Northwoods Sporting Journal, Dec. 2021

Me & Joe Go After The Moose Poachin’ Bunch December 2021

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Smokepole Buck

-Josh Reynolds

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* Gr ace In T he De e r Wo o d s * My thi cal Ma in e Cr e atu r e s * Fa s t e s t G u n I n M a i n e * Camps, Cottages & L a n d Fo r S a l e

Awe, Those Memories

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December 2021

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Grace in the Deer Woods

My experience is that hunters all harbor different values or perceptions when it comes to respect for other hunters.

Bow hunting this fall, I was hunkered down in my blind on opening day on a

deer trail awaiting the magic hour. About a half hour before final light, a big critter came tromping along ten feet behind my blind.

When it came into sight in front of my blind window, guess what I saw? No, the

critter was not an 8-point buck, it was another bow hunter. He walked by and crossed in front of my blind along the game trail I was hunting and shouted behind his back “Good luck.”

“What the…..?” I was incredulous.

This was no random

Page 3

Outdoors In Maine

by V. Paul Reynolds, Ellsworth, ME sportsmen are polite and law abiding, but there is that 10 percent that just don’t give a damn.

At that moment in my

men, or the proud legacy of the deer hunting heritage.

A few years ago, during a bow hunt, I shared the deer woods at another bow

A veteran game warden once told me that his career had taught him that, like the general population, most sportsmen are polite and law abiding, but there is that 10 percent that just don’t give a damn.

In the final analysis, grace is what separates the true sportsman from the slob hunter.

encounter. My truck was parked 50 yards away in front of the path used by the interloper. Even if the sight of my ground blind surprised him, you would have thought that he at least would have skirted my location at a respectable distance.

In my 60 years in the deer woods, most of my encounters with other hunters have invariably been pleasant and convivial. A veteran game warden once told me that his career had taught him that, like the general population, most

estimation the brash bow hunter was, to my mind, a thoughtless, self-absorbed outlier not worthy of the community we call sports-

hunter’s invitation. As luck would have it, I bagged with my bow a handsome ten-pointer. The fellow (Grace cont. pg 27)

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On The Cover

Me & Joe Go After The Moose Poachin’ Bunch - Pg 16 The Smokepole Buck - Pg 22 Grace In The Deer Woods - Pg 3 Mythical Maine Creatures - Pg 38 Fastest Gun In Maine - Pg 45 Awe, Theose Memories - Pg 28 Camps, Cottages and Land for Sale - Pg 65

Contents

3. Outdoors In Maine - V. Paul Reynolds 6. The Bird Perch - Karen Holmes 7. The Gun Cabinet - John Floyd 9. Basics Of Survival - Joe Frazier 10. “A Hiker’s Life” - Carey Kish 12. Muzzleloading Afield - Al Raychard 13. Native Fish Talk - Bob Mallard 16. The Adventures Of Me & Joe - Bob Cram 18. Outdoor Sporting Library - Jeremiah Wood 20. Aroostook Woods & Water - Mike Maynard 22. Post-Script From Pocasset - Josh Reynolds 24. Fly Fishing - Joe Bertolaccini 25. Maine Outdoor Adventure - Rich Yvon 26. Women In The Woods - Erin Merrill 28. “Just Fishing” - Bob Leeman 29. Warden’s Words - Kale O’Leary 31. The Tyer’s Corner - Hugh Kelly 32. The Buck Hunter - Hal Blood 33. Guns & Ammo: A Guide’s Perspective - Tom Kelly 34. The Maine Woods - Matt LaRoche 36. View From The River - Laurie Chandler 37. The Northwoods Bowhunter - Brian Smith 38. Northwoods Sketchbook - Mark McCollough 39. Old Tales From The Maine Woods - Steve Pinkham 40. What’s In Your Woods - Bud Utecht 43. Northwoods Voyager - Gil Gilpatrick 44. Cookin’ With New England’s WildCheff - Denny Corriveau 46. SAM News - David Trahan 47. On The Prowl - Justin Merrill 48. Kineo Currents - Suzanne AuClair 49. Best Bassin’ - Bill Decoteau 50. Vermont Ramblings - Dennis Jensen 51. Outdoors In Vermont - Gary W. Moore 52. Green Mountain Report - Bradley Carleton 54. On Point - Paul Fuller 56. South Of The Kennebec - Stu Bristol 57. Maine Tails - Jonah Paris 58. The Singing Maine Guide - Randy Spencer 60. Against The Current - Bob Romano 61. The Trail Rider - Rod Fraser 62. New Hampshire Outdoors - Peter St. James 64. Anticosti - Mark Cote 65. Marsh Island Chronicles - Matthew Dunlap

Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

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

The Northwoods Sporting Journal is the Northeast’s most comprehensive and readable monthly outdoor publication. Published at the trailhead of Maine’s sprawling North Woods, the Sporting Journal prides itself on being an independent voice for the region’s outdoor community for more than 28 years. Some of our writers are seasoned and specialized outdoors people who will share their know-how and insights; some of our contributors are simply lifelong outdoor people with interesting stories to tell.

Our aim every month is to capture the essence of Northern New England’s remarkable outdoor heritage by stirring memories, portraying outdoor humor, and sharing experiences and outdoor knowledge. We also keep our readers up to date with late-breaking outdoor news and hard-hitting editorials about fish and wildlife issues.

Anyone who loves to hunt and fish, or simply finds the Great Outdoors a treasured place, is more than likely to find some special connections amid the pages of the Northwoods Sporting Journal.

www.sportingjournal.com

Main Office Phone: (207) 732-4880 E-mail: info@sportingjournal.com Fax: (207)732-4970

Vol 28 Issue 12 is published monthly by Northwoods Publications, 57 Old County Rd. North, W. Enfield, ME 04493 Periodical Postage Paid at W. Enfield, ME. and additional mailing offices.

The Northwoods Sporting Journal (ISSN#1548-193X) Postmaster: Send address changes to: Northwoods Sporting Journal, PO Box 195, W. Enfield, ME 04493 Northwoods Publishing Group Victor Morin - Susan Morin - Diane Reynolds - V. Paul Reynolds Publishers - Victor Morin Jr. - V. Paul Reynolds Editor - V. Paul Reynolds Director of Marketing - Victor Morin Assistant Editor - Josh Reynolds Associate Editor - Donna Veino Graphic Arts Manager - Gayleen Cummings Subscription/Distribution Manager - Alicia Cram Operations Manager - Annette Boobar Webmaster - V. Paul Reynolds General Sales Manager - Victor Morin Jr. Sales Department; Thomas Schmidt, Paul Hatin & Michael Georgia Regional Advertising Manager - Jim Thorne The Northwoods Sporting Journal invites submissions of photographs and articles about the Maine outdoors.

Manuscripts should be sent with a self-addressed envelope to: NORTHWOODS SPORTING JOURNAL P.O. BOX 195, W. ENFIELD, MAINE 04493 The Northwoods Sporting Journal accepts no responsibility for unsolicited photos or manuscripts. Photos submitted without a stamped, self-addressed envelope will not be returned.

All rights reserved, 2021. Written permission must be obtained from the Northwoods 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. The views and opinions expressed by our monthly columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of this publication.

The Tyer’s Corner - Pg 31

By Hugh Kelly

Other Great Stories & Information

8. Editorial/Letters 14. Outdoor News 41. Trading Post 65. Real Estate

Outdoor Sporting Library - Pg 18

By Jeremiah Wood

Cover Photo: December Buck

(Photo by Tim Flanigan)

Anticosti - Pg 64

By Mark Cote

Maine Tails - Pg 57

By Jonah Paris

December 2021

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 5

Page 6

The Bird Perch

Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

Ring-Necked Pheasant

monastery in Great Britain wrote about hunting them

by Karen Holmes, there. By the late 15th cenCooper, ME tury they were protected by The bird flew across she strutted on the ground the Crown. Henry VII in the road in front of my of the nearby blueberry 1502 employed a breeder car. I recognized immedi- field looking for seeds and of pheasants. Hunting them ately what it was and I was bugs. I still wonder where was an extremely popular surprised. It was a female she came from. I doubt I pastime and so their popuRing-necked Pheasant!

The colonists in the 1600s and 1700s Pheasants are to midwestern cornfields what loons brought them to America from Europe. are to northern lakes or Marquis de Lafayette gifted some to roadrunners to a southGeorge Washington to stock at Mount western desert!

Vernon. Many more were stocked I have never seen throughout the first colonies. one in my area of Down East Maine. Females are will see her again during lations declined. Chinese smaller than the males, the December Christmas Ring-necks, Mongolian have a shorter tail and Bird Count. Her species and Japanese pheasants are overall a sandy brown find survival difficult here. were brought to breed with mottled with darker brown. Ring-necked Pheasants are them.

I stopped the car hoping natives of Asia originally.

The colonists in the to see if perhaps another Historically the Greeks 1600s and 1700s brought female or a larger and more and then the Romans in- them to America from Eucolorful male would ap- troduced them to Europe. rope. Marquis de Lafaypear. But she was alone as In 1100 A.D. an abbot in a ette gifted some to George

The Ring-Necked Pheasant was brought to this country from Asia.

Washington to stock at Mount Vernon. Many more were stocked throughout the first colonies. But over the years their populations declined. The self-sustaining Ring-necked Pheasants throughout some of the United States are the descendants of birds directly

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brought across the Pacific Ocean from Asia. In 1882 a Mr. Denny was employed at a United States consul post in China.

He really enjoyed roasted pheasant at Chinese dinners. So he imported 28 to Oregon where he lived and from these the pheasant population successfully spread across the continent.

They are a much sought after game bird and their numbers are supplemented with raised and released birds. Even though they are not a native species, you still have to admire these stately and beautiful birds.

And I enjoyed hunting them in Massachusetts with my Welsh Springer Spaniel years ago.

Karen Holmes lives in Cooper, Maine. She is a free-lance writer and member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association. Retirement from being a public school teacher has allowed her to enjoy time gardening, hunting and fishing. She has participated over the years in many citizen science projects such as the Maine Loon Count, the Maine Butterfly Atlas, the Christmas Bird Count, etc.

December 2021

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Black Powder Bobcats

A few years ago, I noticed a trend developing as the late firearm season for deer transitioned to muzzleloader season. The first time it happened, I thought it was just a coincidence, or maybe luck. After it occurred three seasons in

For the past three years late in the season, while using a doe in estrous bleat call or a fawn in distress call, I have had bobcats and coyotes come in to my set on a string. The first time I didn’t think much of it; the ridge is loaded with

in just as the snow started to fall. As dawn broke, I popped my primer in and began the wait. Through the hush of the woods that only a freshly fallen snow can provide, I heard them coming from my left. It was a train of does with a few yearlings, passing to my front about 50 yards away.

I was sure Sneaky Pete

Page 7

The Gun Cabinet

by John Floyd, Webster Plantation, ME time to pick up my inline, the big cat came slinking up the skidder trail to my 2 o’ clock and perched on a fallen balsam fir across the trail, it’s eyes scanning for the doe it just heard.

I hadn’t realized I was

Slowly, I reached for my predator rifle leaning in the corner of the blind, careful to not make any noise or disturb the blind. The gun was up, I flicked the safety off as smooth as I could and put the reticle on the

Knowing we have both in the area I took a quick peek at telltales; the cat’s tail and ear tufts. Sure enough I caught a flash of white on the underside of the black-tipped tail. It was a bobcat for sure; lynx tails are solidly tipped in black. would be following. No dice, that buck had eluded The big cat weighed in at 48 pounds and after me again; at least for now. mounting, reached nearly four feet long from After another hour of dead quiet and no action to speak front to rear paw. a row, I recognized it was a predators. We see cats dur- of, I broke out my doe in pattern and my understand- ing bear season in the fall estrous bleat can and ran a ing of the woods and the right through early April. sequence. No sooner had wild animals in it, their in- The second time a preda- I put the can back in vest teractions and the lives they tor came into a deer call; pocket, not having enough lead shrouded beyond the it caused my eyebrows to wood line on Tucker Ridge wrinkle. From that day on, became much clearer to whenever I headed into the woods with my muzzleme.

As an outfitter, I do loader for deer, I brought not hunt in front of my my predator gun along for clients – that is bad for the ride.

We had some weather business. This means until the previous week and the the last client has departed camp, I am on the side- ground was blanketed with line, coaching and guiding snow. More was in the air, my clients in their quest. and with the idea that black Once the last client leaves powder and precipitation the ridge, I take to the generally do not mix, I was woods for my own pursuits in a blind with my inline which typically means dur- halfway through the 2019 ing deer season I get to muzzleloader season. Fachunt Thanksgiving week ing west, looking down and if needed, muzzle- ridge and tucked up in a loader the following week. tangle of dead fall, I nestled

holding my breath until the lack of breath vapor in my blind broke me out of my reverie. The bobcat was huge, easily the biggest I had laid eyes on.

My mind raced - what was the date, are bobcats open yet? Yes, I remembered, I had checked last evening.

big cat. Wait – identify and verify. I heard my own advice I give clients. It was a huge cat; average adult bobcats weigh around 30 pounds and this looked bigger than that. Also, no spots were visible indicating it was not a young bobcat and (Bobcats cont. pg 30)

Page 8

Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

Any-Deer Lottery: The Overhaul

For many years now, Maine’s deer herd management system has relied on issuing any-deer permits to hunters as a way to oversee the buck-doe ratio in any given WMD (wildlife management district).

There is one problem, though --- it does not seem to be getting the job done, especially the last few years. There was a time when state deer biologists would issue four any-deer permits in order to reduce the doe numbers by one critter. Recently, these deer managers have had to issue 10 doe permits to cull one doe from the herd.

The hunter is the wild card in this deercontrol calculus. Too many Maine deer hunters are keeping their doe permits as an ace in the hole and holding out late into the season for that trophy buck. Fall after fall not enough does are taken in Maine’s deer-rich areas; and, fall after fall the Department has had to issue an increasing number of doe, or any-deer, permits to compensate for buck-holdout hunters. This fall an incredible 59,000 any-deer permits were issued! In some cases, there were more available permits than there were applicants. So, Bonus permits were issued in some deer-rich WMDs. In fact, it has gotten so out of hand that in some particular

Sunday Hunting – thoughts from a former Mainer To the Editor: I recently returned to New Mexico after a visit with family in Maine and brought back the May 2021 Northwoods Sporting Journal. Following are my thoughts on Sunday Hunting.

