Northwoods Sporting Journal, April 2024

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The King Clings On

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72 Pages

- V. Paul Reynolds

* Trout Fishing Opens * Ten Tur key Tips * Leeman’s Lunker Log * Camps, Cottages & Land For Sale www.sportingjournal.com APR 04

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

April 2024

Atlantics: The King Clings On

“Chase the fish, boy.. yer down to the backin’.. chase the fish,” shouted my guide.

The Medalist reel sang as the 9 weight line wound off the spool with authority. The tip of the Sage fly rod pulsated as the 18-pound Atlantic salmon lived up to its reputation, leaping and twisting above the frothing waters of the Upsalquitch River. The dance of this powerful silver game fish took my breath away. My heart pounded. As instructed, I chased the fighting fish down river stumbling and banging my knees on the slippery stream side stones.

Looking back in my mind’s eye, I can still see those moments vividly.

The spirited fish. The long moist fly line arching above the water. And the feeling

of the heavy, vibrating fly rod. It was an angling moment like no other.

A few years later, fishing the Penobscot River with the late Tom Hen-

Page 3

Outdoors In Maine

return?

It is not beyond the realm of possibility. According to a recent news report, “The last wild Atlantic salmon that return to

by V. Paul Reynolds, Ellsworth, ME more than 1,500 of the salmon in the Penobscot River, which is home to the country’s largest run of Atlantic salmon, Maine state data show. That is the most since 2011 when researchers counted about 2,900 of

Look closely. Good things are happening.

The most promising salmon recovery story is taking placed on the River Tyne, a once polluted river in Northeast England. There, thanks

The dance of this powerful silver game fish took my breath away. My heart pounded. As instructed, I chased the fighting fish down river...

The king of fish are making a comeback on the River Tyne in England. If there, why not here as well? nessey, I had a similarly U.S. rivers have had their memorable Atlantic salm- most productive year in on fishing experience, and more than a decade, raising within eye shot of down- hopes they may be weathtown Bangor. Imagine that? ering myriad ecological Will those days ever threats. Officials counted

them. The salmon were once abundant in American rivers, but factors such as overfishing, loss of habitat and pollution reduced their populations to only a handful of rivers in Maine.

The fish are protected by the Endangered Species Act, and sometimes only a few hundred of them return from the ocean to the rivers in a year.”

Hope springs eternal.

to an admirable full-press salmon recovery effort, the annual salmon run count is an amazing 12,000 as compared with a meager few hundred in the 1970s!

Maine is now the only remaining U.S. state where the Atlantic salmon’s future hangs in the balance.

The Downeast Salmon Federation is experimenting with the introduc(King cont. pg 7)

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On The Cover

Joe Beats Olson Bake At Church Cook Off - Pg 16 The King Clings On - Pg 3 Trout Fishing Opens - Pg 49 Ten Turkey Tips - Pg 48 Leeman’s Lunker Log - Pg 40 Camps, Cottages and Land for Sale - Pg 68-70

Contents

3. Outdoors In Maine - V. Paul Reynolds 5. Angling, Antlers & Artifacts - Jake Scoville 6. On The Prowl - Justin Merrill 10. A Hiker’s Life - Carey Kish 11. The Singing Maine Guide - Randy Spencer 14. Maine Tails - Jonah Paris 15. The Bird Perch - Karen Holmes 16. The Adventures Of Me & Joe - Bob Cram 18. Outdoor Sporting Library - Jeremiah Wood 20. Aroostook Woods & Water - Mike Maynard 22. Young Blood - Jake Guay 23. Best Bassin’ - Bill Decoteau 24. The Gun Cabinet - John Floyd 26. The Trail Rider - Dan Wilson 27. Kineo Currents - Suzanne AuClair 28. From Craig Pond - Bob Mercer 29. Large Togue Wins Schoodic Lake Fishing Derby 31. Basics Of Survival - Joe Frazier 32. On The Ridge - Joe Judd 33. Guns & Ammo: A Guide’s Perspective - Tom Kelly 34. The Maine Woods - Matt LaRoche 36. View From The River - Laurie Chandler 37. Marsh Island Chronicles - Matthew Dunlap 38. Maine Outdoor Adventure - Rich Yvon 39. Old Tales From The Maine Woods - Steve Pinkham 40. Just Fishing - Bob Leeman 41. On Point - Paul Fuller 42. The Buck Hunter - Hal Blood 43. Northwoods Voyager - Gil Gilpatrick 45. Tales Of A Maine Woodsman - Joel Tripp 46. Slipstream - Scott Biron 47. Muzzleloading Afield - Al Raychard 48. Vermont Ramblings - Dennis Jensen 49. Outdoors In Vermont - Gary Moore 50. Maple Country Outdoors - Ben Wilcox 52. Green Mountain Report - Bradley Carleton 53. Against The Current - Bob Romano 54. Cookin’ With New England’s WildCheff - Denny Corriveau 55. South Of The Kennebec - Stu Bristol 56. Question Of The Month - V. Paul Reynolds 57. Northwoods Sketchbook - Mark McCollough 58. Cracker Barrel - Homer Spit 59. The Charr Man Remembered - V. Paul Reynolds 60. Back Shelf - Turkey Woods Tips 61. Women In The Woods - Erin Merrill 63. Warden’s Words - Kale O’Leary 64. The Value Of Wildlife - Zoe Pavlik 66. Loons: Double Edged Sword - Leighton Wass

Northwoods Sporting Journal

April 2024

The Sportin’ Journal The Outdoor Paper For “Maine Folks”

The Northwoods Sporting Journal is the Northeast’s most comprewww.sportingjournal.com hensive and readable monthly outdoor Main Office Phone: (207) 732-4880 publication. Published at the trailhead E-mail: info@sportingjournal.com Fax: (207)732-4970 of Maine’s sprawling North Woods, the Vol 31 Issue 4 is published monthly by Northwoods Publications, 57 Old County Rd. North, W. Enfield, ME 04493 Sporting Journal prides itself on being Periodical Postage Paid at W. Enfield, ME. and additional mailing offices. an independent voice for the region’s The Northwoods Sporting Journal (ISSN#1548-193X) Postmaster: outdoor community for more than 28 Send address changes to: years. Some of our writers are seasoned Northwoods Sporting Journal, PO Box 195, W. Enfield, ME 04493 and specialized outdoors people who Northwoods Publishing Group will share their know-how and insights; Victor Morin - Susan Morin - Diane Reynolds - V. Paul Reynolds some of our contributors are simply Publishers - Victor Morin Jr. - V. Paul Reynolds lifelong outdoor people with interest- Editor - V. Paul Reynolds Assistant Editor - Josh Reynolds ing stories to tell.

Associate Editor - Donna Veino Our aim every month is to capture Graphic Arts Manager - Gayleen Cummings the essence of Northern New England’s Subscription/Distribution Manager - Alicia Cram Manager - Annette Boobar remarkable outdoor heritage by stirring Operations Webmaster - V. Paul Reynolds memories, portraying outdoor humor, Sales Department; Victor Morin,Thomas Schmidt, Paul Hatin, and sharing experiences and outdoor Traci Grant, Michael Georgia and Mike Brown Regional Advertising Manager - Jim Thorne knowledge. We also keep our readers The Northwoods Sporting Journal invites submissions of photographs up to date with late-breaking outdoor and articles about the Maine outdoors.

Manuscripts should be sent with a self-addressed envelope to: news and hard-hitting editorials about NORTHWOODS SPORTING JOURNAL fish and wildlife issues.

P.O. BOX 195, W. ENFIELD, MAINE 04493 Anyone who loves to hunt and The Northwoods Sporting Journal accepts no responsibility for fish, or simply finds the Great Outdoors unsolicited photos or manuscripts. Photos submitted without a stamped, self-addressed envelope will not be returned. a treasured place, is more than likely to find some special connections amid All rights reserved, 2024. Written permission must be obtained from the Northwoods the pages of the Northwoods Sporting Sporting Journal to reprint any part of this publication. Any errors or omissions in ads or editorial matter will be corrected in the next issue of NWSJ. Journal.

The views and opinions expressed by our monthly columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of this publication.

Just Fishing - Pg 40 Bob Leeman Maine Outdoor Adventure - Pg 38 Rich Yvon

Other Great Stories & Information 8. Editorial/Letters 12. Outdoor News 68. Real Estate

Cover Photo: Moosehead angler Eric Ward with spring salmon.

Question Of The Month - Pg 56 V. Paul Reynolds

Outdoors In Vermont - Pg 49 Gary W. Moore

April 2024

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Smelt Brook

We jumped out of the truck with our flashlights and nets in hand. The unmistakable smell of ocean air hit us square on the chin.

Quickly but carefully, my siblings and I followed

the beaten path toward the promising sound of flowing water. Lights blinked on and off as we approached the brook, with an ambiance like watching fireflies.

After we stumbled through the alders and reached the soft grassy stream bank, we were greeted with lights shining in our eyes. Upon realizing who we were, Tyler and Cammy greeted us with a report on what they were finding. My friends and I had been impatiently waiting for this night since the previous spring. Those

Nor did I grasp that I lived in the heart of the best sea smelt dipping in Maine.

I consider the “heart of the best sea-smelt dipping” to be from Frenchman’s Bay to Cobscook Bay. This region has countless streams w h e r e smelts venture from the saltwater estuaries into freshwater tributaries to spawn every spring.

Some smelt brooks are so small you could easily step over them.

I’ve heard memories as vivid as those tell of smelts running as made at the smelt brook. early as March and well For those unfamiliar, into June. The smelt run sea smelts are the same often peaks in the middle rainbow smelt that are part of April into early found in lakes and tidal rivers throughout Maine; the same smelt caught on the Kennebec every winter.

As far as I was concerned, dipping smelts was the only way to obtain these small silvery fish. It wasn’t until I was a young adult that I learned smelts could be caught with hook and line and dipped in streams flowing into freshwater lakes. moonlit nights began by snatching smelts by hand and generally ended with soggy boots and full pails.

Year after year, this remained a fundamental part of my life and I have few

NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS: Some issues of the March Northwoods Sporting Journal were missing pages.

We are working with our printer to try to solve this problem, and apologize for the inconvenience. If your copy was missing pages, please contact our office at 207-732-4880, or email the editor at vpaul@tds.net and we will mail you a complete copy.

Page 5

Angling, Antlers & Artifacts

By Jake Scoville, Machiasport, ME

May, as the spring peepers are singing.

The smelts will be in the intertidal zone, and it’s important to pay close attention to the tide chart.

As previously mentioned, the sound of the brook

reproduce is conveniently aided by the cover of darkness, in hopes of avoiding predators. If you leave your flashlight pointed in the water too long, you’ll spook the fish and that will be quickly followed by an

I must admit I don’t approach the brook with the same unmatched excitement as I did as a 10-year-old, but I still look forward to hitting the tide perfectly. running is a key factor in timing your adventure. If all was quiet, it meant you were tardy. You’ll want to arrive before high tide and before the brook floods. On a perfect night, the smelt will run approximately an hour before and after high tide. Smelts will ride the incoming tide and then take the outgoing tide back to the estuary after attempting to spawn. This bid to

earful from an old timer, “Turn that flashlight off, young fellah!”

I must admit I don’t approach the brook with the same unmatched excitement as I did as a 10-yearold, but I still look forward to hitting the tide perfectly.

Seeking out less popular brooks with fewer people.

I’d rather net one smelt at a time than battle for (Smelt cont. pg 7)

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 6

On The Prowl

by Justin Merrill, Cherryfield, ME

Although not every newborn coyote takes their first breath of fresh air in May, (January copulations result in late March or early April), pup births are about two months after

After some suckling on mommy’s teats, a couple weeks of regurgitated feeding and about one month of emulating papa, the teenage coyotes become fair game. Coyote season

April 2024

Summer Coyote Action

some areas you hunt. It would be a good time to learn about and become proficient with those new predator mouth or electronic calls you might have gotten for Christmas. Or you just felt like buying the predator calls to suppress the hunting addiction for the time being.

sort to night hunting if my daylight sightings dwindle and sometimes shut off altogether. Enough storytelling! You’re reading this to be informed and motivated to go coyote hunting, so here goes!

All you need to get the job done would be some

might be OK to get right to it. Definitely easier said than done, I can assure you!

The pesky business subsides and now you sit tight hoping a ghost dog pops up someplace out in front to make your shot easier. It’s possible for the hunt to play out this way

sort of distress type call that sounds good and most importantly, that you trust can call in a coyote. Top off your ambush with the right wind direction and some attractant lure. A decoy - if you have one - to better fool those weary summer coyotes.

After a long winter of being chased by hunting dogs, called to, and shot at, any coyotes that survived to see another summer might be extremely difficult to outsmart. You’ll want to be on top of your game by choosing an ambush spot carefully, approaching your sit spots ever so cautiously (fox walking), staying motionless longer, and only scanning your surroundings with your eyes. If hunting with video cameras then get your Brole shots out of the way before sounding off the first distress notes so that way the camera(s) are focused in the general direction you expect a coyote to appear.

If you do have multiple video cameras or a cameraman or woman then you

given that your sit spot allows you to face the downwind side. Almost always these dogs first appear downwind of the hunters location. So be scent free!

Use scent killer sprays liberally and let dry.

You’ve written the script in your mind, done everything right down to the “T” and seven minutes later there he is staring you down. Moving slower than death you eventually ease the rifle butt to your shoulder. After careful aim and a gentle squeeze a coyote lay stone dead. This scene plays over and over in my mind.

A climb in the coyotes’ population could possibly mean non-stop action from summer to winter in some areas you hunt. It would be a good time to learn about and become proficient with those new predator mouth or electronic calls you might have gotten for Christmas. copulation. Predator hunters would do well to place a decoy, sound off a few distress notes, get in ready position, sit motionless and stay on high alert from June on.

Code of ethics tug on the brains of some hunters telling them to hold off until the pups are all grown up even when the state law says it’s legal.

remains open year round in Maine allowing an ambitious hunter plenty of time to shoot a “V” back. Not every state has year round coyote hunting; however, the tactics mentioned in this column will work anytime of the year.

A climb in the coyotes’ population could possibly mean non-stop action from summer to winter in

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While growing up I’ve used just about all makes and models of calls.

It wasn’t until the year 2012 that I was introduced to the Buck Expert and Mick Lacy predator calls, that I became satisfied.

No one knows what the next year will produce for calls but in the meantime I’m sticking to my trusty Buck Expert X-Treme 3 in 1 Predator Mouth Call and the Mick Lacy closed reed predator calls.

In only three months – about two weeks total of actual hunting - these calls brought in six coyotes, all during daylight hours. Sadly my shooting skills need desperate refining to say the least. Out of six coyotes I called in, I only shot two! I blood trailed one for a mile until the bleeding became tiny specks and eventually I determined it was a marginal hit that could quite possibly not be life threatening. Mostly I hunt coyotes during the day since I love the challenge and the sportiness of it. I also film everything I do outdoors with my video cameras. It needs to be daytime to get better video footage. Occasionally I re-

Justin has a Wildlife Biology Degree from Unity College. He also is a member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association (NEOWA). Justin has thousands of acres to hunt on every year and it’s not uncommon to find him scouting and hunting year round. He is the owner of the online web based TV show called, SPIKES and GILLS on YouTube.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

April 2024

King

(Cont. from pg 3 tion of hatchery-raised salmon parr in the fabled Machias River, with some hopeful outcomes.

Since dam removals and restoration of the Penobscot River’s water quality, the return of not only the salmon, but other species as well is a stunning demonstration of nature’s incredible capacity to recover from environmental degradation if given a chance.

The Veazie Salmon Club, which was founded in 1978, during the heydays of salmon runs on the Penobscot River, is going strong. Its membership, especially the older, veteran members, remain hopeful that one day their

club’s porch bell can be rung again signaling an Atlantic salmon “hookup.”

This winter, ice angler Shawna Stevens jigged a 6-lb Atlantic salmon through the ice at Schoodic Lake near Milo.

The 30-inch fish sported a half moon shaped punch through its adipose fin.

According to regional fisheries biologist in Enfield, Kevin Dunham, this type of tagging is indicative of an Atlantic salmon that would have been “tagged” from the fishway at the Milford Dam. How did the fish get all the way up the myriad waterways to Schoodic Lake? Says Dunham, “At the right flows and water levels, Atlantics can swim under the gates at the outlet dam. We occasionally get Atlantic salmon in our fall

trap nets at Schoodic.”

Fish conservation writer Ted Williams sums it up: “Now, there’s a small glimmer of hope that the king might regain the throne.”

The author is editor of the “Northwoods Sporting Journal.” He is also a Maine guide and host of a weekly radio program — “Maine Outdoors” — heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on “The Voice of Maine News – at www.sportingjournal.com. Contact email — vpaulr@tds.net

Smelt

(Cont. from pg 5 spots with other smelters in more productive places.

Still, some smelt brooks on the peak of the run will be “black” with smelt, making

a limit light work. Nowadays, I try to squeeze out every minute of my time at the smelt brook. I’m now likely to release the big females filled with thousands of adhesive eggs. Opting for the smaller males. A practice that was unheard of when I was a boy but makes the cleaning process much easier.

You don’t have to be a Michelin-star chef to prepare these mild fleshed fish.

Start by adding generous amounts of your favorite seasoning and then roll in flower. Finish them off by frying until crispy. Best if eaten whole; bones ‘n all.

Which is also why I prefer the smaller ones.

If you’re interested in dipping, check the regulations in your area. As populations in southern and

Page 7 mid-coast Maine have declined, bag limits and dipping popularity have followed suit. Here Downeast, the daily bag limit is two quarts (east of Naskeag Point in Brooklin to the head of tide on the St. Croix River in Calais).

Dipping sea smelts is an outdoor experience you can’t replicate anywhere in New England. Realizing how special this unique fishery is, I surely don’t take it for granted. You should try your hand at a smelt brook if you haven’t already. Just be careful, one misstep on the rocks and you’ll go home waterlogged.

Jake Scoville can be reached at jacobysco@ gmail.com or on Instagram at @jacobysco

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

April 2024

Big Wadleigh Pond Big Wadleigh Pond is a 157 acre trout pond located in northwest Piscataquis County. It is a popular destination for trout fishermen, and one of only a dozen Maine waters that are home to the native Arctic charr. Maine is the only state in the lower 48 that still have the Arctic charr.

Fisheries biologists say that these native charr are very sensitive to any “aberrations in the ecosystem.”

According to Greenville regional fisheries biologist, Tim Obrey, an illegal introduction of rainbow smelt posed a serious threat to the survival of the native charr. Obrey reports that IF&W took “extraordinary steps” to preserve, not just the charr, but also the wild brook trout in Big Wadleigh Pond.

The only way to rid the pond of the bucket-stocked rainbow smelt was through a reclamation, a major undertaking in the annals of wild fish management. Before

Vermont License Sales To the Editor: John Hall forwarded V. Paul Reynolds’ article

reclamation, of course, the fish to be protected had to be tagged and trapped and then moved to a “holding” location.

In the fall of 2012, according to Obrey, 100 charr and 300 native brook trout were captured and moved to Mountain Springs Trout Farm in Frenchville. Once the smelts were eliminated from Big Wadleigh Pond and the captured species were successfully raised and spawned by the Frenchville hatchery, they were systematically restocked back into reclaimed pond.

That took place about a decade ago.

At that time fishing was permitted on a catch and release basis to give the restocking a chance to “take.”

Obrey and his team returned to the pond last summer, 11 years after the reclamation, and were pleased to find “multiple age classes” of both Arctic charr and brook trout. Fishermen are finding excellent fishing and abundant populations of both

on license sales that references Vermont. I am not sure who he talked to in the department, but our hunter numbers are far healthier than his article suggests.

We never dropped to near or below 50,000 and, starting in 2017, we began requiring our lifetime (any age) and permanent license (65+) holders to reprint their licenses, for free, if they planned on hunting that year. The report referenced was for FY2017 and not calendar year 2017 thus would not reflect this.

Regardless, actual hunter numbers were considerably higher than sales suggested. The sky was not falling.

Permanent licenses have always been around for many decades. Lifetime licenses began in 1995 and have proven so popular that we’ve reached the point, in some age groups, where more hunters have lifetime licenses than don’t. This has had a significant impact on youth sales but is not

species.

As the saying goes, you can’t argue with success. This is fisheries management news that is about as good as it gets. A number of years ago, Obrey and his crew performed a similar undertaking at Thissell Pond, a trout pond in which rainbow smelts also had been introduced by bucket stockers. This pond has since “risen from the ashes” after its reclamation a number of years ago, and now supports an excellent brook trout fishery.

Obrey and his employer, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife have earned the appreciation of all Mainers, and others, who value the intrinsic worth of the state’s precious and fabled wild trout and Arctic charr fishery.

VPR

reflection of participation.

Our aging demographics aren’t helping either. We have significantly fewer youth in the state.

Participation rate is more is more informative.

While our overall hunting participation rate has certainly decreased since the 80s, our data suggests it has been stable or slightly decreasing over the last decade, depending on the age group (overall 12%).

There was certainly a spike during the pandemic, and while that could not be sustained, it showed that interest in hunting is higher than any one year of sales/ reprints would suggest.

Ordinarily, I wouldn’t write such a lengthy correction. However, our detractors have recently been either unintentionally or

purposefully cherry picking our sales to further their goals.

If you have any additional questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Chris Saunders Fish and Wildlife Scientist Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife

Gun Control To the Editor: In the February Issue article titled “Gun Control Advocates Wrong on Two Counts” the author V. Paul Reynolds states “a ban on AR-type rifles may not make much difference when it comes to the number of murders that occur”.

At best, certainly a poor (Letters cont. pg 9)

April 2024

Letters

(Cont. from pg 8) choice of words. I wonder if the author would use the same words if a friend, acquaintance or a relative was murdered by an AR-type.

(And yes, I personally do own guns) Kalman Johnson Knoxville, Tennesee

Allagash Waterway To the Editor: M y n a m e i s Ti m Caverly and I served as AWW supervisor for 18 years. Since being established by the citizens of Maine in 1966 and being placed in 1970 by Senator Muskie as one of America’s Wild and Scenic Rivers, the Allagash has been under constant assault by the very Bureau of Parks who is charged by Maine

Northwoods Sporting Journal

law, with ‘developing [the areas] Maximum Wilderness Character.

Most recently the Bureau of Parks and Lands now plans to spend 1.2 million dollars to construct 6 buildings in the Waterway’s most protected Restricted Zone. In addition they are purchasing a 23 foot landing craft with a 200 hp outboard for patrol of Chamberlain Lake. All of which I feel, threatens the area’s wilderness character.

Tim Caverly Millinocket

Archery Programs To the Editor: Recently I came across an article about a very important outdoors program for young people, boys and girls: National Archery in the Schools Program. This worthy activity has 1.3 mil-

Best Shot!

Rick Carneglia says that he and his dogs love hunting in Maine, when they can’t we read the Northwoods Sporting Journal.

lion students participating in 8967 schools in America and around the world. The contact in Maine is info@ naspschools.org (920-5236040).

We should all hope that Maine Sportsmen and Women and Conservation groups would sponsor these kids. SAM, Sportsmens Clubs, other organizations, and NWSJ archery writers should be involved in to benefit young people and give them good instructions so they are comfortable with and participate in our outdoor natural world.

If groups are supporting these youngsters, let’s hear some reports.

Fred Hartman

Page 9

Shawna Stevens jigged this 6 lb Atlantic salmon through the ice at Schoodic Lake near Milo.The 30 inch fish sported a half moon shaped punch through its adipose fin. According to regional fisheries biologist, Kevin Dunham, this type of tagging is indicative of an Atlantic salmon that would have been “tagged” from the fishway at the Mildford Dam. How did the fish get all the way up the waterways to Schoodic Lake? Says Dunham, “At the right flows and water levels Atlantics can swim under the gates at the outlet dam. We occasionally get Atlantic salmon in our fall trap nets at Schoodic .”

Page 10

“A Hiker’s Life”

Northwoods Sporting Journal

April 2024

Hiking Mt. Zircon

By Carey Kish, Mt. Desert Island, ME Mt. Zircon straddles the town lines of Milton and Peru just south of the Androscoggin River. The 2,240-foot peak is the highest in the Oxford Hills, which sprawl far and wide across the southern reaches of Oxford County. The panorama from the summit ledges is one of the best in western Maine for the moderate hike required.

In a 1924 Rumford Falls Times article, P.L. Berry wrote of Mt. Zircon “…on whose solid rock-bound summit rests… a steel tower with large wooden observation room… The beauties and grandeur that can be seen from the top is good compensation for the hard work—and one is well repaid… The view is wide and grand to all points of the compass…”

The 60-foot fire tower

stood for 53 years atop Mt. Zircon until it was cut down by the Maine Forest Service in 1975. The rusting tower frame remained there on its side until August 2022 when it was unceremoniously removed.

The tower may be gone, but the amazing vista remains, taking in the White Mountains, the Mahoosucs, the Oxford Hills and the High Peaks Region.

A mile and a half from the trailhead is the spring house of the former Mt. Zircon Spring Water Company. The hip-roofed structure was built in 1890 over the Mt. Zircon Spring, which today runs clear and cold out of a PVC pipe directly across the road.

It’s nectar of the gods for thirsty hikers and as good as water in the wilds gets.

In 1849, Dexter D.W. Abbott of Rumford pur-

Coastal

wiscassetspeedway.com

A larger bottling plant was built at the mountain’s base in 1921, and through multiple ownership changes, two world wars and many economic woes, the Mt. Zircon Spring Water Company maintained a reputation for quality throughout the U.S. and The hip-roofed structure was built in Europe. It ceased opera1890 over the Mt. Zircon Spring, which tions in the early 1990s.

Enjoy the hike, the today runs clear and cold out of a PVC spring, the view and the pipe directly across the road. It’s nectar of the gods for thirsty hikers and history. And ask your local library to find you a copy of as good as water in the wilds gets.

“The Mount Zircon Moon Tide Spring” by Randall some ideas on how to make fective advertising. a business of his gushing Abbott’s Mt. Zir- H. Bennett. It’s a fascinatspring water. con House was destroyed ing read.

Abbott first marketed by fire in 1872, but that Carey Kish of Mount Mt. Zircon Spring Water didn’t end demand for the in 1859, claiming it cured celebrated mineral water, Desert Island, ME is the such ailments as “Dyspep- which continued to be bar- author of Beer Hiking New sia and Liver and Kidney reled and shipped to Port- England, AMC’s Best Day Complaints… Indiges- land and Boston. In 1897, a Hikes Along the Maine tion and all Diseases aris- bottling house was erected Coast, and the AMC Maine ing from Impurity of the adjacent to the spring and Mountain Guide. Catch Blood.” He built a hotel the was soon producing not up with him (maybe) at following year to accom- only natural water, but maineoutdoors@aol.com modate a growing number sparkling water, club soda on Facebook, and on Instagram @careykish of visitors to the Mt. Zircon and ginger champagne. chased land around Zircon Brook that included the spring, began wheat farming, and built a sawmill and miller’s house. His first cousin just so happened to be married to Hiram Ricker of Poland Spring fame, and that likely gave Abbott

Spring, aka the Moon Tide Spring, so named for its fluctuating output that was said to ebb and flow based upon the earth’s tides. Like the water’s healing claims, though, this “moon-tide effect” was never verified, but the stories made for ef-

April 2024

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Kelley Kettle

It’s what many of us who make a living in, or spend a lot of time in the outdoors were already doing anyway, but now it has a catchy, buzzword

discoveries of my own, sometimes incorporating new products into my own repertoire of outdoor activities.

