years when I was hunting deer, I should have tried using a wailing baby call from www.MaineSportsman.com
My dad was a real Mainer. As a kid, I loved going with Dad to the dump empty, and coming home with a full load of stuff. I remember asking him once why he had 15 hammers, because I only had eight!
Baby Ada continued crying, and the doe kept dashing back and forth across the lawn.
my deer stand! Or maybe I should have just taken a 3-monthold baby with me! Now, years later, I love it that 6-year-old Ada likes to fly fish at our camp on Sourdahunk Lake on the edge of Baxter Park. The lake is fly fishing only, and a friend made Ada a 4-foot bamboo rod. You should see her casting! Real Mainers Real Mainers never throw anything away, and I got that gene from my dad. I was amused by a recent story in the Kennebec Journal about a new project by the Kennebec Valley Council of Governments and New Hampshire’s Ap-
parel Impact to collect old clothes and recycle or give them away. I never threw old clothes away, and then one day I noticed a bunch of my old clothes were gone. Well, Linda had thrown them away. Very sad. She did cut up a couple of old shirts to use as rags, and invited me to clean the house with them. I declined. Linda was upstairs one time and saw all my fly rods there. When she came downstairs, she asked me if I really needed 14 fly rods. Well, of course I did! And I didn’t tell her I was about to buy a new fly rod. I love books, and have hundreds piled on
bookshelves in the living room and my home office. About 5 years ago, when I bought another bookshelf for my office, Linda told me it was my last bookshelf. I quickly filled it with books. I’ve been getting lots of books to review from Maine publishers and authors, and I hate to part with them, but I’ve got no room for them on my bookshelves, so I give them to family, friends, and our Mount Vernon library. OK, I cram a few favorites onto my bookshelves. I have quite a collection of books by wonderful Maine authors, including Louise Dickenson Rich, Gene
Letourneau, and John Gould. I like to pull an old book off the shelves and read it again. Last year I wrote a column about Louise Dickenson Rich and her book, We Took to the Woods. When Linda put the book back on my bookshelf, she asked we why I had 7 copies of it! Well, I don’t know, but I’m keeping all of them. And of course, I have a lot of political buttons, bumper stickers, brochures, and posters. My favorite brochure is Bill Cohen’s from his first campaign for Congress in 1972. In the brochure, there’s a photo of Bill and me on the steps of the Bangor library. Bill has his arm out, pointing down the street, and I like to say Bill was telling me to go down that street and don’t come back. And seriously, I appreciate that Linda does not object to all my stuff, including paintings and photographs in every room of the West Quoddy Head lighthouse in Lubec where my great grandfather was the keeper for 30 years. And we have Dad’s carved ducks in every room. Swap-and-Shop at the Dump I was very proud of Linda recently when she returned from the dump with 3 beautiful wine glasses. We have a very popular build(Continued on next page)
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ing at the dump where people leave things, our swap-and-shop for real Mainers. After he retired, Dad started carving and painting. He carved 100 loons. And
no, I don’t have all of them! When he was in the hospice unit at Togus for the last six months of his life, dad painted 30 more paintings. Yes, he was amazing. I have quite a lot of Dad’s stuff. I remem-
Quotable
Sportsman
by George Smith
“John Glowa, Sr. said that if IFW ignores the problems caused by baiting, the department will face a third hunting referendum. In 2014, Mainers for Fair Bear Hunting, the group that sought to ban the use of bait, dogs and traps by bear hunters, raised more than $1.4 million in campaign funds, with a large percentage (at least 96 percent through September 2014) coming from Washington, D.C., home of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), according to the Maine Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.” Kennebec Journal, June, 2020
ber asking once why he had 15 hammers, because I only had 8. As a kid I loved going with dad to the dump empty and coming home with a full load of stuff. After dad filled up his barn, he start-
ed building sheds in back of his house, and when he died, he had six sheds full of stuff. Dad’s annual yard sales were famous, and drew people from all over the state. So after dad died, my brother Gordon, sister
“Over the past twenty years, baiting has accounted for 76% (47,890) of the 63,003 bear harvested. Over the last past 5 years, baiting has accounted for 69% (9,985) of the 14,465 bear harvested. The MDIF&W annual harvest goal is 3,500 – 4,500-bear, to keep the bear population in-check. The past 10-year average annual harvest has been 2,921, with Maine hunters averaging 38% (1,106). This means 62% of the bear are harvested by non-residents.” Troy Frye, Allies of Traditional Hunting, commenting on a proposal to ban bear trapping. — “Reports of dead fish — most of them yellow perch — on four lakes in northern Maine have prompted questions from the public. While it might seem unusual, the official word from the Maine De-
Edie, and I had a yard sale at his house, and I loved seeing people drive away with a vehicle full of dad’s stuff. I knew they were real Mainers.
¶
partment of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is that the fish die-off is natural. It shouldn’t cause concern.” John Holyoke report, Bangor Daily News, July 13, 2020 — “Maine Game Warden Jonathan Parker had planned to spend Saturday with friends, enjoying the Maine outdoors. Instead, after an angler discovered a cow moose mired in the mud of Pushaw Stream, he spent the day up to his waist in muck, helping a team of would-be rescuers as they tried to save the animal’s life. Unfortunately, the moose didn’t make it — but it wasn’t for a lack of trying.” John Holyoke report, Bangor Daily News, July 13, 2020
MAINE WILDLIFE QUIZ: Ruffed Grouse by Steve Vose
The ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) is the most widely distributed resident game bird in North America and Canada. Due to its non-vocal courtship display, in which males rapidly beat their wings creating a “thumping” sound, they have been lovingly called “Thunder Chickens.” Even in thickly wooded timber, the drumming sound can attract mates from over a quarter-mile away. During courtship rituals, males display to females their thick black ruff of neck feathers; this is where the “ruffed” grouse gets its name. Often, the grouse is mistakenly called a partridge, a name that identifies a different species of bird. Grouse spend most of their time on the ground, where its dappled grayand-black coloration makes it extremely difficult to see in mixed hardwoods.
When frightened, grouse typically explode wildly into flight, beating their wings very loudly and typically giving heart palpitations to anyone in the immediate vicinity. Grouse feed almost exclusively on
vegetation, including buds, leaves, berries, seeds, and woody plants, but they also feed on small insects. The grouse’s ability to consume foods high in cellulose allows it to feed on buds and twigs of trees and other plant species that most other animals wouldn’t be able to digest. Since ruffed grouse lack teeth, they frequently seek out gravel roads in the late afternoon and early mornings where they swallow small pieces of grit which pass into their gizzards and help them grind up hard food items like nuts. Historically, ruffed grouse populations follow a 10-year cycle from high to low. The cycle occurs independent of hunter harvest numbers, and scientists hypothesize it depends on a number of other factors including availability of feed and populations of other prey animals like the snowshoe hare.
Questions 1. What is the range of the ruffed grouse? 2. What a nickname for a ruffed grouse, given their loud courtship display?
3. 4. 5.
6. Why do ruffed grouse eat grit? 7. How long is the “ruffed grouse cycle”? 8. Do hunter harvest numbers impact the “grouse cycle”?
What do male ruffed grouse do to attack mates? What do ruffed grouse do when they are frightened? What do ruffed grouse eat?
Answers on Page 70
www.MaineSportsman.com
22 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
How to Drop Your Moose Quickly, and How to Haul It Out of the Woods by William Clunie I had a cow moose permit for 2018 and I had everything I thought I’d need for retrieving the huge animal out of the woods. After guiding moose hunters and taking three of my own moose over a two-decade span, I had a system down that had never failed me. I like to prepare for the worse-case-sce-
www.MaineSportsman.com
nario when it comes to outdoor adventures, so I always make sure to carry meat bags and a backpack that can handle it all if I have to quarter the moose and carry it out on my back. Quartering and Carrying – Last Option The tricky part of moose recovery comes either 1) when a poor
shot is made and the animal runs off; or 2) when a hunter is so far back in the woods that getting machinery close to the animal is out of the question. At that point you have only one last option – quarter the moose, and carry it out. In all my years of hunting and guiding, fortunately, I never had to cut up a moose
and carry it out in pieces ... thank the good Lord. Hunters should always understand carrying a moose out in a backpack could be a possibility – even when hit hard, moose can run a long way before dropping. And when they do run, it always seems that it’s in the wrong direction – smack dab in the
middle of a swamp on the other side of the mountain. I have been lucky in this regard also, usually dropping the moose in its track with a special aiming trick I learned long ago. Drop Your Moose in Its Tracks After looking at a photo of the anatomy of a moose, I de(Continued on next page)
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termined that folks who followed the old deer-hunting sight picture of tucking a round low and just behind the front shoulder to take out the heart, would not be making the best choice for dropping a moose. Instead, I have my clients line their vertical crosshair up on the front leg, and place the horizontal crosshair halfway between the bottom of the chest and the top of the back – directly in the center of the chest and right over the front shoulder. This way, a direct hit would take out both lungs and shock the spinal column. I recommend using premium ammunition. When hunters used premium bullets and placed the shot as I recommended, the animals always just dropped in their tracks. The slugs either drove through the animals’ bodies completely, or stopped in the hide on the opposite side. The passage through this area delivered devastating hydrostatic shock, and really disrupted the spinal column. Watch a quality-constructed bullet on video as it passes through ballistic gelatin, and you’ll understand what hydrostatic shock looks like. It completely shakes everything surrounding the path of the bullet, destroying soft tissue and some bone. What it doesn’t destroy, it rattles enough to cause plenty of damage. That kind of disruptive energy getting close to the spinal column causes damage enough to drop a moose immediately ... or within a few feet.
The author states that a quality slug fired into the area just over the front shoulder will put a moose down quickly.
High or Low Shot Still OK If you use my method of shot placement, even a slight variance high or low should still result in a moose that’s instantly down. A hit too high will be a direct hit on the spine. A low shot will take out the shoulder and heart. A forward shot will hit the spine in the neck region, while a rearward hit will blow through both lungs. The direct spine shot or neck shot will immediately drop the moose, but the others will often allow a moose to run at least a short distance. It doesn’t take a moose very long to run for quite a long way. In the case of a good shot that drops the animal where you want it, at least there will be a better chance of using some mechanical equipment to get the moose out of the woods rather than lugging it out on your back. The last moose I shot, a 645-pound cow, only went about fifty yards but it was still in some thick brush and required a little “jockeying” to slide it between the trees and clumps of brush.
Winches, Pulleys and ATVs I have a 10K Warn winch on the front of my Tacoma that will easily pull a moose out of the thickest spots, but my stepson, Dixfield hunter Don St. Germain, was driving, and he had something different he wanted to try first.
Can’t get close enough to your moose to hook on with your ATV? This portable gas-powered winch is driven by a Honda 4-stroke 35-cc engine. With a gear ratio of 200:1, it can pull 1,545 pounds. It weighs 21 lbs. and sells for $895. Photo courtesy www. northernwoodsmen.com
This winch is made by Lewis, and it’s designed to be powered by a chain saw. It weighs 43 pounds, can pull up to 5,000 pounds with a large 85 cc chain saw, and sells (without the chain saw) for $939. Source: baileysonline.com
He attached a small pulley (snatch block) to various trees, at different angles, and slipped the big cow between several trees that I thought might cause a problem. Sneaking the cow moose through the trees with the snatch block and rope allowed us to get the animal
up on the logging road and in a position where we backed the tailgate level to the road and rolled the moose right into the bed of the truck. On most other hunts I have used an ATV for moose retrievals, except hunts that took place in the North (Continued on page 25)
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24 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
To Fully Understand Moose, Understand What They Eat Maine moose hunting has matured a great deal since the initial shoot-from-thetower-on-the-back-ofthe-truck-days forty years ago. A combination of lower moose numbers, more experienced hunters and guides, and a deeper appreciation for offroad hunts, has made the experience much more gentrified. But most Maine hunters are still a long way from studying the habits and ecology of moose in the same
way, for instance, that we do with deer. We often know what our deer had for breakfast. We either specifically sought out the food resource, or in some cases planted it ourselves to attract whitetails. We know deer overwhelmingly prefer some foods over others. We study and scout out the availability of those seasonal food sources. And we concentrate our efforts in those parts of the habitat. With moose, we
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are a lot less picky about our hunting spot. We look for abundant moose sign, but we don’t spend a lot of time trying to figure out why there are so many tracks in one cutting as opposed to another. Even though moose spend the time to seek out and eat up to 40 pounds of browse a day, we tend to ignore their food preferences. Happy Accident Ten years ago, when some friends and I got serious about canoe hunts for moose, we had a problem. Lots of experienced hunters told us that late September season and especially the mid-October season were too late in the
year for water hunts to be successful. The predominant thinking was that as soon as cold weather killed the water plants, moose moved to the ridges and switched to harder browse. And, in fact, we found a complete lack of fresh moose sign along some fall rivers and lakesides where moose had been abundant only a few weeks earlier. But we also found that lots of these waterfront habitats continued to hold plenty of moose – even into November. The biggest bull I ever saw was chestdeep in the middle of Umsaskis Thoroughfare on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (DeLorme Atlas,
Map 6, 5-E). I had approached by canoe from downstream at dusk, while ferrying camping gear. I was surprised to see a huge, mid-river stump that I didn’t recognize from my earlier trips. Then the bull raised his massive head from underwater and nonchalantly walked out of the river, where he stopped to stare at me as I passed. We had a cow tag on that October hunt, and we filled it the next day, hunting from the canoe. But the lesson from that big bull stuck with me. Even if aquatic lilies, rushes and sedges have died back from the water surface due to cold weather, they are (Continued on next page)
MAINE BULL / COW MOOSE CLUB Moose Club Requirements: Moose must be shot in Maine. Only the shooter is eligible to join the club. Shooter will receive a PATCH, a CERTIFICATE, and will be in the MOOSE CLUB REGISTRY. Cost is $15 payable to B.M.I.M.C. Maine Moose Club postcards can be found at tagging stations or request one by email at
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so desirable to moose that the animals will continue to feed on those underwater plants they can still reach. The salts and minerals from those plants are just too essential to be wasted. Waterfront Moose Buffet We also learned that moose continue to hang out along waterways well into the fall, if the shoreline offers attractive browse. A common sight in Maine are long stretches of river lined with thick stands of alder bushes crowding the water’s edge. We might see a moose by chance passing through here, but Speckled Alders are among the least favorite food sources for moose. It’s like paddling through a section of black spruce or tall pine – moose just don’t hang out here. Woodcutting along shorelines is prohibited by law along shorelines in Maine. For that reason, regenerating commercial harvest areas are almost never visible from the water. But we’ve learned to look along rivers for the same species that make certain cuttings moose magnets. Willow bushes,
Up close, it’s clear how Red Osier Dogwood got its name. Moose consider it a delicacy. Photos by Jim Andrews
young poplar trees, pin cherry, maple saplings, mountain ash, birch whips – all offer high-quality browse. Even if they can’t be found at water’s edge, they might still all be available a few hundred feet away, at the edge of commercial cuttings. Calling moose downhill from these cutover areas to their familiar summer haunts along waterways is a favorite tactic. We always scout rivers and lakes – first by satellite photos on Google Earth, then by boot leather – to locate harvested areas a short walk from the shoreline. Using GPS units, we can set up for calling within easy earshot of these hotspots.
Moose Candy The golden ticket,
How to Drop Your Moose Quickly (Continued from page 23)
Maine Woods (NMW) where ATVs are prohibited. An ATV can easily drag a huge moose out of the woods if done properly. Have someone flag a path as straight as possible through the woods, chain the bull’s rack to the rear of the ATV, and carefully work the throttle. I’ve driven right over good-sized logs with 800- and 900-pound bulls without too much difficulty. It’s almost unbelievable to witness the process, but it does work so slick.
Moose browse heavily on Red Osier, pruning the tops to a near-uniform height.
of course, is to find a reliable, highly-preferred food source growing within rifle-shot of a hunter traveling by canoe. One plant takes the prize for this category in Maine. Red Osier Dogwood is common throughout the state. It’s one of those bushes you’ve seen a million times in passing but never gave much thought to. It grows abundantly along many rivers, streams and other wet areas. The most recognizable trait is the bright red color of its stem and twigs. This shrub grows in thickets along riverbanks, where moose routinely prune the tops to an almost uniform height. This promotes new growth in the plants. Did I mention that moose love this stuff?
Lee Kantar, Maine’s premier moose biologist, has noted Red Osier is a species that’s “highly palatable” to moose. A Michigan moose-diet study concluded that moose will go out of their way to target such delicacies. Last Bite On a quiet morning in October 2018, moose hunter Bill Page from North Carolina was in the bow seat of my canoe on the Moose River west of Jackman. When a bull burst from the edge of a Red Osier thicket and into the water ahead of the canoe, Bill raised his rifle and made a oneshot kill. Bill is a life-long deer hunter and a student of Native American and European hunting rituals. We had spent the previous two days marvel-
More Retrieval Tricks and Tools A good ATV in the 300cc and above range will do the trick ... just make sure the winch works. Get a good tree strap for an anchor to trees while winching, and a good set of leather gloves for handling the winch cable. A good length of quality rope and a solid snatch block or two work as well, so make sure to obtain these items before the moose hunt. Some folks also use a discarded plastic truck bed liner for sliding the moose. I’ve never tried it, but it sure looks like a slick plan. I’m sure you would just roll the moose from one side to the other to jockey the bed liner underneath the moose.
These tracks are made by moose lining up at the “Red Osier buffet.”
ing at the fresh tracks and signs of browsing evident throughout the massive thickets of Red Osier Dogwood that line the Moose River. As he smiled down at the first moose he had ever seen in person, Bill took his knife and cut a sprig off from a handy red osier bush. He placed it in the mouth of the deceased bull. He explained that ancient hunters completed the ritual as a sign of respect for the animal. We stood quietly for a moment, before the work began, while the river current slipped silently past us. A long way from the shoot-from-thetower-on-the-back-ofthe-truck days.
¶
One of the best tools for this job would be a chainsaw winch that could be carried right into the woods and moved about as necessary. They run around $800 or $900 or more, but sure would make the job a lot easier. Again, I have never used one, but have heard they work great. For me, the ATV or truck method of moose retrieval has worked just fine. Like they say, “Once you drop the moose, the work begins.” With the right gear and knowledge, that work can go a lot smoother. Plan ahead and have an awesome time this October in the moose woods.
¶
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26 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Equipping Your ATV for Bird and Small-Game Hunting by Steve Carpenteri October is the perfect time to be on the trail in your favorite ATV. Not only is the weather picture-perfect most days, but Maine’s small game hunting seasons are open, one and all. A well-organized rider can plan a trip that includes an hour or two of squirrel hunting first thing in the morning, then an hour or two of bird hunting, followed by an hour or two of rabbit hunting
While large gear needs to be securely fastened to the ATV, the author recommends keeping small hunting necessities – such as a selection of ammo, binoculars, water, flashlight, a knife, plastic bags for meat, and a rope – in a roomy day-pack that can be picked up, put on and carried into the woods quickly. and then ending the day with an hour or two of waterfowl hunting. When I started hunting many years ago, we’d do all of that while on foot (as well as
deer and bear hunting in season), but these days it’s much easier and faster to get from place to place riding a well-tuned four-wheeler, leaving more time to hunt and less time
lost on travel. Gear for the Game Among the best aspects of ATV hunting is that you can carry all of the gear, supplies and necessities you’ll need for a full day in
the woods, and still have room to spare for emergency equipment, gas and a tow rope. Some hunters are pursuing just one species at a time, which is fine, and once again an ATV is the vehicle of choice for anyone targeting small game or waterfowl at every level. For those focusing on water-based game, a canoe or kayak rack can be strapped to an (Continued on next page)
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GREENVILLE JUNCTION Moosehead Motorsports 13 Moosehead Industrial Park 207-695-2020 www.mooseheadmotorsports.com ©2020 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. In the U.S.A., products are distributed by BRP US Inc. *Offers valid in U.S.A. only Sunday 1st March 2020 to Thursday 30th April 2020. The terms and conditions may vary depending on your state and these offers are subject to termination or change at any time without notice. See an authorized BRP dealer for details. Some mcxlels depicted may include optional equipment. BRP highly recommends that all ATV drivers take a training course. For safety and training information, see your dealer or, in USA, call the ATV Safety Institute at 1-800-887-2887. In Canada, call the Canadian Safety Council at (6131 739-1535 ext 227. Read the Operators Guide and watch the Safety DVD before riding. Wear appropriate protective clothing and helmet. For side-by-side vehicles, fasten lateral net and seat belt at all times. Never engage in stunt driving and avoid excessive speed. Always observe applicable local laws and regulations. Side-by-side vehicles and ATVs are recommended for drivers aged 16 and older, and passengers aged 12 and older only. For off-road use only. Never ride on paved surfaces or public roads. Always ride responsibly and remember that riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix.
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 27
For duck hunters, if the trail to the water is relatively level, ATV trailers are available to haul a canoe or kayak. Source: Off Road Québec
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Some riders fashion overhead racks to transport lightweight boats. Source: Arctic Cat Forum (Continued from page 26)
overhead rack, along with paddles, rope and a life jacket, securing the load with ratchet straps or bungee cords. If the trail to the water is relatively level, a trailer designed for ATVs can also be used to haul a canoe behind your rig. A rack is also very handy for transporting heavy equipment such as tree stands (climbers or ladder-type stands), crossbows and related equipment. Securing a Firearm All of you hunters will want to attach a sturdy gun case to your rig, ideally a unit that includes space for a sling, extra ammunition and emergency cleaning gear. Cases can be placed in front, on top, in back or even inside the ATV as room and creative thinking allow. My friends out west carry their rifles and shotguns in spe-
cially-designed racks that fit inside the ATV, either overhead or between the seats. Have a Go-Bag Ready To save room and time, hunters should keep all their small gear (such as binoculars, water, seat cushions, flashlight, knives, plastic bags for meat, and rope) in a roomy day-pack that can be picked up, put on and carried into the woods quickly, without having to take the time to stop and make adjustments, root around for gear or find the right ammunition. For example, I keep a box of .22s for squirrels, a box of .410s for birds and rabbits, and a box of steel shot for waterfowl in my pack at all times. When hunting specifically ducks and geese, I ditch the .22s and .410 shells before heading out because it (Continued on next page)
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1Offer available on approved purchases of a new 2017-2021 Yamaha Motorcycle, Scooter, ATV or Side x Side made on the Yamaha Credit Card issued by WebBank, member FDIC. Offer valid 9/1/20 through 10/31/20. Account must be open and current to be eligible for this offer. Promotional 2.99%, 5.99%, 9.99% or 16.99% APR with Minimum Payments of 2.92%, 3.05%, 3.24% or 3.57% respectively of the purchase price balance, based on your creditworthiness, are effective until the purchase is paid in full. Minimum Interest Charge $2 per month. Standard APR 15.99%-23.99%. †Customer cash offer good on select models 9/1/2020 through 10/31/2020. See dealer for additional customer cash available on prior year models. Professional drivers on closed course. Always protect the environment and wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Read the owner’s manual and product warning labels before operation. Model shown with optional accessories. Vehicle specifications subject to change.
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LEWISTON Central Maine Powersports 845 Main Street 207-689-2345 www.centralmainepowersports.com WARNING: Polaris® off-road vehicles can be hazardous to operate and are not intended for on-road use. Driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license to operate. Passengers, if permitted, must be at least 12 years old. All riders should always wear helmets, eye protection, and protective clothing. Always use seat belts and cab nets or doors (as equipped). Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive speeds and sharp turns. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. All riders should take a safety training course. Call 800-342-3764 for additional information. Check local laws before riding on trails. ©2019 Polaris Industries Inc.
