Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Winter 1996 by Maine State Library

Maine State Library

Maine State Documents Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine

Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

12-1-1996

Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Winter 1996 Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine Recommended Citation Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, "Maine Fish and Game Magazine, Winter 1996" (1996). Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Magazine. Book 171. http://digitalmaine.com/ifw_magazine/171

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AINE IN

1996

MAINE STATE LIBRARY LIBRA , r USE ONLY

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JAN 16 19~

EDITORIAL by Ray B. Owen, Jr., Commissioner

The Department's Budget Like the proverbial bad penny, financial problems of the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife return again and again, usually on a five- to eight-year cycle. Once again, we are faced with a shrinking revenue base and expanded requests for services. Over the past several decades, legislative committees and commissions have studied the department's finances, but there has never been a long-term plan to place the department on a firm financial base. The problems are threefold. First, there are no inflationary considerations in our license, registration, or fee structures. As inflation goes up, our costs of doing business increase without a compensatory increase in revenue. Periodically, the legislature authorizes a license increase but rarely does this occur in a systematic, predictable manner. Second, there is a continuing expansion of the department's mandates without the additional dollars to do the work. A classic example is the greatly expanded role for the Warden Service and InforMation & Education in boating safety. Finally, hunters and anglers pay for services benefiting all Maine people and our guests. Managing the fish and wildlife resources of Maine benefits everyone, whether or not we hunt or fish. Data show that almost all Maine people participate in some form of wildlife-related activity. Our warden service conducts search and rescue operations, enforces drug and customs laws, provides backup for other law enforcement groups, handles nuisance wildlife, etc. When taken collectively, the department contributes hundreds of thousands of dollars to activities benefiting all Maine people. Shouldn't we all contribute? The Chickadee Checkoff and the Loon Plate Fund do benefit nongame wildlife, but these are voluntary programs. What about the contributions fish and wildlife make to the economy of the state? Economic studies indicate that activities associated with both consumptive and non-consumptive use of fish and wildlife generates in excess of $500 million dollars annually for the state; that benefits everyone! But back to the present. The center section of this magazine depicts our 1996 budget which ended in a deficit. The difference was made up from our carrying balance, a reserve fund that grows when times are good and buffers lean years. The carrying balance grew between 1992 and 1995 because of mandatory furlough and shutdown days instituted under the McKeman administration. If these had not occurred, we would have run out of money several years ago. Currently our carrying balance can not sustain us through the next biennium (1997-99). So what are the solutions? First we need to look internally and ensure that we are as efficient as we can be. Last year and again this year we have made a number of changes that will make us more productive. But frankly, we are a lean organization. We have the same number of staff that we had in 1970, 26 years ago, yet numbers of hunter and anglers have almost doubled and our mandates have expanded. Programs that are not core fisheries and wildlife should pay their own way. Examples are boat and snowmobile safety programs. Currently we operate both programs in the red, big time! Yet there is resistance to increasing the boat registration fee to cover law enforcement activities. That fee has remained $4 for 10 years! Why should hunters and anglers subsidize these programs? We need to provide an automatic inflationary adjustment to our fees and licenses. This could be based on the consumer price index, with biennial adjustments made without requiring legislative approval. All Maine citizens should contribute to department functions that support the state as a whole. This could be with a general fund allocation from the legislature. Currently, the department receives no general fund dollars; the chance of receiving any in the next biennium are slim becau e of the state's budget deficit. Other states have allocated a small percentage of the sales tax, room and meals tax, or real-estate transfer tax to fisheries and wildlife, acknowledging the contributions fisheries and wildlife make to the state's economy. And finally, we all need to market Maine's fish and wildlife more effectively, expanding opportunities where appropriate. Several internal and external budget focus groups are exploring many of the e areas at this time. While we do have a budget dilemma, this provides a strong incentive not only to achieve a balanced budget for the next biennium, but for the long term. I am dedicated to seeing this happen. With your help, and with the governor's and legislators' support, we can make it a reality. I can think of no greater gift to fisherie and wildlife and to the people of Maine.

AINE

·- NE VILDLIFE

FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

VOL. 38, NO. 4

SPECIAL HALF-PB.ICE OFFEB! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

D 2yearsonly$15 D Please bill me later

l Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

) City/State/Zip

by Christopher I. S hort

Jth -wor/ds " survivors.

by V. Paul Reynolds

ile of a hunt for the "big cat! "

OB FASTEB SEBVICE, CALL TOLL-FBEE 1-800-288-8387

AINE

J9646

by Gary Anderson

u you can do it, too!

FISH AND WILDLIFE

do, and how we plan to do it.

A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

SPECIAL HALF-PB.ICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

D 2 years only $15 D Please bill me later

by Andrew Madden and John Moring

'They ARE fun to catch, ya know!

Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

nting or fishing guide .

Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

City /State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __,___ _~ _

by David Boucher

more closely age some fish .

FOB FASTER SEBVICE, CALL TOLL-FBEE 1-800-288-8387

AINE

J9646

FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

SPECIAL HALF-PB.ICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

D 2years only$15 D Please bill me later

by Butch Carey

)

Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~ Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

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painting by Camden artist beginning on page 5.

FOB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FBEE 1-800-288-8387 ks on recyclable paper

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EDITORIAL

MAINE

Like the proverbial bad penn) and again, usually on a five- toe panded requests for services. Ov department's finances, but there The problems are threefold. F tures. As inflation goes up, our c cally, the legislature authorizes c: Second, there is a continuing t work. A classic example is the g1 safety. Finally, hunters and anglers p wildlife resources of Maine bene participate in some form of wild enforces drug and customs laws. When taken collectively, the dep Maine people. Shouldn't we all c wildlife, but these are voluntary What about the contributions activities associated with both cc million dollars annually for the f But back to the present. Theo difference was made up from ou years. The carrying balance grev1 tuted under the McKernan admi ago. Currently our carrying bala tions? First we need to look internall have made a number of changes the same number of staff that WE and our mandates have expandE Programs that are not core fisÂˇ safety programs. Currently we o boat registration fee to cover lav. and anglers subsidize these prog We need to provide an autom consumer price index, with bien All Maine citizens should con general fund allocation from the of receiving any in the next biern percentage of the sales tax, room contributions fisheries and wild] And finally, we all need to m, appropriate. Several internal anc While we do have a budget d i next biennium, but for the long t and legislators' support, we can people of Maine.

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333

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MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333

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FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333

•

Governor Angus S. King, J r.

Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Ray B. Owen, Jr., Commissione r Matthew Scott, Deputy Commissioner Frederick B. Hurley, Jr., Director,

Bureau of Resource Ma nagement Richard Record, Director, Bureau of Adm inistrative Services Parker K. Tripp, Director, Bureau of Warden Service

Advisory Council Wilmot Robinson, Mil linocket Chairman Stanley D. Milton, Andover Vice Chairman Gary Cobb, No rth New Portland Charles F. Beck, Presq ue Isle Millard A. Wardwell, Penobscot Eric N. Davis, Vina lhaven F. Dale Speed, Princeton Richard A. Neal, E. Lebanon Ellen N. Peters, New Gloucester Russell E. Dyer, Bowdoinham Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine V. Paul Reynolds, Edito r Thomas L. Carbone, Photo Editor V. Paul Reynolds, Advertising

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE WINTER 1996

VOL. 38, NO. 4

Features A New Start for Maine's Trout A Unique And Rare Breed

MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE (ISSN 0360-00SX) is publisht?d quarterly by the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. 284 State Street, Station 41, Augusta. Maine 04330, under Appropriation 01009A-0529. Subscription rate: $ 18.00 per year. No stamps, please. Preferred Periodicals postage paid at Augusta, Maine and at additional mailing offices. © Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. 1996. Permission to reprint text material is granted. provided proper credit is given to the author and to MAINE FISH AND WIWLIFE. Clearance must be obtained from artists, photographers. and non-staff authors to reproduce credited work. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Send both old and new addresses to Circulation Section, MAINE FISH AND WIWLIFE Magazine, 284 State St., 41 State Hse. Sta .. Augusta ME 04333. Please allow six weeks for changes to take effect. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Circulation Section, MAINE FISH AND WIWLIFE, 284 State St., 41 State Hse. Sta., Augusta. Maine 04333. QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SUBSCRIPTION? Just call toll free 1-800-288-8387 The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife receives federal funds from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Accordingly, all department programs and activities must be operated free from discrimination with regard to race, color, national origin, age, or handicap. Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against should write to The Office of Equal Opportunity, U.S. Department of the Interior. Washington. D.C. 20240. magazme design & prepress by graphiti belfasl me 04915

by Christopher I. Sh o rt

by V. Paul Reynolds

A Maine bobcat hunter from yesteryear tells the tale of a hunt for the "big cat!"