One of them stands

decades passed, its uses expanded to coffee making, fish frying, and even cooking three meals a day, outdoors, four seasons of the year.

The design is ingenious for its simplicity. The Kelley Kettle is essentially a water jacket with a hollow center that serves as a flue. These days, the Kettle

Page 11

The Singing Maine Guide

by Randy Spencer, Grand Lake Stream, ME

thing hot off the fire base.

All of these components fit into each other like puzzle pieces, and then inside a carry bag that turns out to be amazingly convenient.

I’ve been using the Kelley Kettle for two years,

Kettle. Its use and versatility on that trip was more than convincing.

Not having to carry fuel for cooking is an attribute that can’t be overestimated. Virtually anywhere you fish, hunt, trap, hike, or

Once the fire is going in the fire base, it can be fed from the top of the Kettle, down through its hollow center.

Fuel such as pine cones or sticks can simply be dropped down this flue, and the result is water that boils in record time (5-8 minutes!).

The Kelly Kettle name that has caught on. out, holding up both to the “Bushcraft,” according to test of time, and also to the Wikipedia, “is the use and test of wear and tear and practice of skills, thereby abuse in the field. That acquiring and develop- new tool of my trade is the ing knowledge and under- Kelley Kettle. It may be standing, in order to sur- new to a lot of sportsmen vive and thrive in a natural and women, but it is by no environment.” Bushcraft means new to fishermen. has a massive cult follow- Its origins date back over a ing (including innumer- century to the salmon rivers able Youtube channels) of Ireland. There, on cold, and along with that new blustery fall days, salmon groundswell of enthusiasm fishermen needed a quick for outdoor life has come a and handy method of–– host of products and imple- what else?––making tea! ments servicing that surge. And so, the Kelley Kettle, Over many years, I precursor to many other have sometimes field tested “rocket stoves” to follow, new items being brought was born. onto the market by compaIn those days, the nies that want their product Kelley Kettle was tasked reviewed (positively they with purifying and boilhope), and then shown ing river water quickly off to folks who recreate in order to keep the inner in the outdoors. On other furnace burning with a occasions, I’ve made quiet hot cup of tea. But as the

is stainless, and features a rubber whistle stopper to signal the boil, as well as a bail with a wooden handle for lifting the Kettle. It sits on a vented fire base in which almost any biomass fuel can be burned. Dead sticks, pine cones, pine needles, lichen, and birchbark to name only a few.

There are records of camel dung firing the Kettle in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Once the fire is going in the fire base, it can be fed from the top of the Kettle, down through its hollow center. Fuel such as pine cones or sticks can simply be dropped down this flue, and the result is water that boils in record time (5-8 minutes!). But that’s just one of the Kelley Kettle’s many functions.

While the Kettle itself can be bought stand-alone, that would deny you the various benefits of the “Ultimate Kit.” This includes the Kettle and the fire base, a Pot Support, a Hobo Stove, a Cook Pot, small and large stainless camp cups with measurement lines, a Cook Pot lid, two stainless plates, a grate, and a gripper for lifting any-

and these are some of the things I’ve done with it so far: made coffee, tea, and hot chocolate on ice fishing trips, fried fresh fish for sports on a lunchground, broiled hot dogs and sausages using the grate and the Hobo Stove while fishing for trout in Canada, heated MRE’s, and made soups and chowders on cold, rainy, spring days.

The Kelley Kettle is an all-weather, four-season stove. One of the videos I saw before purchasing mine showed three fellows on a thousand-mile snowmobile trip above the tree line in Quebec. In the interests of keeping the weight of the sleds trimmed, the only cooking implement they had was the Kelley

go birding, there is always biomass fuel available. Of the three sizes offered, I use the medium one, the Scout, which holds 41 oz, or 5 cups of water. It weighs just over 2 lbs., more than compensating for the fuel you’re not carrying. And the way the compact Ulitmate Kit fits into a pack basket or tote sled or snowmobile is unbeatable.

Whether you call it Bushcraft, survival, convenience, or just plain fun in the outdoors, the Kelley Kettle, which retails from $160-$180 with the full kit is well worth the investment.

Randy Spencer is a working guide.

Caribou Area

Page 12

Northwoods Sporting Journal

April 2024

Outdoor News - April 2024 Edited by V. Paul Reynolds

April is – depending upon whether you are an optimist or a pessimist – the month of the Seasonal Awakening or the month of the Big Mud. After this winter, even the pessimist can take heart that at least there is light at the end of the tunnel. For our hardpressed deer population and other wild critters, April can be a make or break month. An early green up can make the difference for them between survival or death. Most outdoor folks take enjoyment in the slow but inexorable coming of spring – the budding, the smell of damp earth, and the formations of geese winging north. Fishing can be slow, especially when winter ice still hugs the stream banks and the biting north wind discourages all but the heartiest boat anglers. There are some good things in Maine in April, though: turkey season is near and camps can be opened without bugs to deal with. So bring it on April, and then we can embrace May with all of the real blessings of spring in Maine.

Missing Fairfield Man Located

A 25-year-old Fairfield man was found alive and well this winter, after he was reported missing on Moosehead Lake during a snowsquall.

Colby Davis, age 25 of Fairfield, and a friend were riding separate snowmobiles near Farm Island on Moosehead Lake in Tomhegan TWP when the two became separated during a snowsquall. When Colby Davis never returned

to camp, his friend called 911 at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Game wardens began searching the lake immediately but were unable to locate Davis on the Lake. Game Wardens also searched the shoreline and nearby cabins through the night but found no trace of Davis.

Efforts were hindered by blowing snow and winds over 25 mph, and temperatures around 3 degrees. Game wardens also responded to an ATV and its operator through the ice near the same area on Moosehead Lake, further complicating the search. The ATV operator was rescued and taken to a Dean Hospital.

A Warden aircraft was launched, and more game wardens were preparing to resume the search when they received a call from a campowner at approximately 7:00 a.m. that Davis had spent the night with him at his camp.

It appears that after Davis became separated from his friend in the fading light and snowsquall, he became disoriented and drove on the lake until he struck a pressure ridge, and got his snowmobile stuck.

Unable to get his snowmobile out, he walked until he found an occupied camp, where the campowner took him in for the night. There was no cell phone reception at the camp, so the camp owner was able to drive a snowmobile out to where there was cell phone reception and notified the warden service that Davis was with him, and in good condition. The camp was

over five miles from where sponded to the scene along Davis and his friend be- with Stowe Rescue, Stowe Mountain Rescue and came separated. the Stowe Police Department. An investigation of Maine Turkey the crash determined that Season Spring is right around Upasana Nyaupane, 27, of the corner, and now is a Massachusetts, was operating a snowmobile on a guided tour in Mount Mansfield State Forest.

Nyaupane lost control of the snowmobile while navigating a curve along Vermont Association of Snow Travelers (VAST) Trail 100S. The snowmobile left the east side of the trail and went head on into a tree. Nyaupane and her passenger were ejected from the snowmobile. good time to start thinking Nyaupane was transabout turkey season. Calling in a tom turkey and ported out of the woods by chatting with them is often her tour guide. She was cited as a spring turkey then transported to Copley hunter’s favorite experi- Hospital in Morristown and ence. This fast-paced, en- treated for minor non-lifegaging hunt is perfect for threatening injuries.

The snowmobile susbeginner hunters.

Turkey hunting re- tained minor front-end quires less gear than many damage and was removed other hunts and the small from the trail by the guidsize makes it the easiest ing service. big game species to prepare for the dinner table. Wild turkeys are abundant, and there are many opportunities throughout the state, making it easier to find a location close to home.

Take some time to connect with nature and learn more about this native species.

Best of all, you won’t have to wait long for the season to arrive! Youth day is Saturday, April 27 and the season opens to all hunters Monday, April 29 - Saturday, June 1.

Vermont Moose Permits

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has proposed issuing 180 moose hunting permits in Vermont’s Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) E in the northeastern corner of the state in a continued effort to reduce the impact of winter ticks on moose in that area. No permits are recommended for the rest of the state. This is the same permit allocation that was approved by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Snowmobile Crash in Waterbury. Board in 2023.

The proposal was givGame wardens re-

en initial approval by the Fish and Wildlife Board at its February 21 meeting and is now available for public comment.

The goal of the department’s 2024 moose harvest recommendation

is to improve the health of moose in WMU-E by reducing the number of moose and thereby reducing the abundance and impact of winter ticks.

“Moose are abundant in WMU E with significantly higher population density than in any other part of the state,” said Nick Fortin, Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s moose project leader. “The higher moose density supports high numbers of winter ticks which negatively impact moose health and survival.”

Ongoing monitoring of moose health in WMUE shows the population continues to be negatively impacted by winter ticks.

Birth rates are low, and many calves do not survive their first winter.

“Research has shown that lower moose densities support relatively few winter ticks that do not impact moose populations,” said (News cont. pg 13)

Northwoods Sporting Journal

April 2024

News

(Cont. from pg 12) Fortin. “Reducing moose density decreases the number of available hosts which in turn decreases the number of winter ticks on the landscape.”

The department would issue 80 either-sex moose hunting permits and 100 antlerless moose permits in WMU-E for the moose seasons this October. This is expected to result in a harvest of about 94 moose, or about 10 percent of the moose population in WMU-E. “This permit recommendation represents a continued attempt to address winter tick impacts on moose in WMU-E,” added Fortin. “Given the poor health of the moose population in that area and a clearly identified cause, we need to take action to address this issue. Without intervention to reduce the moose population, high tick loads will continue to impact the health of moose in that region for many years.”

“Department staff, including lead moose biologist Nick Fortin and Research Manager Dr. Katherina Gieder, brought incredible scientific expertise to this recommendation,” said Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife Christopher Herrick. “The proposal our board vetted and approved was informed by years of field research and sophisticated statistical analyses that have been featured in peer reviewed publications alongside results from sister efforts in Maine and New Hampshire.”

The 2024 Moose Harvest Recommendation and information about the moose study are avail-

able on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website.

New State Fish Record

Vermont Fish and Wildlife today announced that a Longnose Gar taken by a bowfishing angler in 2023 has been certified as a new state record.

In May of 2023, Pennsylvania angler Jeremy Bicking was out bowfishing in the evening on Lake Champlain and took a gar that weighed 18.6 pounds.

This big fish measured 54 ¾ inches in length, a ¼ inch longer but 3 ounces lighter than the current record Longnose Gar taken by rod and reel in 2007. State records are kept separately for four species of fish that can be taken both by hookand-line and bowfishing.

Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department fisheries biologist Shawn Good, who administers the state’s Record Fish Program, says in recent years, anglers have expanded their species preferences to include many of the state’s under-appreciated but equally challenging native sport fish species.

“While fishing remains excellent for more traditional sport fish species such as bass, trout, walleye, and pike, there are so many other fish out there that can provide amazing action with real trophy potential. Fish like bowfin, gar, freshwater drum, suckers, and even fallfish – Vermont’s largest native minnow species -- the opportunities are endless,” said Good.

Although not new state records, two other notable fish were entered in the State Record Fish Program in 2023 – an 11.86 pound Walleye from Lake

Champlain and a 25.6 pound Lake Trout from Echo Lake in Charleston.

“While Lake Champlain gets most of the attention for Lake Trout fishing opportunities and action in Vermont, many of the inland lakes in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom are real sleepers for big fish,” said Good.

“In fact, if you’re talking exclusively about trophy sized Lake Trout, the Northeast Kingdom is where you want to be,” said department fisheries biologist Jud Kratzer. All 69 Lake Trout exceeding 20 pounds that have been entered in the Record Fish Program over the years have come from Kingdom waters. And 530-acre Echo Lake has produced four of them, with the largest being just shy of 30 pounds.

That’s remarkable for a lake of that size.”

While several Kingdom lakes do offer the best possibility of a Vermont Lake Trout over 20 pounds, Good says the average size tends to be smaller overall than what anglers will find in Lake Champlain.

On Lake Champlain, Good says that the 11.86-pound Walleye entry is a testament to the ongoing successes of fisheries management efforts on the lake.

Good says the department’s cutting edge walleye hatchery on Grand Isle, and the continued success of long-term sea lamprey control by the Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative (comprised of Vermont Fish & Wildlife, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) has only help bolster Walleye and other sport fish species in

the lake.

“It’s been amazing to see what anglers are catching lately on Champlain for big Walleye. The population has really been booming in the last few years, with lots of 10-pound plus fish being caught. As one of the fisheries biologists on the lake, it’s really heartening to see our hard work and long-term management efforts paying off for anglers.”

NH Sledder Killed

On the afternoon of Friday, March 1, 2024, a 64-year-old New Hampshire man died while snowmobiling in the area of Diamond Ridge.

At approximately 1:47 p.m., rescue personnel received a call regarding a snowmobiler who was not breathing. The call came in via both a text message to 911 and a personal locator beacon activation with location GPS coordinates.

Rescuers from the Pittsburg Fire Department, 45th

Page 13 Parallel EMS, and New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Conservation Officers all responded to the scene on snowmobiles upon receiving the call.

Upon arrival, rescuers found that CPR was in progress, being administered by the patient’s riding companions and good Samaritans who had stopped to help. Life saving measures continued for over an hour, but were unsuccessful. The man was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before 3:00 p.m.

An investigation into this tragic event is ongoing. Authorities did learn that the victim had come to Pittsburg earlier in the day with a group of coworkers. The group had rented snowmobiles from a local business and had gone for an afternoon ride. At approximately 1:45 p.m., the victim was seen tipping his snowmobile on its side after having some diffi(News cont. pg 30)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 14

Maine Tails

By Jonah Paris, Ellsworth, ME Back in mid-February, Ashley and I fished the Pemadumcook Chain of Lakes. Our day on the ice was excellent. The wind died down at dawn, the sun emerged, and flags were flying in the shadow of Katahdin. We harvested four

cutting board on the counter, took a sharp knife, and went to work preparing the fish for the oven. The first fish I reached for was a 16-inch salmon. While cleaning fish, I always examine stomach contents; this practice helps me to

April 2024

The Soft Plastic Problem

color in case anyone was wondering.) Typically, one would expect any material that had been marinating in the digestive juices of a freshwater fish to smell relatively pungent. Instead, the bait retained a “justout-of-the-bag” chemically rubber odor.

I had previously constructed a romantic scene in my head. Our salm-

I immediately noticed a strange, ribbed texture pushing against the stomach membrane from within. When I cut into it, a soft plastic worm emerged. The worm was a typical bass bait, a 5-inch Yum Dinger. fish for our dinner table, three landlocked salmon and a brook trout, and released several others. The salmon in the Pemadumcook Chain are wild fish.

Although wild brook trout are present in the lakes, the one we caught was likely stocked last fall given its size and location.

Back at home, I set a

become a better fisherman and a more informed naturalist.

I immediately noticed a strange, ribbed texture pushing against the stomach membrane from within.

When I cut into it, a soft plastic worm emerged.

The worm was a typical bass bait, a 5-inch Yum Dinger. (Carolina Pumpkin

on, shiny chrome with bold black spots and blue cheeks, had been chasing a school of smelt under the ice. As the fish darted through the lake, it sensed our bait, snatched it, and sent the flag up. And maybe this scenario had played out in the moments leading up to our catch - but before then, our salmon had been grubbing along the bottom, scavenging between the rocks. Our salmon discovered the scent-infused, salted “worm” with flecks

5-inch soft plastic baits found in the stomachs of a brook trout (top) and landlocked salmon (bottom). (Photo courtesy of Jonah Paris.) of glitter in it, and swallowed it. Tasty. Since then, our salmon had been unsuccessfully attempting to digest this object.

I moved the fish aside and cleaned the remaining pair of salmon. They were beautiful, with light, rosycolored flesh and stomachs containing several smelt.

Then I began cleaning the brook trout.

I ran my knife down the belly of the 14-inch brook trout and saw the stomach bulging in an odd shape. Cutting the stomach open, another soft plastic bait - a thick worm with

a paddle tail - literally unfolded itself before me on the cutting board. The bait, a Yamamoto Swimming Senko (Green Pumpkin), had doubled back on itself, creating what looked like a complete blockage.

According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife website, on average, 2% of freshwater fish in Maine contain soft plastic lures.

Yet, two of the four fish from our recent harvest, of two different species, and likely of two different origins (wild vs. hatchery), (Problem cont. pg 19)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

April 2024

The Golden Eagle

I am always thrilled to see Golden Eagles. They are the “thunderbirds” of Native Americans. In medieval Europe only kings could use them in falconry.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is in collaboration with the Eastern Golden Eagle Working Group (EGEWG) and the Conservation Science Global (CSG) to create the new Maine Golden Eagle Study. The Golden Eagle is an endangered species in Maine. This is due to its small population size, vulnerability to humanrelated threats, and the considerable gaps in knowledge about habitat use and movement in Maine.

The focus of this project is the use of baited camera traps to detect their presence. Baited camera traps are effective ways to detect these birds that might not otherwise be observed. To manage a site, a trail camera needs to be set up and any photos submitted for study. A bait supply has to be lead-free if harvested legally by hunting sources. Eagles and other avian scavengers are particularly susceptible to lead poisoning. Bait can

also include renderings from slaughter and meat processing facilities, and road kill (with appropriate permission/permits).

But there are other ways interested people can help this project. They can host a camera trap on their land. They also can spread the word about this opportunity for citizen scientists. The website is <mefishwildlife. com/goldeneaglestudy>.

People can share this link on social media pages and

download or share the project flier. Another way to help is to report any observations to ebird or the MAINE BIRDS Facebook. This is how I intend to participate. I have previously reported Golden Eagle sightings seen from my Hawk Watch site in Cooper, Maine in March, 2020; March 2021; April 2022; and in April 2023.

These were primarily observations for the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA).

Page 15

The Bird Perch

by Karen Holmes, Cooper, ME I suspected that I was seeing birds heading north and west during a spring migration. Telemetry studies have confirmed this.

Nesting Golden Eagles have been reported in eastern Canada and around the Gaspe’ Peninsula, near the St. Lawrence River. But Golden Eagles have also been reported spending the winters here in Maine.

I am always thrilled

to see Golden Eagles. They are the “thunderbirds” of Native Americans. In medieval Europe only kings could use them in falconry.

I recommend a book entitled An Eagle to the Sky

by Frances Hamerstrom. It was published in 1970 and 1978. This book was written by a woman falconer, and wildlife rehabilitator.

She was also a hunter who (Eagle cont. pg 19)

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Page 16

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Adventures of Me and Joe

The Cook-Off

by Bob Cram, (Alias T.J. Coongate) Medway, ME

Angora Hymnal held out her bowl for a third helping of stew, and Joe dutifully landed a generous portion from the depths of his old cast iron Dutch oven. Angora beamed.

“I’ve never tasted stew this good, Joe,” she exclaimed. Behind her, Jonas Pew echoed the sentiment.

“Got a flavor all its own. What you put in it, Joe?” We were at a picnic sponsored by the Mooseleuk Woodland Church.

Normally Joe, a confirmed sinner, avoided churches, not wanting to be a hypocrite. But Angora was an old family friend and when her chowder burned at the last minute, she had prevailed upon Joe to produce a big pot of his famous Sand Bar Stew. Many parishioners had contributed food to the picnic, but nothing approached the popularity of Joe’s Heady concoction.

“Oh, it’s got a little of everything,” Joe said modestly. “Got moose meat an’ a little deer meat, wild onion, yarrow, sweet flag, an’, o’ course, the usual

potaters, carrots an’ sech.”

“But how in the world did you settle on this particular combination of ingredients?” asked Reverend Brimstone as Joe refilled his bowl.

“Well, Reverend, that was mostly by accident.

Years ago me an’ Talbot Slough was guidin’ a bunch of pilgrims on a five-day canoe trip on the Little Salt Pork River. Like a fool, I let ol’ Talbot buy the grub an’ Tal, well, he figgered if he scrimped on the groceries they’d be more money for him an’ me.

“One thing I learned a long time ago, Reverent… you don’t skimp on grub when yer a long way from a super market.”

By now, most of the picnickers were listening to the story, most of them munching on the hot, fluffy Dutch oven biscuits Joe always made to go along with his Sand Bar Stew. I noticed that Olson Bake had a slight sneer on his chubby face, but that was a normal expression for Olson.

“Anyway,” Joe continued, “we ran out of most

April 2024

Finally, hours later, the stews were ready. The church’s six deacons, together with Reverent Brimstone as a potential tiebreaker, sat at a long picnic table.

The two contestants ladled out a bowl of stew for each judge, Joe’s bowl to the right and Olson’s to the left. The crows waited in breathless anticipation. things to eat by the time we camped on that big sand bar off the mouth of Gin Clear Brook. Oh we had odds an’ ends of vegetables, a little meat an’ such but nothin’ to make a full meal. An’ we were still a day away from town.

“I had Tal make a big hardwood fire on the gravel so’s it would be burned down to coals by the time I got back, an’ I set out to see what I could find to sort of bolster a stew. Sweet flag an’ yarrow grew on the sand bar, an’ also the wild onions. I gathered some cattail roots, especially the

If you just can’t get enough of reading our Me & Joe Adventures, check out the All Outdoor section of our new Northwoods Sporting Journal website:www.sportingjournal.com You’ll find an ample supply of Me & Joe stories to keep you checking for a long time.

ones with the new shoots.

Also the inside lower stems of the young cattails. You know, you peel the outer layer from them stems and it makes a good vegetable.

That’s what looks like a chopped up celery in the stew. I found a few more odds an’ ends, an’ by the time I got back to the fire I had quite a haul. We added the meat an’ vegetables we had left to what I gathered, an’ came up with this here stew.”

Joe caught Olson Bake’s dour expression out of the corner of his eye and added casually, “an’, o’ course, to make it jest right, I added my secret ingredient at the last minute.”

“What’s the secret ingredient?” Angora asked eagerly. Even Olson leaned in expectantly.

“Why, Angora,” Joe said mildly. “If’n I told you people, it wouldn’t be much of a secret, now would it?”

He smiled. “Anyway, the folks on that trip seemed to really like the concoction we come up with. That big pot o’ stew lasted ‘til we made it back to town. Ever since then I’ve called it my ‘Sand Bar Stew’ ‘cause that sand bar supplied most of the ingredients.”

Olson Bake seemed to have been stewing himself for some time. Finally he spoke up as Joe was dish(Me & Joe cont. pg 17)

April 2024

Me & Joe (Cont. from pg 16)

ing out the last of the stew.

“You know, I make a pretty mean stew my own self.” He puffed himself up importantly, his immense gut hanging out over a wide leather belt. “Used to be a loggin’ camp cook for years. Have to be good to feed big crews over the winter. Everybody used ter brag about my stews.”

“That so, Ols?” Joe asked. He eyed Bake’s stomach. “Looks like it agreed with yer.”

Bake started a heated reply but Angora, watching the interplay and smelling blood, interrupted loudly.

“I’ve got a great idea!

Let’s have a cook-off!

Right here next Saturday.

Joe, you and Olson make your best stews. We’ll have the whole congregation out and the deacons can be the judges!”

“Oh, now, Angora, I don’t think…”

“We ought to have some kind of little prize,” she continued thoughtfully, ignoring Joe’s interruption.

“Just for encouragement, you know…”

“I’ve got an old knife I could give,” Reverend Brimstone spoke up. “It’s an old one my brother had in the service. A cook should have a good knife.

Wait, I’ll go and get it.”

“Look, Angora,” Joe said again hastily, “I ain’t much of a one for contests.

Fact is, we was thinkin’ of goin’ fishin’ next Saturday an’…”

“We could go fishing on Friday,” I said with a grin. Joe looked at me like I’d stabbed him in the back.

I glanced at my nails, trying to hide the grin.

“What’s the matter, Joe…you scared my stew

Northwoods Sporting Journal

will beat yer recipe?” Olson sneered.

“Scared?!” Joe snorted. “Why Olson Bake, you never seen the day…”

“Here it is.” Reverend Brimstone laid an old KBar Marine Fighting Knife on the table, still sheathed in its original scabbared.

Joe picked it up reverently.

I knew he had a fascination for good knives.

“My brother Jonah carried it on Iwo Jima, or was it Okinawa?” Brimstone looked thoughtful.

“Maybe both places. Anyway, Jonah passed on years ago and that old knife has been in a drawer ever since.

Do you think it would make a good prize?” he asked anxiously.

“It would make a he… heck of a prize, Reverend,” Joe said reverently, fingering the closely honed edge of the blade. He looked up at Bake. “Yer on, Olson.

Bring out yer best stew next Saturday, an’ may the best man win!” He held out his hand and Olson shook it limply, but I thought I saw a slight edge of uncertainty in the bigger man’s eyes.

For the next few days Olson Bake bragged around town to everyone who would listen about how his Boom Chain Stew would win hands down over Joe’s Sand Bar Stew at the Saturday cook-off. Joe seemed to pay little attention, although I noticed him

smiling from time to time as Olson made even more extravagant claims within our hearing.

“Me thinks he protesteth too much,” Joe murmered during one of Olson’s public exclamations.

“Why, Joe,” I said, surprised. “I didn’t know you knew any Shakespeare.” He looked at me, slightly annoyed.

“What? You think I’m un-eddycated?” Then he grinned.

On Friday morning me and Joe sat at breakfast in the Five ‘N Diner on Main Street in Mooseleuk. The place was a little crowded and I noticed Olson Bake sitting a few tables away noisily slurping coffee. I couldn’t resist stirring the pot a little.

“Think you’re ready for the cook-off tomorrow Joe?” I asked. “It must be hard to make such a great stew the same way every time.” Joe looked up from his eggs, noticed Olson’s frowning look, and a twinkle appeared in my partner’s eye.

“Well, I’m gettin’ on a little, you know,” he said.

“Found out I’d ferget one ingredient or another from time to time. So I wrote me down the recipe on one o’ them little recipe cards.

Even put down the secret ingredient. Keep it right on my sideboard where it’ll be handy.” He finished his cof-

Portland

Page 17

fee and looked over at me.

“Now if yore finished jawin’, let’s go fishin’.”

Late that afternoon we returned with a dandy string of brook trout taken from the big pool at the mouth of Gin Clear Stream.

As Joe laid the cleaned fish in the sink he looked at the sideboard.

“Well, I’ll be…I put my recipe for Sand Bar Stew right here by the sink.

Now it’s over by the cuttin’ board. Say… you don’t suppose somebody came in an looked at it, do yer?”

“That darn Olson!” I said grimly. “You shouldn’t have talked about the recipe at breakfast. He knew we were going fishing. I bet he snuck right over here and copied down that recipe! It’s the only way he could win, and now he’s got a good chance. You even put down the secret ingredient!”