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28 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Equipping Your ATV (Continued from page 27)
is illegal to carry them while waterfowl hunt-
gear stays in my pack till I’m ready to park and hunt.
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contract through Cornerstone. REBATES UP TO $1,000 valid on 2010–2014 models and varies by model purchased. Offer subject to change without notice. Excludes tax, freight and dealer setup. Only ride an ATV that is right for your age. Supervise riders younger than 16. Arctic Cat recommends that all riders take a training course and read and understand the owner’s WARNING: Arctic Cat®orvehicles can be hazardous to see operate. Fordealer your safety, all riders always wear a seatat belt(800) (Side-by-Sides), helmet, eyeArctic protection, protective Riding manual before operation. For safety training information, your or call the should ATV Safety Institute 887-2887. ©2015 Catand Sales Inc.,clothing. Thief River Falls, MN 56701. and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Arctic Cat recommends that all operators take a safety training course. For safety and training information, please see your dealer or call 1-800-887-2887 (ATVs)
or visit www.ROHVA.org (Side-by-Sides). Arctic Cat vehicles are for operators age 16 years and older with a valid driver’s license. ©2019 Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. All rights reserved.
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Simple Small Game Strategies To make the most of your ATV day afield, it’s important to know your game, its preferred habitat and its most active daytime periods. Squirrels, for example, are busy early and late in the day. Be in the woods before daylight and just before dark for the best action. Grouse and rabbits are daytime critters that are easy to find and flush at any time of day. These are good targets for midday hunting. Look for them in thick, early-successional cover and along the edges of differing habitat types. Ducks and geese are called waterfowl for a reason: You’ll find them anywhere there is sufficient water for them to feed and avoid danger.
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¶
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“Grinding It Out” by Matt Breton We all spend our time thinking about that dream hunt – the one where the snow is perfect and the conditions are great, where the track magically appears in front of us as we step from the truck at daylight. Then we imagine that the track unfolds in front of us like the yellow brick road, leading us to the Land of Oz and finally to a picture-perfect shot. Oh yeah, and a downhill drag 30 yards from the truck. Well, good luck if you’re waiting for that day. I would say it almost never happens, and if it does, you should buy a lottery ticket. Tracking bucks across the Big Woods of northern New England is a tough pursuit. Instead, you should be prepared to grind it out. A perfect day would be boring – no adventure; no story to tell. When I’m at camp, I love to hear about the challenges – the last-minute efforts, the long drags, the last day struggle. Hell, to live through it makes for a better tale later. I almost think that it matters more than the buck you shoot, in terms of memories. I was going to write an article about getting in shape for hunting, but I’d rather tell a “long day” story. So, here’s my advice on physical fitness – do something
to get in shape to hunt hard in the Big Woods all day, every day for a month. It is simple, but not easy. You have to put the effort in. Finding Your Buck I shot a buck a few years ago, but it took me quite a while just to find his track. I headed into a swamp to look for a track, because of the deep snow and a below-zero start to the day. I had been in the swamp the week before, and there were a group of does hanging near a river. I waded through the thigh-deep powder for two hours before I cut a snowed-in track. After following it for an hour, I ended up out on a road and then into the woods on the other side, where I got a better look. It was not one that I wanted to follow. Finally, once out of that “gar hole” of a swamp, I struck off in a new direction. When I got into some deer sign, I found a long-striding buck track. I picked up the pace. The buck led me along a river bottom, in and out of different doe groups he was checking. The hours clicked by. He rubbed a tree and made a scrape, then changed direction, heading uphill. Thoughts crossed my mind of a hundred other buck tracks I’d taken uphill later in the day that never
panned out. Blown shots, missed chances, or a buck that walked straight out of my life. None of them mattered. This buck’s track crossed a snowmobile trail, and then slabbed up a pretty steep incline. I could see where he fed a little, then kept going. I edged across the back side of a cut. The day was wearing on, and this buck was headed away from the truck. A mountain top swamp appeared, and the buck ducked into some thick cedar, checking on a doe. As I looped around, I bumped into a yearling. She scooted off and I continued to circle, seeing the doe track come out, then finally the walking buck track. Getting it Done The track meandered across a couple of knobs on top of the range we had climbed. The snow I cursed earlier was a blessing hanging in the trees. The cold wind that chilled my bones was now a friend, hiding my steps. The pace shifted down – late in the day like this, I knew I had one chance. Sneaking and peeking my way through the softwood, a stump came into view. The stump struck me as oddly shaped. I pulled up the 760 and looked through
The deep snow the author had cursed earlier in the day, clung to tree branches and hid his late-afternoon approach toward the buck, while the noise of the chilling wind muffled the sound of his footsteps. Matt Breton photo
the scope. There was the buck! I could see his mouth working on one side of the stump, chewing his cud. Then the stump, then his hindquarters. I slid over a bit where I could see his chest, and sent a
round his way. The snow exploded off the trees around me, and the buck was down. The mile-and-ahalf drag wasn’t easy, but with a buck behind me, I had all day. I got out to that snowmobile (Continued on page 31)
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30 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Sight-In, or Miss Out! by Steve Carpenteri My favorite “no one ever listens” topic is sighting in for deer season. Year after year since the 1960s I have seen hunters miss nice bucks only because they failed to sight in prior to the season. More deer owe their lives to this common form of sporting laziness than any other cause! Hunters’ excuses are common: • “My grandfather sighted my rifle in 50 years ago and it’s always been dead-on.” • “I only shoot one bullet a year and I always get my
While magnum loads generally perform better at longer distances, keep in mind that the average Maine whitetail is shot at 50 yards or less, so it’s important to be confident of bullet placement at intermediate distances. deer,” or • “I meant to but ran out of time.” Fail to sight in, and one thing is guaranteed – sooner or later you are going to find yourself standing in the cold November woods with a smoking barrel while a thoroughly frightened whitetail bounds away in the distance. I see it happen year after year, not only to
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novice hunters but to sportsmen who have been hunting for half a century or more. They took a chance, trusted to luck or otherwise neglected to sight in, but the result is the same. Missing is bad enough, but an improperly sighted rifle can also wound a deer that escapes and suffers far away from the point of contact. I see that hap-
pen many seasons, it’s not pretty. The hunter feels ashamed, and the mood in camp is unpleasant. In nearly every case, a subsequent trip to the range would prove that, for whatever reason, the gun was not on target. Just like that, the fun of a hunting season is diminished. First Stop – the Range There’s a good reason
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most outfitter guides will “invite” their clients to sight in on the range on Sunday afternoon when they arrive in camp, usually the day before the hunt begins. They are not just watching the results on the target – they are also getting a sense of how knowledgeable, comfortable and safe hunters are with their firearms. Practice makes perfect. Learn how your rifle works, become familiar with its operation and safety features, and then go to the range and shoot it – repeatedly, often and with care. Be sure the scope is properly seated in its mounts, and tighten all sight and scope mount screws before shooting. Then, protect the rifle from accidental falls, misuse, bumps, bounces and other mishaps. Keep the rifle in a secure, padded case and let no one touch it, use it or take it out of your sight. ANYTHING can happen (and will), so avoid any problems, and this means year-round. A mis-adjustment caused by someone handling your firearm in July (Continued on next page)
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 31
Want results like this in 2020? Sight in before you head for the Maine woods. All photos: Steve Carpenteri (Continued from page 30)
could cost you your buck in November. The Basics Most popular .30-caliber “deer rifles” can be sighted in using the simple 25-yard method. Set up a “real” bull’s-eye-style 18inch target attached to a solid backboard at 25 yards. Shooting from a comfortable, solid rest, fire three slow-fire, carefully-aimed shots. The bullets should land in a “group” somewhere on the target. If not, re-tighten your screws, get closer and try again. Use the sight’s elevation and windage
Young or old, all Maine hunters should target their rifles prior to opening day.
adjustments to “move” the group’s impact closer to the center of the bull’s-eye. Shoot again. Adjust again. Shoot again. Adjust again. Eventually your group will be dead center in the bull’seye at 25 yards. Do not accept anything less, and do not go with the “good enough” approach. This is because if you are 3 inches off at 25 yards, you may be 6 or 8 inches off at 100 yards – more than enough to miss or wound a deer. Now, move the target out to 100 yards and shoot again. Most “deer rifles” will print
Big Woods World (Continued from page 29)
trail and then dragged to the road, where Dad picked me up with a buck of his own in the truck. That’s a story for another day. The key here is to persevere, to keep grinding away, and stick with it. It won’t be easy, but when it happens, it will all be worth it. Hal Blood’s Thoughts I like how Matt uses the phrase “grinding it out.” It really does sum up Big Woods hunting. It is a grind to get up every morning and head into the woods for the day, never knowing what might be in store for you. You might wander the ridges
about 3 inches high, which is normal and well within the kill zone for a deer at that distance. Make any fine-tuning adjustments so that your bullets are striking 3 inches high at 100 yards. Keep in mind that most sight adjustments move the bullet one-quarter inch per click at 100 yards. At this point, your rifle will be dead on at 25 yards and 3 inches high at 100 yards. A typical .243, .308 or .30-06 will then be dead on again at 250 yards, which is more than adequate for deer hunting situations in Maine.
or mountains in search of a track without ever finding one that suits you. It might be zero degrees, it might be snowing, raining or a combination of both. But to be successful, you must be willing to repeat the process day after day, until Lady Luck finally shines on you. I was reminded of the grind last fall, when I shot my buck on the next last day of the muzzle loader season after guiding hunters for two weeks and chasing tracks every day in between. If you are willing to grind it out, the law of averages will come around to your benefit, and you’ll be dragging out your buck.
¶
Sight in from a solid bench using sandbags and hearing protection. Practice your offhand shooting only after you know your rifle’s sights are set accurately.
Calibers like the .30-30, .32 Special or .300 Savage may strike slightly lower at 100 and 250 yards. Larger calibers (the popular magnums) generally perform better at longer ranges. However, keep in mind that the average Maine whitetail is shot at 50 yards or less, so long-range ballistics discussions
are generally moot. Know your personal limitations, and get closer if you must. Bottom line? Do not accept “good enough” at the range. If you can hit a quarter at 25 yards, you are ready for deer hunting in Maine. Now all you have to do is find one!
¶
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Why Big Bucks Go Nocturnal Opening Day The first four or five days of archery deer season often provide archers with the best chance to arrow an adult buck. Big bucks have spent the entire summer in bachelor groups of two or more animals. They often feed together, bed together and travel together, well into October, away from the does and fawns. Especially in agricultural areas, these bachelor groups can be highly visible in Au-
Archery season starts three weeks after turkey and one week after small game. The author says the woods will be full of hunters early, reducing chances for arrowing a deer. “Whoever is making these scheduling decisions,” he says, “is not a bowhunter.” gust and September, as they feed in green fields late in the evening or early in the morning. In late September, as farmers begin to cut corn fields, these bucks often switch their attention to this higher carbohydrate feed. Waste
corn, run-over stalks and chopped ears are readily available, but are quickly gobbled up by other deer. Critters like raccoon, fox, coyote, skunk, turkey, grouse, doves, squirrels and jays also feed on the freshly harvested fields. The corn har-
vest certainly sets off a feeding frenzy in my area. Late Archery Start Doesn’t Help Big Buck Hunters This year, unlike previous years, archery season starts three weeks after tur-
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key, and one week after small game hunting begins. While I love these expanded hunting opportunities, I very much dislike the huge gap in the start of the seasons. The woods will be “full of hunters” early. Deer quickly notice the increased human activity, and adjust their patterns accordingly. While I’m not often critical of our inland fish and wildlife department, I’m going to express my dissatisfaction with this decision. It’s obvious to me, whoever is making these decisions is not a bowhunter. It’s extremely difficult to harvest deer with a stick and string. Taking away any potential advantage from ar(Continued on next page)
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chers is wrong. If the goal this year is to harvest a record number of antlerless deer from the population, why would the opportunity for a longer season and an earlier start, not be adopted? In a year where many archers will likely be afforded the opportunity to harvest a bonus antlerless deer, one would surmise a longer season would be in order. Are adult bucks more vulnerable while on summer patterns? Yes. Is someone – or a group
of someones – doing this purposefully? I’m not a person who buys into conspiracy theories, but I’d love to know why bowhunters can’t start deer season in September if turkey hunters can. I’m a firm believer in hiring wildlife biologists who are hunters and who have experience hunting. It pains me when the people making decisions about hunting, don’t hunt. I realize there are hunters on advisory committees, who regularly consult with our fish and wildlife
department. I wonder if their suggestions fall on deaf ears or it’s the advisory committee members who are not pushing for an early opener. Expanded archery season begins September 12, 2020. Why not open the entire state to archery hunting at the same time? I realize more hunter hours usually equates to higher harvest rates, but this is archery hunting, and success rates in Maine are already low, especially in northern, western and Downeast
Maine. Success rates increase as deer densities increase; however, the state wants deer numbers reduced in high-density areas. Perhaps an early start in the southern and central region is in order when numbers grow above desired
levels? Fewer Big Bucks Killed Early? Perhaps the people making the rules are starting the season early because they don’t want regular season archers to have that early season ad(Continued on next page)
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34 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Big Game Hunting (Continued from page 33)
vantage? While this is sheer speculation, it is true that adult bucks, and deer in general, are sensitive to increased human activity. One only needs to look at deer movement studies or watch the changes in their own trail camera footage,
to know slight changes can make the big bucks go nocturnal. Bowhunters fortunate enough to have private land to hunt, may not be affected as significantly as those who don’t, but even on a large acreage, the changes in movement
are evident where I hunt. As turkey hunters and bird hunters walk surrounding properties, evening sightings of mature bucks and bachelor groups cease within two or three days. Nighttime activity on trail cameras increases almost immediately when the woods are disturbed. In areas with high hunter densities, adult bucks become very wary and even afraid of this increase in activity. After making it
through four or more deer seasons, a big buck has seen far more and likely understands the need to avoid humans each fall. While they may not understand the difference between firearm or archery hunting, they most certainly understand the increased human activity, and the change in activity such as gunshots, means the season has arrived. As a bowhunter, and a big buck enthusiast, I want every ad-
vantage I can get. I’m hopeful our biologists and big game committee members read this article and consider starting archery/ crossbow season earlier next season. I’m not asking for archery to start before small game hunting, I’m asking for it to start at the same time. I’ll likely take some heat for being a bowhunting elitist, but in fact what I am is pro-hunting. I hope we’ll see some changes.
¶
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America’s Surprise Side-by-Side Shotgun Renaissance Manufacturers in Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic and Turkey are filling the void in affordable sideby-side double barrel shotguns created when American companies left the market at the same time British and German guns were becoming too pricey for most hunters. All across Maine and indeed the rest of the country, wherever upland birds such as grouse, pheasant and woodcock are game, increasing numbers of hunters choose the side-by-side shotgun. This was not always the case. Fifty years ago, the side-byside shotgun had all but disappeared from the North American shooting scene. Shooters stopped using them, gun writers derided them, and manufacturers quit making them. All the greats – Parker Bros., L. C. Smith, A. H. Fox, Lefever – were bought up or went out of business. Winchester ceased production of the famous Models 21 and 23. Even the modestly-priced Savage-Fox Model B could not buck the trend for long, and was gone by 1986. After World War II the cost of machining side-by-side barrels drove up the prices. Competitive shooters dropped side-by-sides in favor of the narrower sight plane of over/ unders, or lighter recoiling of slide-actions
and semi-automatics. Repeaters such as the Ithaca Model 37, Winchester Model 12 and Remington 870 “pump” guns, and semi-automatic Browning Auto-5s and Remington Model 1100s dominated wherever hunters gathered. Relegated to the back of closets by the time the United States landed astronauts on the moon, side-by-side shotguns disappeared from the pages of sporting magazines and the hands of all but a very few diehard shooters. In the absence of American-made guns,
those die-hards, led by the late Michael McIntosh, shifted their attention and then their devotion to high-quality imports from Britain, France and elsewhere in Europe. A professor of English and Shakespearean scholar, McIntosh’s books Best Guns, Shotguns and Shooting and More Shotguns and Shooting remain in print and influential to this day. Inspired by McIntosh and a few others, devotees wrote other books on the side-byside and spread the word. In their wake,
The side-by-side double-barrel shotgun was – and remains – the traditional choice for upland bird hunters. The author agrees with those who opine, “Nothing works better for birds than a side-by!” J.C. Allard photo
periodical publications sprang up such as Gray’s Sporting Journal, Double Gun Journal, and Maine’s own Shooting Sportsman. Over time, the interest evolved into a revived market for side-byside double guns as shooters – especially upland bird hunters –
discovered or rediscovered the joys of shooting two barrels. Life Support Sadly, with the exceptions of Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company and the recent release of a reproduction A. H. (Continued on next page)
Cragin’s Gun Shop 105 State Street Rutland, Vermont 05701 (802) 773-9781 work (802) 558-2300 cell FFL# 6-03-021-01-8H-00298 www.MaineSportsman.com
36 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Shooter’s Bench (Continued from page 35)
Fox A Grade made by Savage, no American manufacturer has yet proven itself up to the tasks of this revitalized market. Browning tried with
the respected made-inJapan B-SS model produced between 1971 and 1988. Ruger tried and failed spectacularly with their Gold Label 12-gauge made be-
tween 2002 and 2008, but few retailers ever saw their orders filled. From 2005 to 2008 Kimber tried with the Valier, a Turkish-made side-by-side in 16- or 20-gauge. Unfortunately, American shooters were not
ready to pay nearly $4,000 for a Turkish-made shotgun. However, American shooters willingly pay for European-made side-by-sides. British guns remain the most admired, but with prices rivalling the cost of houses in the United States, few on this side of the aristocracy will ever own one. And there does not seem to be a British notion of budget-priced guns. German guns from Krieghoff and Merkel come in under the prices from the U. K. but still out of reach for most of us. Guns from Italian makers such as Fausti, Beretta, Rizzini, and Guerini, as well as best-made Spanish guns, fuel America’s rebirth of interest in the traditional side-by-side. Coming on strong are firearms from the Czech Republic and yes, Turkey. Affordable and of decent quality, these guns offer those of us without a lot to spend a chance to get in on the action. The CZ models called “Pheasant”’ “Partridge,” “Bobwhite” and “Grouse” offer excellent value for the money. Dynamic Renewal In the Spring 2020 issue of Sporting Classics magazine, Robert Matthews made the bold statement, “Nothing works better for birds than a side-by!” He went on to say, “Over the past 200 years, the design has evolved to suit its purpose perfectly.” While debatable
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on its merits, the boldness in Matthews’ writing is that he made the statement at all. A couple of decades ago, gun writers avoided the subject of side-by-side shotguns almost completely. However, it seems tradition, style and aesthetics have won out. No sporting publication today would fail to provide a liberal montage of photos showing happy hunters armed with side-by-side shotguns, any more than they would leave out pictures of pointing dogs and retrievers. Archers are stalking deer here in Maine. Bear hunting runs for another two months, as does the fall turkey season, and a waterfowl season, too. But the month of October truly belongs to the upland bird hunter. For many, the vision of that upland bird hunter includes the faithful dog and a side-by-side shotgun held lightly at the ready. Robert Matthews’ spring article really was about resurrecting an old but bespoke English gun made by the firm of William Evans, one of what Matthews calls “the lesser lights” of the English gun trade. Most of us will never be able to afford a “lesser” English shotgun, even if we tried to restore it ourselves. But that is no reason to forego an outstanding side-by-side from another source, and then get outside on these fine October days.
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 37
Big Bella, A Mexican Standoff, and the Forgotten Kiss “I’ll tell you, Ethan, of all the places I’ve been and all the game I’ve shot, this was the best. I can’t even tell you how excited I am.” “I could tell you were a little excited when you kissed me, Charlie .…” “What do you mean?! I kissed you!?” “Twice.” Let’s back up. The Good News Soon after the Maine moose lottery drawing in June 2018, my dad, Brian, received a call from his friend Charlie Palmer, of Danville, VT. Charlie excitedly informed my dad that he had finally been drawn for a Maine moose tag in Zone 7. My dad immediately offered up the use of our camp on Parmachenee Lake to hunt out of, which Charlie readily accepted. After going along as the sub-permittee to my dad’s VT moose tag in the mid 2000s (where my dad shot a real nice bull), Charlie returned the favor and invited my dad as his subpermittee this time around. He was also gracious enough to invite me along to help be the eyes and ears for the old-timers. Regular Season Archery Charlie is an archer. He has quite the gun collection (especially old Winchesters), but hunts exclusively with a bow. He’s traveled all over the US and Canada,
Charlie started to draw back the arrow. The moose stopped mid-step, swung its head toward Charlie, and froze. The standoff had begun. Nobody moved a muscle. Nobody dared blink or breathe.
Charlie Palmer poses with the 17-point archery bull moose he shot in Maine’s Zone 7 in 2018.
hunting woodland caribou, cinnamon bear, and giant Midwestern whitetails – all with a bow. The one exception to this was the VT moose he shot in the 90s with a rifle. It’s been his lifelong goal to shoot a moose with a bow. And given Maine’s early October season, when the rut is still in swing and calling bulls in close is still viable, this was his opportunity to fulfill that dream. (But he still he had my dad carry a rifle— just in case a giant appeared out of range.) Big Bella Charlie had purchased a Montana Decoy cow moose decoy, which we aptly named “Big Bella.” It proved to be indispensable – allowing us to stalk up close on several
moose and calming the nerves of moose we’d jumped while walking. And it proved to be integral in our calling set-ups. The Perfect Spot On the second morning, the temperature was warming fast. My dad guided us down into a little swale wallow about a quarter mile off the road. It was surrounded by cuttings with good habitat and sign. We placed Bella at the downwind end of the small wallow (about 75 yards long and 40 yards wide). There was one short, thick spruce tree right in the middle of the wallow, with a tall stump placed perfectly on the near side of it. Charlie sat on that tall stump, perfectly hidden behind that
Deked! This scene is looking down the wallow at Big Bella, the Montana moose decoy, where the bull moose stopped only eight feet from the archery hunter!
spruce. My dad and I tucked into the woods to call, about 15 yards from Charlie, 40 yards from Bella. BWAAH! About fifteen minutes into calling, I heard it – a very faint bull grunt in the distance. My dad, who can’t hear the alarm on the oven when he’s standing over it, obviously didn’t hear it. I motioned to Charlie, with my hand cupped to my ear. He shook his head no. He didn’t hear it, either. For just a moment I second guessed myself. Then I heard it again. And again. I excitedly pointed in the direction it came while nodding my head and smiling to Charlie. I could see his eyes widen and excitement grow.
