May 2012 - The Outdoor Gazette

Page 2

May 2012

The Outdoor Gazette

The Trap Line

By Randy Barrows

Trap Line Safety

Before I continue with the how-to s of trapping there is one important aspect of this sport that needs to be spoken about. This aspect is safety on the trap line and is one of the most important of all the rules.

Many choose to ignore the rules and end up severely injured or worse yet they do not show up for breakfast anymore.

With everything we do in life there are risks and as I have found it is much easier to stay out of trouble then to try to get out of trouble.

I feel the most important thing to do with anything dealing with trapping; hunting or fishing is to leave a note with someone who can render aid should you not show up after an outing. Yes, we have cell phones, but one unexpected dip will render these little gems useless.

Monitor the weather. We all know how fickle New England weather can be. It can be 70 in the morning when you leave and 20 when you return home. Toss in a

Page 22

little snow, rain and wind and you could be in serious trouble. AS with all weather you need to dress for the occasion preferably in layers. It is easy to take it off if it turns warm

but hard to put on if it is in the truck or at home. If you are a real outdoors nut you already know what keeps you warm and what doesn’t.

Hypothermia is caused by the body core temperature dropping to low. If you are shivering you are on the way to trouble and need to get out of the elements as soon as possible. If this is not an option you need to think about building a fire

to warm up. Do not procrastinate, as hypothermia will rob you of practical thinking. Carrying firestarting materials is a must with any outdoor activity.

The tools you use on a trap line are dangerous also. Axes and knives are sharp and cut; so be sure proper guards on these items.

Firearms are usually carried on the line and we all know the inherent dangers these can deal out. The very traps you are using are very dangerous if used improperly.

Diseases on the line are ever present also including Rabies, leptospirosis, plague, tularemia, and giardiasis, not to mention insects like the loveable ticks. Rabies has been around forever and any serious trapper will get the preventative shots to avoid catching this disease.

Leptospirosis is usually delivered via a bite but is common in animal urine and can be found in stagnant water. Rabbits, muskrats, beaver and rodents usually carry tularemia. You can become infected just by handling their carcasses.

Giardiasis is a parasite that beaver carry and dump in our waterways.

It is very wise not to drink from ponds or streams unless you are prepared to spend some time on the porcelain horse.

Every animal you trap is a danger to you. Mother nature gives every critter, teeth and claws, and most are proficient at using them if given the opportunity. The critters may seem cute and cuddly but trust me they will attack you. Safely dis-

May 2012

patching the animal from a distance is proper protocol and make sure they have expired prior to touching them. If you choose to release them extreme caution should be exercised.

Just hiking in and out can present problems. Fall and break a leg and you will see why it is wise to leave a note at home. A lot of our trapping is done on water, which presents another danger. You may be able to normally swim like a gold medalist but pull on a pair of chest waders and fill them with forty gallons of 20-degree water and the only place you are going is down. Using extreme caution on ice-covered bodies of water is critical also.

Always carry a spud of some type to drop in front of you on each step you take to assure the ice will hold you and your gear or catch.

If you use motors, i.e. boats or a.t.vs on your line you still have to use your noodle a little. Yes they are very useful tools on the line but misused they can be more of a headache than a help.

I could go on and on and write more details for weeks on end but I hope you get my message.

Trapping is a blast as long as you keep your wits about you. Leave a note, dress for the weather, be safe around the critters, handle them with gloves, do not forget to wash frequently and follow all the basis rules and you will enjoy. One slip on the basics will get you sick or worse yet dead.

As I finish this column I stepped outside of the cabin and it is spitting snow. Last week at this time it was 83 degrees out. Time for another log on the fire, a visit with the captain and ask myself why I stay around here. I know why though, there is no place like New England.

Until next time keep your waders patched and your lures in the shed.

See ya on the trap line.

Randy lives in Milton, Vermont, has trapped in Vermont for 43 years, is a hunter Ed Instructor and an Advanced Trapper Instructor for the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. Randy and wife, Diane & their family, own and operate Arrowhead Trapping Supply.

Randy is also a Vermont State Licensed Fur Dealer. They can be reached at Critrgitr@msn.com or 802-3557496, on facebook or at www.arrowheadtrappingsupply.com.

The Outdoor Gazette

The Outdoor Gazette

May 2012

Page 23

On and Off the Trail

By Ken Monte

Stump Shooting 101

In order to make your summer training as productive as possible it’s really helpful to have a plan of attack.

We all go into summer thinking we’ll have tons of time to address certain issues that may have cropped up last fall that we want to fix. Before you know it, the lawn needs to mowed every four days, the kids are out of school, and an endless honey-do list has developed. All that training time you’d planned on seems far more limited now. Now Go on and take your bow for a walk in the woods today. It doesn’t matter if it’s a recurve, longbow or a compound bow. Either go by yourself or gather some good friends and go in search of stumps that need killing.

There are a few decisions you need to make before heading out.

Equipment is the first we will look at.

My first and last choice will always be one of my trusty longbows. Usually I use the one I plan on hunting with that year but sometimes I just choose to shoot one I haven’t taken for a walk

in the woods lately. You can use whatever bow you feel most comfortable with.

Next come the arrows. Lately I have been using Carbon Express Heritage carbon arrows but there are also always a

Left to right; Zwickey Judo, Hammer Rubber slip-on blunt. couple of aluminum and wood arrows in my quiver as well. For the aluminum I like shooting 2020s if I can find them. The diameter to wall thickness ratio is good enough that this size seems to last longer than most aluminum. It also seems to shoot well

Pop’s Kitchen

Rancher's Rave Barbecue Baked Salmon Steaks

33 salmon salmon steaks steaks (about (about 1/2 1/2 lb lb each) each) Lemon juice Lemon juice recipe, cooked in the crockpot.

A ranch style barbecue Ritz crackers, Ritz crackers, crumbled crumbled Garlic and onion powder Garlic and onion powder 1 1/2 lbs. stew venison/bear/moose cubes 33 pats (1 1 1/2 lbs.butter pork cubes pats butter (1 tablespoon tablespoon each) each) 2 cups onions Salt and to Salt chopped and pepper, pepper, to taste taste 3 small green bell peppers, seeded and chopped 11 tablespoon fresh parsley, minced tablespoon fresh parsley, minced

1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste Spray aa shallow sided aluminum baking 1/2 cup packed sugar Spray shallow sidedbrown aluminum baking pan pan with with olive olive oil oil spray.

Place steaks on spray.

Place fish steaks on pan. pan. Sprinkle Sprinkle evenly evenly with with garlic garlic 1/4 cupfish cider vinegar and powder and and onion powder and aa pinch pinch each each of of salt salt and and pepper. pepper.

1onion tsp chili powder In dish, melt butter; toss crushed crackers In aa microwaveable microwaveable dish, melt butter; toss crushed crackers 2 teaspoons salt in Sprinkle the cracker mixture evenly over the in butter. butter.

Sprinkle the cracker mixture evenly over the top top 1 teaspoon dry mustard of the fish.

Sprinkle with minced parsley.

Broil (on the top of the fish. Sprinkle with minced parsley.

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce Broil (on the top

out of any of my bows from my 53pound bow up to the 60 pound one.

I even had good luck with them on a 70-pound longbow I used to own. I say if I can find them because Easton seems to have made a decision to go to 2018s recently. They spine out the same but the wall thickness is less so

Head, Ace Blunt, Saunders Blunt and they aren’t as strong as the 2020s. For the wood, only a hardwood shaft will stand up to the repeated pounding a stump arrow will receive. I use either solid birch shafts or laminated birch.

Laminated birch is usually easier to find and has the added benefit of having the same spine in all directions so when fletching you doaan’t have to worry about putting the cock feather across the grain.

After picking the shaft you need to choose the point and the nock to put on it. With carbon arrows the stress of hitting something solid can put a lot of stress just behind the point and just in front of the nock. I beef up the front of the shaft by using a 100-grain brass insert and I also put about 12 inches of wood inside the shaft. The s’more sticks that you can buy at the supermarket fit perfectly in my 250 heritage shafts. The only problem is that once you glue them in place you can’t change the length of the shaft. At the nock end I use a nock collar that you

can buy from most archery retailers.

For the point there are many choices.

My favorite is the hard plastic blunt made by Saunders archery. It comes in several different grain weights and is extremely sturdy. I also use metal blunts made by Ace Archery, Kustom King and Three Rivers Archery. You can also use the original stump point made by Zwickey called a judo point.

This point has prongs coming out of the side that help keep it from burying in the tall grass. Unfortunately they also often get stuck in a stump and require cutting up the stump to get them out. Any of these points would also make good small game points as long as you are careful with your shot placement.

A few other tools come in handy when you are out in the field. A good knife with a strong blade to help dig the point out of stump that was a little tougher than you thought it would be. Several people I know often just bring a regular screwdriver and use that to dig out the point. A good multi-tool works great too because the pliers part give you something to grip the point with. Lately another tool I’ve been using is tick spray. Someone recommended using one made by Sawyer and so far it has worked great.

You spray your clothes with it and it seems to repel the ticks so they never get on you. The active ingredient is permethrin so if you can’t find Sawyer there are probably others out there. Bring a good pack with plenty of water, some snacks and maybe lunch. Last but not least bring a camera because you never know what you are going to see. If nothing else you can get a picture of the destruction of your buddies arrow when that stump he shot at turned out to be a rock.

There are many benefits to getting Continued next page

rack), rack), without without turning, turning, until until the the edges edges of of the the fish fish are are browned browned and and the the flesh flesh is is aa whitish whitish pink pink (no (no longer longer clear) clear) Combine ingredients in slow cooker.

Cover andfork. cookThis and and it it starts starts to to look look flaky flaky when when touched touched with with aa fork.

This onwill high for 6 to 8 hours, or until very tender.

Shred take about 10-15 minutes, depending on your oven will take about 10-15 minutes, depending on your oven (or (or meat with potato or forks; over buns, grill) and size of steak.

Squeeze lemon juice grill) andathe the sizemasher of the the fish fish steak. serve Squeeze lemon juice potatoes, or any pasta. over before serving garnished over top toprice, before serving garnished with with aa sprig sprig of of fresh fresh parsley and lemon wedges.

A grill may be used instead parsley and lemon wedges. A grill may be used instead of of aa broiler. broiler. Heat Heat grill grill to to at at least least 400°F 400°F on on aa gas gas grill, grill, or or if if using using briquettes, briquettes, coals coals should should be be white white hot. hot.

Bill "Pop" "Pop" Burke, Burke, resides resides in in Claremont, Claremont, New New Bill Hampshire. If If you you would would like like to to contact contact Pop Pop Hampshire. send an an email email to: to: pop'skitchen@hotmail.com pop'skitchen@hotmail.com send

Page 24

May 2012

The Outdoor Gazette

Tails from the Trail The Armchair Nutritionist- Part 2

We have subscribed to The Whole Dog Journal (www.thewhole-dog-journal.com) and they produce an annual evaluation of pet foods, as well as informative articles to educate the consumer on pet food content. Since the potential information on pet nutrition could, and does, fill books, what I offer here are some basic guidelines, and these are just that – guidelines. Some will take issue with some of the concepts; it is only presented as information to perhaps inspire some critical thinking of your particular feeding behavior. I am not specifically advocating you change what you are currently feeding.

What to look for in a (pet) food: 1. There is not one perfect food – have a working knowledge of several quality foods, and switch foods regularly.

Changes should be done gradually so not to upset the digestive system.

2.. Animal protein should be at the top of the ingredient list.

Ingredients are listed by weight

Feeding time!

so be aware of the top 4 or 5 ingredients so the 2nd, 3rd or 4th ingredients don’t trump an

By Allan Tschorn

apparent high quality first ingredient. Animal proteins are closer biologically to what the dog would eat in the wild than plant proteins.

3. Single source named ani-

mal proteins are best – look for chicken, beef, lamb or chicken meal as opposed to poultry, meat, animal protein or just plain fat.

4. Whole vegetables, fruits and grains – fresh, unprocessed food ingredients are just plain better – like they are for us.

5. Organic and locally sourced ingredients – organic ingredients can avoid a chemical sensitivity in your pet and other more serious health issues.

What to look out for in a food: 1. Meat by-products or poultry by-products. These may include non-muscle parts of the animal, such as internal organs, which can be OK, but the nonspecific nature of the category leaves this listing wide open to poorly handled product.

Animal digest is a chemically treated product unfit for human consumption.

2. Artificial colors, flavorings or preservatives. Dogs do not care what color their food is –

trust me on that. And if the quality of the ingredient is good, the food will taste good without added flavors. And while some preservatives are necessary, look for foods with an expiration date or “best by” date.

3. Sweeteners. Ditto above.

Dogs should not need to be enticed to eat the food by adding a sweetener to it.

Many of your most commonly available foods will contain a higher content of wheat, corn and grains as filler (and as such, be less expensive). We have always felt that a grain free diet is best, as dogs are true carnivores getting their energy primarily from fat and protein, and a small amount from some botanical components, such as berries or seaweed. As we have increased in numbers in the pack, there is a necessity to become more refined and efficient, not only in our budget, but also in our actions. Mitch Seavey points out in his book “Lead, Follow or Get Out of The Way” in his section on nutrition that most everything that goes in, has to come out. If you are feeding a poor, calorically inefficient food, and having to feed upwards of three times the quantity to get the same nutritional value – then, well, that’s a whole lot more scooping you’re going to be doing in the kennel. And if you have multiple dogs that can add up to a lot of . . . .oh, never mind.

A story I tell that really illustrates the concept of food quality involves a dog we adopted at 3 years of age. He was a Siberian pet, and had never pulled in harness. He was showing aggression issues with some of the other smaller dogs in the home, and he needed to find a more appropriate home.

We agreed to take him on a Continued next page

Guns • Ammo • Accessories

Page 28

Box 3028 • RT 25A Orford, NH 03777

May 2012

Harry Osmer Owner

603-353-9217

The Outdoor Gazette

one-week trial basis, and when it came time for his previous owners to leave, we asked if they brought any of his food with them so we could transition him to what we were feeding. Ooops. They forgot. Any time you change a food it should be done gradually – slowly increasing the percentage of the new food while incrementally decreasing and phasing out the old. This can be done over a period of days or weeks. We asked what they had been feeding and how much. He was getting nearly 5 cups of food a day of, in our humble opinion, a horrible option for dog food. My wife and I exchanged a glance that said “Not in this kennel”, but verbally assured the departing parents that we would go get some of his old chow the next day. The next day, we dropped his food consumption from nearly 5 cups to the usual ration most of our males were getting of 2 cups. Amazingly, in 6 weeks he had actually gained a couple of pounds on less quantity of a higher quality food.

I hope you can see that simply comparing the cost of a bag of food, and the cost per pound of food is probably where you should end up as a last comparison, and evaluation of the content of the food, and how much you need to feed maintain a healthy dog is a much better starting point. We strive to feed our dogs food that has human grade ingredients, single source proteins and natural and freerange meats. Research from some of the manufacturers we use contend, as with human foods, that natural and free range proteins are not only better for you due to the a lack of use of steroids and chemicals,

The Outdoor Gazette

but also make a more efficiently available and usable nutritional value to the food.

Since the same holds true, nutritionally, and quality wise, for dog treats, we make a lot of our own dog treats. Here are some recipes we use for our dogs: Home Made Liver Treats 1 ? pounds fresh liver 1 ? Cups Tapioca Flour Pulse liver in your food processor to as uniform a consistency as practical.

Add tapioca flour (we use tapioca flour as it eliminates the possibility of a wheat allergy or reaction in the dogs, and tapioca is actually a processed root product.)

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and spread batter evenly. I sometimes add a couple of tablespoons of water in the processing stage to get it to pour more evenly.

Bake at 250 degrees for about an hour to an hour and a half.

If necessary, remove and flip entire contents over after one hour to get complete and even baking (de-hydration).

Depending upon your preference, cooking can be stopped at a “jerky” type stage, or continued to a crispier cookie type stage.

We use a pizza cutter and an 18” ruler to cut strips, then squares. Often we will return the portioned pieces the pan and the cooling oven for further de-hydration. We make large batches, and if left too moist we find they will mold before we use them all. Now I know there are a lot of hunters out there that discard this in the field, so why not bring it home and share some of the bounty with your best friend?

Kong-cycles We all know what the chew

toy referred to as a “Kong” is, right? If not, they are a conical shaped chew toy, with a hollow center that you can fill with biscuits, provided of course by the manufacturer. The concept is for the dog to chew and break up the bits of cookie and get tangible rewards (besides the satisfaction of chewing). We invert the devise in a disposable cup or kitchen measuring cup(s) and fill them with a plain, high quality yogurt and freeze them in the freezer. Dogs LOVE them, it is cool and satisfying, and best of all, and yogurt is a great pro biotic that promotes a healthy gut in your dog.

Marrow Chew Bones We have always been of the opinion that bones are fine for your dog as long as they remain uncooked. Cooking the bone can make it brittle, and subject to splintering and hence a danger to the digestive tract of your pet. Remember, it the wild the bounty a dog is rewarded is not de-boned or magically turned into a nice size uniform kibble. Neither is it cooked.

Most meat sections of supermarkets will have a nice size (6 to 8 inches) of a beef femur

May 2012

from previous page

marrowbone. The dogs love to chew, and lick the marrow from either end. Once the marrow has escaped the reach of their tongues, simply cut in half (I use a band saw, but a fine tooth bone saw works well, too), and it is like a new bone. Once hollow, I collect the bones and cut to 2 ? to 3 inches in length. For stuffing, use a quality ground beef and kibble in equal parts processed in the food processor.

Stuff bones and freeze like the Kongcicles.

We get teased in our mushing community for spoiling our dogs. Admittedly, not many sled dog kennels spoil their dogs with treats like we do. We find the treats are a reward and relationship builder. Financially treats can be and are cost prohibitive for large kennels. We find the above recipes are surprisingly easy and afford us the ability to continue spoiling our dogs.

I believe my true success will come when I develop a human / canine compatible kibble.

Milk poured over for it for a breakfast cereal, water or dry for the canine companion. Bon Appétit.

Page 29

Southern Side Up

By Alex Cote

Advice from Larry

For the third day in a row, the snow was coming down and aided by the wind it was difficult to see more than ten yards ahead.