I hunted in Maine from 1967 through 1978 after which I left to pursue a career as a Forester out West. I still hunt today and have enjoyed the pursuit of wild game which makes

cases, a Superpack license holder could conceivably receive up to five permits!

Clearly, the any-deer permit system needs a thorough overhaul. Through a legislative order, a stakeholder group has been assembled and is conducting meetings this fall and winter to address the issue. No doubt there will be a public input period once the group has drafted a recommendation.

Part of the charge to the stakeholders is as follows: “the stakeholder group should consider recommending changes that will allow the Department to continue to meet deer management objectives while also providing a transparent system that has some predictability and equitable access for hunting opportunities.”

The Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine SAM is surveying its membership to get feedback that will be fed into the overhaul process. Anyone with suggestions or opinions on how better to manage our state deer population numbers may want to pass them along to Nathan Bieber, the deer research leader in Bangor.

If this situation presents itself as an opportunity to vastly simplify the deer management process, particularly for hunters

great table fare.

States I have hunted in include: Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico. All of these states allow hunting on Sundays without problems. In fact, New Mexico does not require hunter orange.

While living in Maine I never encountered a single hiker even though I hunted Saturdays and during the week throughout High School and College.

I never encountered an individual who hiked on Sundays or was relieved that hunting was not occurring on Sundays.

Since leaving Maine I have found and everincreasing amount of Public Land being Posted No Hunting/Trespassing on my return visits with family. It appears to be difficult to find a place to hunt, hiking would also be with permission only.

Many landowners will allow hunting with permission which is reasonable.

Since the Public can not go hiking on these properties Willy-Nilly, I see no reason not to allow Sunday hunting on private property. The bird refuge in Lewiston, Maine (Public) may be closed to hunting, that is

confused by the complexity of it all, we can only hope that the stakeholder group seizes the day.

A quick glance at any other deer hunting states, Vermont, New Hampshire or Michigan, underscores how intricately complex deer hunting regulations have become. Michigan’s hunting regs, especially when you get into Antler Point Restrictions, are a discouraging tangle of regulatory detail that would leave any Maine buck hunter shaking his head. New Hampshire’s are not that much better.

No wonder there has been a decline in hunting license sales! By their nature, deer hunters are adherents to freedom and unfettered pastimes. Make it too darn complicated or aggravating and some will simply walk away.

For the stakeholders revamping Maine’s deer permit system, we urge them not to get too deep into the weeds and to craft a simple, comprehensible system that respects wishes of the hunter, as well as the future of Maine’s whitetail deer.

Confucius had it right: “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.”

- VPR

understandable and is open to hiking year-round.

The safest form of hunting in regards to the public is archery. It would be very difficult to launch an arrow at a deer/bear that traveled 100 yards due to the density of trees, limbs and brush. Most archers sit in trees and release arrows towards the ground through man-made shooting lanes.

Out west people can not hike anywhere they wish on private property without permission, the same applies to hunting.

Most public land is open for hunting seven days per week and hiker/hunter

conflicts appear to be zero, it’s not in any news I’ve encountered. Some refuges are totally closed or have special seasons and hiking is allowed year-round.

Maine appears to be mired in the past with regards to Sunday hunting.

Opening up Sundays to hunting may also help with the recruitment of younger people who could be encouraged to try the sport under expanded conditions.

It would be a blessing for blue collar workers and help reduce the deer population in Southern Maine.

(Letter cont. pg 11)

December 2021

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Survival Gear for Cars

Here in Maine, we are all used to the basics for winter driving. Tune up and general maintenance, new wiper blades in the

for a tow truck. Be sure you know how to use them properly. On newer cars, there are posts to hook the cables to rather than the battery terminals.

A good tarp is fairly cheap and very useful to put on the ground before you need to crawl around in Some survival gear. the mud and snow.

Always keep at least half a tank of gas in the winter. Never let your vehicle get to empty. If you get stuck somewhere and help is hours away, being able to run your car for heat fall, regular oil changes, might save your life. You maybe studded tires, basic MUST make sure your tail first aid kit, and phone pipe is clear of any snow charger cord. or anything that could clog When you get a flat it. If it is plugged, carbon tire, the jack and wrench monoxide could build up that comes with most cars rapidly in the passenger is a nightmare to use. I compartment. If you are always carry a floor jack running your vehicle for (with wheels), a piece of heat and you start to feel plywood to set it on, and a light headed or dizzy, get 4 way lug wrench. These out into fresh air immedimake changing a tire so ately. Run the engine about much easier. Cribbing fifteen minutes every hour made of 2x4s also increase to conserve gas. safety when the car is on A good snow shovel a jack. and spare brush/ice scraper Good jumper cables are also important. It is should also be in your easy to slide into a snowcar all the time. Whether bank, and with a good it is you or someone else shovel you can clear tracks who needs a jump, having for your tires or even dig cables is much quicker out your entire vehicle. and easier than waiting Always clear snow off

your roof and all windows before you drive anywhere.

If you loose traction and start spinning your wheels, you are just creating ice under the wheels making it harder to get traction. Keep some sand and rock salt mix in a can to help with traction. Some strips of carpet a foot wide and a couple feet long work good as well. If you have nothing else, your floor

Page 9

Basics Of Survival

by Joe Frazier, Bangor, ME easier. Second hand stores are great places to find overalls or a snowmobile suit you don’t mind getting dirty or tore up. Buy one or two sizes too big so it will fit over the clothes you are already wearing. A spare set of waterproof boots,

the seats fold flat.

Any food you keep in a vehicle needs to withstand temperature extremes and still be edible. Emergency food bars (or lifeboat rations bars) are designed exactly for that. They are vacuum sealed and wa-

Always keep at least half a tank of gas in the winter. Never let your vehicle get to empty. If you get stuck somewhere and help is hours away, being able to run your car for heat might save your life.

mats will help with traction to get you going.

Most of us don’t dress for being outside for long periods of time. We just wear a jacket and boots. If you break down or you are stuck, you might need to be outside in the cold and snow for hours. A spare set of winter clothes in this case would make life much

some waterproof gloves and a hat or two should all be in a duffle bag so it is easy to find.

Depending on the size of your vehicle, a sleeping bag might be impractical for keeping you warm. A blanket or two (again, from the second hand store) is much easier to use unless you have an SUV where

ter proof, and stay edible at extreme temperatures.

Most of them have the consistency of a shortbread cookie and taste like lemon, apple cinnamon, or coconut. They are usually good for five years from the date of manufacture. They are high calorie and require no preparation.

(Survival cont. pg 21)

Page 10

Northwoods Sporting Journal

“A Hiker’s Life”

by Carey Kish, Mt. Desert Island, ME Given that meteorological winter kicked in on December 1, and astronomical winter—December 21—is just around the corner, there’s simply no denying that the snowy

at least until spring. After all, you want your time outside to be enjoyable, an epic adventure even, rather than a struggle for survival.

Proper preparation will add peace of mind, bolster

Here are a few things to consider when gearing up for a winter’s day outdoors, a checklist of sorts that reads a lot like a beefier version of the “Ten Essentials.” season is upon us. It’s high time then to shift gears and plan accordingly when it comes to getting out on the trail in the cold weather months ahead.

Safe, comfortable travel in the winter woods takes careful thought. No more simply tossing a few things in your pack and striking off into the woods,

your confidence, and help increase your all-important safety margin. Here are a few things to consider when gearing up for a winter’s day outdoors, a checklist of sorts that reads a lot like a beefier version of the “Ten Essentials.”

Dress in layers so you can adjust clothing to your activity level and changing

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December 2021

Winter Trail Gear

temperatures during the day. Start with a wool or synthetic base, or wicking, layer. Long sleeves up top, long handles down bottom.

Then add a fleece vest or jacket (or both if it’s really cold) and maybe fleece pants. The shell layer is next, a windproof, waterresistant jacket and pants, or perhaps a softshell jacket and pants.

A warm hat and gloves or mittens, plus a spare of each should go with you, plus a balaclava or neck gaiter. Liner gloves are handy for fiddling with gear without exposing your fingers. Sunglasses and/or ski goggles round out your necessary headgear.

On really cold days or when you’re stopping to rest or eat along the trail, that’s when you’ll pull on your insulating layer, a down or synthetic fill jacket or parka (a foam sit pad is useful for those rest breaks).

Wear good quality, sturdy boots. Hiking boots are fine for short excursions, but if you’re going to spend serious time outside in winter, well insulated boots meant for active use are a must. Knee-high gaiters will help keep the snow out. Pack along a spare pair of socks, and with that, a spare base top layer; you might really appreciate changing both after a long, sweaty climb.

Wear appropriate foot gear (micro-spikes, hiking crampons, snowshoes) for the conditions and use trekking poles with winter baskets for stability in the snow. Toe and hand warmers make a difference on those extra frosty days.

Carry plenty of water

in insulated water bottle covers and clip them to your pack straps for easy access. Start with hot water out of the tap in the morn-

the toilet paper and hand sanitizer, and a plastic bag to pack out the used TP. And don’t forget your cell phone for photos. Stuff all

ing and drink regularly throughout the day to maintain hydration. A thermos of steaming tea, cocoa, coffee or bouillon is a real bonus. Carry and consume plenty of energy bars, salty snacks, lunch foods and such to keep your body fueled up. Stash some of it in your warm, inside pockets for quick access.

Winter days are short, so hedge your bet by carrying a headlamp and spare batteries. Pack the rest of the “Ten Essentials,” like a map and compass (and perhaps a GPS locator), first aid kit, lighter or other fire starter, knife or multitool, repair items and emergency shelter. Remember

this into a 30-40 liter pack and you’re good to go.

Leave an itinerary with someone responsible and another under the front seat of your car. Check the hourly weather forecast before you go and keep an eye on the sky (and the time) during the day. Stay with your intended route, set a turnaround time and adhere to it. Be self-reliant on the trail, stick together as a group, and frequently check to see that everyone is in good shape. And bear in mind the old mountaineer’s adage: Getting to the summit is optional but getting back to the car safely is mandatory. Have fun!

December 2021

Letters

(Cont. from pg 8) My grandmother frequently told me “As Maine goes so goes the Nation.”

This axiom sure doesn’t apply to hunting, just look around America.

Mark Hammond Albuquerque, NM

Windmills Kill Birds To the Editor: The “Bird Perch” by Karen Holmes in NSJ provides good information about birds. Her column has more useable material than the bird column in BDN. “Duck Stamp Change” by Al Raychard (NSJ October 2021) has an important notice that all hunters and outdoor enthusiasts must pay attention to.

This article notes that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is eliminating ‘the celebrating of our waterfowl hunting heritage’ wording on duck stamps. Biden’s anti’s have struck again.

The Trump administration required all duck stamps to have a hunting element.

From this article it appears that the National Audubon Society is for removing the hunting concept. If true, then Audubon, who is to be for birds, wants windmills that kill birds. Audubon speaks with forked tongue.

And windmill companies will not be prosecuted for killing birds, but hunters will. Even Maine Dept. Inland Fisheries and Wildlife won’t prosecute windmill companies – SAD. And another antihunter/gun note from “Gun Tests” (October 2021); the Editor of this publication states that the U.S. Dept. of State will soon prohibit the importation of Russian

Northwoods Sporting Journal ammo and components into the United States. Another increase in scarcity and cost of ammo? The Biden scalawags strike again.

Hunters, gun owners, and many other outdoor folks have been in the fore-

front of Wildlife Conservation from day one.

What’s Maine’s Congressional delegation doing about these dumb decisions?

Fred Hartman

Another Take on Sunday Hunting

Page 11

interesting.

I have lived in the Byron/Mexico Me area my whole life (except 6 years To the Editor: I am an avid reader of military duty). While I of V. Paul Reynolds ar- do not believe this area has ticles and found the one a problem of not enough (Letters cont. pg 15) on Antlerless Deer Permits

Page 12

Sporting Journal Northwoods

Muzzleloading Afield

by Al Raychard, Lyman, ME

For those Maine gun hunters who have yet to fill their deer tag there’s one last chance to put venison in the freezer. The statewide muzzleloader season opens November 29 and ends December 4.

ing out a record number of Any-Deer Permits this year, you might have two or multiple tags. Just about every hunter I know has at least two, so the challenge will be at least doubled.

For what it’s worth, I

December 2021

One Last Chance

always liked hunting the muzzleloader season. I just haven’t had to the last several years.

For one thing, deer move more in colder temperatures. The colder it gets the more they tend to move and December typically brings some bone-chilling temperatures. With more deer moving about the

I live and hunt doesn’t offer the big woods better suited to tracking and it just wasn’t practical or necessary in my neck of the woods but a blanket of white stuff helps determine where deer are moving

gradually declined since then to just over 11,000 in 2019. It might have increased in 2020 as more hunters took to the woods during COVID, but whatever the number far fewer hunters will be out there this

from, where to, how recent and the general activity in an area. It is also much easier to spot deer against a white background.

There are also fewer hunters during the muzzleloader season. In 2008 nearly 16,000 hunters purchased a Maine muzzleloader license, over 17,000 in 2009 but that number has

month. I like that because there are fewer hunters to screw things up. The deer will also be calming down after October and November, will be reverting to a more normal routine and still looking for food. Their schedules might change some depending upon the temperatures and weather conditions, but I figure if I find a food source I should find deer for that one shot opportunity. Of course, that’s what I thought in October and November, too and I’m still looking but at least it sounds good.

The bottom line is, if you have yet to bag that deer there’s still plenty of time. Don’t waste it. It’s a long time before an opportunity rolls around again.

For one thing, deer move more in colder temperatures.

The colder it gets the more they tend to move and December typically brings some bone-chilling temperatures. With more deer moving about the odds for a shot opportunity increases, particularly in areas where some left-over hard mast is available.