Outdoor Roster

Here 's an opportunity for Maine camps, guides, and other businesses to crow!

The Decoy Doctor

by Gary Anderson

This master restorer tells how he does it-and how you can do it, too!

Special Annual Report Section

The department-what we 've done, what's left to do , and how we plan to do it.

"The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly"

by Andrew Madden and John Moring

Do we live with crappies ' effects on perch, or not? 'They ARE Jun to catch, ya know!

What To Ask A Maine Guide All photographs in this issue were made by the Public Information & Education Division unless otherwise indicated.

Mixing strains of salmon ids breeds new "best-of-both-worlds " survivors.

Some questions to keep in mind when hiring a hunting or fishing guide.

How Old Are They?

by David Boucher

This technique uses earbones--called otoliths-to more closely age some fish.

Departments KID-BITS

RECIPE CORNER

FROM THE FLY TYING BENCH: The General MacArthur

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS

by Butch Carey

The Front Cover: "Cat Hunters"-a painting by Camden artist Dan Daly. See our cover story beginning on page 5.

Pri nted with vegetable-base

~ . , inks on recyclable paper

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e art For

Maine' Trout by Christopher I. Short "These new strains are being evaluated for their performance as hatchery broodstock and as stocked production fish. If these strains meet hatchery and wild stocking criteria, they will replace Maine's presently stocked strains of brook trout, togue, and splake over the next few years."

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he primary goal of all fisheries programs is the successful perpetuation of the resource. This objective is realized through an interaction of the many different aspects of fish culture and resource management. Most efforts in the past have been directed at stocking numbers, harvest restrictions, and environmental control. New research has made it more and more apparent that all these management activities have had great impact on the genetic makeup of individual hatchery and resource fish stocks.

Christopher I. Short is supervisor of the Phillips Fish HatchenJ,

Maine Fis/, and Wildlife

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The beautiful Kennebago.

Keeping these stocks genetically healthy is what these new strain programs are designed to accomplish. Genetic diversity is the key. The more genetic variety a population represents, the easier it will be able to cope with ever-changing conditions. In the fall of 1995, hatchery and fisheries personnel conducted five wild spawning operations in Maine. From these operations, three new strains of future brood fish were established: lake trout from Cold Stream Pond in Enfield, brook trout from

Nesowadnehunk Lake in the Baxter State Park, and brook trout from the Kennebago lakes in Stetson town Twp. These bodies of water were chosen primarily for their abundant trout populations and their accessibility for spawning operations. These new strains are being evaluated for their performance as hatchery brood stock and as stocked production fish. If these strains meet hatchery and wild stocking criteria, they will replace Maine's presently stocked strains of brook trout, togue, and splake over the next few years. Here's a brief history of Maine's old strains: two different strains of brook trout have been reared at the Phillips Hatchery since 1961, and two different strains of lake trout (togue) have been reared at the Governor Hill Hatchery since 1967. The Maine Hatchery Strain of brook trout was originally established from eggs received from a commercial hatchery in Paradise, PA. In 1959 and 1960, brook trout fry and fall fingerlings from this strain were stocked in Basin Pond, a chemically reclaimed pond in Fayette. These trout, recaptured and mated at Basin Pond in 1964, provided eggs that were hatched at the Phillips Hatchery. The resulting progeny became the basis for the present Maine Hatchery Strain. The Assinica Strain of brook trout originated near James Bay in Quebec, Canada. The strain came to Maine circuitously through Brandon Park, NY. The eggs taken from this 1975 strain were shipped to the Phillips Hatchery, where they were hatched and reared to maturity. Progeny from this hatch were stocked in Day Mountain Pond in 1979, and later in Moccasin Pond, where they provided a local source of future brood stock. The Fl Hybrid was created by crossing a Maine Hatchery Strain female with an Assinica Strain male. This cross was primarily used to stock lakes and ponds where no natural reproduction was occurring. The Manitoba Strain of lake trout was originally established at the Governor Hill Hatchery from a wild strain of lake trout captured in Manitoba, Canada and brought to Maine as 150,000 eyed eggs in 1967. This strain has been continuously managed at Governor Hill, where it is still being used as the main utility fish to create brood stock and production lake trout. The Allagash Strain originated from Allagash lake in T8R14 WELS, where it was used for several

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At Cold Stream Pond this fall, fish culturist Jackie Neal (left) along with other workers, strips eggs from lake trout. years beginning in 1972 as a means of producing production lake trout. The Maine state hatchery system has also experimented with the Owhi Strain of brook trout from the state of Washington and the lower Wilson Pond Strain of lake trout from Greenville. In recent years, fish culture has undergone many technological improvements. Aquaculture has become one of the fastest growing segments of the agricultural industry. Much of what has been learned comes from extensive field experience and academic experimentation. Maine's hatcheries and fisheries divisions are currently utilizing new information and technological developments to improve brood stocks, production, and stocking programs. Decisions on the type of fish raised and the method of rearing are based on how and where the fish will be used. Fish raised for wild stocking purposes require a different rearing regimen and quality standard than production fish raised for restaurant or supermarket use. Traditionally, much of the work in fish culture has revolved around the fish's performance in the hatchery, with less emphasis on its performance once stocked in the field. More importance is now being placed on the overall life cycle of the fish, from hatchery rearing to successful fishery contribution after stocking. Hatchery and fishery personnel first began artificially spawning Nesowadnehunk brook trout in the fall of 1991. A number of experimental stockings took place over the next two years. The Department returned to Nesowadnehunk lake again in 1994 and 1995 to trapnet mature wild fish for spawning. These eggs were distributed to Winter 1996

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On the Kennebago River in western Maine, fishery biologists and fish culturists seined the river to capture brook trout for egg stripping. several regional facilities after a series of thorough disease inspections at the departmental laboratory. The Kennebago and Nesowadnehunk trout strains will be concentrated at the Phillips Hatchery for use as a certified disease-free future brood stock. A three-year ongoing artificial wild spawning initiative, combined with this hatchery brood stock program, will help maintain the stock's genetic integrity. Offspring from these Phillips Hatchery brood stock and wild trapping programs will also be raised at the Enfield, Governor Hill, and New Gloucester hatcheries as auxiliary brood stock and production fish for instate purposes. These new strains are scheduled to start production for stocking between 1997 and 1999. These Kennebago and Nesowadnehunk trout strains will be simultaneously monitored by fisheries biologists in selected bodies of water across the state. Genetic profiles of these new strains will also be periodically evaluated. Collected data will be used to determine each strain's unique characteristics in various aquatic environments. One or both of these strains will be used to contribute new genetic spawning elements to the expanded splake program. The Governor Hill fish hatchery is responsible for the department's lake trout (togue) brood stock and splake programs. Four successive generations of brood stock were produced from the original Manitoba, Canada wild egg-taking operation in 1967. To avoid genetic inbreeding, a new lake trout brood stock was established from lower Wilson Pond. Regional fisheries biologists, in cooperation with the staff of the Governor Hill fish hatchery, trapped and artificially spawned this new generation of lake trout in the fall of 1991. Lake trout sexually mature within five or six years; these fish

Maine Fish and W1/d/1fe

were to begin producing both lake trout and splake by the fall of 1996. To perpetuate genetic diversity in a successful brood stock program, a new lake trout generation must be created every four or five years. Fisheries biologists from the Enfield region once again trapped wild lake trout (togue) in the fall of 1995. Cold Stream Pond was chose as the source of this new strain. Personnel from the Governor Hill and Enfield hatcheries artificially spawned wild lake trout to produce this new hatchery strain. Phillips Hatchery brood stock brook trout were also used to produce splake. This future lake trout brood stock will begin producing splake and lake trout by the year 2000. Sound hatchery practices that will ensure healthy genetic variation and longevity in future stocks, combined with good resource management and constant monitoring, will provide Maine with a successful fishery resource for generations to come.

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On the shore of Cold Stream Pond in Enfield, anesthetized lake trout are held for egg stripping.