The snow was piling up on the unplowed logging road and deep down, I feared that if this weather kept up much longer, we wouldn’t be able to get back into this remote spot again this year.

Even with four inches of lift and 34-inch tires, I was still pushing drifting snow with the front bumper. There was evidence in places that someone had been up the road in front of me. As I rounded the turn in the road, my worst fears came true. There in the middle of the road was an abandoned pick up! Well, it wasn’t really abandoned, they had driven as far as they could and left it smack in the middle of the road blocking anyone else that may want to go through! Knowing that where I wanted to be was some six or seven miles further up the road, I had two choices. I could wait for the occupants to return and move or I could turn around and hunt someplace else.

I chose the latter.

It took several attempts to get turned around because of the combination of the snow and the nifty parking job by the nice, thoughtful people in the other truck but we got it done. While we were making our last of the ten point turn we were forced to make, a red Chevy with Vermont plates pulled up and stopped. He cordially asked if we needed a hand and were we all set. I told him what was going on and he offered option #3! Pull the road

blocking vehicle out of the way into the ditch! Admittingly, it did sound appealing but I didn’t have it in me. During our conversa-

after the,”YUUUP”! After what seemed like another long, uncomfortable pause, the driver extended his hand through the open window and said, “Dave Coker, nice to meet you.” He then got

Legendary whitetail deer hunter Lane Benoit with a big northern New Hampshire whitetail..... photo courtesy of Great Northern Productions. tion, I recognized the gent in the out of the truck. As I stepped passenger’s side of the truck but back, I noticed the rack in the was unsure if I should say any- back and the big bodied buck it thing or not. I finally broke the was attached to! The next foolish ice and said, “I read where you thing to come from my lips was, shot a nice buck in Maine this “WHERE DID YOU SHOOT year Lane.” After a seemingly THAT?” Like he was going to tell long pause, he looked at me and me! Not realizing that Lane had said, “Yuuup.” I waited for more gotten out of the truck, he said conversation but there was none that Dave was one lucky sob to

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Page 30

get that deer and just as if we were long lost buddies, Lane spit out the entire story. After all was said and done we stayed there and shot the bull for several hours! This being the week of thanksgiving, I was extended an offer to the family home on Sunday for a visit! This chance encounter was my first meeting of the famous Benoit Family!

I was like a kid on Christmas Eve, I couldn’t sleep and barely ate, I was some excited about the trip to Vermont on Sunday. I don’t know what I was expecting but when I saw the five or six bucks hanging from Larry’s front porch, I guess I must have gotten stage fright! I drove by the place three times before I worked up enough courage to stop!

Then I think I stayed in the truck for a good ten minutes before I had nerve enough to get out and knock on the front door!

Once in the house, this was a deer hunting shrine! Anywhere in that front room you could throw a hat and it would have hooked on a rack never hitting the floor! I must have stood there drooling like the village fool, and if memory serves me correctly it was Lanny that “broke the preverbal ice” if you will. After a big slap on the back nearly taking me off my feet, he extended his hand towards me saying, “Hi, I’m Lanny.” After nearly putting me on the floor with the back slap, I figured that when I took hold of his hand, I NEEDED TO TAKE HOLD! I did too! He looked me square in the eyes and said the pleasure was all his!

What a pleasant visit it was. I Continued next page

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Call - 802-738-6755 or you can send an email to: fred@theoutdoorgazette.com Continued next page

May 2012

The Outdoor Gazette

A Waterfowler's Perspective Location, Location, Location!

There are several factors that will help ensure one will have a successful hunting trip. So many articles have been written on this topic so I will refrain from going into all the requirements that contribute to one’s success.

Every hunter defines his or her success in different ways. Mine have always remained the same. First, to have everyone come back in one piece.

Second, to leave the outdoors in a better condition than we found it or at least not in worse shape. Last, I consider the hunt successful if we are simply able to experience all that nature has to offer. The harvesting of game has always been a bonus.

When waterfowl hunting it’s impossible to over prepare. The beauty of preseason scouting is that you need to get outside and check out what is happening in the woods and waterways. I love tossing the kayak into a river or creak and paddling around looking at potential hunting grounds to see what birds are working the area. I can’t get enough of strolling through freshly

By Brian Bouchard

cut cornfields in search of the tell tale sign of a recent visitor hoping for its next meal. Not realizing that they may in fact be my next meal. Scouting can be done in spring as well as the fall.

Definitely it needs to be done in the fall when in pursuit of waterfowl.

Taking in the sights & sounds will let me know if I’m in a good location.

Sights could be the tracks and dropping in a cornfield of your potential game. Sounds can be the honk of geese over head or the quack of a hen mallard.

When scouting, it’s best to utilize all the tools at your disposal. I would literally be lost with out my iPhone, which I carry in a watertight bag whenever I hunt or scout. My wife says I am never more than an arms length from it. She might be right.

The ability to geo tab your hunting spots is so important. Whether you use your smart phone or GPS. One reason that isn’t so obvious is that it allows you to let others know your location prior to going on the hunt or

during your hunt. It also makes it eas- phone. Priceless when you need to ier to access these areas in the dark the recall this information at a later date. morning of the hunt. You can track Remember, when preseason scoutyour path in and out and record the ing follow all the proper safety precautions just as if you were hunting. This will get you into good practice. Be sure to mark any potential hazards that you might face when paddling in the morning of the hunt under the cover of darkness. Downed trees, rocks, and other obstacles can be marked on the trail in. Bring potential hunting buddies with you to let them see how you will be getting in and out of your hunting area. Take along your retriever if you use one so that they can get to know the area as well. It’s good time required to get to and from your practice for the two of you working as morning set up. Knowing the time it a team. If using a canoe or kayak I takes to get in, set up and get out will recommend you go with your retrievallow you to plan your hunt. This can er to get comfortable with them riding help prevent you from second guess- along with you. It’s best to have a spill ing your decision where to set up. We in late summer when the water temhave all done this, first light comes and peratures are higher and you are not you realize you are 200 yards from carrying all your expensive gear. where you thought you should be and To me Location, Location, feel the urge to relocate your set up Location means this: Find your potenright at prime time. You become a tial location to hunt. Tell others where waterfowl observer, versus waterfowl that location will be. Record this locahunter, when all the birds seem to be tion and the success or failure for settling in out of range. Should this future hunts. If you take the time to happen it’s best to move your set up really prepare when looking for your quickly and quietly before you end up next hunting location, then the expetaking more shots with your camera rience will be one to remember and than your shotgun. Knowing how share with others. With hunting there long to get out is very important if is no guarantee for success. However, weather takes a turn for then worse. having a prescouted location will There are lots of neat apps for ones increase the chances that you will all smart phones that allow you to take a have a safe and memorable hunt. picture and geo tag it’s coordinates.

This information can be sent to others I have been hunting deer and predators to help them log your location should for over 30 years. Turkey for 15 years. you have an issue that requires their Waterfowl for the past 10 years. Owner help. It also allows for information to of Fields Bay Outfitters. I Live in St be added to your hunting journal. Albans VT with my wife Michele and Location, date, time, weather condi- our 2 sons Dillon & Kyle and our 2 tions all can be stored on the smart labs Tyson & Remi.

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May 2012

Page 5

8 Years in the Wilderness

By Tom Rideout

Hogwash!

Over the years, it has been interesting watching the approaching spring and how people react to it. In many ways it is a sort of sickness. Hence comes the phrase Spring Fever!

One aspect of spring, which I think deserves conversation, is ice-out and all its ramifications.

Now I have lived pretty much all my life dealing with fishing. I have been guiding fishing parties for over 40 years. I have owned and operated “fishing camps” just about as many years, and prior to that growing up as a lad, I fished pretty much every day my parents would let me or weather permitted.

So when I hear anglers tell about the fabulous fishing available at ice-out, I have to scratch my head and wonder if they really know what they are talking about. I have heard it again and again, that excellent salmon and trout fishing is available at ice-

out! My reply is: HOGWASH! In all my years of fishing, not once can I recall having consistent and dependable ice-out fishing. In my experience, I find the fishing picks up when the water temperature rises.

Now, I have to admit I have played the “Great Ice-Out Fishing” card over the years, but only because I wanted to fill up my cabins with anglers. During those times, I would keep up the enthusiasm and expectations each day anglers would return to camp without much success. I

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would make excuses like, “You’re too early” or “It’ll break open any day now!” But over the years I found the fishing always picked up about 10 days to two weeks after ice-out.

Up here in western Maine, much of the fishing breaking open depends on smelt spawn and temperatures of the water.

The spawning smelts draw game fish like salmon and trout to the tributary mouths, where smelt actually spawn. These narrows restrictions in the path of spawning smelt are perfect location for predators like salmon and trout to ambush the smelt. I have found that during the smelt spawn, it is not easy to catch the salmon and trout, as there is a plentiful supply of food. I have seen over the years where salmon will take up positions at these tributary mouths and kill as many smelt as it can, way beyond what it can actually eat in one meal. These attacks happen in the evening and during the night when the smelt make their way into the tributaries to lay their eggs. I have gone back to these areas the following mornings and seen dead smelts lying on the bottom as well as floating the coves and bays.

The salmon and trout remain handy and feed on these dead smelts at their leisure. I have seen them feeding on these dead smelt for several days after the annual smelt spawn has subsided and the easy prey have moved into the depths of the lakes.

Now the smelt spawn usually coincides with ice-out and the usual spawn lasts around a week or so. Put all this together, and it only makes sense that the fishing would be better when easy food is harder to find.

Now don’t get me wrong, fish are caught every year at ice-out. I know of guys who drag streamer flies along the edge of the melting ice in our lakes and ponds who catch a few fish, but never in the numbers that will be caught a couple of weeks after ice-out.

Trolling for salmon (or trout) is an art, something many people have little idea about. Over the years with the invention and promotion of artificial lures, even the most amateur anglers can catch fish. But for us who make a

May 2012

living off fishing, there is a much better way that has been tried and true, and that is using natural bait.

My Grandfather taught me how to sew on bait using either a dead smelt or shiner. He never used a motorboat; he just rowed.

His technique was to wrap the line around his hand while rowing with oars. He never went very fast and maintained a consistent slow speed. When I started guiding in the 1970s, I modified this technique by using an outboard motor. To make my boat go as slow as possible, I dragged a sea anchor, which in many cases was a 5-gallon pail, behind the boat.

It is a special way to sew on the minnow, which allows it to slowly spin. I think this action imitates a wounded baitfish. Predatory fish like to expend as little energy as possible to get their food, and a wounded minnow is easier to get than a healthy one. In my grandfather’s case, he used lead line to get the bait down into the depths where salmon and trout usually feed. I modified this by using downriggers. In the spring I usually fish just beneath the surface, and as the summer progresses and the water temps warm up, I go deeper. Using a downrigger allows me to use ultra light spinning rods, which offer tremendous fighting opportunities.

Over the years I would monitor other anglers as well as guides that used lures and artificial baits, and I consistently out fished them, usually catching adult fish, not the short and immature salmon that so many lure fishermen catch.

Now that the ice is out of the pond, I have about 10 days to two weeks to prepare myself for a season of fishing. I can’t wait!

Tom Rideout is the former editor of NH Outdoor Gazette and was the owner of Bosebuck Mountain Camps on Aszicoos Lake in western Maine for 17 years. He has held a Master Maine Guide’s license for more than 35 years (hence the 8 years in the wilderness) He and his wife Martha operate Sturtevant Pond Camps in Magalloway, Maine and operates Pakesso Guide Service, which specializes in upland bird wing shooting . You can reach Tom at tom@sturtevantpondcamps.com The Outdoor Gazette

The Captain’s Corner

By Matthew Trombley

Fins & Feathers in May!

What a wild and crazy winter it has been! Or what winter??

As most folks here in the Northeast have been commenting! I can honestly say I never fired up my snow blower once here in Rutland County , of west central Vermont. What that has meant, is a very easy winter for our wild life, lord knows our Deer & Turkey populations needed a reprieve from the winter of 2010/11. I have been making the ride over to the Salmon River on the east end of Lake Ontario, at least once a month since thanksgiving & only once has there been measurable snow on the ground while I was over there! Now mind you it has made for some great Steelhead fishing & a great way to make the most of the lack of snow!

April find’s us in a transition period, wrapping up a few winter projects, getting ready for the on slot of a busy guiding & chartering season ahead.

Digging out our 25ft Penn Yan charter vessel, the “Flashpoint” from winter storage is part of the spring ritual.

Cleaning, wash & wax, charge the batteries & all the spring prep work, along with restringing reels, checking tackle, & catching up with all the contacts from the winter sports shows makes for a very hectic month! Ohh…& let’s not forget checking all of our turkey hunting equipment, blinds, calls and camo clothing! As they say. “plenty to do”!

I sit writing this column; I’m taking a break from all the activity and contemplating what the next task is that I won’t have enough time for prior to the busy month of May! Many of my fellow captains from Lake Ontario are reporting a fantastic early season near shore Brown trout bite; the steelhead action has been very steady in the rivers but is sure to slow early this year with the lack of any run off to keep the rivers up. I have one more trip over to the Salmon River for my own break, before guiding all of my The Outdoor Gazette

clients this season. The lure of fighting Great Lakes Steelhead is one that you can’t let go once you are hooked! Anyone who has not experienced this

Matt's son Logan with a VT gobbler that that Matt took on the opener of the May 2011 season"

should do so, nothing on the east coast of the US compares!

The month of May is one of the craziest of the year for us!

Starting off the last weekend of April, guiding my son for the Vermont youth turkey weekend & then my wife & other clients through the first week of May keeps me going non-stop! I have been guiding turkey hunters for almost ten years now, truly one the most rewarding things I have the pleasure of doing. Getting up at the wee hours of 3:30-4:00 am can wear on you, but being in the spring woods as the wildlife awakens & her that boss Tom cut loose that you roosted the night before is something to behold! We usually have about a 50-60% success of getting a Tom to gobble when they go to roost in the evening. But if you know where they are, they have a hard time not busting open to that Barred Owl call first thing in the morning! Last year I had one of my most memorable opening mornings, as my 9 year Old son Logan sat next to me as we harvested a beau-

tiful 3yr old Tom! One of those rare mornings that the birds weren’t real vocal at first light, but we knew there were birds on this ridge from our pre-season scouting so we stayed persistent & were rewarded with a beautiful midmorning bird!

Now the big challenge of the month of May is that coincides with the Spring Striped Bass run! I could spend the whole month in the woods, but the Hudson River in Eastern New York has one of the best Striper runs on the east coast, there is no way I can miss putting those big line siders in the boat & the cooler! Most people don’t realize that the Hudson River is tidal water all the way to the Troy Dam just outside of Albany. This allows the Stripers to make the run from the Long Island Sound all the way up to the spawning grounds. Literally tens of thousands of stripers from 5 to 45 pounds inhabit the water way for this short window of time! I have been hooked on this fishery for over seven years now, every year learning and seeing something new that keeps us & our clients coming back for more!

Our boat is docked at the Rondout Yacht Basin on Rondout Creek, just outside of the city of Kingston for the whole month of May. Now each year the peak spawn varies slightly due to water clarity & temperature, but the normal peak traditionally falls somewhere between Mother’s

May 2012

Day and Memorial Day. We have seen days where the fishfinder screen on the boat is “Blacked Out” from top to bottom as you troll through a school of fish! Downrigger trolling tactics are the predominant way of catching these fish; the schools are so thick that fish actually bump the downrigger weight as we troll through them! You talk about anticipation waiting for the strike & that rod to pop!! That & witnessing the large females breaking the surface as they continue their spring courtship with the males is awe inspiring!

This all combines to make for some of our most popular trips we offer, hence the reason they book up so fast year after year!

Spring in the Northeast has so many choices & not enough time!

Chasing booming Gobblers on our ridges, filling the coolers with the HOT Brown trout action the East end of Lake Ontario is famed for, or chasing that trophy Striper of a life time, hoping for that next 50 pounder to hit the deck & possibly adorn a lucky anglers wall! Phew!! I am not sure I could handle three months of “May” in a row…..but I wait in anticipation for it every year!

Matt Trombley is a career firefighter, residing with his wife & son in Florence Vermont. He is a U.S.C.G licensed Master captain, guiding & chartering fishing trips through out Vermont & New York. His charter business, 3rd Alarm Charters can be viewed at www.3rdalarmcharters.com

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2011 “WINNI DERBY” Winners

The Outdoor Gazette

May 2012

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Trail Camera Photo Contest Orange County - Ver mont th Eric Morton - East Corin

l NH

Vermont, pic taken in centra

ridge, Vermont

Michael Whitaker - Stockb

Michael Whitaker- Stockbridge,

Ver mont

Michael Whitaker - Stockbridge,

Ver mont

ridge, Vermont

Michael Whitaker - Stockb

Robert Drouin - Mass.

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May 2012

The Outdoor Gazette

Twin State Bassin’ Today I have a good friend in the boat with me. We have talked for several years about fishing and finally everything worked out to where we could go. Samantha told me she hadn’t fished since she was really young, around 5 or so. She told me she never used

The author with a 5-lb. plus Lake Groton Largemouth...photo by Danny Webster. lures or had any idea how to use them. I told her not to worry, we’re after springtime small mouth and jerk baits are always a good choice. She turned and asked if these baits were named after me? I could already see how the day was going to go! We went over tackle, casting and presentation. Her enthusiasm and energy was surprising and most welcome. As with any beginner things were a little shaky at first, after the 5th strait cast almost impaled me, I decided I would wait until she got the hang of things and then start fishing. It didn’t take long either; she picked it up very quickly and after a few minutes she was doing fine and the lure was hitting water a lot more often. I started to explain why were fishing the way we were and why we were using the baits and the look on her face was all to clear. She could care less why we were using these baits or why the bass are trying to get shallow. All she wanted to do is catch some fish, or as she called them fishes.

The water was warming fast and I assured her that it was only a matter of time before things would pick up. The weather foreThe Outdoor Gazette

cast for the day was the mid 80’s and we hadn’t seen it that warm in a month. We fished for a while without a bite, just had a few fallow the jerk baits back to the boat. Samantha was starting to get frustrated, they wouldn’t eat her lure and again I told her to cool her jets, “just be patient” I said or yelled its all in which end of the boat you were in. The water hit 60 degrees on the surface and I knew it was time to start catching them. It’s important to remember in early spring that the bite gets better as the day goes on, we got on the water early so I could check out the lake.