Joe nodded absently, looking at the recipe card in his hand. Then, to my consternation, he ripped the card into pieces and tossed it in the trash. He grinned at the look on my face.

“You didn’t really think I needed no recipe card to make my stew, did yer?”

Word of the contest had gotten around and the next afternoon nearly the whole town was gathered in the field below the Mooseleuk Woodland Church for the cook-off.

Hardwood fires had been built early and allowed to burn down to glowing coals.

The two contestants began working at their individual pots. Olson Bake carefully measured ingredients, referring constantly to a sheet of paper he kept beside him on a table, a small rock keeping it from blowing away in the slight breeze.

Joe tossed ingredients haphazardly into his pot at various times, keeping up a running conversation with the curious onlookers.

Finally, hours later, the stews were ready.

The church’s six deacons, together with Reverend Brimstone as a potential tiebreaker, sat at a long picnic table. The two contestants ladled out a bowl of stew for each judge, Joe’s bowl to the right and Olson’s to the left. The crowd waited in breathless anticipation.

Out of deference to (Me & Joe cont. pg 21)

HELP US FIND

The elusive Northwoods Sporting Journal’s moose Marty.

He has wandered into the northwoods.

Find Marty somewhere in the Northwoods Sporting Journal (Hint: he will be located in one of our ads) Send us the page number he’s on and you could be a WINNER! Win a FREE Northwoods Sporting Journal Marty Hat. We will draw one winner from all correct entries submitted each month. We will announce the winner in the next issue.

PLEASE MAIL THIS FORM TO: Northwoods Sporting Journal P.O. Box 195, West Enfield, ME 04493

Shown actual size

Joyce Dube

Name

(Marty was found on pg 58)

Address City

Marty

State

Phone I found Marty on page

Zip

Entries must be postmarked by 4/9/24 to be eligible for this issue.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 18

Outdoor Sporting Library

by Jeremiah Wood, Ashland, ME

The edge of civilization in early 1900’s Alberta was a tough enough place for anyone to grow up. Add to that a dirt poor family, an ailing mother and an abusive father, and it made

Olive, an adventurer at heart, felt trapped by her circumstances. No money, no schooling, and not much of a future. Then she met Walter Reamer, the son of another hardscrabble

April 2024

Silence of the North

high value fur. Stories of marshes full of muskrats drew him to this desolate wasteland with Olive and their young daughter with little in the way of supplies, cold weather clothing or means of transportation.

It was hungry country, with game animals few and far between. The three

Olive, an adventurer at heart, felt trapped by her circumstances. No money, no schooling, and not much of a future. Then she met Walter Reamer, the son of another hardscrabble pioneer family that was just getting by. for a pretty challenging life. After Olive Goodwin’s mother died, the family struck north for the Peace River valley, further into the frontier. The going was hard, and they made it as far as Tomato Creek, where they settled in and started a homestead, and later opened a halfway house to serve other travelers.

pioneer family that was just getting by. The two fell in love and were married, and before long Olive found herself living in a 10x10 trapper’s shack on the Slave River, 250 miles north of Fort McMurray.

Walter was a dreamer, always looking for the next adventure, a rich gold strike or a pocket of

came close to starving and almost didn’t make it out alive.

Olive realized the north was no place to raise young children, and chose to keep them closer to civilization, but the north kept drawing Walter in.

He returned to the trapline each winter, roaming from place to place in search of

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the next big catch of fur.

One spring he never made it out.

Left with three children and no one to provide for them, Olive was once again in a tough spot. But tough was all she knew.

She started a homestead on the Stuart River in British Columbia, clearing land and planting vegetables to sell to the local markets.

She learned to hunt moose to feed the family, and eventually raised cattle and other livestock.

Later in life, with a new partner and different circumstances, Olive returned again to the woods, but this time the outdoors

provided peace, serenity and enjoyment of the natural world. It was a different perspective for someone who toiled and struggled in the wilderness of the north for so long. A well deserved one.

“The Silence of the North” was first published in 1972. A large part of the book is a collection of Olive’s stories that were first printed in Outdoor Life Magazine in the late 1960’s. The book also inspired a 1981 film of the same title.

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(Cont. from pg 14) from a large Region F (Penobscot Region) lake system, had ingested soft plastic baits. Admittedly, I do not kill many freshwater fish, so my sample size is small. However, looking at the Dinger and Senko on my cutting board, I couldn’t help but wonder whether more than 2% of fish in our waters are swimming around with soft plastic baits in their guts.

The vast majority of Maine fishermen, independent of their target species, are ethical sportsmen and would never deliberately discard soft plastic baits, or any other litter, into a

Northwoods Sporting Journal

water body. However, if an angler regularly fishes with soft plastics, the loss of some baits into the water, despite rigging tricks and best intentions, becomes inevitable. Clearly, these baits pile up on the bottom, and many species of fish - even wild landlocked salmon - slurp them down.

In the past, I have occasionally fished soft plastics for open water bass and hardwater togue. But from now on, I will be sticking to hard baits, natural baits, and flies.

Eagle

(Cont. from pg 15)

had beliefs like mine as also I hunted and harvested and rehabilitated wildlife people brought me in Massachusetts. Her book describes her experiences with the two Golden Eagles she rehabilitated and released in Wyoming named Chrys and Nancy.

I quote from her book: “During the years I had Chrys, courtship and nest building always started in February. She began A four-season out- by showing an interest in doorsman, Jonah lives in sticks, preferring those Ellsworth, ME with his wife, about two feet long and Ashley, and beagle,Aurora. not more than one inch Jonah can be reached at in diameter. Together we played with them: I tossed jonaheparis@gmail.com

Page 19

her sticks, she caught or pounced on them.” Chrys always began to sing in February - a curious and melodious song -somewhat reminiscent of a wild turkey’s call but more musical and varied”. You can understand how someone like myself could appreciate a book written by a fellow female naturalist who enjoyed an intimacy with wild animals.

lieves that people can get involved in many ways to help protect and preserve wildlife for future generations. Participating in citizen science projects is a fun and worthwhile way to do so. She will be outside doing hawk migration watches in the spring at her site she created in Cooper, Maine. She will especially watch for Golden Eagles of course!

Karen Holmes be-

Aroostook County US RT 1 BEGINS AT “LA PORTE DU NORD”

SPORTING JOURNAL OPENS ITS VAST ARCHIVES TO ALL DIGITAL SUBSCRIBERS! For a modest fee of $15.00 a year for a digital subscription, we are now proud to offer our readers a wonderful collection of digital issues from the archives of the Nortrhwoods Sporting Journal, the most comprehensive sporting magazine in the Northeast. Our archives feature the latest issues, as well as the oldies and goodies from years past.

For nearly 30 years, the Northwoods Sporting Journal has been the monthly sporting magazine for hunters, anglers and outdoor recreationists from every corner of the Northeast and beyond. Featuring more than 50 columnists, we aim to entertain and inform outdoors people in a way that helps them connect throughout the year with their favorite place, the Great Outdoors.

Now with a $15.00 yearly subscription and the click of your mouse, you can read our latest digital issues of the Sporting Journal, or browse at your heart’s content through past issues for those popular Me and Joe stories missed, or re-read those other favoirite columnists from past issues.

To sign up for a $15.00 digital subscription, visit our website at

www.sportingjournal.com and click on “issues.”

~ V. Paul Reyolds, Editor

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The Northwoods Sporting Journal is accepting applications for a full or part time advertising sales representative to sell contract advertising in the Sporting Journal to customers in northern Maine. This position requires a self-motivated individual with communication and basic computer skills and some knowledge of the outdoors. The successful candidate will also have the ability to interact with potential advertisers by phone, email or in person. Some sales experience helpful, but not mandatory. We will train the right person, and pay a generous commission on all sales. Interested applicants should contact the editor, V. Paul Reynolds, at 207-745-3133 or email us your resume and contact information at vpaulr@tds.net

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Page 20

Aroostook Woods & Water

Northwoods Sporting Journal

by Mike Maynard, Perham, ME Well, we went to camp last weekend. Not newsworthy by itself; but this time we drove in. On March 2nd! The usual spring ritual involves dragging a tractor up to camp around the first week of April.

the tractor all day. Mostly we just enjoy the sun and throw snowballs at him while he’s working.

If the weather is bad on a ‘dig-out’ weekend, we’ll leave Bob up on the road and we’ll slog our

April 2024

Fluky Aroostook Winter

But not this year. It’s April, and at this point, we should be curb-stomping the memory of this pathetic winter into a little grease spot out on the ice (if there’s even any ice left).

No snow, relatively speaking, and dangerous ice conditions made for a very frustrating season. I can’t really complain about the

premier event. And then it rained on it.

No hordes of snow sledders descending on The County this winter like a plague of Pharaonic locusts, throwing their discretionary income all about like manna from heaven.

a proverbial diamond in a goat’s tookus, perhaps it comes in the form of less ice-fishing pressure. By the first weekend in March, if your shack was still out on the ice you were a brave soul indeed. We watched from the safety of the deck

Now, just wait, before all you downstate riders get all uppity about that last sentence, I did not call you a plague of locusts; I just used it as a metaphor (a good one, too). Please, keep driving up here and spending all your cash money; we love you.

If you’re searching through the remnants of this wretched winter for

as a bob house on the other side of the lake was desperately being yarded out of the ice. Before the rescue party arrived, the shack was sitting at a precarious 45-degree list to port as it slowly melted into the disappearing ice. They got it out, but I wonder how many other shacks will find their way into the water in the next couple of weeks?

The fish caught a big break this winter. You couldn’t get onto the ice until late, and then Mother Nature ran us off pretty damn quick.

Horrible winter, just horrible.

We aren’t likely to get the benefit of snow-melt to infuse our lakes and rivers with a good head of water this spring either; there isn’t anything to melt off. I ran up to the Fish River the other day to check on the thoroughfares. I saw gravel bars where I’ve never seen them before. If you have a canoe trip planned for this spring, get it in quick.

But not this year. It’s April, and at this point, we should be curb-stomping the memory of this pathetic winter into a little grease spot out on the ice (if there’s even any ice left).

No snow, relatively speaking, and dangerous ice conditions made for a very frustrating season.

Then we spend the weekend trying to dig our way down the old camp road.

We need the deck time so we can get an early start on our farmer tans. In an average snow year, it can take more than one weekend to get in. But it’s not as laborintensive at it sounds; most of the time we’ll just sit up out of the way on a glacier, sipping a tasty beverage, while Bob slaves away on

way into camp. We’ll light a fire, maybe shovel the roof off if there’s a pile of it still up there. Usually, we just break out a deck of cards and a bottle of Irish fortitude. Once in a while a twinge of sympathy erupts and someone will ask, “Been a few hours, should somebody go check on Bob?” and we’ll be like, “If he ain’t down here by dark I’ll walk a beer up to him”.

Aroostook County

lack of -40 below weather, my woodpile certainly enjoyed the reprieve. But not having a sustainable snowpack is devastating to our economy. The Can-Am sled dog races in Fort Kent were cancelled! When was the last time that ever happened?! Hint: …never.

The SnowBowl events in Caribou were nothing but unfulfilled fantasies by the time they had to haul 600 truckloads of muddy snow over to the mall in Presque Isle to try and salvage the

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(Winter cont. pg 25)

Northwoods Sporting Journal

April 2024

Me & Joe (Cont. from pg 17) Joe’s original creation the judges tried his stew first.

Each man blew delicately on his spoonful of stew and then lifted it to his mouth.

Smiles and murmurs of satisfaction came from around the table.

“Great stew, Joe,” the Reverend smiled. “Even better than last week’s, I think.”

“Try mine!” Olson said impatiently. Obligingly, the seven men turned to the other bowls and went through the same spooning and blowing ritual. Each lifted the spoon confidently to his mouth. The crowd looked on expectantly.

There was a moment of pause, pregnant with anticipation. Then a stricken look appeared on the Reverend’s face. Each of the deacons seemed unable to breathe.

Their mouths sucked in like they’d bitten into lemons.

As one man, the seven judges turned and spat the stew onto the ground.

“What…what…but,” Olson stared from one man to the other, facing seven pairs of accusing eyes.

“What’s the matter? I made the stew exactly right! I even added the secret…”

He looked guiltily at Joe, “my secret ingredient at jest the right time!”

“I don’t know what you’re trying to pull, Olson,” the Reverend threw down his napkin and stood up. “But we certainly don’t

think this is funny!” Turning to Joe, he handed over the K-Bar knife.

“Here Joe. I don’t think any of us have any doubt that you won this fair and square!”

“Thanks, Reverent,” Joe said earnestly. “This here is somethin’ I’ll always treasure. She’ll come in real handy in my guidin’ an’ such.” He looked over at where Olson Bake was just ladling up a large spoonful of his own stew. Immediately, the fat manes lips sucked in, his eyes bulged and his cheeks turned red.

He quickly spat out the stew into the grass.

“I don’t understand!” he sputtered. “I done everything right!”

Joe reached over and stuck a finger into the bowl of stew. Touching it to his tongue, he grimaced. “I kin see why you call it ‘Boom Chain Stew’, Ols. You kin kind of taste the metal an’ maybe some rust.”

Standing beside Joe, Angora Hymnal snorted.

“He probably doesn’t use the same secret ingredient you do, Joe.” “Oh, I suspect he does,” Joe said with a slight smile. “I guess it’s alright to share that secret ingredient. I really don’t mind.

See, they was a lot of red oaks on that sand bar that day. I gathered me a bunch of acorns and popped out the nuts. Added them in ‘bout an hour before the stew was ready. Called it my secret ingredient. You

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kin see the chopped pieces in the stew.” He held up a spoonful from his own pot.

“Course, the thing about red oak acorns is, you got to chop up the nuts an’ soak ‘um in a couple of changes of water before you put ‘um in the stew.

Them nuts is right full

of tannin an’ if you don’t soak it out, that stew will be bitter as he…heck.” He sipped from the spoon and smiled appreciatively before looking over at Bake’s stricken face.

“But I ‘spect you know that already, don’t yer Olson?”

Page 21

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 22

Young Blood

by Jake Guay, Phillips, ME Editor ’s note: The Sporting Journal is proud to announce that we have added the name of Jacob Guay to our formidable stable of talented monthly writers. To the Journal, Jacob is unique because of his age: he is our first teenage columnist! He is thoughtful and loves to tell his stories. Welcome aboard Jake.

In the middle of an overgrown road in T4-R16 sat a white, plastic barrel.

This barrel had gallons of animal crackers (consider the irony there: edible animals used as an attractant

for edible animals) and other goodies piled up inside. Peanut butter was smeared just to the right of the square hole on the up-

per half of the barrel. The tree to the left of the barrel had peanut butter slathered haphazardly on the bark.

The barrel resembled an edible snowman that was melting in the September heat. This barrel was a

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bear attractant. Scented liquid fired from spray bottles dripped from trees.

This barrel was the reason I sat in a pop-up blind next to my Grampy with a rifle across my lap and a Twinkie in either hand.

The barrel sat in the

moving ever westward, making orange marks on whatever it touched. Growing shadows hung behind the trees.

I was tired of reading

galloping thuds stole my attention. A black blur thundered past the barrel and drew itself briskly up to its full height, watching carefully. It put its front

an annoying sci-fi book, so I took a moment to observe everything outside the blind. The wind, although softer, was whistling through the leaves in ever-darker trees. Birds twittered. I could hear something that was more likely a squirrel than a bear.

I assumed so because of the restless pattern it seemed to follow. By the bait barrel I saw a chipmunk. I could hear a distant stream running. Grampy stretched.

A crash followed by

feet on the ground. Peering through my scope, I saw the bear stand and lick the baited tree. An off-centered white mark was on the bear’s chest.

This was my chance.

The bear was upright, focused on the tree, and broadside. I killed the bear.

I knew it before I had proof.

When the thrashing was done, it announced its death with four mournful wails. After this, I stood up.

I moved anxiously toward the bait. Rustling sounds traded places with dwindling tinnitus following the kill shot. My trophy was there, a pile of dark fur that could have been asleep, were it not for the blood everywhere. The bullet hole was clean. The bear didn’t even have the strength to run. I turned it over on its back, looking for the white chest patch.

My eyes had not deceived me.

About that time, a small, gravelly moan flattened my adrenaline the way my .308 bullet flat-

A crash followed by galloping thuds stole my attention. A black blur thundered past the barrel and drew itself briskly up to its full height, watching carefully.

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center of my shooting lane, behind a stationary tree. If I leaned to my left a little, I could see the hacksawed hole at the front. On the left hand side of the barrel was the PB-smeared tree.

To the left of the PB tree was a dense collection of spruce trees I couldn’t see.

To the right was a grassy, muddy length of road that went far beyond the scope of this story.

Leaves were dancing mellowly in a small breeze.

Birdsong procured lyrics, and a chipmunk held the backbeat. Squirrels shouted trills from above, completing the tune. The sun was

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(Bear cont. pg 25)

Northwoods Sporting Journal

April 2024

Andy’s New Micro Flash Jigs

The year was 2016, the Professional Bass Angler was Edwin Evers, the tournament was the B.A.S.S. Bassmaster Classic on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees.

most honored moments within my entire career, knowing my hand tied custom jig design won the world championship Bassmaster 46th Annual Classic,” echoed Andy.

Page 23

Best Bassin’

Over his forty-three years of hand tying all his custom jigs many major professional bass tournaments have been won tying Andy’s Jigs unto the end of the line. “A Bassmaster Elite Tournament on Kentucky Lake, Major League Fishing tournament in Tex-

by Bill Decoteau, Hampden, MA with a new jig design! “I was thrilled when Dave approached me with a new jig head design he had developed. Dave is one of the most knowledgeable bass anglers not only in Connecticut, but within the entire Northeast Region,”

something totally different than the common football, round ball, or standup head design. Not, that these designs are bad I just feel bass have seen these specific jig heads rigged with a variety of baits so often they many times just ignore them.”

So, it wasn’t so much of a surprise when Connecticut’s multi-time State Team Qualifier and finesse guru Dave Dziob contacted Andy’s Custom Bass Lures with a new jig design! as on Lake Conroe, Lake of the Ozarks was another.

And of course, numerous tournaments throughout New England and Canada, including countless tournament wins here in Connecticut,” recalls Vallombroso.

So, it wasn’t so much of a surprise when Connecticut’s multi-time State Team Qualifier and finesse guru Dave Dziob contacted Andy’s Custom Bass Lures

stated Vallombroso.

The unique jig head Dziob designed for his finesse jig caught my attention immediately. Anticipation directed my expectation towards maybe a modified football or flatten ball head jig design…But. I wasn’t even close! It was a cone shaped bullet jig head.

Dave Dziob proceeded to enlighten me as to his reasoning process. “I wanted

Dziob continued, “My design incorporates a trailer keeper as part of the jig head. Together with a 90-degree round bend Owner Black Nichol #1 jig-hook, the jig will swim with a balanced horizontal profile. Additionally, this new jig head designed has demonstrated more often to pop loose from rocks, where a football head will (Jigs cont. pg 25)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 24

A Guide’s Reward

The Gun Cabinet

by John Floyd, Webster Plantation, ME Working full-time as a Registered Maine Guide, I get asked a lot of questions from folks. Some are people I interact with outside of the sporting community but most are sportsmen and women.

And because I operate throughout all of Maine’s fishing and hunting sea-

April 2024

own?” and “Do you miss it?”

When I answer, “Not as much as I used to and not really”, I can’t help but grin when I see the look of confusion on their faces. I then explain the rewards of guiding.

Many guides reach a point in their personal

the prevailing conditions.

I’m pointing out that dark spot under an overhanging branch or the swirl by a submerged log. And I get to net a lot of fish.

pieces on the board for my clients and stepping back to the sidelines to coach them on provides me great satisfaction.

Guiding for a living

The two questions most asked when I talk with sports I’m guiding is ‘Do you ever get time to hunt and fish on your own?’ and ‘Do you miss it?’ sons, clients of all persuasions are interested in what I do. Understandably, they are curious about the lifestyle of someone who works in a field they only get to participate in as a hobby or pastime.

Is this your full-time job? What do you do in between seasons? What did you do before?

The two questions most asked when I talk with sports I’m guiding is ‘Do you ever get time to hunt and fish on your

Milford

sporting career where they have accomplished most of what they have set out to do. The natural progression for an experienced hunter or angler is to help and assist others in their goals. Sharing that experience and a passion with sportsmen is what makes a good guide.

And here is the kicker.

Every day I’m on the water with clients, in a sense, I’m fishing too. I may have a paddle in my hands but make no mistake; I’m fishing all the same. I advise on what lure to tie on for

A guide’s reward can be found on the faces of their clients.

The same goes for isn’t a job, not in the conguiding hunters. While it’s ventional sense anyway. been a few seasons since It is more of an all-enI pulled a trigger, the pro- compassing lifestyle. Process of finding game sign, fessional guides live and establishing hunt plans breathe to hunt and fish. and reading the hidden When we are not guiding, stories in the woods has we are preparing to guide always been exciting for – tying flies, hanging tree me. Putting all the chess stands, scouting, and maintaining equipment.

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Resume and references to P.O. Box 27, Ashland, ME 04732

a lot more time on the water and in the woods than if I had a conventional career.

Every time one of my clients is successful, a small part of that victory is mine to cherish. We share that experience forever, together. Guiding clients to their first bear, first moose, and first trophy fish is about as good as it gets for a guide.

I once had a family on the boat with a young angler. The parents told me in confidence they just wanted to see the eight year old catch a fish - any fish.

They had zero experience, hailing from a large city in Connecticut. The look on their faces and the excitement that followed when the young fella reeled in a 19-inch smallmouth bass from one of my favorite coves on Junior Lake was the very definition of euphoria. And that is the true guide’s reward.

John is a Registered Maine Guide, an NRA Certified Instructor and is the owner of Tucker Ridge Outdoors in Webster Plantation, Maine. He is also a member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association. Reach him at john@tuckerridge.me or on Facebook @tuckerridgeoutdoors

Hope Everyone Had a Happy Easter!

April 2024

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Winter

Bear

(Cont. from pg 20)

(Cont. from pg 22)

(Cont. from pg 23)

Without an influx of water, you’ll be dragging the canoe down the river before Memorial Day. I drove down to Brewer back in February for the LUPC vote on the Wolfden Mining rezoning petition, and LUPC handed Wolfden an unambiguous defeat.

I’m not going to debate the need for jobs in Penobscot County, the need is obvious, but a metallic minerals mine at Pickett Mountain is absolutely the wrong solution to that particular problem. The same should be said for Irving’s neverending quest to turn Bald Mountain into the largest open-pit mine east of Wyoming. Alright, here endeth today’s foray into deep political waters; beyond here be dragons.

I drove down to Brewer again a couple of weeks later for the annual ‘Cabin Fever Reliever’ event. It was a nice way to get out of the house for a day and meet up with some old friends. But here’s the thing about old friends, sometimes they wait until you’re not looking, and then they sneak up on your truck and load it down with all their unwanted fly-tying parts and pieces. Yeah, you know who you are… Mike. And I learned more about spey casting from Ron Eagle Elk in two hours than I have in two years of practicing it on my own. When Jedi spey-casters speak, you listen. Enough with this awful winter, let’s go enjoy spring!

tened the creature before me. My heart fell to my stomach, and proceeded to twist into a knot. I tried to untie the knot in my head. Could I justify killing a mother just because it was allowed? Was the guilt there for no reason other than to paralyze me? I walked a short way into the brush to find not one, but two young bear cubs up in trees. What would become of them now?

The cubs themselves would very likely survive.

But would that justify it?

I don’t regret having harvested that sow, but I also don’t know if I can celebrate killing a “mommy bear”. Do I skip the celebration because I’m sorry for killing her? Should I embrace the guilt and cry harder, because the cubs have lost more than I have?

There’s always a time where I grieve for a creature I’ve killed, but from now on, I think I’ll savor it instead of evading it.

Today, I choose to write.

If I have a say in it, the majesty of that mother bear deserves to live on.

Perhaps this can be the eulogy she should have had.

I don’t have the answers, and that, obviously, has me losing sleep. But I won’t let the whole bear die. Her essence, captured by his story, is still roaming the woods. Alive.

stay snagged.”

Another factor to the Micro Finesse Flash Jig design, is its ability to be multifunctional. Both Dziob and Vallombroso agree the Micro Flash Jig has yearround capabilities. “Dragging this jig design the nose will dig into the bottom pulling the hook up exposing the trailer to curious bass. Add a small swimbait trailer and the Micro Flash Jig is an excellent tool for covering water as well as swimming through grass.

A quick snapping motion and the Micro Jig explodes from the grass like a fleeing baitfish,” instructs Dave Dziob.

“This is a small finesse profile jig, hand tied with old school flat cut fine rubber skirt material with silicone skirt tabs added in an accent color and a touch of Krystal Flash for enticement,” replied Vallombroso. Adding, “The jig head is painted with a Stardust finish which is 10X stronger than powder coat!”

A quick online search to Andy’s Custom Bass Lures, and anglers will appreciate Andy’s Micro Flash Jigs are available in four sizes 1/16, 1/8 oz. with Owner #1 Black Nichol Hook and 3/16, 1/4 oz. with Owner 1/0 Black Nichol Hook. And nine Flash colors; Blk/Blu, Blk/Brn, Blk/ Purple, Blk/Blu Neon, Blk Craw, Grn Craw, Melon Craw, Brn Craw, Brn/Orange. Andy’s New Micro Flash Jigs are sold two per package for $7.98. (www.

AndysCustomBassLures. com or contact Andy @ 1.203.887.4770)

Mike Maynard can be reached at perhamtrout@ gmail.com

Jacob Guay is a homeschooled teen who loves Creation as much as he loves to write. Curious readers can learn more by emailing him at jaguay26@gmail.com

Jigs

Page 25

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 26

“The Trail Rider”

by Dan Wilson, Bowdoinham, ME Looking forward, looking back, looking side to side is what we do when operating a recreational vehicle, but how often do we look up? I look up a lot, cresting a hill and observ-

nomenon very often, but it sounds like it is more common than I thought. “The moon’s halo or lunar halo is an optical illusion that causes a large bright ring to surround the moon. This

Looking Up

In some Native American folklore, the halo around the moon might be seen as good luck, holding significant spiritual meaning.

In addition to the planets Mars and Jupiter shining brightly in the night sky in Maine, the Lyrid meteor shower will reach its peak in late April,

April 2024

paring to view the eclipse.

We had recently been to the Planetarium in Portland, ME, and I bought a pair of special glasses made to protect your eyes dur-

And with this excitement being prepared for it and viewing it safely is paramount. NASA has a comprehensive look at Eye Safety During a Total Solar

ing an eclipse. They were made of black cardboard and were reminiscent of 3D glasses, only with shiny silver lenses. We also made viewing boxes where the shape of the eclipse would be viewable inside, being projected from a pin hole on the side of the box.

It’s exciting to think we’ll have a good view of the total solar eclipse.