Maine Cat Hunters:

A Unique And Rare Breed How

many times have you seen a bobcat in the Maine woods? Even though you may have spent endless hours hunting deer and upland game birds, or slipping though thick alders to get to your favorite trout stream, a bobcat is probably one of the few Maine wildlife species you have yet to see. That is, unless you are an experienced cat hunter. A bobcat in its natural habitat is like a wisp of fog. It takes a good hound to roust one of these wraithlike felines from a thicket bed and then stay on its track. It also takes a sturdy soul to stay with a cat-trackin' hound through three feet of snow in sub-zero temperatures. But these are the things that can make a cat hunt so exciting and challenging. Like the wary critters they pursue, Maine cat hunters are a special breed. Increasingly, they represent a smaller and smaller minority of the Maine hunting

community. Interestingly enough, the history of Maine bobcat hunting is a loose collection of a few outdoor columns and an article or two over the years. In fact, even at the Department of Fish and Wildlife where there has been quite comprehensive record keeping over the years of record fish and more popular game species, there is very little historical background on bobcat hunters and their stories. With this in mind, Fish and Wildlife magazine began probing some nooks and crannies for answers to some of the more commonly asked questions whenever outdoor folks get in conversation about Maine cat hunters. Among these questions: What's the largest bobcat ever registered in Maine? Which hunter and which hound holds this distinction? What are the details of the hunt? For years, a rumor has persisted that an unidentified cat hunter once brought home a cat that weighed in excess of 70 pounds. That would be a re-

markable bobcat inasmuch as a bobcat over 35 pounds is considered a robust representative of its species. If a hunter did take a cat that big, neither he nor his relatives have ever come forward. What we do know is that there are records dating back to 1936 of bobcats killed that weighed in excess of 50 pounds. An unofficial 50 pound plus cat was taken in 1936 by Charlie Wyman of Solon and his hound Prince. In recent times, the bobcat record was held by Hampden houndsmen Dana Young and Harland Bartlett. They and their hound Dixie registered a certified 53 pound bobcat they took in the 1970s near Island Falls. That record was bested in the winter of 1972 when trapper and registered Maine guide Dick Perry of East Holden trapped a bobcat that weighed in at 571/2 pounds. Perry's bobcat is reported to be a North American record. What's it like to hunt these ghostlike cats of the North Woods? Mindful of the fading legacy of the Maine cat hunters, Winter 1996

85-year-old Charlie Wyman of Solon made an audio-tape of his recollections of a memorable cat hunt that took place in Bingham in February of 1936. From a transcription, here in Charlie's own words is his description of a typical Maine bobcat hunt:

"This is the story of the bobcat hunt as near as I can remember it. It was the middle of February in 1936. At that time they was paying a bounty for bobcat because of the killing of deer. This camp, at one time belonged to Fletcher Hale, a Game Warden. He is gone now, but he was a game warden then and he used to let us take his camp to stay in to hunt cats. That was in near Lake Austin, near the red line. There was quite a lot of cats in there and there were two deer yards. There must have been ten or twelve or maybe fifteen deer in that yard. And the cats would go in there and get one. The game warden called my brother and said he had found a buck that they'd just killed. He said "I wish you would go up there and see if you can't get that cat." So, we said we'd try. Well, we got in there a little after dinner, after noon. And then we unloaded our stuff, got a campfire going and got us a lunch. Then we took one dog with us, the hunting dog. The other dog wasn't too much of a hunter but she was young. We used her to help the other dog to pull the toboggan up. We had to go into dead water by truck and then when we got in there, we had about seven miles to go on the railroad tracks . That was the old railroad that used to go to Kineo from Bingham. Anyway, we got in there and had us a lunch, and we took our snowshoes and put them on. It must have been around six feet of snow, an awful lot of snow there then. We got on our

Maine Fish and Wildlife

snowshoes and started out. Well, what we planned to do was make a slough. I'd go in his tracks, he'd go along, 1'd go in his tracks . And then overnight that would freeze and that would give you pretty good snowshoeing right along, you could cover quite a lot of time that way.

leave that for something else. He seemed to know what you was hunting for. Well, we went along quite a ways, it must have been up near that they call the red line. That's north of Lake Austin. And we was going along, the sun was out, it was a fair ly good day. It was about the middle of February. And he said to me, "Keep the dog on a leash cause if he runs into a fresh fox track, if we jumped a fox, he'd take it, you know." So if that happened, if we run into a cat track, we wouldn't have no dog, so we kept him on the leash. And I was goi-â&#x20AC;˘zg through these thickets, and I told him, I said he was winding around trees and I said I was having the darndest time myself without dragging him around. So my brother said "Well, take the leash off and we'll keep an eye on him." So we was walking along, you know, it was an awful nice day. The sun was shining and we was talking and he said, "Where's the dog?" "Well," I said, "he was right behind me." â&#x20AC;˘ And I looked back and the dog wasn't there. We went back, probably about a hundred yards. Charlie Wyman (left) and hound, And that dog had his nose right Prince, with "the big cat" (1936). in the air sniffing something awful and the hair was standing So, we took a dog just in case we right up on his back. We couldn't figure, we thought maybe a coon happened to see a cat, but we didn't had come out of a tree or something. see one. Our aim was to make this We looked all around and it wasn't slough. We got back quite late at that. Then my brother was night, probably a couple of hours searching all around. He said "Oh, after dark, around six or seven bring that dog here quick. Bring him o'clock. And then we got us a lunch right here. Look at that cat track. and went to bed. Got up in the morning and started What a huge one, almost as big as out with the hound. The dog's name your hand, a big one." So, he took was Prince. He was an awful good the collar off. He never Let him run dog, he was very good for cats. And iii l 4811 you could hunt foxes with him, or ,1 \1 ; )~ coons,. He was very good for either. He was a kind of a combination, but when he was running something he would stay faithful, he never would

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with the collar on. He took the leash and collar off. Now he said, "Take him Prince!" and Prince started to cold tongue it. Cold tonguing would be like "Ow, Ow, Owow Ow, like that." And after a while we heard him change "Ow, Ow, OwOw "Boy," my brother says, "He's jumping, He's jumping." We went over there just a short distance, probably fifty yards, and there we see where that cat was laying on a rock. He just lay there sound asleep with one ear open. They can hear if something is coming. My brother said "Come on! Come on!" and by and by we heard the dog "Woo, Woo, Woo Woo." He said "He's got him up, he's got him up a tree." So we went in and just a little ways from there-. That great big cat, the cat didn't run very far because the snow was so deep. He made it to one of them big blowdowns and got in there. My brother says, "You see him?" I said, "Yes, I see him," but I didn't see him. I didn't want to stall for time, so I agreed with him. "Yea, I see him." My brother said "You go on the other side, in case he jumps you'll get him." Well, the dog was barking up a tree, so my brother took the gun and aimed at him. I guess he'd been fired at before, he was an old timer. He ducked under a bough and the bullet hit the bough and didn't hit him. Right after you fire a shot they will jump out of a tree. He jumped right over my head on a bough. He didn't know I was there. That tree was probably thirty feet around it was so big. And that dog left tlze tree where he was barking up a tree and when the cat got on he seen him. He went over there and I had all awful job trying to separate them. I had leather top 'I I I

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Dana Young 's cat-53+ lbs.!!

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boots on, you know, and he was pawing at the dog and the dog was trying to get him and I was trying to separate them. And my brother said "Don't hit him. Don't shoot him." I said "What am I going to do? I got a problem here." And he said, "Pull the dog by the tail." See, my brother always had one up his sleeve. By pulling the dog by the tail, the dog turned around to make me let go, and when he did the cat took right out of there. But I could see when the cat was showing his paws out, them nails was $ticking out quite a bit. He'd have tore his throat right out if I hadn't put my boot up. I put my boot up and he hit that instead, see. He didn't bother me. He was trying to protect himself from that dog. Now, a little bit of a dog can put one of them great big cats up a tree because they's cowards. But if you corner them, I tell you, they'll fight . So, the cat, just as soon as the dog kept away from him, I was holding the tail, he was trying to make me let go, the cat took right out of there.

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He didn't go more than probably twenty to fifty yards, when he went out in an old burnt land and right up in a big yellow birch. My brother said, ''I'll show him something." He put the gun up there and "Bang." Boy he took the buckshot right between the eyes. He came down. That dog he dragged him and shook him around there. We always let the dog do that cause that encourages them, you see. They just hate a cat, I don't know why, just nature I guess. Anyway, that's about the story of this big bobcat. He weighed probably, I would say 53 or 54 pounds. He was a big one. He was a record at that time. We took pictures of him and of course we got $15 for the bounty and for the fur we got probably $55 for the hide. Today they'd probably bring more'n that, but fur was down at that time. My brother says, "Now we're going to lug him out. I said, "Iain' t lugging him nowhere, not that cat. I have all I can do to get through with these snowshoes on. We was up there about four miles from camp. So anyway, we dragged him. We took a stick and tied a rope around his neck and dragged him. That's about the end of the story of this big bobcat. I appreciate telling this story. â&#x20AC;˘ 11

Winter 1996

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behavior Wolves have many different ways of communicating with each other besides their famous howls. You've probably seen your family dog do some of the things shown here. There are names for each wolf behavior that describe these interactions. See if you can match the name of the behavior with the drawing that illustrates it.