Around 12:30 a bass was in the boat, nothing big, but a nice 2pound small mouth. Samantha glowed like a kid at Christmas and it was obvious she was going to catch a bass or it was going to be a very long day. I was amazed only a few minutes later and she had one on. She screamed with excitement and when I turned around I started laughing, she looked like she was fighting a shark. She was pumping the rod, the butt of the rod jammed in her tummy. I ran to the back of the boat with her and started trying to help her. I told her to stop pumping the rod and surprisingly, she did. I told her to keep pressure on the fish, but not to lift it to the surface. I told her “you can’t give them slack or they will jump off ”, she did everything perfect. I think it was the only time she listened to me all day. It wasn’t a giant by any means but another beautiful 2 to 2 1/2 pound small mouth.

The look on her face was priceless and it didn’t take long and everything was coming together.

Her casts were becoming more accurate with only a flier every now and then. The small mouth were really starting to get around what ever shallow cover they could find. We came up to a lay down and I grabbed my swim bait, over kill for small mouth but you never know. I made four straight casts to this lay down with an explosion on everyone.

The last time I saw the bass and it was know where near big enough to eat this mammoth bait. As quick as I could I knelt down to grab a rod with a more finesse presentation. I grabbed the rod

By Danny Webster

and heard plop, the direction of the plop made me think something hit the water near my bass.

As I turned around I could see Samantha’s jerk bait coming through the same place I had been throwing too. This told me two things, one: she was paying a lot more attention than I thought.

Two: From now on I wasn’t saying a word if one missed my bait!!

I asked her if she really thought she could steal my fish. I know sooner got done running my mouth and the drag slipped. Sure enough she stole my bass!! I watched the bass in the water and there were 4 or 5 other small mouth swimming with the one that was hooked. We landed the bass and she was getting really excited now, she had never caught more than 1 fish in a day before. By the end of the day she had boated 5 small mouth with one being the biggest smally of the day. That more than made her day! The big bass of the day was a 5 pound 8 ounce largemouth that was sitting in about a foot and a half of water. It always amazes me at how shallow big bass will get. Our total was around 20 with two large mouth over 4 pounds. Her small mouth was over 3 pounds. Not a bad first day of bass fishing for her. We picked on and teased each other all day and it was a lot of fun but there was one thing that stands out the most over all the picking and bass we caught.

I was using a lip less crankbait and had about a 2 pounder at the boat. It would not give up, every time I thought it was done it would make another run. So I asked Samantha to grab the net

May 2012

and just get it before I ended up with a hook in the hand. She came up to the front of the boat and kneeled down to net the bass.

The next thing I know the crankbait is flying at my face. I took cover, I knew that one was going to jump off I told myself. I opened my eyes and was amazed, she had netted the bass as it came off in mid air! I know grown men that can’t net a bass to save their

Samantha proudly displays a Lake Groton Smally.

lives and she took one out of the air! I looked at her and she said, “ Netting fish is the only reason my uncle would take me”. That is a memory I will never forget, and I’m pretty sure Samantha will never forget the day. As we got the boat loaded she told me she wants to catch a big one like the one I got.

I told her whenever she was ready we would go again. Well she was more ready than I thought, as I am writing this two nights later we are making plans to go again, Lake Morey here we come!!!

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The Outdoor Gazette

May 2012

Page 11

Riverbank Tales A New Fish Truck

Not long ago I purchased a new fish truck. I figure, at my age, and my propensity for holding on to my trucks that this just might be the last truck that I buy. With this thought in mind I went all out and got one with four wheel drive. I have had a couple of SUV’s with four wheel drive, but all of the trucks that I have owned have had two wheel drive. I guess that I have always subscribed to the old adage that “four wheel drive will only get you stuck further in the woods.”

The first real fish truck that I ever owned was a 1974 Toyota pickup.

The Toyotas of that era were a far cry from the trucks they sell today.

They were a lot cheaper back then too. I was more into canoeing than fishing at that time so the truck was primarily a canoe hauler. This being our first truck, we quickly learned the first time it snowed that without some weight in the back, you were apt to do some skidding. The addition of a cap added the extra weight

by Bill Thompson

needed to drive in the winter.

In the mid-eighties I purchased my second Toyota pick up. This one was powered by a diesel engine. At

blew. There was one hell of a bang, a lot of smoke and the truck quickly lost power. It was the first day of hunting season and for a moment I thought that I had been shot. The engine had over a hundred thou-

A 1974 Toyota pick-up, much like the author’s “canoe hauler”. the time we were right in the middle sand on it, but I always felt that it of a gas crisis. I was commuting should have got a lot more out of it. quite a ways to work and my hope A local mechanic replaced the was that the diesel would give me blown motor with a gas powered added mileage. It did do this, how- engine, and the truck went on to ever, I paid for it in other ways. The deliver another hundred thousand.

The next fish truck was a Isuzu fuel was prone to freezing and I spent a lot of time waiting for the Trooper. The Trooper was more of an SUV than a true truck and it thing to warm up.

One fated morning the engine proved to be best fishing vehicle I ever owned. It was kind of a box shaped thing that looked something like a jeep. The unique feature was the rear doors. There were two doors but one was only a third as large as the other one. I never figThe North Country Angler has been in the “Valley” ured out why one was smaller, but for over thirty years. We are a full service fly shop you had to admit it did look cool. offering quality fly fishing gear and guiding.

The Trooper was four wheel drive and it would go most anywhere and it held a lot of fishing and camping Bill and gear.

Janet’s Janet and I almost burnt our 10 Year Trooper to the ground. We were Anniversary fishing the Margaree River in late as owners October. We had the back doors open and we were heating up some soup on a Colman stove. It was one of the fuel stoves and as they were prone to do, it caught on fire. Janet grabbed the soup off the burner and I quickly threw the stove to the ground. The fire extinguished just as quickly as it began. We picked it up, relit it and went back to heating up what was left of our soup.

The big problem with the Trooper was rust. The hinges of the little door just about always rusted. I sold it to a young fellow who put a lot of effort into fixing it up and when he was done I was sorry I had sold it to 2888 White Mountain Highway him. He rolled it over in an attempt North Conway, New Hampshire to climb Mt. Whittier in Ossipee.

For all I know the truck may still be www.northcountryangler.com half way up the side of the mounPhone: 603-356-6000 tain.

Page 12

May 2012

The first four wheel drive vehicle we owned was an International Scout – the grandfather of the SUV. The Scout was possibly the most rugged truck ever made. It was powered by a huge V8 motor. Not only was it four wheel drive, it had a power take off for running machinery. You could run your own rope tow if you had a mind to. This truck had locking hubs; you had to get out of the truck and lock the hubs before putting it into four wheel drive. On several occasions I had to wade into mud or knee deep snow to lock the hubs.

Our last two fish trucks were both Ford Rangers. Despite their smaller size they proved to be rugged and dependable. The first one had hit the one-hundred thousand mark before I gave it to my son, Andy.

The little truck provided him transportation during his senior year of college and up until he had his first job.

The new truck is a Toyota and it has a lot more bells and whistles than that first one. The new one does have a radio and a CD player to boot. I know that this is a sign of weakness, but this new truck has airconditioning and is an automatic.

Yeah, I know I am getting old.

I spent the last moments with my old Ranger while cleaning it out before turning it in. The ashtray had about a dozen flies in it and there were a few more in the glove compartment. A pair of binoculars and my New Hampshire Atlas and Gazetteer were behind the passenger seat. The cup holder held my headlamp, sunglass case and a few more flies. I took my Scott fuzzy dice off the rear view mirror. The tool box had a couple cans of oil and a tow strap along with the tie down straps for my pontoon boat. Before I walked away I put my hand on the hood and thanked it for its long service and many happy fishing trips.

Originally from Maine, Bill Thompson, with his wife Janet, lives in Freedom and owns North Country Angler fly shop in North Conway. He has been fly fishing for more than 30 years and is a licensed NH Fishing Guide. He has fished all over New England, in Canada and out West, but claims the Saco as his “home river.” He also writes a column for a local paper as well as articles in national fly fishing magazines. Bill’s email is bill@northcountryangler.com.

The Outdoor Gazette

Fish Tales and other Drivel

Connecticut River Salmon Restoration???

In early January I read an OpEd story by David Deen a Connecticut River steward from Vermont and a state representative from Dist. 5. Mr. Deen is concerned that the annual poor fish return will lead to the end of the multi state Atlantic Salmon Restoration Program!!

After decades of monitoring the progress, or failure, of the 40 year long program its sad that those caring deeply about the Connecticut River that they have not failed because the Atlantic Salmon will never return in significant numbers and the annual funding and professional time is a terrible waste of our tax dollars.

It’s a hard decision to make but the program has to be eliminated soon. Mr. Deen states that many decades of decreasing salmon returns should not indicate that the program is a failure.

I’m afraid that he is wrong and that is just what the number show.

Each year for nearly four decades millions of tiny salmon fry are places in the river with the help of well-intentioned volunteers. “Put them in the river and they will return”. Well that hasn’t and won’t happen!! The annual return has averaged about 100 salmon. That’s only an infinitesimal fraction of the 6,000,000 fry that were placed in the Conn and its tributaries.

Ending the Connecticut River Atlantic Atlantic_Salmon Restoration Program is a politically sensitive decision. Nobody wants to be the person who seems responsible for the Program is a failure! Administrators are salary dependent and politicians will lose the votes of thousands of idealistic conservationists. But, Mother Nature may have made the decision for us??

When Hurricane Irene blasted up northward up the Connecticut River Valley in the spring of 2011 the dumped inches of rain that

flooded the watershed surrounding the White River Federal Hatchery in Vermont. The hatchery has always been the major source of the 6,000,000

The life cycle of the Atlantic Salmon. This three to four year cycle is what NHF&G biologists hope to achieve in the Souhegan river as it flows into the Merrimack River and onto the Atlantic Ocean. salmon fry that are stocked each carry buckets of fry to the Connecticut River tributaries. spring.

For decades biologist and Many of the nursery pools and brook stock pond were under sev- schoolteachers have convinced eral feet of rived water. these people that their assistance Remaining structures and brood will someday mean the return of thousands of huge silver salmon to the upper reaches of the river.

It would be wonderful if these same volunteers were used to clean up the trash, empty cans and thousands of plastic worm containers that litter the shoreline of the beautiful Connecticut River valley?

Some good news is that the 2011 salmon return, at the Essex Dam, on the Merrimack River rose to 402 fish. The annual average has been 121 adult salmon.

Also, adult salmon released into Fisheries biologist stocking Atlantic the Souhegan, Baker and upper Salmon fry into a Conn. River tribu- Pemigewasset rivers showed evitary. stock will have to be sterilized to remove river borne contaminants.

This will be the time to reevaluate the Hatchery goals and eliminate it as the fry source of the Connecticut River salmon fry and move on to a more practical

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fish-producing program. No salmon will be stocked in Vermont or New Hampshire.

That means I won’t have to watch dozens of volunteers help

By Dick Baker

dence of successful natural spawning. Although millions of salmon fry will be stocked this spring but they will be released in fewer rivers.

The goal is to eliminate hatchery fry from streams and rivers, which might have produced naturally, hatched salmon. A high priority will be given to the Souhegan River where a recent dam removal has greatly increased spawning habitat for wild adult salmon as the river flows for 34 miles from its source in New Ipswich, N.H. to it outlet into the Merrimack River. In two years biologists will be able to look for juvenile salmon in high potential spawning areas. In another three years they will be know how successful these “run of the river” salmon will be.

Its a small project but it seems much more practical way to once and for all decide if the Atlantic Salmon can ever return to the river again. In the interim I would hope that the Connecticut River program is phased out and some of the funding diverted to more successful rivers like the Merrimack and Maine’s Penobscot River. It would be wonderful to hear that the biologists are making the decisions rather than the politicians.

Dick Baker is a forester working in northern NH and Vt with an office in Littleton, NH. Writing for several New England sporting magazines is just an excuse to get his wife, Mary, to let him go fishing or hunting. At the Baker house the lawn grows tall and the house needs painting. Dick can be reached at bigfishrcb@yahoo.com

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Page 13

Traveling Outdoorsman

By Glenn Dunning

Hunter Education Programs Safeguarding Hunting’s Future

While getting ready for a Colorado elk hunt 4 years ago I realized that finding my old hunter safety card to verify that I had completed a hunter education program was going to be a problem. In most states this is now a requirement of licensing. Truth is; I took the course over 40 years ago and nobody kept records of such things back then. So I signed up for the program being offered locally later that spring. I must admit to feeling a bit of anxiety as I took my seat, pencil and course manual in hand, among the other students, most of whom were a quarter of my age or younger. As I look back on it now, what I received for my investment of a couple of Sunday’s in April was so much more than what I ever expected. The program so impressed me that I have volunteered to help out whenever the course has been offered ever since.

For starters the curriculum today is more comprehensive; the manual, produced by the International

Hunter Education Association, is 120 pages with 7 separate areas of study, one of which deals specifically with Firearms and Hunter Safety.

The others cover an important range of topics from individual responsibilities, to wildlife conservation. Did I

Courtesy of Vermont Fish & Wildlife mention that the course is free of charge? While there are several sources of funding a bulk of the financial resources come from the federal Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937. Also called the Pittman-

Robertson Act after its sponsors, the legislation insures among other things that money derived from the sale of hunting licenses will be administered by state Fish & Wildlife agencies and may not be diverted to non-hunting related programs.

Additional funding comes for excise taxes collected on the sale of guns, ammunition, archery equipment and related retail items.

The first thing you learn is that the course has two specific goals: To prevent hunting injuries and fatalities and to ensure the future of the hunting tradition. It is the emphasis on the latter that really surprised me.

Not only are participants repeatedly exposed to the operation and safe handling techniques for all major types of firearms but a large portion of the curriculum tackles the issue of hunting’s negative image among significant segments of the population.

The importance of impressing these young minds to be an example of everything that is good about our sport cannot be understated. The words respect, ethics and responsibility come up often as do examples of what individuals can do to improve hunting’s perception by non-hunters, landowners and others. Keith Gallant, our local central Vermont game warden came in and talked to the class about how hunting laws protect wildlife, protect people, and insure the principals of fair chase.

Keith is a pretty personable guy and he emphasized that young people should not be afraid of him or anyone involved in law enforcement but rather recognize the valuable job they do in protecting and promoting our right to hunt and fish.

Great PR and targeted to the right audience.

The two day sessions are offered biannually in both the spring and fall and are conducted at the Randolph, Vermont Fish & Game Club’s Fish Hill Road facilities. Last month we had 22 students taking the course and nearly a dozen club members showed up to help out. Course

instructors, Richard and Bunny Huntley, were flanked by other volunteers who discussed everything from tree stand safety and map & compass skills to the relevance of habitat restoration and conservation efforts. There are several segments going on simultaneously including handling and shooting firearms with appropriate instruction and supervision. Adult volunteers are paired up one-on-one with students during the “live” fire requirements, while others walked the outside course during the shoot or no shoot training. Here students are taught the importance of identifying safe shooting conditions as well as how to properly maneuver obstacles such as fences. During this spring’s program, Rich Huntley asked an adult in the audience to come to the front of the class to explain the danger of ammunition miss-fires. While the middle-aged women told her story she held up her left hand which was missing a finger.

A dramatic way to hammer home the importance of firearm safety that no-one in the room would likely forget.

And then there are the kids themselves; impressionable, interested, excited. We wrapped up the Randolph program on the Sunday prior to youth turkey weekend and to be around this group, of whom almost half were girls, was to be affected by their anxious enthusiasm.

These kids, with what they had learned from Hunter Education, are prepared to not only be life-long ambassadors of our sport; they are the insurance that hunting and fishing will always have a place in American culture.

Glenn Dunning lives in Brookfield, Vermont and owns TUNDRATOUR Consultants, a travel agency specializing in North American hunting and fishing adventures. He is also a member of the New England Outdoor Writers Assoc. Glenn can be reached by phone at 802-276-3317 or via his web site at: www.tundratour.com

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Taxidermy Trails Shed hunting is about location

Finally a winter most anybody could like! The low snow depths and warm temps, for our area, made for a great winter on the wildlife. The state's winter severity index should only rank in the teens this year! Deer moved freely and the great fall mast crops should have helped the does come through with a great fawn production this spring.

The warm spring temps should be a boost for the spring grasses to hide them, but ticks may be worse. Tuck in those clothes!

Hunter education classes are in full swing. Our last class was packed, so be sure and register early! Vermont's home study classes requires the completion of a work book or completed on line study course with printed off quizzes are your ticket into the field day. Vermont's Outdoor and Hunter Ed programs are nationally recognized and in big demand.

I can't wait to get out, fish and shed hunt! With low snow depths, probably the antlers will be more scattered and even up the field for shed hunters. I would guess that the low snow depths will make the ones we find more sun bleached though. Many folks come in the shop admiring some of our finds wishing they could find "just one." Here's my best advice.

First, you have to be in good moose or deer country. The best, most crowded areas you can find.

The key to moose seems to be areas with balsam fir, dry slightly elevated, bedding sites, with bull work. (RUBS) The importance of the fir trees can't be over stated, especially in the Pittsburg and Rangely areas. Many moose bedding type spots deserve a quick look but if there is not much bull work somewhere near by the sheds are usually not many either.

I look for what I call bull yards.

Spots to the sides of main feeding

areas that have a good escape route, southeasterly exposure, and a roof of overhead cover trees to bed under. The southeast early morning sun type spots on

mountains, around the 3 thousand foot mark seem to be best.

Many old bulls are creatures of habit and seem to frequent the same haunts year after year. The best spots are often visited by people, but don't be scared or discouraged. There is so much country to look over! Many of the one's we find have been lying around for years! With practice you can learn to spot the type of location, even on Google, which could hold a treasure. When we find an antler I look around for the reasons it's at that spot.

Bedding sites, mope zones, chutes, between bedding sites, or just a dump luck location.

Bedding sites with a roof and escape routes near the rear of a main yard are preferred by bulls and of course are where they spend the most time. Mope Zones are spots that moose just seem stand around in and listen to the wind blow I guess. Big bulls seem to like the flat shelves up high where they are disturbed less. The chutes or trails between the shelves that are steep with dense brush seem to hold sheds others seem to miss. The bull

By Rodney Elmer

runs of down hill to escape and the shaking and brush can knock them off, so check out these runs good. Matched pairs are a real treasure or sheds from the same animal for several years make them extra special. It's a low

impact way of having fun in the woods and a relaxing way to exercise, but it has a dark side.