In 14 central and southern WMDs the season continues thru December 11. Of course, if you hunt with a muzzleloader you know that already, and you also have a pretty good idea after two months of hunting pressure in October and November that success will not come easy and with its share of challenges. With the boys in Augusta giv-

am one Mainer still looking. I saw several deer during archery season and some in gun season but hard on the move, no doubt pushed by other hunters, none provided a shot opportunity. So, I’ll be out there in December investing my time and effort for that one last chance.

But I really don’t mind.

For several reasons I’ve

odds for a shot opportunity increases, particularly in areas where some left-over hard mast is available.

After the rut bucks will be looking to put on some weight before winter fully sets in, as will does.

December typically also brings some snow. I love hunting in snow! I’ve never been much of a tracker. Southern Maine where

Al and his wife Diane live on 43+/- acres in Lyman, Maine that offers good deer and turkeys hunting opportunities which they both enjoy. If the property had a trout stream it would be pure paradise. Al can be reached at alraychard@ sacoriver.net

December 2021

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Favorite Flies for Maine

I cut my teeth as a writer in the how-to and what-to arenas. My first articles were fly fishing tackle pieces run in this publica-

Next I started writing about fisheries management in Maine. I covered our complicated regulations, splake stocking, float

Maine that ran in regional and national publications.

Then I started writing about fly fishing destinations outside Maine, mostly in national publications. How-to and what-to writing began to take a backseat to whereto as that’s where the demand was.

As my interests turned toward the preservation of wild native fish, I started to focus on conservation writ-

Page 13

Native Fish Talk

by Bob Mallard, Skowhegan, ME I had been tying traditional streamers using modern materials such as Zonker strips, Antron, and Krystal Flash, in place of feathers, silk floss, and bucktail. The article covered a series of these patterns.

After finishing

writing a book about fly patterns for Maine: Favorite Flies for Maine – 50 Essential Patterns from Local Experts. The book is part of a full-color hardcover series that includes editions from around the nation.

While I love the art

As they say, never say never. While I never thought I would write a fly pattern book, I did. It was fun, and I believe it is as good as anything I have written to date, and possibly second only to Squaretail.

tion, under a column called The Technical Fly Fisher.

I did another gear column, Gearhead, for a couple of years for the now defunct Southern Trout magazine.

stocking, protecting large fish, and numerous other topics. This was all about fishing…

Soon, I started writing where-to articles about

ing. This was the impetus behind my book, Squaretail: The Definitive Guide to Brook Trout and Where to Find Them, which is as much a conservation book as it is a fishing book.

In 20 years of outdoor writing, I only wrote about fly tying once. The article, New Twists to Old Ties, ran in Fly Tyer magazine.

Squaretail, without a book contract, I focused on native fish conservation articles, including new guest columns in Bangor Daily News and MidCurrent, the most read blog in fly fishing.

Out of nowhere, I was approached by Stackpole Books, a large national outdoor publisher, about

and the history, I had never considered writing a fly pattern book. But I thought about my resume, and figured that adding a fly tying would help round things out, while better positioning me for an eventual memoir style book I would like to write. I also thought it would be fun. All things (Flies cont. pg 30)

Page 14

Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

Outdoor News - December 2021

Edited by V. Paul Reynolds

December. A good month in Maine to blackpowder hunt for that elusive November buck, chase rabbits with hounds, or- for the most intrepid outdoorsman - a time to hunker down in coastal duck blinds with hot coffee and lovable old Labs. Many outdoorsmen will get out the flytying vices, or merely sit close to the fire with family and some good outdoor catalogs. From all of us at the Northwoods Sporting Journal, a very Merry Christmas to our readers and our advertisers. And may your New Year be full of health, happiness and memorable hours in New England’s Great Outdoors.

Divers Recover Body in Sheepscot Pond

At approximately 8:30 a.m. in late October Maine Warden Service divers recovered the body of a Pennsylvania man who had been missing.

It appears that Akshay Mamidela, age 25 of Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania, had taken a kayak onto Sheepscot Pond Wednesday evening, October 27, to retrieve a paddleboard that had drifted from the shore due to the high winds. While there were no witnesses, it appears that the Mamidela’s kayak capsized due to the extremely rough conditions, and Mamidela was not wearing a life jacket.

Mamidela’s friend returned to the camp late that evening, noticed that both Mamidela and one of the camp’s kayaks were missing, and he called 911 at approximately 1:00 a.m. Thursday. Waldo

County Sheriff ’s office responded, and contacted the Maine Warden Service once it was determined that Mamidela had been out on the lake. Wardens and Sheriff’s deputies searched the shoreline and surrounding area that night but were unable to locate Mamidela.

Game Wardens were able to locate the capsized kayak and the paddleboard on shore approximately ¼ mile down the lake from where Mamidela was staying Thursday morning.

The Maine Warden Service Dive Team launched the dive boat equipped with side scan sonar, and searched the area from the camp to where the kayaks were found.

Using the sonar on Thursday evening at about 6:45, game wardens located an area where they believed Amidela was, but it was too dark to dive.

Warden service divers began diving shortly after the sun was high enough and recovered Mamidela at approximately 8:30 a.m.

New Hampshire Moose Season Ends

New Hampshire’s 2021 moose hunting season closed this past Sunday with hunters harvesting 30 moose – 24 bulls and 6 cows, according to Henry Jones, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department’s Moose Project Leader.

Hunters achieved a 73% success rate during the nine-day season. Fortyone hunters took part in the hunt, including 39 lottery permit holders, 1 through a permit auctioned by the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire,

and 1 Dream Hunt participant sponsored by the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation. In 2020, the overall moose hunter success rate was 75%, which was slightly above the average result of 73% over each of the previous 5 years.

“Most hunters this year were well prepared for the adventure and took full advantage of the opportunity to hunt moose,” reported Jones. “However, it was a season of two different weather patterns.

After a warm day statewide on the October 16 opener, cooler temperatures and showers prevailed in northern New Hampshire, which encouraged moose movement during the day.

Central and southern areas of the state experienced milder temperatures, likely resulting in lower moose activity during the day.”

Several large bulls were taken, including two that weighed 880 pounds dressed, which equates to 1,200 pounds of live weight—over half a ton!

The ensuing work to remove an animal that large from the woods is no small task, and preparation is essential.

Breighton Jones of Charlestown, NH, is a great example of someone who worked hard to prepare, which produced exceptional results. Without previous experience hunting moose, Jones studied their behavior, scouted the topography and moose activity in his hunting area, and planned for success by understanding how to quarter and pack out a moose. These hours of dedication and careful thought resulted in Jones taking a

fine bull and successfully transporting it from the woods; each hindquarter weighed approximately 100 pounds!

E a c h y e a r, N e w Hampshire Fish and Game issues a moose-hunting permit to the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation for their Dream Hunt Program, which then gives this permit to a young individual with a severe illness.

The 2021 Dream Hunt was coordinated by Mark Edwards, and, as in many years before, Northern New Hampshire Guide Service devoted their support, food, and lodging to the permit recipient. Permittee Kasch Allen-Lauer, a 14-year-old from Swanzey, NH, and his grandfather David Poisson of Keene, NH, harvested a 620-pound bull on October 1. Thank you Mr. Edwards and Northern New Hampshire Guide Service for your generosity and dedication.

More than 5,500 people entered the New Hampshire moose hunt lottery this year.

Fly Tying Symposium

The Penobscot Fly Fishers will be hosting their annual Fly Tying Symposium on Sunday December 5, 2021. Doors will open for tyers to set up at 8:30 a.m. and will be open to the public from 10:003:30 p.m. at The Penobscot County Conservation Association Clubhouse 570 North Main St. Brewer, ME.

The scope of the event is to bring tyers together to demonstrate their skills and share ideas. The event is open to the public and tyers

Alderfly (wet)

are welcome to bring fly tying related things to sell, but the main focus is demonstrating fly tying. There is no charge to exhibit or to attend.

If you have attended before you know what a fun day this is for sharing fly tying tips, new techniques and camaraderie with like minded folks. If you haven’t attended, then this is the year to start!!!!!!

The club will have coffee doughnuts available throughout the day.

If you would like to reserve a space, please contact Don Corey by email, class@penobscotflyfisher. com Due to the size of the venue we are limiting participation to 25-30 tyers.

When signing up please indicate if you would like a full 8’ table or would be willing to split a table. Always a good idea to bring a tying light and an extension cord. Please feel free to mask or no mask, your choice.

-Don Corey, President, Penobscot Fly Fishers

Let us know your opinion send letters to the Editor to: NWSJ P.O. Box 195 W. Enfield, ME 04493

Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

Letters

(Cont. from pg 11) doe’s being harvested in the Zone 7 or 12 area’s, I do agree that other parts of the state do have an issue with it.

I hope this thought will not make hunting more confusing but here is a recommendation I have not heard of yet and thought of while reading your article in todays Lewiston Sun Journal: Now that the state has the electronic registering of harvested deer, the numbers of deer harvested by sex are at the biologist fingertips. What about opening certain districts that need additional doe’s harvested, be open allowing all hunters to shoot either sex until the quota for that district has been met. Then have that district open to bucks only for all hunters.

This could be like

NH’s hunting laws back when I hunted NH many years ago. Then, certain districts had any deer hunting the first three days that needed more doe’s harvested, then the district was for bucks only. The districts that did not have enough deer was Bucks only all season.

This system could alleviate the Antlerless Deer Permits statewide, or the state could keep the permits in the districts where the permit system is working.

This is just a thought, and it could be modified to meet the states needs for allowing hunters to help control the deer herd.

Ted Bordeleau from Orange Connecticut’s letter to the editor in the November issue. It is very obvious to me that Mr Bordeleau sees only out his left eye and hears only out of his left ear. His use of “poll after poll and studies show” is heard every day, in the news, on tv, radio and social media to reinforce their political agenda. Take a poll in Southern Maine, Mass. or in Connecticut (same thing), very liberal.

Always seeking more laws, restrictions, and controls on the public, to save us from us. Blame the gun, not the violator, and if we had more laws and restrictions we would be safer.

Steve Duguay Recently, radio staByron Maine tion 93.5 FM gave the results of a nationwide Mr. Bordeleau’s poll on the top ten states to live and raise children.

Mistake Massachusetts, New York, and California were in the To the Editor: This is in response to top 5, Maine was 17! The

Page 15

best states, were all liberal.

I am hoping all the Maine people hearing and believing this would hurry, get their Prius fully charged, suitcases packed and be headed for their promised land of regulations , restrictions and taxes.

I grew up in a home with guns as did my children, No one EVER touched them, child or adult, without permission.

Respect and accountability has all but vanished.

Our Second Amendment and freedom of speech is sacred, and both are being severely challenged today.

Hitler said it and proved it “You control the media, you control the people”.

Facts show that families from these liberal states are paying extravagant prices on homes and land to move north, only to settle, not blend, to soon try to change our way of life here to be like where they left.

Mr. Bordeleau without our NRA, we would already have lost our gun rights long ago. Look at Australia, in the1986 movie, “Crocodile Dundee” even the kangaroos had guns,

by March 1989, guns were outlawed and confiscated.

They laughed and said it would never happen, just like liberal guides, gun owners and hunters are saying now. Wake up Mr Bordeleau, we here do not appreciate people from away talking down to us and having their opinion being told as being the majority “as polled and as studies show” . I thank God for our wonderful country and cherish our sacred freedoms so many have sacrificed for. It keeps me awake nights thinking of the liberal’s vision of the new America.

Harold Bigelow Skowhegan

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Page 16

The Adventures of Me and Joe Citizens in the Mooseleuk region were all agog over news of the big sting operation conducted by officers of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, U.S. Fisheries & Wildlife Service, the Maine Forest Service, and the State Police. Twelve members of a moose-poaching ring had been nabbed in the dragnet, with rumors of more arrests to come. The carcasses of nine moose had been found in a large commercial freezing unit hidden in a forestry equipment repair garage north of Mooseleuk Mountain.

“A network of supply and distribution centers, as well as transportation systems for out of state delivery have been uncovered and are being investigated,” Eben Ramdown read from the front-page article in the Mooseleuk Mouth. “Seized records show that wealthy consumers in northeastern urban centers are willing to pay upwards of $30 dollars a pound for processed moose steak.”

Joe walked over to the big heater in the middle of the room and filled his cof-

by Bob Cram, (Alias T.J. Coongate) Medway, ME fee cup with vile-smelling brew from the battered and blackened pot. “I hear they got Goose Gosling and Harold Dewclaw in the net,” he said, walking back to the counter where Eben continued to peruse the paper.

“Good riddance to ‘um both,” Eben said with a nod of his head that set his jowls to jiggling. “All of us kin remember when they weren’t hardly any moose in this country 40, 50 years ago. We don’t need the likes of these trash wipin’ ‘um out so’s some rich folks in New York kin have somethin’ exotic to eat! I’m jist glad they got all of um.”

Joe glanced at me and I looked down at the counter. I knew both of us were thinking the same thing.

They had netted most of the poachers in the sting.

But they hadn’t nabbed Eric Meat.

Most everyone in town believed that Meat was the ringleader behind the moose poaching gang.

But he was smart enough to keep one step removed from the actual grunt work.

The Poacher’s Moose

Joe never batted an eye. “Onus Longspring never sold a piece of meat or an illegal beaver pelt in his life.

Everything he ever killed he either ate or wore.

And when the trap was closed on Saturday night, and most of the gang members were collared at the makeshift processing plant near Mooseleuk Mountain, Eric Meat was at home in his sprawling ranch-

style abode on a hill above the Dandy Crossing on the Little Salt Pork River north of town. I knew that the wardens and rangers were pleased to capture the poachers they had, and to break up the poaching

and meat selling ring. But I suspected that men like Warden Pinch Brody would trade all the rest of the perpetrators for the chance to arrest Eric Meat.

Out on the boardwalk (Me & Joe cont. pg 17)

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Me & Joe

(Cont. from pg 16) in front of the Emporium me and Joe donned gloves to ward off the deepening late fall chill. Joe gave voice to what I’d be thinking.