Eclipse. (https://science. nasa.gov/eclipses/futureeclipses/eclipse-2024/ safety/) All in all, make sure to not look directly at the sun without glasses that comply with the ISO 12312-2 international standard or through an indirect viewing method. It might also be best to park your 4-wheeler, cut your boat engine, or pull safely to the side of the road in your vehicle so as to not be a distracted driver, and focus on witnessing the magnificent display and wonder of a total solar eclipse in Maine.

Maine is in for a treat April 8th, 2024, being in line for a total solar eclipse. The moon will pass in front of the sun, fully blocking the face of the sun. I remember an eclipse in the early 90’s where my entire elementary school was preparing to view the eclipse. ing a sunset or basking in the sunlight backed by blue sky and fluffy clouds. I look up to count the stars, spot constellations, and soak up moonbeams. Whether on a snowmobile or 4-wheeler, there’s always beauty to observe all around us.

The weather patterns this year have provided quite a spectacle in the night sky, where on several occasions, I saw a ring around the moon. I don’t remember seeing this phe-

striking and often beautiful halo around the moon is caused by the refraction of moonlight from ice crystals in the upper atmosphere.” (https://www.space.com/ moon-halo) There are some superstitions that say the halo around the moon signals a bad winter, but I wonder if that means bad as in lots of snow and turbulent weather, or does it mean bad that we won’t get much snow or ice accumulation?

so there is a good chance you might be able to catch a few shooting stars if you’re out for an evening ride or are staying up late, gazing at the stars outside of camp.

Maine is in for a treat April 8th, 2024, being in line for a total solar eclipse.

The moon will pass in front of the sun, fully blocking the face of the sun. I remember an eclipse in the early 90’s where my entire elementary school was pre-

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 27

Kineo Currents

Arctic Charr Success Arctic charr, like the brook trout, have a rare home here in the north woods. The charr are a holdover from the last glacial age and thrive in fresh, super cold waters, like here in northern Maine, Canada, and Alaska. In northern Canada, they can grow to be huge and super colorful,

food? But it backfired. The illegal introduction caused all sorts of problems for the charr, with a real result that the pond was losing its charr population.

In 2012, Moosehead Regional Biologist Tim Obrey and his crew decided to try a reclamation of the pond. It was a drastic move

He reported that they were able to capture about 100 charr, including nine of the 10 tagged fish, and almost 300 adult brook trout. These fish were held at Mountain Springs Trout Farm in Frenchville, where hatchery operator Gary Picard successfully raised them. Several generations were reared there, while Wadleigh underwent the reclamation. During rec-

by Suzanne AuClair, Rockwood, ME The biologists monitored tive and wild brook trout, the pond over the years, but deserve our most serious did no netting to test if the efforts for conservation. charr population had grown This will ensure that you as they did not want to and future generations have cause additional mortality. an opportunity to witness Last summer, eleven these extraordinary fish.” years after the pond was That about says it all. reclaimed, Obrey said they Today, in this day and age, made a few short net sets, I am thrilled to live in the and were pleased to see north woods, a place that

Wadleigh Pond is one of those places, and one of Maine’s success stories. A while back, someone had the idea of putting rainbow smelts into the pond. Maybe with the idea the smelt would be good food? But it backfired.

with bright orange undersides. In the few discrete ponds where they still exist here in Maine, their coloring can vary, as it can in other locations, and depend on a lot of factors, including climate, time of year, temperatures, and the food they eat.

One place we liked to go to was Wadleigh Pond, where we have seen them small and silvery, or with that pretty orange glow.

They aren’t a fighting fish, so anglers may not enjoy catching them. But, just knowing that they are there is neat in itself — that the conditions still exist in Maine that let Arctic charr thrive and live wild.

Wadleigh Pond is one of those places, and one of Maine’s success stories.

A while back, someone had the idea of putting rainbow smelts into the pond. Maybe with the idea the smelt would be good

in an effort to preserve this native strain of fish. They implanted radio telemetry tags in 10 adult charr in the spring, then returned in the fall to locate those and hopefully others during their fall spawning.

lamation, a chemical is dispersed in the water that kills everything. Much later, the progeny of the held charr and brook trout were restocked over the following two years, with a catch and release rule put in place, with the idea that these fish may survive and find their spawning areas.

Then, it was a waiting game to see how well the charr and trout might do.

there were multiple age classes of both Arctic charr and brook trout. He says fishing reports indicate abundant populations and excellent fishing.

He counts the reclamation of Wadleigh Pond one of their most important successes, “Arctic charr are a unique resource here in Maine and, like our na-

is still that clear. Maine is the only state outside of Alaska to have any native Arctic charr, and the charr, like our brook trout, are sensitive to changes in their natural ecosystems.

Northern Maine is pretty special for that. So, even though I don’t go to Wadleigh that often, just the idea (Charr cont. pg 30)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 28

Evicted?

From Craig Pond

by Bob Mercer, Bucksport, ME I have been reading a wonderful book by Bill Geagan, “The Good Trail.” In his story he related how much he enjoyed his neighborhood squirrel, Mr. Twitchy Britches.

“You aren’t allowed to live here anymore”. Considering that squirrels have lived here for thousands of years, I proposed a deal.

My outhouse at my camp is very open at the top

On a more significant note, let’s explore the Indigenous Peoples. They, too, had lived here for thousands of years, taking no more from the land than they needed to survive.

Enter the Europeans fleeing a feudal system of never being able to own their own land. In order to own

Now I realize the possibility of being evicted just as the squirrels and the indigenous peoples have been. As property values soar, the value of my little piece of heaven also rises. I have no fear of being forced off like the squirrels and Indigenous People, but by not being able to afford the taxes placed on the land by the government.

Fast forward to today and most folks shoot squirrels because they don’t want them around for fear of them getting inside. One day after I had shot my latest victim at my camp, it occurred to me, “What right do I have to move into the squirrel’s neighborhood and then tell the squirrel,

under the eaves. I stood in a prominent place in my backyard and said loudly, “Listen up! You squirrels can have the outhouse and I won’t bother you, but if I see signs of you trying to get into the camp, I will start shooting you again”. I have had no problems with squirrels since.

land, they had to remove the folks currently living on it. The European newcomers occupied the land over a period of decades, until Indigenous peoples were mostly on reservations. They were moved from all over Maine, for example, to reservations in Old Town, Princeton,

Perry, Big Lake, etc.

With this transition, land was not used as a system of sustenance but a resource for exploitation and profit. From the rivers and forests of Maine, to the goldfields of California, the goal became to acquire the materials, from Kings Pine, prairie grass, buffalo, to gold, and get out with the profit. Others displaced the original occupants and took up residence on land that they would now own for the first time.

Is it any wonder the Indigenous Peoples are still upset and demanding return of their original autonomy, resources and rights?

With that history, I face the future. I have lived on the shores of Craig Pond in Orland every summer of my life. My folks built their camp the summer I

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was born. They wanted to live a rustic life for at least part of the year. That meant an ice box with ice carved from the pond in winter, an outhouse, and kerosene or gasoline lamps and lanterns. They eventually progressed through LP gas and finally electricity.

However, the rustic concept never faded. In 1968, I had the opportunity to have a little piece of this heavenly pond upon which I was raised. I jumped at it and we built our camp.

We raised a family similar to how my folks raised us, close to nature with no TV and with as little of the modern conveniences as was reasonable. I have loved and enjoyed this lifestyle for every summer of my seventy seven years.

Now I realize the possibility of being evicted just as the squirrels and the indigenous peoples have been. As property values soar, the value of my little piece of heaven also rises.

I have no fear of being forced off like the squirrels and Indigenous People, but by not being able to afford the taxes placed on the land by the government.

We watched this happen in the 1950’s and 1960’s in our coastal communities.

Land values have soared and folks that have lived on the coast for generations can no longer afford the taxes. Folks are now moving ever increasingly to our lakes and ponds, not to live a rustic lifestyle but to have a waterfront home with all the amenities. This demand is driving land values up at a record pace and with it the tax rate.

With the specter of this (Evicted cont. pg 30)

April 2024

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Large Togue Wins the Schoodic Lake Ice Fishing Derby

According to a report in the Bangor Daily News by senior outdooes editor, Julie Harris, Rachel McMannus, a 22 year old ice fisherman from Milo, won the 62nd Annual Schoodic Lake Ice Fishing Derby over President’s weekend at Schoodic Lake. Just before the derby deadline, McMannus caught an 8 lb togue (lake trout) through the ice with just a few minutes to spare.

A happy Rachel McMannus with her large togue that won her a first place in the annual ice fishing derby at Schoodic Lake. ( Photo courtesy of Rachel McMannus) “McMannus is not the only family member who won. Lee McMannus won a $250 gift card in the prize drawings. It’s the first thing he’s ever won in the derby,” reported the BDN. The placements in the other fish categories in the derby were: Salmon, David Audet, Winthrop, 6.050 pounds, 26 inches. Next largest was caught by Ethan Allen, Williamsburg, 5.720, 26 ¾ inches, followed by Ray Thibodeau of West Enfield, 5.620 pounds, 27 inches.

Page 29

inches, and Jimmy Chaison, Lakeview Plantation, 4.705 pounds, 27 inches.

Perch, Joseph Arsenault, Lagrange, 1.685 pounds, 14 inches, followed by Jordan Decker, Milo, 1.520, 14 inches, and Jake Turner Lagrange, 1.520, 13 ¼ inches.

Pickerel, Abby Herbest, Milo, 3.615 pounds, 23 ¾ inches, followed by Michael Kaselig, Frankfort, 3.580 pounds, 24 ½ inches, and Chuck Wooten, Bowerbank, 3.440 pounds, 24 ½ inches.

From all reports, the Schoodic Lake Derby was Bass, Jarrod Hjort, 29 ½ inches, followed by Enfield, 5.860 pounds, 21 Ashley Croll, West Gar- a big success with heavy inches, followed by Ricky diner, 4.725 pounds, 27 participation.

Hughes, Corinth, 5.490 pounds, 20 ½ inches and Brantly Pierce, Lagrange, 4.940 pounds, 20 ½ inches.

Cusk, Marco Zeganna, Hermon, 6.315 pounds,

Trout, Tom Russell, Lagrange, 2.795 pounds, 20 ½ inches. He also had the third-place fish at 2.280 pounds, 19 inches. Second place fish was caught by Joe Washburn of Brownville, 2.410 pounds, 20 inches.

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News

(Cont. from pg 13) culty navigating a turn at a slow speed. Several of his riding companions came to his aid within seconds but immediately found him to be unresponsive.

Investigators believe that the victim likely suffered a medical emergency at the time of the incident and are working with the Medical Examiner’s Office on the investigation.

At this time the identity of the victim is being withheld pending notifica-

tion of his family. Conservation Officers would like to thank the many professionals, volunteers, and members of the public who did all that they could to try and help the victim in his time of need.

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Ongoing since 1993, the NH Striped Bass Angler Survey has been a valuable asset in managing this species. Participating (News cont. pg 35)

Charr

April 2024

gion for the past 29 years.

She produced Maine’s reference anthology, “The (Cont. from pg 27) Origin, Formation, and of knowing that the charr, History of Maine’s Inland and the trout, are there, and Fisheries Division.” thriving, is great in itself. I hope that our children and our children’s children will also know them, see them, (Cont. from pg 28) catch them, and eat them.

And that they are still plen- eviction happening to me, tiful in the wild.

I look at the squirrels and Indigenous Peoples differSuzanne AuClair is ently and with more coman avid outdoorswoman. passion and understanding.

She lives near Rockwood To some, a summer camp and has been writing about represents a luxury, to me the Moosehead Lake Re- and my family it is a way of life, ingrained over the LENNIE’S SUPERETTE generations. Eviction now is not just a word but the (207) 746-5100 •Non-Res and Res Hunting & Fishing Licenses specter of a reality. Louise Dickenson Rich says it best •Maine T-Shirts & Sweats • Gift Items in her book, We Took to •Sandwiches • Cold Soda & Beer To Go the Woods, “We knew then ON •Gas & Oil • Pizza • ATM • Coffee that it is true, that the only ITS-83 •Citgo Regular & Ethanol-free Gas way to know how much •24 Hour Pay-at-the Pump Gas 2201 MEDWAY ROAD • MEDWAY, MAINE (ON RTE 157) you love a thing is to see it in peril of being lost.” As this way of my life may be in peril I wonder what other traditions I cherish may also be threatened by forces over which I have little or no control. Makes you think, doesn’t it?

Evicted

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April 2024

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 31

Family Emergency Code Word

Every family should have an emergency code word that can be used in a sentence to say “I’m in trouble, help, come get me.”

Kids, especially teen agers, should know without a doubt it doesn’t matter what is happening; if they use the code word you WILL come get them without question or judgment.

Discus broken rules the next day but get them safe.

Let them know if they are at someone’s house they shouldn’t be at, if they are with people they are not supposed to be, even if they are underage and drunk, their safety is all that matters at the time.

Role play with your kids. This might be a phone call: “Mom, I’m at Julie’s house. We are having pizza and everything is good. Her mom said I can stay the night. Also, I know what I want for my birthday. I want a zebra.” You reply “You want a zebra for your birthday?” She says “Yup. I love our cat but I think we need a zebra too.” You say “ Ok. Have fun. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The family code word is zebra. Easy to remember but not something you normally say in conversation.

The only thing that matters

in the example phone call is location (Julie’s house) and the code word (zebra).

By using the code word they are saying “I’m in trouble. Drop everything

a family emergency and they HAVE to go with you.

Even if they ask to stay.

Make them leave with you.

Talk with your kid before anything happens.

Basics Of Survival

by Joe Frazier, Bangor, ME

and get home NOW. If they are someplace else, go there and get them. Do not leave until they are with you.

People will sometimes try to trick your kid into revealing Your kids should have the word. “ Tell me what the word is and I’ll tell you if that is a list of two or three people what your mom said.” They should never say the emergency (besides their parents) who can pick them up and they word to anyone except family. go with them no questions and say goodnight.

We and come get me NOW.” They need to know if they By asking about the zebra, don’t feel comfortable they had dinner and watched a asked. If an adult they don’t you are confirming they are will always have a safe way movie. We are having fun. know says “Your mom was to get out of any situation. But I lost my stuffed zebra. in an accident. She asked in trouble.

Texting is the same Their safety is more im- Can we look for it tomor- me to come get you.” your as a phone call. If they text portant than anything else. row?” “Sure. We will find kid should ask for the family emergency word. If the “Zebra” you drop every- Conversation about what your zebra tomorrow.”

Then, no matter where adult doesn’t know it, they thing and go. Give them an happened can wait till the you are or what you are should run away and find a out but make it your fault. next day.

If your child is young doing you drop everything (Code Word cont. pg 44) When you get to where they are, tell them there is they might be at your home with a babysitter and something is wrong. They call you to say goodnight.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 32

Wonderful Wild Turkey

On The Ridge

by Joe Judd Shelburne, MA As I stood high above this pasture in my beloved Shelburne, waiting for the first rays of sunlight to start dancing through the hardwoods, my mind raced back in time. It was 44 years ago this May, when I was standing in this exact

April 2024

opening day of the 2024 turkey hunting season was still over three weeks away, and that today was just a simple scouting trip. I was still waiting, and preparing, as I have done every year since that first morning back in 1980. And it’s my

turkeys began to rain down on me from every imaginable location, but I was no threat to any of them today.

Today I was just a friend, enjoying this special place while taking mental notes and preparing myself for what would be happening here in the days ahead!

And as I eventually, and cautiously, eased my way down this ridgeline to a spot that would bring me

additional hunting time and expand my knowledge even more. And in 1980 that wish became a reality, but little did I know back then, how the wild turkey would eventually consume me, while changing my life forever.

During that first Massachusetts season, only sixty-seven permits were issued, and the counties

many more years to come for those, such as I, who wait with anticipation, every year, for another opening day to begin!

As we continue to gear up again for the 2024 season, my hope is that our beloved wild turkeys will remain a part of our landscape, “forever and a day”. My commitment to that, and to this sport, will

you could hunt in consisted of Berkshire and Franklin counties. As luck would have it, I was only a spectator that morning listening from the sidelines - because I didn’t draw a tag during that very first Massachusetts season, and yes, I was more than disappointed! Back then, the season lasted less than a full week. Today it goes on for a month. In 1980, the bag limit was one bird. The limit today is two bearded birds in the spring (both on the same day if possible), and one turkey of either sex in the fall. Which is simply unbelievable for a state the size of ours. Today, over 23,000 permits are handed out, and you can hunt just about anywhere throughout the Commonwealth!

So, there’s no doubt, wild turkey hunting has come a long way since those incredibly early days in New England. And as I think about it now, I feel extremely thankful for those early years with, hopefully,

remain firmly entrenched, secure in knowing that others will follow to, “carry on the tradition”! I will continue to work, for as long as I can, to help future generations learn about the art of wild turkey hunting, along with the contentment of knowing that the gobble of this magnificent creature will always remain a part of our woodlands as long as there are hardwoods to move through, a ridge to climb, and a sunrise to greet those willing to come to these high places, waiting for the dawn of another New England springtime morning.

On this day, as dawn appeared in the eastern sky, the gobbling of wild turkeys began to rain down on me from every imaginable location, but I was no threat to any of them today. Today I was just a friend, enjoying this special place while taking mental notes and preparing myself for what would be happening here in the days ahead!

same spot, waiting for the same sunlight to appear as the first ever Massachusetts turkey hunting season was about to begin. And on this day, as the sun brought forth another springtime morning, I was still doing the exact same thing while waiting for another opening day to begin!

Forget the fact that

love for everything that revolves around a moment like this that keeps me coming back to this spot, and many more just like it, year after year, which I will continue to do until either my body gives up, or I am simply no longer here!

On this day, as dawn appeared in the eastern sky, the gobbling of wild

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closer to their location, I was content in knowing that all seemed well with my “Big Bird” friends that resided here, in this wonderful area that means so much to me! Yet, at the same time, I was boiling inside with excitement, knowing that the chess match with these gobblers was about to begin again!

It amazes me that four decades have passed since all of this started in Massachusetts. And that today the Massachusetts Wild Turkey has become a conservation success story for the ages, which is remarkably similar to Maine’s story when turkey hunting began in York County, ME back in 1986. For me it all began in 1978 before Massachusetts opened its woodlands to turkey hunting. Around this time is when I started chasing the “Ole Monarchs” in New York and Vermont with very minor success in those very early years. I was hoping back then that I would soon have another state to hunt, my home state to be exact, that would allow

Joe Judd is a lifelong hunter and sportsman. He is an outdoor writer, seminar speaker, member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association and a 2019 inductee into the N.E. Turkey Hunting Hall of Fame. Joe is also on the Quaker Boy Game Calls and Pro/Cabela’s Pro-staff.

April 2024

Northwoods Sporting Journal Guns & Ammo:

Volcanic News

Some of you know the origins of the lever action firearm. For those of you who don’t, here is a bit of a gun trivia nugget. When Horace Smith and Daniel B. Wesson were struggling to get their company off the ground, they had a design for a lever action handgun.

The gun was called the

One hundred and seventy years later, Smith & Wesson has again entered the lever gun world. The premier offering is called the Model 1854. It is a traditional style lever action hunting rifle with some useful and interesting features.

“Volcanic”. The unique design was challenging in a handgun, especially given the cartridge designs of the time. Reliability and ease of function were the biggest obstacles to overcome.

The fledgling company was strapped for cash and was forced to sell the Volcanic patent. The buyer was none other than Oliver Winchester. The year was 1854. Most everyone knows what came after that. One hundred and seventy years later, Smith &

Wesson has again entered the lever gun world. The premier offering is called the Model 1854. It is a traditional style lever action hunting rifle with some useful and interesting features.

The rifle has a 19.25” 410 stainless steel barrel with a threaded muzzle and a protected thread cap to accommodate a suppressor.

that are in the tube. The round in the chamber must still be manually ejected.

Magazine capacity is 9 rounds. The initial offering will be in .44 Remington Mag. The overall length is 36”. The weight is 6.8 lbs.

The MSRP is $1279. Other calibers to come.

I am sure the initial demand for this gun will be high, but in my opinion, to sustain that demand, of-

Page 33

A Guide’s Perspective

by Tom Kelly, Orient, ME

In other issues, I have recently taught a couple of classes in Massachusetts.

I am here to tell you that to some degree, the liberal indoctrination is working.

Even people who are interested in our beloved sport have begun to drink the Koolaid. Prospective hunters who believe things like, if you don’t hunt with a bow, it’s not fair, semi-

class is a concern. Please be a good representative for our sport. Please teach our young hunters to be true sportsmen.

Tom is a Registered Maine Guide. He is the owner/operator of Shamrock Outfitters in Orient Maine with his wife Ellie.

He is a retired police officer as well as a retired manager from two major firearms manufacturers.

He is an NRA Certified Instructor as well as a Hunter Safety Instructor in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. You can reach Tom at Shamrock Outfitters (207) 694-2473. Please visit our Facebook Page: Shamrock Outfitters and Properties and come visit us on East Grand Lake.

The new lever action gun from Smith & Wesson.

The rifling is 1:20” right ferings in .460 S&W and auto firearms should be hand twist with 8 grooves. .500 S&W will give the eliminated, or baiting bears It has a gold bead XS sight customers something truly is un-sportsman like conforward and a ghost ring unique. This unique gun duct, etc. These opinions, rear sight. The receiver is deserves a unique caliber. for which they are entitled, forged 416 stainless-steel. The world already has a are not the majority. HowIt is drilled and tapped wide variety of .44 lever ever, the fact that they were to accept any accessories actions. My other thought present at a hunter safety made for the Marlin 1894. is that this product has The operating lever sports a never been made by this large loop to accommodate company before. If history gloved hands. The stock is can be believed, waiting a year or so to allow these textured black synthetic.

Call 207-732-4880 The forend features to be debugged in producM-Lock grooves to accom- tion would be wise. Just a or Email: info@sportingjournal.com modate accessories such thought. as lights and equipment rails. The mag tube setup is Send Us Your Favorite Game and Fish Recipes! very interesting. The rifle is Most outdoor folks like to eat what they bring home loaded through a side load- from the woods or the waters. And you like to cook it youring gate in the traditional self, too right? So what is your favorite culinary lashup with manner, yet the mag tube fish or fowl? The Northwoods Sporting Journal would like can be unloaded by a quick to know. And we invite you to help us share your proud twist of the tube releasing concoction with all of our readers. Our Northwoods Sportit to dump all the rounds ing Journal website:www.sportingjournal.com has a new

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Page 34

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Maine Wild Things Woods have it become so trust- now know that it was a in the wild.

Matt LaRoche, Shirley, ME

Guest writer: Ruth LaRoche

I am a third-generation ranger’s wife. I like to tell people that I married Matthew just to continue with my way of life. I may have come from the last era of ladies to willingly follow their husbands into the Maine woods. As a couple, we made a choice to live on just one income

wild animals in the wild and let nature take its course. But when a through traveler brings you a nest of baby robins that had been blown out of a tree by a storm, I would sound pretty heartless to say, “Go, put it back where you found it.”

So I tried my very best to take care of them but one by one they died. This be-

ing of humans that they lose their fear to their own demise. Such was the case for a fawn that my mother, Doris, once took in while living at Baxter State Park.

It was so used to being around campers that it was easily pilfered by a poacher in the campground.

When we lived at Churchill Dam in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, we had a couple of

Common Eider – a visitor from the sea.

The other strange bird that came in on a hurricane was a Cattle Egret. This big white bird wandered around our cabin for a few

April 2024

For more information about appropriate actions to take when encountering Maine wildlife, please go to: https://www.maine.gov/ ifw/blogs/mdifw-blog/ify if you-care-leave-them-

I had much better luck with mammals. Maybe because I was raising children of my own at the time and had been able to keep them alive. The trick is to keep the critter just long enough with a minimal amount of human contact as possible. because it was important to us to live together as a family. In doing so, we had many adventures.

Some of the adventures as a ranger’s wife, like my grandmother, Hilda Taylor and my mother, Doris T. Scott, I was called upon to host a variety of beings. Since I have previously written about hosting humans, this time I will write about the wild animals that ventured into our lives.

I think it best to leave

came the fate of all the other foul that were brought into my home. Maybe if I had had the availability of the internet back then I could have ‘you tubed’ how to help them.

I had much better luck with mammals. Maybe because I was raising children of my own at the time and had been able to keep them alive. The trick is to keep the critter just long enough with a minimal amount of human contact as possible.

It can be heartbreaking to

MAINE WOODS GUIDE SERVICE

interesting “dooryard visitors” that are to be remembered. Both of them ended up in my yard as the result of a summer hurricane but I didn’t invite them inside.

One was an odd duck.

I could identify many of the duck breeds in my area. He was a fine looking fellow with a black bottom side and a white upper side. As I was reaching for my Peterson Eastern Bird Guide, my husband came in exclaiming that a camper had told him it was a Peking duck.

After I was done chuckling, I told him the camper had meant for him to eat it! I

Pictured is my grandfather, Helon Taylor and a fawn that my mother, Doris, was asked to raise at Katahdin Stream Campground in Baxter State Park. days. Visitors thought I had there put out a lawn ornament – Matt LaRoche is a until they saw it move.

These last two visitors retired Superintendent of we just observed from a the Allagash Wilderness distance. I can only hope Waterway, owner of Maine that they eventually made Woods Guide Service and their way home. While an avid outdoorsman. He Nature can be cruel some- can be reached at 207times, I remind myself Na- 695-2877 or at matt.lature is freaking awesome roche2877@gmail.com See www.mainewoodsmost of the time.

Leave the wild things guide.com

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Let us help you. Contact our sales department at 207-732-4880 or check out the advertise page on our website at www.sportingjournal.com ““We have been using the Northwoods Sporting Journal to promote our business for years.

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April 2024

News

(Cont. from pg 30) volunteer anglers complete logbooks, which provide the Marine Division with information about their fishing trips. The volunteer angler surveys help the department gather length data on catch-and-release fish that cannot be obtained through annual creel surveys. This data is used to provide a more complete picture of New Hampshire’s striped bass fishery.

More recently implemented, the goal of the Striped Bass Citizen Science Project is to help the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries understand what factors influence the survival of striped bass after they are released.

The data collected from anglers includes tackle type used, hook placement,

Northwoods Sporting Journal

handling time, and environmental factors such as water and air temperature.

Even though upon release a majority of striped bass survive, recreational releases account for the largest source of mortality for the species. The diversity of fishing trip data from striped bass anglers is invaluable for both state and federal biologists in regulating the fishery.

If you are interested in participating in the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Striped Bass Volunteer Angler Survey, visit https://forms.office.co m/2024StripedBassAngler Survey or contact Emerald Wright at (603) 868-1095 or via email at Emerald.

Wright@wildlife.nh.gov

Director Position Posted

The Executive Direc-

tor position for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department has been posted. Director Scott Mason will finish his term in August of 2024. He has been serving in his role as head of the agency since August of 2020.

It is the New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission’s mandate to put forth a candidate for the Governor’s approval. Interested applicants can view the posting at: https:// www.wildlife.nh.gov/ about-new-hampshire-fishand-game/careers-newhampshire-fish-and-game For consideration, all applications must be postmarked by April 15, 2024.