Shed hunting is about location.

People are secretive and competitive about "THEIR" spots! Many

With over 20 years of experience in taxidermy, we pride ourselves in our ability to preserve your trophy to look as it did in its natural habitat.

We work annually on about 300 mountings and presentations of many varieties of wildlife; deer, bears, moose, coyotes, fox, fisher, turkeys and more. We also work on animals from other parts of the globe including Africa.

In addition to being entertaining, the stories of the hunters who are our customers provide information allowing us to suggest possible ways to present and mount the trophies that they have bagged.

Our high quality work can be seen by our many repeat customers that seek out our services. The presentation of your trophy can be head wall mounts or full body depictions.

We are also the State of Vermont Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Big Game Reporting Station. A specially designed outdoor scale system with tall vertical clearance is also provided for easy weigh-in of all species.

The Outdoor Gazette

at 802-485-7184

Call Rodney or Theresa Elmer

Official Measurer Boone & Crockett Club Pope & Young Club NH Antler & Skull Trophy Club Maine Antler & Skull Trophy Club

rblaisdell1@comcast.net

Rodney Elmer and his wife Theresa own and operate Mountain deer taxidermy in Northfield,Vermont.

MOUNTAIN DEER TAXIDERMY

ROSCOE BLAISDELL 22 Scribner Road, Raymond, NH 03077

people shed hunt for income and as you can guess, when you put money into an equation people will pull out all the stops. Chase animals on foot or snowmobile, hoping the antlers will fall off. Try to shoot the antlers off ! This is harassing wildlife! What happened to ethics? The wire over the feeder to "Tangle" and "help" the buck shed his horns at the back yard bait pile just doesn't seem right either. Aren't the weather, the bugs, parasites, predators, road traffic, dogs, tourists and hunter's enough harassment?

I guess I like to earn them.

If you do come across a monster shed have it scored and entered in a club. The New Hampshire shed hunters club is a good place to start. Entry fees are minimal and it does give credit to a live animal! Check out their web site!

603-895-9947

1308 Loop Road - Northfield, VT 05663

WWW.MOUNTAINDEERTAXIDERMY.COM

May 2012

Page 9

Mass Meanderings Low Creel limit cost fishermen

The sports of fishing and hunting were never prosperous endeavors.

Deer hunters would rationalize that the deer meat in the freezer more than compensated for the costs of hunting. I don’t think that this was ever true for the average sportsman. By the time you added up all the costs associated with hunting: license fees, gas, (especially now), lost time at work, etc… it’s a losing business for the sportsman. This has always been especially true for the fishermen, but its even worse now with the price of gas, coupled with the distance to fish the best river in western Massachusetts, the Deerfield, and the fact the a fishermen can only keep three trout when they fish this river.

It’s about time that the state raised the limit from three trout on all the “major rivers”, lakes and ponds, to a more beneficial

Page 10

limit of five trout.

A major river, (as defined by the state), is one that gets more troutstocked into it, and a fisherman

can only keep three trout per day.

By David Willette

There are five major rivers in Western Massachusetts; the Deerfield, the Main Branch of the Housatonic, the Swift, the Green in Great Barrington, and the Westfield Rivers. All of these,

except for the Green River have lengthy “catch and release” sections and other strict regulations.

On the Housatonic River, for example, an angler is only allowed to keep one trout, and it must be at least twenty inches in long. By raising the creel limits, there’s still little chance that these rivers will be “fished out”, or over-fished because since 1997 fishing license sales have dropped by over 15 %. A trip over to the Deerfield will support this, as you see almost no-one fishing anymore. And more people practice “catch and release” fishing today than a few years ago, leaving more trout in the river to be caught and kept.

Besides that, the Deerfield receives a yearly stocking of 7000-9000 trout, depending on size and species stocked.

The North Branch in Clarksburg receives around 1000 trout annually. Presently, a fisherman can keep eight trout from the non- major rivers like the North Branch, or the South Branch in Adams. I’ve fished these rives many times and I’ve caught some respectable trout out of both of them, just like I have in the Deerfield River. If I can keep eight 12- inchers from the North Branch, then why can’t I keep at least five 12- inchers from

May 2012

the Deerfield?

With gas at almost $4 a gallon, what fisherman can afford to travel to these rivers and catch a meal for his family? Except for the Housatonic River, none of these rivers would be considered near a population center. I don’t know anyone who lives close to the Deerfield River. With today’s gas prices, it can get too expensive just to go fishing, and some fishermen are staying home, (and not buying licenses), because it’s not worth it to them anymore.

Who sets the creel limits? The Fish and Wildlife Board, (F&W), makes these decisions. From season dates, to creel limits, this all falls on the board. The other laws like hunting on Sunday are made by the legislature. A simple letter to the F&W Board may be all that it takes to get the creel limit changed, but I doubt it. The F&W Board will be looking for more support from the public on these issues. If enough letters are sent to them asking for this kind of change, then they will probably look into changing the creel limits. Usually, the suggestion goes through the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, who either agree with it or not.

But one doesn’t have to go through them.

Years ago, Mass Wildlife changed it’s creel limits from a high creel limit, but smaller fish, to a low creel limit but bigger fish philosophy. And it was a win-win situation for the sportsmen and the state, and fishing license sales were at their peak. And the statedoes a fabulous job of stocking big trout. But it’s become too expensive for people to fish, and pretty soon a fishermen can loose their taste for trout and stop fishing altogether. Which means another lost license and less money to support the stocking program, which is totally supported by license sales.

It would be hard to believe that the state would need to raise the creel limit on trout to increase license sales, but it just might be true, and it’s a decision whose time has come.

David Willette is a free-lance outdoor writer who lives in Western Massachusetts. He can be contacted through www.coyotewars.com The Outdoor Gazette

Anchor Points

By Todd Mead

Pass on the Tradition

Most of us who are involved in hunting, fishing, or any of the shooting sports were probably introduced to it by someone.

Some of us most likely received the introduction from our fathers. A few of us might have gained interest from an older sibling, a grandparent, an aunt or uncle or even a neighbor. No matter who introduced us, we remember them because it allowed us to do things in the outdoors and enjoy nature.

As I’ve grown older I’ve realized that it’s my turn to introduce kids to archery and help them learn a few tricks of the trade so their time spent shooting a bow will be more enjoyable.

Just like adults, kids are fascinated when they see their arrows form a group in the bullseye.

There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing four or five arrows all

Carissa Osgood and I enjoy her first place finish.

touching each other in the center of the target. Unlike adults, kids are usually satisfied with launching arrows. They tend to take the “free and easy” approach and consider it a bonus if a few of their arrows actually hit the bullseye. That’s why it’s usually easier to coach a kid who has the desire to become more proficient.

I’ve helped target archers, women, children and beginning bow hunters. Throughout the coaching process I’ve learned a lot from the students, too. With a busy schedule the last few years I decided to take a step back to allow myself a little more time to do some other things I enjoy.

Then, one day a good friend asked me to go to the youth archery night at the local club to watch her 9-year old daughter The Outdoor Gazette

shoot. Every winter the club runs a five week introductory archery league for children. All kids are welcome even if they don’t own a

were finding their way to the center of the target. Then we had a month to train before her first archery tournament ever!

Within a few days she was making one perfect shot after anoth-

It’s all smiles for the kids after the tournament.

bow. They can use bows at the club for the class.

When I went to the club late last winter to watch my friend’s daughter I was happy to see that the men running the class had her set up with a bow that fit her properly. Although it wasn’t much, it allowed her to shoot arrows with the other kids. As I observed the children it was very easy to see that Carissa (the 9year old) was a natural. Her form was pretty close to perfect and the determination was easy to see in her eyes. She was one of those kids who wanted to put all of her arrows in the bullseye. I saw a little bit of myself in her as she concentrated very hard on every shot.

I returned the next few weeks and gave her some things to work on. Her mother and I discussed getting her a new bow. Since neither of them knew much about archery I gave them the name of a few reputable shops. I told them to wander around the shops, ask questions and get a feel for how they were treated.

Unfortunately I’ve seen some shops that don’t treat women and children with the same respect they treat male customers.

After my friend toured a few shops, she told me which one she wanted to return to because she was impressed with the customer service. Since I’m pretty good friends with the owner of the shop I tagged along when she decided to buy her daughter a compound bow.

When everything was set up and tuned she began launching arrows at the range in the shop.

It didn’t take long before they

er. I was teaching her how to get a surprise release and she caught on quickly. It looked like someone was cutting the string as her bow arm went forward and to the left, and her release arm went straight back. It was almost as peaceful was watching a bird flying.

When the day of the tournament arrived my phone rang about a half hour before the start time. It was Carissa. She was so nervous she didn’t want to shoot.

We briefly discussed that her main objective was to shoot as many good shots as possible and not worry about the score. If she made all good shots she would get the best possible score she could get.

I watched her closely from the beginning to the end. She looked like a well oiled machine. When she was shooting her last five arrows I couldn’t see any difference in her form from when she shot the first five.

As the tournament directors added the scores we patiently

May 2012

waited for the results. When the awards were handed out Carissa shot the highest score of any girl and won the first tournament she ever entered. I was very impressed and proud of her.

Why did I share this story with you? I decided to write about it because you never know how far your influence can carry on. I feel fortunate to be Carissa’s role model. I also feel it’s my responsibility to teach her how to become a better archer. If you find yourself around a child who wants to learn more about the outdoors, take the kid with you and open new doors for him or

Ryan Fish concentrates while executing a shot in the tournament for kids. her.

Hunting, fishing, archery, and all the other outdoor sports are about giving back. As we all remember who showed us the way, let’s do our part and show others the way so they can show someone else when it’s their time to pass on the tradition.

Page 17

KID’S KORNER

Alex Badore of Northfield, Vermont scored big on Vermont’s Youth weekend. His Tom weighed 20lbs., had an 8-5/8 inch beard, 5/8” spurs.

Photos courtesy of Mountain Deer Taxidermy.

Page 18

May 2012

The Outdoor Gazette

If either of us takes a fish, the other can switch spools in minutes.

In the spring you can find us, lines extending beyond the stern of the Grumman. As the aluminum craft slashes through the unruly whitecaps, the line tends to belly until a salmon strikes, surging upward, exploding through the surface sixty feet or more off the stern where the fish appears to dance across the waves. I swear I can hear its jubilant cry just before the hook is thrown, streamer flying in one direction, salmon in the other, the silver-and-black flash gone, the thrill, like spying the trail of a falling meteor, producing automatic oohs and aahs.

If it’s August, Trish’s father will be in camp, the two of us down at the Ledges where the channel of the extra materials for use in extreme noise. Some muffs also include electronic components to help users communicate or to block impulsive noises.

The protection is there to effectively prevent hearing loss. When we shoot on the line, we have the luxury of choosing muffs for good protection with extended times of gunfire. Best choice would be electronic muffs, so the Range Master’s commands are clear, as well as comments from nearby competitors. Sadly, no one makes a product that cancels heckling or negative remarks! Costs for the electronic units range from $100 to $300.

Plugs, whatever the particular style, will work better for primitive events. Firing is usually limited to sporadic shots and unfortunately, my research has not come up with any flesh-toned units that are easily disguised. Makers tell me that most are sold to industry and in order to have compliance with industrial standards the products come in colors ‘not found in nature’ so it is obvious if workers are not complying with regulations.

The Outdoor Gazette

Magalloway’s flooded streambed can be as deep as seventy feet. I’ll be in the stern, holding the arm of the little Johnson outboard; Charlie seated in the bow. We may begin the morning trolling near the bottom with a Summer Smelt, a purple and black bucktail pattern of my own creation, while in the afternoon switching to a Mickey Finn or maybe a Black-nosed Dace.

By mid-morning the fog has slipped away and splashes of sunlight sweep down upon the lake, its surface now flecked with silver and gold glitter, the shadows of cumulus clouds passing swiftly over the surrounding hills.

Wavelets gently slap the sides of the boat as Charlie and I squint under the bills of our caps. A faint smell of balfrom previous page Plugs again are a matter of comfort, but the best choice will be a foam plug, on a core. They stay clean longer in our game and are generally very comfortable.

Foam plugs will dry up and not seal properly as they age. If you choose silicone or rubber plugs, they can and should be washed frequently. They cost around $3$10 per pair. Generally, they last just a few months, if kept properly stored.

So, begin today to preserve your hearing. Never fire guns without the best protection you can afford. Two companies, Walker’s Game Ear and Elvex Corporation, have been very generous in helping to develop this article. Their technical expertise has been invaluable. The top quality products they produce are worthy of your consideration.

sam drifts down from the steep shoreline. Under the drone of the outboard, our muscles relax, tensions fade. Lost in the moment, there is no need for talk.

I slowly push out with the arm of the engine to make a wide turn while we wait, knowing that the movement will provide a bit more action to the streamers, sometimes just enough to entice a salmon that may be following the fly. Come out, come out, wherever you are!

Oh well, if not this turn, perhaps the next. And so the seconds pass into minutes, the minutes into hours, and if we’re lucky, we have each felt the tug of a good fish. Eventually, Charlie will stretch. Nothing is said, but I point the bow in the direction of our cabin and head back across the lake where our wives will be waiting with breakfast.

Those interested in reading more

Continued from page 33 about streamers and trolling should read the two books written on this subject by Joseph D. Bates, who first learned his craft at Upper Dam, fishing with Wallace Stevens before World War II. Another book I recommend is Trolling Flies for Trout and Salmon by Dick Stewart and Bob Leeman. Although out of print for many years, I’m told this little treatise has been reprinted and is now readily available as is a new book on the subject, Tandem Streamers: The Essential Guide by Donald A. Wilson.

Bob Romano is an occasional contributor to The Outdoor Gazette. His books about the region, including his latest, a novel entitled West of Rangeley can be purchased at many of the stores and shops located in our area. You can email Bob at Magalloway@mac.com.

Continued from page 39

states, but this is only for research for? purposes to count the young of the year hatch rates.

Capt. John Curry grew up in Rehobeth, There’s no mystery why the MA and summered on the Cape mainly striper is part of my logo as well in the Bass River area. He has over 30 as many charter captains on the years of fishing and boating on Cape Cape. The striper is king plain Cod and Rhode Island waters. Currently and simple. It grows very large living in W. Yarmouth and summers in and under most conditions is an Bourne. He runs a sportfishing business aggressive feeder and fights like on tha Cape, visit his website www.capecrazy. What more can you ask fishing.net.

Charlie Chalk is an outdoor writer and has a background as a professional Firefighter and is a member of the American Mountain Men, an organization that emulates the life of the fur trappers of the 1800's and their survival on the land.

May 2012

Page 41

Searching for Natures Treasures

By David John

Fiddleheads, Smelt and fries

As of April 10th, the enjoyment of searching for and picking up antlers and smelting the brooks looks on the dim side. Antlers are hard to come by, as are the sightings of moose.

The smelting season brings on thoughts of fiddleheads. Fried smelt, fiddleheads and French fries go together to make some great springtime meals. Writing this article on April 14th, the smelt are just starting to trickle in at Bryant Pond, and I see trucks going by the house with smelt nets heading to Aziscohos and beyond. The logging roads are all dried up, to travel to remote areas should be fine except for washouts.

Early evening at the mouth of smelting brooks has its own beauty. Sitting on the banks of the mouth of the brooks, one can watch the trout rise to some insect, watch the loons come swimming in and diving for

smelt. And as it gets dark, the loons start their haunting cries and the last of the ducks and

David John cleaning up his catch.

geese settle on the water for the night. Looking back on other smelting nights, I have watched otter chasing smelt in the light from our headlamps. I have had a muskrat crawl up my net and dive

Antlers for Sale!

Call David John 603-381-000 or 207-486-9352

You sell what?

into the brook when he reached the top of the net. I have had beaver swimming by our legs and have caught some good-sized brook trout while netting smelt.

Not all smelting nights were calm, beautiful nights. There have been nights of rain, nights of cold that would settle in so around 10pm that your nets and gloves would be covered in ice.

Nights with an east wind, would drive in large sheets of ice that would fill in the mouth of brooks.

And some nights you couldn’t see your nets because of snow squalls. But we go, we will always go ‘til the last brook is closed, because there is something about the little smelt that draws up to these remote brooks.

We all look like a bunch of shitpokes staring down into the dark, cold water waiting for a tiny fish to make up its mind to some these brooks to do what they have always done, to lay their eggs, have them fertilized to carry on the population. See you at the

brooks.

On April 14th, I drove to Bryant Pond for my first night of smelting for the year. I got half a limit. I love those tiny smelt from Bryant Pond. I don’t clean them or cut the heads off; just fry them up. From Bryant Pond to my home in Wilson’s Mills is 59 miles. Ten years ago, I would have seen around two-dozen moose or more. I came through Grafton Notch at midnight; only saw one moose from Newry Corner to Errol. Waiting for Aziscohos smelt to do their thing at the brooks.

Well, I am ready to do some brook fishing. I don’t eat that much fried foods, so when I deep fry smelt or fry fish, I so it on a Coleman stove outside so as not to allow the house to have an odor of fried fish for days. I like deep frying smelt outside, and will go sit on a stump and enjoy this treat while we can. I was brought up eating brook trout fried with crispy skin in a cast iron frying pan. My mother fried all her fish, either in lard or bacon fat.

I hope the prediction of bigger tick and mosquito populations are wrong. I was talking with someone from Wakefield NH who asked me if our black fly population was bad. I remember twenty years ago when you would wipe the black flies off your arm by the dozens while working outside and being chased out of the brooks by the relentless bloodsuckers. But in the last six or eight years, I feel they have really calmed down and are not as

Mountain Top Outfitters

Continued next page

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Page 42

add a bear $300.00 more, if successful $500.00 extra 96% success rate. Bow Hunting starts two weeks before Rifle Hunting. Price includes licenses, taxes, guides, food and accommodations. Home cooked meals, hot shower, generator, electricity and satellite T.V. All meat processing and packaging are available at local butchers for extra cost.

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May 2012

Box 162 RR#1 Doyles, NL A0N 1J0

The Outdoor Gazette

Outfitter Review Silver Birch Camp, Redditt, Ontario - (807) 225-2441

This hunt took place in 2008.