It was still a long way away, though. After only less than two minutes, without hearing anything additional, we all about came out of our skin at the next grunt. BWAAH! Sticks breaking, antlers crashing, there he was! Textbook We couldn’t have dreamed it up any better. He came trotting right to the wallow, upwind of us. He then sloshed out into the middle, spotted Bella at the other end and started walking straight toward her. Charlie, whose view of the moose was obscured by that one spruce tree he was hunkered behind, was looking to us for cues. He could hear the sloshing getting close and needed to know what to do. We motioned to him that it was a shooter bull and to stand up and get ready. The moose came right up the wallow and got parallel with spruce tree—a mere eight feet from Charlie. Charlie could see his legs, nose, and pieces of antler through the holes in the spruce, so he started to draw. Immediately, the moose stopped mid step, swung his head toward Charlie and us, and froze. Charlie, at the same time, let down the string he had only just started to pull. The standoff was on. Nobody moved a (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com
38 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
New Hampshire (Continued from page 37)
muscle. Nobody dared blink or breathe. The jig was up. One Last Look After what seemed like an hour, but was probably only a minute or less (time is so hard to judge in these situations), the bull decided he needed to leave – fast. He snorted, jumped, and whirled in a flash, an impressive feat for an animal that size! As he started to book it across
the wallow, I motioned and whispered/yelled to Charlie to hurry up and draw for a chance at a shot. He knew what to do. My dad threw a couple loud grunts at the moose. He slowed and turned. Simultaneously, Charlie drew, stepped around the tree and settled his pin on the moose’s heart, at 25 yards. Quartering away, the moose turned his head. At that exact
moment – the instant the shot presented itself – the arrow was on its way. Charlie’s shot was perfectly synchronized. The moose trotted into the tree line and out of Charlie’s view. My dad and I could see the entire dramatic ending, though. The moose ran only thirty yards, stopped, got wobbly-legged, hunched up, and tipped straight over backwards, motionless. In a matter of five seconds, he was stone dead.
Gracious Lip-Giving We approached Charlie, all smiles and high-fives. He didn’t know the moose went down and apparently didn’t believe us when we told him. It wasn’t until we walked up on him a couple minutes later that it really sunk in for him. His life-long dream of killing a bull moose with a bow had been fulfilled! He set his bow down, shook his hands at the sky, and grabbed right ahold of both sides of my head and kissed me! He
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then did the same to my dad. Even today, he’ll deny it, not remembering that it had even happened. Just a product of the moment. As much as I didn’t enjoy it, I’ll forgive him, for this is hunting bliss at its best. It’s a moment of brotherhood and camaraderie scarcely found in today’s world. And one that I’ll never forget.
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 39
Cumin Rubbed Moose Burgers with Cabernet Ketchup I have been creating new and renewed recipes for The Maine Sportsman for about 5 years. Yet, I typically cook out of my own cookbooks, as I just love the simplicity of them. Here I’ll show you how the smallest changes can cre-
ate a totally new taste and look for your meal. I’ve taken my “Roasted Cumin Rubbed Bear and Cabernet Glaze” recipe from Wild Maine Recipes cookbook, pages 92/92, and made two changes.
First, I used moose instead of bear; and second, I turned the Cabernet glaze into a delicious Cabernet Ketchup! (Great on many things, like truffle fries!)
• 2 tablespoons minced dried garlic • 3 tablespoons minced dried shallots • 1 tablespoon sea salt
Directions: Roast cumin and coriander, in cast iron pan. Cool, then grind. Combine ingredients together and store in glass jar.
Ingredients: • 2 lbs. moose, ground • ½ cup red onions, finely chopped • Salt and pepper for seasoning steaks • 3 tablespoons Roasted Cumin Rub (see recipe below) • 2 tablespoons butter • ½ cup shallots, minced • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced • ½ cup Cabernet Sauvignon red wine • ½ cup ketchup Directions: Combine moose, onion and cumin rub and make into burgers. Sauté shallots and garlic in butter in skillet for 2 minutes. Add wine and reduce, almost like a paste. Add ketchup, stir and put aside for burgers. Preheat grill to high. Cook burgers and top with Cabernet Ketchup. Roasted Cumin Rub Ingredients: • ¼ cup whole cumin seed • ¼ cup roasted coriander • 2 tablespoons ground black pepper • ¼ cup dark brown sugar
And for dessert...Golden Cardamom Doodles I love flavoring sugars as it provides an added flavor layer to your baking. Fill a quart-size jar halfway with granulated sugar. Slice 3 Tahitian Vanilla Beans down the middle, and scrape seeds into sugar. Quarter the pods and place in sugar, then fill the rest of the jar with sugar and seal. The smell and flavor will develop over a couple of weeks. Keep stirring, and refilling the jar. Mine lasts more than a year before I replace the beans again. A riff off of Snickerdoodles! Ingredients: • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened • 1 ½ cups sugar • 2 large eggs • 2 teaspoons vanilla • 2 ¾ cup flour • 1 ½ teaspoons Cream of Tartar
½ teaspoon cardamom, ground ½ teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt ¼ cup Tahitian Vanilla Sugar, or plain sugar • 1 ½ tablespoons cardamom • • • •
Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Scrape sides of bowl, add eggs and vanilla, and cream for 1 more minute. Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt, just until combined. In a separate bowl, combine sugar and cardamom. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or more. Roll into small balls until round and smooth. Drop into sugar mixture, and coat well.
Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake 10-13 minutes. Let cool for several minutes on baking sheet before removing from the pan. Chef’s note: For flatter snickerdoodles, press down in the center before placing in the oven. This keeps them from puffing up.
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40 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 41
Top 5 Strategies for Calling in Fall Turkeys by Blaine Cardilli Calling fall turkeys can be challenging. As a rule, you should call like the turkey you want to bring in. Here are my “Top 5” calls and strategies to help you fill your tag this fall. x Assembly Yelping is the plain yelping of a mature hen; It is steady, plain, continuous and monotone, designed to bring a flock together. x Kee-Kee Runs are the three to five note, staccato-type, high-pitched whistles of young birds still learning to yelp. At the end of your whistles, add a “broken” yelp or two. This call will often bring an adult hen in. x Gobbler and Jake Yelps are
lower in range and slower than a hen yelp (almost gooselike in sound), and are the primary communications used by males, especially during fall. Focusing on this type of yelp, and tossing in an occasional gobble, constitute the “go to” calls when targeting fall toms. x Fighting Purrs combine explosive purring with very sharp, short, cutts and can often become that “acein-the-hole” call if you’re after a fall gobbler, especially since the males are always changing the pecking order. Use of this call will very often bring in a group of toms. x Decoys aren’t calls
but can be great tools, especially if you are targeting specific birds. If you just want to fill your tag, try 1-3 hens in various positions. If you’re after a jake or gobbler, try a decoy in either full or half strut, along with a standing jake. Editor’s note: Blaine Cardilli has filmed a video especially for Maine Sportsman readers to illustrate the various calls and tactics outlined in this article. Find the video on our Facebook page, or on our website, www. MaineSportsman. com, by clicking the “Blog” button at the top of our home page.
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The author with a 20-pound fall tom, one of seven that responded to his gobbler yelping. The big bird was taken on a field edge in Midcoast Maine after a 45-minute calling session. Calls used were a mouth diaphragm and box call. The bird was taken with a Martin bow at 8 steps, and without a blind.
Fall Wild Turkey Season and Bag Limits Bow and Arrow, Crossbow or Shotgun Wildlife Management Districts 1517, 20-25: September 14 - November 7, 2020; 5 Wild Turkeys, either sex, any age* Wildlife Management District 26 September 14 - November 7, 2020; 3 Wild Turkeys, either sex, any age* Wildlife Management District 28 September 14 - November 7, 2020;
2 Wild Turkeys, either sex, any age* Wildlife Management Districts 6, 10-13, 18-19, 27, and 29 September 14 - November 7, 2020; 1 Wild Turkey, either sex, any age* Wildlife Management Districts 1-5, 7-9, 14 Closed to taking of Wild Turkeys
* May take up to five wild turkeys for the fall season, but cannot exceed an individual WMD bag limit; the order in which they are taken does not matter. No more than two wild turkeys may be harvested per permit holder per day.
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42 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Get Ready for Winter Riding by Steve Carpenteri
Thanks in large part to the efforts of snowmobile clubs across the state, Maine’s winter riders have access to over 14,000 miles of groomed snowmobile trails. Many of these trails traverse privately-owned lands through agreements with local clubs, which manage and maintain those trails yearround. Although October www.MaineSportsman.com
Just because you registered your machine in February or March of this year, don’t think you are ready to go when the snow flies in December. Snowmobile registrations do not run for a calendar year; rather, they are valid from July 1 through June 30. Snowmobile registrations issued on or before May 31, 2020 expired June 30, 2020. may seem early to be thinking about hitting the trails for a day of enjoyable riding on those groomed trails, it’s not too early to be thinking about the
practical and legal aspects of the sport. Don’t wait till the last minute to register your snowmobile and trailer, and leave plenty of time for conducting
the necessary maintenance and repairs on your gear before snow flies. Registration Information For Maine resi-
dents, new registrations must be obtained from local licensing agents or from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 284 State Street, Augusta, ME 04333. For new registrations, Maine residents must show proof of payment of sales tax. The fee for resident snowmobile registration is $46 annually. (Continued on next page)
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 43
TAKE EVERY RIDE TO THE
NEXT LEVEL October is the perfect time to attend to pre-season maintenance issues. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for routine maintenance and see a certified dealer for tune-ups and parts replacement. Photo courtesy Ski-Doo (Continued from page 42)
Non-residents may choose from a range of registration periods, including 3-day ($50), 10-day ($76) or season ($100). Agents may charge a fee of $1 for renewals, and $2 for new registrations. For non-residents, new registrations may be done online, through a registration agent or through the MDIFW main office in Augusta. Maine residents and non-residents may renew snowmobile registrations online (www.maine.gov/
ifw/atv-snowmobile; click on “Register your Snowmobile”) The online service allows owners to register their snowmobiles with the State of Maine from any location. Following the transaction, applicants will receive a confirmation page to print for immediate use. Official registration and stickers will arrive at the mailing address specified within 30 days, so it’s a good idea to register early. Snowmobile reg-
Visit Your Local Ski-Doo Dealer for the Current Offers! AUBURN Wallingford Equipment 2527 Turner Road 207-782-4886 www.wallingfordequipment.com
DETROIT Huff Powersports 284 North Road 207-487-3338 www.huffpowersports.com
LEEDS Reggie’s Kawasaki Ski-doo 255 US Hwy 202 207-933-4976 www.doitatreggies.com
AUGUSTA North Country Ski-doo 3099 N. Belfast Ave. 207-622-7994 www.northcountryh-d.com
GREENVILLE JUNCTION Moosehead Motorsports 13 Industrial Park 207-695-2020 www.mooseheadmotorsports.com
WINDHAM Richardson’s Boatyard 850 Roosevelt Tr, Rt 302 207-892-9664 www.richardsonsby.com
JACKMAN Jackman Power Sports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 www.jackmanpowersports.com ©2018 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. ®, ™ and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. Products in the United States (US) are distributed by BRP US Inc. Always ride safely and responsibly. *Observed HP measured on internal Dyno test in optimal conditions for 2-stroke engines.
(Continued on next page)
INDY® ADVENTURE 137 See Your Polaris Dealer for Current PromotionsToday!
State officials encourage snowmobilers to leave an itinerary with a responsible adult so friends and family will know where to start looking for overdue riders.
JACKMAN Jackman Power Sports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 www.jackmanpowersports.com
TOPSHAM Woody’s Performance Ctr. 70 Topsham Fair Mall Road 207-729-1177 www.teamwoodys@outlook.com
LEWISTON Central Maine Powersports 845 Main Street 207-689-2345 www.centralmainepowersports.com
GORHAM, NH Absolute PowerSports 461 Main Street 603-466-5454 www.absolutepowersportsnh.com
Always wear an approved helmet and eye protection. Observe all state and local laws. Respect the rights of others. Ride within your capabilities. Allow extra time and plenty of distance for maneuvering. Do not perform stunts. ©2014 Yamaha Motor Corp, U.S.A. All rights reserved.
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44 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Get Ready for Winter Riding (Continued from page 43)
EXPLORE. DISCOVER. DOMINATE.
— Visit Your Local Arctic Cat Dealer for Details — JACKMAN Jackman Power Sports 549 Main St. 207-668-4442 www.jackmanpowersports.com
SIDNEY Kramer’s Inc. 2400 West River Road 207-547-3345 www.kramersinc.com
LEBANON Northeast Motorsports 451 Carl Broggi Hwy. 207-457-2225 www.nemotorsportsofmaine.com
BERLIN, NH Jericho Outdoors 232 Jericho Rd. 603-215-6002 www.jerichooutdoors.com Always wear a helmet and don’t drink and ride. © 2020 Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc.
GET TO WHERE YOU
WANT TO BE 2021 Sidewinder X-TX SE 146
See Your Local Yamaha Snowmobile Dealer for the Latest Promotions! JACKMAN Jackman Powersports 549 Main Street 207-668-4442 www.jackmanpowersports.com
SKOWHEGAN Whittemore & Sons 257 Waterville Road 207-474-2591 www.whittemoreandsons.com
TOPSHAM Woody’s Performance Ctr. 70 Topsham Fair Mall Road 207-729-1177 www.woodysyamaha.com
Always wear an approved helmet and eye protection. Observe all state and local laws. Respect the rights of others. Ride within your capabilities. Allow extra time and plenty of distance for maneuvering. Do not perform stunts. ©2014 Yamaha Motor Corp, U.S.A. All rights reserved.© 2016 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.
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istrations do not run for a calendar year; rather, they are valid from July 1 through June 30. Snowmobile registrations submitted on or before May 31 will expire on June 30 of the current year. Snowmobile registrations submitted on or after June 1 will expire on June 30 of the following year. Obviously, it’s best to register your snowmobile after June 1 in order to enjoy a full winter season of riding. To apply for a registration renewal online, snowmobile owners must provide their own information and vehicle information. Have a printer available to print a copy of the temporary registration, and be prepared to make payments with a credit or debit card (MasterCard or Visa). For additional information, log onto the MDIFW website at www.mefishwildlife.com, and follow the links referencing online registration, to find answers to frequently-asked questions, chat with a live person or make contact with technical support agents. Don’t Drink and Ride It’s important to keep in mind that Maine laws prohibiting operating under the influence, also apply to snowmobiling. Under the state’s statutes, a person may not
operate or attempt to operate a recreational vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs or a combination of liquor and drugs – • if 21 years of age or older, while having 0.08 percent or more by weight of alcohol in that person’s blood • if younger than 21, while having any amount of alcohol in the blood. Serious accidents occur each year in Maine as a result of snowmobile operators riding under the influence. As a result, Maine’s game wardens do not tolerate snowmobilers who drink and drive. Free Snowmobiling Weekend Anyone interested in visiting Maine or exploring our trails may join us for a Free Snowmobile weekend, which is traditionally held the first weekend in February. (Dates for 2021 were not set at press time.) During this weekend, snowmobilers from any other state or province may operate a snowmobile in Maine (no reciprocity necessary), so long as the operator is in possession of a valid registration from his or her home state or province. For more information, contact the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at (207) 287-8000.
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 45
Turkey, Teal and Grouse – The County Offers a Hunting Smorgasbord This Month I’ve done a fair amount of traveling during the last half century, and at most destinations I’ve tried very hard to spend some time with a rod or gun at hand. There’s a lot of beauty and adventure out there attached in some way to feathered, furred, and finned creatures, large and small, in their varied and breathtaking environments. But truth be told, for this ol’ County Boy there’s no time or place that offers the kaleidoscope of color, the aroma of autumn and harvest season, and the wide
array of outdoor opportunities, as Aroostook in October. Fall Turkey Hunting options abound this month and sometimes it’s difficult to narrow down choices. First you have to pick a quarry, then a gun and finally a location. Well, guess what? Now there’s another spoon in the porridge pot! Zone 6, my local stomping grounds, has been granted a fall season for wild turkey. Youth day is September 12th, with a nice long seven-week run from Sept. 14th to Nov.
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7 open for bagging and tagging a bird of either sex and any age. Aroostook’s frozen ground and deep snow during long winters aren’t conducive to scratch-and-feed wildfowl, but somehow these transplanted gobblers have adapted. Turkey numbers have increased, and the flock dispersed far and wide across the Crown of Maine. The vast acreage of forest and agri-land is a factor that makes hunting tougher up north, but as with deer and moose, pre-season (Continued on next page)
Jack Schafer of Bridgewater shows off his big tom turkey with long spurs and beard from a spring hunt. This year, Zone 6 will have its first fall hunt -- a 7-week season for a bird of either sex and any age. All photos by Bill Graves
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46 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Chilly weather arrives early in The County, so waterfowlers hoping to bag teal need to take advantage of the first couple of weeks of October. A short jump shoot brought home a couple of mallards and four green wings.
The County (Continued from page 45)
scouting is the key to success. Locate a roosting area, pinpoint their favored feeding fields and learn the trails they utilize regularly to set up a successful ambush. Ashland is one of the higher-population areas for gobblers. For years, a handful of local residents have been feeding deer to help them through the long winter. It seems the turkey caught on to the idea, and it’s now common to see up to two or three dozen of both species feeding together at several locations. Cross the bridge in Ashland on Route 11 and then begin checking side roads and fields on the East side of the Por-
tage road which parallels the Aroostook River. On the other end of town, still on Route 11 but back toward Masardis, scout along the Fenderson and Sterling Roads for likely fields and pastures regularly visited by turkey. Delorme’s Atlas, Map 64, E-1 & 2 will help newcomers find their way around. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the boundaries comprising Zone 6 – don’t be on the wrong side of road. In the Washburn area, turkey hunters should investigate the Caribou Lake Road, Buck Road and McBurnie Road. Most area farmers will grant permission to
Sneaking into small ponds and into coves and bogans on area streams to jump shoot ducks is very effective and a great way to bag some tasty teal. Here, Mike Wallace of Freeport pops out of the grass along the Prestile Stream to take a shot. www.MaineSportsman.com
Bill Graves takes a break to admire the beautiful coloring on a blue wing teal. These small, fast-flying ducks are only around until cold weather arrives.
drive the spider web of field road and twotracks to a shotgun gobbler quicker than a rifle-toting deer hunter. With so many waterfowl, upland and big game seasons in play, pressure on the turkey is likely to be light. As cooler weather moves in, the birds tend to form larger flocks, so with a couple of decoys and a bit of call-andcoax, a well-hidden hunter might just bag Thanksgiving dinner. Teal Time While a large percentage of Aroostook sportsmen head into the woods searching for Ol’ Pat the Partridge this month, a few others bow hunt for deer, bust brush for woodcock or attempt to fill a moose permit. I take advantage of the
Bob Palm of Presque Isle displays a double on partridge taken from the North Maine Woods.
Teal are plentiful throughout Aroostook as long as fall weather is temperate. Blue wing teal like this brace are rarer than the green-wing species.
reduced gunning pressure and go after puddle ducks; to be even more precise, I avoid field hunting and visit local rivers and ponds. To an even finer point, I’m after the small, fast-flying aerobatic blue and green-winged teal while they are still in the area in abundance. Although the mallards and black ducks will be around until freeze-up, a few days of low temperatures will send the frail teal winging south – seldom do they remain in any quantity until November. These petite waterfowl are perhaps the most beautifully-colored of Aroostook ducks, and the meat is delicious (albeit paltry compared to a fat greenhead). For me and for most other teal hunters, it’s the chal-
lenge of finding, flushing, and actually hitting these fleeing balls of feathers that keep us humble and persistent in the chase. Large puddle ducks can often be taken by hunting over decoys in cut grain fields as well as on waterways, but not so much with teal. Floating streams or jump-shooting small ponds and rivers will produce most consistent gunning for teal. With this summer’s drought conditions throughout The County, other than a few sections of the Aroostook River, sneak-andpeek canoe shooting the Prestile, Meduxnekeag, Little Madawaska, and St. Croix are non-starters. Thankfully, all of these streams have dozens of field roads, (Continued on next page)
Sunny mornings bring the partridge out to feed, peck gravel and sit on roadside banks. This lucky bird only got shot with a camera.
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 47
Archery season for deer is also open this month, and this year crossbows are legal for use. Bill Graves was scouting spots for a likely ground blind when he came across this pair of whitetails and had to settle for a photograph.
These hunters are setting up layout blinds and several dozen decoys for a late afternoon goose hunt. Local cut grain fields are plentiful, and so are the honkers. (Continued from page 46)
logging trails and ATV tracks right to water’s edge at many locations. Hundreds of small ponds, marshes and bogs; many no larger than a public swimming pool and not named or shown on most maps harbor flocks of teal. With a bit of scouting and some investigative conversations with local farmers and loggers, those spots that are mostly ignored can be ferreted out and visited. Bogans, backwaters, coves and estuaries along the Prestile between Mars Hill and Robinsons (DeLorme, Map 59, B-4) and on the Aroostook River between Presque Isle and Crouseville (Map 65, D-1) attract and hold teal. The birds fly in and out all day long, so sneaking in and jump-shooting usually offers action, and the teal that fly out may just move to the next spot you’re going to visit up or downstream. A dog can be an asset, but chest waders work for retrieving downed ducks along these streams. It’s not unusual to flush a flock of a dozen or more teal; the trick is to cartwheel one or two of these small waterfowl during their erratic departure. Hit or miss, these fair-weather waterfowl are a blast, in more ways than one!
Go for Grouse I don’t know many sportsmen who don’t enjoy fried partridge breast or partridge stew, and that’s just the reward of a great upland outing. If you live in, or are visiting, Central Aroostook and only have time for a two- or three-hour outing, try the Number Nine Loop. One end is the Bootfoot Road in Bridgewater, and the other is Jewells Corner in Monticello. Start on either end you like, and drive out to Number 9 Lake and
back the other way. Chances are excellent of spotting partridge in the road or sitting on the bank. For folks with more time, there are plenty of side roads to meander, and a good bird dog will certainly up the ante. If you have time for a full day trip, drive the Harvey’s Siding Road toward Howe Brook and St. Croix Lake – a great spot for a Coleman stove lunch. Work your way back toward Number 9 Lake in the afternoon and finish the loop.
Delorme’s Atlas Maps 58 and 59 will outline the route over several quadrants. This is also a great chance to scout whitetails, and also moose if you have a late-season permit. There are a bunch of wonderful outdoor hunting options this
month. The trick is to sample a little bit of everything in the time allowed, kind of like Thanksgiving dinner. In allocating your time, take the advice of many a good field general – Divide and Conquer.
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48 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Tailwater Fisheries Produce Big-Time in Fall Here’s something I learned a long time ago. In fall, trout run upstream, and if an obstacle blocks – or even partially blocks – their way, they will queue up just beneath it. Dams have gotten loads of bad publicity in recent years and the current thinking seems like the only good dam is a gone dam. But the few remaining dams continue to give anglers a source of excellent sport, especially in fall. With the general season on rivers, streams and brooks closed until next April, anglers must limit their activities to yearround waters. These are noted in the fishing law book, and the numbers of these waters is constantly expanding – a good thing for us. The best places of all are where water runs under a dam, creating a limited “tailwater” fishery. We’ve all read about tailwater fisheries down south in rivers flowing from huge impoundments. Well, Maine has similar situations, albeit on a far smaller scale.
ing, downstream areas. Also, headwaters usually have considerable tree growth on the riparian habitat. The trees shade the water, cooling it to comfortable levels that trout desire.
This tailwater pool comes alive with high water of fall. Tom Seymour photo
Perfect Setup I fish a small tailwater fishery each September. The river has few if any native trout, but the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) stocks the site each April with spring yearling brook trout. At time of stocking, these fish run between 9 and 10 inches. These trout hang in the tailwater area until late June and even early July, until warm water forces them several miles downstream to a spring-fed pond. There, they thrive on an abundant supply of baitfish and aquatic insects. Then, come fall, the dam gets partially opened to allow water out so that resulting low water in winter will prevent ice damage to floats and docks.