Send a cover letter, resume, and professional references to: Commissioner Meggan M. Hodgson Chair, NH Fish and Game Commission Search Committee

Page 35

PO Box 53 Stratham, NH 0388

Arctic Charr Biologist Passes

the world studying Arctic charr in all their forms and environments.

Those who worked with Kercheis remember him as a highly dedicated fisheries biologist.

Trout advocate Bob Mallard recalls, “Fred was a wealth of knowledge in regard to Maine’s rare Arctic charr. He was easy to talk to and always willing to help. Few biologists I’ve worked with could bring it down to layman’s terms as well as Fred.”

Maine fisheries biologist Fred Kercheis passed away February 27 at his home in Carmel. He was 81.

A Fishery Research Biologist for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife out of their Bangor office, his work allowed him to work in all areas of the State and with all of Maine’s native fishes. Fred’s main research focus was on Arctic charr, especially those in Floods Pond. Because of his work with Arctic charr, Fred was invited to join the International Society of Arctic Downeast fisheries Charr Fanatics, a select biologist Greg Burr says, and exclusive group of “I worked with and for international Arctic charr Fred for many years in the experts. He has traveled (News cont. pg 44)

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Page 36

Northwoods Sporting Journal

View From The River

by Laurie Chandler Bremen, ME “You picked a great day to visit! They’ve been seeing otters and bitterns, and the alligators are out!”

The ranger is enthusiastic and not a bit worried, even after hearing that I will be in a folding kayak. As much as I’d love to see a river otter or an American bittern—that exquisitely camouflaged, reticent waterbird—my mind hears only one word.

brumation,” he continues.

“You don’t see them then.

But a day like today, up in the 70s, oh, they’ll be out.

Sunning on the banks, not moving much, but you’re gonna see some. If you see turtles, the alligators and snakes won’t be far behind.”

I had come to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge at the hearty recommendation of new

Alligators in the Okefenokee

timated 15,000 alligators.

The ranger has assured me that they are not aggressive. The most they will do, if I get too close, is to slide into the water.

My route will follow the Suwannee Canal for two miles. Constructed in the 1890s to drain the swamp for logging and farming, the canal now seems a natural part of the landscape. Straight as an arrow, but with ever-

April 2024

are just above the surface.

When I return weeks later, there are even more gators. I count at least twenty-four different individuals. I go farther this time, leaving the familiar canal for the pink trail into Chesser Prairie—a watery world of stunted cy-

stretched out right along the water’s edge across a small cove. Through the binoculars, I am amazed to see an unfamiliar waterbird standing mere inches from the alligator’s jaws. He is slim and handsome— speckled brown with a taupe chest, long straight

press, shivering lily pads, and mats of peat holding clumps of carnivorous pitcher plants. After the tunnel-like canal, the open expanses seem boundless.

It would be difficult to get lost, though, as the trail winds through a single open channel. The gators here are even bigger, and there is an abundance of bird life.

I have already had a close-up look at a bittern today, tucked in among the grasses as I drifted past.

When I eased back with the camera ready, I could see him cleverly sneaking away, one careful stretch of his long legs at a time.

Here, I see a variety of herons and egrets, and what I identify as a long-billed dowitcher.

This last bird is a brave soul. I have spotted a huge gator, probably twice as long as I am tall. He is

bill, and darker crown and eye stripe—and apparently unfazed by the alligator’s proximity. Farther along, a second massive gator faces me. As I marvel at this tableau, two white ibis take flight and wing away, startling me with their loud disgruntled calls.

Surely this must be the Okefenokee at its finest!

Out on the water, I am hyper alert. My eyes jump nervously from shore to shore, trying to spot any alligators before they see me. It is a while before a row of spikes, a dull dark green, resolves itself into an alligator back.

“You mean you think I’ll actually see an alligator?” I ask in astonishment.

Now don’t get me wrong. I bought this kayak to take down South, all the way to Louisiana bayou country. I knew that eventually I’d be paddling with gators. I just didn’t dream it would be today.

Not in January, just days after I’d shivered my way through a weekend with nighttime lows way down in the teens.

“Well, this time of year, the gators are usually in a state of torpor called

campground friends. Just days earlier, they’d witnessed magnificent flocks of sandhill cranes here.

They had come in through the refuge’s main entrance, near Folkston, Georgia.

This location features a visitor’s center, bike and boat rentals, and guided boat tours. The paddling trails are well mapped and even include some remote campsites.

As I assemble the kayak and gather my gear, I can already feel my heart pounding. The Okefenokee Swamp is home to an es-

changing shores. There are banks of waving grasses and, beyond, glimpses of the marshes known here as prairies. Elsewhere, tall old cypress drip Spanish moss, their knobby knees popping up through water stained black from tannic acid.

Out on the water, I am hyper alert. My eyes jump nervously from shore to shore, trying to spot any alligators before they see me. It is a while before a row of spikes, a dull dark green, resolves itself into an alligator back. Down that primeval row I find the tail. Then up to the head, lying flat on the muddy ground, almost invisible.

After that, I see alligators everywhere. Sunning or napping in plain sight or hidden back in the shadowy water. Big ones, and cute little, small ones.

Only two acknowledge my presence—a young one that twists away underwater and a large fellow that slowly sinks until his eyes

Laurie Apgar Chandler is the author of Through Woods & Waters, which provides an adventurous look at Maine’s Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, and Upwards, the story of her 2015 solo self-propelled thru-paddle of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. To purchase the books, or read more about this journey, visit www.laurieachandler. com

Northwoods Sporting Journal

April 2024

Page 37

Virtual Reality During a mid-February edition of the outdoor radio show Maine Outdoors, which I was filling in as a guest host for, we had a lively discussion with Maine’s deputy commissioner of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife about the new electronic game registration system that was put in place for turkey hunters this last year. By every account, it was a big success.

Sportsmen didn’t have to drive around looking for a tagging station; they could, with a click on their phone, register their game and then go to breakfast or to work.

We talked about how much everything in the paperwork administration of outdoor recreation has changed—and changed quickly. “Remember when we had an entire paper booklet just to pick zones for the moose lottery?” I asked him in response to the recent news that almost the entirety of moose lottery entries will be accepted online.

It’s been twenty years since I sat on the Maine Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

When I was first elected, hunting and fishing licenses were only available on waterproof paper, and license agents had to maintain an inventory of every type of licenses. You could only buy them physically from a license agent—when they were open. At the time, I remember that there were something like fifty-eight types of license—everything from three-day fishing licenses to resident alien hunting licenses to

trapping licenses and more, not to mention the combination licenses. If, because of some mishap, an agent misplaced a license, they would have to pay the full fee price to the Department for it. If you lost your fishing license or forgot to take it out of your pocket in the laundry and it didn’t survive, you had to pay $2 for a duplicate license.

cal construct; the electronic tagging of turkeys, along with being more convenient and cheaper, also puts real-time information into the hands of biologists with almost no effort.

After the show, the conversation kept rolling in my mind. Technological advancements like electronic licensing and now registration are an ines-

Marsh Island Chronicles

by Matthew Dunlap, Old Town, ME served with me as a founding board member of the Maine Youth Fish and Game Association, made something of a name for himself with his meticulous record-keeping of his fishing excursions on Cold Stream Pond in Enfield,

We talked about how much everything in the paperwork administration of outdoor recreation has changed—and changed quickly. “Remember when we had an entire paper booklet just to pick zones for the moose lottery?”

Also, as mentioned above, there were the lotteries, which required booklets to understand the many different moose and deer zones, which overlapped different warden and biological management districts, and all of these transactions were completed either in person or by mail.

Maine started requiring licenses of non-resident sportsmen in 1905, and Maine residents joined in having to meet that requirement in 1919. In all of those years up until the 21st century, the administrative process revolved entirely around the physical paperwork of the licenses, and hardly changed at all. Tags, too, are still a largely physi-

capable part of this new, ubiquitously virtual world.

I don’t love all of it, to be fair. Years ago, if I was on a work break, I would occasionally open up my wallet, take out my license with all the stamps and transportation tags attached to it, and sort of daydream about the upcoming seasons of adventure. You can’t really do that with a bar code.

On the other hand, we can track day-by-day the take of deer during the rifle season—information we used to have to wait months for. When you think about it, the power of the informational tools available to biologists, wildlife planners, and policymakers is just staggering.

Steve Greenleaf, who

Maine. Cold Stream Pond has a famous lake trout fishery, and for many years Steve has kept track of how many togue he has caught, how big they were, and the conditions he caught them in. You really haven’t fished Cold Stream unless you fish with Steve, and the biologists gratefully marvel at his work and knowledge. Steve has caught so many togue, at one point someone added up all the measurements and determined Steve had landed over a mile’s worth of lake trout.

The value of that kind of data is almost limitless to a scientist. With electronic tagging of turkeys,

will we see the opportunity to voluntarily track how many grouse or rabbits we see and take? Not to mention landlocked salmon, bass, and dozens of other species of fish, furbearers, and fowl. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has done a similar survey for waterfowl for years, but that’s still all on paper.

Of course, not everyone thinks that’s a great idea, and not everyone would participate. But with the development of new technologies, we have the chance to get better information on the health of our game populations and the opportunities that they afford us as sportsmen.

Maybe not all change is so bad after all, even if a barcode doesn’t get you fired up for hunting season.

Matt Dunlap is a sportsman from Old Town and is a periodic co-host on Maine Outdoors, heard statewide every Sunday night at 7:00 pm on WVOM 103.9 FM, WVQM 101.3 FM, and WRKD 95.1 FM in Rockland.

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Page 38

Maine Outdoor Adventure

Northwoods Sporting Journal

by Rich Yvon, Bradford, ME

Every year Maine gets visitors from up north to visit our meadows, woods, and shoreline. From the northern reaches of Canada, “snowbirds” migrate down south to winter over.

The birds, just like humans we call snowbirds, like the warmer climate, sun, and easier lifestyle a southern climate can offer. Some birds by nature, migrate down and winter over

grit which helps digestion, breaking down food in their gizzards. Following these birds are of course the predators such as the Northern Shrike, Roughed Leg Hawk, and the Snowy Eagle. The blueberry fields of downeast Maine, can afford bird sightings of Snow Buntings, and their predator, the Northern Shrike.

The Maine coast can certainly be alive in winter.

Carl, called me up asked if I knew about this bird, a Northern Hawk Owl located in my area. He asked to come and stay, so he can hopefully get some photos of the awesome bird. in warmer temperatures.

Some birds are found out of their range due to food source scarcity. Maine has several very common birds that migrate from northern Canada. Maine resembles Canada’s habitat, from the boreal forest to the blueberry barrens, and of course the coastline.

We commonly see the Evening and Pine Grosbeaks on our logging roads during the dead of winter.

They are easily found on the dirt roads eating the

The Common and Red Breasted loon, the Eider, and from the most northernly Canada, the Black Scoter. Even from Canada’s northwestern range, the White Scoter finds a winter home on Maine’s unfrozen coastline. The Maine coast is certainly alive in the winter!

So, what is the rare visitor in Maine? Recently, my childhood friend Carl Walsh came to visit.

No, he’s not the rare visitor. He is currently an ac-

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A Rare Visit

complished, professional, freelance photographer.

Carl, called me up asked if I knew about this bird, a Northern Hawk Owl located in my area. He asked to come and stay, so he can hopefully get some photos of the awesome bird.

We spent two weekends together, which gave Carl some great opportunities to capture this rare, visitor from Canada. Having the love of wildlife in common with Carl, he educated me on the art of wildlife photography. As for me, it was a fun, learning experience which I enjoyed very much.

Thank you, Carl, for sharing your passion with me at Twin Maple Outdoors.

You can learn more about Carl and his work at https:// www.carlwalshphoto.com The Northern Hawk Owl is a northern Canadian predator that eats mostly rodents such as voles, mice, small squirrels, weasels, and shrews. In winter, it may even eat small birds!

The bird is an opportunist and will consume insects, frogs, and small fish at times. Although the bird does not migrate, when food sources become scarce in its breeding migration, the owl is known to fly south into the United States. This winter we were fortunate to have the owl as shown in the photo, visit on

April 2024

Photo by Carl Walsh

the Piscataquis River, in the Dover Foxcroft area. Photographers from all around New England came to get a chance on capturing this rare sighting. Fortunately, this bird hunts for its food during the day, dawn and at dusk. It gives a patient follower a show, while it perches from on high and hovers the ground for a feeding opportunity. If you would like to learn more about birding, or just have

a great resource, please see Cornell Lab, https://www. allaboutbirds.org If you would like more information on Maine eco tours, hunting, fly/spin fishing techniques/strategies for bass, pike, salmon, and trout, please feel to reach out to me. I’m always happy to share my knowledge and experience to anyone, for a better day of field! On the water lessons and hunting lessons are offered by Rich at https:// twinmapleoutdoors.com/ contact-us/ .

Rich is a full time Registered Master Maine Master Guide. He owns and operates Twin Maple Outdoors guide service and sporting lodge located in Bradford, Maine.

April 2024

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 39

Early Days at Spencer Lake Camps

The earliest sportsmen who visited Spencer Lake would stay in an old abandoned lumber camp at the south end of the lake. Thomas Gerard Jr. (1863-1920) immigrated at age seven with his father Thomas Gerard,

to Hamburg Germany on the ship Graf Walkdersee.

In 1909 Gerard was also managing the nearby Bulldog Camps on Enchanted Lake. Back at Spencer Lake tragedy struck, when on Nov. 13, 1909 Tibbetts capsized and drowned on

his own motor-boat five or six miles further up the Moose River, on the banks of which some wonderful beaver work may be seen.

The last part of the 18-mile journey is by buckboard, and the country is worth the trouble to reach, being

Old Tales from the Maine Woods

buckboard (7 miles), now had a dining hall and 15 cabins. There were two outer lying camps, one camp at the foot of lake, (6 miles) and one at the Half Way point (3 1.2 miles). All the cabins had spring beds with

Gerard operated the camps for five years, when they were taken over by Isaac R. Tibbets (1878-1909), a popular Rangeley guide and hotel clerk. and settled in the Kennebec River area where, at age 27, he worked on a farm in Bingham. In 1900 Gerard was boarding and guiding at the Parlin Pond House, halfway between The Forks and Jackman.

A tote road led from Parlin Pond to Spencer Lake, and he soon built a few cabins on the northeast shore of Spencer Lake, which could be reached by boat from Fish Pond. He opened a post office at the camps, which was named Gerard for many years.

Gerard operated the camps for five years, when they were taken over by Isaac R. Tibbets (18781909), a popular Rangeley guide and hotel clerk. He soon went into partnership with Wilmont Patterson (1866-1957), and on Feb 4, 1905, while the camps were closed, Tibbets took a trip

the lake.

Isaac Patterson continued running the camps and soon took on a new partner, William H. Bean (1874-1916), who was known locally as George Bean. Patterson returned to Rangeley, and Bean took over running the camps.

In 1910, In the Maine Woods, the annual publication of the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad, explained that a common route to the camps was by way of Attean Lake. They wrote “From McKenney’s starts the long but very interesting journey to Patterson & Tibbetts’ ‘Spencer Lake Camps’ in the township of Gerard. The McKenney launch takes one through the beautiful Attean Lake and up the Moose River to Attean Falls, where, on the other side of a short carry, Mr. Patterson takes you in

quite unspoiled and full of fish and game.”

An advertisement in that same issue Patterson and Tibbets, (posthumously), related that, “Our camps are new, clean, and comfortable. They cluster round the home camp on the lakeside, a kind of casino, containing diningroom, large reading, or club room, etc. Our motto is Cosiness and Comfort. Game: Deer, bears, partridges, foxes, etc. Fish: Trout and Togue. Terms $14.00 per week; $10.50 after October 15th.” Transportation from the train to the camps was $3.00.

George Bean operated the camps for the next six years. In 1915, according to an advertisement in the Sportsman’s Directory of the State of Maine, Spencer Lake Camps could be reached by motor boat and

hair mattresses, sheets, pillow cases, blankets, chairs, and wood stoves. Costs had increased to $2.50 per day,

by Steve Pinkham Quincy, MA

$14 per week, $4 for guide.

Canoes were 50 cents per day, and transportation from the train to the camps was $3.00.

Another tragedy occurred on November 16, 1916, when George Bean was capsized and drowned crossing Attean Lake at Jackman. The next spring Spencer Lake Camps were taken over by Charles Temple Bratten, who operated them for seventeen years from 1917 to 1934. The camps are privately owned today.

Steve is an avid hiker, paddler, and historian, having collected over 40,000 Maine Woods articles to date.

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Old Tales of the Maine Woods Steve Pinkham Maine Woods Historian, Author and Storyteller

617-407-0743

steve@oldtalesofthemainewoods.com www.oldtalesofthemainewoods.com

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 40

“Just Fishing”

by Bob Leeman, Bangor, ME This column is from a fishing log by Bob Leeman, which he kept from April 1, 1986 through June 30th. Most fish hooked were carefully released.

April 1 st and 2 nd: ½ dozen salmon at Grand

Trout fin and nymphs.

Trout 7 to 9 inches-sinking flyline.

April 29: Cold Brook with Bill. Fantastic day--75 degrees and sunny. Good trout rising, but wouldn’t take well. Caught a lot of 6”

April 2024

Best of Fishing Log

60 degrees and overcast.

Not windy at all. Fiddlehead picking excellent, but seemed a week late. Big hatch of Mayflies, but only a few rises.

May 28 and 29: Grand Lake Stream with Larry.

me downstream. Weather cloudy. Water temperature 55-57 degrees. Good flow, not too high-not too low.

June 1: Sunkhaze with Bill. Best Day! Went way down at 9:00 a.m. Big trout taking well. Caught

Larry Largay from Thomaston, Roger Wakefield from Machias, and Bob Cust from Orrington. All were fly enthusiasts and fine fishermen.

Bob Leeman is a Mas-

Good trout rising, but wouldn’t take well. Caught a lot of 6” and 7” ones.

Kept four of 8” or so. (Spent wing Adams.) Water temperature up to 58 degrees!! (At surface) Lake Stream with Roger Wakefield. Stayed overnight and got ½ dozen more in the dam pool. Salmon took small streamers on sinking lines. Best fly--#10 trout fin, or about anything with orange. Weather was beautiful and warm.

Water temperature was 37 degrees.

April 13: 3 trout at Cold Brook with all below big hole pool near damn.

and 7” ones. Kept four of 8” or so. (Spent wing Adams.) Water temperature up to 58 degrees!! (At surface) May 18: Sunkhaze with Bill. Went way down.

Big trout taking hold real good. Kept four 9” to 12” length, on small Bob’s Marabou Muddler. Water temperature 58 degreesvery low for this early in season. Scraped rocks going down. Air temperature 910 Exeter Rd, Corinna

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Bob Leeman releasing a G.L.S. Salmon.

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April 2024

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Do I Shoot?

If you have a pointing dog on the ground and you wild flush a bird, what do you do? Before I answer that question, let’s back up a bit.

You’ve spent hours

not, cause trouble. Perhaps your dog will suddenly become a flushing dog since they’ve seen you shoot at a bird that has been flushed but not pointed. They may think that flushing is more

English setter grouse dog.

We wild flushed a grouse and the pro trainer shot at it.

I asked him about shooting at a wild flushed bird. He responded by saying that the dog was so staunch to the flush that it never concerned him. The dog could handle the excitement of the flush and shot. Remaining staunch was true with either a hunter wild flushing a bird and/or the dog wild flushing a bird.

The easy way around the question is to simply never shoot at a wild

Shooting birds over a point is the goal.

(Photo by author)

and days training your pointing dog. First, to recognize bird scent, then to point bird scent, then to remain steady to the flush and perhaps even to the shot. It’s called steady to wing and shot. If that’s where you are with your bird dog, then I suggest you not shoot at a wild flushed bird. Doing so, may or may

fun than pointing so let’s just have fun.

I guess the answer may be just how steady and staunch is your dog. If it’s always been rock solid steady on point and rock solid staunch to the flush, then there may not be a problem. Many years ago, I recall hunting with a pro trainer and a world-class

On Point

by Paul Fuller, Durham, N.H. pointing genetics helped.

So let’s talk about genetics. They certainly come into play here. Pointing dogs have genetics which will encourage a point. Flushing dogs have a genetic which encourages them to flush a bird.

Using your dog’s pointing genetics, the more you train for steadiness on point and being staunch through the flush, the less

If that’s where you are with your bird dog, then I suggest you not shoot at a wild flushed bird. Doing so, may or may not, cause trouble. flushed bird. Another story from many years ago: My Dillon was one year old.

I had him steady to the flush but not the shot. We were invited to hunt with a threesome. I only knew one hunter in the threesome and I knew he was a seasoned hunter and pointing dog man. His two companions shot at every bird flushed whether pointed or not.

To me, it reminded me of a cowboy shootout. Being fairly young, Dillon was totally confused. It took me a few training sessions to get him back to where he was before that hunt. His

Page 41

effect the wild flush shot will have. So, maybe the answer to the question is “how much steadiness training has your dog had?”

Is your dog immune to a wild flush?

If not and your dog chases, you need to work harder on the whoa command. After you’ve stopped your dog with the “whoa” command, pick it up and return it to the place it stood when the bird was flushed.

Using gentle stimulation is permitted but go easy. I’m not a fan of heavy e-collar use. You don’t need much.

There is another wild

flush we should discuss.

That’s when your dog is carefully working a running bird. And, it takes experience with wild birds for the dog to learn this. If your dog is tracking birds and the birds flush while the dog is still moving, the dog got too close to the bird(s). It takes experience with wild birds to learn when to stop and point.

My Cordie learned it in one hunting season but sometimes it takes more. I have a friend who says as long as there is dog work, shoot.

Personally, I would rather shoot only when my dog stops and points a moving bird. I feel this is a personal decision between you and your dog.

No matter how you use your bird dogs, hunt safe and have fun.

Paul and Susan Fuller co-host the Bird Dogs Afield TV Show. You may watch past episodes on their YouTube Channel (www.youtube.com/birddogsafield) or on their website. (www.birddogsafield. com) Contact: pau@birddogsafield.com

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 42

Sharing the Bushcraft

The Buck Hunter

by Hal Blood, Moose River, ME As the days grow longer and the sun gets higher in the sky, winter slides away and spring once again returns. Fall has always been my favorite season, but after that spring is my next favorite season. Spring and fall parallel each other,

April 2024

and ensure that their species will continue to thrive.

You can witness all of these things happening day after day as spring advances. It is almost as though we are watching a movie on TV but if you go outdoors, you can actually participate in it

mals all summer. Some animals will hibernate for the winter when their food is gone while other animals like deer and moose will change their feeding habits for the winter. This is all the way of the woods and nature and being able to witness it is truly a blessing.

As soon as the snow leaves the ground this

the woods and waters as much as me if not more.

Rylan is fourteen and reminds me of myself when I was his age. My wife calls him “Mini Me”! It doesn’t matter if it’s hunting, fishing, looking for antlers or just walking around, he’s

better than teaching him through those stories. We already have made plans to build a few deer blinds in some hotspots we found roaming around last fall. I have built many deer blinds over the years and most of them have never been used.

As soon as the snow leaves the ground this spring, I will once again hit the woods for spring scouting. For me, it’s almost like a cleaning ritual after the long winter.

Walking gets me back in shape and my mind wanders with me reliving past hunts and anticipating the ones coming in the near future. but they move in opposite directions. They both bring daily changes to the woods.

Spring brings warmer temperatures that begin melting the snow. That is soon followed by flowers and plants erupting from the ground. Tree buds turn into leaves which bring new life to the trees. This is all creating food for the animals that toughed it out and survived the winter. The birds that migrated south for warmer conditions return back north for their mating season. All the animals and birds will have their young

as it unfolds daily.

In the fall we can witness daily changes as well, but instead of a renewal of new life, the changes march in the opposite direction. As the days grow shorter and the air begins to cool, plant life begins to die off or go dormant for the upcoming winter. Leaves will turn from their summer greens to a variety of yellows, orange and reds. You can witness these changes daily until the leaves finally fall to the ground. The frost will begin to kill the plants that provided food for ani-

Greenville

spring, I will once again hit the woods for spring scouting. For me, it’s almost like a cleaning ritual after the long winter. Walking gets me back in shape and my mind wanders with me reliving past hunts and anticipating the ones coming in the near future. Some days, I’ll go back to places that I hunted in the fall and piece together the events of a certain day. On other days, I may strike off into areas that I haven’t been to for years to see what may have changed there. Starting last spring, I have put a new sense of importance on spring scouting as I have a grandson who loves

The Author’s grandson checking out a rub.

(Photo by Hal Blood)

all in. Rylan wants to be a guide as well, so my new mission in life is to prepare him for that goal.

For the next few years, I plan on walking him to every nook and cranny that I’ve learned over the past forty something years that I have roamed this area. I’m sure there will be a lot of stories told on our journey, but there will be nothing

Back in my early days of guiding all the blinds were used by my hunters. I learned from putting hunters in them, which ones were the best locations and which ones weren’t. It was all part of the learning curve. Now, picking out a spot for a blind is easy for me. The funny thing is that sometimes when I build a (Bushcraft cont. pg 43)

April 2024

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Small Things

rotted away, but I have found a few that still show that the tree was harvested with a saw and not and axe.

I have read that two-man cross-cut saws came into use in Maine in the late 1800’s.

As I look over the land I am walking on I can’t help but wonder what

In the January issue of this magazine my friend Laurie Chandler wrote a column entitled Counting The Small Things. In reading it I was reminded of the little things I encounter every day in the wooded area adjacent to our house.

In my attempt to keep this old body moving I get out and walk about two miles every day on the trails nearby. As I walk I see small things that one might miss on a one-time passing. Of course I like seeing the big things too.

Deer frequent the area from time to time and as there is no hunting allowed in the area, they are not as wary of humans as they would be in another setting. Not that they are tame or anything like that,

but they don’t bound away immediately and so there is time to get a good look to judge age, sex, size etc.

I just appreciate the opportunity to look them over.

There are smaller things I enjoy seeing and wondering about. I have written in past articles about the old time lum-

bering that took place in the Brunswick area forest. It seems trivial but I like seeing the 100+ year old stumps left from that era. For the most part the remains are pretty much

the soil is like. I wonder because there are small streams whose source must be a spring somewhere as there is water present except in extremely dry periods when it remains

Bushcraft

I usually use an existing blowdown or log to start with. If there isn’t one, I’ll gather a couple logs and put them against a tree. That is the seat and it needs to be comfortable.

After that it’s just a matter of brushing it up with dead limbs or spruce/fir boughs.

I can do all of that with just a hand axe. All the while that I’m building a blind, I am visualizing what kind of a buck might come roaming by this spot. It might be the tracks or it might be

how the rubs are torn up, but I let my imagination run wild. So, scouting and building blinds is going to give Rylan a head start in his guiding career and that’s what will make it special for me.

Good Luck on the trail!

(Cont. from pg 42) blind, I know that it may never get used. Mainly because I can usually only sit long enough to eat a sandwich or take a quick break.