We have since been back in 2009 and 2010. We missed 2011 (didn’t have enough vacation time to do everything) and I can’t wait to go back again.

On the recommendation of some friends we decided to stay at the Silver Birch Camps in Redditt, Ontario. Redditt is a small town north of Kenora in the famed “Big Buck” zone of Western Ontario. Redditt is so small it does not have a store. It does however, have a curling arena. These folks have their priorities in order! The entire Kenora area is surrounded by “crown land,” public land in US lingo, and it is much like hunting the Big Woods of the Northeast,

that we missed the peak. Ten tears ago this area was phenomenal.

It is still pretty darn good. What I like about the area is it is wideopen country (not posted I mean).

Many places you can go for miles and not worry about posted signs.

If you like do-it-yourself big woods deer hunting, this hunt is for you. If you like sitting in a stand and watching deer pour into food plots… not so much.

Silver Birch Camp sits on the shores of walleye-filled Corn Lake. It is in the middle of Crown Land. You can drive for miles to go hunting or walk out the back door. One of my buddies Bruce downed a nice 8-point hunting out the back door.

sion and a full bar for relaxing at night and telling deer stories. The lodge also caters to fisher-people and snowmobilers. In the main lodge is a small store that carries many of the essentials and could save you a trip in to Kenora. In the main lodge too, is evidence of this area’s potential. On the walls are mounts of some truly worldclass whitetails taken by the owners and their son who owns and operates River’s Edge Guide Service. So if you’re a do-it-yourself guy or want a little help, Silver Birch offers the best of both worlds.

We arrived on a Saturday morning. We picked the last week of the season to hunt in hopes of having some snow. For once a plan worked. We had perfect

snow the entire time we were there. The next two years there was no snow at all. Besides myself was my brother Scott, my son Josh, and good buddies Bruce Smith of Lyme, NH, Ken Monte of Arlington, VT, Ed Earle of Bridgewater, VT, and Ben Hudson also of Lyme.

That first Saturday we headed to the woods or as they say “bush”, blindly. We drove till we saw a promising area that “felt” good, and started hunting. This place sucked, pardon my French.

It was thick and nasty and void of any deer sign. We met back at the truck after our first half-day in the Ontario wilderness… The Allard trio was not impressed!

Sunday we stayed optimistic, we Continued on page 45

This was a good night! We were 7 for 8 on our trip to Silver Birch with 2 deer over 200 lbs. but it actually has deer living here!

Don’t get me wrong, it is not a slam-dunk hunt. In the three years I have gone to this area, I have seen a total of maybe 35 deer in 21 days of hunting.

Hardly midwest numbers, those guys can see that in one sitting.

Anyway don’t expect a deer behind every tree. We have been told by many locals, and folks from here in the northeast that have been going there for years,

Silver Birch is a series of small log cabins each equipped with a half bath and full kitchen. They sleep anywhere from three to five hunters. They are rustic but more than adequate and you can’t beat the price. There is one large camp that sleeps 6 or more and has its own shower. There is a shower/laundry/sauna building, close to the cabins as well. If you like a little more luxury, you can stay in the brand new main lodge.

It is large, spacious, with televi-

from previous page many, maybe not in all areas, but trout lily, and a lot of young aniwhere I lived. I can take just mals to photo. The full moon of about any of the insects, but not May is called the Flower Moon. the no-see-ums. These are the all- And here come the songbirds time spoilers of the early morn- along with the bumblebee and ing and the evening. apple blossoms.

Well let’s enjoy May. Time for brook fishing, fiddleheading, David John roams the hills year-round, kayaking. Lunches in the truck, bringing home the moose antler and and kayak. May will give us the other nature’s treasures. You can email coltsfoot, trillium, mayflower, him at DavidJohn1943@gmail .com.

The Outdoor Gazette

May 2012

Page 43

The Next Camo King, Lee Dufresne

Copyrighted, Trademarked and Patent Pending process for buildI recently spent some time with ing the Elusion Camo patterns Lee Dufresne, owner, innovator you see on our site. We work and CEO of Elusion Camo from closely with our visual communiBennington, Vermont. I had to cation expert Stephanie A see this stuff for myself and after Calabro to align, size and correct my visit; Elusion is now the offi- our pattern images using only cial camo of The Outdoor true HD imagery and colors and Gazette. If this stuff doesn’t help you bag more game, nothing will.

I asked Lee to tell us what sets Elusion apart from the other camo companies out there. Here is response. I’m telling you, you have to see this stuff to believe it.

“Ya, I have heard that before”, I can hear you now, but you have not heard that from me very often. This camo is unbelievable…

Here’s what Lee has to say about his innovation in camo.

TOG- “ Ok Lee how’d you do it, how did you make a camo this Lee Dufresne - CEO of Elusion Camo realistic? So realistic you were with the now famous “grouse grab”. able to grab a wild grouse with See the video on facebook or on Elusion’s website. your own hands?

by Fred Allard

Lee- “First, true Hi-Definition Imagery and a non repeating, non fade image. We use strictly Hi Def images for our pattern technology. This gives us unsurpassed and unrivaled performance ability within our pattern technology.

The imagery is so true to life that game animals and birds, even humans and house pets, have lost the ability to detect the patterns in natural settings, as they have no OUT of place elements in them. Using True Natural Dye color systems in the pattern process, as the patterns are added to fabric removes any human element of interference and thus leaving a natural and non-detectable image in the fabric.

TOG- “Do you have patterns for all seasons?”

Lee- “Our patterns work all year round as well. You can use the “fall” named patterns in spring, winter, and summer; It’s just a name. With Elusion we are replicating nature so no matter when or where, you belong there.

There are No UV s in any of the patterns, only natural dyes that will not fade.”

TOG- “ can you tell us how you have been able to attain this HIDefinition camo and others have not?”

Lee- “Hi tech space age technology. The latest in sublimation and digital Printing techniques are the key behind our Page 44

backed by our exclusive 5-year warranty against fading. Jeannine Mason and her team are also a big part of the puzzle and are the key to the fabric transfers. These folks are awesome and help me make Elusion “reality.” Elusion Camo works because we have replicated natural elements to a

see you are excited about Elusion camo. I also hear there is an unexpected benefit to wearing Elusion patterns. Can you explain that?”

Lee- “An added, unexpected bonus for sure! We have discovered the unexpected benefit of insect repelling power. The camo BDU units in the Polyester fabric we are using have been noted to strongly repel ticks, black flies and mosquitoes. In all of the field testing we have observed that NONE of the people in Elusion picked up any ticks or had been harassed by black flies or mosquitoes while in the full 3 pc unit. The observers noticed that the other participants NOT wearing Elusion were not only bombarded by the biting insects they also noticed a high level of ticks clinging to their NON Elusion Clothing. We have determined on our part that Elusions Fabric and Dye combination not only work to absorb and reflect light and allow our patterns to mimic nature exactly, but that they possess some sort of anti insect properties as well.”

TOG- If that is true Lee, Elusion will be a hunter’s household name in no time. Are you doing anything to have this added BONUS documented?

Lee with a nice buck he took wearing Elusion Camo. tee! The replication process is so Lee- “Oh Ya, we have sent exact that animals see only a nat- some of our Camo to United ural element when they examine Laboratories, UL, to have it testor encounter Elusion Camo. The ed. But we don’t need them to tell images are actually developed us it works; we’ve seen it for ourinto the fabric much like a photo selves. The UL documentation is is on paper. Our patterns are not for all those doubters out there.” printed and will not fade or wash TOG- “ That’s a great idea, out. Our camo pattern fabrics are getting it UL certified. So the best a durable proven 100% Polyester camo on earth, and bug resistant Outer that resists rot, staining, too. Sounds like a winner to me. fading.”

Can you tell me some about how TOG- “Wow Lee, take a “your” process differs from your breath” laughter…. “ It’s easy to competitors?”

May 2012

Lee- “Absflection.”

TOG- “Abs what?”

Lee- “Absflection! This is the key behind Elusion Camo.

Absflection is our unique patent pending process to absorb and reflect light exactly as natural elements do. Elusion camo patterns will actually react to varying habitat changes, for example, when you enter a very green setting in Elusion Camo, the patterns actually take on and reflect all of the green in them naturally to blend into the habitat. The same is true for grays and browns.

Elusion Camo is changing the rules of the game. It works so well that is almost Unfair. If Chameleons had opposable thumbs and pay-pal I am sure they would order some !!”… %@#$ eating grin!

TOG- “ Ya, they probably would. So what else besides Absflection do you want to tell us about Elusion Camo?”

Lee“Well,” pause “Perception.”

TOG- “ Perception? Ok I’m curious.”

Lee- “Game animals and birds rely mainly upon their hereditarily learned evolutionary instinctual abilities to detect danger by seeing things that are out of place, TOG- “Say that three times fast.”

Lee- with a big smile – “With Elusion Camo we belong in any natural setting in any of our patterns as we have achieved the ability to be perceived as a natural element by all game animals and birds. Nature is random., but with all of the random elements it is how game and birds react to those elements that WE wanted to achieve. And we HAVE done exactly that. They are unable to pick us out as they have learned to do with conventional, old school camo pattern technologies that use the spot color printed repeat system. I have been driven to design and complete a system with no repeats and true digital HD quality on fabric and in films etc. We have succeeded where so many have failed. To beat ,and remove the games evolutionary ability to detect you as a non-natural element. That is the power of Elusion Camo. Undetectable danger in any setting.”

TOG- Thanks Lee, you definitely have outdone yourself. I can’t wait to hit the field in MY elusion camo.

The Outdoor Gazette

all put on some miles. We were feeling better after day 2 as we all found pockets of deer and we saw a few to boot! We hunt together, but we don’t. Basically we share the same camp at night, help each other drag if needed and share a truck. Other than that we hunt by ourselves.

So on Monday, Scott found what he thought was a nice buck working a small area close to a road, in a place where I would have never set up. He was sure he had him figured out and when I helped him hang his treestand midmorning on Tuesday, I never expected he would see anything from this set up. I was headed to a spot I had located Sunday morning. The wind had been wrong for 2 days and was finally supposed to change midday on this Tuesday. I was excited and as soon as I was sure Scott didn’t need me any longer I was headed. I dropped my son Josh off. He had located a nice area on the edge of a pond, in a clear cut and had been sitting there for two days already, with many sightings of both bucks and does but no shots yet.

It was now about 11ish and I was headed back to “my” spot.

The wind was in my face and

Bruce Smith of Lyme NH, with his 200 lb 8 pt snow was on the ground… I was in the zone! I made my way in the 1.25 miles in about three hours.

No deer were seen on the way in, but fresh deer sign was everywhere, rubs and scrapes… “holy cow” is all I could say. My spot was at the tip of one of those

Continued from page 43

40 yards his head came clear of He was not a monster by North the bush and I made out a large American Whitetail standards G-2. He was on the move and I but he will probably always be my best buck. This is why, remember my brother, you know the one that set up in that spot that I thought he would never see a deer in, well he shot a buck, as we figured out later, about 5 minutes before I shot mine. We both shot the biggest bucks of our lives on the same day, in places that we found ourselves and set up on ourselves and we were able to share this with each other, our best friends and my son…doesn’t get any better than that.

My drag was horrendous but joyful (for me anyway). I remember after calming myself after had I found my deer, saying out Scott and I with our best bucks ever, taken on the same night. 13 pts 215 lbs and loud as I looked around, “those an 8 pt 185 lbs. guys are going to kill me” folquickly looked for an opening in lowed by a chuckle. The drag torn up. The deer were forced by a ledge to the very edge of the front of him. When he entered it, took the five of us five hours. I bog for a short distance. At this I shot. The deer ran, but did not had never broken the 200lb pinch point there were many act like he was hit and when I mark.

As we dragged we all kept saycrossings to where I was set up. walked over, there was no blood.

“I just missed the deer of a lifeing he was going to be over 200.

Just behind me was a large flat covered with scrapes. Sounds time” I was thinking, then I heard That would be the icing on the good doesn’t it? It was good! It the deer’s last thrash, next to a cake! So back at the lodge we was the best deer sign I have ever blow-down not thirty yards away. hung him on the scales. My seen. I really didn’t have a game There was no blood trail, except buddy Ed was next to the scales plan when I started the day, I just when I got about 3 feet from the and hollered 197! He paused “just kidding 215!” knew I had to be in this spot the deer. moment the wind changed. As I worked my way in that morning I thought I might continue on and still-hunt the backside of the bog.

When I arrived, the deer sign was so incredible; there was no way I was going to leave it, so I stayed put.

It was quiet and had become a little crunchy as the sun set and the air cooled.

I had been there for two hours and hadn’t seen or heard a deer.

Then came the telltale cadence of a deer on the move. The sound was echoing in the bog bottom, and at first I couldn’t tell from which direction it was coming from. As it got closer I realized it was coming from the middle of the bog, which was choked with alders. The buck was cruising the bog checking all the trails crossing it for the scent of a hot doe.

At first all I could see was a body part now and then, and as he came closer, I strained to make out antlers on the deer’s head. At famous swale bogs. The deer were traveling along the backside of the bog. The trees there were

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May 2012

Page 45

The Maine Hunter

By Steve Beckwith

Turkey Hunting 101

It’s May and the woods have been bursting since early January with the sounds of young jakes and old gobblers stretching their vocal chords in anticipation of being the one top gobbler that the old boss hen selects as her mate! With spring arriving here early this year I have heard plenty of discussion on the climate changes affecting early breeding! The fact is that very little changes in the turkey world due to an early spring, the breeding season starts when the hen is ready and not a moment before!

Actual breeding commonly begins in mid March here in Maine, many times with snow on the ground still. With the excitement of an early spring, comes with it early pre-season scouting.

It happens every year and this year it too came early. Anxious turkey hunters start calling birds using mouth, slate, and box calls

Page 38

to locate turkeys in early April.

Turkey schooling only makes your job harder come opening

day! If you must use calls when pre-scouting, use a crow, owl, rooster, woodpecker, or coyote call to shock gobble and locate birds, leave your hen turkey calls home!

In my experience it is far better to get up early and get outdoors at sunrise to take walks on tar

roads, dirt roads, along the backs of gravel pits, down power lines and cleared woodlot edges as the sun rises or sets each day!

Quietly listen for hens to putt,

cluck and purr and gobblers to start responding to their calling, listen for their activity without disturbing their natural movement all the while taking mental notes of just what the language accomplishes for the turkey between the hens and the boys!

Turkeys left undisturbed at this time of year will remain in that same area doing what turkeys do naturally each spring! Return just a few days before opening day to find out where they roost, fly down, strut and eat! During the months of March and April turkeys tend to stay inside the woods and only frequent the edges of fields, old roads, power lines, becoming more visual to the paved road by entering farm fields in late April and May. Pre- scouting without using hen calls will give you an advantage and the un-schooled toms a bad day when you open up on him with your persuasive hen calling on opening morning.

May 2012

Over schooled older toms tend to hang up more times then not and what shows up first are the young jakes hoping for a lucky day with the new hen on the block! Of course all of this goes out the window during week two of the season after hunting pressure hits the home front, but knowing where your flock eats and courts in the wooded areas during late mornings will increase your odds after fly down for the entire season!

The best advice this old Maine Hunter can give a fellow hunter is to learn what turkeys do naturally, listen to what they do January to December, understand their language and what triggers the immediate response of hens, jakes and toms at the time of year you are allowed to hunt them. Watching, listening and not being seen when turkeys are doing what they do in nature can be the best learning tools a turkey hunter has in his bag of tricks!

If you want to know how to hunt turkey, listen to one! And no, I am not referring to myself !

Steve Beckwith is a Registered Maine Guide, ThermaCELL Pro Staff, and owns these owns these websites: • MaineGuideCourse.com, • MaineHunters.com, • CoyoteCrosshairs.com, • MoosePermit.com, • MaineGuidedHunts.com.

He is a life member, editor and webmaster of the North Berwick Rod and Gun Club. A videographer, website designer and internet entrepreneur with his online portfolio located at MultitaskWebsites.com, Steve can be reached through any of his websites.

The Outdoor Gazette

The Coastal Zone Captian John Curry

By Captain

Species Spotlight: Striped Bass

No other fish is more sought after by recreational anglers in the Northeast than the Striped Bass. I have thought a lot about this statistic and I have a few theories as to why this species is so popular. First of all you can catch stripers using a wide variety of techniques and conditions.

I have caught stripers in two feet of water on the fly and I have caught stripers in ninety feet of water while jigging for cod. I have caught them with the sound of jets landing to the backdrop of Boston’s skyline to the quite backwaters of the Roanoke River in North Carolina, where the only sound was the call of a coyote.

For the northern areas of its range the emergence of the striper signals the start of the fishing season, maybe this fact alone makes it a very popular target. I think the real reason why the striper is so popular is the history of its population decline and return to prominence.

We all love a good underdog success story and the striper is king of the comeback in this regard. From the 1950’s to the late 1970’s the striper was a prolific species that was unregulated in many aspects. The thought of catch and release had not yet caught on and the commercial take for “striped sea bass” had no limitations.

The main impact of the stripers was the practice of using a pickup truck on the beach and a boat in the surf. The boat would run out from the beach with a seine net that were in some cases a quarter mile long. The boat would encircle a school of stripers and the truck would drive the opposite end down the beach to haul in the massive school. I remember watching this in awe as a youngster thinking there was no end in sight for the amount of stripers that swam in our waters. Well as you can imagine that practice

The Outdoor Gazette

along with industrial pollution and dams on their spawning rivers made for a swift and unex-

pected population decline. The early 1980’s produced the worst years for striper population estimates. The National Marine Fisheries (NMF) listed them as threatened and the use of nets was banned about this time. That single act may have the saved the striper from extinction. I recall that if a striper was caught it made the front page of the Cape Cod Times during the early 1980’s. That’s how impactful and missed they were from our coastal waters.

Stripers range from Maine to North Carolina. There are a few runs that happen as far south as Savanna GA and Florida. 132 Stripers were sent by rail to California from New Jersey in 1879 forming what is now a spawning population in the San Francisco Bay watershed. It is believed that 70% of the striper’s population on the East Coast spawns in the Chesapeake Bay watershed with the Hudson and Delaware rivers making up the majority of the main spawning runs.