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This influx of fresh water acts as a magnet for downstream trout, and the fish usually react by quickly swimming upstream. It always amazes me to find good numbers of trout in the same place that only a few weeks previous was bereft of trout. What’s more, the trout have gained on average about two inches in length by the time they swim back up into the tailwater area. Their flesh, too, closely resembles that of a wild fish. For all practical purposes, these may as well be wild trout. This clearly illustrates the great value of a fall tailwater fishery. By the way, the stream is on the DIF&W list to be opened to year-round fishing. That can’t come soon enough for me.
Headwaters, Too To a lesser extent, headwaters of trout streams and rivers see increased numbers of trout in autumn. Lacking a barrier such as a dam, fish will be more spread out, but such places are still worth hitting. Essentially, the farther up the stream you go, the better. If you can trace a yearround trout stream to where it becomes a fraction the size of its downstream self, then you may well have found a new hotspot. Part of why headwater fishing in autumn is so fruitful is that the water is cooler and better aerated. The turbulence of a narrow, fast-flowing stream adds beneficial oxygen to the water, increasing oxygen levels greatly compared to wider, slower-mov-
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Bigger Fish Fishing in a tailwater or headwater area increases the chances of catching a larger-than-usual trout. Even big old trout seem to abandon their native shyness now, and that increases our chances of success. None of this is to say that we should not use finesse. As with any other kind of trout fishing, streamside vibrations or shadows falling across the water will put trout down in a flash. The best way to approach a tailwater fishery is to first assume that trout are already there, and act accordingly. That means beginning below the pool and casting to the lip on the bottom end. Often, trout will take a position in the smooth water at pool’s end. Then, after completely probing the lip, begin working your way up, first to one side and then the other, and finally to the middle. That way, you can hook and land fish without alerting all the other trout in the area. Note too that fish, even those stocked the previous spring, will exhibit far more bril(Continued on next page)
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 49
— Guest Column —
Earl Taylor’s Deer Rifle by Randy Randall
As a youngster, the author was able to visit – and pay respects to – a gentleman who’d hunted with the author’s father and grandfather, but whose hunting days were behind him. Earl Taylor had Parkinson’s disease; he also had a 30:40 Krag rifle. Earl was one of my father’s and grandfather’s hunting and fishing buddies. When I was quite young in the 1950s, I looked up to all these old guys as if they were pioneers and mountain men, and I wanted to be just like them. As I said, Earl had Parkinson’s. His hands and head shook uncontrollably. It was difficult to understand his speech, but no one cared or even remarked about Earl’s shortcomings. He was one of the gang, even if he was mostly housebound and only got out fishing once in the summer. All Grandfathers’ friends were like that. Fred was missing two fingers and a thumb. Old “Stony” had one arm. It didn’t matter. Old Orchard Beach in those days was a small seacoast village most of the year, and everyone knew everyone else and somehow they all got along. I got to know Earl when my
grandfather caught me one day and said, “Earl Taylor would like you to stop by his house tomorrow on your way home from school.” “Sure,” I replied. Visit to Evergreen Avenue I knew Earl, and didn’t even wonder what he might want to see me for. The fact that his hands shook and his words were hard to understand didn’t bother me in the least. Like everyone else, I just accepted Earl for who he was and thought of him as one of the mountain men. The next afternoon on my way home, I turned onto Evergreen Avenue, came to Earl’s back door and knocked. His wife, Janice let me in and said, “He’s been waiting for you. He’s in the living room.” I found Earl sitting in his easy chair. He smiled when I approached. “How’re you?” he asked me. “How’s school?” I told him I was fine and that school was fine and that Gramps and I were going trout
Trout Fishing (Continued from page 48)
liant colors than they did just a few short months earlier. A brown trout or brook trout decked out in its fall finery makes a picture any artist would have trouble replicating.
fishing on Saturday. I could just make out his reply: “Forest is a good man.” Then Earl said, “I want to show you my rifle.” He reached over beside his chair and picked up an ancient military rifle and laid it across his knees. He struggled to control his shaking as he reached down and operated the bolt. Rifle’s Action was Smooth as Butter “This is my deer rifle,” he told me. “It’s a Krag. From the war. Nice gun. I shot some deer with it. See this?” He used his whole hand to push the side magazine open. He gestured with two fingers. “Bullets go in there.” Then he operated the bolt again and I could just make out his words: “Smooth as butter.” I was still pretty young at the time, maybe 12 or 13, and not well-enough educated about firearms to appreciate what Earl was trying to show me. I knew there were lever action guns and bolt-action guns and semi-automatics,
The 30-40 Krag, which was manufactured from 1892 to 1903, has been termed “America’s first .30-caliber service cartridge.” Photo credit: Shooting Times; shootingtimes.com
but that was about it. Earl’s head was shaking violently, and Janice was urging him to rest. “This young man has to go now, Earl. You’ve had a good visit.” I could see Earl was someplace else – maybe on a hardwood ridge on a cool sunny November morning with his 30:40 Krag held in the crook of his arm. Janice escorted me to the kitchen door and said, “Thanks for dropping in. It meant a lot to Earl.” “He Sets Considerable Store by that Gun” Although I didn’t realize it at the time, I think Earl was sizing me up as someone to inherit his beloved rifle. That didn’t happen, but now I look back on that visit and think about all the words that were not spoken between us and didn’t need to be.
Recommended Tackle Even in year-round streams where bait is permitted, it isn’t necessary to use bait in the fall. Artificial lures will do as well or better, and they are so much easier to deal with. My first choice of ultralight spinning gear works well now, except I bump my line up to 4-pound test – plen-
It was my pleasure to be his appreciative audience, if only for half an hour. Later, Grandfather asked me if I’d stopped off to see Earl. I said I had, and that Earl had shown me his deer rifle. Grandfather said, “He sets considerable store by that gun.” He paused then went on. “Good you stopped by. Earl don’t get out much these days. He can be tolerable tedious sometimes. He’s showed that gun to a good many of us, I guess.” It was then I realized that all of Grandfather’s friends had at one time or another had their visit with Earl and his 30:40 Krag, and that I was the last one on the list – the only one in the group who hadn’t already seen Earl’s deer rifle.
¶
ty strong for any trout in an average stream. Trout Magnets work great, as always. But spinners do the trick too. Try Mepps spinners with a red-andwhite blade. If possible, take some time this fall and hit the tailwaters and headwaters. You may be surprised at the results.
¶
www.MaineSportsman.com
50 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Cast ’n’ Blast In 2019, Governor Mills permanently moved the opening day of ruffed grouse season to the last Saturday in September, creating a “cast ’n’ blast” weekend during which sportsmen and women can hunt partridge on Saturday, and wade the deep pools fly fishing for salmon on Sunday. A long string of drool swung from my dog Argos’ lip. How was it still hanging on? It must be six inches. My nose wrinkled as I pinched off the slime and flung it on the ground. It was opening day of grouse season 2019, and we were chasing partridge up to Libby Camps in the North Maine Woods. A few months earlier, Governor Mills permanently changed the opening date of grouse season to the last Saturday of September, creating a “Cast ’n’ Blast” weekend where sportsmen could spend one weekend hunting and fishing before many waters closed on October 1. I loaded my now drool-free dog into the metal dog box on the back of Matt Libby, Sr.’s truck. No birds at this cover, on to the next one.
Young Parker and His 20 Gauge We bumped along the logging roads. Parker, Matt’s nineyear-old grandson, sat in the backseat with his new 20 gauge next to him. “We will find birds at the next spot – I know it.” Parker declared. “I promised my sister Kayla we’d have grouse nuggets for dinner!” In my book, there’s nothing better than fresh grouse, shot over your own dog, on opening day. I was excited too. It was my first time at Libby Camps. As we drove and bounced, Matt shared the history of the camps. Matt managed the sporting camps, sandwiched between Baxter State Park and the Allagash Wilderness, with his wife Ellen for nearly forty years. Now his son, Matt J. Libby, is the fifth generation to run the iconic lakefront camps.
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“Libby’s has been hosting fly fishermen since 1890 who came to fish for native brook trout, char and salmon in the Allagash, Aroostook and Penobscot Rivers and many ponds,” Matt explained, with pride in his voice. “Libby’s is unique in that we have multiple seaplanes so we can bring anglers to remote areas that are rarely fished.” Parker Scores; Christi Misses? I would be fishing the next day and was just starting to daydream about pulling big, orange char up from the depths when I spotted some grouse along the road. “There!” I exclaimed, and pointed to two grouse in a ditch. Matt punched the brakes, and Parker and I grabbed our shotguns and jumped out. One bird flushed up onto the branch of an aspen tree nearby, while Parker aimed at the second bird. He was nervous about the recoil from his new gun, but with some encouragement from Matt and me, he pulled the trigger and the bird flopped. I followed up with a shot on the bird on the limb, and was puzzled when it
The author spent opening day grouse hunting with Matt Libby Sr. and his 9-year-old grandson, Parker. All photos by Christi Holmes
Parker Libby, Christi and her dog Argos, ready to make grouse nuggets.
flew off. I missed, and the 9-year-old didn’t? Ugh. Our shots caused a few more birds in the area to flush, and we realized there were more birds than the two we initially spotted. We decided to let Argos out, and he immediately pointed Parker’s dead bird. Then he continued deeper into the woods and I followed him. About 50 feet into the woods he went on point. A dead grouse lay on the ground in front of him. I had not missed after all. More Action With the monkey
off our back and two birds in the truck, we continued on to the next cover. When we arrived, Matt let his Brittany, Kate, out of the dog box. It was my first time hunting with multiple dogs, and it was great to alternate them, giving them time to rest so they were fresh. Kate worked the old cut, back and forth, and when the bell around her collar went silent, Matt and Parker headed into the thick alders to find her. “Christi, you stay out there in case the bird flushes this way,” (Continued on page 52)
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 51
Diving Flies Attract Huge Smallmouth Bass With my brandnew guide’s license and a “new-to-me” 14foot Aire Raft, I slowly drifted as close to the river bank as possible without spooking the smallmouth bass that lurked there. My highly-experienced fishing client, Pennsylvania angler Bill Cope, knew more about fly fishing out of a raft than I did, so I followed his instruction. Cope, an extremely-patient angler, kindly mentioned now and then that I was either too close to the bank or too far for him to reach with his fly. After a few hours of Cope’s talented instruction, I began to catch on ... and WOW! did he ever start nailing the fish.
The author calls diving flies his #1 choice for lunker smallmouth. Divers feature a foam head. The fly floats on the surface until the angler strips in some line. Then the bug dives under water, returning to the surface when the line goes slack. At one point, sometime around noon, I offered Cope a sandwich. He replied, “Just set it on my seat and I’ll grab it.” He was standing and casting at the time, and never stopped to sit down because he was so intent on reeling in the multitude of 18- to 20inch bronzebacks that seemed to keep hitting his fly – a chartreuse Sneaky Pete that he kept tied on to his tippet the whole day. We pulled in more smallmouth bass than we could count that
day; many in the 18to 20-inch range. Cope showed me the battered fly at the end of the day, and said he was going to save this fly and mount it next to a framed photo of the huge smallies we hooked into that day. The Sneaky Pete The Sneaky Pete fly (see accompanying photo) that Cope used so successfully works great when the smallmouth bass want to feed on the surface. The fly, a diver, floats on the surface until the angler strips in
some line ... then the bug dives under water, returning to the
surface when the line goes slack. Rainy’s Premium Flies (rainysflies.com) sells a fly similar to the Sneaky Pete called the “Joom Diver,” with loads of color and feather variations. They also sell the div(Continued on next page)
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52 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Freshwater Fly Fishing (Continued from page 51)
er bodies for those of us who like making our own diving flies for smallmouth bass. The flies that I tie turn out looking like a Sneaky Pete on steroids and seem to produce more strikes than the venerable Sneaky Pete. I take a bent shank, number one- or twosized hook and wrap it with thread from the eye down to where the shank bends and tie in a few strands of shiny Mylar, then add in two matched, black-barred hackle feathers that are a little longer than one length of the hook. Then I palmer a little marabou and a zonker strip forward, stopping to leave enough room for sliding on the diver head. I also attach a small bumper of foam to help super glue the diver head on to the front of the hook shank. When I slip the
diver head onto the shank, I hold it in place for about ten seconds to let the glue set, keeping the hook and diver head exactly perpendicular. If you don’t, the diver will swim to one side or the other upon retrieval. That’s okay, I guess, but I prefer to have it swim straight. I use a Sharpie pen to draw eyes and markings on the diver head, then spear a bodkin pin through the head and run rubber legs through the hole with a bobbin threader. Make these foam-headed divers in a variety of color combinations and enjoy some surface-smashing smallmouth bass strikes that will take your breath away. Preferred Structure Be sure to use a leader with a butt of forty- to fifty-poundtest line that tapers
to six-pound-test line. I make my own based on Lefty Kreh’s version in his awesome book with the simple title of “Knots.” Throw the diver around a steep bank, large boulders, or underwater structure like stumps and trees. Smallmouth bass, even the huge ones, often hang out in only four or five inches of water as long as they have a deep water escape nearby. Always look for shaded areas where overhanging branches offer a secure place for the lunkers to relax without worrying about flying predators like osprey and eagles. Dark shadows and leafy branches make a diving attack more difficult for these fish-eating birds of prey. I’ve used poppers for years to catch big bronzebacks, but I’ve reached the conclusion that the diver, especially Rainy’s Joom Diver, takes the
Rainy’s “Joom Diver” in the lip of a smallmouth bass that’s nearly 20 inches long.
Rainy’s “Joom Diver” in white is a real fish catcher.
Here’s a traditional “Sneaky Pete” diver, in bright yellow.
number one spot for attracting big smallmouth bass. Now, don’t get me wrong here ... sometimes it seems nothing will bring a big smallmouth bass up to the surface for a strike. At these times, an angler can resort to flinging big, articulated streamers that
imitate bait fish. Use a sinking-head line and fish near the same locations mentioned above. When it’s done right, the angler still gets to see the fish attack the fly – an amazing sight that keeps me going back to the water with unbounded enthusiasm.
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Maine Sportswoman (Continued from page 50)
Matt instructed. He’d no sooner finished his sentence when the bird flushed and headed right towards me. I readied my gun and watched the bird fly by. “Why didn’t you shoot?” young Parker asked when he emerged from the alders. “It was a woodcock, and their season doesn’t open until October 1st!” I responded. We hunted on, Parker never missed, and we finished the day with five grouse. Food, Food, Food In the dining hall that evening, we enjoyed melt-in-your-mouth grouse nuggets. We also feasted on ribeyes, grilled asparagus and fresh garden salad, and finished the meal off with homemade ice cream sandwiches. The food at Libby Camps is as renowned as the fishing. In the dining hall, I chatted with other guests and was surprised at the number of families staying at the camps. One couple had hunted with www.MaineSportsman.com
The author lost count of the number of salmon she caught with her guide, Jeff Labree.
their newborn in tow that day, and another family was wildlife watching. The camp wasn’t the good ole rich boys club like I had imagined. Salmon Sunday Sunday morning, after a large breakfast of blueberry pancakes, home fries and bacon, I set off to fish with Libby Guides Ben Rioux and Jeff Labree. With lunches packed, we drove to one of the Libby Outpost Camps which sits right on the shore of the Aroostook River. Unlike the cabins at the main camps, the outpost cabins are rustic,
“That evening, we did what people before us had done for a hundred years in the exact same spot – we shared hunting and fishing stories on the porch while watching the sun set below Millinocket Lake.”
with no electricity or running water. We dressed in our waders and headed to the deep pool below the cabin. It was a perfect fall day, and the salmon cooperated. We laughed, smoked cigars, and lost count of the number of salmon we caught. That evening we did what people before us had done for over a hundred years in the same exact spot – we shared hunting and fishing stories on the porch, while watching the sun set below Millinocket Lake.
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“Birding” As a youngster, the author woke up from a nap under a birch tree in time to shoot his first grouse. He ran into the house to tell his brother, Ron. In true brotherly fashion, Ron instructed the young hunter to get back outside and bag another bird. AHHHHHH. October! Finally, lovely, lovely October! Cool blue bird sky days, crisp, starry nights. My favorite month has arrived. This month I do get to enjoy one of my favorite hobbies, birding. Brother Ron taught me to love birding. Many autumns he let me follow along while he bird hunted when I was still too young to carry a gun. Ron shot many a supper for us at home. He seldom missed. First Bird When the day finally came that I was old enough to hunt on my own, Ron told me to grab my .410 and sit down where I could view the pear-apple tree behind our house. After school on that so important day, I a great seat with my back to a big old birch tree – a perfect set-up to ambush an incoming bird. Time crept by and I began to daydream. Then I fell soundly asleep. A rustling of leaves woke me. Standing 20 feet in front of me was a grouse. I raised the gun, fired, and scored my first bird. As I jumped up with excitement to go pick up the bird, I fell flat on my face! Both
legs had fallen asleep. Once recovered, I went back to the house to show Ron my trophy. Instead of praise, he, in true Ron fashion, asked me what the heck I was doing back so early. “Get back out there!” he ordered. I did go back out there, and sure enough, before dusk I’d shot my second bird! Ron did know what he was talking about. Ducks on the Pond? A couple seasons ago, my nephew Nick joined me in a birding venture. We were up north travelling gravel roads looking for the elusive partridge. Creeping along, I spotted a grouse perched on a blowdown. Nick exited the vehicle, loaded, aimed,
fired and missed. The bird casually walked up the blow down. It stopped to see what all the commotion was about. Nick fired again, missed again. The bird walked back down the blowdown and stopped again. Now let me explain, Nick is usually a crack shot. My first thought was his ammunition was faulty. He fired a third time, only to miss again. I then thought, Nick, being Island Boy’s son, might have inherited some of his dad’s talents. The grouse stood still, for it must have figured there was no threat around. Nick shot a fourth time, and the bird tumbled over. Nick then went
The author, grandson Trev, and a brace of ruffed grouse.
into the brush to retrieve the bird. I was about to make some wise observation about Nick’s shooting skills, when Nick returned to the truck with his limit of four birds. Guess I didn’t see the other three birds! Young and Skilled Grandson Trev is another young fellow who enjoys birding. I took him on his first-ever trip up north with scattergun in hand, in the hopes that we’d run into a couple of birds.
The author with sons Gerry, Jim, Jax, and grandkids Allie, Owen, Trev, and Mason
After we spotted a grouse perched several hundred feet ahead on the gravel road, I had a front row seat on his approach to get a shot at closer range. I noticed as he started his attempt, another grouse poked its head up in the grass close to the first one. I figured both birds would be long gone before he closed the distance. Boy was I wrong! After closing the distance, Trev fired, and the first grouse tumbled over. The second one ran into the puckerbrush. Trev pursued the second one and disappeared into the thick brush. Silence ensued for ten minutes, followed by the report of his .20 gauge. He exited the woods with second bird in hand, and grabbed the first one on his way back the truck. By the end of the day, he had successfully shot his limit of birds. Not bad for a first day of birding.
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54 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
“How Dark Was It?” It was Labor Day weekend, 1978. I was working alone in Garland doing night hunting surveillance. About 11:00 p.m., the State Police dispatcher called on the radio with a message for me to call home. This meant that either there was a problem at home, or my wife had a message for me that could not be broadcast over the radio. I left my position and drove to Clyde Smith’s store in Exeter so I could use the pay phone on the outside of the building. Over the phone, my wife relayed some information she’d received from a caller concerning possible illegal hunting activity. In those days we received many calls at home, at all hours of the day and night, and my wife had become quite proficient in sorting out all the relevant facts. As it turned out, I was very familiar with the area in Stetson where the illegal hunting was said to be occurring, since I’d grown up on a nearby dairy farm. In fact, chances were I was very well acquainted with the likely suspects. Waiting, and Munching Apples I drove to the location and stashed my vehicle about a half mile away, then proceeded on foot to www.MaineSportsman.com
It was 2 a.m. I was investigating a report of night hunting. As I stood in the darkness behind some lilac bushes, two men walked by. “That deer’s got to be right in the field somewhere,” said one fellow to the other.
The Warden was on midnight stakeout behind an apple tree, watching suspected poachers. To pass the time, he ate a few apples, then a few more, and then a few more.
a spot where I could survey the situation. There were only two residences in the area that were prone to this type of activity and I was aware of a family connection between them. I hung out there for about an hour in the darkness and noticed no sign of any activity. Becoming somewhat bored, I walked up the road a short way to check out an old favorite apple tree from my youth. I found it had produced an ample crop, so I ate several apples and tucked a few more in my pockets. Then I wandered back to the end of a driveway to
the residence that also had an old barn in its curtilage. As I munched on another apple, I became aware of voices coming up the road towards me. The people were very close, and I needed to take cover. Luckily, there were some lilac bushes close by, and I was able to quickly step behind them. “Deer Must Be Here Somewhere” As they walked past, I determined it was two men. One of them, whose voice I recognized, stated to the other, “That deer has got to be right there somewhere!” They continued on,
and shortly thereafter I saw a dim light being shone around in a pasture. Figuring they had departed from the other residence, about an eighth of a mile away, I moved my position there and waited in some tall grass next to the driveway. In about twenty minutes they arrived, walking down the road the same way I had come, and as they came into the yard a man whom I did not recognize stated, “I’ll be back first thing in the morning.” He then got into a vehicle and left, heading towards Route 143. After the man whose voice I knew went into
the house, I departed and walked back to my vehicle. It was now after 2:00 a.m., and realizing I would not be able to return home to sleep and also that I could use some help in the morning, I made my way to the home of Warden Terry Glatt in Levant, arriving around 3:00 a.m. I had called the barracks and asked them to call Terry and tell him that I was on my way there. Terry and his wife, Marcia, were both up when I arrived, and over coffee I explained the situation, telling him that this was going to be so easy – it’s like these night hunters were already caught. Terry seemed skeptical, but we came up with a plan that also included calling Warden Doug Minor and having him come meet us there in Levant one hour before daylight. Well before daylight the three of us, all in Minor’s Ford sedan, arrived back to the spot where I had stashed my vehicle the night before. We decided Minor would remain there with his vehicle, while Terry and I went on foot and picked out a suitable location to observe the anticipated morning’s activity. We positioned ourselves at the residence with the barn, and se(Continued on next page)
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lected a spot in some thick bushes where we thought it would give us the best chance to view different locations. Additionally, from my previous knowledge of hunting habits in the area, I knew it likely that any dead deer would be brought to the barn and hung up, inside, on a block & tackle. At 7:00 a.m., the man from the other residence, his wife and a St. Bernard dog walked up the road and into the driveway, right past us. The dog was an immediate concern to us, and sure enough, it sensed something and began to sniff around at our hiding place. Just as I was sure we would be discovered, the man called “Come” to the dog, and it took off after them. We breathed a sigh of relief as they walked over to the pasture area and looked around for a short time, then cut back across to their residence without coming back by us. Nature Calls It was about this time that I got that old intestinal bearing-down feeling. Nature was calling, and I suddenly remembered all those apples I’d
eaten. Luckily, Terry supplied me with his handkerchief, but I could not move very far away due to our limited cover. This was not a good thing, as the scent lingered. Every time there was a little wisp of breeze, Terry would begin to retch a little. Another hour passed, and the man who’d left in the vehicle during the night returned. Subsequently, he and the man of my close association walked back to the same pasture. They each carried a large paper bag as if they were intending on picking apples, but instead walked around in different areas looking on the ground. Before long, the unknown man called out to the other, “I found some blood,” to which my acquaintance replied, “See, I told you I don’t miss.” An hour later, the unknown man came into view, carrying a paper bag with something in it. He went to the front door of the residence connected with the barn, and was met by a woman I recognized. He asked about washing his hands, and went into the residence with the bag.