That’s just my nature and it’s beginning to look like Rylan’s as well. Last fall we forced ourselves to sit in our triple signpost blind for three hours. We never went back or sat again.

It’s a great way to shoot a buck, but I’ve learned from guiding over the years, that it takes a certain mindset to do it.

To me, just the act of building a blind is satisfying. It’s confirmation that the spot is a good one. If I build the blind at a signpost area, I make sure I pick an elevated area keeping the wind in mind and having a good shooting lane.

Northwoods Voyager

by Gil Gilpatrick, Brunswick, ME

below the surface. Though I have not seen a freshly dug hole I feel certain that there is a layer of sandy soil over a layer of clay. This is apparent as the water does not remain in puddles on

For the most part the remains are pretty much rotted away, but I have found a few that still show that the tree was harvested with a saw and not and axe.

I have read that two-man cross-cut saws came into use in Maine in the late 1800’s.

Hal is a Master Maine guide and author. He lives in Moose River Maine with his wife Deb.Hal can be contacted at: hal@bigwoodsbucks.com

Call Email: Or Email info@ Today sportingjournal.com To Phone: Advertise 207-732-4880 Here:

Page 43

the surface, but quickly disappears. But, the small runoff streams from the springs continue to flow.

One of the trails has a bridge that crosses one of the tiny streams. On the right of the bridge I can see the water trickling down, and on the left side there is a small pool of water. That’s not unusual, but the thing that gets me is that there is no outlet to the pool. But, there, two orthree yards farther down is another pool of water.

The water just continues

flowing through the soil. I know, it doesn’t take much to fascinate me!

Well, I’ll continue walking as long as these old legs will carry me and if I make any other earthshaking discoveries I will be sure to report them to you.

Enjoy the spring folks.

Gil Gilpatrick is a Master Maine Guide, and is the first living recipient of the Legendary Maine Guide award. He is a life member of the Maine Professional Guides Association, a founding member of the Maine Wilderness Guides Organization, and served as a member of the Advisory Board for the Licensing of Guides from 1996 to 2010. He is a member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association and is the author of seven outdoorrelated books. Contact him at Gil@GilGilpatrick.com

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 44

call her and when the word is used.

Code Word immediately tell her there has been a (Cont. from pg 31) trustworthy adult (police, teacher, firefighter, even store clerk) to ask for help.

People will sometimes try to trick your kid into revealing the word.

“Tell me what the word is and I’ll tell you if that is what your mom said.”

They should never say the emergency word to anyone except family. Practicing with kids, especially young ones, will help them understand it is ok to say NO to an adult they don’t know.

Adults can use the family code word also, if they are in a situation they need to get out of. If your wife is out with friends or at a friend’s house and she texts ZEBRA, you should

family emergency and you need her home right away.

If she doesn’t have a vehicle with her, call her and tell her to be ready, that you are on the way to get her because of an emergency.

Everyone in the family needs to understand how serious the emergency word is. It is not “I don’t like this movie and I want to go home”, it is “if you don’t come get me I might not make it home”. And if you do get the code word, drop everything and GO. Having a family code that can be used in an emergency can mean the difference between life and death. Practice so everyone understands what will happen and what to expect

Joe is a Husband, Father, Author and Marine.

Joefrazier193@gmail.com

News

(Cont. from pg 35) beginning of my career. He was a nice man who was a very focused fisheries biologist on accomplishing the best protections for char and the native fishes of Maine. He demanded excellence from himself and his colleagues around him. He will be greatly missed by all who worked with him and knew him.”

Matt Scott, former deputy commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife recalls, “In 1999

Fred was hired by the new Atlantic Salmon Commission as their first Executive Director. I was the Executive Secretary of Project SHARE. It was my responsibility to introduce Fred to all five downeast river Watershed Councils.

This helped Fred as the issue was as controversial then as it is now. Fred was right in the middle of the Endangered Species Act for list the salmon, which happened in spite of all the political uproar from Maine politicians. In all cases Fred died with the fish. He always kept his eye on the prize. Fred became a Lifetime member of the American Fisheries Society. I shall surely miss Fred and his wife as they were regular Fisheries Re-

April 2024

tirees at my annual picnic held at my Farm in Belgrade.”

Allagash Waterway Controversy

Construction plans within the protected corridor of Maine’s Allagash Wilderness Waterway are generating public pushback, led by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).

Under both federal and state law, the entire length of the 92.5 mile river, nearly one-third of Maine’s total river miles, must be managed to enhance and protect its wilderness character.

The State of Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Lands plans to build six structures (News cont. pg 68)

April 2024

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 45

Two Deer Down I have never missed with the receiver sight on the model, 700 but that deer just stood there looking at me.

Thanksgiving week, my father, brother, two cousins and I were at camp.

The weather was clear, teens at night, 30s during the day. We split up that morning, everybody headed for their favorite spot. The old man went down along the swamp.

My brother, known for being a mountain goat, went high and worked the ridges. The two cousins were someplace in between planning to find a good place to sit and wait for something to move.

As a forester I find myself walking boundary lines when learning a new territory. I then walk the roads and trails and any internal rock walls. By this point you get a good feel for the land and can stop looking at trees and rock walls and focus on deer.

This day I was working my way northerly within sight of an old well blazed and painted line. To the west, uphill, was open hardwoods. Downhill was hemlock; what the old timers called black growth, Thick, quiet, good bedding.

The woods were still, just a whisper of breeze flowing uphill as the sun warmed the air. Down to my right a squirrel started chattering but it was too far away to be me that set him off. I was still-hunting, slow and silent on the hemlock needles. Two steps, search the horizon, two steps, search the horizon 360 degrees. A hundred yards further on a pair of

the gully on the far side.

The model 700 was up and the receiver sight locked in on the lead deer which was the largest. 75 yards and fairly steep downhill so I lowered the bead to the belly line just behind the front leg. Funny how you never really hear the bang when the adrenaline kicks in.

I worked the bolt and brought the muzzle back in

The jays started squawking straight ahead and I caught motion. Three deer were moving west half way up the gully on the far side. blue jays started squawking off to the right. Again, it was just too far to be me that set them off. I figured one of my cousins must be in the area. As I crept along the blue jays stayed ahead and off to the right squawking constantly.

A ways further on I was looking down into a gully. An old logging road ran along the base of the gully back out to the main road. I looked ahead to see the boundary line blazes where they crossed the road and back up the other side.

The jays started squawking straight ahead and I caught motion. Three deer were moving west half way up

line and the deer had not moved. I must have under shot. Bang again and this time it connected. The deer went 30 yards and dropped in the road. I texted the crew and 40 minutes later we were at the truck joking about an early lunch of liver and onions. It was early so we wandered back up the woods road to see where I had shot, telling stories and enjoying the

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day.

We came to the gut pile then further on to the spot where I first saw the deer. As we approached, the ditch in front of us exploded. A deer came out of the ditch running on its back legs. It went down on its belly then scrambled and ran on its back legs again. As the injured deer went down again my father stepped up and dispatched it.

How did this happen?

It turns out my first shot had connected, through both front knees of the deer. It then slid straight down into the ditch and

was out of sight when I shot the second deer. I count myself as an experienced woodsman but that day has always bothered me and I thank God we took the time to walk back up that road. My father and I both tagged deer that day and back at camp we had liver and onions for lunch and supper.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 46

Slipstream

By Scott Biron, New London, NH If you have been reading my monthly column you know one of my favorite fishing spots is the Androscoggin River in Errol, NH. Having spent many days at my grandfather’s camp at the base of Bragg Bay. We would expect a visit from Harry Hurlbert who was the Game Warden for the area. My grandfa-

did it became a real staple in my fly box. The pattern made its way east to the Errol area from Pittsburg, NH. It had everything anyone would want in a casting streamer. Years later I came across a drastically different looking fly with the same name. Prompting me to ask….Will the Real Marvel Please Stand Up!

April 2024

Will The Real Marvel Please Stand Up

let you decide but if it was me, I bet he would have left out the golden pheasant crest underwing.

The other Maynard’s Marvel was the pattern Ora Smith tied. Ora said this pattern was one he bought from a local tyer in Keene, NH by the name of Lenny Wilcox. When Wilcox became sick and no longer tied, Ora’s fly tying career began,

call Smith’s fly the Golden Marvel, which they did. In an old interview with Ora, he mentioned that many of his customers referred to his Marvel as the Keene Fly. There are more marvel patterns, Mike Martinek’s Bloody Marvel; a deadly

Yet of all of these patterns mentioned, it has produced more fish than any of the others. Its mallard wing makes it look like a new England bait fish making it worth having in everyone’s fly box.

If you can find large mallard flanks with not too

fall brook trout pattern.

Then he added Kelly’s Hero which is a variation of the Maynard’s Marvel in a green shade. Ora Smith added to his marvel line with the Smith’s Marvel which added orange to the fly.

Additional patterns sprung up with the golden pheasant crest wings.

Many came from Smith, Pumpkin Head, Spotty and the Cannopache as well as the lesser-known Super Duper. As the GPC became more expensive, they were replaced with synthetic materials. Personally, I continue to tie my marvelbased patterns with the real materials.

Circling back to the Pittsburg Marvel and how different it is from all of the other patterns. Its only commonality is that it has one GPC under the wing.

stiff a stem the Pittsburg Marvel can be tied much larger than a 4XL streamer and trolled. Most of the patterns are tied in the 4XL to 6XL range with hook sizes modified to meet the waters being fished.

I can’t remember exactly when I first learned about the Maynard’s Marvel streamer but when I did it became a real staple in my fly box. The pattern made its way east to the Errol area from Pittsburg, NH. ther was friends with Harry and he bought the land he built the camp on from him.

We fished many spots along with the river and in the evenings when everyone wasn’t speaking French, I would pick up some intel on the hot flies they were fishing with.

Lots of local patterns were used some with recipes that were guarded closely.

Casting streamers were often productive for big fish and my ears perked up if I heard of any new patterns.

I can’t remember exactly when I first learned about the Maynard’s Marvel streamer but when I

After some research I found the Pittsburg pattern originated from a local guide by the last name of Maynard. The story goes that he would take you out on your guided fishing trip and he would give you his Maynard’s Marvel pattern to use. When the trip was over the angler would often ask to keep the highly effective Marvel. At that point the guide would say let me give you a brand new one and he would take the one used that day back.

The fly he gave the angler would be slightly different than the real pattern… could be truth or rumor. I’ll

I’m not sure that either Smith or Wilcox originated the pattern. Smith made one major change to the original, which had the golden pheasant tails cut off at the bend of the hook.

Over time Smith stopped cutting the tails off and found the fly to be more effective.

Two flies with the same name created confusion as they were drastically different patterns. In 1982 when Trolling Flies for Trout and Salmon by Dick Stewart and Bob Leeman was published, Jim Warner suggested they end the confusion. Just

Scott Biron learned to tie flies and fly fish back in the1960s in the North County of New Hampshire.

He has fished many of the streams north of Route 26 in NH and his favorite the Androscoggin River. He is a Master Artist in the NH Traditional Arts Program and instructs fly tying both nationally and internationally. He is on the Ambassador Pro Team for HMH Vises and Partridge of Redditch. Ewing has come out with a signature series line of feathers under Scott’s name.

April 2024

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 47

Muzzleloading Afield

Small Runs and Turkeys When I was a kid a small, tea-colored brook flowed not far from my home. It sprang as a mere trickle from a boggy area on neighboring property and even by the time it entered and passed through ours it was not very impres-

est perhaps six inches in length, but hungry beauties in every sense of the word that ravaged a garden worm the minute it hit the water.

I never developed a taste for trout as a kid. I preferred catching them rather than eating them,

that embedded my life-long love of fishing into my DNA. A lot has changed since then, graphite fly rods instead of a cheap handme-down Berkley rod and Zebco reel and trips far and wide to cast for bigger fish in bigger water. But at this time of year, as winter fades and a new spring unfolds, I am still drawn to those small, hidden and often over-looked trout runs,

by Al Raychard, Lyman, ME

the calendar falls, but it leaves plenty of time to get in the woods and scout for birds. During those jaunts I am usually carrying my small trout rig and dipping worms into whatever pool or riffle that looks inviting. Killing two birds at the same time as it were.

While wetting the line and

stream meanders through a glen, along the edge of a field or other open areas where bank vegetation isn’t too dense.

Through the years I have found some of my best spring turkey hunting locations by getting in the woods early with trout rig in hand, dipping a line and

I never developed a taste for trout as a kid, I preferred catching them rather than eating them, something that holds true even today, but my mother loved them so I did my duty and kept her palate satisfied.

sive in terms of size. But what it lacked in size it more than made up for in a string of dark waist-deep pools connected by cascading riffles and undercut banks on the corners. It also contained brook trout. I assume natives since I never knew the run to be stocked, and not big ones, the larg-

something that holds true even today, but my mother loved them so I did my duty and kept her palate satisfied.

Looking back on it now I have little doubt it was the hours, days, months and eventual years spent dunking worms in those forest-lined pools

especially in late April and May. This is when water levels and temperatures normalize and the apple blossoms pop. There’s something intimate about them, divine almost and for me at least reminiscent of a cherished past that bigger waters don’t always have.

But there is another reason I look forward to this time of year. Spring turkey season for all hunters opens April 29 this year, a few days earlier than in 2023 because of the way

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scouting. It can be amazing what you find. Most of all, after a long winter it’s just time to be enjoying out there with better days to come.

Al Raychard and his wife Diane live on 43 +/acres in Lyman, Maine that offers good deer and turkey hunting opportunities they both enjoy. If the property had a year-round stream it would be pure paradise.

Al can be reached at alraychard@sacoriver.net

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waiting for a nibble I look, call on occasion and listen.

Like all living things, turkeys need water daily, as the season progresses and daytime temperatures rise sometimes several times a day. A reliable water source can be a good way to locate roosting sites, where birds are hanging and potential hotspots. Hens often nest near water, and if you find the hens chances are good toms are not far away. I give special attention to areas where a brook or

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Page 48

Vermont Ramblings

If you have enough years of turkey hunting experience, you surely have learned more than a few things. I have been rising at 3 a.m., climbed gut-wrenching ridges and even punched my share of turkey tags over the past 40 years.

And those turkey seminars you and I have

Ten Turkey Tips

beards, year after year,

by Dennis Jensen, bring one very big advantage into the woods — paVermont tience. It means finding ability to pinpoint the loca- new places to hunt, places tion of a hen (in this case where other hunters do not your calling). Once you tread. I means going back have located a tom, managed to call it in and then see the bird, stop calling. If the gobbler spots the decoy you set out, there is no need to call. Even if the bird goes into strut at 70 or 80 yards, sit tight. You have almost closed the deal.

So I will lay down the 10 biggest mistakes that a spring turkey hunter can make. All of what I am offering is based on experience. attended? I have to say, right here, that some of the stuff I have heard can be downright confusing or, even worse, simply wrong.

So I will lay down the 10 biggest mistakes that a spring turkey hunter can make. All of what I am offering is based on experience. Take what you want; discard what you want.

1. Calling to a tom at the wrong time. Wild turkeys have an uncanny

2. A lack of patience.

The best turkey hunters know how to shoot well.

They spend long hours scouting before opening day. They work on their calling skills and are willing to try new calls. Even the best out there have been victims of “tom-foolery” and get humbled by a gobbler who will not come to the calls.

3. But the guys and gals who bring in long

to those places where success was found.

4. Interpreting the gobble: Toms gobble back to the yelps and clucks of

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April 2024

hens to tell them: Here I am. Come on over. In the natural world, a tom gobbles and the hen comes to him. That’s the normal routine. But some lonely, hot toms cannot wait for the

5. Moving on a bird at the wrong time. If the tom is right out in front of you, gobbling like the dickens but fails to come in, sit tight. If he walks off, you can still make a move to get above him and call once more. If that tom sounds like he’s going away and coming back, over and over, then he is in a strut zone. This can drive a turkey hunter bananas and can last for a long time. If you can move without being seen, get around and above him.

Call sparingly and wait.

6. Don’t get stuck in a rut. Be willing to adapt and try different tactics. The best tom I ever killed refused to come into a small field where I was set up. He called for nearly an hour, clearly in strut. So I walked away, calling as I went and, 15 minutes later, I killed the best gobbler I have ever killed — a tom with spurs that measured 1½ hen to show up. Those are the toms that you should inches.

7. Hunt with confiend up carrying out of the woods over your shoulder.

(Tips cont. pg 51)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Finally, Trout Fishing Opens

We open water trout anglers get real antsy by the end of March, often casting on the lawn and dreaming of opening day.

This year that occurs on Saturday, April 13. Like so many others I will be plying the waters of local streams hoping to entice a trout to hit.

As I write this mid February, there is no way to know what opening day will bring. Often the water is high and cold and the fish lethargic. Fishing slowly and deep often works best.

Small ponds and many lakes are still ice covered but often there is a little open water at inlets and outlets that can produce some action.

While we are out pursuing trout, especially along streams, is a good time to scout for turkeys and to look for antler sheds.

“I have laid aside business, and gone a-fishing.”

Izaak Walton 1593-1683

Spring Turkey Hunting Youth and Novice spring turkey hunting weekend is April 27 and 28 this year, and the regu-

lar spring turkey season is May 1-31. Why not help pass on our hunting traditions by introducing a youth or older novice hunter to hunt safely and enjoyably.

Landowner permission is required to hunt on private land during youth and novice turkey hunting weekend. To participate, a youth must be age 15 or under and must have completed a hunter education course and possess a hunting license, a turkey hunting license and a free youth turkey hunting tag. Novice hunters have purchased their first hunting license in the past 12 months and are over 16.

Both youth and novice hunters must be accompanied by an unarmed adult over 18 who holds a valid Vermont hunting license

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! (See page 47)

and who must have direct control and supervision over the hunter.

Large turkey flocks can be seen all over the state so I predict we will have a good spring season.

Page 49

Outdoors In Vermont

by Gary W. Moore, Bradford, VT

tion, snow geese typically move through the Champlain Valley in late March and early April. They usually pass through Vermont quickly in route to their spring staging areas along the St. Lawrence River Valley. They remain there

statewide. The daily bag limit is 15 snow geese, and there is no possession limit.

Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore is a life Spring Snow Goose long resident of Vermont Season and a former CommisVermont’s spring sioner of Fish and Game.

His latest book, Four SeaWhile we are out pursuing trout, son in Vermont, is availespecially along streams, is a good able at many bookstores time to scout for turkeys and to look and sporting goods shop for antler sheds. or from him directly. He s n o w g o o s e h u n t for about a month before may be reached by e-mail opened March 11 and con- moving on to their nesting at gwmoore1946@icloud. areas in the Eastern Cana- com or at Box 454, Bradtinues through April 26. ford, VT 05033.

Since 2009, the U.S. dian Arctic.

The breeding populaFish and Wildlife Service has annually issued a tion of greater snow geese “Conservation Order” to has grown so large, an esallow the reduction of the timated one million birds population of migrating in the Atlantic Flyway, it Market & Restaurant greater and lesser snow has resulted in damage 7 Pinecrest Drive geese as well as Ross’ to agricultural crops and Essex Junction, VT 05452 geese. The numbers of marsh vegetation in staging (802) 879-3611 these geese have grown so and wintering areas from www.raysseafoodmarket.com high that they are destroy- Quebec to North Carolina.

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Early spring is an amazing time of the year to fly fish lakes and ponds for trout. From just after ice out through the the spring green up is a fantastic period to get on a stillwater,

Maple Country Outdoors

Northwoods Sporting Journal

by Ben Wilcox, Essex, VT

this time of year.

Trout are attracted to warmer waters found near the surface. Later on in the year, as the surface becomes too warm for a trout to comfortably reside, they

Early Spring Still Water

ful in identifying warmer areas of the lake. Shallow areas such as bays allow the lake bottom to absorb sunlight and can heat the entire water column much faster than the deeper parts of the lake.

Now that we understand the importance of water temp, the next thing

I like to fish three flies when searching for fish, a bright attractor bugger, a nymph or chironomid, and a darker colored bugger. Between the three flies its usually enough to get a reaction strike. and just might produce the biggest trout of your season! When rivers are flowing fast and cold, lakes are heating up and the fishing can be outstanding.

Still water fly fishing can be intimidating for people who’ve spent most of their time on a river. Just figuring out where to fish can be a challenge, but the task is certainly easier at

will go deeper in the lakes requiring sinking lines or heavily weighted flies.

Early spring is just the opposite. High sun and longer days heat the surface of the lake or pond. All fish are attracted to the warmer water. When the water is still in the 30’s and 40’s the difference of a few degrees is a big deal. A simple stream thermometer can be help-

April 2024

to find is food. Most of the food in a lake or pond is located in the littoral zone.

This is the area where water meets land, extending out generally to where the sunlight no longer hits the bottom. This can be different on every lake depending on water clarity, bottom structure and contour. The key take away here is that you will find the most food closer to shore where vegetation, and aquatic insects are most prevalent, and thus too are baitfish.

If we narrow our search for warm water near shore, we can begin looking for specific features that will attract the most fish. Bays, inlets and outlets, shelves, points, and down wind ends of the lakes are all good locations

to check, but if you can find a combination of these features all the better.

Once on the water its important to observe.

Are there any birds flying over the water? They will possibly indicate a midge hatch. If the water is calm, look for rises, boils, or disturbances that could give away the location of feeding fish. In choppy water try drifting a slick where debris and insects may be concentrated. I once won a competition session on a PA lake in April because I noticed a single rise two days before the comp while looking over the water. All of the other competitors went to known productive spots, while I began fishing where I saw the rise, and the fish were there. The next day I won another session on a different lake because I fished near where birds were darting over the water.

When you find a productive area of the lake you next need to select a line and flies. Since trout will be close to the surface, I’d begin with a floating or intermediate line to cover the top 6-10 feet of water. I like to fish three flies when searching for fish, a bright attractor bugger, a nymph or chironomid, and a darker

"Moosehead angler Toby Glidden caught this big togue during the Moosehead fishing derby."

colored bugger. Between the three flies it's usually enough to get a reaction strike. Vary your retrieves, I’ve had days where the slowest figure 8 retrieve is key and days where a fast and erratic retrieve works best. If none of these work, try a static presentation with your flies hanging under a strike indicator or dry fly.

Often time fishing “the hang” will result in extra fish. The hang is when you allow your flies to dangle directly under your rod tip before pulling them out of the water to re cast. Fish will often follow your flies and eat right at the boat or bank when you stop the flies or begin lifting them from the water.

Still water fishing is truly and wonderful alternative to battling high flows and lethargic river fish. Lakes often grow large trout that are very willing to eat a fly at this time of year. I hope this gives anyone who is hesitant about trying out still water fly fishing the confidence to give it a go. Good luck on the water!

Ben Wilcox is owner of Maple Country Anglers, located in Northwest Vermont. He is a current member of the USA Fly Fishing Team. He is a registered Maine Guide and graduate of the University of Maine.

He also owns a large Maple Sugaring Business, Amber Ridge Maple. These occupations allow him to be in the woods or water nearly every day of the year. He can be reached at maplecountryanglers@ gmail.com or on instagram @benwilcox_maplecountryanglers

April 2024

Tips

(Cont. from pg 48) dence, believing in yourself and your abilities. If you are a younger hunter or new to the sport, spring turkey hunting will be a challenge. Embrace that and learn.

8. Try our best to find places where other hunters cannot be found. This often means getting back into the woods where you can sit and call or, if that doesn’t work, go with the “run and gun.”

9. And finally, mistakes 8, 9 and 10. Don’t move; don’t move; and don’t move. It is movement, at the wrong time, not bad calling or cheap camouflage that will mess things up when a tom comes

Northwoods Sporting Journal

into view. A wild turkey’s ability to spot movement, even 100 yards away, is nothing short of phenomenal. Wait until his big head goes behind a thick tree or boulder or thick brush, then quickly bring the shotgun up. Don’t wait. Once his head and neck come into view, shoot. If that tom is in an open field, strutting with a full fan, wait until he turns (he will) away

Page 51

from you. His full fan and his neck tucked in will block his view. Quickly bring that shotgun up and cut loose with a yelp (use you voice if you don’t have a diaphragm call in your mouth) and, when he pops his fiery red head up, take the shot.

Dennis Jensen is a freelance writer in Vermont.

Chris Parent (orange jacket) and Nathan Paradis with a Moosehead togue.

Page 52

Green Mountain Report

Northwoods Sporting Journal

by Bradley Carleton, Charlotte, VT April typically brings season, I think I may make rain and cool nights, but in the switch to circle hooks. the past few years we’ve Trevor claims that these seen a few 90-degree days hooks catch more fish by with trees busting their hooking them in the side buds as early as the first of the mouth and make it week. If this pattern contin- much easier to remove. ues, I will plan on sittin’ on If you like catching these my folding chair with my tasty little catfish, you will medium weight rod leaning discover that they have an against the “Y” of my old uncanny ability to swaldowsing rod somewhere on low a hook so deeply that a backwater slough. After you have to use a set of seeing my friend, Trevor, longnose pliers or the oldout-fish me all ice fishing timers method of pushing a

A Call to Arms

stick down into their belly and twisting it to wrap the line and hook and pull it out.

This frequently results in a bloody mess. This catfish species is known by biologists as “bullhead.”

They come in a couple of colors. Most common are brown and yellow, with a few that have a pale white belly. They all taste great as long as the sloughs are not polluted or too muddy.

Snobby people think they are “garbage fish” and refer to them with derogatory terms like “muddy puppys.” But the real locals call them “bull pout,” or “horn pout” with a reverence akin to southern biscuits and grits.

Either way, I love sitting on the shore on a sunny day, watching the tip of my rod for that gentle twitch. I’ll pick up the rod slowly and wait to feel the tiny tug. When the line straightens, I raise the rod quickly. This is the way I learned to set the hook from old-timers like “Uncle” Marvin Thomas of Shelburne. We’ll fill up a bucket and head home for

Marvin Thomas, of Shelburne with a sweet ‘pout. well-respected outdoor writer, Gary W. Moore, of Bradford. I realize that this is an oversimplification, but perhaps it will motivate those who have not taken action to make their voice heard. The bill seeks to eliminate coyote hunting with dogs (currently with a coyote dog permit,) and to strip the authority of the Vt F&W Board of its science-

The anti-hunting group, Protecting Our Wildlife, has filed a lawsuit against the VT F&W and seeks to use the Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (LCAR) to reduce the appointment of board members representing hunters and fishermen. a fish fry. I like ‘em Cajun style, but if you clean them properly, the sweet tender white flesh melts in your mouth like butter.

And now, we must face an ugly truth. It is VT bill S.258. It was explained very well in last month’s column by the

April 2024

based implementation of regulations and the ability to manage our wildlife resources.

The anti-hunting group, Protecting Our Wildlife, has filed a lawsuit against the VT F&W and seeks to use the Legislative Committee on Adminis-

trative Rules (LCAR) to reduce the appointment of board members representing hunters and fishermen.