“Eric Meat sets up there in that house above the Dandy Crossing of the river and gloats. You know dang well it was him what put together that poaching ring; him that made the contacts in the cities an’ set up the distribution. He’d orta be one of them coolin’ their heels in the jail over to Presque Isle waitin’ fer trial.”

“My sentiments exactly.” The gravelly voice of Pinch Brody came from behind us, and I jumped. It always surprised me how a man as big as the warden could move so silently, but I noticed that Joe didn’t flinch at all. He’d likely known Brody was there all along.

The warden stepped up beside us. “We know Meat’s in it up to his elbows. We even know he shot a couple of the moose.

Goose Gosling told us that.

But ain’t none of those boys going to testify against him.

He’s meaner’n a snake and they know he’d find a way to get back at them. We’ll just have to keep watching him an’ hope he makes a mistake.” He sighed.

Northwoods Sporting Journal “But he don’t make many. An’ we don’t have the manpower to watch him all the time.”

Joe looked off down the street and I could almost see the gears turning in his head.

“I know somebody who could watch him all the time. In fact, I bet he’d do it for nothing.”

“This paragon of righteousness have a name?”

“I was thinkin’ of Onus Longspring.”

Brody’s face darkened and he scowled his disapproval. “Onus Longspring is the worst poacher in northern Maine. I can’t think of a wildlife law he ain’t broken at one time or another, an’ I don’t put much stock in that idea of setting a crook to catch a crook.”

Joe never batted an eye. “Onus Longspring never sold a piece of meat or an illegal beaver pelt in his life. Everything he ever killed he either ate or wore. Eric Meat couldn’t carry his pack basket. An’ most of us don’t think too highly about that deal with the short trout.”

Brody looked away and then slowly shook his head. “Never did feel good about them trout. But they was in Onus’s canoe, in his creel. I know he claimed Meat planted them there, but there was no proof of that. I had to take him.

“Onus wanted that hunting knife Joe made for the auction in town to benefit the high school,” I said. “He never had much money and it took him a long time to save up enough money to bid on the knife. Meat wanted that knife, too. He knew that by the time Onus paid for fine for the trout, he wouldn’t have any money to bid.

That’s how Meat came by that knife.

“Wish I’d made that knife outa tin,” Joe muttered. Brody just shook his head.

“They’s no way I could get the state to sanction hiring Onus Longspring to shadow Eric meat. It just ain’t gonna happen.”

“You wouldn’t have to hire him. Let me talk to him. I think he’d be more’n willing to keep a close eye on Meat if it meant takin’ him out of circulation.”

For a long time Brody was silent, staring off toward the encroaching forest. “All right,” he said grudgingly. “See if he’ll keep an eye on Meat. But that’s all! If he sees Meat breaking the law, have him get in touch with you and you can give me a call. I don’t want nothin’ to do with Longspring myself.”

As Brody stalked off along the boardwalk I looked at Joe. “What made you think of Onus?”

Page 17

Joe slid his sheath knife out and pared a thumbnail. “That short trout trick always rankled me. Onus is a poacher, that’s true, but he’d give you his last biscuit, an’ he hates men that would kill wildlife an’ sell it almost as much as Pinch does. And besides that,” he slipped the knife back into its case and glanced at me, “he’s one of the best men I know on a trail or movin’ around in the woods without leavin’ a trace. I think he’d love the chance to see Eric Meat behind bars.

Finding Onus Longspring could be a problem. He had no permanent abode, simply throwing together a series of primitive shelters in various parts of the area woodlands, each to be used from time to time as game populations or fishing activity waxed and waned. We lucked out on the second try, finding him squatted by an open fire in front of a little eight by ten lean-to on the south shore of Middle Brook. He was a tall, gaunt man, sporting a wild growth of gray hair and a bushy gray beard, his lanky frame was in handstitched buckskin and with moosehide moccasins on

his feet.

“Heard you boys comin’ two hunnert yards ago,” he said, looking up from the fire. He glanced at Joe. “Thought better of you than that.”

Joe squatted down beside him. “Wanted you to know we was comin’ Didn’t want to git shot.”

“I don’t never shoot less’n I know what I’m shootin’ at. You know that.” He turned the branch he was holding over the fire and I smelled the delectable aroma of broiling trout. Onus had taken a three pronged willow branch and laid a large, split brook trout over the branches. Then he’d woven other, smaller branches over the fish and into the three prongs. The result was as effective a fish grilling tool as any bought from Cabela’s. “ T r o u t s e a s o n ’s closed,” Joe said mildly.

“That so?” Onus reached into a small rawhide bag near his food and pulled out a pinch of mixed salt and pepper, which he then sprinkled on the cooking fish. “You mind movin’ downwind? I kin smell game warden on yer.”

(Me & Joe cont. pg 19)

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

Name City

Shown actual size Abraham Mullholland

(Marty was found on pg 42 & 67)

Address

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.

Marty

State

Phone I found Marty on page

Zip

Entries must be postmarked by 12/14/21 to be eligible for this issue.

Page 18 Northwoods Sporting Journal

Outdoor Sporting Library

by Jeremiah Wood, Ashland, ME

He wasn’t a gold miner, trapper or homesteader, but Hudson Stuck saw more of Alaska in the frontier days than most anybody.

Known as the “Archdeacon of the Yukon”, Stuck traveled across the great north

versity of the South. Ordained as a priest in 1892, he worked and preached in Texas for several years until being called to Alaska in 1904. An outspoken, somewhat controversial figure, Stuck became a

country both summer and winter, visiting most every village in the Interior as a representative of the Episcopal Church.

Born and raised in England, Stuck immigrated to the U.S. in 1885. He worked as a cowboy and a teacher in Texas, and studied theology at the Uni-

strong advocate for change on many societal fronts, including education, homelessness, child labor and lynching. Very opinionated and strong willed, you might say he ‘stuck’ to his guns. Maybe that’s what brought him to Alaska, where Stuck pushed for protection and preservation

As a representative of the church, Hudson Stuck traveled the Alaskan interior with a goal of visiting every village on the map, and then some.

Archdeacon of the Yukon

The arctic was a wild place in the early 1900’s, with stampeding miners, fur trappers and scattered villages isolated from the rest of the world.

As a representative of the church, Hudson Stuck traveled the Alaskan interior with a goal of visiting every village on the map, and then some. In winter he traveled Hudson Stuck, the Archdeacon by dog team, of the Yukon. sometimes usof native peoples along the ing mail carrier routes or Yukon and its tributaries. village trails, but often

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blazing new paths in the harsh Arctic winters. In summer he traversed the Yukon River by boat. Each year he’d cover a couple thousand miles by dog team and at least a couple thousand by boat. Each visit to village or camp involved the traditional ceremonies – marriages, baptism, funerals and sermons. Churches, schools and hospitals would be built, repaired or rebuilt, and instruction continued.

In a lonely, harsh and vast territory, men and women like Stuck provided a critical link to the bush from the outside world, and helped give a voice to those who lived there. They also had some great adventures and shared many of their stories with the rest of us.

For instance, Stuck led the first expedition to reach the peak of Denali.

Hudson Stuck wrote four books about his Alaska adventures: “Ten Thousand Miles with a Dog Sled” (1914), “Voyages on the Yukon and its Tributaries” (1917), “The Ascent of Denali” (1918) and “A Winter Circuit of our Arctic Coast” (1920). He died of pneumonia and was buried in the native cemetery in Fort Yukon, Alaska in 1920.

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Me & Joe (Cont. from pg 17) Joe moved over to a more comfortable perch on a spruce root. “Got a favor to ask, Onus. You prob’ly heard about them roundin’ up that moose poachin’ bunch over to Mooseleuk Mountain?”

“Yep.” Onus lifted the trout away from the fire, pulled some of the branches loose, and slid the cooked fish onto a flat piece of birch bark. “Fact is, I was the one what calt ‘um an’ tolt ‘um where to find thet slaughterhouse.”

I stared. “You called?”

“Yep.” He popped a chunk of trout into his mouth and chewed appreciatively. “Calt from the phone over to Evan Wrench’s service station, to thet poacher hotline they got.” He grinned. “Figgered if it was a poacher hotline, it was fer poachers to use.”

“You know they never caught Eric Meat,” Joe said.

“Ain’t my fault,” Onus said, swallowing noisily. “I tolt ‘um on the phone to wait til after dark. Thet’s when Meat, he shows up.

But they was too anxious.

Hurried right in, middle of the afternoon. Caught most of ‘um, but Eric,” he scowled and shook his head, “he done slithered through the net, like the snake he is.” A sudden thought came to him, and he smiled again.

“Heard ol’ Pinch Brody was madder’n a hornet when he heard they jumped the gun an’ went in early.

Don’t my heart good!”

“Look, Onus,” Joe said, picking up a few thick twigs and pitching them onto the fire. “We’d like to see Eric Meat put behind

Northwoods Sporting Journal bars, too. But so far he’s been too smart. I was wonderin’ if maybe you might take it on yerself to keep an eye on him, see what he does an’ if he breaks the law or somethin’. Then you could contact us an’ we could git him arrested.”

“Ain’t helpin’ no game wardens,” he said grumpily. “First thing you know, they’d be back after me agin.”

“Don’t have to notify the game wardens. Jest git aholt of me. I’ll take care of the rest.

Longspring thought for a few moments. “He’ll likely lay low for a while, what with all the excitement. Still…” He pondered a little longer and then I thought I detected a sudden gleam in his watery blue eyes. He finally nodded.

“Yep, I’ll do ‘er. Want to see that joker in the clink, after plantin’ them

short trout on me. Thought better of that Brody than takin’ me for it. Be a poor day when I had to be content with short trout. He’d orta knowed that.”

Joe stood up. “Okay, I’ll wait for yer to git aholt of me, Onus. Don’t expect much, with him bein’ so careful right now, but you never know.”

“Thet’s right,” Onus said, looking up from his trout and grinning. “You jist never know.”

As we walked back out to the Jeep, I glanced over at Joe. “What do you think?”

He shook his head. “I don’t really trust Onus any more than Pinch does, but he’ll be all over Eric Meat like a wet blanket.

It was mid-afternoon two days later when the phone rang in Joe’s cabin.

Joe picked up the receiver and even across the room

Page 19

I could hear Onus’s rumbling drawl.

“What’s them game wardens about now?”

“Pinch Brody gave me his cell phone number, so’s I kin git holt of him anytime,” Joe said. “He said him an’ four or five wardens were gonna be checkin late hunters down

by Mooseleuk Stream today.”

The line went quiet as Onus seemed to be considering. “Timin’ would be about right. You call an’ tell them boys to git over to the river above Dandy Crossin’ soon as they kin. Meat’s

land goes right down to the river there, an’ danged if he didn’t drop a little bull moose right in thet young beech growth by the river.”

“Are you certain, Onus? I mean…”

“You jist make the call! Then you boys come on over an’ meet me by the bridge. I’ll show yer.” The line went dead.

Joe called Brody, who expressed surprise that Meat would start poaching again so soon after the arrests. “But maybe he knows where we are and decided to take the chance.

(Me & Joe cont. pg 63)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Aroostook Woods & Water

by Mike Maynard, Perham, ME So, while I wait for the indigestion from another helping of tag soup to settle out, I thought I’d focus on something different this month. No, I

Anybody remember that movie? Fly fishing has the classic ‘A River Runs Through It’. Deer hunting has ‘Escanaba in Da Moonlight’. Deer hunting needs

I certainly wasn’t dressed for success greasy, oil-stained coveralls and a hat that looked and smelled like road kill.

Vestiges from that morning’s sausage-egg-cheese cholesterol bomb dripped from my beard. did not shoot a deer this season. This is getting to be a bit monotonous; I’m starting to feel like Rueben Soady in ‘Escanaba in Da Moonlight’: The Aroostook County version of a buckless yooper.

a new movie.

What’s your worst field -ressing memory?

I’m thinking of self-inflicted events, not acts of God. This particular embarrassment was birthed in simple unpreparedness,

Aroostook County

December 2021

The Razor Blade Buck

happy childhood spent in this very orchard. As kids, we used to make forts out of the giant apple crates and then pelt each other with the drops. The Apple Wars, as my grandmother called them.

And as I was sitting there on the stone wall, awash in the memories, practicing my smoke rings, and drinking coffee -with an unloaded rifle by my side, the deer …just apWith bucks, you just never know peared. He casually jumped when they will show. over the stone the only round I did have wall, and then stood there, was in my pocket. Still, it broadside, not 30 yards was a gorgeous morning away, staring. I rememfor a walk. The ancient ber making a weird noise apple trees were all covered from the bottom of my in dew and the smell of diaphragm, “Oooof!” is wet leaves and fermenting the sound I think I made. I apples took me back to a started talking to him in a quiet voice -or maybe I was just thinking it; “I’m going to drop this cigarette, put down my coffee, reach for my rifle, dig into my pocket for a shell, load my rifle, …and if, after all of that, Caribou you’re still here,…, I’m 496-3211 probably going to shoot LOOKING FOR A NEW TOY? CALL BOB, TODAY! (Buck cont. pg 21) www.plourdeplourde.com

and the Fates, having a keen sense of humor, just piled on for the ride. One November day, decades ago, I shot a nice buck; a traditional 6 pointer. The rack wasn’t spectacular; it trended more towards wide and squatty than tall and majestic, but it sure looked good at the time. The thing is, I had no business being in the woods that morning, let alone being in a position to fill my tag. I was on my way to work and I thought I’d make a quick swing through the now abandoned orchard to see if there was any fresh sign about.

I certainly wasn’t dressed for success-greasy, oil-stained coveralls and a hat that looked and smelled like road kill. Vestiges from that morning’s sausage-egg-cheese cholesterol bomb dripped from my beard. I had a cigarette hanging out of my mouth and I had a cup of coffee in my other hand. The wind was at my back, blowing my foul essence out in

front of me like a plague.

I carried my great grandfather’s .30-06 slung over my left shoulder with no round chambered. In fact,

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Buck (Cont. from pg 20) you.” And he never moved.

I laid the crosshairs behind his shoulder and pulled the trigger. He let out with a mighty mule kick, turned and jumped back over the wall from whence he came.