Stripers have a seasonal migration route taking them north from North Carolina in December as they follow warming water currents and preferred bait towards

their main spawning areas. Once the spawn is over most of these fish continue northward looking for cooling water instead of warming waters. The striper’s

followed by river herring and menhaden as primary prey species. Stripers will feed on small lobsters and many crab species as well as cinder worms during their annual spring “worm hatch”.

One of the best methods for scoring on big stripers is to live-line an eel.

The current IGFA all tackle record was caught last August by a Connecticut angler weighing in at 81.88 pounds. This was landed at night on a live eel. The Massachusetts record of 73 pounds has been held by 3 different anglers starting from 1913 to 1981. You are currently able to keep two stripers with a minimum length of 28” in Massachusetts coastal waters. optimum temperature range is That may not seem like much, 55-65 degrees and many of its but trust me you could be looking prey species spawning coincide at 20-30 lbs of fillets for those two with these temps as well. Stripers fish if you decide to keep them.

Fast forward to today and things feed on a wide variety of forage are much better for ole line-sides. base.

In New England waters, grass Stripers are still netted in some shrimp are the first to attract fish Continued on page 41

May 2012

Page 39

Behind the Sights

By Charlie Chalk

Deaf as a stone

The hearing test was now complete. The technician looked up from the report and said, “Do you do a lot of shooting?’ Well, how do you answer that? While I fumbled with the correct answer, she said that what I had was a mild loss in a certain tone range associated with shooting. For me, that answered the question of why I hear a high-pitch ringing when I am in any quiet surroundings.

So, I have begun a quest to find out what types of products are available for hearing protection.

Vast arrays of products reside at the local sporting goods store and if you were to consider price as the determining factor, you would be shocked at the wide range available.

To sort out the facts, our reviews will be the most common types available at stores dealing with shooting and with industrial supply houses (since jack ham-

mers and saws make a lot of noise). Many products are similar, so choice of makers will be a personal decision. Age factors are also a consideration, if you are

protecting young ears from permanent damage, they must fit properly. Also, the myth “too late for me” will be debunked, as you

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can save what is left.

Hearing protection among shooters, while many consider it important, is based on three things; Comfort, Communication and Convenience. Finding all three in one device, while not

impossible, will be costly.

What is Out There for Me? Expandable foam plugs are made of a material that can be compressed and it will expand and conform to the shape of each person's ear canal. Roll the expandable plugs into a thin, crease-free cylinder. What you need is a smooth tube thin enough so that about half the length will fit easily into your ear canal. Some individuals, especially women with small ear canals, have difficulty rolling typical plugs small enough to make them fit. A few manufacturers now offer a small size expandable plug.

Pre-molded, reusable plugs are made from silicone, plastic, or rubber and are manufactured as either “one-size-fits-most” or are available in several sizes. Many pre-molded plugs are available in sizes for small, medium or large ear canals. They usually look like little plates on a stem.

A critical tip about pre-molded plugs is that a person may need a different size plug for each ear. Fit

is important as they can cause distracting discomfort. This takes trial and error of the various sizes. Directions for fitting each model of pre-molded plug may differ slightly depending on how many plates they have and how the tip is shaped. Insert this type of plug by reaching over your head with one hand to pull up on your ear. Then use your other hand to insert the plug with a gentle rocking motion until you have sealed the ear canal.

Advantages of pre-molded plugs are that they are relatively inexpensive, reusable, washable, convenient to carry, and come in a variety of sizes. Nearly everyone can find a plug that will be comfortable and effective. In dirty or dusty environments, you don't need to handle or roll the tips.

Canal caps often resemble earplugs on a flexible plastic or metal band. The earplug tips of a canal cap may be a formable or pre-molded material. Some have headbands that can be worn over the head, behind the neck or under the chin. Newer models have jointed bands that increase the ability to properly seal the earplug.

The main advantage canal caps offer is convenience. When it's quiet, you can leave the band hanging around the neck. Then, quickly insert the plug tips when hazardous noise starts again.

Some people find the pressure from the bands uncomfortable.

Not all canal caps have tips that adequately block all types of noise. Generally, the canal caps tips that resemble stand-alone earplugs seem to block the most noise.

Earmuffs come in many models designed to fit most people. They work to block out noise by completely covering the outer ear.

Muffs can be "low profile" with small ear cups or large to hold Continued next page

The Outdoor Gazette 1166 Court Street Haverhill, NH 03765 Tel: 603-989-3093 Cell: 802-738-6755

*Unless otherwise requested, all new subscriptions will begin with the present issue in production.

Page 40

May 2012

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learned two things that day, the first, even though they were famous in the whitetail world, they put their pants on the same as you and I; they were truly down to earth people. The second wasn’t until the following year. I learned to believe in myself and my ability. In parting that day, I asked Larry what was the one piece of advice could he offer to someone who wanted to shoot big bucks. He told me that I needed to get onto a buck track and stay with it until I caught up with the deer. Whether it be one day or three, didn’t matter. In the end when I did catch up with him, point my finger and go BOOM! Then simply let the deer walk away.

That following fall, I lucked out.

We had snow during the second week of deer season in the North Country. As Larry had instructed, I took a track and confirmed that it was in fact a buck and I stayed with the track. It was getting well into the afternoon and I crested a slight rise. There, not much more than forty yards if that stood the buck that I had been tracking. My first instinct was to pull up and

drill him in the mid section, but that wasn’t what Larry had told me to do. I pointed my finger and went bang! The reaction wasn’t quite what I had expected though, the deer snapped his head up and glared at me with some awful evil eyes! He pawed at the ground, snorted twice and walked away looking back at me every once in awhile.

As the season progressed, I began to second-guess my decision to let the buck walk. I still had a tag in my wallet and time was running down rapidly. I was finding deer sign and taking some tracks but wasn’t seeing the deer that had made them. I think that I had encountered several does and I did see one spike that most likely had I been another hunter, would have met his demise that sunny afternoon. He was in his bed laying there looking around not even knowing that I was above him. I put the bead on him several times but let him live in hopes he would grow. With the days winding down fast, I chose to spend time in the high country hoping to hit pay dirt. I hadn’t planned on waiting quite this

long but that’s the way it goes sometimes.

I pulled into the camp Thursday evening, the last weekend of the deer season. I was under the gun, allowing myself to be pressured by my peers of the hunting society. Long story short, the next morning, I found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

After taking a set of tracks out in the Swift Diamond area, an hour into the hunt I was standing over a nice eight-pointer. My annual quest was over and I had learned the second of the two lessons taken away with me from the Benoit home that eventful Sunday. Never underestimate myself and my abilities. I also learned to hell with my peers!

Well, now I’ve done it. I went out and bought the missus a fly rod! It’s a beauty too, eight feet six inches and a five weight floating line. Now it looks like I will be tying some flies to compliment it.

My favorite is a Hornburg. I am favorable to size ten or even a twelve with grey wings. I tie several colors in the belly, with red being the most productive. I have been known to use yellow and

May Hunting and Fishing Solunar Tables

from previous page orange as well with the latter being used on those overcast, dark water days. I like the smaller size twelve because they can be fished wet or dry. Hopefully my eyes and hands work well enough to tie them that small again! If I had to choose just one fly for New Hampshire waters this would be the one without a doubt. I have enjoyed great success in the smaller ponds and the southern tier rivers with this fly. I have also fished it and found it to do quite well for some farm pond largemouths.

The stock trucks should be rolling out real soon here. If you don’t get your annual stocking of black flies, give me a shout and I’ll see if I still have any political influence at the state house and get you something in the works.

Maybe I can send some of mine your way!

Alex Cote resides in Deerfield New Hampshire. He is on the Pro Staff for Northwood's Common Scents! He is also a scorer for the NHASTC. Alex and his son spend as much time outdoors as possible and he only works when he has to.

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May 2012

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Page 31

From the back of a canoe

Curses and pleasures of fishing

One of the curses of fishing which probably applies to a lot of other sports is the never -ending barrage of new equipment available. Fly rods have evolved from bamboo with craftsmanship being the differentiator in quality to synthetic materials with engineering technology defining the difference. Rods, reels, lines, leaders, tippet material, boots and waders are all affected by technology.

Of course nothing would change without demand; that’s where marketing to anglers comes into play. Most of the advertising for products is still by catalogs, magazines, outdoor shows, and fishing shows on TV. The price of a high-end technology fly rod is less than a quality bamboo rod but the difference in price between an entry level fly rod and high-end graphite rod is several hundred dollars. The performance doesn’t equate to the price difference; technology and manufacturing have closed the gap significantly; except for ego.

As a fly tier, one of the magazine sections I look for is tying columns. I’ve got several fly tying books with more patterns than anyone would ever need but there’s always the thought that this might be the perfect fly for a given hatch. Over the years I don’t know how many patterns I’ve tied that didn’t work any better than what I already had. On the other hand I have found a few go-to flies. It’s kind of like looking for the needle in the haystack – it can be found but it’s a question if

we’ll have enough time. A few years ago a friend showed me a blue butt fly. It was tied on a #18 or 20 dry hook and had a teeny bluish egg sack. The hatch comes out on two local rivers in

By Jim Norton

river. One of my friends called that evening and said there was a large mayfly hatch on the river with a lot of trout rising. Bingo! I tied up six to match the color and the next day we were on the river.

Cloudy, windy, and a heavy passing shower at 1pm probably all

put in at Franklin with low flow conditions.

November. I tied up six and never contributed to the hatch not comdid see the hatch. Now I can’t ing off. One of the curses of fishfind the flies or the material. It’s a ing, or just another day to curse. sure bet I’ll hit the hatch if I don’t My friend is partially color blind find the flies. with vision problems so it may A few days ago I received a pat- have been humming birds, not tern for the Two Feather Fly from mayflies. Checking the web I a tying group. I thought it might found the following. The original be perfect for the Quill Gordon pattern was tied in the 30’s by hatch that’s out in April on a local Harry Darbee; here’s his quote,

“I had been experimenting with an ultra light dressing to imitate our larger mayfly hatches, the big drakes, the Isonychia, the March Brown. One night while doubling a hackle for a salmon fly, it occurred to me that perhaps a prepared hackle held the key to what I was looking for...” – Harry Darbee. Here’s a link to a video clip of the fly being tied: http://vimeo.com/15467458 .

There are several nice patterns and variations of the Two Feather Fly on the web. I didn’t tie the fly exactly like the pattern but it’s very lightweight, durable, and has a nice profile on the water.

Last year I did not get my drift boat on the water until June; usually it’s May, occasionally April.

This year it was March. Low flows have made the flows great for wading with below summer flows for drifting. That’s the good news; the bad is there’s not enough flow to get the landlock salmon into the rivers.

Fortunately with the low flows, Fish & Game was able to get the broodstock Atlantic salmon in much earlier then previous years.

When the program started in the early 90’s there were a lot more fish available; close to 2,000 as I remember with another 1,000 in the fall. I had canoed portions of the Pemi and Merrimack but never really started to fish the Merrimack River until the broodstock program. I remember when the Merrimack was one of the most polluted rivers in the country; not hard to imagine since it was one of the first to be develContinued next page

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The New Hampshire Vermont Outdoor Gazette

May 2012

The Outdoor Gazette

A NEW ENGLAND TRADITION TROLLING FOR LANDLOCKED SALMON WITH STREAMERS

Most years, ice-out on Aziscohos Lake, the most western of the waters comprising the Rangeley Lakes Region of western Maine, begins sometime in late April, early May. My wife and I open our camp soon after the word has spread that the lake is once more clear. The weather can vary drastically during this time of year. There have been times when Trish and I have arrived to find sunshine and the temperature in the high seventies. More often, however, we are greeted with overcast skies and nasty rain squalls, the type of harsh conditions favored by the landlocked salmon and brook trout that call the lake home. Ravenous after a long winter of inactivity, these majestic fish come to the surface to chase schools of smelt throughout the lake.

Shivering under layers of clothing, we troll traditional streamers like the Gray Ghost first tied by Carrie Stevens in the early nineteen hundreds while her husband, Wallace, guided sports on Mooselookmeguntic Lake located just down the road on Route 16.

These days, Selene Dumaine, a fishing guide and renowned fly-tyer from Readfield, Maine has gained a wellearned reputation as a result of her meticulous reproductions of Carrie Stevens’ streamers as well as her own innovative creations. Brett Damm, who guides out of the Rangeley Region Fly Shop and Bill Thompson, who with his wife, Janet, guides out of the North Country Angler Fly Shop in North Conway, New Hampshire, are also masters at tying streamers sure to take fish.

I favor traditional patterns, but oped for industrial use. The Pemi and Merrimack are good rivers to fish, canoe, and kayak with miles of undeveloped river. There are trout and bass in the river along with broodstock. Some years we’ve fished for broodstock into late November. Atlantic salmon are strong fish. I’ve handled wild Atlantic salmon and the broodstock although stocked are strong; especially in a river with current.

New Hampshire is the only state with a broodstock Atlantic salmon river fishery.

This spring a little fewer than 700 fish were stocked ranging from 3-10 pounds. Fishing for broodstock requires an $11 permit and only tagged fish may be kept. The limit is 1 fish per day or 5 per season. Bristol, Franklin, Concord, and Hooksett are good

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sometimes switch to modern streamers such as the Sneeka and Clos-Nuf, both tied by Fern Bosse who has a camp at the lower end of our lake.

Fern created these patterns on the banks of Aziscohos Lake and they seem never to fail.

Whether using old standards, new concoctions or variations on these themes, trolling a streamer is one of the best ways to play tag with a salmon.

The fish of our lake are not as large as those found in the deeper waters to the east – the Richardsons, Mooselookmeguntic and Rangeley lakes. We still measure our fish in inches rather than pounds, a good-size salmon measuring sixteen inches with a big fish rarely topping twenty inches.

Just after ice-out the salmon rise near the surface. Any floating fly line can be used when trolling for them. I have rigged two older eight-foot graphite fly rods with inexpensive Medalist reels. When not in use, the rods hang across the notches of spruce

branches nailed above the screens on the inside porch wall of our cabin.

Each reel houses seventy-five feet or so of floating line, long past their useful life expectancy for casting a dry fly, but quite adequate for trolling a streamer.

Thirty-five feet of monofilament acts as a leader.

Before the gasoline engine became popular, fishermen trolled while rowing boats or paddling canoes. This is still not a bad idea, and many times can provide more realistic action to the streamer. Like most anglers, I have become spoiled, relying upon my outboard to do the work for me. This time of year the little four-horsepower engine is set at the lowest speed as I cruise up one end of our cove and back down the other in my sixteenfoot aluminum Grumman.

It is important to vary the speed of the engine as well as the direction of the boat. Some anglers will troll parallel to shore while weaving to the left, then to the right, bringing life to their streamers. Others will head out from shore then back again, turning the boat sharply as they approach the shoreline. Either method can work.

The trick is to use the speed and direction of the boat to impart action to the fly while covering as much water as possible. This includes varying the depth of the streamer. Many times a salmon will strike as the boat turns.

This may be because the streamer has sunk deeper as the line bellows outward or because it has slipped over a ledge or stump not previously covered. Either way, the movement of the boat has an effect on the streamer below the surface.

Pumping the rod every so often is a

way to make the streamer appear injured or crippled, triggering the salmon’s instinct to strike. Trish swears by this method, and for this reason we do not use rod holders on our little boat.

As May slips into June, the water near the surface of the lake begins to warm. The smelt soon disperse and so do the salmon. By August, both prey and predator are near the bottom of the lake, where the water is now cooler and more to their liking. During this time of year, many anglers, especially those with larger boats, use downriggers and large spoons or sewn bait.

Those with smaller craft may use a fly line with a lead core to get down to the fish. These lead lines have a different color every so many feet so that the angler can determine how much line is necessary to get to a desired depth.

The color of the kind of line most frequently used on our lake varies every ten feet. As two boats pass, it is not unusual for the occupant of one to call out, “How many colors?” with the occupant of the other responding, “Three!”

Unfortunately, the lead interior significantly deadens the action once a fish is on the line. For this reason, I prefer to use a sinking line manufactured

by Cortland specifically for trolling, which is much lighter than the lightest lead line. Although it sinks a bit slower and requires more length to get the fly to the requisite depth, it is better able to transmit the action of the fish.

I string my lines on four spools – two sinking and two floating. If unsure of the salmon’s depth, I use a floating line while Trish trolls with the sinking line.

Continued on page 41 from previous page

River Guide for New Hampshire and Vermont. River flows are online at www.waterdata.usgs.gov/nh/n wis/current/?type=flow. I like the flow in Plymouth under 2,000 Cubic Feet per Second and under 3,000 at Franklin Junction.

Friday, April 13th we put the boat in at Franklin; the junction flow was 1380. That’s a difficult flow to work a drift boat through scratchy rapids on the river. One of the pleasures of fishing was netting a nice broodstock for my friend.

Friday the 13th Atlantic Salmon. areas to fish for broodstock salmon. Fish & Game has an excellent access map available online at www.fishnh.com/ Fishing/atlantic_salmon.htm.

The Pemi and Merrimack have class 1 to 3 rapids between Bristol and Concord. Before kayaking or canoeing the river, check the Appalachian Mountain Club

May 2012

Jim a native of New Hampshire enjoys fly-fishing & tying, bird hunting and a variety of other outdoor activities and is a registered NH fishing Guide www.nhriversguide.com and author of the book Granite Lines.

Page 33

Above - Ford owner wishes he had a Chevy? The grass is always greener, right?

Right - Pete one of our hunting camp elders (HaHa), fixed a chair for his wife.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Volume 6 Issue 5

Table of Contents

ARTICLES Eight Years in the Wilderness Captain’s Corner Traveling Outdoorsman Taxidermy Trails Mass Meanderings Riverbank Tales FishTales and other Drivel Lock, Stock & Smoking Barrel Family Tracks Anchor Points Kid’s Corner Bone Collections Lessons form the Outdoors A Hunter’s Best Friend The Trap Line On and Off the Trail Forest Forward Fish and Wildlife Management Tails from the Trail Southern Side Up From the Back of the Canoe A Waterfowler’s Perspective Twin State Bassin’ The Maine Hunter Coastal Zone Behind the Sights Searching for Nature’s Treasures Outfitter Review The Next Camo King Gazette’s Book Review

On The Cover

The New Hampshire & Vermont

Outdoor Gazette

Page 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 24 26 27 28 30 32 34 37 38 39 40 42 43 44 46

Publisher/Editor: Fred Allard Graphic Design: Dan Millet

Send correspondence to: The Outdoor Gazette 1166 Court Street Haverhill, NH 03765 Tel: (603) 989-3093 • Cell: (802) 738-6755 Web: www.theoutdoorgazette.com e-Mail: fred@theoutdoorgazette.com Graphic Design By: Think Different Design 12A Grandview Drive Berlin, NH 03570 Tel: (603)-752-9838 Cell: (978)-855-9227

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Donald A Dufresne, with a Green MTN Longbeard. Father of founder and CEO at Elusion Camo, Lee Dufresne. Lee has dedicated Elusion Camo's invention to the memory of Exaid A Dufresne and George Jackson Hendee AKA "RED".