1. Plav Wrestling

·i-14 'L-S 'E-J '1-3 's-a 't,-~ 's-e '9-tJ :JO!Aeqee ·a,eq-s !meeq-L !asno,6-9 !Jaap-s !asoow-t, !uew '8 JIOM-E !uew-z ~101t1-1 :qaM poo4 aiu 'S9,\j0/tl JO uo,~1ndod news e seq &u,wOAfA JO J9UJ03 va1 Rddn ''il ·1101A 'aJQA03 'XOJ aJD '>peq ot tuOJJ 's1ew1ue atJqt ''il :sJaMSUtJ

Note: During the winter of 1995, four depertment intemt ran 2,490 one-kilometer $UIVey line$ distributed through 64 townt in northwestern Maine, looking for gray wolf and lynx $ignt. No $ign of wol~es was found; lynx track$ were $een in 54 segment$. Snow tracking $UIVeys llill continue based on Milable funding.

(social) 2. lmposin~ (aggressive J 3. Lving on Back (submission) 4. Fur Sniffing (neutral) 5. Threat (aggressive) 6. Plav Bow (social) 7. Nose Touching (neutral) 8. Face Licking submission

history Wolves were extirpated, or eliminated, from Maine by the early 1900s. Bounties were paid for every dead wolf, and about 2 million wolves were killed throughout the United States up until the 1950s, when there were no wolves left in the lower 48 states. Although there are probably no wolves in Maine, just 75 miles from our border, in Quebec, Canada, packs of wild wolves still roam. About 50,000 wolves live in Canada, where they are considered a game animal and are not endangered, like they are in the US. If wolves did cross the St. Lawrence River into Maine, they would find suitable habitat in the northern and western parts of the state. Wolves don't need 'wilderness' in order to survive. Timber harvesting and wildlife management practices are beneficial to wolves. Wolves would primarily eat moose, beaver, deer and snowshoe hare; also taking small mammals and birds to supplement their diet. Although it is easier for wolves to take sick, unfit and old animals to eat, they can kill healthy adult animals for food. Wolves are listed as federally endangered, so if they did appear in Maine, they would be protected from any hunting or trapping.

facts & figures Length: Height: Weight: Color: Food: Habitat:

up to 4 feet; tail up to 1.S feet 24-28 inches at the shoulder males: 70-120 lbs; females: SS-90 lbs white, gray to black & every color in between! in Maine: young, old, unf'rt moose, beaver, deer, hare in Maine: deep forest to clearcuts; mountains to wetlands

This diagram represents a food web for wolves, (and for people), in Maine. Can vou identify each creature and write its name in the spaces provided?

1 ---2 ---

3---- &--4 -----

s- - - -

6-----7 -----8----

range

Maine Fish and Wildlife

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by Gary Anderson Photos by Tom Carbone

here is a neat story that goes with the first L. L. Bean cork decoys. George Soule was hunting on Lane's Island with L. L. Bean in 1935. (George, Leon, and Justin Williams later shared Lane's Island among themselves and found it, situated just off the Harrasseeket River as it was, a natural duck blind.) . Well, George took note of the "rag-tag" collection of decoys they had, and said he could make some that would look much better. L. L. said he'd pay for some and put them in his catalog. George did as he said, and so did L. L.-the rest of the story lies on the warm bosom of waterfowling history. But let's trace that story. Thousands of decoys have been made from those first models, and when George 12

Maine Fish and Wildlife

retired in the late 60s, he sold the business to another friend of Leon's. It was later sold again and moved to Bowdoinham. It stayed there for a few years, adding decorative birds and other objects to please a collecting public. Three years ago, Leroy Knowles bought the business and moved it to Brunswick. It was here, in my search for proper decoy paint, that I discovered Leroy's old Maine friendliness, courtesy, and a business ethic that compels him to please his customer if at all possible. He was no stranger to us, however, having been a hunter safety instructor for many years. His product, of course, is the best-species he can provide include mallards, blacks, geese, pintails, eiders, bluebills, goldeneye, and buffleheads (the last is a new

addition-these smaller decoys are used to reflect that species population increases and to "fill out" strings of other decoys. Leroy's decoys are made in standard, oversize, and magnum in the more common species; others are made only in standard. Buffleheads are tiny compared to other decoys, but they are lighter and a couple dozen very easily transported. The rest of the story has to do with fixing up old workworn decoys, another activity in which Leroy's shop excels. We shot this series of how-to pictures with their kind assistance, and we think it supports the old Maine adage: "make do, do without; use it up, wear it out! But maybe we should add "fix it up!" â&#x20AC;˘ The author is the department's safety officer- and a decoy user from way back!

Maine Fish and Wildlife

ANNUAL REPORT Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife July 1, 1995 to June 30, 1996

IF&W's Financial Condition Rick Record, Director, Administrative Services

At the close of fiscal year 1996, the department's total revenue grew for the fourth year in a row; but this growth was well below projections . Income from the sale of licenses and registrations was approximately $14.5 million , well below the projected income of $15 .6 million. This shortfall triggered a downward revision of revenue projections of approximately $800 ,000 in the current fiscal year. To offset this downward revision , the department had to find an equivalent amount of savings from its operating budget in order to end the year on sound footing. The difference between revenues and expenses is made up from our carrying balance. Although license sales have declined recently, we are predicting a trend of slow and steady growth. But costs of operating current programs and services are growing much faster. The department is reviewing its operational budget from top to bottom in order to meet its goal of operating under a balanced budget. To do so, we must identify new sources of revenue and cut unnecessary costs. While it is not our perception that the sky is falling , we recognize the need to scrutinize every expenditure. Above all else , we remain dedicated to using our resources wisely and ensuring that our customers are satisfied.

Maine Hunting & Fishing Licenses Trends in Sales, 1981-1995 400

Fishing Licenses

300 •

200

••

~1-:----t--------r---1

Hunting Licenses

100 81 82 83 84

85 86 87 88 89 90

91 92 93 94 95 Winter 1996

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife The Income Dollar Fiscal Year 1996

$5,163,708 (26.1 % ) Federal Aid

$133,950 (0.7%) Gray Game Farm $436,295 (2.2%) Nongame/Loon

$2,873,489 (14.5%) Nonresident Hunting

$1 ,633,702 (8.3%) Resident Hunting $183,462 (0.9%) Special Licenses

$1,071,626 (5.4%) Rec. Vehicle Registration

$385,804 (1.9%) Misc. Revenue

$1,633,702 (8.3%) Resident Fishing

$3,048,933 (15.4%) Combination Licenses

$640,104 (3.2%) Fines $1,923,346 (9.7%) Nonresident Fishing

$661 ,769 (3.3%) Moose Hunt

The past year was a period marked by accomplishment and new directions for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife . Among the most significant changes was Commissioner Owen 's Quality Fishing Initiative. New trout regulations , which are the centerpiece of the fishing initiative, hold the promise , not only for conserving Maine's native wild trout fishery for future generations, but for producing trophy fishing waters. Deer populations throughout most of the state continue to increase. Other popular big game species-bear, moose , and turkey-continued to thrive as a result of accommodating weather patterns and effective, scientific management policy. During October, a record number of moose were registered when hunters enjoyed a harvest rate in excess of 90 percent. Following a successful 1995 deer hunt, and despite continuing coyote predation , Maine's early fall deer herd has grown to an estimated 250 ,000 . Two historic deer-yard protection/management agreements secured this year with Great Northern Paper Co . and Fraser Paper Co ., combined with new cooperative working relationships between IF&W and additional large landowners, as well as a number of new acquisitions of critical wildlife habitat,

The Expense Dollar

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

$1 ,474,477 (6.9%) Administration

$294,872 (1.4%) Nongame/Loon

Fiscal Year 1996

$3,649,776 (17.1%) Wildlife

"... to preserve and protect the inland fisheries and wildlife resources of the State; to encourage the wise use of these resources; to ensure coordinated planning for the future use and preservation of these resources; and to provide for effective management of these resources."