Time to Make Our Move Shortly, he came out with the bag, and walked back to the other residence. It wasn’t long before a vehicle drove in past us with two occupants, went up into a field area and returned with only one occupant. Now, nothing was happening for quite a spell and this was becoming a real waiting game, as it was close to 11:00 a.m. All of a sudden, we saw our two suspects dragging something through the tall grass and into the barn through a side door. It was finally time to make our move. As I approached the front door of the barn, one of them yelled out “Game wardens!” and through cracks in the barn door I could one man running back towards the side door. I yelled to Terry, “Side door!” and as he ran in that direction the man burst out through the door, knocking one hinge right off the door. I was able to enter through the front door into the open area of the barn floor. In front of me lay a doe deer, and up in the loft was my close acquaintance with the block & tackle. It seemed that his feet were moving but
there was no place to go, so I turned my attention to Terry and his fleeing man. I found that Terry had apprehended him after a short foot chase, as the guy tripped over a strand of barbed wire in the tall grass. I told my friend in the loft that he might as well come down, since there was no place to go up there. We called Minor on our portable radio to bring the car down, as we had everything in hand. We loaded up the deer, all got in and headed for the Penobscot County jail. Jury Trial As the case progressed in the judicial system, both men decided they wanted to have a jury trial. When that time arrived, we all assembled at the courthouse in Bangor for the trial. The defendants had obtained the services of an experienced attorney. During my direct testimony, I testified that it was a dark night and that I recognized one of the defendants’ voices making a statement about the deer. Their attorney seized on this as I hoped he would, but he was at a huge disadvantage, as the defendant had neglected to inform him
that he even knew me. When their attorney rose to start his cross examination, the first question he asked was, “Did you just testify that it was a dark night?” and I replied, “Yes.” He then asked, “How dark was it?” I stated that it was very dark, so of course, the next question was, “Since it was so dark, please explain to the jury how you could identify my client.” To the attorney’s chagrin, I proceeded to explain that I had grown up with the defendant, participated in many activities with him, rode the school bus that his father drove every day for eleven years, attended school with him, and there were only nine kids in our class. As the jury chuckled, the poor lawyer turned red and attempted to ask another question, but was so frustrated that he struck the blackboard with a wooden pointer, breaking the pointer. When I got out of the witness chair and sat back down with the prosecutor, he leaned over and whispered to me, “I think we might win this one.”
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56 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
October is Bill’s Top Month for Stayin’ Outside October speaks my language. I’m quite sure my bird dogs catch a sniff of cool evenings and color-splashed leaves. They’re feeling it too! Once they spot the first hint of fluorescent orange hunting gear, they start whining. Bring out a scattergun, and they go bonkers. This year the small game and grouse season opens a few days earlier than normal – Sept. 26 to be exact, with woodcock season starting October 1. By now I’m ready to hit the road looking for bird covers. But the Katahdin region offers so much more …. While us bird hunters work at burning all that pent-up energy out of our bird dogs, outdoor types recreate under the same fall foliage. In fact, some folks specifically target viewing this beautiful region painted in auburn red, autumn gold and what’s left of mallard green. They call themselves “Leaf Peepers.”
Leaf Peepers Leaf Peepers lead an idyllic life. They don’t really need much of a plan. With 360-degree scenery throughout the region, most any route will provide magazine-quality photo opportunities. Modern cell phones have unbelievable cameras. Most have a “scenery” or “landscape” mode for capturing distant sunsets casting one last flicker of light across utterly amazing country. Serious photographers go to the next level with high-quality digital cameras. Leaf Peepers sometimes combine their sport with moose watching. Moose rut during the early part of October, so the males tend to roam. Give these wide-horned ungulates plenty of room. They can decide to charge. No need to get really close – the zoom feature on cell phone cameras works sweet. For those rare scenery hounds who insist on a plan, the Katahdin Woods and
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Waters National Monument has a “Loop Road Interpretive Map” available by contacting them. This 16mile tour guide details some remarkable historical facts concerning the area. For expanded information and additional maps, visit www.friendsofkatahdinwoodsandwaters. org. Fall Camping Those of us who don’t like the hot, humid, sticky weather summer affords relish October. Many hikers and campers put their gear away after the first refreshingly cool breeze knocks summer on its butt. However, I’m pulling my camping gear out. Think about it – no bugs! Also, nothing beats a campfire on a cool October night. Campers debate the pros and cons of strapping a backpack on this “late” in the season. To get a little insight, I read an assortment of online
Willie Sheldon gives a few words of praise to our Brittany, Baxter. The dog did his job and held steady point until the timberdoodle rocketed skyward. Fortunately Willie intersected the flight path with a string of well-placed pellets. Bill Sheldon photo
comments concerning hiking in Baxter State Park during October. It led to some interesting conclusions. First, BSP closes overnight camping October 15. Only Chimney Pond and Daicey Pond campgrounds stay open until Oct. 22. The park remains open to “day” use throughout the year.
In inclement weather (early season snow), they may shut down some or all the trails. This leaves some hikers “concerned” that a planned trip could quickly turn into a pack it up and stay in a motel in Millinocket situation. Under certain circumstances, this could happen. While many online folks weighed in on this possibility, most of them rated it as unlikely. The key to having a safe, enjoyable excursion comes down to proper planning and preparation. Winter camping requires different equipment than summer camping. Fall camping can, occasionally, border on winter camping. The trick, simply (Continued on next page)
www.MaineSportsman.com
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put: plan like it’s a December trip, and everything will turn out fine. The internet has plenty of information on how to gear up for winter camping. Much of the summer gear crosses over. Brisk weather cries out for a four-season tent, a warm sleeping bag and some cold weather clothing. Other items, like the backpack, walking poles, cook stoves and water filters, do double duty simply fine. My folding saw gets more use when the temperature drops … keep that campfire stoked!
weather bags and a four-season tent. When my middle child, Matt, much younger and not a Scout, wanted to spend a night in the tent with us, I had to do some last-minute scrambling. All he had was a “Snoopy” sleeping bag. In vintage Sheldon style, I found an old 35-degree bag laying around. I slid the kid style “Snoopy” bag inside the newly-found bag. Neither bag got glowing reviews from Backpacker Magazine. “Salvation Army Weekly”?– Maybe! The temperature
plummeted to two degrees below zero that night. With Matt packed between us, I checked on him every hour or so. He finally told me to stop bothering him. Yup, slept snug as a bug in a rug. I worried all night as the wind rattled the tent.
From there, it’s boots on the ground for me and noses in the air for my dogs. Before long, one of them will lock up and point one of Maine’s famous “pa’tridge,” If not, we simply enjoy the walk. This gives me an opportunity to do three things I like – walk in
the woods, enjoy the foliage, and occasionally connect with a fast-flying grouse or woodcock. October is the perfect month to get outside and enjoy everything Katahdin Country has to offer.
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Pa’tridge Walk To keep my bird dogs happy, I’ll travel under the foliage up the Route 11 corridor, veering off onto any logging road that piques my interest. Usually I’ll drive a few miles off the main highway and find a place to park.
Sleeping Bag Ingenuity Sometimes, just a little common sense goes a long way. Many years ago, when my children were small, we often went winter camping with the Boy Scouts. My oldest son, Willie, and I had cold
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58 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Upland Hunting – A Lifestyle Worth Pursuing A bird hunter’s life consists of many phases. As a young lad trailing my dad through a nasty briar patch, I witnessed my first successful woodcock encounter. In the days before mandatory orange, my father had a brown canvas hunting vest, complete with a readyto-fill game pouch. It held half a dozen shot shells and not much else. He decorated it with a small pin-on compass just below his left shoulder. To his credit, he often took me bird hunting even though I was
too young to carry a firearm. My only instruction was to keep the back of that brown canvas vest within spittin’ distance. In those days, we had no dog to sniff out grouse or woodcock. But Dad was a longlegged guy who could really cover some ground. Even as an energetic kid I had to really work to keep up with him. By the end of the day, we always stuffed a few birds in that built-in game pouch I followed so closely. I remember the first time I saw a
timberdoodle rocket straight up from the ground before leveling off. It was a vision that has stayed with me all these years later. Most times woodcock explode straight up and at some point, level off and zig zag through the treetops with amazing speed and agility. Hit ’Em High I would learn an important lesson that cool fall morning. “Bang!” went Dad’s double automatic, and dinner dropped to the ground. He turned and gave me a few words of advice.
“It’s best to hit them at the high point of the initial flush, just before they level off,” he instructed while stuffing a plump timberdoodle deep into that old brown vest. As time marched along I got my own scatter gun and made a habit of sneaking up on grouse that frequented old logging trails. In this phase of bird hunting, I started to notice a few facts that would serve me well in the future. Careful observation revealed that many birds frequented the same covers
year after year. That went for woodcock and grouse. That stayed true until the covers changed dramatically. Identifying good bird covers suddenly rose to the top of my to-do list. Logging Road Jackpot Maine’s small game and grouse season opens September 26 this year. Woodcock season starts a few days later, on October 1. The Jackman Region has plenty of prime real estate for serious upland bird hunters. (Continued on next page)
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Finding prime covers in the region involves navigating some of the many active and inactive logging roads that provide access to miles of wild bird habitat. Many folks call driving the through the backcountry looking for birds, “heater hunting.” It certainly does help hunters cover massive amounts of ground. Biologists tell me that recently harvested forests that are in the early phase of re-establishing new growth attract grouse. The lumber industry in the Jackman Region has set the table nicely. Every time I see a truck loaded with logs, I figure they just put some grouse and woodcock covers in the bank for five years from now. Bird Covers I mention that grouse and woodcock often share the same covers. Woodcock do, however, favor soft ground loaded with earthworms. Don’t overlook wet lowlands lined with meat pole high alders. Woodcock also spend time in areas with birch and poplar trees
in the 12- to 20-foot range. They find some comfort in having an “umbrella” over their head and soft, worm friendly ground under their feet. I’ve also noticed an increased number of road hunters using side by side ATVs. This really appeals to my penchant for combining sports. Using these all terrain machines for hunting in the backcountry makes perfect sense. Hooked on Dogs For years I hunted winged dinners without the aid of a dog. Enter Dick Freeman. Freeman invited me to hunt with him and his German Short Hair Pointer. Freeman had named his 70-pound feather-finder “Hunter.” With a clicker on his hunting vest, he always kept track of Hunter’s points. On one stellar day Hunter tallied 60 points on a pod of migrating woodcock. Unfortunately, (or fortunately for the woodcock) many of those points happened in covers so thick that Freeman and I got no shot or poor shots. Days like those propelled me into the next phase of upland
bird hunting – dog ownership. Yup, in 2006 I started training my first Brittany Spaniel. We called her BD (short for Bird Dog). She’s 14 now and retired, but she gave me 12 solid years, and found a ton of birds. Spend Wisely One often-repeated bit of advice for aspiring bird hunters involves where to spend their money. The upland gunner who invests in a good dog will harvest lots of birds with a working man’s gun. The hunter who spends big on an expensive firearm by saving money on the dog will not need as many shells. A good feather-finder makes a world of difference. The Route 201 corridor from Solon to Jackman has multiple access points along both sides of the highway that lead deep into prime logging country. Finding areas with birds sunning themselves usually signals a good area to search for other birds. DeLorme’s Atlas maps 30 and 40 do a good job detailing this expansive real estate. These days, whenever we venture down the roads less traveled,
Matt Sheldon and Brian Vandal celebrate a successful walk along one of Jackman’s many minimum maintenance roads. A strong logging presence in the region creates countless opportunities for upland bird hunters. Logging cutoffs typically take five years plus to re-establish the type of new growth that attracts grouse. Bill Sheldon photo
we simply look for a cover that appeals to us. At that point we park way off the side of the road and let the sharp-nosed feather finders take a sniff. No birds? We keep moving.
The final phase of bird hunting involves bird dogs. Once they’re aboard bird hunting becomes a lifestyle … and a good one.
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60 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Grouse Numbers Up – Good News for Hunters As long-time grouse hunters know, bird populations go through high and low cycles. Last year, 2019, was one of those low years. Moreover, most birds encountered were mature specimens, a sign of brood failure the previous spring. Hunting pressure has little to do with bird numbers. Rather, a host of more significant factors come into play, including what happened in 2019 – a long, cold and wet spring resulted in higher-than-normal chick mortality, and that translated into fewer birds being available for hunters in October. But what goes down also must come up, and Moosehead Region guide Eric Holbrook has encouraging news for hunters this fall. Based upon seeing many more broods this year, along with individuals of differ-
Moosehead Region guide Eric Holbrook gives this year’s ruffed grouse hunt an encouraging B+, based on the numbers of pre-season birds he’s spotted. ent sizes – signifying different ages – Eric gives this year’s season a B+. Woodcock Woodcock numbers, Eric says, remain about the same as last year. This refers to “native” birds, those born in Maine and does not reflect the health of the Canadian population, or “flight” birds. Eric gives this year’s woodcock outlook a C. Annual Hunt My annual Moosehead Region grouse hunt last year with lodge owner and Maine guide Bob Lawrence of Rockwood, was enjoyable, despite seeing fewer birds than usual. Bob knows every road on paper company land, including disused tote roads.
He also knows which washouts are navigable and which are not. Each year’s hunt consists of us hitting the road at dawn and heading north from Rockwood. While we do more driving and looking, we also stop and push brush, especially when we notice a roadside grouse flying into the woods. Besides seeking grouse, Bob uses our time together to scout for moose. Riding along with this woodswise man for so many years has given me insight into game habits that I would have never gained otherwise. Now I can view a clear-cut area or a reverting hillside and have a pretty accurate idea if it is potential moose territory. Also, I’ve learned that moose rub their antlers on trees that even the biggest whitetail deer could never reach. Much of this rubbing is due to the animal venting steam, and also showing any other males that he is
top brass in the area. And moose tracks in the road often tell a tale of a struggle between two competing bulls. Finally, moose have travel lanes the same as deer, and these are usually clearly defined. Firearm Suggestions Upland game hunting in the Moosehead Region has no onesize-fits-all answer to shotgun gauges. Instead, hunters must match their firepower to the kind of terrain in which they hunt. Those hunting tight covers with bird dogs have little need for magnum loads or large-bore guns. One client hunting out of Lawrence’s Lakeside Cabins last year used a 28-gauge to good effect. Most people are divided between 20-gauge and 12-gauge smoothbores. A few hit the woods with 16-gauge shotguns. But 20s and 12s remain the most popular for hunting behind a
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The large clearings in which the author hunts ruffed grouse call for a big caliber and heavy shot. For knock-down power, Tom’s choice is 12 gauge ammo with number 6 shot. Photo courtesy Aguila Ammunition
bird dog. What Shot Size to Use? The question, then, pertains to what shot size to use. Number 7 ½ ranks as a top choice for grouse. For places where both grouse and woodcock are possible, number 8 shot suffices for both. Field loads take top billing in these close situations. For wide-ranging gunners like Bob Lawrence and me, 12-gauge is a must because of the increased knockdown power. I hunted one year with my 16-gauge L.C. Smith, side-by-side, and had difficulty killing birds that my 12-gauge would have easily dispatched. The longer distances afforded by wide-open hunting demands the ultimate in power. Magnum loads come into their own here as well. Also, number 6 shot stands as top (Continued on next page)
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choice. Also, a full-choke barrel isn’t necessary for hunting along wood roads. Even a modified bore 12-guage has plenty knockdown power and for wingshooting, the modified offers a better chance of success. West Outlet An inveterate angler, I cannot pass up the chance to fish for
trout, even in the middle of a bird-hunting trip. Luckily, the West Outlet of the Kennebec River remains open year-round and trout bite well there in October. With the cold water of autumn, fish hang near bottom and bouncing a lure or jig (in October it’s artificials-only) along bottom accounts for most hookups. That
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said, anglers may well note fish feeding on the surface. These are not trout, but rather, salmon. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W) has begun a salmon-stocking program on the West Outlet that has become quite successful. This is a catch-and-release situation for salmon, ostensibly until the (Continued on next page)
The author and hunting buddy Bob Lawrence see spectacular scenery during their fall grouse hunts. Tom Seymour photo
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62 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Nolan Raymond Betrays Family, Spills Beans on Catching Lunker Sebago Togue All Maine fishermen and women have their own little angling secrets and tricks, ranging from the “best” lure or fly, to that honey hole in the cove that is referred to in whispers and hushed tones. But I have a serious question – is it really a good idea to keep fishing secrets? I mean really – does it make sense? Soused Angler Tries to Tell All I recall a few years ago I was ice fishing Moosehead with my brother, dad, cousin and uncle. We were staying at one of the many rental cabins along the shore for a long weekend. One night, we had decided to go visit a restaurant/bar in Rockwood for dinner. As we were finishing our meal, a small commotion began over at the bar. An evidently intoxicated fisherman was hollering to his buddy, and we translated that he was spilling the beans on his best fishing spot to the other patrons! We sat and listened intently to what he was saying, although I’m not sure we got much out of it. As many of you
This high schooler asks the question, why are we keeping secrets from each other? We need to share information and work together to catch fish, because they are naturally smarter than we are. know, Moosehead is a big lake, and it can be intimidating to pick a spot where the fish are, because there are so many spots from which to select. Many anglers also know there are a lot of trout in Moosehead, and almost any piece of shore is sure to hold at least one or two. Who’s Smarter – Us, or the Fish? Fact is, fishing is a game of chance. As humans, we like to think we have the pattern figured out, and that we are smarter than the fish. To everyone who believes they are smarter than the fish, I have a piece of tough love for you – you’re not. The fish is smarter than you any day of the week. You may have figured out a neat lure, or a dropoff where they feed, but the fish is smarter than you. To prove this, I have a question: have you ever gone home after a day of fishing during which you didn’t catch a thing? If you fish with any
Moosehead (Continued from page 61)
population reaches a point where it can withstand a limited harvest. All the same, adding a leaping, silvery salmon to the day’s experience of www.MaineSportsman.com
frequency, you have been “skunked” multiple times. It’s not that there were no fish where you were fishing; it’s that they had you figured out. They weren’t going to play your stupid games. They had you hook, line, and sinker. Togue – Too Much of a Good Thing So this brings me back to my original question – should you keep fishing secrets? I don’t think so. My prime example comes from something I am familiar with – summertime Sebago togue fishing. Local anglers know that the togue of Sebago were introduced by the Inland Fisheries & Wildlife an exciting sportfish. Since their introduction, they have taken off; but a little too well. They have choked the out a lot of species. The landlocked salmon, Salmo Sebago, has inhabited Sebago for a long time. Sebago was once a world-renowned fishery for the elegant species. Another fish whose
Sebago population is near zero is the lake whitefish. Sebago was also once world renowned for those, too. For a time, they were so abundant that they were commercially harvested. Since then, though, togue have flourished. They have really hurt the smelt population, the primary feed for salmon and whitefish. So why should we keep secrets on togue fishing? Their numbers are harming some very treasured fish. We should want more people catching them. Secrets Revealed So I will start the secret-spilling right here and now – I catch quite a few togue throughout the summer. I use an eightfoot medium rod, with a Pflueger Pakron reel, 10 colors of lead core, and 50 feet of 30-pound braid backing. I have a line of Sebago brand spinners, a five foot, 15-pound mono leader, and a yellow gold Flatfish, size X4. Recently, I have also found out the Speedy Shiner also is quite effective.
bird hunting and brook trout fishing, comes as just icing on an already-sweet cake. Each year, DIF&W stocks fall yearling brook trout in West Outlet. These fish are so large and colorful and in such great shape that anyone might be
I locate an area on a depth map with dramatic depth changes, indicating a drop-off or shoals. I troll in between 70 and 110 feet of water, with 8 colors of lead core out. My other rod is equipped with a white Flatfish, size F7, behind a Jensen Dodger, with 15-pound monofilament leader. Above that is 50-pound braid to yard the set-up off of rocks and stuff on bottom. This goes in the downrigger about 30 feet under. There you have it – all my togue fishing secrets. This was a tough one to write, and I am sure some family members will be unhappy with me spilling the beans. But I assure them and you – it is for the good of the beautiful lake. Now it’s your turn, readers – open up and share some secrets of your own. An avid outdoorsman, Nolan Raymond is a sophomore at Hermon High School. In two successive years, he has been recognized with first-place awards in Maine youth outdoor writing contests.
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forgiven for thinking they are natives. So for high-grade, upland hunting, plus some exciting, fall fishing, head to the Moosehead Region. I’m sure you’ll be glad you did.
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All in a Day’s Work, Part 4:
Skeleton in the River On the previous night I’d received a radio call from the ranger of the Michaud Farm District. A canoeing party reported seeing a human skeleton lying in the river north of Gamash Brook in T13R13. Ranger Hafford requested that I meet him in the morning at the Henderson Brook Bridge access. This was to be my last day of patrol before several days off, but once again my schedule had changed. I made two radio calls. The first was to the Eagle Lake ranger requesting he meet me early the next morning at the Eagle Lake end of the Lock Dam Portage Trail. I needed a boat ride to Churchill. The second call was to my wife at Heron Lake HQ. I explained the situation and asked her to fuel my pickup and prepare a lunch, because I would be traveling north.
Covering the 12 miles to Churchill, the boat easily cut through the watery chop, while the Ranger and I discussed operational issues. Topics included unauthorized, oversized groups, crowded parking at John’s Bridge, and the many visitors who are seeking the campsite where the 1976 “alien abduction” occurred. The district is busy. Almost every campsite is full. Skeleton in the River At Churchill, my family was waiting with the equipment for my day. My daughter asked if she could go. I explained this was the not the type of mission my little girl should experience. I headed for Henderson Brook Bridge. Two hours later, I arrived at the put-in, where Ranger Lee Hafford was waiting with a canoe and motor.
I placed my day pack in the bow, and Lee started the outboard. With my right foot, I stepped into the canoe and with my left, pushed the craft out into the current. Traveling under the bridge, I remained low in my canoe seat, while Lee stood tall, and watching for hidden obstacles. The canoe moved upriver, slicing through the Long Sault Rapids. As we passed by Gamash Brook, all conversation ceased. Lee slowed our speed. We stared into the tannic-colored water, searching for any sign of bones. We reached Whittaker Brook without seeing anything, so we turned back north for another run. Still nothing. But it was too soon to give up, so back upriver we went. A short distance north of Gamash Brook, Lee spied a white skeleton lying
Henderson Brook bridge. Photo by T. Caverly
on the river’s bottom. On closer inspection, we agreed the carcass was the remains of a bear that was lost to the river. We were both relieved. Lee turned the canoe downstream, toward the truck that would take me home. It has been a long several days, and I was anxious to be reunited with my family. I arrived at HQ just in time for supper, with plans to spend my next day off on a lakeside picnic. But my radio beckoned. New Assignment “Greenville to 1700.” “Go ahead.”