Their goal is to claim that “non-consumptive” users should have representation on the board. Simply put, they would like nonhunters and anti-hunters to be able to sit on the board and have a vote in how our seasons, bag limits, and regulations are set. Hypothetically this could lead to the possibility of changing our traditions, based not on science and responsible management, but on their own emotion-based agenda. The bill is currently in this legislative session and has been referred to the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy. Folks, this is the moral equivalent of Custer’s Last Stand. It is time to stand up and be counted. I will close with this quote and pray that you take action by writing to your Senators and sharing (Arms cont. pg 62)

April 2024

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 53

Morning Chores

It’s still dark as I dress, the sun reticent to rise on such a cold, gray morning. Trudging down the stairs and into the living room, I find the woodstove still warm. I’ve tucked a bright yellow, long-sleeve tee-shirt into my jeans.

The jeans, a pair purchased from L.L. Bean the year be-

rack by the side of the door.

An oil stain above the cap’s bill surrounds letters that spell out Oquossoc Marine.

The stain reminds me of a pond where largemouth bass come willingly to any bushy fly cast toward its submerged logs. Down on one knee, I sweep ash from the woodstove into a

is still, and the ash settles without blowing back in my face. Inside the shed, I grab a metal bucket hanging from a nail and fill it with sunflower hearts scooped from a plastic bin.

With the dogs following at my heels, I fill the various feeders hanging from cedar posts around our property.

Afterward, I replace the water in a heated birdbath.

While adding a suet cake to the metal cage nailed to a maple tree, I hear an erie

Against The Current

by Bob Romano, Rangeley, ME

back to the shed, chickadees are flying back and forth. Their undulating flight patterns crisscross the yard. I hang the bucket back on the nail and carry an armload of wood from the adjacent lean-to into the house.

It takes four trips to fill the metal frame beside

of the female’s more muted orange-and-olive feathers.

The pair seeks quieter surroundings when a mixed flock of songbirds arrive.

Like a rowdy crowd of Times Square revelers, chickadees and titmice flutter among the cedar’s branches. They are accompanied by a number of

Outside, night has reluctantly receded, leaving only its brightest stars. The sun, although yet to rise, has turned the sky above the blue spruce line crimson.

fore our college-age daughter was born, are lined with flannel. Stained and frayed, they still keep me warm on an early-spring morning like this one.

The dogs drag themselves from their dreams.

Finnegan, the younger of our two black Labradors, noses my leg, tail wagging his hindquarters, thoughts of food on his mind. About as old as a Lab can expect to live, Winslow Homer opens one eye, swishes his tail once, then snuggles back down on the couch.

The white hair lining the old dog’s muzzle reminds me of the stunted trees at the top of Bosebuck Mountain after a November snow shower. Trudging into the kitchen, I fill their bowls, add a bit of warm water, and then lower them to the hardwood floor.

Back in the living room, the dogs mill around my legs as I zip gaiters around my boots. After sliding a hooded sweatshirt over my head, I grab my work gloves and cap from a

bucket.

Outside, night has reluctantly receded, leaving only its brightest stars.

The sun, although yet to rise, has turned the sky above the blue spruce line crimson. My knees nearly buckle when Finnegan bumps me from behind.

The young dog’s legs slide out in all directions on the slippery walk. Mags takes a tentative step onto the icy slate and looks up as if to say, “I’m getting too old for this.”

The birds are awake, stirring from their nighttime roosts. Goldfinches chatter from the branches of a nearby dogwood. A tiny wren complains from among the shriveled leaves of the rhododendron. From farther back in the woodlot, a crow caws once, twice, three times before another takes up the refrain.

Snow remains around the base of the trees. I dump the ash behind the shed that huddles beside a lean-to where I stack billets for the woodstove. The air

cry coming from the lower field.

I trudge toward the line of spruce trees separating a number of gardens from the lower field we’ve allowed to go fallow. When the dogs tramp into the brambles and brush beyond the spruce, I spy a splash of red, and then catch the black-and-white wings of the pileated woodpecker as the large bird flies from the branches of a pin oak in the middle of the field.

A wild grape vine, thick as rope, twists around the trunk of the oak that has grown tall above the unkempt landscape. The grape’s fruit is withered, its leaves gone. Virginia creeper has followed the grape’s ascent, spreading upward through the oak’s canopy. This fall the leaves of the clinging vine had turned brilliant scarlet before slipping soundlessly through the limbs of the sturdy tree. Wild roses and barberries spread through the field. Their prickly branches are somber and gray. They droop toward the ground.

By the time I arrive

the woodstove. Arranging cardboard and crumpled newspaper under four or five sticks of kindling, I strike a match. The smell of sulfur lingers as the teepee of combustible material begins to glow. It takes a minute or two for the fire to take hold, but when it does, I add a few larger logs and close the doors of the stove.

With the warmth from the cast iron beginning to spread through the room, I remove the gaiters and boots. While I change into my regular jeans, the dogs settle themselves by the stove. Slipping into my moccasins, I pad into the library and turn on the laptop. Outside the window, a female cardinal takes refuge in a red cedar. Her mate soon follows, the male’s scarlet-and-black plumage in brilliant contrast to those

finches, both gold and red.

I count at least two downy woodpeckers among the partygoers. But it’s a nuthatch that catches my attention. The bird’s blackand-white head and gray shoulders are every bit as formal as Fred Astaire in his hat, tails, and cane. As the little bird tap-dances up the trunk of the cedar, I’m reminded I’ve yet to begin my monthly column for the Northwoods Sporting Journal.

With a sigh, I stare at the empty screen. After a long moment, I begin pecking at the keyboard.

The letters M O R N I N G appear, followed by a space and then the letters C H O R E S. Birds flutter about the feeders. I notice that the sky has turned darker.

Perhaps it will rain.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 54

Cookin’ With New England’s WildCheff

by Denny Corriveau, Kennebunkport, ME

Maple has been an important North American food for hundreds of years.

“First Nation” Metis have cherished it for its unique flavor and versatility.

Beyond its traditional role as a sweetener, historically, maple syrup has played a significant part of food preservation. Its use in preserving food originated from Indigenous practices and has evolved in modern culinary techniques to be one of the essential ingredients in present day preservation methods.

My ancestors: Native people in North America were among the first to recognize the useful preservative properties of this sweetener from nature.

Maple syrup was valued for its ability to prolong the shelf life of food items, particularly during the long winter months when fresh

produce was sparse. Early preservation techniques used maple syrup to sweeten and preserve fruits and create a range of flavorful preserved food that could be enjoyed throughout the year.

The practice of boiling maple sap to produce

April 2024

Maple Food Preservation

and culinary traditions of the regions where it was produced. Indigenous communities and early settlers developed unique methods for integrating maple syrup into their preservation and passed down traditional recipes and techniques throughout their generations. This prevailing legacy continues to influence modern approaches to food preservation, as the timehonored use of maple syrup inspires today’s culinary

foods. This reduction in water availability inhibits the growth of spoilage microorganisms and helps to maintain the quality and safety of preserved products. The sugar content in maple syrup also contributes to its ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeast, and mold, thus providing a natural means of extending the shelf life of preserved foods. Foods that are preserved with maple syrup are less susceptible

innovators while preserving a connection to the past.

The science of maple syrup is tied to its high sugar content, which plays a major role in extending the shelf life of preserved foods. The natural sugars within maple syrup, primarily sucrose, glucose, and fructose, act as preservatives by reducing water activity in preserved

to spoilage, making it an effective and natural means of food preservation.

The acidity of maple syrup, with a pH range of 3.5 to 4.5, combined with the sugars present in maple syrup, contribute to its effectiveness as a natural preservative in various food preservation methods.

Maple's natural preservative qualities extend the shelf life of a wide range of preserved foods, from fruit preserves to pickled vegetables and cured meats.

In addition to its flavor-enhancing properties, maple syrup also exhibits antimicrobial properties WildCheff’s Maple Dilly that have been utilized Beans in food preservation for Ingredients centuries. The antimicro3 lbs. of fresh green beans bial properties of maple garlic cloves, peeled (1 syrup provide a natural and clove per jar) chemical-free method of (Maple cont. pg 62)

Native people in North America were among the first to recognize the useful preservative properties of this sweetener from nature. Maple syrup was valued for its ability to prolong the shelf life of food items.

syrup became an integral part of the Metis culinary traditions, and they swiftly learned to embrace its preservative qualities. Maple syrup was utilized in the preservation of fruits, such as apples and berries, as well as in the creation of maple-infused pickles and relishes.

The heritage of maple syrup preservation is connected with the cultural

Maine Moose Lottery Opens April 1st

Applications for the moose permit lottery will be accepted online starting April 1 and ending May 15, 2024 at 11:59 pm (ET).

The new application period will now allow moose hunters to know how many permits are issued and in what zone, as well as shorten the waiting time from when people apply until the day of the lottery on June 15th . The application period is similar in length to the antlerless deer lottery.

preserving foods, allowing you to harness a sustainable approach to natural food preservation.

When used in curing, the sugars in maple syrup help to draw out moisture from meats, creating an ideal environment for preserving and flavoring. The result is a tender and subtly sweetened product that highlights the versatility of maple syrup.

In pickling, the natural sugars in maple syrup offer a distinct sweetness that complements the tangy and acidic flavors of pickled vegetables and fruits.

Maple syrup is effectively being utilized in contemporary food preservation processes such as canning, from fruits to meats.

The role of maple syrup in food preservation continues to evolve, offering a blend of tradition and innovation to meet the demands of modern culinary practices while honoring its indigenous historical roots.

Here’s a great recipe that uses maple for pickling. These beans make a great addition to the plate, alongside a grilled wild game burger.

“Worth The Drive” “Maine’s Fat Bike & Snowdog Headquarters” Moose art by V. Paul Reynolds The 2024 moose permit lottery drawing will take place Saturday, June 15 in Fort Kent. Those who do not attend the in-person drawing can view lottery results at mefishwildlife.com by 6 pm on June 15.

For more information about moose hunting in Maine and the moose permit lottery, please visit: mefishwildlife.com

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April 2024

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 55

Maine’s Unofficial Holidays

For as long as I can remember the first day of April was right there with the first day of firearms season for deer. Around New England both were unof-

Throughout the woods you will usually find patches of snow along the riverbanks or low-lying areas. Finding turkey tracks is a plus for those of us who

the current. They also are on the lookout for dangers outside the water column such as eagles and hawks and humans.

Fly anglers have learned to master the art of dead-drifting a nymph.

I do the same with a small garden work or grub, usually without added weight.

Cast up into the head of the

South of the Kennebec

by Stu Bristol, Lyman, ME

golden when you realize the dominant males leave the flock and take up residence with or near groups of hens.

The brood hen will keep younger birds with her until early April. Groups of two-year old male turkeys will stick together and be-

or turkey scouting keep an eye out for shed antlers, both deer and moose. Many times I have found sheds in or near a brook. Crossing the brook when the antler is about to fall off can jar the headgear loose. Of course well-traveled deer trails are prime but don’t overlook

Fishing the cold, high water brooks takes a bit of planning.

Trout tend to stay in the deeper pools. My plan each time out is to make my way up the brook rather than fishing downstream.

Fellow writer the late Dick Pinney shows off springtime brookie. ficial holidays. Schools are wise enough to check were only half filled with these spots carefully. More students and most work- than once I have found a places operated with barely shed antler sticking out of enough workers to stay the snow. open. Times have sure Fishing the cold, high changed as these two red water brooks takes a bit letter days have faded into of planning. Trout tend to memories of people my stay in the deeper pools. age.

My plan each time out is Now that open water to make my way up the fishing is open from ice-out brook rather than fishing to the end of the year not so downstream. Trout will many of the new generation hang in the water column, feel the need to take April facing upstream and watch 1 off. That is, until they be- for food coming down in come avid wild turkey and shed antler hunters.

The opening day of rivers and stream fishing now has more meaning.

Not only can an angler fish the cold water of spring, but at the same time can scout for movements of wild turkey flocks and keep an eye out for shed antlers.

pool and mend your line as the current pulls it downstream. It may take several passes of a pool but brook trout are fast eaters. They usually won’t pass up a morsel on the second pass.

Turning our attention to turkey tracks, look for the size of the imprint and take note of how fresh the track is. A mature wild turkey track measures roughly five inches in length. Take into consideration also that the sun melts tracks and makes them appear larger than the foot that made them.

Wild turkey flocks stay mixed in ages and sex until mid-March when the flocks begin to break up and head for their springtime mating territory. Finding large tracks of one or two mature turkeys is

gin pushing and shoving for dominance. Listen as you go. The young jakes or older super jakes (2-yearolds) make a lot of noise during these dominance tussles.

It’s not uncommon to see mature male turkeys displaying early in the year. This doesn’t mean the breeding will be done

by May 1 season opener.

Biologists set the season to begin after many of the hens have already been bred. Don’t be concerned, there will be plenty of interested gobblers for the May opener. It is the lengthening of daylight hours that triggers mating, not the weather.

In your travels fishing

the stream banks.

With the unusually mild winter we had this year, brooks and streams will be “fishable” earlier than in other years with deep snow pack. Maximize your time in the springtime forest. Get your fill of fresh trout but also keep an eye out for turkey sign and sheds. And, yes, I strongly support the return of “unofficial” holidays.

Stu Bristol is a Master Maine Guide and Outdoor Writer. His features have been published nationwide for more than 60 years. He also is a master game call builder, www.deadlyimpostergamecalls.com

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 56

April 2024

April Question Of The Month

The Hunter: Endangered Species?

By V. Paul Reynolds

A number of years ago, in the 1990s, a highly regarded rural sociologist from Wisconsin, Professor Emeritus Tom Heberlein, predicted that the American hunter was headed for extinction. His prediction sparked a national debate in hunting circles, fired up the anti-hunting element, and was the subject of newspaper cartoons liken-

about and place value on the hunting legacy, wonder and worry about the future of recreational hunting.

And we glance at the statistics every once in a while looking for a glimpse into the future.

What is going on out there? We know that on the national level an increasing number of women have taken up recreational

population reflect those in its general population, particularly increased urbanization and rural flight.

Hunting is a rural pastime, and when you have demographic issues like we do in Vermont, it’s no surprise that hunting participation, hunting numbers are declining.”

In New Hampshire, the peak was 1988 when

licensed hunters; 20 years later, in 2022, Maine reported 233,443 licensed hunters!

Mark Latti, communication officer for the Maine Department of In-

rural sociologist with an abiding curiosity in the realm of hunting demographics. The anomaly is ripe for a more in-depth examination.

Obviously, when it

land Fisheries and Wildlife, says, about license sales, “We dipped a bit with the recession and bad winters in the 2008-10 period, but otherwise it has been a slow increase over that 20 year period. We are actually at the highest number of licensed hunters since 1982.”

Worth repeating, despite the national downward trend in hunting license sales, Maine has the highest number of licensed hunters since 1982!

The significance of this should not be overlooked, especially if there is in our midst another Tom Heberlein in the wings, a

comes to safeguarding, and even nurturing, Maine’s hunting legacy, we in the Pine Tree State are doing something right.

We need to learn more.

Mark Latti, communication officer for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, says, about license sales, “We dipped a bit with the recession and bad winters in the 2008-10 period, but otherwise it has been a slow increase over that 20 year period. We are actually at the highest number of licensed hunters since 1982.” ing the hunter to a cultural dinosaur by the year 2050.

Heberlein, an avid deer hunter himself, spent this past fall at his deer camp, put nothing on his game pole and passed away in a Wisconsin hospital in early January at the age of 78. He was regarded as a pioneer in human dimensions research. He regularly studied the American hunter, hunting demographics, and hunters’ attitudes and behaviors.

All of us who care

hunting. Here in Maine some rod and gun clubs are undertaking programs to introduce youngsters to the challenges and enjoyment of recreational hunting.

Nationally, the downward trend in licensed hunters dates back to 1987. In Vermont, 90,000 licenses were sold that year. Fewer than 50,000 were sold in 2017. A Vermont fish and wildlife spokesman said, “We expect this trend to kind of continue. Changes in Vermont’s hunter

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the number of hunting licenses sold in the state hit 97,000, following years of growth that paralleled the state’s population rise.

The figure fell steadily, dropping below 50,000 in 2017 but seems to have risen and leveled off in the past few years.

The sentiment in both New Hampshire and Vermont seems to be that the decline in hunting license sales, though it may have leveled some, will, over the long haul, continue.

“As the baby boomers age, license sales will continue to decline no matter how much effort we put into recruitment,” noted a 2017 budget report from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.

What about Maine, a historically robust deer hunting state? The news is somewhat of a statistical anomaly, as the good professor might observe, and not altogether bad. In 2002, there were 211,238

The author is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He is also a Maine Guide and host of a weekly radio program “Maine Outdoors” heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network. He has authored three books. Online purchase information is available at www.sportingjournal.com.

April 2024

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 57

Tributaries

Hunters and anglers are among the fortunate few. We, who are baptized by pounding rain on the top of our canoe on the portage trail. We, who shiver uncontrollably morning after morning under leaden November skies waiting, waiting for the telltale staccato of a buck’s hooves in crusted snow. We, who squint through diamonds dancing on the dark umber waters of a northwoods trout pond searching for the first rise of the evening. We, who witness our own mortality as the life ebbs from the eye of a harvested moose.

Homo sapiens have a deep-rooted instinct to tell others about these fleeting, transcendent, life-changing outdoor experiences; about our witness to and participation in the grand play of life and death. We return home from our adventures and struggle to explain the unexplainable to our friends and family. A few are brave enough to attempt to put the impossible

into words.

Tributaries by Mainer Ryan Brod, is more than a collection of essays on the author’s relatively young life as a passionate angler and hunter. Ryan bravely dares to attempt the im-

experience of fishing and hunting.

There are deep currents below the surface of these essays. Sons have complicated relationships with their fathers. Marriages can fall apart. Jobs and distances make friendships and relationships difficult to maintain. Differences and conflict are part and parcel of our life experience. A shared passion for hunting and fishing is sometimes the only

Northwoods Sketchbook

by Mark McCollough, Hampden, ME taste the tang of the Caribbean air and smell the spice of mangrove on the sea breeze on Florida Bay. You feel the futility of a sensitive young lad who wilts after a stern rebuke from his father after missing a rise by a giant brown trout on the Kennebec.

He persisted though, and

for tarpon is Ryan’s obsession. The reader feels the jolt of a 12-weight fly rod when a 120-pound tarpon engulfs a fly the size of a typical Maine brook trout.

Ryan expertly describes the sound of rattling gills, the crystalline palm-sized scales glinting in the sun, and the tail-walking leap of

Ryan bared his soul in these riveting essays. I couldn’t put the book down and consumed all that Ryan offered in two or three sittings by the wood stove.

possible; to describe how hunting and fishing guided his formative years, forged indelible bonds between a father and son, and developed a soul connection with a new friend. Through deeply-felt experiences tarpon fishing in Florida Bay to turkey hunting in central Maine, these essays elicit the transcendent

gossamer thread that binds these tender relationships together; a north star that helps us to survive the calamities of adolescence and blossom into early adulthood. Below the surface of tarpon fishing and deer hunting adventures, Ryan’s essays ache of the frailties of an aging father, the necessity of a having a close friend, and the complexities of learning about himself as he approaches midlife.

Ryan Brod’s prose is simple yet elegant. You relive the vivid details of a Maine moose hunt. You

triumphed when he caught the fish, his first on a fly, with his father the next evening. You feel the frailty of his aging father who approaches 80 and increasingly depends on his son to help him hunt and fish for his final years afield.

The tables are turning, the sport is now turning into a sage guide.

If a tally of the essay topics is any indication, Ryan’s passion is big fish.

He is a consummate hunter of muskies and northern pike at home in Maine and snook, bonefish and tarpon in Florida Bay. Fly fishing

the tarpon dancing across the flats. He describes the adventure of hunting for muskies with home-tied flies from a canoe on a remote river in northern Maine. He spins a great yard about fly fishing for pork-bellied carp, of all things, on the tidal waters of Merrymeeting Bay. You meet the larger-than-life inventor of Jack’s ice fishing traps. Through expert narrative Ryan captures the humor of a nimrod sport from New York city fainting at the sight of a toothy grin of a northern pike on (Tributaries cont. pg 62)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 58

Hot Dog Heaven

Cracker Barrel

by Homer Spit My late father, desperate for work during the Great Depression, toiled in a hot dog factory. He would never eat a hot dog. “You wouldn’t either,” he said, “if you knew what they

April 2024

wonderfully snappy red dogs, is comprised of high quality beef and pork – no offal or floor sweepings.

During my Maine ice fishing career, which was long and memorable, the

late March - perfect for a day of ice fishing. Holes are drilled. The tip ups are all cocked with a frisky shiner on the end of the line darting about just beneath the ice.

The angler’s vigil begins.

You get a smudge going in the ice shack stove.

Coffee is on. The crib-

on a late March day beside a frozen Maine lake.

There is no better way to get kids hooked on ice fishing. Years ago, as a young father, I carried my 4- year old son in an ash pack basket to a pickerel

hot dogs grilled on a stick over the open fire was the main attraction.

More than 50 years later, that little hot dog lovin’ tike is a middle-aged airline pilot home-based in Miami. Itching to get back

In the early days, before we owned an ice shack, a big bonfire near shore kept us warm. At noon the king-size iron fry pan was loaded with butter, a big sliced Vidalia onion and a pound of dogs. were made of.”

Things, including the Great American Hot Dog, do evolve, I guess. A modern hot dog, according to an acquaintance, whose livelihood was making those

hot dog was darn near the raison d’etre, the reason to be there, next of course to the anticipation of catching a lunker. Picture it.

It is a rare, warming, sun-laden, windless day in

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bage board comes out. You and your fishing bud have one eye on the cards and one eye scanning the red flags waiting for one to go “twang,” and wave above the snow pack signaling “fish on.”

In the early days, before we owned an ice shack, a big bonfire near shore kept us warm. At noon the king-size iron fry pan was loaded with butter, a big sliced Vidalia onion and a pound of dogs. Unless the tip ups were flying, the sizzling dog and onions became the main attraction, as anglers hovered close to the aroma with mouths just a watering.

There is nothing to match a hot dog smothered in burned onions served

On the ice there is nothing like a snappy red hot dog loaded with all the fixin’s.

(Illustration by V. Paul Reynolds)

pond for his first ice fishing experience. Scotty was a pre-schooler at the time.

His mother questioned the appearance of it all, the propriety of our son’s Dad encouraging school skipping in order to enable a father-son ice fishing experience.

The boy had a ball.

I learned that cold, grayskied February day the power of food to get a kid hooked on fishing. Oh, he enjoyed the catching alright, but the crispy red

on the Maine ice this week for a few days of fishing, his Maine plans were almost dashed when what he calls a “broken jet” had him stuck in a South American city.

Last I heard, though, he brought the jet home and, despite a late start, is Maine bound with ice fishing on his mind.

“Why,” you might ask, “would a perfectly rational adult leave a sail boat in the Florida Keys in February to chop holes on a Maine lake to catch a fish?”

Simple. Hot dog heaven. You can get a hot dog in the Florida Keys.

But not the red ones that snap so satisfyingly at first bite. And, with hot dogs for some reason, it is where you are eating that onionsmothered, mustard and relish-laden lashup that makes them so extra special.

Homer Spit likes to keep a low profile. He lives on a lake in Maine.

April 2024

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Charr Man Remembered

Page 59

By V. Paul Reynolds

Maine fisheries biologist Fred Kircheis, the “Charr Man,” passed away February 27 at his home in Carmel. He was 81.

Kircheis will be remembered as a consummate, dedicated fisheries biologist, who devoted most of his working life to the restoration and protection of Maine’s rare Arctic charr.

According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W), “Arctic charr in Maine represent a unique resource, which is represented by the only intact native populations in the lower forty-eight states. Furthermore, recent genetic work shows that Maine’s populations are genetically isolated, representing unique gene pools, and that many of them have adapted specifically to the available food base. For these reasons, MDIFW focuses on management that warrants protection for each individual population.”

Kircheis worked out of MDIF&W’s Bangor office. His work allowed

him to work in all areas of the State and with all of Maine’s native fishes.

But his main research focus was on Arctic charr, especially those in Floods Pond. Because of his work with Arctic charr, Fred was invited to join the International Society of Arctic Charr Fanatics, a select and exclusive group of international Arctic charr experts. He traveled the

my career. He was a nice man who was a very focused fisheries biologist on accomplishing the best protections for char and the native fishes of Maine. He demanded excellence from himself and his colleagues around him.”

Fred Hurley, former deputy commissioner for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife recalls, “Fred was one

Maine fisheries research biologist Fred Kircheis, the “Charr Man.” and ponds including two his mark, and did, indeed, populations established make a difference. through translocation (the Fred Kircheis, the live transfer of fish) by “Charr man, will long be MDIFW. Arctic charr are remembered for his prothe northern-most fish in found passion, his signifithe world, sometimes liv- cant contribution to fisheries management in Maine, During his working life, Kircheis played a and his hard work.

pivotal role in shaping the fisheries management goals and policies that will serve to protect this special native fish for years to come.

world studying Arctic charr in all their forms and environments.

Bob Mallard from the Native Fish Coalition recalls, “Fred was a wealth of knowledge in regard to Maine’s rare Arctic charr.

He was easy to talk to and always willing to help.

Few biologists I’ve worked with could bring it down to layman’s terms as well as Fred.”

Downeast regional fisheries biologist Greg Burr says, “I worked with and for Fred for many years in the beginning of

of those persons you never forget. He had a long and distinguished career with the Department’s Fisheries Division, and commonly participated in discussions with his colleagues that guided fisheries management programs for many years.”

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ing in lakes and ponds with no other fish, and where the ice doesn’t break from the lake every year.

During his working life, Kircheis played a pivotal role in shaping the fisheries management goals and policies that will serve to protect this special native fish for years to come. As they say, he left

The author is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He is also a Maine Guide and host of a weekly radio program “Maine Outdoors” heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network. He has authored three books. Online purchase information is available at www.sportingjournal.com

Page 60

THE BACK SHELF

From the files of the Northwoods Sporting Journal The best hunting and fishing columns going back 25 years!

Northwoods Sporting Journal

April 2024

Turkey Woods Tips

By their very nature backshelf articles, resurrected from our archives, may contain information or facts that have been altered or changed by the passage of time.

“Turkey hunters are merely play actors; the “Turkey Woods” their stage.” I penned that slogan for my call making business back in 1983.

That’s when I began making turkey calls for friends

stop and list the different vocalizations you used to lure that trophy into shotgun or bow range.

Eight Note Call Before daylight we use the eight-note call of

If you’ve hunted wild turkeys for a few years, stop and list the different vocalizations you used to lure that trophy into shotgun or bow range. and relatives. Each time I head out in search of a longbeard I remind myself of that truism.

Obviously as a 200-pound hunter we can’t dress like a hen turkey to sneak up on a gobbler, so it’s critical that we not only sound like a hen turkey but imitate the sounds of nearly everything in the forest.

If you’ve hunted wild turkeys for a few years,

the Barred owl to get a gobbler to sound off, giving up its location. Wild turkeys use over 300 different vocalizations in their lifetime but most hunters only try to imitate half a dozen.