$724,371 (3.4%) Commissioner's Office $8,778,927 (41.2%) Warden Service

$1 ,308,285 (6.1 %) Licensing

J $166,157 (0.8%) Gray Game Farm

Maine Fish and Wildlife

$578,536 (2. 7%) Waterfowl

$567,759 (2.7%) Information and Education

$3,752,623 (17.6%) Fisheries and Hatcheries Winter 1996

will further enhance our ability to manage and protect Maine's fisheries and wildlife resources. As a result of a multiplying wild turkey population, turkey hunters this year enjoyed expanded hunting zones and an increasing number of hunting permits. A record total of 288 turkeys were tagged this year, some in excess of 22 pounds. Our fish hatcheries, which again raised and stocked 1.1 million salmon and trout in 725 lakes and more than 100 streams, received some muchneeded maintenance attention through a highly successful new partnership between IF&W and private industry. Six Maine corporations participated in our Adopt-A-Hatchery Program that resulted in labor and material contributions valued at more than $100,000. In a new program designed to introduce genetic diversity into Maine's stocked brook trout fishery, hatchery and fisheries personnel established three new strains of trout brood stock. This new direction holds significant potential for producing a more vigorous strain of brook trout for Maine's stocking programs. A number of new initiatives from the Maine Warden Service this year will enhance our capacity to protect fish and wildlife resources, apprehend violators and ensure safer levels of outdoor recreation. A package of tougher laws targeting wildlife violators, which include tougher license revocation standards for those convicted of major wildlife violations, are having a discernible deterrent affect on lawbreakers. A new safety division is working closely with boating and snowmobile organizations to address heightened public concerns about snowmobile safety and personal watercraft operations. Additionally, IF&W's volunteer program logged more than 11,000 hours of voluntary support from Maine citizens. A concerted effort to recruit and train more Deputy Game Wardens, an improved training curriculum at the Maine Warden School and the instituting of a Warden Public Relations Committee have all combined to ensure that the Maine Warden Service continues to protect Maine's natural resources while maintaining mutually re-

Maine Fish and Wildlife

spectful, professional relationships with outdoor recreationists. In the area of conservation education, a number of new programs were launched. Numerous television documentaries for public television, the Become an Outdoor Woman program, Hooked on Fishing, the construction of a major Black Bear Exhibit at the Gray Game Farm & Visitor's Center were all aimed at telling the story of conservation education and preserving Maine's outdoor heritage. In an effort to improve IF&W's customer relations program, the Information & Education Division created a new customer information center in Augusta. The quarterly publication Fish & Wildlife magazine has become financially self-sustaining for the first time as a result of increased subscriptions, advertising content and reduced productions costs. A new IF&W web site on the internet, which contains licensing and regulatory information as well as season dates and regular press releases, is helping to broaden our communication base with those customers who rely on cyberspace to stay abreast of outdoor issues. In an effort to make license purchasing more convenient for our customers, resident and nonresident fishing and hunting licenses were made available this year to customers at an additional 200 retail outlets in Maine. Faced with rising costs and relatively static funding (see pie charts in this report) from its traditional revenue sources, the Administrative Services Division has refined its revenue forecasting methods and, in concert with the agency's division heads, is deeply involved in financial planning and performance-based budgeting. We are currently exploring innovative new funding sources that will lend stability and continuity to this Department's long-term revenue base. Fortunately, supplemental but dedicated revenue sources, such as the Outdoor Heritage Fund (supported by the Instant Wildlife Lottery) and the Loon Plate Program, have provided funding for some important programs such as the nongame program.

Black Crappies in Maine

''The Good, the Bad,

ly''

Hermon Pond, near Bangor.

by Andrew Madden and John Moring

black crappie is an extremely popular sport fish in many parts of the country. A member of the fish family that includes largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish, and other familiar species, the crappie is native to the Great Lakes, the Mississippi Valley, the Gulf of

Mexico, and southern Atlantic states. Over the years, black crappies have been introduced into many other waters. And that includes Maine. Black crappies were first stocked intentionally into Virginia Lake in Stoneham in 1921. Accidentally- and illegally-this species has now been introduced

to several other lakes in Maine, including Sebago, Sebasticook, Keewaydin, Pleasant, and Lower Mousam lakes, Proctor and Hammond ponds, possibly Fields Pond, and in recent years, Hermon Pond, near Bangor. Black crappies reach much larger sizes than do sunfish (the world record crappie weighed 4

Authors Andrew Madden and John Moring are with the U.S. Geological Survey's Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Unit cooperators are the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Maine, and the Wildlife Management Institute. Winter 1996

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Black crappie. 1/2 pounds), which makes them very popular gamefish. But, there is a down side to this species. By examining diets of black crappies in other states, we know that crappies and several other fish species eat similar foods, especially aquatic insects and small fishes. So, the spread of crappies into waters inhabited by brook trout and other popular fishes can potentially affect some of Maine's most popular fisheries. Hermon Pond has always had a population of white perch, and perch have supported a popular fishery there over the years. But once black crappies began to appear in the late 1980s, anglers reported that perch catches were declining. Was it due to the presence of the invading black crappie? Was this non-native species hurting a popular native species? Will a crappie fishery be even more popular than traditional fisheries? In 1995, we attempted to answer these questions by looking at fish scales and food habits of white perch and black crappies in Hermon Pond. Fish scales are easily removed and-

Mame Fish and Wildlife

somewhat like tree rings-can tell biologists the age of the fish. By knowing the length of a fish at capture, we could backcalculate the length at different ages and detect any changes in growth. Examining stomach contents can often reveal whether there is competition for particular food items between two species of fish. We did this by using a specialized stomach pump which removes stomach contents without killing the animal; the fish can be released unharmed. We spent hundreds of hours picking through the stomach contents, identifying the various food items, and using various statistical indices to determine how similar the diets might be between two fish species. After collecting almost 600 white perch and examining their scales, we were able to make comparisons between the growth of fish in three categories: (1) perch that lived in Hermon Pond for part of their life prior to the invasion of black crappie; (2) perch that were living in the pond during the time when black crappie were starting to increase in number;

and (3) perch that lived in the pond after black crappie were well established. White perch can live for up to 17 years. So we were able to compare growth rates of all the captured fish that were Age 4 prior to the introduction of crappie, all the fish that were Age 4 in the transitional period, and all the Age 4 fish living with an established black crappie population. The results were quite revealing . As black crappie started to appear in Hermon Pond, growth rates of white perch started to decline. Once crappie became firmly established in Hermon Pond, the growth rates of white perch declined significantly-for almost every age category. This is strong-although circumstantial- evidence that something profound happened to white perch in Hermon Pond once black crappie took up residence. It is unlikely that there is competition at the time of spawning-the two species spawn at different locations and in different manners. If the two species had very similar diets, it would be easy to point to competition for food as being the cause of the decline. But the diet analyses weren't that revealing. There was some diet overlap, but not enough to provide an obvious answer. Without a long, costly study of the entire fish and invertebrate community, we may never know why the white perch were affected. Black crappie could be competing for food with another fish species in the lake, thus causing those fishes to shift to a preferred food of white perch, in tum reducing the available food for white perch. But it could be something entirely different.

White perch. Biologists may speculate on the mechanism for years, but the evidence remains that something about the presence of large numbers of black crappie has affected native white perch. Fisheries managers must deal with a dilemma in this situation. If black crappie enter a water body inhabited by brook trout, white perch, or other popular sport fishes, their competitive nature, similar preferred foods, and relatively large size can cause changes in the existing fisheries. On the other hand, crappie can reach impressive sizes. They are fun to catch, and are extremely tasty. Many anglers in Hermon Pond are now targeting their efforts toward black crappie, and

Seining in Hermon Pond, near Bangor. Winter 1996

Prime habitat, Hermon Pond.

reports of su ccessful fishing trips to Low er Mousam Lake and elsewhere have been appearing regularly in print This is our challenge: to weigh the ad vantages and disadvantages of this unplanned introduction-one w ith positive as well as negative consequences. •

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SOME LIKE IT HOT JERKY 3/4 cup soy sauce 3/4 cup Worcestershire sauce 1/2 bottle Liquid Smoke 2 teaspoons seasoned salt 2 teaspoons Accent 2 teaspoons on ion powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder 3 teaspoon black pepper Tabasco sauce (how much , your call !) De-bone and remove fat from venison , moose , or beef; cut meat into strips about 1/8 inch thick. Mix above ingredients together ; marinate meat in mixture overnight. Lay strips over oven racks with cookie sheet underneath. Bake in oven on low temperature (125°-140° works fine) for four to six hours, turning meat halfway through to ensure that both sides are dried. Recipe will season up to five pounds of meat. NOTE : A dehydrator or smoker can be used rather than an oven if available. Charles Mann Volunteer Coordinator

Want to see your favorite fish and game recipe in our Recipe Corner? Just send it, along with a little background, to : THE RECIPE CORNER, Attn: Charlie Mann, 284 State Street, 41 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333

Maine Fish and Wildlife

What To Ask A Maine Guide CD

LODGING A. B. C. D. E.