“The Park Director called, and he would like you to meet with a well-known State Senator tomorrow morning at 10 a.m.” “10-4 – can you share the time, location, and purpose?” “The Senator wants to build a cabin near the Back-Channel Campsite on Round Pond in T13R12. He would like to meet you at Henderson Brook Bridge at 10 a.m. to walk the site. The next day’s planned outing with my family would have to wait, but thankfully, they had learned to be patient.
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A Place of History by Tim Caverly
Lock Dam on the Allagash is a place of history. Many years ago, I accompanied Bill Green of the WCSH-TV and Dr. Dave Putnam of the University of Maine at Presque Isle to Lock Dam to learn about native American life along this wilderness corridor. Before the Waterway was established and before rangers hired to enforce laws, many who traveled the river took for themselves whatever they found. Often, archaeological artifacts were the preferred target of scavengers. In fact, prior to 1966, one beach was so
Stone axe head, thought to be 5,000 years old, found by a ranger during my time as Waterway Supervisor. Photo by T. Caverly
turned over by rakes and spades that passers-by reported seeing a shoreline that appeared plowed and harrowed. Fortunately, today’s Allagash Rangers are schooled in the recognition and preservation of all historical objects.
During my time as Supervisor, one of my rangers pointed out a stone axe in the shallow water, estimated to be 5,000 years old. That relic is now safe guarded in the Maine’s Office of Historic Preservation. When the water is low, such as when the impoundment is being rebuild, I walk along the shore and imagine the tributary as it must have appeared when this was the river’s natural outlet. Along a portion of the ancient highwater mark, there appears rings of stones, revealing a time when the Wabanaki (“People of the dawn”) had campfires. www.MaineSportsman.com
64 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Is the Outdoors for Everyone? The outdoors is for everyone. Right? It’s easy to think so. All you have to do is, well, go outside. Walk in the woods, head to a state park, hit the trail, or wade in a stream. But it isn’t that simple for everyone. There are barriers many of us don’t see. Physical Barriers For people with limited mobility or physical disabilities, access to nature can be difficult or impossible. Physical barriers, such as rough terrain and steep access to streams and ponds, limit outdoor opportunities. Organizations like Project Healing Waters, Veteran Hunter, Back in the Maine Stream, and Casting for Recovery have done excellent work in helping people go beyond their physical and emotional barriers to enjoy the outdoors for self-renewal. A number of initiatives have addressed this problem by paving paths, building accessible fishing platforms – like the ones at Songo Locks and Messalonskee Stream – and ramps into the water at beaches, and designating accessible sites in campgrounds. But more needs to be done. Fortunately, the Great American Outdoors Act passed this summer will provide long term funding to expand access to public lands. www.MaineSportsman.com
Maine’s outdoor businesses must do much more to welcome people of color into the outdoors. Cheryl Bascomb has enjoyed hiking, paddling, and skiing in Maine for over 30 years. David Van Wie photos
Other Barriers There are also geographic and cultural barriers to enjoying the outdoors. Many people live in areas with little exposure to nature and open space. Too many grow up with no exposure to outdoor activities. Distance, transportation, equipment, cost, and lack of mentors are all very real barriers, even for those who would love to expand their experience in the outdoors. Not everyone lives within a short drive of public
land, parks, or beaches. Consider yourself lucky if you had someone teach you the basics, hand you a fishing rod or shotgun, and instill a love of nature. Maybe you were fortunate enough to go to summer camp and learn to paddle a canoe and camp overnight in a lean-to. A week at a local day camp can open a child’s eyes to the wonders of catching frogs, swimming in a pond, or chasing grasshoppers in a field. Otter
Garrett Van Wie, an expert birder, says it is all too rare to see other people of color in the Maine outdoors.
Pond YMCA Camp in Standish, for example, has taught generations of Portland-area kids to swim, build a campfire, and sleep under the stars. Not everyone has those opportunities and mentors. More Barriers There are additional barriers that certain segments of the population experience that most Maine residents do not. Anyone who spends time in the outdoors may notice that people of color are
underrepresented on trails, on our beaches, and in campgrounds. National surveys show that participation in outdoor activities by Blacks, Latinx and other people of color is significantly lower than their overall representation in the U.S. or even Maine’s population. As Marvin Gaye sang… “What’s Goin’ On?” There’s a persistent myth (and some dubious research) that claims that Black Americans are less interested, or even fearful, of outdoor activities and the wilds of nature. This myth confuses access and experience with interest or desire. Many Blacks and other people of color grow up fishing, hunting, birding and recreating near home. Many attend summer camp or experience the outdoors during (Continued on next page)
Cheryl Bascomb and her daughter Rosa Van Wie enjoy a winter hike near Observation Point in Zion National Park.
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Fall Wild Turkey Hunting September is a busy season for me. I love it when hunting season begins, and it won’t start to slow down until December. I like to kick it off with an early goose hunt, and then when it comes to mid-September the fall season for turkeys starts. In my region we can shoot 5 birds of either sex, so it’s a good opportunity to bag at least a couple of birds to make jerky with, or to throw on the grill. Fall turkey hunting is different from spring turkey season – it’s not mating season and the hens and toms don’t hang out together as much as they did in the spring. You will often see hens with the current year’s clutch, and sometimes a bachelor group of toms. You can shoot any wild turkey of any age, but I will try to shoot a tom if I can – the
poults have only about as much meat on them as a partridge. Spot and Stalk The best way to kill a wild turkey in the fall is to spot and stalk. However, if you have a dog, you can use it to flush the flock. Then put the dog up, get into position and use a “kee kee” run call to reassemble the flock. It works best with hens and poults, but not as well with toms. Another thing you could do is find out where there consistently feeding – like a cut cornfield – and try to intercept the birds. But spot-and-stalk in my experience is the best way to kill a fall turkey. If you can walk the hardwoods, find acorns or find a cornfield, bean field some agricultural field, and you will find turkeys. You’ll want to find
Sporting Environment (Continued from page 64)
college. But even with a solid start, their broader outdoor experience can be dauntingly off limits for other reasons. There are too many personal stories in which people of color feel unwelcome, openly discouraged, or harassed by an outdoor sports culture dominated by white participants. When surveyed, people of color who want to expand their outdoor experience report that the challenges of discrimination or simple rudeness discourage their willingness to venture out. It wasn’t so long ago that public beaches and swimming pools were segregated, and some national parks had
The author favors the spot-and-stalk method for hunting fall turkeys. Photo by Luke Giampetruzzi
some kind of cover to make your way to the field edge. Stay low and out of sight – turkeys have exceptionally good vision. There you can get a shot off. I use an extra full choke with number 4 shot, because you don’t always have the opportunity to get them in as close as you can in the spring. Good Eating, Despite What Folks Say Turkey season is a good opportunity to
get new hunters into the sport, but a lot of people I know don’t care to hunt them, because they say they don’t taste good. However, I’ve heard that same thing said about almost every kind of game meat, so I never take what I hear too seriously without trying it for myself. I never have a problem with how my wild turkey comes out with a secret jerky recipe turkey and steak seasoning. It’s simple but tastes great, and you don’t have to look through your spice cabinet for an hour to make some elaborate recipe. 1) Slice your turkey breast as thin as you can. I recommend putting it in the freezer till it gets stiff (not frozen) – this will make it so you can easily make a thin
“whites only” bathrooms. Memories of those days still linger. Black hunters may be reluctant to approach white landowners to ask permission to hunt or fish on private land. They may not feel safe carrying a firearm down a remote dirt road. Support Groups Fortunately, there’s a growing number of support groups to organize, teach, share experiences, and provide companionship for under-represented groups who want to enjoy the outdoors like the rest of us. Some of these may be found on Twitter or Instagram using hashtags like #brownfolksfishing, #diversifyoutdoors, #AfroOutdoors, National Brotherhood of Hunters, #outdoorasian, #browngirlsclimb, and many more. The leaders of Maine’s outdoor in-
slice, perfect for jerky. 2) Sprinkle on your steak seasoning. Just eyeball this – I have never gone by the book. Anyway, it’s foolproof. 3) If you can smoke it and make your jerky, it’s definitely better, but if you don’t have a smoker, just use a dehydrator. You can marinate the meat in half Worcestershire sauce and half soy sauce and a little liquid smoke – that stuff’s strong, so go easy. A few drops for a half gallon of mix. It’s a recipe you should give a try. So if you’re not bear hunting, then try wild turkeys for a good mid-September hunting opportunity.
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dustry can do more to make our state feel welcome to people of color – not just tourists from away, but our own residents as well. Reaching out to welcome some of these outdoor groups, and including more photos of people of color enjoying the Maine outdoors on tourism and outdoor business websites, would be a start. Two groups of which I am a member, the Outdoor Writers Association of America, and Trout Unlimited, are working hard to rethink how we can make the outdoor experience more welcoming to everyone in our diverse society. It will take a concerted effort over several years to move in the right direction. It is a journey worth taking. Let’s go.
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66 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Region Features Fins, Fur and Feathers This Month The Downeast Region features a multitude of waters where October sports can cast-and-blast. Many lakes and ponds in Hancock and Washington Counties have excellent fall fishing, as well as significant duck populations. By referring to DeLorme’s Atlas, Map 23, hunters and anglers can locate hot prospects in either category. Two notable waters for fish-andfeather enthusiasts to consider are Long Pond in Bucksport (Map 23, D-3), and Hadley Lake in East Machias (Map 26, B-3). Long Pond, Bucksport According to Casey McDonald of Bucksport, Long Pond contains bronzebacks in the 1- to 2-pound category, and some well-nourished white perch. Boaters often choose the more isolated parts of these waters for earlymorning duck hunting, and later move to the more inhabited areas to fish, thus completing a memorable cast-and-
Joe Rego, who runs Mad Quaker Guide Service in Prospect, said he expects hunters to tag an aboveaverage number of bear this year.
A greater-than-average number of bear may be tagged this season in the Downeast Region, predicts one local guide.
blast adventure. Hadley Lake, East Machias Another location, Hadley Lake, can also offer sports excellent same-day hunting and fishing opportunities. Hadley Lake is located in the coastal Washington County town of East Machias. This lake, essentially a wide spot in the East Machias River, provides
fisheries for warmwater fish. White perch are especially abundant, although many of them are small. Anglers at times have good catches of 10- to 11inch fish, which is excellent stock for a nice chowder. Pickerel provide a consistent fishery, with larger 22- to 26inch that can weigh in excess of 4 lbs. The smallmouth bass fishery is good for medium sized 14- to 16-inch fish. Anglers at times catch a number of this size fish, along with some 17- to-18inch fish. Ducks in the River Upstream from the lake lies the East Machias River. Jump
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shooting for ducks from a small watercraft is an excellent method on this water. Because of the bends and turns on this meandering river, hunters can get well into gun range before the ducks become alarmed. Duck-shooting action is often fast toward the end of this mile-and-a-half run. The best places to intercept a few unaware ducks are at the various turns in the river. This river is also an ideal location to set out a raft of decoys for an earlymorning hunt. A third gunning opportunity in this same area can be found on the outskirts of Machias (Map 26,
C-3). Timberdoodle hunters thrashing through alder covers, especially along Route 1, find productive covers. This Downeast area is one of the first stops for these migrating birds, which will settle in with the population of native woodcock. Other nearby birdy covers in this region are located all along the Machias River, especially near the Stud Mill Road. There are many alderstream covers that contain woodcock, as well as, some excellent partridge haunts, along some of the long-abandoned woods roads. Healthy partridge populations can be found by driving along the Stud Mill Road, especially between Fifth Machias Lake and the Machias River (Map 35, D-2, D-3). Many of these former paper company roads feature healthy pockets of grouse along the road, especially if there is a small stream crossing the road. Some of these old twitch roads off the main road also provide excellent cover to flush a few wily grouse. Home Bird Covers Other productive bird covers, closer to my home, exist in Prospect. These timberdoodle haunts are located in the vicinity of the Old County Road (Map 23, (Continued on page 70)
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Frye Mountain WMS Overgrown with Trees and Hunters, So Look to Land Trust Properties Some bird covers may be vanishing, but new opportunities have arisen in the form of land trusts – most of which allow hunting – that are springing up throughout the Midcoast Region like mushrooms after a September rain. Just when I think that all the good bird covers in Midcoast Maine are lost to development and posting, I find another cover. This just goes to show that persistence pays off. Of course we always have our Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), managed by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIF&W), to consider, but an increase in hunting pressure has offset much of the good they do. Also, a lack of upkeep has seen good cover become overgrown. Frye Mountain WMA in Montville was once premiere upland bird cover pretty much throughout its entirety. But over the last few years, this onceprime reverting farmland has been allowed to turn into an overgrown mess. What’s more, fields that once held pheasants and hares, along with the chance at long-range shots at deer, are now in the process of reverting, and in some cases it’s difficult to even locate once-prime fields. In years past, DIF&W used summer interns to prune unruly apple trees,
making for prime grouse habitat. Now the trees, like most everything else, are overgrown. Besides all this, so many hunters and their bird dogs pound the same covers that roadside chats devolve to the one wily woodcock that lives in such-and-such a cover. It’s too bad to see a once-valuable piece of upland real estate go to rack and ruin. Perhaps some day things will change, but for now the mountain has little to offer except maybe a chance for companionship in the form of all the other hunters who frequent the place. Land Trusts They say nature abhors a vacuum, and in the case of vanishing bird covers, new opportunities have largely supplanted the old and gone-by. Land trusts are springing up throughout the Midcoast region like mushrooms after a September rain. Most land trusts allow traditional activities, and those include hunting. A certain (in my estimation, misguided) bias against trapping and predator hunting sees both those activities banned on most land
trust properties, but at least we can still fish and hunt there. One of the large landowners, Coastal Mountains Land Trust, allows hunting, and many of these areas contain excellent reverting farmland. One such place, in Belfast, features fields, hedgerows, alders and lots of ancient apple trees. Hunting on these places comes with a caveat – the bulk of the users are hikers and walkers, not hunters. So if you drive to a Land Trust parcel and see vehicles already there, I recommend you don’t stop, but instead go on to the next parcel. Sadly, many nonconsumptive users of wild lands dislike hunting. This comes from a different lifestyle and different upbringing. Most of us consider hunting a cherished tradition, but a great many people now hold an opposite view. So in order to keep peace in the family, as my grandpa was fond of saying, avoid hunting on parcels with hikers or walkers already there. Fall Fishing The Midcoast Region boasts of sever-
The author and brace of grouse -- a good day afield.
al year-round trout rivers, streams really and rivers-in-nameonly. These places see regular stocking in spring and fall, and fall-stocked trout generally run large – as in between 12 and 16 inches. These trout, though hatchery-raised, fight as well as any trout, and due to the high-quality food our Maine hatchery system now uses, they taste as good as their wild cousins. One of my favorite fall haunts, the Medomak River in Waldoboro, gets stocked each fall at several locations. The most popular section of all is that area downstream from Wagner Bridge in Waldoboro. And that popularity means that it is difficult to find somewhere to stand. Better
to let those who enjoy “combat” fishing have at it and go to friendlier turf. Fortunately, two other areas that get stocked are nowhere near as busy. The bridge crossing on the Old Augusta Road stands as one of my favorites. Another place, the little park on the south side of Route 1 in Waldoboro, offers an easy, casual atmosphere. I like to bring a lunch to this spot and sit on one of the picnic tables to enjoy my time. An earthworm or live minnow fished on bottom does the work for me while I enjoy my picnic. The current here in fall can be swift or slow, depending upon recent rainfall amounts. It’s best (Continued on page 70) www.MaineSportsman.com
68 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Saltwater Anglers Enjoy Fine Season Maine’s 2020 saltwater fishing season will be pretty much over in the next week or two, and by most accounts it was a good one. For many anglers, striper fishing was perhaps the best in a decade. There were loads of 16” to 27” bass along the shorelines and up into the rivers and estuaries, and most folks I’ve spoken with said that the fish seemed a bit fatter – and feistier on the end of a line – than they have in the past. “The season started off phenomenally with fish from 23 to 27 inches,” said Capt. Greg Metcalf of the Striper Swiper out of Kennebunkport. “We were getting 15 to 20 per trip – real nice chunky fish, but as the water warmed up
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Surf caster Tom Brown of Boothbay landed and released this beautiful 45-inch striper from Popham Beach on July 18th, using a 12-pound spinning outfit. Photo by Chase Brown
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the Savage Gear Sand Eel and Livetarget Swimbaits, swimming plugs, and topwater poppers like Storm’s ever-reliable Rattlin’ Chug Bug accounted for loads of schoolsize bass all along the Maine coast. Surf Caster Scores Big And there were some nice keeper (and bigger) stripers between 28” and 35” taken this past season. One of my best trips, on August 7th, included a 37”, a 35”, and a 32” bass, along with a number of schoolies, all taken on mackerel chunks in the middle of the day. And one of the biggest fish I’ve heard of, a 45-incher that was (of course) released, was taken from Popham Beach at 9:40 a.m. on July 18th by surf caster Tom Brown of Boothbay, who used a 12-pound spin outfit armed with a mackerel chunk. Great catch Tom! Some veteran anglers, though, felt that there were fewer of the really large bass around than there have been in recent years. “We’re not seeing the number of fish over 40 inches that we used to see,” said Metcalf in late August. “I caught a dozen or so in each of the past couple of seasons, but the big ones have been a slower pick this year.” Mackerel? For some reason they were (Continued on next page)
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 69 (Continued from page 68)
a bit spottier in a few locations, such as the Boothbay area, than in previous seasons, but there was a good mix of sizes, including some really nice “clubs” pushing 18 inches. I didn’t see many of the “spikes” or 4-inch “tacks” that I love as live baits for stripers, but there were plenty of macks small enough for a 24-inch bass to easily glom onto. Offshore Fishing Strong On the offshore grounds, haddock fishing was terrific in a lot of locations including Plattes Bank. The fish seemed to run an inch
or two longer than those we took in 2019, and filling the 15-fishper-person daily bag limit was relatively easy. The cod catch remained fairly low in comparison, but some nice ones (by current standards, anyway) around 20 pounds were caught and released in June, July and August. The recreational cod “season,” one fish per person per day from September 15 to September 30, remained in effect, but a last-minute expanded season just for the for-hire fleet included the week of September 7th through the 14th, and will include Oc-
tober 1st through the 8th, so there’s a good opportunity to get out on a party or charter boat for a late-season “fill the freezer” trip. I didn’t see as many pollock on my offshore expeditions as I have in the past, but on the
bright side, we caught only one dogfish! Sharking Great, Tuna Decent Shark fishing was “off the charts,” according to Capt. Metcalf, who reported that he caught a total of
20 sharks in his first two trips alone, mostly blues that were released but also a thresher and a porbeagle. Bluefin tuna fishing was decent on Tanta’s and some of the other inside ledges, (Continued on next page)
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Dennis Blackman of Boothbay took this nice “bull” haddock on a trip with the author on July 21st. Haddock fishing was excellent this past summer, and filling the 15-fish daily bag limit was easy on many of the offshore grounds. Photo by Barry Gibson
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70 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Saltwater Fishing (Continued from page 69)
and there were several small fleets of boats off both Seguin and Monhegan Islands that did pretty well. Low prices and limited foreign and domestic markets due to Covid-19 kept many commercial tuna fishermen tied to the dock for much of the summer, but a lot of those who were willing to stick it out on the grounds for a night or two of live-baiting were rewarded with a bluefin to either sell –
if possible – or cut up back at the dock to give to friends. As of this writing I have not heard of any black sea bass or bluefish landed in Maine waters this season, but please email me if you have any info on catches of either species. And hey, only seven more months until the start of the 2021 saltwater season!
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Downeast Region (Continued from page 66)
E-1). This state-owned parcel, known as the Stockton Springs Flowage, creates ideal habitat for waterfowl, as well as excellent terrain for hunters to experience some fast-flying woodcock action. Thick alder growth between the Meadow’s Road and the northern end of this flowage may require a fresh box of shotgun shells when trying to bring down a few elusive woodcock. The thickets here are more easily hunted with the assistance of a trained bird dog.
Midcoast Report (Continued from page 67)
to hit it when water is a bit low. Saltwater, Too Fishing for harbor pollock at Lincolnville Beach was always one of my favorite October activities. But something has happened to our harbor pol-
Striper anglers found loads of bass in the mid-20-inch range this season, like this one displayed by Steve Jackson of NH aboard the author’s boat. Photo by Barry Gibson
Bear Prospects Bear hounds can be used from September 14 to October 30, 2020. Hunters may also take bear during the regular deer hunting seasons without the use of hounds or bait. Master Maine Guide Joe Rego of Prospect predicts this will be a banner year for bear. Joe runs Mad Quakers Guide Service (207-323-4213), which offers customers a bear hunt with dogs in October. Joe told me he expects this year’s harvest to exceed the average annual statewide number of 2,800 bear tagged. Early-season hunters using
bait harvest over 70% of the bear tagged annually. Wildlife Management District 26 statistics for 2019 showed a harvest of 42 bears, while MWD 28 tagged 125. The Downeast Area has numerous bear-hunting habitats. Excellent towns in WMD 26 to hunt, according to Joe Rego, include the towns of Brookville, Penobscot, Sedgewick, and Surry. Another area that may spell success in WMD 28 can be found on the outskirts of Harrington (Map 25, D-4), where a substantial number of bear have been feeding on berries all fall.
lock, at least in the upper reaches of Penobscot Bay. Last year I did not catch a single pollock. However, the mackerel were in thick. In fact, I took mackerel there well into December. Imagine, mackerel for Christmas dinner! Weird, yes, but oh so good. Also, flounder have returned to inshore sections of the bay, and those
using bait have every chance to take flounders. The law on winter flounder allows for an 8-fish daily bag limit and a 12-inch minimum length limit. Check the lawbook regularly, since these laws are subject to change. Enjoy your October in Maine’s Midcoast Region. It’s a great time in a great place.
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Wildlife Quiz Answers: Ruffed Grouse 1. The range of the ruffed grouse includes all of Canada and North America. 2. Ruffed grouse are lovingly called “Thunder Chickens.” 3. Ruffed grouse attract mates by rapidly beating their wings, creating a loud “thumping” sound. 4. When frightened, ruffed grouse www.MaineSportsman.com
typically explode wildly into flight, beating their wings very loudly. 5. Ruffed grouse feed almost exclusively on vegetation, including buds, leaves, berries, seeds and woody plants, but will also feed on small insects. 6. Ruffed grouse swallow small pieces of grit which pass into their gizzards and help them grind up hard food items
(Quiz on Page 21)
like nuts. 7. The “ruffed grouse cycle” is 10-years. 8. Hunter harvest numbers do not affect the 10 year “grouse cycle”; instead, scientists believe it depends on a number of various factors, including availability of feed and populations of other prey animals like the snowshoe hare.