The “cluck, purr, keekee,fly-down cackle, tree yelps, plain yelps, excited mating yelps” are just a few of the commonly used vocalizations. How successful the hunter is at

The best turkey hunters have learned how to blend in with their surroundings. (Photo by V. Paul Reynolds) reproducing these turkey “words” plays a major role in either success or failure.

Knowing when to use each of these vocalizations, at which inflection, cadence and volume come next in the hunters arsenal of calls. Selection of calling device many times will control the hunters options.

The more successful turkey chasers will go afield armed with a vest loaded with; a box call, pot call, usually slate surface,

mouth diaphragm and possibly a couple of variations of the basic devices.

The Box Call The box call is the most foolproof. The hunter merely needs to draw the top paddle across the lips of the call to produce the “yelp.” With the pot and striker call, the calling surface must be cleaned of oxidation then draw the tip of the striker across the surface in a small circular

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motion to produce yelps.

Strike a match action creates a plain cluck. With either call the less dominant hand holds the call and the dominant hand moves the lid or striker.

The caller, from novice to expert needs to constantly practice different strokes and volumes and listen to audio files of real turkeys or calling competitions. In the beginning, I used a tape recorder to listen to real turkeys and match my attempts.

Now, entering the “turkey woods” the hunter needs to clear his or her mind. No family or work problems, no daydreaming about fine cars, shotguns and food.

Sit quietly, close your eyes and try to pick out the dozens of forest sounds.

Running water, chipmunks, squirrels, crows and songbirds. Next keeping your head still and moving only your eyes, scan the surroundings for movement of any sort. I look for ground squirrels and birds and (Backshelf cont. pg 65)

April 2024

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 61

Are You Fit to Hunt?

The last thing you want to think about when you are chasing animals through the woods, is whether or not you can physically do it. There are a lot of things that I can not control on each hunt, but

stick.

On the Wednesday of my hunt, things didn’t quite work out the way we wanted it to, but I stood in the middle of the road with my rifle ready. I overheard Wayne, my guide, reassur-

for a black bear. I will stay at a hunting camp and have a guide. I have done some research on the terrain and what I can expect depending on where we are hunting, but I don’t know the location and have to rely on his word and photos from the internet. So… it was time for another training program! The last thing I want to do is not be able

Women In The Woods

by Erin Merrill, Portland, ME

incline or I head outside and walk and hike. Anything to get my legs and body used to the additional weight and moving. Jeremy checks in on me weekly and has altered the training schedule every month to ensure my body is ready

hunt somewhere other than Maine and I can not wait to share the story with you all when I return!

Erin is a member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association, Outdoor Writers Association

On the Wednesday of my hunt, things didn’t quite work out the way we wanted it to, but I stood in the middle of the road with my rifle ready. I overheard Wayne, my guide, reassuring my dad that I was solid as I stood there and he had no doubt in my ability to make a good shot.

the one thing I can control is how healthy I am. So, when I saw my name had been called for my moose permit in 2021, I called my friend Jeremy and started training.

Jeremy owns and runs Fit to Hunt, an online training organization that works with people all over the United States to help them meet their fitness goals. He has created a few training programs for me depending on what I was preparing for. My moose hunt focused on increasing my upper body strength so that I could hold my 7.5lb rifle steady without needing to rest it on a truck or steady

ing my dad that I was solid as I stood there and he had no doubt in my ability to make a good shot. I knew then that the work had paid off.

Ten years ago, the state of Maine was engrossed in a referendum battle to keep the bear hunting methods that we need to ensure hunters can best help to manage the population. It was when I started bear hunting and writing about my love of all things bears. Now, ten years later, it is a spring bear hunt that I am training for. If all goes as planned, I will fly to Vancouver Island and hunt for up to five days

to keep up with my guide.

Building upon the foundation of the moose program, I am doing more rucking and weight training. I put weights into my backpack, hop on my treadmill and increase the

for the five day hunt.

It may not seem necessary but I can assure you, having trained and hunted during the week of my moose hunt, it was well worth it. It will be an exciting new adventure to

of America and the New England Outdoor Writers Association. She is a senior writer for Drury Outdoors’ DeerCast. You can read about Erin’s adventures and contact her at www.andastrongcupofcoffee.com

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Page 62

Arms

(Cont. from pg 52) your voice. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

It wouldn’t be proper to not mention one of our most sacred days, Opening Day of Trout Season. Honestly, for many trout fishermen (and women) this date doesn’t seem to carry as much enthusiasm as it used to, because increasingly “trouters” are fishing yearround with artificial lures like flies and practice catch and release only. I talk with a lot of these purists, and if I can de-escalate the selfrighteousness toward those who enjoy eating what they catch, maybe we could all appreciate Opening Day on the Glorious Second Saturday of April. This season should be an interesting one. Our “non-winter” will likely result in very little snowpack melt. Most of the larger rivers never froze and the smaller streams maintained a current with no ice cover all winter.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Will this result in lower water flows? What about water temperatures? It’s ridiculous that you can’t make a comment about the weather these days without creating a political argument. Just remember that 30 years ago there were virtually no opossums, ticks, or tornadoes in our state. I accept that we are going through a significant change, be it short or long, and this change is affecting everything from waterfowl migration to does being bred mid-winter, causing more fawns to be wandering the woods in the fall.

Whatever you believe, please try to be respectful of those with differing opinions. Express your indignation with firmly based facts and a strong conviction, but by all means please stand up and fight for our traditions and fend off these fanatical groups like Protect Our Wildlife, run by Brenna Galdenzi of Stowe, who is building her battalion of anti-hunters now numbering 20,000 social media followers, 3,000

“Vermonters,” and pushing hard for passage of S.258.

Bring to a boil 2 1/2 C vinegar, 2 1/2 C water, 2 tablespoons maple sugar Bradley Carleton is (or maple syrup) and 2 the founder and Director tablespoons of sea salt. of Sacred Hunter.org which Fill each jar to within teaches the public respect 1/2″ of the top with the and empathy through hunt- boiling liquid. ing, fishing, and foraging.

Wipe the top of the jar with a clean cloth or paper towel, attach lids and place it in a hot water bath for 15 (Cont. from pg 54) minutes.

Fresh Dill (1 sprig per All WildCheff prodjar) ucts can be purchased at WildCheff Red Pepper www.wildcheff.com Flakes (1/4 Tsp. per jar) 2 1/2 C of white or apple cider vinegar 2 1/2 C of water (Cont. from pg 57) 2 T of maple sugar or Messalonskee Lake. pure maple syrup Ryan Brod’s book 2 T of WildCheff Apple- Tributaries is about more wood Smoked Sea Salt than outdoors pursuits. It Sterilized pint-sized can- is about friendships and ning jars families, about growing Directions up and growing old, and Wash and stem 3 attempting to describe what green beans and place on it is like to experience the end in sterilized pint jars. wonder of hunting and fishIf the beans are too long, ing on this living planet. trim to fit the jar.

Ryan bared his soul Add to each jar: 1 in these riveting essays. peeled garlic clove, 1 sprig I couldn’t put the book dill, and 1/4 teaspoon of red down and consumed all pepper flakes.

Maple

Tributaries

April 2024 that Ryan offered in two or three sittings by the wood stove. Ryan Brod is a talented writer, and the quality of the essays is superb.

Ryan is a Maine native.

He grew up in Smithfield and now lives in Portland.

He teaches first-year writing and creative nonfiction at the University of New England. Many of his essays appeared in other astute literary publications including The Drake, Gray’s Sporting Journal, the MeatEater, and the Fly Fishing Journal. Some of you may know Ryan’s writing from appearances in the Bangor Daily News. Tributaries was the best-selling memoir of 2023 at Back Cove Books in Portland.

Tributaries is published by Islandport Press in Maine and is available for $18.95 at most book stores and Amazon.com.

Mark McCollough is a retired wildlife biologist can be reached at markmccollough25@gmail.com

To Military Personnel Worldwide!

In these troubled and divisive times for our country, we at the Northwoods Sporting Journal remain proud to be Americans. We still stand for the National Anthem and thank our lucky stars that we live in the land of the free.

A digital subscription to the Northwoods Sporting Journal makes a wonderful gift for your military person serving in faraway places. www.sportingjournal.com

And we still salute our military men and women, who have served and continue to serve their country, here at home and in faraway lands. To them we owe our gratitude and appreciation for what they do, and for safeguarding our American way of life, which we value deeply.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

April 2024

The Moose Poaching Puzzle Part I

It was the October come back to bite. cow only hunting week, The following day I and after a long day of had a rider along, who has working the moose hunt, I since been hired as a Game

the scene to locate the bull moose and to get to work on solving the case. Warden Preston Pomerleau was on his way with K9 Gordon and I remember discussing with Rose how these calls are fairly common during moose season and that I have covered dozens and dozens of these. We had no idea at the time how this

Page 63

Warden’s Words

by Game Warden Kale O’Leary, Ashland, ME

my eye in the ditch. It was a gut pile, or the entrails of a field dressed moose.

Right next to the gut pile was a spruce tree that had been freshly limbed 10 or 12 feet off the ground and a green ratchet strap still

sweeping corners, we arrived at the location of the two-year-old bull moose that had been shot and left behind to waste. I told Rose it didn’t appear that gut pile and the shot and left moose could be connected at face

By lunch time, it didn’t look good. We had not located any ballistic evidence, shell casings, tire impressions, boot tracks or anything to give us a strong lead on this case. I have a saying that I tell all new Game Wardens, that the difference between a good warden and a great warden is his or her ability to keep digging and be persistent when the chips are down.

had just arrived home when Warden, Rose Mandella in my phone vibrated on the the truck with me. Rose counter. It was a text from and I began driving into a local guide stating that, while guiding some hunters in Zone 5, they had located a shot and left bull moose around 3:30 p.m that evening. The guide then texted me the GPS coordinates to the location. This is a fairly common text to receive as a Game Warden in northern Aroostook county. Not a surprise or out of the ordinary by any measure. My experience told me that it was likely a mistake in identification, discussions were had, dice were rolled and the shooters had decided that Wardens likely would never track them down and left behind an entire animal to waste. I take great pride in making these types of gambles

case would transpire into a year long effort that would be a case we all would never forget.

I glanced down at my GPS are we neared the location of the coordinates that we had been provided. As we approached to within 300 yards of the bull moose, something caught

hanging at the top of the tree. I discussed with Rose how this could definitely be connected to our case, but that we needed to go up to the location of the bull and work our way back from there. We continued up the road, gaining several hundred feet of elevation and around three or four large

value. They were too far apart, too much elevation in between them, but that we needed to jump right in and get dirty to figure out what we have for evidence.

Like homicide detectives working a crime scene, we began searching, digging and dissecting. Warden (Puzzle cont. pg 65)

Page 64

Editor’s note: Zoe Pavlik, a senior at the University of Maine majoring in wildlife ecology, was selected this year as the Maine scholarship recipient by the New England Outdoor Writers Association. What follows is her application essay. We thought it was worth sharing.

By Zoe Pavlik

I come to wildlife ecology from an interdisciplinary background, with my first major going

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Value of Wildlife very much to be a small part of fixing those problems.

As I progressed through my undergraduate career, I decided to embrace my interest in and love for wildlife by taking on a double major in wildlife ecology. Compared to my climate-centered track in environmental science, the problems I encountered in wildlife ecology had a different type of importance for the world as a whole. In thinking about

changing world?

I believe that wildlife conservation is very important, and does justify devoting our resources to it. But thinking about this question brings up a larger more philosophical question, that I believe is now more important than ever as we’re facing the prospect of huge biodiversity loss: why do we, as a species, care about wildlife?

We know that biodiversity helps keep ecosystems stable and able to provide eco-

We are a lonely species, having lost our own hominid relatives long ago. We have gotten this far into our current environmental crises by letting the dominant factor in how we treat nature be our use of it. into college being environmental science. Now is, of course, not a very happy time to be learning about the field of environmental science. I’ve spent a lot of time during my undergraduate years learning and thinking about current and impending problems.

Going into and throughout college, my career goals were simple, and vague.

Even as my specific fields of interest developed and shifted, I always wanted

April 2024

the field of wildlife conservation today, I’ve considered how it fits in with the broader range of problems we’re facing from climate change. The question becomes: in a world where climate impacts are inevitable and we’re faced with the task of mitigating and adapting to those effects, is it justified to spend our resources on mitigating those impacts on other species, or do we need to be prioritizing humans in this

system services, and that some wildlife species may have uses for humanity that haven’t been discovered yet. We don’t know the implications that widespread loss of our animal biodiversity would have on our planet’s ecosystems, or on us. But the truth is that I don’t think that any of that is really the reason why we, as a species, are willing to invest time, money and resources trying to save wildlife species.

GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOT!

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Please include your contact information, too. www.sportingjournal.com

Our value of wildlife is not logical, or utilitarian, and it doesn’t even need to be rooted in being able to personally experience them. I, after all, have never seen an orca whale, but I still care that they exist, and it matters to me that they

our childhood homes– is just as important as any utilitarian value of the natural world. The field of wildlife conservation will face challenges as our world warms and the niches many species rely on shift or vanish.

Zoe Pavlik continue to exist. Some might say that it has to do with the inherent value of every life, but I don’t think that’s it either. Most people don’t care that much if a squirrel is run over on the road, but if it was the last squirrel left? It becomes an entirely different issue.

In a deep and undeniable way, the mere fact that we share our planet with other species matters to us regardless of our use of them.

We are a lonely species, having lost our own hominid relatives long ago.

We have gotten this far into our current environmental crises by letting the dominant factor in how we treat nature be our use of it. Perhaps the emotional value we place on nature– on the existence of wild animals we will never see, on the recreational activities we enjoy, on the way the sun used to shine through the leaves of the tree outside

But I believe that, despite those challenges, humans should, and will, continue to invest our limited resources in preserving our fellow species. My career aspirations remain to work towards solutions to our current environmental issues, but I don’t believe that those solutions are only valuable when they directly benefit humans.

Wildlife conservation may seem like a luxury in a world where we’re increasingly featuring large-scale threats to the wellbeing of our own species, but its importance lies in how we, as a species, can embrace the emotional ties we still feel to nature and use them to guide us in a changing world.

Zoe Pavlik is a senior at the University of Maine majoring in wildlife ecology. She is from Durham, New Hampshire.

Happy Easter!

April 2024

Puzzle

(Cont. from pg 63) Pomerleau and K9 Gordon also got to work, looking for any shell cases or other evidence left behind near the road.

By lunch time, it didn’t look good. We had not located any ballistic evidence, shell casings, tire impressions, boot tracks or anything to give us a strong lead on this case. I have a saying that I tell all new Game Wardens, that the difference between a good warden and a great warden is his or her ability to keep digging and be persistent when the chips are down. I had to remember that motto right then. Just as lady luck seemed to be not on our side, Warden Pomerleau yelled for me to come over and see what he had just found.

I got up to the gravel

Backshelf (Cont. from pg 60) many times a turkey pops in sight as if magic.

You need to blend in with your surroundings. My good friend and wildlife artist, Randy Julius would meditate, many times with his eyes closed and pick up subtle rustling of leaves or sot clucks and purrs, each one a possible sign of an approaching turkey or flock.

The “turkey woods” is a very special place to be, regardless if you locate a turkey. In the fall the “tur-

Northwoods Sporting Journal logging road where he was standing and he pointed out an obvious drag mark along the gravel shoulder and some moose hair he had found in the rocks.

Sure enough, we continued walking down the road, following the hair and drag marks all the way to the gut pile and limbed tree. This was the break we needed.

Before long, I had walked backwards to where the drag mark continued into the tall grass and to a location 52 feet from the bull moose. It was here, lying in the tall grass that I found a large spot of blood spatter and two moose teeth that had become dislodged after an obvious finishing shot from close range. In that exact moment, it was as if a light bulb turned on as I connected the dots. This moose, obviously a cow had been shot, dragged down the road in an attempt

to conceal the fact that two moose had been shot together, was field dressed and surely tagged at a local tagging station. At each moose check station, a tooth sample is taken to get an age of the harvested animal. Maybe, just maybe, I could use the tooth from the scene and the tooth at the tagging station to solve this case utilizing DNA technology. I knew it was a long shot and completely uncharted territory, but it was worth the shot to track down these bad actors.

key woods” becomes the deer woods with the same instruction for the hunter.

and happen on to a deer or turkey ten minutes into the outing and score a kill.

I hope that never happens very often. When I sat down with the lawyer for the Maine Legislature in 1985 I insisted that the wild turkey be designated as a “big game” species with all the rules regulations and penalties. Those of us who attain the designation as “turkeyholics” understand fully why we each feel turkeys are worth that high bar and intimately appreciate the “turkey woods.”

Woodsmanship “Woodsmanship” is a very import part of hunting of all stripes. Understanding your surroundings, “situational awareness,” when it’s alright to move quickly, stealthfully or movement of just the head are all important aspects of being in the “turkey woods.”

Finally, there are no easy ways to kill a turkey; at least not in my playbook.

In deer or turkey hunting there are times when even inexperienced get “lucky”

Next month: The rest of the story, Part II Kale O’Leary has been a Maine Game Warden since 2016. He covers the Masardis/Oxbow district in central Aroostook County. He lives in Ashland.

Send your letters to the Editor to: NWSJ P.O. Box 195 W. Enfield ME 04493 or info@sportingjournal.com

Page 65

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 66

Loons: Double-Edged Sword

By Leighton Wass

No question, loons are THE image representing New England ponds and lakes, especially on remote waters. Who doesn’t love their haunting melodies, striking good looks, and impeccable parental care?

in some instances, to levels where they are no longer endangered or threatened, providing even more enjoyment for loon watchers.

Although loons may always appear to be a model of perfection, most of us

loons. In one instance in 2023, the hen swam to a float with six little fluffy ducklings behind. She hopped onto the float, but the ducklings were too tiny to make it. A pair of loons showed up and ate all six of

Although loons may always appear to be a model of perfection, most of us are unaware that they also possess an unsavory side. On a remote pond near Moosehead Lake, camp owners have witnessed the killing and eating of baby goldeneye ducklings by loons.

Not too many years ago, there were drastically fewer of these magnificent avians. But, due to many state and federal loon recovery programs, their populations have increased, and

are unaware that they also possess an unsavory side.

On a remote pond near Moosehead Lake, camp owners have witnessed the killing and eating of baby goldeneye ducklings by

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the ducklings. This pair of loons reportedly has never had young on the pond.

In another case, anglers in northern Wisconsin watched as a loon speared a male goldeneye through its belly from below. It lay dead in the water after tossing the duck from its beak.

Despite these appalling acts by loons, they are indeed to be loved – in context. Another loon activity that most non-anglers are probably not aware of is a form of loon harassment that has many anglers at the end of their ropes. It occurs primarily on remote trout ponds, where fly anglers fish for brook trout.

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the surface. That noise is like ringing a dinner bell to loons. Even from long distances, they will home in on that fishing craft looking for an easy meal. As a result, the angler must reel in the fish as fast as possible or face losing it to the loon underwater. If the loon succeeds (over 50% of the time), it typically comes to the surface to swallow the trout whole. As a result, the pleasure of the experience of “playing the trout” is utterly lost to the angler, whether the loon succeeds or not.

fly with a hook is ingested along with the trout, or the hook gets caught in, or on, the loon’s beak and sometimes its head. I have counted as many as seven flies attached to a loon on a Vermont Pond.

All this is a bitter pill to swallow for anglers, so a few ploys are used to alleviate the problem, none of which are foolproof. Rocks are sometimes used as a diversionary tactic. Tossing a small rock away from where a fish is released occasionally works. Loons will dive toward the rock splash, thinking it’s the fish, thus giving the released trout a little more time to escape. I usually take a small bag of rocks with me when fly fishing any loon-infested trout ponds. Sometimes, just faking to throw a fish back will cause loons to dive in that deked direction, allowing fish to be released in an opposite Loon With Trout (Photo by Janie Mckenzie) path.

But the badgering is not over! If the angler can successfully land the trout and decides to release it, the loon will be all over it. As soon as a trout is let go, loons (sometimes within arm’s reach) dive and almost always catch the dazed trout. And it’s not just the small fish. I have seen loons swallow 13-inch trout with relative ease. This past year, a well-known Maine sporting camp owner and his sports watched a loon swallow a measured 16inch trout after releasing it.

And he reports that he has witnessed that act many times over the years.

Sometimes, a fishing

Loon Looking Underwater. The loon is investigating the splash from a thrown rock.

(Photo by Janie Mckenzie)

Another common strategy is to take a bucket or pail along and fill it with water. If a fish isn’t (Loons cont. pg 67)

April 2024

Loons

(Cont. from pg 66) lost to a loon while reeling in, and the angler prefers to release it, the fish goes into the bucket. The trout are then dumped overboard after moving to a different part of the pond without loons. One problem with this tactic is that trout don’t last long in a bucket from lack of oxygen, especially on hot days. Therefore, the trout must be moved to another area in short order.

Of course, neither of these tactics addresses the issue of loons swiping a trout while reeling it in, and both are a pain in the ass, taking away from the whole fishing experience.

Other anglers are known to smack a paddle on the surface to scare loons away. I’m not a real fan of that technique because, in addition to possibly scaring the loons away, it would also scare the fish you are trying to catch! Another strategy is to anchor loon decoys at a distance to attract loons away from the boat, hoping that hobnobbing with

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Maine about the issue. All report it as an increasing problem, although most are reluctant to have their names associated with anything written about their true feelings for fear of a backlash that could hurt their bottom line. I totally understand that.

Some sporting camp owners worry that loons may be seriously decreasing trout numbers in some small backwoods ponds. I suspect nobody can attest to that accurately. However, the information supplied

by Maine Audubon and other loon organizations declare that during one breeding season, two adult loons and two chicks consume about 9001000 pounds of fish over a five- sixmonth period. Granted, all those fish are probably not trout unless the loons are The same loon swallowusing only isolated ing the trout. Notice the tail trout ponds as their sticking from its mouth. primary source of (Photo by Janie Mckenzie) fish. As an aside, I problem? I have talked to have also read that Maine guides and camp owners fishery biologists may time from New Hampshire and the stocking of trout to loon “friends” will overpower the urge to chase fish. This is done in some mid-western states with a little success, but I believe that is on large bodies of water. I’ve also watched a few frustrated anglers throw rocks at loons to try and keep them at bay, but that approach seems to border on loon harassment, a punishable fine in some states.

How common is this

Ray O’Brien of Enfield with a nice togue caught at East Grand Lake.

coincide with an absence of loons because of their gluttony for a free meal.

Is there an answer to the unadulterated thievery that anglers increasingly face by loons? Not an obvious one for sure. We all admire this red-eyed, blackand-white bird as a manifestation of our wilderness.

But loons are seriously eroding the enjoyment of remote pond fly fishing on many prime waters. That aggravation is building like a precarious avalanche for anglers, guides, and sporting camp owners.

Picture a fishing party driving from a long distance to stay and pay at a sporting camp for some wild trout fishing. They pay a guide to take them to a prime fishing location, but the loons make fishing impossible. All three, the sporting camp, the guides, and the anglers, lose out. And in the deep north woods, you can’t always just pick up and go elsewhere.

Vermont’s best wild brook trout pond has had such a severe problem with a pair of non-nesting loons in recent years that some anglers are now refusing

Beautiful Largemouth measuring 23” and weighed in at 6.25 lbs. caught through the ice in Raymond by Evan Thompson of Auburn.

Page 67 to fish there. In one case, a young boy was trying to release a trout from his net, and a loon actually bit him, probably accidentally, but give me a break!

No one wants to be seen as anti-loons, and I can hear the blowback now. But the issue is certainly there, and in my opinion, after witnessing this learned behavior of loons for ten years, I see no answer but to keep slinging buckets and tossing rocks.

Throwing diversionary rocks didn’t outsmart this wise loon, as Janie McKenzie reports: “As the loon was nipping at this trout’s tail, I barely got it into the boat. I put the trout in a pail of water, then threw several rocks away from the boat, hoping the loon would think it was the trout. As the loon swam to investigate (see photo 2) the splashes, I quickly released the trout on the opposite side. As if propelled by jet fuel, that loon swam under the boat and was on my trout faster than a bat out of hell and proudly came to the surface with the trout in its beak!”

Gabe Valley of Holden caught this 6 lb 4 oz brook trout at Moosehead lake in February of this year.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 68

News

able.

(Cont. from pg 44) within the most protected part of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway corridor, a designation that averages 500 to 800 feet wide throughout the river’s length. PEER and past managers of the Allagash Waterway argue that this $1.2 million in new construction projects diminishes the Waterway’s wilderness character and is unnecessary as far less intrusive options are availSELLERS LANE

BUYERS ROAD

The Bureau has slated three new offices and three new storage facilities at Chamberlain, Churchill, and Michaud Farm, respectively. The new offices are justified on grounds that current offices are not accessible as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Yet, the Bureau did not consider adding access ramps or other rehabilitation to the existing offices.

“By law, the Allagash is supposed to be man-

aged to preserve ‘primitive America’ – not an office park,” stated New England PEER Director Kyla Bennett, a scientist and attorney formerly with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, noting that for more than 50 years, the Allagash has been classified as a wild river under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968.

“This Bureau appears to be suffering from an edifice complex.”

As evidence that Bureau leadership does not

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April 2024

understand or care about preserving the wilderness character of the Allagash corridor, PEER points to its purchase of a 250 horsepower 23-foot landing craft capable of excessive speeds.

“Having rangers roaring full throttle across Chamberlain Lake is the opposite of the wilderness character the Allagash is mandated to preserve,” added Bennett. “Allagash rangers have managed the river corridor quite well for many decades without speed boats.”

The Bureau’s plans have drawn objections from the National Park Service, which is charged with ensuring the Allagash continues to meet federal requirements for wild and scenic river status. In addition, former Allagash Wilderness Waterway man-

agers covering three decades of service have also expressed their opposition to the plans.

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Waters are grouped by county, listed by town, and include the date of stocking as well as the species, quantity, and size of fish released. Find the report online at www.mefishwildlife.com Just click on stocking report.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

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136 Moosehead Trail Newport, ME 04953 Bus 207-355-3252

REAL ESTATE

P.O. Box 628 Main Street Machias, ME 04654 Office Tel. & Fax: (207) 255-3039 Email: anitaj@midmaine.com Website: www.sunlist.com Anita Johnson

JONESBORO: This 28x52 double wide is in ex. cond & has a new shingled roof. There are three bdrms & two baths w/one bath in the master bdrm.

Laundry rm right off the kitchen, nice views of the back yard, a deck to sit on to enjoy the peace & quiet of the area, a deer might come strolling out. Nice wood stove for cold nights, it's nice to hear the crackling fire. Have to have at least a 2-day notice as it is rented. Super great price of only $139,000.

CALAIS: This three bedroom home has 1 1/2 baths with the 1/2 downstairs. Nice fireplace in the living room, this room goes right into the kitchen, then another room that could be used for a bedroom.

Small garage in poor condition. This home is close to stores, eating places and banking. Home sits on a quiet street. Super great price for only $89,999.