TRANSPORTATION

ACTUAL TRIP

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FOR A HUNTING TRIP

GENERAL QUESTIONS

A. B.

A. B. C. D. E. F.

A. B. C. D. E. F. G.

A. B. C. D. E. F.

G. H. I.

•

What type? (tent, lodge, spike camp , etc.) What is supplied? (sleeping bag , food , linen, running water, electricity, etc.) Are meals provided? Who cooks? Can menu be changed for dietary problem? How many guests to a room or tent? Is alcohol allowed? Are hand guns allowed on trips other than hunting?

Do you furnish transportation or do I? Year and make of vehicle? Will an airplane be used?

What clothes and gear must I bring? How many clients to a guide? Will the guide be with me throughout the trip? What physical condition must I be in? Who purchases license? Is there a limit on amount of gear brought?

What type of hunt is planned? Will my gn;:>up be split up? How many other hunters with me? How much land on which to hunt? Who cares for game? Who 's responsible for the butchering? Who purchases necessary licenses? How much travel involved from lodging to hunt site?

How long have you been in business? How experienced are the guides? What is the entire cost of the trip including licenses and access fees? What is the up front deposit for the trip? What is the cancellation policy? Up to what point can the trip be canceled and money returned? What other costs are involved? What is the phone number for an emergency call? What is the nearest hospital. Who is the nearest doctor? Do you take a check or credit card , or must I bring cash?

SUGGESTIONS TO CLIENT A. B. C.

Get all information on paper and signed by the guide. Take a camera and get pictures of what you got, if not what promised. Get references, at least one who did not get fish or game.

Winter 1996

MAINE BASS - HO by Dave Boucher

you spend a good amount of time on Maine's lakes and rivers, you've probably noticed that the popularity of bass fishing has increased dramatically over the past decade or so. There are more of those sleek bass boats, more bass fishing tournaments-and certainly, one hears more of those slightly embellished dockside accounts of the "hog" that snapped the line at the boat! Maine Fisheries Division biologists saw this "bass fishing boom" coming; beginning about 1985, they greatly increased bass management efforts. Since then, with help from several volunteers, we have collected data from several thousand smallmouth and largemouth bass from York County to Washington County. Our goal in this ongoing endeavor, of course, is to gather the information needed to maintain and enhance the quality of the state's bass resources. A key element of any fishery investigation of this type is to accurately determine the age of the fish. We need good age information on Maine bass to answer some important questions. How fast do Maine bass grow compared to populations in David Boucher is Assistant Regional Fisheries Biologist for the Rangeley Lakes Region.

other parts of North America? How are bass survival and growth rates influenced by certain habitat conditions (e.g., water temperature, amount and quality of spawning, nursery, and adult habitat, type and amount of forage)? At what age and size do Maine bass reach sexual maturity? What is their potential longevity? Do smallmouths and largemouths differ significantly in these respects? Ultimately, what fishing regulations are most

appropriate to protect this important, self-sustaining resource while still meeting the desires and expectations of bass anglers? Early in the project, we decided to age our bass by counting the number of specialized rings, called annuli, that form on the scales. This technique is similar (though not nearly as straightforward!) to aging a tree by counting annual rings in a cross-section through the trunk. Scales provide an efficient, cost-

OLD ARE THEY?

effective means of aging large numbers of fish with little harm to the animal. But were scales providing us with reliable estimates of bass ages? We believed that for younger fish, they probably were. We suspected, however, that the largest bass in our samples were much older than interpretation of their scales would suggest. This is because as bciss (and most other fish species) reach sexual maturity, their growth slows dramc1ticc1lly

and the annual rings on their scales, which generally grow in proportion to fish length, become obscured and more difficult to detect, or may not form at all. Since fishing regulations based on spurious age estimates could prove disastrous because growth rates would be "misdiagnosed," we decided to collect paired samples of scales and otoliths from bass in several central Maine lakes. Otoliths, or earstones, are flat, oval, or spindle-shaped structures found in the heads of bony fishes (top right photo). They function as organs of equilibrium and balance and have been shown to be a more reliable indicator of fish age than scales, especially for older age individuals. We found that ages derived from scales and otoliths agreed quite well for bass up to about Age 5. This was a positive outcome because it suggested that our previous assessments (from scale reading) of growth rates, age at maturity, and variations in abundance of year classes-all events that occur early in the life of a fish-were right on target. But we also found, as suspected, that bass older than Age 8 were significantly underage by scales. For example, we aged one 18-inch, 2.7-pound smallmouth at 11 years old with its scales and 21 years old with its otoliths (bottom right photo)! One 21.5-inch, 7.5-pound largemouth was 14 "scale years" old and 20 "otolith years" old! Obviously, we were

Otoliths, or earstones, are bony structures found in the heads of many fish species. They provide reliable estimates of fish age, especially for older-age individuals.

This otolith section from an 18-inch smallmouth shows 21 annuli, or year marks. Trophy bass are indeed "old timers!"

not recognizing the presence of very old bass through traditional scale reading, and our previous estimates of potential longevity of Maine bass were far too low. What does this mean, in practical terms, to Maine's bass management program? This study provided additional evidence that Maine's new bass regulations, implemented in 1992, are appropriate because they emphasize protection of the largest (and oldest) bass by redirecting most of the harvest toward smaller, younger fish. Over time, this should permit more bass to attain their age and size potential.

What does this mean, in practical terms, to Maine bass anglers? Anglers need to recognize that the time needed to grow trophy-size bass is exceedingly long in Maine (perhaps as long as 25 years). Trophy bass are not, and probably never have been, particularly abundant, and once harvested, their replacement occurs at an exceedingly slow rate. In light of these newfound facts, anglers fortunate enough to hook into one of those coveted "hogs" should seriously consider the benefits of "recycling and reusing." â&#x20AC;˘ Reprinted courtesy New Hampshire Fis/1 and Game Department.

More to Fish Scales than

Meets the Eye Why do fisheries biologists spend so much time with fish scales? The research crew of New Hampshire's Fish and Game Department is currently carrying on a concentrated collection of scales from specific study areas and analyzing the data obtained from them. Fish scales act as the fishes' autobiography and few humans keep a more accurate diary of their living conditions. Fish are born without scales. Some, like the hornpout, never develop scales, but most do. Sometime dunng the first year of its life, varying with different species, the growing fry develops scale nuclei under its skin set there hke shingles on a roof. The greater part of these "shingles" will always remain imbedded in the skin with only a small portion showing. As the fish grows these scale nuclei begin to grow by adding rings of new matenal around the edge of the scale. By the time winter sets in there will be a number of these growth nngs Over the winter months the fish eats less, growth slows down, and consequently the growth rings on the scale become crowded together. The following spnng when the fish finds and eats more food, these scale circles are again laid farther apart. The crowded growth circles which developed during winter are called an annulus" and 1t is these which tell us the age of the fish. But on expert at reading fish scales can find much more on them than just the age of the fish. Many fish give up eating for a time while they spawn. This will show up between the annuli and tell the fisheries man at what year the fish started spawning. Scales of ocean fish, like salmon, which come to fresh water to spawn will show a very noticeable difference in their growth rings the year the fish left salt water. An expert fish scale reader can even tell from the scales alone whether fish from one pond have grown better than fish from another pond and at what year of their life they grew the fastest. Since the scale grows at the same rate as the fish it is possible to take fish before they have spawned, measure them, then measure the total scale and the distance between the annuli. By simple ratios it is then possible to back-calculate and determine what length the fish was at the end of each year.

Mame Fislr and Wildlife

THE GENERAL MACARTHUR rom the Fly Tying Bench

by Butch Carey THE PATTERN HOOK: #94720 (8x), size 2 THREAD: White monocord TAIL: Red hackle barbules BODY: Flat silver Mylar tinsel THROAT: Dark blue, white, & red hackle barbules WINGS: Two grizzly over two light blue over two white saddle hackles EYES: Jungle cock (optional) HEAD: 1/3 red, 1/3 white, 1/3 blue monocord

[!]