To this day, I’m convinced he committed suicide. He went but a scant 25 yards and lay down under a big pine.

I wasn’t prepared. I think I mentioned that. I had no drag rope, and the worse sin, I had no knife.

So I walked out and dug through the truck, hoping to find a knife. Nothing.

What I did find was a rusty, single-edged razor blade in the bottom of a toolbox. Anybody ever dress out a deer with a rusty razor blade? I did! I did! I win! What a mess… The blood flowed freely, and too much of it was mine;

Northwoods Sporting Journal there were more cuts on me than the deer. The poor deer looked like I used a blender on it. When I finally got the deer to the tagging station, everybody just stared at it, “What the hell have you done?!” So I held up the razor blade and said “This was all that I had!” After weighing the deer, a tidy 165 lb.s, the comedian operating the scale remarked that it had probably been a 200 pounder before I started carving on him.

So they took my picture, holding the razor blade up for the camera and posterity. I thought I was pretty cool and all, until I heard they made a “What

NOT to Do” poster out of me. It took years before people stopped reminding me of that deer. Thankfully, everyone associated with that event has either forgotten about it, moved away, or simply up and died. I took the buck to my favorite cutter and he took one look at it and said “Well, you won’t be making out a cut list. Hope you like a lot of burger, ‘cause that’s all this one is good for.”

There was an upside to all of this. The cutter was trying out a new venison breakfast sausage recipe and offered to cut me a break on the butcher’s bill if I’d try it. Turns out it was

Page 21

the best damn sausage any of us had ever had. I went on to shoot another deer the following season, and you know, I’ve never gone into the woods so unprepared again. Not once.

tired, grumpy, old fart who adores his grandchildren and appreciates these days more and more with every one that passes. He lives in the woods of Perham, Maine and can be reached at perhamtrout@gmail.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 22

Post-Script From Pocasset

by Josh Reynolds, Wayne, ME I have an affinity for the ole’ smokepole. Well, I have an affinity for a particular old smokepole and for muzzleloader season in general. First, the gun, which is truly my favorite weapon to carry into the deer woods.

It’s a Thompson Center Arms Scout. What it isn’t is modern by muzzleloader standards – no firesticks, 209 primers, pellets or new-fangled wizardry

that makes a muzzleloader look and function more like a conventional rifle. It is compact and lightweight with a heavy barrel that puts the weight forward making it very stable on the shoulder. It’s pretty.

With a walnut stock and grip, brash trimmings, a gloss black barrel and a matte black receiver. It’s accurate. I have found that using a bullet/sabot type round is far and away the

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The Smokepole Buck

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Back that up with 90-110 grains of pyrodex and it’ll shoot 2-inch groups at 100yds. It’s reliable. Once you figure out how to keep it clean – the thing never misses, duds, or hangfires.

swings. I used to periodically shoot the charge, and reload during the season.

It’s a waste of ammo. For the past few years, I just leave it loaded all season.

My dad bought the Scout many years ago. He

with the cleaning regime and pay more attention to mechanical details which is why I’ve had nothing but success with the Ole’ girl…

I think. Dad put a red-dot scope on it, the one modern attachment that I abso-

I can barely keep the gun up. Just then, I begin to feel a breeze on my neck, this is not good.

I have used it in the rain, snow and slush, on many occasions. As long as you don’t bring it indoors once you’ve started the season, you’re good. This is a big key to success with this type of old school smokepole, they don’t like big temperature and humidity

moved onto a more modern muzzleloader having had more than a couple of occasions of misfires with the Scout – the kind where you have to take the gun apart and risk life and limb to extract the bullet. He handed it to me. He would admit that I’m more fastidious

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lutely love. You can’t beat a red dot for picking up a good aim on a deer busting through the jack-firs.

I’ve used the Scout long enough to have made some of my best deer hunting memories, which is another reason why it’s my favorite gun. My best buck was taken with it on the last hour of the last day of blackpowder season ten years ago. I’ve also missed one of the biggest bucks I’ve ever shot at and missed with the Scout. It wasn’t the gun, it was the shooter.

The year prior to the big buck, I was skulking along a hard wood ridge in 6 inches of fresh snow with the wind in my face and my head down on a nice track.

As I was moving along, fol(Smokepole cont. pg 23)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

subsided, the whole time

ing out for muzzleloader Scout, hoping for lighting

peak through the site looking for anything to shoot at. I can barely keep the gun up. Just then, I begin to feel a breeze on my neck, this is not good. Within seconds, he wheels 180 degrees in his own tracks. I sent my one round into the brown flash and drilled the tree he was behind. When the blackpowder smoke cleared, he was gone, without a sound, it was incredible. I’d like to say that I had time to follow the track but daylight ran out.

These memories, and this gun is one of the only reasons I’m willing to pass up does, spike horns and lesser bucks throughout the regular firearms season.

I’m no great hunter, I’d say I’m a good hunter. I don’t have “target bucks” and I’m not that picky, but with one tag to burn I’m hold-

not because I just love the season and I’m willing to go empty handed to have a chance to take to the woods in December, in the cold, in the snow with my trusty

Page 23

Smokepole the Scout is shouldered as I season more often than to strike again.

(Cont. from pg 22) lowing the track, I caught a flesh ahead. I froze. Silently, a big racked, old buck was coming directly at me through the hardwoods. These were thick hardwoods where you have to turn sideways at times to navigate between the trees. All I could see was flashes of that big rack, a nose, a tail flick, as he came along on a string. I knew I had him. Then he stopped, and all I could see was the ends of his beefy antlers on either side of a big birch that was between me and him. Nobody moved for what seamed like 10 minutes. During the standoff, I got the shakes the worst I’ve ever had them, my adrenalin was pumping, it was awesome. I slowed my breathing the shakes

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Fly Tying: Getting Started

Fly Fishing

by Joe Bertolaccini, Orrington, ME Since Christmas is quickly approaching, it’s time to think about what you might want to give that special fly fisher in your life. For example, there are many advantages of tying your own flies. You might have broken off your last favorite fly on a good fish so the next day you’re back at the fly shop looking to buy another and there’s none left. If you tie your own, it’s just a matter of going back to the bench and tying up a few more.

With the long winter ahead, fly tying provides an enjoyable, productive and challenging way to get ready for next season. It is also a source of satisfaction to know that you can attract fish on a fly or lure that you designed and made with your own hands. Tying flies can result in significant cost savings as well, once you purchase the necessary tools and mate-

December 2021

rials. At the outset I would recommend purchasing the best fly tying tools you can afford to give the best chance for success. Also they can last many years or a lifetime without having to

Regal Medallion C-clamp fly tying vises. Suggested price is $169.

Bobbin – This is needed to hold the thread under tension while tying.

The one I use is the Griffin Gold Trident that has a ceramic lined tube through which the tying thread is passed. It can be purchased

inches) with large finger holes that can be held in the hand while tying. I have had excellent success with Anvil mini straight ice tempered scissors. Suggested retail price is $14.99.

Bodkin – A fine needle point similar to an awl that can be used to apply head cement to the fly or

With the long winter ahead, fly tying provides an enjoyable, productive and challenging way to get ready for next season. It is also a source of satisfaction to know that you can attract fish on a fly or lure that you designed…. be replaced.

Let’s take a look at some of the basic equipment that a beginning fly tyer would need to get started.

Vice – A tool needed to hold the hook while tying. They come in many styles, shapes and sizes but the one I would recommend that has served me well for many years is the Regal Medallion with a C clamp that will allow attachment to a fly tying table or bench. Specific features can be found by accessing

for $14.79. The reason for the ceramic lining is that metal bobbins have a tendency to develop burrs which frustratingly keep breaking the tying thread.

A bobbin threader is necessary, but one can be made with a piece of nylon tippet material doubled over to form a loop through which the thread is placed and inserted up through the tube.

Dental floss threaders can also do the job.

Scissors – I prefer the small midge scissors (maximum length of three Mother Carey’s chickens 15 Small bird of marshes and meadows

Across source 1 Fail at shooting 8 Common gunstock ma4 What scope hairs do terial 7 --- Stream Pond, Pe- 9 --- Cuckoo nobscot County lake trout 12 Wilson’s ---, one of

Down 2 Grafton Notch --- Byway 3 Getting this in the woods is a bad idea 5 --- Tanager 6 Monson --- Hills 8 Wa shington, ME, warmwater fishery lake 10 --- the Mountain Loop Trail, Mount Desert 11 Penobscot County Pond sounds good 13 Star-nosed ---, a tunneler 14 Type of boots or pants (Answers pg 35)

assist in tying half hitch or whip finishing knots. Cost about $5 or can be easily made at home with a large sewing needle inserted into a small wood handle.

Hooks - For the beginner I would recommend hooks made in Norway by Mustad..They are good quality inexpensive hooks that are used by a majority of fly tyers. The species of fish determine the size of hook to be used. Bass and pickerel sizes 4 or 6 would be appropriate for streamer patterns (model # 75980@ $4.55 for 25 of each size) but trout would require smaller sizes of wet flies from 8 to 12, (model #3399@ $ 3.45 for 25 of each size) and down to sizes 16 to 20 for dry flies (model #94840 @ $3.45 for 25 of each size).

Beginners would do well to start out with the larger streamers and bucktails, progressing to the smaller wet and dry flies after more practice.

Thread is the next important item. It can be purchased in many sizes and colors, but a prewaxed black thread in size 6/0 is perhaps the most useful for a wide variety of flies. A

200-yard spool of 6/0 Uni thread will cost about $3.

There are many other useful accessories that can be helpful if a person wants to progress further into fly tying but the above will provide a good basic set of tools for the beginner.

Regarding materials like feathers, hair, fur, body materials, tinsel, etc. there are too many to write about in one column. The best advice is to purchase a basic fly tying manual that has good instructions, a description of the various materials, and dressings for many standard fly patterns.

The tyer can then select the necessary materials accordingly.

The manual that I recommend is “The Universal Fly Tying Guide” by Dick Stewart priced at under $15. Future columns will focus on tying instructions, materials and appropriate thread knots.

Finally, there are a number of hands on tying courses that begin in January and generally run through early spring. Consult your local newspaper for times and places.

For an additional gift, I would highly recommend a book that includes about everything related to fly fishing, written by an author from Tennessee who eventually settled in Maine; “Crosscurrents”

by James R. Babb – A Fly Fisher’s Progress – Copyright 1999. After reading Babb’s “An Apology” at the book’s beginning, his reasons for writing about fly fishing are very thought provoking.

Growing up in east (Tying cont. pg 41)

Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

The Christmas Goose

A long, long time ago... the traditional meat of choice was once the succulent goose. The holiday story, “A Christmas Carol”, goose was the preferred meat served at Bob Cratchit’s table.

As Cratchit said, “There never was such a goose...

Its tenderness and flavor, size and cheapness were the themes of universal admiration.” Even back before the pilgrims and even as far back at the Vikings, goose was the holiday dish. Viking mythology describes the goose as an offering to the Gods, Odin and Thor.

The offering was in thankfulness for a bountiful harvest.

In Maine our goose season starts as early as September one, and ends as late as January three on the sea coast. Most people today serve up other meats such as turkey, ham, and roast beef. There are still some folks today that still carry true to the tradition of serving the Christmas goose!

Although Maine has several different types of goose, the Canadian Goose is the only one that breeds through winters, and migrates through the state.

Maine does have a flyway,

but on a smaller scale compared to the mid-Atlantic states. As October comes into November, water in the North Country starts to film over with ice. That’s the green light for Geese to continue on from Canada and start moving onward to warmer weather. As geese move, they are constantly found feeding on cut corn and roosting in water. By now, goose hunters will surely have their blinds

Geese have extremely good eyesight, hearing, as well as some smell. Their most valuable attribute is their eye sight, geese have panoramic vision which lets them see 360 degrees all at once.

Setting up for geese is a science as well as an art. The novice or junior hunter needs not to worry!

YouTube has a host of great videos from people who love their passion of goose

Page 25

Maine Outdoor Adventure

to eat goose which is from the BBQ grill. Once you have cleaned your goose, its now time to marinade your meat. It will keep your meat moist and tender as you cook it. Keep in mind, that Goose is extremely lean although its fat does liquify at a lower temp than that of other birds. If

by Rich Yvon, Bradford, ME keep our outdoor heritage alive and well! In addition, please support your local tackle shops and small businesses!

Rich is a Registered Maine Guide. He owns and operates Twin Maple Outdoors guide service and sporting lodge located in Bradford. He runs fly Although Maine has several different types of goose, the and spin fishing trips with Canadian Goose is the only one that breeds through winters, a G3 Jet boat and Stealthand migrates through the state. Maine does have a flyway, craft drift boat. Rich also but on a smaller scale compared to the mid-Atlantic states. guides Maine Partridge, Turkey, Moose, Deer huntready to go for the season! hunting. you happen to like liver, ing and recreation advenThe camaraderie that is So... go out and find then cooking Goose in a tures. When Rich is not on experienced, is really why permission and do your pressure type cooker with adventures, he serves as a sportsman love a day in the scouting! Typically once vegetables is the way to board member for the Nafield with their best pawed you have found an optimal go. Either way, goose is a tive Fish Coalition, Maine friend. Goose hunting is hunting ground, you will healthy meat as with other chapter. He is also an outdoor writer, tree farmer, like a hunter’s social. It’s a have success year after wild game. time of relaxation, and the year. There is so much to As always, remem- fly-fishing instructor and enjoyment. The experience learn and keep your interest ber to take a young per- certified NRA firearms inof a crisp fall day afield that it just may become an son hunting or fishing to structor. ” with jokes, laughter, and obsession! outdoor adventure is what Table fare is the icing it’s all about. on the cake. Eventually if Hunting for geese is you stick to the plan, you like hunting anything else. will indeed become sucGetting intimate with your cessful and will need to quarry to understand the cook that goose! I’m cerbirds characteristics of tainly not an outdoor chef, strengths and weakness,’ but I can share how I like is the start of learning the hunt.

At long last, revived from the archives of the once-authoritative books on New England streamer flies and how to use them: Trolling Flies for Trout & Salmon, by Dick Stewart and Bob Leeman.