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Hunting Teaches Valuable Life Lessons –
The Duck Hunting Fiasco of 2019 With early goose season having run through September 25, and regular goose season starting in most locations October 1, I am reminded of my duck hunting fiasco of 2019. I suppose more accurately, I should describe it as the NON-duck hunting fiasco of 2019. October 2019 marked my first missed opening day of duck hunting in 20 years. The reason for my non-participation wasn’t sickness, lack of motivation, foul weather or any other of
Deer season was even more eventful than duck season. What did spilling moose stew on my foot have to do with a trip to the hospital? Read all about it below, and remember: “Always Be Prepared.” And about the hole my new dog chewed in my waders ….. the standard reasons a typical sportsman might encounter to force such a dire circumstance. No, I didn’t go hunting because I didn’t have the required federal migratory waterfowl stamp. Now of course, here come the story …. The Story Two days before the waterfowl opener,
I realize that I had forgotten to purchase my waterfowl stamp from my local post office. While this is a task I typically accomplished much, much earlier, the demands of job, a dog and a family (and a demanding editor at The Maine Sportsman) sometimes force me to push to the back
burner tasks that aren’t critical until they become critical. Well, after visiting four local post offices and calling two others, I realized that things had suddenly become critical. Time and time again, I was given the same story – every postal office was sold out of stamps, and none knew even
when a new supply of stamps would arrive. Discouraged, I simply didn’t go hunting and didn’t bother to check back in for the remainder of the season. Weeks after the end of the 2019 duck hunting season I was talking about the entire fiasco with a (much younger) hunting friend, and he asked why I didn’t go online to purchase my waterfowl stamp? I’m guessing that by the dumbfounded look on my face he (Continued on next page)
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Central Maine (Continued from page 71)
could immediately see that I was noticeably confused, so he elaborated. Pulling out his fancy smartphone, he Googled “migratory waterfowl stamp,” and several links immediately appeared where stamps could be purchased online. Hunters can simply print off proof of payment or save it to their phone and voilà! – instant waterfowl stamp! In my state of absolute disbelief, I wove a web of obscenities that likely still hangs like a dark cloud over the north end of Messalonskee Lake. What gets me most about this entire ordeal, is that in contacting six different postal offices, not ONE postal worker knew enough to help direct me to this online service. In a day and age where nationally we are trying to attract youth into our outdoor traditions and retain the hunters we currently have, it seems to me these individuals need to be better educated in their own internal processes. Bella’s First Year Hunting October will be the first season of duck hunting for my new Labrador retriever, Bella. Bella is my second dog, my first being Onyx who survived 15 great hunting seasons, before finally succumbing to an aggressive form of canine cancer. After Onyx passed, I swore that I would never get another dog – the heartache www.MaineSportsman.com
had been too great, watching her sicken and finally needing to be euthanized. Time, however, heals all wounds, and after a few months I was on the phone with our breeder asking when the next litter would be available. I’m a dog person, my wife’s a dog person and my kids are dog people, so being without a dog makes if feel as if a critical component of life is missing. Training Bella has been fun, frustrating, easy and difficult. There has been good; there has been bad. I’ve had days where I felt like a complete failure as a dog trainer, and other days when I felt we could compete at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. This month will be the litmus test to all the time and effort we have spent together training, and I can’t wait for the day she brings that first duck to hand. Dogs teach sportsmen patience and unconditional love … even when they chew a hole through your brand new waders, it is still no wonder why through the ages, the dog has been and always will be, man’s (and woman’s) best friend. Hunting Accident Last November, at our annual deer camp, I was at camp busily preparing a feast for the guys, who I knew would be ravenous after a long day in the woods. As I prepared to transfer a boiling pot of moose stew from the stove top to the crockpot, the entire
This is the author’s foot. the day after the moose stew incident. Fortunately, friends and family prevailed upon the author to seek medical attention.
cauldron of scorching hot fluid slipped out of my gloved hands and spilled all down the front of my pants. At first, the shock of what had happened had me temporarily paralyzed, and all I could think was, “Damn! I just ruined a perfectly good pot of stew”! Seconds later, however, the pain hit, and I realized that I had done some real damage. A few friends were fortunately already at camp, and I was ordered to immediately remove my pants and socks. Fumbling to remove them, I then sat down and was provided wet towels to place over my legs and feet. It is likely the quick action of my buddies that ensured even more harm did not befall me. Over the next few hours, my legs and feet turned red and the skin on my right foot started to peel away. Though the pain in my foot was intense, the actual damage appeared minor. After soaking my foot for about an hour, the pain seemed to subside,
Big Dave with his 4-point buck -- the second deer shot at our friends-and-family deer camp in 20 years!
and I put on a loosefitting pair of slippers and proceeded to carry on for the remainder of the evening like everything was fine. Awakening the next morning, I felt an odd sensation in my right foot, it felt as though it was badly swollen. Swinging my foot out from beneath the covers, I was a little shocked at the amount and size of the blisters that had formed overnight. After showing my friends and family, I was instructed to go immediately to the hospital. At first I refused, but after a few hours of hobbling around, I decided that maybe they were right. At Urgent Care, I was told I had suffered second and potentially third degree burns on my right foot. My foot was swabbed in sanitizing ointment and bandaged, and I was instructed to keep
it clean. Despite doctor’s orders, I woke up early the next morning, crammed my badlyswollen foot into a boot, and helped my friend Dave haul his deer out. Yes, I’m a horrible patient. So what does all this have to do with hunting? Everything! After the accident, I began thinking of how inadequate my first aid kit was at camp, how I needed to make sure to use my safety harness each and every time I climb into a deer stand, and I even ordered a wound sealing powder called Celox, a product designed to stop bleeding almost immediately if a person suffers a traumatic injury. The life lesson here is the same as it was when I was in the scouts – always be prepared!
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October Features Togue, Birds, Deer and Turkeys October to me was always about birds and ducks. Sure they are two of the things in season, but there’s a whole lot more sporting bounty to be had in this region. Sit back and let’s contemplate October from a busy sport’s perspective. No need to put that boat away or hang up your rod and reel. Sebago Lake (DeLorme Atlas, Map 5, C-1) is open to lake trout angling from now through the end of December, and more and more anglers are taking advantage of fall fishing on the big lake. While salmon are off the table, anglers can still dredge the lake for togue. The law changes on October 1 to “artificial lures only,” but I’ve been having such good luck this year with rubber imitation smelt that I think they are out-fishing bait. Artificial Lures Rule I’ve been running blue or purple Live Action Twitch Minnows almost exclusively all summer and taking togue at a great pace. I attach them to my leader behind a wobbler flasher and use a sliding bait harness to hold them – a deadly combo. Trolling spoons or Flatfish will also work for fall lakers. Nickel/ copper combos have been hot on Sebago this summer, as have orange Mooselook wobblers.
Given the liberal pheasant stocking program in parts of York and Cumberland Counties, hunters can pursue these large, raucous birds for some fun shooting. Check the MDIFW website for release dates and sites, which usually include rural areas of Windham, Lyman, Dayton, Gorham and Buxton.
The author guided sisters Wendy Nunez (right) and Debora Katz to a nice bounty of Sebago Lake togue. Photo by Tom Roth
Just be sure you target the bottom with your offerings, as this is where the togue hang. This month on Sebago Lake, anglers can still keep all togue under 26 inches and can keep one fish that is 26 inches or greater. To the north, Thompson Lake (Map 5, A-2) is still open for anglers, and hosts a huge population of lake trout. Anglers troll Thompson with lead core line and also downriggers, but a small fraternity of anglers jig lures like they would during ice fishing season. Thompson Lake, beginning October 1, is artificial
lure only rules, and all trout, salmon and lake trout must be released. By jigging a Swedish pimple or other popular jig, anchored anglers can latch onto a Thompson togue. Duck Hunting Nothing conjures up a more romantic fall image than a morning on a marsh as the sun rises and the ducks begin to fly in. Regular duck season opened on September 28 for the northern zone, and opens October 1 for the southern zone. This region has myriad small ponds and backwaters where a gunner can find
ducks. The Androscoggin River, as it winds from Turner (Map 11, C-5) south through Durham (Map 6, B-1)
is a top duck spot. Mallards and blacks make up the lion’s share of ducks, but you can find wood ducks, teal and even geese. Bird season for grouse, quail and pheasant opened September 26, while woodcock season begins October 1. With a liberal pheasant stocking program in parts of York and Cumberland Counties, hunters can walk up or have their dog push these large, raucous birds for some fun shooting. Release sites can get crowded and most of the time sportsmanship prevails, but many hunters, especially those with good dogs, wait until the crowd has scattered the birds on Mondays and hunt them later in the week. Check the MDIFW website for release dates and sites, which usually include rural areas of Windham, Ly(Continued on page 75)
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74 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Trapping Season’s Here or Near – Ready or Not The early fox and coyote season along with the early muskrat season in certain areas open this month. I hope that all the trappers have their gear ready for the trapping season. For many trappers it has been a hard year to get all their required supplies. As we all know, The New England Trappers Weekend and the Maine Trappers Association (MTA) Rendezvous were cancelled earlier due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. These two events with their trapping supply vendors are a main source of supplies for many Maine trappers. Along with their shutdowns, many businesses were closed, and mail ordering of supplies was impacted. Some suppliers had problems getting in stock as manufacturing was also im-
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Can’t get commercial baits or lures because of delays in production? Consider making your own. Experienced trappers often make their own baits, and a few make lures. For beginners, the best way to find a trapping mentor is on the Maine Trappers Association (MTA) Facebook page or the MTA website, or to email the MTA. pacted due to closures. This has resulted in trappers improvising in some areas. An example is the preparation of traps. In recent years it has been easy due to the availability of modern products used in the dyeing and waxing of traps. The hardest part in recent times has been the cleaning and adjustments made to get the traps ready for dying and waxing. The availability of chemical preparations is the easiest. All you need is to dip the clean traps into the solution prepared in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. The
other way is to boil the cleaned and adjusted traps in a commercially available logwood dye solution until the trap is dyed, and then dip into hot wax and hanging them up to dry. Depending on the type and use of the traps, some do not require waxing. Today most trappers dip all their traps into a chemical solution, although many stick to the dye and wax method for their canine foothold traps. The way to improvise the dying of traps is to do it in one of the old-fashioned ways. In our geographical area,
this means boiling the traps in a solution of water and some type of natural vegetation. There are many that may be used such as maple bark, walnut hulls, butter nut hulls, sumac berries, hemlock twigs, and sweet fern. Those who buy their bait and lures got them ordered from some of the manufacturers if they couldn’t find what they need from the local Maine trapping supply businesses. Many of the older more experienced trappers make many of their own baits, and a few make lures. For those new to trapping, the best way to find local dealers or a trapping mentor if needed, is to go to the Maine Trappers Association Face Book Page, the MTA website www.mainetrappers.com, or email the MTA at mainetrappers@yahoo.com. The MTA also has a mentor program to help new trappers to “learn the ropes,” as they say. If the new trapper needs or wants a mentor, hopefully there is one in your local area. Contacting the MTA Educational Director
Marvin McBreairty through our websites or on Facebook will provide you with information on the mentor Program. Simple Baits For those wishing to make their own baits for the trapping of predators, two of the best meats to utilize are that of the beaver and bobcat that you get this year. There are many ways to prepare it, but a couple of simple methods is to either grind up the meat or cut it into chunks about half the size of a marshmallow. It may be used as is (fresh), or it may be enhanced by letting it taint. Either way, adding a commercially available “Base Solution” made by some of the larger trapping suppliers will make it more attractive. One of several available is that produced by Night Owl Lures, called Supreme Solution. These solutions have various combined ingredients that when mixed in a bait produces a more attractive product for the various predator species. Fresh small fish or chunks of larger fish are the best bait choices for mink, raccoon and otter. These may be fresh-frozen for use, or salted to preserve it. Salted eel has been a popular bait for mink for many generations of trappers. Many (Continued on next page)
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 75
Chemical Trap Dyes. Products supplied by Rankin Trapping Supplies.
Base Solution – One of several utilized in making baits. Photos by David Miller (Continued from page 74)
of the more common baits and attractants used for the different
species trapped may be found in the National Trappers Associations Trapping Handbook.
¶
Sebago to Auburn (Continued from page 73)
man, Dayton, Gorham and Buxton. Grouse and woodcock hunters are out in force this month. Summer resident woodcock are a quick target, and later in the month the flight birds will come down from up north. These diminutive birds are a challenging target and hold tight for dogs – a true bird hunters dream quarry. Hunters concentrating on grown-in fields with lowlands that hold moisture will find woodcock. Grouse in this region are skittish and scarce, but can be found. Look for old orchards in the woods, and try to sneak up on a bird eating apples that
Log Wood Type Trap Dyes. Products supplied by Rankin Trapping Supplies
have dropped. Deer Action Expanded archery season has been up and running in designated areas since September 12. Regular archery season opens October 3 and runs through October 30. Hunters can use regular archery gear or crossbows during this month’s hunt. The rural parts of Lewiston and Auburn hold great numbers of deer, as do the more secluded hamlets like Poland, Raymond and Casco. In fact, most any small town in this region offers good deer hunting. Turkey Time Gobbler hunters really have it good this month. With a fall season that
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started on September 14 and runs through November 7, hunters in this area can bag 5 turkeys of either sex. Now, these birds don’t act like the mating toms of the spring, but if you do your homework you can find a flock and intercept it in the woods. Some hunters liken fall turkey hunting to spot-andstalk deer hunting, for good reason. October rolls in fast and leaves just as rapidly. With so many sporting opportunities, it’s a wonder we have time to pursue more than one or two activities. You can bet I’ll opt for the castand-blast option with some late-season angling before I put the boat away. What are your plans?
¶
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76 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Hunting Methods for the Two Different Southern Maines I grew up in the Mousam River valley in Emery Mills and Shapleigh. For millions of years, the Mousam drained mountains in what are now Acton and Shapleigh, cutting a path to the sea in Kennebunk. The section I live on is one of the most interesting waters in southern Maine. Glaciers carved out a path though ledges from Emery Mills to Springvale, creating gorges cut into solid rocks. From Springvale to the sea, my Mousam is quite boring, choked with old outdated power dams, and silt-bottomed slow waters – only a few sections have any character at all. See for yourselves – just walk the “Mousam Way Trail” in Sanford and Springvale, the Mousam starts to become interesting from Springvale upstream to “Indians Last Leap.” Nature protects much of the river upstream of the Leap from development because of the ledge and rocky terrain in the upper part of the river. I’ve fished and hunted this valley all my life, and of course seen many changes – none of them good. It seems mankind has a way of messing up everything we touch. I’m becoming an environmentalist – a tree-hugger. My home is in a valley, so I’m surrounded by ridges. We call them mountains, but folks from out west www.MaineSportsman.com
would consider them speed bumps, compared to their Rocky Mountains. I grew up hunting and fishing in an emerald forest, with stately oaks, giant pines and cascading brooks and the Mousam full of trout and smallmouth bass. Things started going badly one frosty November morning in the late 1960s as I hunted along a ridge behind my home. I stepped out onto a surveyor’s line three feet wide running through the forest. It was well marked with orange ribbon. The following summer all hell broke loose with the sounds of chainsaws, trucks and skidders, all within a hundred yards from my home. Power Line! The CMP power line cut York County in half, and opened up miles of pristine forest to easy access for ATV traffic and easy hunting access for lazy hunters. The first few years, the power line was a blood bath in rifle season. Hunters from Sanford and Biddeford came in large numbers and formed deer drives, killing many deer (this was prior to regulations restricting driving deer in Maine). The forest has been logged by landowners over the years, too; however it was selective cut, which is actually good for deer populations. So over the years southern Maine has evolved into a di-
verse landscape with different hunting opportunities, and that power line seems to divide the region in half, both socially and environmentally, kind of like the “Mason/Dixon Line.” Two Southern Maines North of the power line, you will see more Trump signs and pickup trucks, and south of the line it’s more Volvos and RAV4’s. Hunting environments can be different, as well. In the north it’s mountains and old farmlands reverting back to nature, while to the south, hunting is more confined to woodlots and suburban-type hunting. The southern Maine agricultural areas are located in the eastern part of this region in Biddeford, Saco, Arundel, Buxton and Hollis. There are some large active farmlands located in these towns. Each landscape offers different hunting methods and tactics. Some involve delicate landowner relations, and others offer semi-remote hunting with endless land to hunt. I have hunted and fished extensively all this region. I once was a mighty deer-slayer, at least in my own mind. Today I hunt a lot, but not as hard as I used too. I sleep in, and focus on my grandkids and their active sports activities – I attend all their games, and even became a coach over
This power line in Shapleigh cuts York County in half. Its construction changed the environment and deer patterns in the area forever. Photo by Val Marquez
the years. Adjust Hunting Tactics For archers, the best chance for success is in the southern region – especially coastal areas. Many spots have high deer numbers, located in suburbs or town forests. Each year, bowhunters and firearms hunters kill large deer in these areas. But not all areas are small suburbs and woodlots – there are some large tracts of land just north of I-95 from Kittery to Portland. Most have restrictions, and you need to consult with town officials and local police before hunting. There are also plenty of locations to hunt with a firearm, shotgun or muzzleloader, and of course archery gear, between the coast and the Shapleigh power line. North of the power line is more rural, with larger sections of land along with mountains. As you travel farther north in Newfield, Shapleigh, Parsons-
field, and Porter, you can hunt in more remote areas with large tracts of land available. However, deer are spread out more, and it takes time to scout for hunting locations. The north offers good firearms hunting, and you will have less success with a bow in hand. Locating Deer Locating deer and patterning them once the leaves have dropped can be difficult. Scouting along brooks and streams will help you locate active deer trails. Deer generally cross streams in the same locations, and their tracks show well in mud even during leaf drop when their trails through the woods seem to disappear. Another way to locate deer is along steep ridges. Deer will angle down the ridge, leaving distinct tornup trails along the ridge that are easy to see even when it’s raining leaves – these (Continued on page 78)
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 77
Moose Magic This Month in the Rangeley Region Over the years I’ve guided several moose hunts in the Rangeley Region, Wildlife Management District (WMD) 7, and even drew my own tag in 2010 for a bull. I had a 100-percent success rate going until the last hunt in 2014. We saw two shooter bulls on that trip; the first one offered a brief shot while crossing an unused logging road, and the second hardly showed itself in the thick brush – the hunter decided not to shoot each time. The toughest hunt was my own hunt in 2010, something that I thought would be easy. I passed up several smaller bulls the first few days of the hunt, figuring I’d be able to hold out for one of the trophy-sized bulls I had been seeing while scouting before the season. To make a long story short, I spotted a huge B&C bull in a clearcut way up on a ridge about 800 yards from my position on
the last day and last hour of the hunt. As I scrambled up the ridge, I checked the time and realized I couldn’t make it to the bull before shooting time ended that season. When I climbed back down to the logging road I could see a small bull just down the trail, so I dropped it to finish the season. At first I thought I might be disappointed in the small bull, but it tasted great and I had such a great time of hunting that week that I couldn’t complain one bit. Happy Hunting I think that even if I hadn’t dropped the small bull, I still would have enjoyed that week of romping in the wild October woods. I camped right out in the woods in a unique tepee shelter from a Colorado-based company called Kifaru (kifaru.net), shot a few grouse and cooked them in camp, and enjoyed the company of some good hunting
buddies. I also got to fill the freezer with some great-tasting moose meat that I passed out to family and friends and really enjoyed cooking the flavorful wild game meat. A good moose steak ranks right up there with my favorite wild game dishes; venison, grouse and brook trout. Throughout the last decade or so there has been a statement thrown around that goes like this: when someone is asked, “How’s it been going?” the glib response is, “I’m living the dream.” In the case above, I was really living the dream, because I had literally dreamed about this trip for
years. After guiding hunters to their dream moose year after year, I was so ready to drop my own bull. I did shoot one in 1998, but that was sheer luck – we drove into an area that was loaded with moose and one just popped out of the brush and I put two shots in the boiler room to finish it. This dream trip involved so much more than knocking over a big bull. If I had finished it the first day I think I might have been sad; missing the rest of the week in the colorful fall woods. There’s just something about strolling the Maine woods with a rifle or shotgun in hand in the autumn
that gets my blood going ... it stirs my soul, refreshes my youthful zest for life and soothes the savage beast within. (Well, I’m not sure about the savage beast within, but it sure makes me feel like a kid again!) Moose Success To add to the joy of hunting moose this fall, make it even better by actually shooting a big bull. Shooting a big bull is the reward for all of the hard work a hunter puts into the week of hunting ... and the many days of preseason scouting and range time. First off, do enough scouting to be confident that you know where the big bulls (Continued on next page)
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78 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Remote campsite hunting captures the essence of a Maine moose hunt.
Rangeley Region (Continued from page 77)
roam. Narrow that location down to four or five specific calling sites by laying out scent and calling sequences several days before the hunt. Then on opening day, the bull of your dreams will be more likely to show up and give you a chance at a shot.
I always had at least five calling locations set up a few days before the hunt. I would go out in the evening, just before dark or during the darkness, and call in the locations where I had left a “cow-inheat” scented canister hanging from the
Southern Maine (Continued from page 76)
are always good ambush sites. I can show you a trail down a ridge here in Shapleigh that I killed deer on over 50 years ago, and that same trail is still being used today.
It took all week to get this small bull -- big bulls are not a sure thing.
trees. The second or third evening of calling would tell me which sites looked the best – I certainly would be at the spot with the largest and most plentiful tracks and bull sign on opening day. I would use the alternate sites if another hunter happened to make it to my choice site before I did on opening day. Often, the second or
Pennsylvania hunter Charles Freeman, Sr., with the rack from a nice bull from WMD 7.
third choice site would turn out to be the trophy site anyway. On one memorable hunt, someone shot a nice bull off of my site earlier that opening morning. My client went back into the same site later that day and shot an even larger bull – with a 55-inch spread. Stay as scent-free as possible, use the wind to your advantage, make sure you
Traveling hunters should consider the large “Wildlife Management Areas” (WMAs) in southern Maine. They are public lands and open to hunting. Hike the brooks, streams and steep ridges to find good hunting areas. Let your fingers on the computer keyboard do a lot of your scouting; these areas are easy to locate on Google Maps.
can hit a paper plate off-hand at 100 yards, and use premium ammo. A Maine moose hunt ranks as a dream hunt of a lifetime whether the hunter drops a big bull or not, but it sure is nice to ponder the past hunt while enjoying a meal of flavorful moose meat.
¶
Pick your preferred hunting methods and decide on the type of hunting experience you like – tree stand hunting in the suburbs, or deep woods deer hunting. Southern Maine offers a diverse habitat and opportunities on either side of the power line.