Tie in flat silver Myler up front, then double-wrap body (wrap to back, then wrap again to return to front). Cement.

Cast on white monocord on shank above a spot halfway between barb and point. Tie in red hackle barbules for tail, then move thread to the front in close, even turns. Cement.

Winter 1996

For wings, match two white saddle hackles, match two light blue saddle hackles over the white, then match two grizzly saddle hackles over the blue. TIE ALL THREE SETS OF HACKLES IN AT ONCE!

For throat, tie in a very small bunch of dark blue hackle barbules, then a small bunch of white over the blue, then a small bunch of red over the white. All barbules should be the same length.

Tie in jungle cock cheeks, using white thread at the midpoint of what will be a tricolor head. Tie off; trim. Tie in red thread ahead of white and wind the front third of head. Tie off; trim. Tie in blue thread and wind the back third of head. Tie off; trim , and cement. Let it dry, then let it fly!

Maine Fislz and Wildlife

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS Bill Allen Promoted William F. Allen has been named warden lieutenant and assigned to Division B, headquartered in Sidney. Formerly a warden sergeant supervising seven game wardens in midcoast Maine, Allen's new duties include supervising a cadre of game wardens including three sergeants, a dispatcher, and district wardens. Allen succeeds Warden Lieutenant Jim Ross, who was recently named to head up IF&W's new safety division.

Four Promoted to Warden Sergeants Four district game wardens have been promoted to the rank of sergeant in the Maine Warden Service. Warden Sergeant John Blagdon has been assigned to Division C in the Washington County area. Blagdon, a native of Wiscasset, has been a game warden for 11 years. He has served as a district warden in Dennysville, Newport and Jefferson. He and his wife Kathy live in Calais with their two children. Warden Sergeant Richard Mills, a native of Rumford, has been a district warden for 12 years. He also served for five years as a depu ty warden. Mills is a member of the Search and Rescue Overhead Team. During his service has been assigned to districts in Dixfield and Andover. Mills lives in Millinocket with his wife Charlie and three children. Warden Sergeant Tom Ward, recently promoted, will remain in Division Din the Greenville area . A 10-year veteran of the Maine Warden Service, Ward was named Warden of the Year in 1994 and holds two Meritorious Service A wards for rescues at Moosehead Lake and Gulf Hagas. A Guilford native, Ward has been in the Greenville area for the past 6 years having previously been

assigned to Daaquam and Rockwood . Ward and his wife, Shari, have three children. Warden Sergeant Fred Jackson has been promoted and reassigned to the Houlton area in Division E. A former state trooper and member of the Warden Dive Team, Jackson has been a game warden since 1977. He holds an Exemplary Service A ward and was named Warden of the Year in 1995. Jackson and his wife, Janice, have three children.

First "Hunters for the Hungry" Donation The first meat donated under the new "Hunters for the Hungry" program is on its way to feed people in Penobscot and Aroostook counties. Representatives from two soup kitchens, Manna Ministries in Bangor and Martha and Mary's in Presque Isle, picked up over 300 pounds of moose meat today from York's Slaughterhouse in Medway. The meat came from an illegally killed moose confiscated by the Maine Warden Service, but a unique aspect of "Hunters for the Hw1gry'' is that legally taken game, such as deer, moose and bear, can also be donated by dialing a toll-free phone number, 1-8884DEERME.

Warden Lt. Bill Allen

Allen, 48, has been a Maine game warden since 1972. He began his career as a district warden in Wa hington County. Promoted to warden sergeant in 1977, Allen has also served as administrator of the Warden Dive Team, Maine Warden Service training officer and supervisor of Operation Game Thief. The new lieutenant is also a former undercover operative, recovery diver and K-9 handler for the Maine Warden Service. He holds an Exemplary Service Award and served as a Sergeant with the Maine Army National Guard. A native of Seboeis, Maine, Allen holds a B.S. in education from the University of Maine and has taught conservation law enforcement at Unity Coll ege for 16 years. Lt. Allen lives in Thorndike with his wife, Patty, and two children, Nate and Kate. In his spare time, he enjoys fly fishing and motorcycling.

As part of the Hunters For the Hungry program, meat processor Philip York of Medway (left) parcels out frozen mooseburger to Robert Palmer (center) and Linda Brown (right), representatives of Martha & Mary's Table.

Winter 1996

"Hunters for the Hungry" is a program for donating wild game meat to food kitchens, shelters and charitable organizations statewide. Created by the legislature last spring at the urging of the Sportsmen's Alliance of Maine, the program is run jointly by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and the Maine Department of Agriculture. The program also involves a publicprivate partnership. A group entitled "Sportsmen and Sportswomen who care about the hungry," comprised of SAM, Safari Club International of Maine and others, is actively promoting the program across the state. The program works simply enough: When harvested animals are donated using the toll-free number and the hunter chooses not to take any meat or pay the processing fee, the butcher or processor coordinates directly with Department of Agriculture's Food Assistance Program for payment. The Agriculture Department then distributes the meat to a variety of charities. SAM member Joseph Shortill played a key role in the development of "Hunter's for the Hungry." He says, "With federal budget cuts and the unraveling of the social service safety net, this program is the perfect low-cost solution for Maine's most needy citizens."

Marshall grew up in East Auburn, Maine. He holds an Associate Degree in Wildlife and Law Enforcement from Unity College. Before joining the Maine Warden Service, Marshall worked for the Maine Bureau of Parks and Recreation as a park ranger at Reid State Park, and as a heavy equipment operator grooming snowmobile trails on the New Hampshire border.

Moose Hunt Update Maine's 16th annual October moose hunt went well. Although the final harvest figures are not yet complete, the latest total of 1,367 registered moose is a record harvest, putting the hunter success ratio in excess of 90 percent. More than 80 percent of the moose registered

Marshall Promoted to Lieutenant Warden Sergeant Michael R. Marshall of Princeton has been promoted to Game Warden Lieutenant. Marshall succeeds Lt. Greg Maher, who retired recently. An 18 -year veteran of the Maine Warden Service, Marshall will be in charge of Warden Service Division E, which includes all of Aroostook County.

During the week of Maine 's popular October moose hunt, a number of large bulls like this one were registered and weighed at the tagging station in Greenville.

this year were bulls. A large bull that weighed in at more than 1200 pounds was registered in Fort Kent. The state record since the moose hunt resumed in 1980 is 1,330 pounds. Stepped-up enforcement by the Maine Warden Service resulted in 10 felony arrests being made on moose hunters. According to Deputy Chief Warden Major Dan Tourtelotte, there were a number of double kills. Through a new program called "Hunters For the Hungry," meat from these illegal kills has been processed and turned over to soup kitchens in Aroostook County and Penobscot County ( ee story on page 29).

S.D. Warren Saves the Day b another successful public-private partnership that benefits Maine anglers and boaters, the S.D. Warren Co. has provided a parcel of shoreland on Spencer Lake in western Maine for use as a permanent public access site. Public access to Spencer Lake, known for its trout and salmon fishery and breathtaking scenery, has become significantly restricted over the past several years. In an effort to provide a public boat launch area and a limited parking facility, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife sought and received the cooperation of S.D Warren Company, which has agreed to provide lake frontage for the access site on its land located on the northwest corner of the lake. IF&W Public Acee Coordinator Bob Williams says, "The department greatly appreciates S.D. Warren for its assistance and for its ongoing cooperation with this agency in helping us increase public access to important recreational waters in Maine."

â&#x20AC;˘ ICE FISHING, CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

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Maine Fish a11d Wildlife

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Pending permit approval, construction on the Spencer Lake access site will begin in early 1997 and is expected to be operational by next fall.