Trolling Flies for Trout and Salmon was first published in 1982 and again in 1992. There were 350 signed Limited Edition hardcover copies and several thousand hard and soft cover copies sold out with the two printings. Many fly tyers view this book as an up-to-date version of new and available streamer fly patterns and crave to have it in their library. Used copies have been selling on AmazonBooks.com for the last few years with a price tag up to $300.00 for each copy! There are 125 pages with 32 color plates of more than 90 classic streamer flies and tying recipes from a Winnipesaukee Smelt to a Barney Google and a Rangeley Centennial. Leeman and Stewart also share with readers many tips and tactics for trolling streamer flies for trout and salmon throughout New England.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 26

Magical Moments In The Woods

Women In The Woods

by Erin Merrill, Portland, ME I often say that one of the best things I ever did was learn to hunt. It has connected me to people across Maine and beyond.

It is a way for us to get back to some of the most

To think my mid-life crisis would evolve into my greatest passion is sometimes even a mystery to me. Imagination can be squelched by the complexities of life. Yet, at almost

December 2021

this form of hunting since I had progressed somewhat more successfully with the other game I pursued.

She didn’t understand the beauty of the dogs weaving through the magnificent landscape on a fool’s hope that I would find my dog

I have learned many great lessons about bird dog training including timing. Although I wish I started hunting sooner in life, the timing for me to try to become a better bird hunter was substantially increased by Willow and Jason. simple and important parts of our culture. In this case, it was a guidance counselor from my high school that I recently reconnected with.

I asked Dan if I could share his story with all of you, knowing that you will be able to appreciate it and connect with the emotion the same way I did. Enjoy!

-By Dan Riley I am in awe with the ebb and flow of life.

40, I was invited to go bird hunting behind a lab. I carried that Remington 870 pump shotgun in the woods watching others kill birds behind that nice dog.

My ability to understand good bird cover and shoot easy shots successfully were low. Most of my kills were lucky shots like a blind squirrel. My wife, Linda would often question the logic for my interest in

steady as a rock, stole my heart and filled my soul.

My favorite kill behind my dog Rosie was a search after a shot when I found one feather the size of my thumbnail. It was at the end of the hunting cover, but I decided to take Rosie back to the path where I saw the woodcock go. Like a freight train, Rosie busted through the brush down the hill and to

Dan Riley with his gundog Willow. my surprise returned with the woodcock that I had wounded, to my hand.

Let downs and obstacles are part of this life but somehow luck would favor this late to the dance hunter whose heart still beats

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like a teenager and body reminds him that he is not.

I was crushed when an opportunity to get a Brittany puppy fell through. With Linda’s support, I pursued another puppy and found one. With the help of Jason Hawes, I was encouraged to contact Jason Carter.

Jason accepted my request to be my trainer for a puppy I hadn’t even picked.

After Rosie, I knew I needed a trainer to help me with my new family member and hunting partner.

I was in awe by Jason’s skills and character. My experience to help my new dog, Willow develop into a well-adjusted pet and set her up to become a hunting dog was amazing. I drove an hour one-way every week with enthusiasm and energy like a bird dog in the scent cone. No one had ever helped me relax and reassure me that I was up to the task to give Willow everything she needed to bring out the best that she (Woods cont. pg 27)

December 2021

Woods (Cont. from pg 26) had to offer. He showed such zest with his willingness to help me, and Willow learn and succeed.

As an educator, I am very familiar with the art and science of teaching. There are not many who can be exceptional at both. After almost 25 years in education, Jason stands out as one of the best I have ever met.

I have learned many great lessons about bird dog training including timing. Although I wish I started hunting sooner in life, the timing for me to try to become a better bird hunter was substantially increased

by Willow and Jason. They both have such God given talent that makes me feel blessed every day. I am not sure how long an average man like me has left to pursue his dream. I know my passion has always sustained my determination more like a bull crashing through the terrain. I now walk with more intentional steps toward my goals with the highest level of hope than ever before because of Jason and Willow. My eyes are glowing with a big smile to match my imagination when thinking about the next magical moments in the Maine Woods.

Erin is a member of the OWAA and the New England Outdoor Writers Association. She is a senior writer for Drury Outdoors’ DeerCast and is the President and co-Founder of the non-profit group Women of the Maine Outdoors.

You can read about Erin’s adventures and contact her at www.andastrongcupofcoffee.com

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Grace

(Cont. from pg 3) hunter was upset. “That’s my deer, the buck I have been watching on my trail cam,” he whined. At first I thought he was joking, pulling my chain. I knew that he was not joking when he scolded himself for inviting another to share his hunting ground!

How do you behave when a fellow hunter bags the big one and you come home empty handed? How you respond to failure in the field, as well as success, defines you as a sportsman.

Are you happy with your comrade’s good fortune, or do you nurse envy?

Outdoor writer Wayne Van Zwoll writes about the importance of grace in the field if you are to call yourself a sportsman. “A sportsman is a person who can take loss or defeat without complaint, or victory without gloating, and who treats his opponents with fairness, generosity and courtesy.”

As Zwoll observes, it is sometimes easier to shoot a deer than to demonstrate grace to another sportsman. He defines it

this way: “Without grace, hunting is predation. Grace defines a sportsman.”

We all as humans struggle to conduct our lives with more grace, sportsman or non sportsman.

The bow hunter who “stepped on my trapline” heard from me later at the parking spot after the hunt. He didn’t seem like a bad guy after all. A gungho bow hunter, maybe 50 years my junior, he struck me as just a supercharged millenial more focused on the hunt than manners or sportsman-like behavior.

Page 27 In time, he may mature and find some balance.

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. maineoutdoorpublications. com. or www.sportingjournal.com. Contact email — vpaulr@tds.net

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 28

Awe, Those Memories

“Just Fishing”

by Bob Leeman, Bangor, ME A last-ditch fling at the fishes, as winter’s chill rings in the final open water season, was enjoyed by this writer’s friends and relatives. First off, it was our editor, V. Paul Reynolds, with wife, Diane, and son,

December 2021

Lake Stream, eventually narrowing the flow into the tiny fishing village.

Consequently, with all of the late summer and fall drenching rains that fell, the waterflow in the stream was more than filled to

released for their reproduction business. Scotty Reynolds gets the nod for the most fish hooked, using a special fly, with only a hint of dressing.

Following that trio of visitors to the cabin, as October arrived, was our radio show technician and friend, Norm Plourde. Now Norm knows this fishing avocation backwards and

For the most part, all but a couple of landlocked salmon hooked, were carefully released for their reproduction business. Scotty Reynolds gets the nod for the most fish hooked, using a special fly, with only a hint of dressing.

Scotty Reynolds, sharing a cabin with me at Grand Lake Stream for a fly casting venture as September waned with a splash. A “splash of water”, that is, as the waterway, which exhausts a huge drainage encompassing thousands of acres of lakes, ponds, and streams, filters into the narrow confines of Grand

capacity. My first visitors had to deal with 800 feet per second flow through the dam!

Even through this hardship and safety concerns, this foursome managed some fair results for the creel, considering…

For the most part, all but a couple of landlocked salmon hooked, were carefully

forwards, and although he didn’t keep a fish because the season didn’t allow, he did quite well, considering all the obstructions.

Following the Reynolds and Norm, were my wife, Alice, and friends, Art Drinkwater from Florida, and his son-in-law, Ron Smith from South Carolina. Now these boys had

Bob’s great grandson, Andy Cheever with a nice male salmon. been here before and knew the ropes about this late season fishing thing. They both know how to handle flyrods and assemble imita-

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These visitors stayed for seven days, enjoying the finest of eats, the hospitality, and of course, the surroundings---being right next to the fishing grounds in the beautiful fall weather every day.

The fishing, you say?

Well, how about these marbles? “Ancient Art” --- still spry as ever, and using one of his handmade flywands, hooked into a memorable landlock, and finally beached it, after a tiresome struggle and despite all the Kabittzers from the sidelines. Out popped the photo bugs, and well they should, after this episode. Then this giant of the species, with hooked kype and brilliant spawning décor, was carefully released.

Now, this part was interesting. Ron Smith and (Memories cont. pg 35)

December 2021

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Houdini’s Last Tryst In May of this year, I was lucky enough to be selected for a coveted 2021 Maine Moose Permit. I had been drawn for a September, Zone 2 bull permit and my sub-permittee was fellow Game Warden Nick

that first night. Did I pack this? Did I forget that? It was a short morning as we headed out the door and into the woods shortly after 4:00 a.m. We arrived at our spot and began calling as the sun rose in the

morning and again, parked and headed out on foot.

I called, our friend John raked the bushes and Nick kept careful watch, but nothing materialized again.

We saw cows on that Tuesday, confirming we were in the right area, but where did the bulls go? We had not heard so much as a single grunt in two days.

My father-in-law, who I consider to be a far superior moose hunter than I, came

Page 29

Warden’s Words

by Game Warden Kale O’Leary, Ashland, ME ran into a friend who was out riding and had spotted a nice bull that morning but we were too late as we went back to try and draw that bull out of the woods for a fight.

We decided to change up the scenery at lunchtime and went out to St. John to eat our lunch and pick

had slipped into tree line off the edge of the field.

Nick and I snuck down into position and I gave out several long, broadcast cow calls. I needed to get this bull’s attention. We waited and waited but he never showed. We decided to take a short walk to check another field nearby. As

I spun around and sure enough, a nice bull had crested a rise in the field and was on the trot directly towards us. I gave out a short cow call and the bull began grunting with each step, coming in as if he was on a string.

The author, left, with his bull and his hunting buds.

Raymond. Throughout the summer we planned and prepared for this opportunity with much anticipation.

Finally, it was the week I had waited for since my name was drawn. I travelled north on Sunday night to Fort Kent, as Nick had found a good shooter bull the weekend before the hunt and this bull seemed to be living off a dead end road in St. John.

I did not sleep much

eastern sky. Nothing. It was a beautiful, still, foggy morning but it would not be interrupted by bull grunts and the sound of gunfire as I had dreamed about the night prior.

We rounded out a slow first day with a lot of foot miles but no bull sightings. Spirits were still very high as we prepared for Tuesday, enjoying the company of good friends.

We returned the next

out that evening and helped us call. Still no cigar.

The mood in the truck was tense Wednesday morning. It’s a funny feeling as the days pass on a moose hunt and it is surprising how quickly desperation begins to set in.

The night before, I stayed up late watching YouTube videos on moose calling.

“It has got to be my calling” I told Nick and John.

We hunted again on foot Wednesday morning, calling and waiting. Still no answers in the heavy morning fog. Temperatures were crisp and chilly but where had the moose gone? We

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up my wife who wanted to join for the afternoon hunt. Just as we started into our sandwiches, our phone rang from the same friend who has spotted the nice bull earlier in the morning.

He asked how far I was from Wallagrass as there was a good bull prancing around a field, calling up a storm. I told him I was 20 minutes away and headed in his direction!

Our hunting party arrived to find that the bull

Nick and I walked out to glass the field, our friend called Nick frantically to tell us that bull had just run by where he and my wife had been standing and he was on the run towards my calls! We hunkered down for 20 minutes as the bull slipped through thick softwoods, within 50 feet of us grunting his way along, but never presenting a shot. He eventually got behind us, with a stiff wind directly (Houdini’s cont, pg 35)

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 30

Bobcats

(Cont. from pg 7) a coating of snow along its back made the color hard to discern – tawny like a bobcat or gray like a Canada lynx? Knowing we have both in the area I took a quick peek at telltales; the cat’s tail and ear tufts. Sure enough I caught a flash of white on the underside of the black-tipped tail. It was a bobcat for sure; lynx tails are solidly tipped in black.

The rifle barked and the big bob peeled off the tree, dropping to the ground behind it. I exhaled, waited and finally made my way to the cat. It weighed in at 48

pounds and after mounted, chasing a big ruffed grouse I had taken earlier in the season, stretched out to nearly four feet long. To this day it was one of my most memorable days in the Maine woods and by far my favorite mount.

John is a Registered Maine Guide, an NRA Certified Instructor and is the owner of Tucker Ridge Outdoors in Webster Plantation, Maine.

He also works as an outdoors writer and can be reached at john@tuckerridge.me or on Facebook @writerjohnfloyd

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Flies (Cont. from pg 13) considered, writing the book made sense.

I have tied flies for 40 years. And while not efficient, and believe I am proficient. I tie because I enjoy it, and so I use flies I cannot buy in stores. I also sold fly tying tools and materials for 15 years at my shop. And I gave fly tying classes for a decade or so.

I even have 30 cataloged patterns with wholesale supplier Catch Fly Fishing out of Montana.

The first time I had a couple of my flies featured in print was in the book, Guide Flies: How to Tie and Fish the Killer Flies from America’s Greatest Guides and Fly Shops, by David Klausmeyer. The next time was in Thomas Ames Jr.’s book, Caddisflies: A Guide to Eastern Species for Anglers and

Other Naturalists.

Most recently I had a fly included in the book, America’s Favorite Flies

by John Bryan and Rob Carter, which featured patterns from Cathy and Barry Beck, Gary Borger, Joe Brooks, Rosalynn and Jimmy Carter, Yvon Chouinard, Jack Dennis, Lefty Kreh, Thomas McGuane, James Prosek, Lou Tabory, Jim Teeny, Dave Whitlock, Joan Wulff, and others.

While not properly attributed to me, two of my patterns were featured in an article about fishing with mouse flies in American Angler magazine. That two of the five patterns featured were mine was humbling, and validation that my flies work. Personally, I consider these two of my best patterns.

As they say, never say never. While I never thought I would write a fly pattern book, I did. It was fun, and I believe it is as good as anything I

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have written to date, and possibly second only to Squaretail. And it was the first book I ever wrote that was solely about Maine, which is a great lead-in for my next project: Fly Fishing Maine – The Experts Speak.

Favorite Flies for Maine – 50 Essential Patterns from Local Experts will be available around December 15th. The cost is $24.95, and signed copies can be pre-ordered online at BobMallard.com As for the tie-in to native fish, there really isn’t one. While I mention wild native fish in passing, this book is more about art and history, and fishing, than fish. And that’s why it is the book I never thought I would write…

BOB MALLARD has fly fished for forty years.