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Submissions

Do you have an interesting story to tell? It could be about a fishing trip with Dad or Grampa, maybe a hunting trip with some buddies or just about exploring nature with Grammie. We are always looking for good stories/pictures to publish in our paper. If you have a story that you think our readers might be interested in, then give us a call at 603989-3093 or send a copy by mail or email to fred@theoutdoorgazette.com.

May 2012

Page 3

The Gazette’s Book Review BROOK TROUT FOREST

By Kathy Scott Alder Creek Publishing, 2011 205 pages, $24.95 ISBN: 978-0-9657663-5-7

By Colonel J.C. Allard Recently, the well-known New Hampshire fly-fishing instructor and guide Angus Boezman told a group of enthusiasts of varying skill and experience, “There is more literature devoted to flyfishing than any other sport.”

Whether precisely true or not, certainly the sport of fly-fishing abounds in literature.

From Shakespeare and Isaak Walton in the Old World, to Hemingway, Zane Grey, and Norman McLean in the New, writers have poured heart and soul into the poetry that is flyfishing. Contemporary writers such as John Gierach, the “Trout Bum,” magazine

writer James R. Babb, and many others continue churning out fly-fishing literature to feed an audience of hungry, eager readers.

New England has no shortage of talented and knowledgeable outdoor writers, among them Kathy Scott from the Upper Kennebec Valley in Maine. She is a ris-

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ing star in the world of flyfishing and fisheries conservation. Brook Trout Forest is Scott’s finely crafted fourth book – a book that transcends fly-fishing as a mere sport.

For Scott, fly-fishing provides the framework of a well-led and contributory life. Both her books and her dedicated work with organizations such as Trout Unlimited have earned her acclaim. Brook Trout Forest adds to that acclaim.

A gifted observer of both human nature and the natural world, Scott constructs a multi-layered story based on her almost daily journal entries. More than a memoir and nothing like an angling “how-to” manual, Brook Trout Forest tells the story of Scott’s life built around both personal and professional aspects of fly-fishing.

Brook Trout Forest covers roughly a year of that life as Scott and her husband, David Van Burgel, design and build first-class split bamboo fly rods, plan a Labrador adventure in pursuit of large native brook trout, and the couple’s efforts to aide in Atlantic salmon restoration along the Kennebec watershed.

At the same time, Scott serves her community as a school librarian and advises, instructs, and chaperones the high school and middle school fly-fishing clubs, which she helped to create. Added to the mix are Scott’s own local fishing trips, long walks with her two dogs, and interaction

within a wide circle of family and friends.

As Scott writes, “there’s a link between most anglers and their history. What else could have happened in a person’s life that makes fly fishing seem so natural, makes it seem like fun?”

Black-and-white sketches by Kim Mellema, also the wife of a fly rod maker, connect Scott’s journal entries and give the book a light feeling.

Scott and Mellema make a good team. The pages of Brook Trout Forest flow deep and quick, like a northern stream.

Some readers may find the transitions among the journal entries a challenge. There are so many levels to the story – a lot of side channels, akin to a complex river system. But therein lies the strength of Scott’s writing and the beauty of life as she has constructed it, like the fitting together of delicately shaped Tonkin cane into a high-quality trout rod.

Anyone who has ever caught an Eastern brook trout or tramped the countryside at the top of New England will enjoy this book. Anyone who understands the art and science of a handcrafted bamboo fly rod needs to know this book. Either way, prepare to be drawn in.

Col. J.C. Allard lives in Pittsfield, NH about 20 miles north by east of Concord. “We're in the shadow of the Belknap mountains here, but we can see Mt. Washington on a clear day”.

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Page 46

Enclosed please find my check for $

Name:

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Telephone Number:

Zip:

Please allow 2 - 4 weeks for delivery.

Mail or photocopy this form and send to: NHASTC Record Book Roscoe Blaisdell, President 22 Schribner Road Raymond, NH 03077

May 2012

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Pictures Gone Wild Our reader submitted photos

Jared Galster of Rutland, VT took this 8 pointer in the Adirondacks of New York.

Dave Parent of ther Mount Dustan Country Store with (above) Jim Calyer from Magalloway Maine and (below) Luther Kluchnick from Berlin NH. The trio had a successful trip to the Rangeley Lakes!

Donna Tyler of Grantham, New Hampshire snapped these pics of a “snapper� from her kayak.

The Outdoor Gazette

May 2012

Page 47

Page 48

May 2012

The Outdoor Gazette

Lock, Stock and Smoking Barrel The Two Best Handguns in the World

Today, shooters have a truly incredible variety of handguns to choose from. Semi-automatics and revolvers are available from dozens of manufacturers in hundreds of different models. There are little guns, medium guns, and large guns; small plinking calibers and loads powerful enough to actually down dangerous game.

Still, if I have to name two guns that represent the finest and most historically significant hand guns in modern history, it would have to be the German P08 Luger and the U.S. Model 1911. Sure, there are many other firearms that represent gigantic technological leaps, like the first Colt black powder revolvers or the first cartridge guns. But few guns produce as much admiration and desirability as the Luger and the 1911.

The Luger was actually the first on the scene, having been first developed by Georg Luger in the

late 1890’s. He actively shopped his new pistol, even trying to sell it to the U.S. military in 1894.

Northern New Hampshire’s Guns-Only Gun Shop

The Village Gun Store is an "old fashioned" gun shop providing personalized service, great prices, and a wealth of gun expertise. We are located on the common" in the Northern New Hampshire Village of Whitefield.

Stan & Sandy

He returned to the U.S. and, in 1906 and 1907, once again tried to sell his new design to our mili-

U.S Model 1911

The gun had its weak points, and Georg went back to the drawing board to come up with an improved version. His improved version, was accepted by the Germans, and an early version of the gun went into production in 1900.

Hours of operation: Tuesday to Saturday - 10am to 5pm Friday - 10am to 6:30pm

By Stan Holz

tary. Having recently dealt with the Philippine American War, and the inadequacy of the .38 Long Colt cartridge, our government was not too keen on adopting another small bore caliber for military use.

Mr. Luger then again pitched his new improved design to the German government, who were considerably more impressed with the gun than the Americans.

In 1908, the German government accepted the newest Luger design and started production of the legendary Model 1908, or P08, Luger. Most commonly found in the 9mm Luger chambering, this pistol stayed in production through 1943; serving in both world wars. It was eventually replaced by the Walther P38, in 1938.

Meanwhile, back in the States, we were still searching for a replacement for our Colt.38 service revolvers. John Browning, an American inventor and prolific gun designer, came up with several large bore prototypes until finally settling on a 7 shot .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol. The Browning design beat out all the competition and was eventually adopted as the U.S. Model of 1911. This fine pistol also served

through both world wars and even continued in use until 1985, when it was replaced by the Beretta M9 … ironically chambered for the 9mm Luger cartridge.

Both guns have many strong points and a few weak points, but both are considered to be among the finest military handguns ever produced.

The Luger is a natural pointing gun, and almost anyone who picks one up can hold it comfortably. It is a sleek and classically beautiful firearm, known for fine accuracy and reliability in even the most adverse conditions. The same thing can be said for the M.1911; it is also a fine handling and dependable gun. The Luger is not an easy gun to disassemble and reassemble; the 1911 is much easier to service. Both guns have crude sights that can be difficult to see in poor lighting conditions.

The big question surrounding these two pistols has been about which cartridge is really better.

The 9mm Luger has been called a “pop gun” by those who scoff at it, while the .45 has always been the “knock down” cartridge. The truth is that both of these cartridges have been around for over a hundred years now, and both are still going strong. The Luger depends on a lighter, higher velocity bullet to do its damage, while the 1911 uses a heavy, slow moving bullet.

After World War II, the American military did extensive studies comparing battlefield statistics between the two cartridges.

What they found, to their surprise, was that there was no significant difference in the number of wounded or killed combatants between Allied or Axis troops.

The 9mm was as effective as the .45 in either killing or wounding those who were hit by it.

The results of this study were quoted when it was time to finally phase out the venerable old Continued next page

4 King's Square, Whitefield, NH 03598

Phone 603-837-2345

Visit our webiste www.villagegun.com

Page 14

May 2012

The Outdoor Gazette

What’s Going On!

May 5 - Vermont Paddlers Club Creeking Clinic Level 1 Calling all class III boaters! The VPC is hosting its first creek boating clinic on Saturday, May 5th on the Wells River in Wells River, VT. vtpaddlers.net/paddle/ instruction/clinics/creeking1.php.

MAY 6th from 2 TO 5 pm TROUTWEAR Fashion Premier at the WEATHERSFIELD INN www.troutwear.com.

May 6th – 13th annual Herrick’s Cove Wildlife Festival Taking place on the Connecticut River in Rockingham on Sunday, May 6, the festival brings together more than 25 outdoor, wildlife, environmental, and conservation groups. presenters include Vermont Institute for Natural Science, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, The International Wolf Center, the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum, story teller Brian Ellis and 1911. The 9mm was easier to shoot because it had less recoil than the .45, so the chance of hits was actually higher with the 9mm. The heavier .45 bullet had a more dramatic effect when it hit something, but the end results were the same.

The Model 1911 is still in production today. While no military uses it as an issue sidearm any more, it is one of the most popular civilian guns on the market.

Almost every major gun manufacturer produces some version of the classic 1911; some even identical to the original U.S. Military issue gun.

The Luger, unfortunately, is long gone. In spite of a few limited attempts to resurrect the old P08, the only guns on the market today are the old military guns.

Some of these remain in remarkably good condition, while others are pretty well beat up or have been refinished. As supplies dry up, prices of original Lugers have steadily increased. It would be hard to find any original Luger, in any condition, for much under $1,000. Excellent examples, or scarce variants, can command thousands. The 1911 isn’t far behind, with prices going up as

The Outdoor Gazette

more. Activities are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The suggested donation is $2.00 for an individual and $5.00 for a family. For more information, call Ascutney Mountain Audubon: 802-722-3355.

Herricks Cove is located just off of Route 5 less than three miles north of Bellows Falls.

May 18-20 – 30th Annual Winni Derby www.winniderby .com.

For a complete list of NH fishing tournaments, visit: www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Fishing/fis h_tournament_table.htm May 19 – Huntington, VT - Bird Day Festival The event is from 9:00am - 4pm, Admission is $2 (Museum and Audubon Members are free with member card). This event is Cosponsored by the Birds of Vermont Museum and Green Mountain Audubon Center, 900 Sherman Hollow Road, Huntington, from previous page

interest in World War II history becomes more widespread.

I have a Luger and 1911 in my own collection, and have shot both guns extensively. I can’t say I like one better than the other, because I think they’re both great guns. One thing I can tell you though … regardless of which gun it is, I would never want to be on the receiving end of either the 9mm or the .45. Both guns have a history of being proven military weapons and, in spite of all the cartridge arguments over the years, both guns are very lethal.

Two incredibly fine handguns, two amazingly good cartridges. I still wonder what would have happened if our country had decided to go with the Luger instead of the 1911 back in 1906.

That would have been really interesting …

Vermont www.birdsofvermont.org Bird Day www.birdday.org Green Mountain Audubon: vt.audubon.org.

May 19 – NRA Youth Hunter Education Challenge – Castleton, VT The event takes place from 8:00am - 6:00pm at the Edward Kehoe Conservation Center. www.vtfishand wildlife.com/calendaritems/2012_NRA_Hunter_Edu cation_Youth_Challenge.JPG May 25 – Opening Day for Appalachian Trail Adventures Visit www.appalachiantrailadventures.com for information.

June 1-3 – Becoming an Outdoor Family Weekend The event is located at Stillwater State Park, Groton State Forest, Groton VT. A variety of classes are offered including wildlife, forestry, orienteering skills, hiking, wildlife photography, fitness, camping, kayaking, canoeing, firearm safety, fishing, and more. Cost is $175.00.

Registration is required. For information, visit: www.uvm.edu /extension/family/?Page=outdoorfamily.h tml.

June 2 – NH Free Fishing Day www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Events/free _fishing_day.html June 3 – Danby/ Mt Tabor Rod Gun Club 3D Archery Shoot Located in Danby, VT, the course

features 30 Rinehart targets in woods settings with aasy walking and casual rules. All are welcome. Cost is $8 for members, $10 non., and $5 for kids.

June 9 – Vermont Days - Free Fishing Day www.vtfishandwildlife.com June 19-24 – Winooski River Sojourn See breathtaking views of the Green Mountains and the Vermont countryside. A ‘floating naturalist’ helps paddlers interpret and appreciate the world around them. For more information visit www.winooskiriver.org.

June 22 - National Trails Day June 22-24 –Mountain Bike Festival at Kingdom Trails at Burke Mountain Ski Resort A fun-filled weekend of riding, camping, demo’ing the latest mountain bikes, and checking out the last gear, music, food and more. For information visit: www.mtbadventureseries.org/mtbadventure/NEM BAfest2012.htm.

June 24-28 – TU MadDog Chapter Fly-Fishing Camp At Quimby Country – Averill.

Vermont teens ages 13 to 16 interested in either learning the art of flyfishing or improving their basic skill level alongside some of Vermont’s most accomplished fly anglers, are invited to apply. For information, visit www.maddogtu.org

Stan Holz lives in Whitefield, NH and, with his wife Sandy, has owned and operated Village Gun Store there since 1974. He invites everyone to stop and visit. Aside from his interest in firearms and shooting, Stan is also involved in amateur astronomy, photography, ham radio and scuba diving. He can be contacted by emailing him at saholz@myfairpoint.net.

May 2012

Page 15

Family Tracks Rollin’ Along the River

We had to don our sunglasses to see against the bright sunlight of an absolutely stunning spring morning. Tucking the ear pieces of my shades back up underneath the straps of my bike helmet, I followed my family, walking our bikes, across the main road to the start of the Rail Trail.

The Northern Rail Trail is 23 miles long, starting from Lebanon, NH and provides a wonderful route for bikers, runners, and walkers to enjoy the outdoors sheltered from the roadways. At our end, the trail travels alongside the scenic Mascoma River and further on Mascoma Lake. The trail is an old railroad track converted to a recreational trail, which makes it straight and flat and a great route to bring children or just enjoy a leisurely ride. For more information including maps with access points visit www.northernrailtrail.org.

“Its closed!” they yelled, spot-

Page 16

By Brian Lang

ting the steel orange barrier a hundred yards down the flat gravel trail, which is placed there to keep the cars out.

My son Ben shot off out in front like a madman, flying on his bike with his training wheels having been just recently removed. His only challenge now is starting and stopping gracefully.

He

All Aboard! Cruising by bicycle along the Mascoma river.

“No, it’s just a gate” we reas- approached the steel barrier and sured them, and we all clamored started to aim for the opening to pass through, but didn’t quite on our bicycles and pedaled off. make it. He drove square into the big, orange steel post, his bike flopping onto its side with Ben making a skidding, rolling hopping type of dismount, and not even 30 seconds into our ride.

What a start! We asked him what happened and he blamed it on a rock, a small one just about flush with the dirt right up against the orange post. Unfazed, he hopped back on and away we went.

We rode single file mostly, Ben still in the lead. We passed the whole range of public users – walkers, runners, bikers, dogs, and people pushing strollers. The trail provides a good view of the Mascoma river, and I couldn’t help but scan the runs and pools for future fishing spots. I also spotted a hen turkey running across a small meadow. There are bridges across the river in many places and we stopped near one for a quick snack and drink, admiring the sparkling clear water. At this time of year it can be a muddy mess, but not today.

We passed over a few roads, careful to make the kids stop and walk their bike across the crosswalk. We made it roughly 3 miles, and we started to hear the whines, “My legs are tired, I’m thirsty, I want a break.” It’s always the same thing and cannot May 2012

be reasoned with, so we found a nice gravel bar along a bend in the river and used it as our beach.

The supply of rocks to throw was endless. The kids found some “sea glass” and I tried to reason that at this location it was probably more accurately characterized as garbage, but reason did not prevail. We did our part and brought some home, helping to clean up the stream. It was old enough to be worn and dull on the edges and not dangerous.

The ride back seemed to pass quicker. There was a little more pep in the pedals, and we even rode alongside each other some of the time and chatted. One of the main topics seemed to be why it looked like Ben purposely rode as close as he could to the pedestrians when he passed. It’s a set up for disaster, I know. We did our best to explain to him how dangerous this was, yet, like one of the other topics, he didn’t seem to listen. Maybe pedestrians should start to wear hockey equipment when walking on a trail frequented by kids. Megan and I had a little race and she handles her bike pretty well. We got way ahead and stopped at one of the road crossings where a very considerate motorist stopped for us. I waved them on, since were waiting for Mom and Ben. They still wouldn’t drive on and I found myself trying to use onehanded sign language to say why I was waiting and didn’t want to cross yet. Somewhat annoyed, they continued on hesitantly.

In no time we were back at our vehicle, and already formulating plans on where to park for our next trip to a different section and another adventure. Wear your helmets! And if you ever see a little boy on a Buzz Light Year bike weaving his way toward you, I apologize in advance.

Brian Lang lives with his wife, Michelle and two children Megan and Ben in Reading, VT. Brian grew up in VT and started enjoying his outdoor pursuits at a very young age. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, camper, and hiker and hopes to give his kids the same wholesome upbringing he enjoyed in the New England outdoors. When he's not outside, he works as an MRI Technologist. He can be reached at Bclang78@gmail.com.