¶
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 79
A Joyful Walk in October Woods of the Western Maine Mountains As we suffered through this summer’s heat and humidity, the cool and crisp mornings of autumn seemed like a far-off pipe dream. I remember back to my young adulthood, and how wonderful the smells, sounds and sights of October were and what they meant – October, and the opening of bird season! I never hunted bear as a kid, so bird season was the start of the fall hunting season for me. The fishing gear had been cleaned, sorted and put away until the next year. I guess the urge to get out into the woods overshadowed my love of fishing ... I never considered fishing in October. Given my current extreme love of fly fishing, my whole world of outdoor activity gets kind of jammed up in October. Moose hunting throws another kink into the mix, so I’m really rolling when the month of October comes around. I stopped bow hunting for white-tailed deer a few years back because I found that was spreading things too thin. I can do it all right here in the beauty of the Western Maine Mountains (WMM). One of my favorite activities in October is such a simple thing – I love just walking in the woods. I find the earthy scent of decay-
Upland game hunting in the Western Maine Mountains often involves trudging through swampy areas. I used to wear short boots, and I had to hop from one dry area to the next. Now I wear kneehigh rubber boots, which allows me to walk right through the mud without getting wet ... a joy for us bird hunters. ing organic material stirred up by my boots on the forest floor invigorates the very root of my soul. Last year’s empty shotgun shells, a few still in my vest, reek with the acrid smell of burned gunpowder – a pleasant scent that evokes glorious memories of seasons past. Boots on the Ground For years I have happily worn a pair of Bean’s hunting boots, not the familiar rubber pac boot, but a pair of what they call “Technical Kangaroo Upland Boots with Boa Closure.” These rugged and comfortable boots have lasted well over five years and I still wear them out in the back yard when
completing chores. Over the years, I have found that I like a taller boot when bird hunting ... I move through some thick brush at a fast pace and can really bang up my shins without the extra-high boots. I have found tall rubber boots from LaCrosse (their Alpha line) work perfectly – keeping my feet dry and shins protected. This year I’ll be testing a pair of rubber boots from Gumleaf Boots (gumleafusa. com), a company that uses a special rubber blend that is supposed to really resist wear and leakage. I’ve run around the yard with them already, and I can feel a definite extra comfort in their
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construction. I’ll keep a close tab on the wear and tear over the next few years, and report
on the outcome. With my shorter leather boots, I used to hop from one dry area to the next when crossing through swampy territory to avoid getting stuck in the muck and having water come over the tops. Now, with the knee-high rubber boots I can walk right (Continued on next page)
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80 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Western Maine Mountains (Continued from page 79)
through the mud and even cross some fairly deep brooks without getting wet ... a joy for bird hunters deep in the swampland that often accompanies upland hunting. Both Barrels I must say, I think I have found the shotgun of my dreams at last. I’m sure there are many other brands and styles that I could get used to, but this new (to me) L.C. Smith, 20-gauge double-barreled shotgun is such a pleasure to carry in the woods
that I can’t say enough about it here. In the past, I have always carried the same model shotgun, but in the 12-gauge configuration. I always thought the 12-gauge was needed for more “oomph” in difficult shooting situations. I have come to find the 20-gauge is all I need and works fine, even when birds fly behind heavy foliage or for those longer shots. My L.C. Smith 20-gauge has improved cylinder and modified barrels and does just fine ... I ac-
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tually don’t notice any difference in the effectiveness between the 12- and 20-gauge. But, for me, the lighter 20-gauge, with 26inch barrels, carries and swings exactly the way I want it to. The longer and heavier 28-inch barrels on the 12-gauge seem bulky and clumsy to me now, and I really notice the difference in weight at the end of the day. In short, the 20-gauge is a joy to carry and shoot all day long. I took one shot at a fast-flying grouse last year that proved to me all I needed to know about this little double. Ginger pointed a bird on a steep bank to my right and the bird
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�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 81
— Trophy Photos —
Newest Member of The Maine Sportsman’s Catch-and-Release Club
Johnna Ferland of Poland, ME caught this 4-pound, 11-oz. brook trout on May 18, 2020 at Moosehed Lake.
Jared Kimble of Brooklin, ME earned his Maine Sportsman “Catch-and-Release” patch when he was kayak-fishing on September 1, 2020 at Pierce Pond. The 21-inch lunker was caught using a chartreuse spinnerbait lure and a Gayland Hachey custom rod. *** For more information on The Maine Sportsman’s Catch-and-Release Club, and other trophy clubs, visit www.MaineSportsman.com/Patch-Club.
Cory Pomeroy of Winslow, ME caught this 4-pound, 8-oz. brook trout on July 12, 2020 at Moosehead Lake.
Lara Morgan Webb bagged this tom turkey in Hope, Maine during the spring hunt.
Emily Goode of Bucksport, ME bagged this 170.5-pound bear while hunting in her hometown on August 31, 2020.
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82 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
Naked, But Not Particularly Afraid I’m not much for reality TV. In fact, I’m not even much for reality. Fortunately, reality TV has almost nothing to do with reality. I discovered this recently while watching a wilderness survival program called “Naked and Afraid.” Let’s get the naughty part out of the way first: The people on this show are naked in the same sense that normally dressed people are naked under their clothes. The network censors blot out all the fleshy bits, except for an occasional well-developed gluteus maximus. From what the viewer can actually see, the contestants could be elegantly attired in tuxedos and evening gowns. (Come to think of it, it might
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What would the author do if he found himself thrust nude into the wilderness with naught but his wits and one object of his choosing? Could he find food and water? Could he construct shelter? Could he avoid being arrested for indecent exposure? be fun to watch formally dressed survivalists plopped into hostile terrain like jungles or glaciers or Seattle.) That lack of actual nudity pretty much demolishes any reason – other than to cheer on one contestant, Maine’s own Kate Wentworth – for watching this cut-rate version of “Survivor.” But I had to watch, because the editor told me to. “It’ll be the closest you ever get to having to survive in the wild,” he said. First, though, I had to survive the possibility I might die of boredom.
Here’s how the show works: Naked people – usually, but not always, one man and one woman – are deposited in some unlikely place and told they have a certain number of days to reach some other unlikely place. They’re allowed to bring one item with them, such as a knife, a pot or a complete bound set of Field & Stream. Other than that, they’re alone in the wilderness. Except for a film crew. Because they’re on camera, the contestants are encouraged to make dramatic statements. Because they’re not actors, most of these statements come off as pompous (“I know what it’s like
to step out and be the hero”), obvious (“Tomorrow’s the dawn of a new day”) or sorta stupid (“You live and die by your feet”). After watching a few episodes (three hours of my life I’ll never get back), I was moved to consider what I would do if I found myself thrust nude into the wilderness with naught but my wits and one object of my choosing. Could I find food and water? Could I construct shelter? Could I avoid being arrested for indecent exposure? To answer these questions, I took off my clothes and employed the one tool I was allowed, which was my nice, comfy bed. I can’t figure out why none of the show’s
participants ever opted for something similar. I crawled under the covers and got a good night’s sleep. At first light, I began to employ my survivalist skills. Peering out at my surroundings, I deduced I was in a bedroom in a house not dissimilar from my own. From my knowledge of this terrain, I thought it likely there would be water close by. With the film crew recording my every move, I knew it was time to make my first dramatic statement. If I don’t find a bathroom pretty soon,” I told the camera, “there’s going to be an accident.” Just in the nick of time, I reached the toilet, made use of the facilities and emerged to consider my next challenge: hostile natives. Actually, my wife. “I put up with you hanging around here (Continued on page 84)
�������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • October 2020 • 83
Smilin’
Sportsman Youth Edition
Send your best hunting & fishing stories, and your favorite jokes, to the editor at will@mainesportsman.com
Little Johnny: “I’d like a round bus trip ticket.” Ticket-seller: “Where to, young man?” Little Johnny: “Why, back here, of course!”
Dad: That’s great, Son! What does PhD stand for?” Son: “Pizza Hut Deliveryman.”
•••••••••••••••••••
Joe: “Johnny – how did you get that bump on your head?” Little Johnny: “A book fell on me.” Joe: “How’d that happen?” Little Johnny: “I have only my shelf to blame.”
Teacher: If Abe Lincoln were alive today, what would he be most famous for? Little Johnny: His age? ••••••••••••••••••• Son: “Dad, I know you sacrificed a lot to put me through school, and I want you to know that I’m now a PhD.”
Adults Only
A 65-year-old millionaire got married and threw a big wedding reception. His best man asked him, “How did you manage to find a willing bride who’s only 23 years old?” “Simple,” replied the millionaire. “I lied about my age.” “Really?” asked his friend. “How old did you say you were?” “I told her I was 95!” ••••••••••••••••••• Husband: Honey, if you die before me, do you want to be buried, or cremated?” Wife: “Oh, honestly, Harold, I really don’t think it matters – why don’t you surprise me?” ••••••••••••••••••• Politician: “Mother, I wanted to call you first with the news. Did you hear? I won
•••••••••••••••••••
the election!” Mother: “Honestly?” Politician: “What does it matter how I won it?” ••••••••••••••••••• An FBI agent was interviewing a bank teller after the bank had been robbed 3 times by the same bandit. “Did you notice anything special about the man?” asked the agent. “Yes,” replied the teller. “He was better-dressed each time.” Husband: Honey, do you ever fantasize about me?” Wife: “Yes – all the time!” Husband: “Oh, really? Tell me about it.” Wife: “I fantasize about you mowing the lawn, painting the fence and fixing the screen door!”
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84 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
— TRADING POST — • Subscribers may place one free 20-word line classified ad per month (2-month limit) • Items for sale must include a price • Real estate ads must include an address or location
• The regular rates are $15 for up to 20 words and 50¢ for each additional word • Check, money order, MasterCard or VISA (Credit or Debit) are accepted
• You may submit your ads by: Phone: 207-357-2702 E-mail: ads@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. rent on the North Pickerel Pond Road. PARKMAN, DOGS LAND branch of the Dead Drilled well with new ME BUCKS FOR SALE
STARTED BRITTANYS Worked on Woodcock. Prices from $1,800 to $3,000.00 Orvis Endorsed Breeder. Quail Hollow Kennel 856935-3459. —————————
CAMPS FOR RENT
River. Sleeps up to 9. Four bedrooms, 1/1/2 baths, 2 car garage. 3 1/2 miles north of Pines Market in Eustis. $250/day up to 6 people- 2 day min. $50/pp extra up to 9. $1,200/wk up to 6 people, $200/pp extra up to 9. Contact Jamie: 207-577-6516
DEAD RIVER CAFE Year round home for — WILLIAMSBURG TWP — Great little cabin get-a-way tuck in the Woods. Easy to heat, low tax (207) 943-5225 area. Easy access www.dewittjonesrealty.com to the ATV trails, short SEBEC - Recreational 93+/-wooded hunting, drive to Sebec and Schoodic Lake. Make acre lot close to Sebec Lake. Ideal an appointment before it’s gone. MLS location for a 4 seasons cabin or #1431206 - $59,900
house. Plenty of privacy. Power at roadside. Great views and small brook runs through the property. Lots of wildlife for that outdoor enthusiast. Nice large parcel of land. MLS #1428927 - $72,000 MEDFORD - 37.5 acre wooded lot on a paved maintained road. Great place to build your home or a nice get-away cabin. Lot is from a bigger parcel and seller will have it surveyed before closing. MLS #1432063 - $37,500 MEDFORD - 106 acres. Great location to build your home or small cabin for a get-a-way place. MLS #1443012 $80,000
— LAGRANGE — Cute and Cozy camp tucked back in the Maine woods on 43+/-acres. Camp has one bedroom and one bath and upstairs loft that will provide plenty of extra sleeping accommodations. Plenty of privacy, wildlife and recreational trails. Great spot for hunting or just use as a nice getaway. Powered by solar. Just a short drive to interstate 95 and just 1 mile from the #87 ATV trail. MLS #1439055 - $63,500
CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR OVER 100 LAND LISTINGS!
Outdoors & Other Mistakes (Continued from page 82)
in your ratty old bathrobe all day, pretending to work,” she said in that tone of voice that indicated a distinct lack of sympathy for the plight of the unclothed. “But you’re not walking around the house all day with nothing on. “And get that camera crew out of the bathroom.” I retreated hastily to the bedroom, where I employed my well-developed scavenging skills to uncover a hollow spot in the wall concealed by a door. It was filled with unsuitable garments, such as dresses and blouses. But in the www.MaineSportsman.com
CROSSING WMD 17 Rental Cabins. Turkey, deer, moose, upland game. All amenities included. Great rates- nightly, weekly, monthly. $75/night for two people. 207-277-3183 —————————
CAMPS FOR SALE HUNTING/ TRAPPING CABIN In the 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, $39,900. 207-944-0873 GREENFIELD, MAINE MODERN 2-STORY CAMP Fully furnished (sleeps 6) well maintained, on 4 acres on
pump, has septic system. Modern kitchen & bath w/ shower. 2 gas water heaters, 2 fridges, 16 gas lights & 2 generators (house wired) and 3 outbuildings. Great hunting! Asking $64,900, call 207-363-3862 Ask for Frank. —————————
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY DEVELOPER’S DREAM: 6.6 ACRES 370 ft. road frontage on Whittier Road in Farmington, Maine, just off Routes 2 & 4. Electricity on site, 4 water hookups and 4 sewer hookups, Tax Incentives possible. 207-474-0778 —————————
back of this cave-like structure, I found a battered pair of jeans and a tattered t-shirt. I completed my primitive wardrobe by fashioning footwear out of a pair of badly worn cross trainers. Now that I was suitably attired, I needed food. On “Naked and Afraid,” the contestants eat bugs, raw fish and disgusting plants that look suspiciously like kale. But except for one dead fly and some mango-colored Capri pants, the closet/cave was devoid of anything that appeared edible. I was going to have to risk leaving this shelter in order to forage. (I can only hope that in the unlikely event Capri pants ever come back in style, my wife will be forgiving about the bite-size hole in hers.) As I made my way toward the faint
14+ ACRES IN WHITEFIELD, ME Across from Salmon Preserve, $73,500. phone or text 207-5494500. —————————
MISC. FOR SALE 2 SLED SNOWMOBILE/ UTILITY TRAILER Good Condition. Asking $500. Located at 35 Elliott Ave., Lewiston, ME. Call: 207782-8615 —————————
WANTED DEER/MOOSE ANTLERS Buying any size deer & moose shed antlers/racks or antlered skulls. All grades bought by the pound. 802-875-3206
¶
scent of food, little did I suspect the dangers that awaited me in the dreaded (echo voice) Cavern of Undrinkable Liquors. ***** To be continued next month, because if “Naked and Afraid” contestant Kate Wentworth got three months in this magazine to tell her story, I oughta get at least two to tell mine. When properly attired, Al Diamon writes the weekly column Politics & Other Mistakes for the Daily Bulldog and the Portland Phoenix. He can be emailed at aldiamon@herniahill.net.
¶
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Discover the versatility and convenience of Northeastern’s Camp and Cabin kits. Perfect for vacation homes or retirement retreats, these log cabin kits are easy to build and very affordable. They feature simple, open designs and come complete with pre-cut Eastern White Pine Logs, insulated doors, windows, rafters, roof sheathing and subflooring, plus step-by-step instructions.
Just imagine relaxing in your very own Northeastern log retreat!
10 Ames Road, Kenduskeag, ME
1-800-624-2797 • (207) 884-7000
www.northeasternlog.com
Linneus – 167 acre lot with seasonal access. Major portion of the lot is considered significant wildlife & inland waterfowl habitat. $83,500
Milo - Recreational opportunities abound on this well-wooded 20 acre lot. Immediate access to ITS 82 and locally maintained ATV trail. Good views. $24,900
Palmyra – Palmyra 18 hole Golf Course and RV Campground are situated on 433 acres. This is a turn-key business with buildings and infrastructure pristine. $1,500,000
Rangeley – Approx 3,000’ on Round Pond, improved internal access roads and spectacular views make this 325 acre kingdom lot one of a kind. $799,900
Hancock County - Over 800 acres with 5,400 sq. ft log cabin completely surrounding Fox Pond. Miles of maintained trails. Adjacent to 20,000 acres of conservation lands. www.foxpondestate. com. $4,300,000
New Sharon - 678 +/- acres with abundant wildlife including deer and upland game birds. Diverse land with Bragdon Brook and SOLD Salt Marsh Creek running through the lot. Over 900’ of frontage on Weeks Mills Road. $299,000 or only $441 per acre.
Woolwich - 148 +/- acres. Remarkable lot with small camp. Hunt, hike, bike, sightsee, harvest some of the large oak and pine. Great westerly distant views from Bigelow Knoll. $150,000.
King & Bartlett TWP - 770 +/acres surrounding the majority of the 538 acre 159’ deep King and OLDsupports wild Bartlett lake S that brook trout, salmon and togue. Remote unique parcel.
caryndreyfuss@morton-furbish.com www.realestateinrangeley.com
PARKERTOWN TWP – AZISCOHOS LAKE - beautiful, remote, pristine! Westerly facing waterfront land parcel boasting 290’ gradual entry frontage on 2.25 wooded acres. Super quiet/private area to build your off-grid North Woods camp. If you are looking to get away from it all, this would be the spot - located 13 miles from Route 16. Don’t miss out on this one! MLS #1454838 – $147,500
UNDER CONTRACT Avon – Mountain views and 6000’ on Mt. Blue stream. Views of Saddleback, Mt. Abraham and Mt. Blue are great. Good access and public road frontage. 445 acres for $249,000.
Caryn Dreyfuss, Broker • (207) 233-8275
PARKERTOWN TWP – AAZISCOHOS LAKE beautiful, remote, pristine! Fishing/hunting camp on OWNED LAND with 100’ sandy frontage on the widest part of the lake. Off-grid insulated 2 bedroom camp with knotty pine, gas appliances/ lights, Empire wall heaters, wired for generator, DishTV setup. 10x12 storage shed, 12x12 deck, sealed pit privy (pumpable), gravity fed shower. Sold furnished. Level lawn to the beach with private boat launch. MLS #1467683 - $178,500 RANGELEY – YOUR BASE CAMP for Rangeley adventures - the ‘GREY GHOST’ at QUIMBY POND CAMPS! Fully year-round cottage offering 3BR, 1.5BA, cozy open kitchen/living area with wood stove, spacious 2nd floor bedroom that sleeps a crew. Just steps to shared 419’ waterfront with dock and legendary fishing on tranquil nomotors Quimby Pond, plus easy snowmobile trail access from your door. MLS #1448121 – $219,000
Noyes Real Estate Agency 2388 Main Street • Rangeley, ME 207-864-9000 • info@noyesrealty.com www.noyesrealty.com
COMMERCIAL SPORTING CAMP IN RANGELEYYour dream business venture!
Beauty runs deep. So does our land sales experience. John Colannino Broker & Forester AFM Real Estate 40 Champion Lane | Milford, Maine | 04461 O: 207.817.9079 | C: 207.266.7355 John.Colannino@afmforest.com For more information on available properties please visit:
www.AmericanForestManagement.com
#862 – MLS #1422075 – Commercial sporting cabins on Rangeley Lake. 5 updated yearround rental cabins, large separate owner’s home built in 2001, and 2-bay garage. Possible 6th unit for rental. 220’ of waterfront with docks, 107’ of deeded beach access, and snowmobile access. $799,000
GREAT FISHING – Quimby Pond & Little Kennebago #455 – MLS #1461146 – Quimby Pond year round cottage, 297 ft. of waterfront. Totally remodeled. Includes drilled well, septic system, a garage and fenced yard for dogs or a garden! Great fishing and direct sled access. $235,000
#482 – MLS #1462437 – Vintage, well maintained camp on Little Kennebago Lake. Full foundation, fabulous fly fishing and views. No motors. Storage building, and boat house. Charming interior, large screened porch. $390,000
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86 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
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Swift River Properties 3 Acre Lakefront Cottage – Only $99,000!
207-329-9728 • 207-756-9079 www.mainelakefrontland.com
SOLON - About 198 feet of frontage on Ironbound Pond in Solon sitting on 0.69 acres. Sale includes all furniture and dock. New metal roof in 2017. Come for a viewing and make this your new summer getaway home. Beautiful views can be yours from the wraparound deck. 3 bedrooms for family and friends. MLS #1463826 - $179,900 NEW PORTLAND - Here is a rare opportunity to own property on the East end of Flagstaff lake. The camp features gas lights, gas stove, monitor heater and wood stove. There is a mud room/storage area as you walk in, then to the living area with a wood stove. Off the living area is the bedroom. There is a bunkhouse for extra guests. Power is available on the corner of the property. Nice views of the East end of Flagstaff lake which has a nice sandy beach area. The property abuts the Bigelow preserve and the Appalachian trail is a short walk away. Snowmobile and ATV right from the property. MLS #1463522 - $91,900 ATHENS - Great camp for hunting, recreation or just a get away. One bedroom camp with power, dug well and septic system on 10 acres. There is a kitchen, living room with wood stove and private bedroom. No need for an outhouse - there is a toilet area off the living room. You can sit on the deck and enjoy all this property has to offer. MLS #1449361 - $74,000 SOLON - A work in progress! Part of this camp was originally an old school house, which was taken down to framing and then rebuilt with 2 additions and completed with log siding. New windows and doors, shingled roof and new posts on concrete pads are great benefits. Circuit breaker and dug well ready to be hooked up. Lots of inside storage potential as well as an outside shed for storage. Immediate access to ITS trail from your door. Bring your tools, ideas and finish this beauty to your liking. MLS #1351048 - $44,900 ATHENS - Well, Septic, driveway, a gravel pad and privacy, all on 7 acres. Bring you RV, build a cabin, or home. This lot is ready for you today, all of the work has been done. MLS #1458346 - $49,000 SOLON - Have you been looking for that perfect spot to put your off grid home or camp? This could be it. 10 acres in the peaceful Maine country side with direct access to ITS and ATV trails. Just minutes away from Ironbound Pond, Baker Pond and Rowell Pond. Property has a small unnamed stream that runs through it as well as a little pond. Only a short drive to in town Solon and Skowhegan. Property has a two small buildings on it that could be used as a hunting retreat or storage for your recreational toys. MLS #1446166 - $28,000 SOLON - Approximately 54.91 acres of land on town maintained gravel road. Flat and level land, great for home or camp. Currently in tree growth for tax purposes. (Hb357) MLS #1098961 - $52,000 BINGHAM - Approximately 123 acre parcel with long road frontage. Awesome hunting area... build a camp and roam the land. Currently in ‘Tree Growth’ for tax purposes. (Hb323) MLS #983202 - $84,900 10/20
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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. $289,000
Lee - Privately plowed, seaonal road. Electricity and nice frontage on a beautiful, clean Silver Lake. Two lots being sold, could potentially sell one lot and keep the other. The well is on lot 14 while the buildings and septic are on lot 15. $139,000
Macwahoc PLT - Located on Molonkus Stream with electricity, well and septic. Its an incredible recreational area, hunting to hiking, atving and snowmobiling. Snug, warm, comfy cabin in the woods. $79,000
Burlington - Well-built cute cabin tucked away in the woods with access to Madagascal’s gorgeous private sand beach. ATVing and snowmobiling and POSSIBLE OWNER FINANCING. Take a look today on W. Madagascal Pond Road. $59,900
Grand Falls - This cabin was landed on this lot two years ago and ready to finish off and use. This 41 acre lot sits high on a hill with great views on Lord Brook Road. ATV and snowsled from this location. Take a look. $79,000
Springfield - Complete with a full, concrete foundation, well, septic, laundry. Cabin can easily be year round residence for someone looking to live off grid on True Road. With snowmobile access. It is situated in a great recreational area. $89,000
Lincoln - Larger private lot with lots of shore front. The lot has a road built with three access driveways. This 59 acre lot with over 3000 feet of water front on Stump Pond is a must see. $99,000 Cooper - This lot has electricity available at the road and great access. Wonderful frontage. New driveway in. Forest on Cathance Lake is Deep Cove Forest and will be maintained as forever wild. A must see lot! $79,000 Chester - Gorgeous views, looking up and down Penobscot River. Year round access with electricity available. Much of the lot has been cleared offering open space. The privy is in place. $29,900 Burlington - 9.18+/- acre lakefront lot on Madagascal Pond. Great opportunity to have a private getaway. 3 bedroom septic system installed along with loop driveway. Seller Financing Available. $69,000
R E A L
E S T A T E
5 LAKE STREET, P.O. BOX 66, LINCOLN 207-794-2460 www.cwalakestreet.com E-mail: cwa@cwalakestreet.com
1-800-675-2460 Call any of our brokers to work for you! “Tate” Aylward ............. 794-2460 Peter Phinney............... 794-5466 Kirk Ritchie................... 290-1554
FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION ON OUR PROPERTIES VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT CWALAKESTREET.COM
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88 • October 2020 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————
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