He is the former owner of Kennebec River Outfitters, a Registered Maine Fishing Guide, and a commercial fly designer. Bob is a blogger, writer, and author. He is also a native fish advocate and founding member, Executive Director, and Maine Board Member for Native Fish Coalition.

Look for his books.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

Page 31

The March Brown

This month’s fly is the March Brown – Wet. This fly originated in the British Isles, and the patterns is said to be more than 500 years old. I wasn’t there so I can’t verify that, but it is a great fly. It imitates an early mayfly and there are dry versions, emergers and “spider” styles as well as this wet version. There are also variations in materials used. The pattern I tie here is a good one, feel free to change it up.

Recipe for the March Brown Hook – Wet fly hook 6-12 Thread – Orange Tail-- Partridge Body—Hare’s ear Rib— gold Mylar Hackle – Beard style, partridge Wing – Mottled turkey quill I seem to do best with this in size 6, but you could tie it in much smaller sizes to imitate whatever mayfly is hatching. I use orange and red thread about as much as I use black, some recipes call for orange for this fly and I like it. The tail

is long, to imitate a mayfly tail. Sparse, not a big bunch of fibers. After the tail, tie in the Mylar for the rib but then leave it there while you tie on a body. Hare’s ear dubbing is the short hairs at the base of a rabbit ear and contain some longer guard hairs. If you look at the dubbing, the hairs are several colors as well.

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and a beard hackle. After you tie off the body, wind the gold Mylar ribbing forward about 4 turns and tie off. The wings I use are turkey; there is popular style that uses hen pheasant tail feathers. Entirely your call; you want the wings to be mottled. And pointed up, like a mayfly wing.

Tie in a pair of wings and then cut off a small bunch of partridge feather fibers for a beard style hackle. I like to use a small brush to gently brush the body for a more ‘buggy’ look.

A small piece of Velcro on a Popsicle stick has been on my bench for years and

does this nicely. When it’s done, the fly should be shaggy and buggy, like a wet mayfly trying to swim ashore. This one is well worth the time to tie, and for a lot of people, it’s the first one they tie on the leader.

Hugh Kelly has fly fished and tied his own flies for over 40 years. He and his family live in Detroit where he ties flies, drinks Moxie and plans fishing trips. He can be reached at hkellymaine@gmail.com and he writes a fly tying blog at puckerbrushflies. com

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I wet my fingers, and then twist small bunches of the loose fur onto my thread and then twist the thread so that I form a fur “rope”.

If you’ve never done it, practice a little; you’ll get the hang of it pretty quick.

Wind on this fur rope of hare’s ear dubbing and tie off behind the eye, leaving room for a set of wings

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Second Deer Story

The Buck Hunter

by Hal Blood, Moose River, ME As I write this, deer season one week away.

As always it doesn’t seem possible that another year has come on gone. This past one has held a lot of trials and tribulations for most people. Not to get political but I think most

December 2021

all the time I want in the woods and being able to make a living at it.

I have told the story of my first deer, so I thought I would tell the story of my second one a year later.

Once again, my father was always working even on

teen but back then I rabbit hunted on my own carrying a gun, so it was no big deal I guess that I could go on my own.

I walked up the old logging road to a crossing where I had seen a doe two years prior and went in the woods a ways on the trail and found a log to sit on.

I don’t know how long I had been sitting before I heard leaves rustling be-

shoot a deer and wouldn’t get another one!

I decided to go get Butch to help me as he was older and had shot a couple deer. I knew where he liked to sit, so I headed back down the logging road to the camp road to get him. On the way, I ran into

them gutted her and then they dragged her back to the car and put her in the shade. I thanked them and they went on their way.

By now the sun was out and it was warming up. since I was a kid and had got up early, I decided to take a nap and wait for

a couple of hunters standing in the camp road. I told them I had shot a deer, but I don’t think they believed me. I continued on up the ridge where Butch usually sat, but he was nowhere to be found. All I could do now was walk back to Warren’s car and wait for help. The two guys were still in the road when I went back by. When I told them I couldn’t find my friend, they offered to help.

No doubt they still didn’t believe me. I walked them back my deer and they congratulated me. One of

my father to get there at noon. I was stretched out in the leaves by Warren’s car when he rolled in.When dad got out of the car he said, “you can’t kill a deer here”, to which I replied, I already got my deer. He said you did not. I said yup it’s right here, pointing behind the car. I think he almost fell over backwards before giving me a hug and telling me good job. Now we would have plenty of meat for the winter, to feed us five kids. I’m sure that is what fueled my passion (Story cont. pg 33)

Now it dawned on me that I didn’t know how to gut her out as the year before my father did it and didn’t give me any instruction. He probably thought I was lucky to shoot a deer and wouldn’t get another one! people can easily see that things have taken a turn for the worse in the country from higher gas and food prices to Covid regulation and mandates threatening people jobs. Getting out in the woods and hunting is the one thing that I think helps people keep a little sanity in their lives.

The woods are the place where you can go to forget about your problems and even give you the peace to work through them. It’s almost like escaping the jail of daily life. I thank God every day for having been able to lead the lifestyle I have by being able to spend

some weekends. This year he had taken a week to go deer hunting at the family’s lodge down east and had shot his deer. I hadn’t been hunting yet that year and was anxious to go on Saturday, but my dad had to work until noon. His friend Warren was going and taking his son Butch, so dad asked if he would take me along as well. He agreed to and the hunt was on. We went Sand Pond in Limington to a spot I had been two years before. We arrived just before daylight, and I had told Warren that I would go to the same spot as before. I was only thir-

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hind me. I looked over my shoulder and saw a doe and lamb walking toward me.

I slowly raised my 30-30 Winchester as I turned to the right. They never saw me, and I put the bead on the old doe’s shoulder as she passed broadside at about twenty-five yards.

I pulled the trigger and they both bolted ahead, but the doe only made it about twenty yards before falling to the ground dead.

I was some excited to say the least. I had shot a deer two years in a row. Now it dawned on me that I didn’t know how to gut her out as the year before my father did it and didn’t give me any instruction. He probably thought I was lucky to

December 2021

Northwoods Sporting Journal Guns & Ammo:

Use Enough Gun

I recently read a fascinating true story in “Bear Hunting Magazine”. It was the story of a woman trapper. She was a member of the Cree Nation in 1953 in Northern Alberta Canada.

Her name was Bella Twin.

The story was written by Timothy Fowler.

Bella was trapping and hunting rabbits. In the pursuit of her natural grocery shopping, she surprised a very large grizzly bear. Bella was armed with a very old .22 caliber single shot rifle. The rifle was held together with hockey tape.

This encounter immediately set up a dangerous confrontation. Bella raised the tiny rifle and put a .22 caliber bullet into the giant bear’s eye. It penetrated into the brain and killed the beast instantly. She then reloaded and shot the dead bear 8 more times in the head. Most of these additional rounds never penetrated the skull. Pretty amazing right? I am so glad I read this article. I now know that the .22 long rifle is an effective bear round.

It must be right?

I am, of course, being sarcastic. I have had numerous conversations with people who are recoil sensitive and want to use light calibers for big game animals. I have also had discussions with advocates of hyper velocity small caliber rounds. There are also folks who feel the need to buy very light calibers

Story

(Cont. from pg 32) for hunting deer and we all must do our part to get the youths out there at an early age.

Until next month,

for youth hunters. I believe all of these people have good intentions, but I feel a discussion about what a rifle projectile is required to do when dispatching a big game animal is important.

A projectile must have enough energy to penetrate muscle and bone and cause significant damage to the vital organs. Specifically,

enough energy to drive that projectile deep into the vital organs and even pass through the animal. Two wounds bleed more than one. To accomplish this, at least 900 ft lbs of energy are required and enough diameter to destroy organs.

This effectively eliminates most of the handgun calibers below .44 magnum.

bers that can kill an animal when everything is perfect.

What we should look for is a caliber that can do it when everything is not perfect.

We should also look for a caliber that will give us a good blood trail to recover the animal. Big game animals seldom fall over dead when shot. Recovery is critical. A caliber should maintain sufficient diameter and mass to create a wound channel large enough to facilitate massive bleeding as well as deep penetration. This requires energy on contact with the target. It also requires

I am a proponent of a .30 caliber minimum. For large bears, like brown grizzly and polar bears we should employ magnum calibers with a minimum of .300 Win Magnum and larger.

In the case of African or

Page 33

A Guide’s Perspective

by Tom Kelly, Orient, ME

Asian dangerous game, sitive, learn to shoot a .35 truly large nasty animals Remington magnum. It is like cape buffalo or Asian our responsibility.

Water Buffalo, the minimum should start with .375 Tom is a Registered magnums and work up.

It is our responsibil- Maine Guide. He is the ity as hunters to humanly owner/operator of Shamrock Outfitters in Orient Maine with his wife Ellie.

A projectile must have enough energy to penetrate muscle and bone and cause significant damage to the vital He is a retired police officer as well as a retired organs. Specifically, the heart, lungs and liver. manager from two major dispatch the animals we firearms manufacturers. the heart, lungs and liver. It also eliminates many The blood loss caused by hypervelocity small caliber hunt. As mentors to our He is an NRA Certified Inyoung hunters, it is our structor as well as a Hunter this damage shuts down rounds.

The following state- responsibility to teach them Safety Instructor in Maine, the animals’ systems and causes death. For this to ments are my opinion. I the proper way to shoot New Hampshire and Mashappen, a bullet needs to am convinced that for deer adequate calibers. Instead sachusetts. You can reach have sufficient energy and size targets, the minimum of buying that youngster Tom at Shamrock Outfitters mass to penetrate whatever calibers should start at .24 a .223 for deer hunting, (207) 694-2473. Please animal you are hunting. caliber. For larger game teach them how to shoot visit our Facebook Page: It must be able to do this like elk and moose, you a .308. Instead of hunting Shamrock Outfitters and whenever we shoot an ani- should start at .30 caliber. bear with a .357 carbine Properties and come visit mal. There are lots of cali- In the case of black bear, because you are recoil sen- us on East Grand Lake.

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Page 34

Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

The Maine Growing Up Wild and learn how she Woods grouse would protect her young Matt LaRoche, Shirley, ME

Editor’s note: Ruth is the wife of Matt LaRoche who is filling in for him this month.

By Ruth LaRoche I was twelve years old and my life was over!

Daddy had taken a new job and we were moving – away from friends and school and life as I knew

road with nothing to see but dusty trees.

I would spend the next few short summers with my Dad, Mom and four of my six siblings at Umsaskis Lake in a handsome log lodge. We would swim and explore on the beautiful days – after our chores were done, of

by pretending to be injured.

I would learn how to fish.

First bait casting. Then on one summer excursion, Dad taught me fly-casting.

I was hooked. I would learn to paddle a canoe. I would learn which plants would heal, which to eat and which to avoid. I would see eagles, loons, osprey and geese on a regular basis. I would have run-ins with moose, deer and bear.

You will learn to love this simple quiet backcountry living.

You will grow very fond of the Allagash and all the people who live, work and play there. You will make lifelong friends.

And you will never ever regret having grown up wild. it. He pointed the new location out on a map. There was barely a road in the area. I don’t recall much of what he said after that.

I ran to my room and cried that my life was ruined.

Mom came in and told me that it’s going be to okay and gave me a hug.

I made my first trip to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway in June after school was let out. Dad had already been working there for a while but now it was time to move the family.

I don’t remember much about the trip except there were three vehicles packed full and a very long dusty

course. Rainy days were for reading, card games and board games. There was no television but I don’t remember missing it. We had a radio to listen to the latest news and music.

I would learn about flora and fauna up close and personal in my daily life, surrounded by people who loved living in the woods. I would listen to their stories and gain a new perspective on my wilderness home. They taught me what community was and how we could depend on each other.

I would stumble across my first ruffed

I would learn to live with mice and experience an occasional bat in the room.

I may have missed out on a few social events by living away from civilization but I had plenty of socialization. There were the through-travelers on the lake that would stop at our dock and chat. Then there were the day visitors to our lodge that came and went after a cup of tea.

Because of the remoteness, overnight visitors were an often occurrence. Mom and Dad taught me how to greet and host each guests, both the expected and un-

The author Ruth at a young age with her friends. expected. I learned to just simple quiet backcountry set another plate at the table living. You will grow very and go find another chair. fond of the Allagash and all I would also meet the love the people who live, work of my youth and the love of and play there. You will my life - all in one man - at make lifelong friends. And Umsaskis Lake. you will never ever regret I look back over those having grown up wild. first few summers in the Allagash as my coming of age. It shaped the perMatt LaRoche is a son that I have come to retired Superintendent of be with the entirety of all the Allagash Wilderness those experiences. Yes. If I Waterway, owner of Maine could go back and tell my Woods Guide Service and 12 year old self something, an avid outdoorsman. He it would be this: Just like can be reached at 207Mom said, it’s going to 695-2877 or at matt.labe okay. You’re life is not roche2877@gmail.com over. It is just awakening. See www.mainewoodsYou will learn to love this guide.com

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Jesse Cummings caught this nice 23 1/2”, 5 lb. salmon on East Musquash on October 16th. The fish was released alive and well .

December 2021

Memories

(Cont. from pg 28) Art, along with this writer, been using the popular imitation flies named golden retrievers and “Barnsie”--the latter being a spinoff of the Barnes Special streamer, which was created by my long and dear friend, Roger Wakefield, of Machias, and formerly of Columbia Falls. While assembling flies at the cabin, Ron discovered we had no red calftail to complete a “Barnsie” casting fly. So, he used a bright orange calf tail substitute. As it turned out, this new creation with bright orange, although the fishing was painfully slow, with all of the obstructions---high water, calm, windless, and unusually warm conditions, we did manage some action with modicum of time. When we compared flies, it seems

Northwoods Sporting Journal we used golden retrievers, cabin fever relievers, and Ron’s new fly---dubbed “Ron’s Deceiver”! That’s right! Retrievers, Relievers, and Deceivers!