"Fish Bomber" Faces Charges One of three men charged with fishing with explosives at Junior Lake near Springfield has lost his hand as a result of injuries received when his homemade "fish bomb" detonated prematurely. According to Warden Dave Georgia, Philip Cram of Medway was hospitalized at the Penobscot Valley Hospital in Lincoln July 24 after losing some fingers in the Junior Lake incident. Cram's hand was later amputated. Cram, who is the police chief of Medway and his two "fishing " parh1ers have been charged with "taking fish by an explosive device" and face possible fines up to $1,000 each. According to Warden Georgia, Cram, along with Chester Constable Fred Hale and Todd McCafferty, later told authorities that they were after "a boatload of white perch." The men fashioned a bomb from a toilet paper tube which was packed with black powder and attached to a hobby fuse. Intending to light the fuse and sink the device in the lake with a lag bolt taped to it, Cram reportedly had difficulty lighting the fuse in the rainy, windy conditions. Unaware that thP. fuse had caught, Cram was reportedly attempting to light the fuse when the explosive device blew up in his hand. Cram was taken by ambulance from McCafferty's camp at Junior Lake to the Lincoln Hospital. All three of the men were drinking at the time of the accident, according to the warden's report. In other summer fish-poaching activities, a Brooklyn, ew York man was summonsed by Warden Reggie Hammond with 38 salmon and brook trout over his limit. The angler, Alex Drindrojik, 36, was charged with fishing with illegal implements (set lines). The Brooklyn angler, as well as the men involved in the fishing with explosives incident, all face stiff fines as well as revocation of their fishing and hunting licenses for up to five years.

On his last day at IF& W, wildlife planner Alan Clark (right) was presented the Kenneth H. Anderson Award in recognition of his 23 years of devoted service. Commissioner Ray "Bucky" Owen made the presentation. He will begin his job the first week in October. Alan graduated from the University of Maine in wildlife management, and came to work for the Department in 1973. Alan first worked in the Patten and Greenville regional offices as a biology aide and later as an assistant regional wildlife biologist. He then served as Assistant Furbearer Project Leader, working out of both the Bingham and the Bangor offices. Alan took a leave of absence to return to graduate school to acquire a Master of Scienc~ in Wildlife Management from Virginia Tech, then returned to his position on the Furbearer Project. While serving in this capacity, Alan's biological and strong analytical skills were instrumental in greatly advancing the development of furbearer management systems and operational programs. In 1985, Alan was promoted to the position of wildlife resource planner in

Augusta. Since that tin1e, he has played a key role in the development of the department's planning initiatives, as well as the implementation of many department programs. Upon his departure from IF&W, Alan was presented with the Kenneth H. Anderson A ward by Commissioner Ray "Bucky" Owen.

Radio Outdoor Program D ebuts The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, in cooperation with Bangor radio station WSNV-FM, is producing a new weekly radio talk program called "Maine Outdoors." Co-hosted by IF&W Information Chief V. Paul Reynolds and Fish and Wildlife Advisory Council Chairman Wilmot ''Wiggie" Robinson, the onehour radio call-in program is broadcast Sunday nights at 6 p.m. on WSNV-FM 103.9, which is a 100,000 watt FM station reaching nine Maine counties.

Alan Clark Goes West Alan Clark has accepted an offer by the Utah Division of Wildlife resources as the Planning Manager for the agency.

Winter 1996

Reynolds says that the new program is intended to inform and entertain Maine listeners who enjoy any and all forms of outdoor recreation. A special guest is featured each week, along with IF&W updates and prizes to those callers who correctly answer outdoor quiz questions. Kicking off in October, the program's fall guests have included biologists Brad Allen and Gerry Lavigne, State Rep. Jon Rosebush, former IF&W commissioner Bill Vail, outdoor balladeer Mathew Heinz, and others.

Let us know when you're moving. As budgets tighten, the cost of sending you a second magazine is sorely missed!! Send change of address information to us at: 284 State St., Station 41, Augusta ME 04333 or e-mail us: mag.mfw@state.me.us

LETTER TO THE EDITOR I thought you might want to use this photo in your magazine. After vandals broke into our camp on the Hubbard Road, I boarded up the windows to prevent further damage. This was last year. We now leave the camp unlocked as there is nothing to steal , but the hornets are on guard again . Last month they had started to add to the same window, but last weekend they wouldn't even let me in the door! Harold E. Nelson Newport â&#x20AC;˘ To bad the hornets waited until after the break-in to set up housekeeping!! Looks like they might have taken care of things pretty well, judging from your picture (right)!!

1996 State of Maine Migratory Waterfowl Hunting Print & Stamp 500 LIMITED EDITION

BLUE WING TEAL by:

Paul D. Fillion Durham, Maine

PRICE: (unframed) l l" x 14" print and stamp

$40.00

(framed) 15" x 16 1/2" print and stamp

$ 130.00

Shipping & handling

$4.50

HOW TO ORDER: Include name and addres , selection of framed or unframed, add 6% sales tax to cost, add sh ipping & handling. Enclose check or money order made out to C11ylaine Fillion, and mail toGuylaine Fillion. 57 ountry Lane, Durham, ME 04222. Or cal l 207-353-5 146. All pieces are shipped UPS.

Artist Paul Fillion has generously volunteered to earmark part of the profits from the sale of the prints to support the waterfowl programs.

Mame Fish and Wildlife

MAINE

!Oto files of the ne Department

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333

Place Sta.mp Here

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333

MAINE

FISH AND WILDLIFE 284 State St., Sta. #41 Augusta ME 04333

dvantages of power ice of the ice angler's trade back ,er when the snowmobile lakes when this great ·e changed since they first

,·s

Reynolds says that the new progra: is intended to inform and entertain Maine listeners who enjoy any and all forms of outdoor recrea tion. A special guest is featured each week, along wit IF&W upda tes and prizes to those call ers who correctly answer outdoor qui: questions. Kicking off in October, the progran fall guests have in cluded biologists Br Allen and Gerry Lavigne, State Rep. Jc Rosebush, former IF&W commissione Bill Vail, outdoor balladeer Mathew Heinz, and others.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR I thought you might want to use thiE photo in your magazine. After vandals broke into our camp c the Hubbard Road , I boarded up the windows to prevent further damage. Tl was last year. We now leave the camp unlocked c there is nothing to steal , but the homeare on guard again. Last month they h started to add to the same window, bu last weekend they wouldn't even let m the door! Harold E. Ne, New_ â&#x20AC;¢ To bad the hornets waited until a~ the break-in to set up housekeeping!! Looks like they might have taken care things pretty well, judging from your pi ture (right)!!

AINE

J9646

FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

SPECIAL HALF-PRICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

D 2years only $18 D Please bill me later

Address _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ City/State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

FOB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FBEE 1-800-288-8387

AINE

J9646

FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

SPECIAL HALF-PRICE OFFER! D 1 year only $9 D Payment enclosed

D a years only $18 D Please bill me later

Name _ _ _ __ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~

Address _ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ City/State/Zip_ __ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

FOB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-288-838r

AINE

J9646

FISH AND WILDLIFE A quarterly full-color magazine about hunting, fishing, or just plain recreating in Maine's outdoors

SPECIAL HALF-PRICE OFFER! D 1 yearonly$9 D Payment enclosed

D a years only $18 D Please bill me later

Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _~

Address _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Artist Paul Fillion has generously vol1

City /State/Zip_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

FOB FASTER SERVICE, CALL TOLL-FBEE 1-800-288-8387 32

Mame Fi<h and Wild/1/e

A look back into the photo files of the

~~~ ~~~,..."""'"

Maine Fish and Game Department

â&#x20AC;˘

In the good old days, most Maine ice fishermen didn 't enjoy the advantages of power ice augers and snowmobiles. Ice chisels and snowshoes were tools of the ice angler's trade back then. But sometime around the early 1960s, this all changed forever when the snowmobile made its outdoor debut. This was a typical winter scene on Maine 's lakes when this great transition began. And look how the snowmobiles themselves have changed since they first came upon the scene!

Maine Fish and Wildlife Department â&#x20AC;˘ 284 State Street, Station 41

â&#x20AC;˘ Augusta, Maine 04330

Give A Sporting Chance ... AND preserve landowner relations! A Maine Supersport license is the perfect gift for those special people in your life who enjoy hunting and fishing. And this Supersport license is available to anglers as well as hunters. Most outdoor recreation in Maine depends on access to privately owned land. This key to our outdoor heritage must be preserved by maintaining relationships between those who own the land and those who use it. Your Supersport contribution will help support landowner relations programs to ensure a future of sporting recreation .

Supersports receive a colorful decal-{lnd a one-year subscription to MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE Magazine. The first 5,000 Supersport buyers will also receive a copy of the Department watchable wildlife guide. Ask about Supersport when you buy your license. Maine residents can buy one wherever licenses are sold, including many sporting outlets across the state. Nonresident hunters and anglers may obtain a Supersport license at these outlets as well, or through the mail from:

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 284 State Street, 41 State House Station Augusta ME 04333 You can even buy a Supersport add-on for someone else 's license-a perfect gift for someone who 's already purchased a sporting license. Ask for details.

Sportsmen and landowners have a futurewhy not invest iri it?