The Outdoor Gazette

So I finally get a chance to share some of my bone collection with all of you. Though not as extensive as some we have seen, it's mine! The picture with the 3 deer heads in it, note the one on the far right. That is the deer in the "Outfitter Review" story this month. The loose antlers are some of the sheds I have found and they are placed on top of a partial wall that surrounds my office. Once again thanks to all the firefighters that saved my bone collection from being lost. There are a lot of good memories in this collection and I would have hated to lose them.

The Outdoor Gazette

May 2012

Page 19

Lessons from the Great Outdoors

By Martha VanderWolk

Ice-Out

The false summer we had in March may have fooled the rest of New England, but not Magalloway. Ice-out did come about three weeks earlier than usual, but it wasn’t the earliest ice-out ever; that was two years ago, on April 10th. When it did come, though, on April 12th, it seemed like everything happened at once.

I had never been able, before, to actually watch the ice go out.

I was afraid to leave the house for fear I would miss it. All day on the 10th, I watched the lake.

As I was taking off my snow tires, an April 10th ritual every year, I kept stopping to check on the ice. It wasn’t budging.

It wasn’t as sudden as I expected or had been led to believe it would happen. At 3pm on the 11th, a huge crack appeared all the way across the lake. For the next few hours, we could almost watch the downstream ice floe

melt to about half its size. The upstream piece, though, stayed in place overnight. First thing in

call of the season.

All day on the 12th, the ice continued to drift downstream and break up. By afternoon, Tom and I were arguing about

Ice-out on Sturtevant Pond, April 12, 2012. Photo by Martha VanderWolk. the morning, that piece began to whether or not the ice was offidrift towards the outlet; at the cially “out.” We can’t see same time, I heard my first loon around the point to the inlet end of the lake from our house, so we took a drive around the pond to see what was happening up there. Sure enough (Tom is always right), that end was still covered with a pretty complete layer of ice—but it, too, now, had a large crack right across the middle. Floating lazily in the open water near shore were a pair of loons, the first we had seen this year.

By the time we got back to the house, after excursions up Aziscohos Mountain and Sturtevant Mountain, more rotten ice was piled up along our shoreline. Large pieces continThree fully equipped housekeeping cabins ued to drift by overnight and Boat rentals — Guide service into the next day, presumably • Four pound smallmouth bass are not uncommon pieces from the inlet end breakup that we had witnessed • Fly fish the Magalloway River or the Androscoggin the beginning of on our drive. with numerous backcountry trout ponds and trout On the morning of the 13th, streams for the adventurous angler not only were the loons calling • Fantastic grouse and woodcock hunting regularly to each other and the • Challenging trophy white-tailed deer hunting turkeys gobbling crazily in the woods, but a pair of wood ducks were playing romantically in a tree on the shore. I have seen wood ducks in the woods before, but never actually in a tree. (Of course, it was Tom who spotted For rates and information call 207-486-9308 them, not me.) email: sturtevantpondcamps@hughes.net While ice-out took longer than www.sturtevantpondcamps.com I expected it to, upon reflection and on Facebook it seems to have happened very

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Page 20

May 2012

fast. Not so much the ice going out itself, though it went from almost full ice cover to full open water in less than two days.

What seemed even faster, though, was the way that the ice going out seemed to spark the full arrival of spring. Before iceout, we were hearing songbirds and the rat-tat-tat of pileated woodpeckers, but those are the sounds of early spring, sugaring and late ice-fishing, the warm but still snow- and ice-covered spring. Almost immediately upon the ice going out, full late spring appeared out of nowhere: loons, ducks, turkeys, greening grass and spring flowers.

The smelters are out, and the fiddlehead collectors are not far behind. (Among our friends, they are one and the same, gathering during the day and smelting at night.) I’m letting the fire die during the day as the sun is keeping the house warm now.

We can work outside without coats or gloves; the frost is almost out of the ground. No more sitting around in the morning waiting for things to warm up enough to go out to work.

On the morning of the 13th, as we watched the wood ducks in the tree and the rotten ice floes drift by, we talked about the transitions in our lives.

Neither of us ever expected to be in such a place at this point in our lives—though it was where we both had always wished we would be able to be. It just had never seemed possible. We have been extremely lucky. It took us a long time to get here, but, upon reflection, it all happened incredibly fast, and once it did, everything in our lives changed—all for the better.

It may be the autumn of our lives, but as we revel in the coming of yet another spring, it feels like the beginning of the best part.

Martha VanderWolk owns and operates Sturtevant Pond Camps in Magalloway, Maine with her husband, Tom Rideout. A lifelong educator, she currently teaches in the Sustainable Business and Communities Program at Goddard College. She can be reached at Martha@sturtevantpondcamps.com.

The Outdoor Gazette

A Hunter’s Best Friend

By Alec Sparks

Productive Summer Training

In order to make your summer training as productive as possible it’s really helpful to have a plan of attack. We all go into summer thinking we’ll have tons of time to address certain issues that may have cropped up last fall that we want to fix.

Before you know it, the lawn

needs to mowed every four days, the kids are out of school, and an endless honey-do list has developed. All that training time you’d planned on seems far more limited now. Now I’m about the last person to actually write down a plan for anything, but it will be very helpful if you can start listing your training priorities. Whether retriever, pointing dog, or flusher, look back and identify the skills you’d like to see improved, then come up with a logical summer plan for doing so.

About the best advice I can give you is to not try to fix or cure any issue in a couple sessions. As much as it would be easier for us,

dogs just don’t reason the way we do. All too often I hear a frustrated trainer blaming the dog for whatever it’s not doing right. It’s like they feel they’ve “explained” it to the dog and he should just plain get it as a person would if we’d explained something to them. Forget that approach, it’ll

lead you down a very frustrating path. Instead, focus on teaching your dog what you want him to do, show him how what you’ve taught will be enforced and then only enforce those taught skills in a fair manner relevant to the situation and the dogs’ proficiency level.

In other words, don’t ask or expect more of your dog then you’ve trained for. If your retriever is casting well at 70 yards don’t expect him to do so at 200 unless you’ve built up to it. Pointing and flushing dogs thrive best on the same logic, don’t expect more than you’ve trained for and build increased skills in a gradually

advancing manner. Doing so ensures you the best chance of success.

There seems to also be a common tendency to think an issue has been “fixed” after the dog preforms that skill correctly a few times. It can be the case but I tell people to expect to take it twice as long to fix something as it took to create something.

Don’t expect to cure a breaking retriever or pointing dog in a couple sessions without using levels of pressure that may create other problems for you. That leads me to another problematic training approach, trying to address an issue that has been caused with pressure by using more pressure.

The hard part in training is to get them to do what we want without causing them to do things we don’t want. We want our pointers to be staunch and not creep in. But if we approach that improperly, issues such as laying down on point or blinking may result. Before you try to fix some-

thing, the best thing you can do is to access why, where, and how that problem developed. Only then can you have a better idea of what the best approach might be.

I believe people are much less

likely to get frustrated if they have a plan and know where they’re going. A logical step by step approach that creates a skill set that advances, and reinforces and builds confidence in both dog and trainer is clearly a proven path to success.

Yeah, it might take a bit of time and thought on your part but the resulting success will be well worth your effort.

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The Outdoor Gazette

May 2012

The Green Family, 148 Studio Rd., Warren NH, 03279

Page 21

out stump shooting. You get great practice at shooting at different unknown yardages so it will definitely help you when hunting season comes back around. You can check out new hunting spots and start your scouting for next year. Look for sheds or turkey sign. Get some much-needed exercise while having a lot of fun. Just writing this has got me thinking about a spot I saw last deer season. I think I’ll grab my bow, call some good friends to come with me and go kill some stumps this weekend. I hope to see you out there too.

I’m about the last person to actually write down a plan for anything, but it will be very helpful if you can start listing your training priorities.

Whether retriever, pointing dog, or flusher, look back and identify the skills you’d like to see improved, then come up with a logical summer plan for doing so.

About the best advice I can give you is to not try to fix or cure any issue in a couple sessions. As much as it would be easier for us, dogs just don’t reason the way we do. All too often I hear a frustrated trainer blaming the dog for whatever it’s not doing right. It’s like they feel they’ve “explained” it to the dog and he should just plain get it as a person would if we’d explained something to them. Forget that approach,

The Outdoor Gazette

it’ll lead you down a very frustrating path. Instead, focus on teaching your dog what you want him to do, show him how what you’ve taught will be enforced and then only enforce those taught skills in a fair manner relevant to the situation and the dogs’ proficiency level. In other words, don’t ask or expect more of your dog then you’ve trained for. If your retriever is casting well at 70 yards don’t expect him to do so at 200 unless you’ve built up to it. Pointing and flushing dogs thrive best on the same logic, don’t expect more than you’ve trained for and build increased skills in a gradually advancing manner. Doing so ensures you the best chance of success.

There seems to also be a common tendency to think an issue has been “fixed” after the dog preforms that skill correctly a few times. It can be the case but I tell people to expect to take it twice as long to fix something as it took to create something. Don’t expect to cure a breaking retriever or pointing dog in a couple sessions without using levels of pressure that may create other problems for you. That leads me to another problematic training approach, trying to address an issue that has been caused with pressure by using more pressure. The hard part in training is to get them to

from previous page do what we want without causing and builds confidence in both dog them to do things we don’t want. We and trainer is clearly a proven path to want our pointers to be staunch and success. Yeah, it might take a bit of not creep in. But if we approach that time and thought on your part but the improperly, issues such as laying down resulting success will be well worth on point or blinking may result. your effort.

Before you try to fix something, the best thing you can do is to access why, Ken Monte lives in Arlington, VT. He where, and how that problem devel- works with his whole family at the oped. Only then can you have a bet- Village Chocolate Shoppe in VT and The ter idea of what the best approach Bennington, Chocolatorium in East Arlington, VT. might be.

I believe people are much less likely Any time not spent at work is spent to get frustrated if they have a plan somewhere in the woods, usually with and know where they’re going. A log- his longbow and a quiver full of arrows ical step by step approach that creates close at hand. Ken can be reached at a skill set that advances, and reinforces ken@theoutdoorgazette.com.

May 2012

Page 25

Forest Forward Paddlin’ Otter Spotter

While the unusually mild winter made for lackluster ski conditions it created opportunities for other outdoor activities. My kayaking season lasted until the middle of December, and began again at the end of March.

The early ice-out has meant new photo opportunities, includ-

ing a recent weekend of otter sightings. I enjoyed a very close encounter with one in particular while kayaking in Errol, NH a few weeks back. “This beautiful adult river otter has come a long way from its blind and toothless newborn state.

It displays ears & nostrils that close while submerged under water, specialized teeth for delivering a lethal bite, and whiskers that enhance sensory percep-

By Chris Mazzarella

tion.” I literally went out on a limb to get these close-up otter photos.

While perched in a tree extending about twenty feet from the riverbank and hanging just five feet over the water, I happily snapped shots of passing hooded mergansers, Canada geese, and a juvenile bald eagle. After a couple hours I spotted a playful otter in the distance. He was swimming in my direction scouting the shoreline, appearing to enjoy breaking up the thin layer of ice that remained in patches along the banks.

Eventually he spotted me, and rather than swim off to safety he came over to investigate. He swam right under me—within arm’s reach— huffing and puffing as he posed for the camera.

This otter encounter occurred at the height of their mating season, and also not long before the newborns would arrive.

This apparent contradiction is explained by a phenomenon called “delayed implantation” which keeps the fertilized otter egg dormant for a nine to ten month period. This year’s batch of furry, blind and toothless baby otters was actually conceived last year around the same time.

Semi-Aquatic Carnivores - The river otter is the strongest swimmer in the weasel family, navigating waterways just as gracefully as they do land. While they are

adorable creatures, they are also top-order carnivores that feed on fish, frogs, crayfish, mollusks, invertebrates, and small mammals.

a positive impact on game fish populations. This is because they cull out the slow and weak fish reducing the spread of disease and strengthening the overall

Otters are an excellent indicator species for the health of ecosystems and water quality, as they are quite vulnerable to disturbances in their environments.

Humans cause most otter mortality. The leading contributing factors are habitat loss, and environmental pollution. Otter populations were once threatened around the country, but have made a comeback due to conservation efforts and strictly regulated hunting and trapping.

Fisherman’s Friend - Some anglers mistakenly accuse river otters of having a negative impact on the health of fishing grounds. While otters do feed primarily on fish, they actually have

aquatic environment.

Otters will enjoy the occasional bass but more often feed on suckers, sunfish, dace and carp. Since otters are conservative with their energy output, healthy trout, pike, walleye, and salmon are generally too fast to bother with.

Forest Forward is an online wildlife photo digest focusing on northern New England. Check us out at www.forestforward.com to view our latest wildlife sightings and informative commentary.

You’ll also find our new interview series, featuring guests such as environmentalist Bill McKibben, worldrenowned photographer Scott Bourne, and Vermont Edition’s Jane Lindholm, just to name a few.

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Page 26

May 2012

The Outdoor Gazette

Fish & Wildlife Management

By Wayne A. Laroche

Antler Restrictions: Art & Science

There are few topics involving white-tailed deer on which hunters will ever unanimously agree. The topic of antler restrictions is certainly one of them. At this point, I think that it is safe to

say that Vermont’s antler restriction has proven successful. The age structure of the buck population has improved without any related decrease in the number of legal bucks harvested. Sure enough, you can find naysayers who will argue that it didn’t work even within the Vermont crowd.

Still, the message heard by state biologists at Vermont’s deer meetings this spring was: don’t mess with the antler restriction.

Having witnessed and been part of Vermont’s past “deer wars”, I feel sorry for anyone who attempted to reverse the Vermont law.

Just because some deer management practice meets with success in one state does not mean that it will be embraced by either the biologists, or the hunters of another state. There always seems to be somebody that will argue that what worked in one state could never work in their state because their state is somehow “different.” Even within a state, such as Vermont, where a deer management practice does prove successful, there will

The Outdoor Gazette

remain those who will “go to their grave” claiming that they don’t believe that it ever did work.

Forget about facts and figures, logic and reason. Change of any kind simply triggers emotions that make some people uncomfortable, nostalgic or even angry.

This is just human nature: the way it is.

Deer management is not just about the science; there is also an “art” to it. Much of this “art” involves the “politics” of dealing with people, which is a topic, far more complex than any dealing with the deer.

Deer hunting is an exciting endeavor that brings out the passion in people. That is why we love it so much. It creates shared experiences and bonds with hunting buddies and family members that evoke strong emotions, memories and social bonds that grow from season to season as they are repeated. Through the years, these experiences work to form a tradition that makes deer hunting about far more than the simple act of killing a deer.

Deer managers who seek “change” and don’t understand and embrace these things will forever face troubled careers as long as they last. Unfortunately, training in the “art” of deer management is woefully deficient among new college grads aspiring to be deer biologists. Little if anything about politics and the political system, to say nothing of social traditions, is provided in traditional college curriculums. These things biologists have had to learn about through the school of “hard knocks” if they learn at all.

Indeed, on the job training in the political arena can be a tough

changing their “antler-restriction.” It will be interesting. road. In small states where To learn more about how “everybody” knows “everybody,” Vermont’s antler restriction has a political mistake may never be worked, check out Vermont’s forgiven or forgotten. It is important that biologists and hunters alike understand these things.

We all rely upon each other to sustain and revitalize the hunting tradition.

So, why given the dangers and trouble involved in changing deer management practices should anyone expect biologists to rush out and advocate for deer major deer management changes even if they believe that it is the right thing to do? Some might answer: “because it is their job.”

Hunters are good at raising a clamber when they feel the need Vermont fish and wildlife biologist for more deer, bigger deer, fewer gathers information at one of the states coyotes or better winter deer "biological" check stations. habitat. This is good as it keeps the ball moving. However, we all 2011 White-tailed Deer Harvest need to also keep in mind that in Report. order to get things done the biolwww.vtfishandwildlife.com/libr ogists and Fish and Wildlife ary/Reports_and_Documents/H Departments need our support. unting_and_Trapping/Harvest_ Maine and New Hampshire are R e p o r t s / 2 0 1 1 _ W h i t e both “toying” with the idea of tailed_Deer_Harvest_Report.pdf

May 2012

Page 27

Alan Briere

Good news and bad news, good news never comes with out a “but” it seems. Well the May issue of The Outdoor Gazette is no exception to that rule. First I’ll give the good news, although it seems minute in comparison.

The Outdoor Gazette has a new website in the works and it will be ready for launch come June 1, 2012. I can’t go in to a lot of detail about it now as I don’t have the space this month to tell you all about it…it is awesome though and I think you will all enjoy it.

As you may have noticed we have many new writers in the last few months from all differing outdoor activities and regions. To say I’m pretty excited about that would be an understatement.

So I mentioned all of our new writers, well it is now time for the bad news. One of the Gazette’s veterans, Alan Briere has passed away. You may have noticed that

Editor’s Back Porch

both of his columns were missing last month and it saddens me that his material will no longer grace

By Fred Allard

afloat. His input was always gracious and appreciated. My love for doing this, in his words,“ your passion compensates for your inability”. In my infancy as the

One of Alan's Briere's wildlife "works of art". His talent as a photographer and writer were an inspiration to me and helped keep our project afloat. Photo by Alan Briere. our pages. Although we were not editor/publisher Alan said this to close friends, we were friends. me one day with a big smile. I Friends with the common bond of was picking his brain about what love of the outdoors and love of I could do better. He also said,” this project we call The Outdoor that passion is why I stay with Gazette. Alan taught me many you, because I know you’re going things and helped me “learn on to make it.” Those words are part the job” to keep this magazine of my gazette fuel, fuel to make

Alan and all the writers proud to be a part of this magazine.

As tears fill my eyes I/we say good-bye to fellow writer, photographer, inspiration and friend. I am working on a tribute to Alan.

In his honor, I want it to be as perfect as everything he contributed to our project, The Outdoor Gazette. I hope to have it ready for the Gazette’s pages in the June issue but I will not rush it, so it may be in the July issue.

Our new website will have a special page highlighting all of Alan’s work, a small tribute, to a great outdoorsman.

Fred Allard lives in Haverhill, NH with his family. He is a Bowhunter Education Instructor, a scorer for the Northeast Big Buck Club, the New Hampshire Antler and Skull Trophy Club and the Vermont Big Game Trophy Club. He is the President of the Montshire Traditional Bowhunters.

Fred can be reached by emailing fred@theoutdoorgazette.com.

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