Following all this, it gets even better! A visit from my eldest grandson, Bryan Cheever, and his two sons---my Great Grands, Andy and Owen. Though the fishing was slow, my Great Grand Andy closed up the season with a memorable male salmon of huge proportions as well.

Overall, a fishing season chocked full of lasting memories for all!

Bob Leeman is a Master Maine Guide, outdoor writer, naturalist, book author, and a co-host of the MAINE OUTDOORS radio program on Sunday evenings from 7-8 p.m. His three books---“Fly Fishing Maine Rivers, Brooks, and

Streams,” “Trolling Flies for Trout and Salmon”, and “Salesman Angler”---are all available in soft cover only, at several bookstores and fly shops, or directly from him. For information, see ad in this publication or call 207-573-1468..

Houdini’s

(Cont. from pg 29) in our face. That was it I said to Nick, “how did we manage to blow that!”

We trudged back to the truck, I was upset and disheartened in our efforts in to kill that moose. I unloaded my gun in anticipation of putting back in the truck and Nick and I

discussed our plans for the rest of the day. Just then, our friend whispered excitedly “he’s right there!”

I spun around and sure enough, a nice bull had crested a rise in the field and was on the trot directly towards us. I gave out a short cow call and the bull began grunting with each step, coming in as if he was on a string. I got my .300 short mag up on my shooting stick as Nick got in position too. He turned at 75 yards and I pulled the trigger….CLICK. Misfire?

I ran the bolt back quickly and to my surprise a shell never ejected. I turned the gun over and realized my magazine was in my pock-

Page 35 et! A quick reload, a deep breathe and that time the roar of ignited gunpowder.

The bull dropped after Nick fired too.

We were both ecstatic with a healthy, young bull weighing 750 pounds. It was a memorable hunt and a future hunting camp story about the bull that put the slip on us three times, leading my wife to aptly call our moose “Houdini”.

Kale O’Leary is a Maine Game Warden who covers the Oxbow district in Central Aroostook County. He lives in Ashland and can be reached at kale.oleary@maine.gov

Crossword answers

(from pg 24) Down: 2 Scenic, 3 Lost, 5 ScarAcross: 1 Miss, 4 Cross, 7 Cold, let, 6 Slate, 8 Wabassus, 8 Walnut, 9 Black-Billed, 10 Around, 11 Dolby, 13 Mole, 12 Storm-Petrel, 15 Sedge Wren.

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Page 36

Northwoods Sporting Journal

View From The River

by Laurie Chandler Bremen, ME My canoe slid under the cool shadow of the railroad trestle and emerged into brilliant sun.

I turned to look back. A white church steeple rising among the tidy farmhouses of Damariscotta Mills would make a good landmark on the return trip across the Great Salt Bay.

with wooden shacks. This region is renowned for its oysters—and it was no different a couple of thousand years ago.

Near the Route 1 bridge, an enormous striper jumped free of the water, then landed with a crash.

Just beyond the bridge, the Glidden Shell Midden rose

Just beyond the bridge, the Glidden Shell Midden rose high and white on the right bank. As I pulled my canoe up on the narrow beach, I realized how large the midden really was.

The tide on the Damariscotta River estuary was almost slack. Rafts of seaweed drifted on the murky green waves, and cormorants were everywhere.

The high-pitched voice of an osprey came from high in a tall dead tree. I felt adventuresome and a little out of my comfort zone.

In a mile, I turned left into the narrower river.

Sheltered from the wind now, I could sense the last of the outgoing tide pulling me along. Both shores were lined with oyster farms, their boundaries marked with colorful buoys. Rows of oyster cages curved neatly toward small docks

high and white on the right bank. As I pulled my canoe up on the narrow beach, I realized how large the midden really was. Its countless shells were a testament to 1,200 years of seasonal encampments along this rich river shore.

According to UMaine’s Hudson Museum, there are over two thousand shell middens in the state. These piles of discarded shells have a fascinating story to tell. The artifacts found in undisturbed middens—animal bones, tools, ceramics, and food remains—provide clues about a way of life and the environment as it existed

December 2021

Mysteries of the Middens

so long ago. Where soils are acidic, the decomposing shells raise the low pH, helping to preserve fragile organic materials.

The mound I stood beside was intact, and the stratification could be clearly seen. One of the largest in New England, this midden is composed of oyster shells, rather than the soft-shell clams found in most oceanside middens.

Straight across the river lies the Whaleback Shell Midden State Historic Site. Long ago, it contained an even larger shell heap, which extended four hundred feet from the river and was up to fifteen feet in depth. Now there is little left to see. In a single year, this historic treasure was largely destroyed. It was 1886 when the Damariscotta Shell and Fertilizer Company began mining the midden. The oyster shells—some as large as a foot long—were ground up and sold as a chicken feed supplement, to strengthen eggshells.

Harvard’s Peabody Museum purchased the rights to Whaleback’s artifacts, with local historian A.T. Gamage in charge of mapping and cataloging them. Axe and arrowheads, shards of decorated ceramic pottery, and many, many bones were discovered. Dating showed the site had been used during the Ceramic Period, from 2,200 to 1,000 years ago.

“Along with bones

of deer, moose, bears, raccoons, seals, eider ducks, and loons,” the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands reports, “Gamage discovered remains of shad, sturgeon, very large codfish,

the shells paper thin. Others were sponged with tiny holes. Surprisingly, there were many that were sturdy and intact, as if human hands had just now shucked them.

The author exploring the Glidden Midden along the Damariscotta River last summer. as well as of sea mink and the great auk, a flightless seabird. The latter two have both been extinct since the 1800s.”

There are written historical accounts of the extinct sea mink (Mustela macrodon), but the skeletal record of this species has come primarily from shell middens. Bones and antlers from the middens yield other valuable clues, not only to the species that were hunted for food, but also to the time of year that sites were used.

Without disturbing anything, what could I observe? Searching, I found a few clamshell fragments, but the vast majority were oysters, some still lined a deep and vivid purple.

Time had worn some of

Fourteen human burials were also found during the Whaleback mining.

Gazing up at the cliff of shells, I felt a connection with the ancient people who had camped there so long ago. As the tide turned, I, too, turned toward home, happy that the mysteries of this midden remained.

The Glidden Midden is located on the Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust’s Salt Bay Preserve in Newcastle, Maine. Laurie Apgar Chandler is the author of Through Woods & Waters, which provides an adventurous look at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, and Upwards, the story of her 2015 solo thru-paddle of the 740-mile Northern Forest Canoe Trail. For more information or to purchase the books, visit www.laurieachandler.com

December 2021

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 37

Tribute to Dad grandfather, great grandfather and community volunteer, fondly remembered forever.

Douglas Keith Smith was born in Ellsworth

and instilled in us the love of family and the outdoors.

He taught us to work hard and give back to our communities and the great state we live in.

In Dad’s later years my brothers, uncles and I got to take him hunting, fishing and shooting as much as possible. He al-

The Northwoods Bowhunter

by Brian Smith, Machiasport, ME

from my bear stand in Jonesboro. We were hunting on a large blueberry grower’s land that often had problems with bears destroying bee hives. That spring, IF&W had live

directly under Dad’s stand and went to the bait keeping his back to Dad the whole time. Dad said he knew the bear was big and focused on controlling his breathing and making a

He taught us outdoor safety and ethics and instilled in us the love of family and the outdoors. He taught us to work hard and give back to our communities and the great state we live in.

in 1936 but grew up in Machias. His father, Norman taught The author and his Dad. him and his As I write this we are 4 brothers the love of the preparing for Dad’s Cele- outdoors, hunting, fishing bration of Life on Saturday. and ethics. They packed Dad came home from the up the wagon to travel to hospital on his 85th birth- Wesley for the deer season day with terminal cancer. opener in 1955, but missed We all were able to spend it when Uncle Craig was time with him for the next born that day and Gram Jo four days. He was able to nearly died during childeat some of his favorite birth. Dad and his brothers foods, deer stew and apple worked hard growing up pie and ice cream. He was but always took time to happy to be surrounded by hunt, fish, camp and revel his family members telling in the outdoors as a whole everyone he loved them family. Dad raised my two and even sang a few oldies brothers and me the same with me, while smiling. way and, although he was He passed a few days later a busy School Superintenwith by my step mom and dent, always made time two brothers beside him. for us enjoying the wilds He was an amazing son, of Maine. He taught us husband, brother, father, outdoor safety and ethics

ways said hunting and fishing with family is the most enjoyable. Brother Al took Dad to the range often and handled most of his gunsmithing needs. Brother Dave took him fly fishing to trophy brook trout and salmon waters every spring and guided him on many deer hunts. Uncle Craig took Dad on his last deer hunt last fall and guided he and my brothers on his last bass fishing trip in August.

A great joy for me was teaching him to bow hunt, bear hunt and turkey hunt.

I called in all but one of his gobblers, guided him to all but one of his bears and his last buck when he was 81 yrs old after retiring as the oldest School Superintendent in Maine.

Dad was especially proud of the 300 lb boar he arrowed in the late 90s

trapped a large boar raising havoc and transported him far northern Washington County with two green ear tags inserted before release. In September, the same bear found his way back over 60 miles to the same property. Just before dark,the big boar walked

killing shot. He said when he released the arrow, the big boar reared up and roared then ran straight away from him. He was confident he had made a lethal shot but did not hear a death moan.

That night my friend (Dad cont. pg 41)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 38

Mythical Creatures of Maine

Northwoods Sketchbook

by Mark McCollough, Hampden, ME Jet-black darkness and a fearsome January wind slithered through the cracks in the logging camp.

Wool socks and leather chopper mittens steamed by the pot-bellied stove.

Their acrid stench mingled with the belches and farts from yet another meal of

to the cedah swamp. One nearly took off his head with a limb.” “Nah, twas nuthin’ compared to the Tote Road Shagamaw that snuck up’n me on the beech ridge. He stolen’ my chopper mitts settin’ on the stump.” “In the gloamin’ Perley saw two landlocked

December 2021

ruses barked and groaned in the night.

Tales of mythical creatures living in Maine’s dark forests were familiar to Chris Packard, a high school teacher at Bangor High School. He is a descendant from the famed Packard’s Camps of Willimantic. As a lad, he was sent on fool’s errands to

The bullcook roared, “You tenderfoots from Bangor fetch me pails o’ water…and don’t mind the tree squeeks!” pork and beans. Kerosene lanterns flickered dimly at either end of the lowroofed cabin. Loggers reclined the deacon seat and buckboard bunks. Some shivered in flea-ridden crazy-quilt blankets while others reflectively smoked their corncob pipes.

Stories were spun about the day’s logging.

“Maynard sez he ran into a troop o’ agropelters down

walruses down to the edge of the lake ice.”

The bullcook roared, “You tenderfoots from Bangor fetch me pails o’ water…and don’t mind the tree squeeks!” As wind moaned through the pines, the two wide-eyed teens stumbled to the lake peering into every inky shadow and discerning every creak and groan coming from the lumber woods. The wal-

chase sidehill gougers, peltin thumpers, wedge-ledge chompers, freshwater tree squeeks, and the occasional will-o-the-wisp.

Chris caught glimpses of some of these beasts during his youth. Later in life he employed his skills as a biology teacher and history sleuth to track each critter down and write us a field guide, of sorts, to help identify some of these

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imperiled species. His book comes just in time before these fantastical members of our fauna and folklore were forgotten. Chris provides plenty of fodder should we want to spin some yarns for the next generations of Mainers.

Mythological Creatures of Maine is Chris’ new book (Island Press/Amazon $26.95; 187 pages).

In writing this tome, Chris intends “to save them all and to bring them back if I can.”

Some of these creatures are very much alive today in Northwoods hunting camps, tales told around the Scout’s campfire, and around the wood stoves

in St. Francis, Maine.

Paul Bunyan wasn’t the only tall tale to come from the Maine w o o d s .

Many of these mythical creatures were brought here by our English and French forebearers and the Wabanaki nations before them.

Some were born of fear, others of humor, and some created out of unexplained phenomenon in the lumberwoods. They are as real today to a wide-eyed Scout on an Allagash canoe trip as they were to a wet-behind-the-ears lumber boy from Bangor a century ago.

Consider one of my daughter’s favorites, the snow snake. Chris describes how they are active in winter and hibernate in summer. Their white camouflage hides them from their prey (partridges and snowshoe hares). They are rarely seen, but have been known to pop up from under the covers on a January night (a white sock on (Mythical cont. pg 39)

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December 2021

Northwoods Sporting Journal

A Lynx Fight

G. W. G of Dover, N. H. wrote this exciting story after hearing it told by his friend’s brother, James Berry. It was published in Shooting and Fishing magazine on October 1, 1896.

A few years ago in October, “with two guides and plenty of provisions,” the two Berry brothers camped about forty miles north of Greenville for about four weeks. They saw little at first, but a week later, as they were pursuing a wounded deer through the woods, they suddenly ran across a dead caribou and found a large bear preparing to make a feast of it.

Before they could raise a weapon he made good his escape.

The ambition of Berry’s brother James was to shoot a bear, and he silently made a rash resolve. It was to come the next afternoon.

“Well, I shall wait no longer,” he muttered.

“I don’t believe there is a bear within ten miles.”

Yet he lingered, and even as he was removing the buck loaded shells from his gun, his ear caught the sound of a light footfall

Mythical

has possession of the only preserved specimen. He was once given three dead Tree Squeeks by a Micmac friend. The wind blew them from their home tree and they starved to death on the ground.

Some of the fearsome creatures would still put “the fear o’ God” into a grown man. One such giant is the Wedge-Ledge Chomper. You’ve seen signs on them on the flanks of Katahdin or Tumbledown Mountain. These fearsome beasts carve gouges into rock ledges with a bulldozer of a mouth. Their foraging activity leaves tiers or steps in the side of the mountain. They eat rocks, but no one knows what nutrition they gain from Maine granite. A population still occurs on the west

(Cont. from pg 38) your hand works well!).

Their tracks and burrows are frequently seen along the edge of frozen lakes frequented by ice fishermen. (Chris explains how “smaller snakes often leave yellow holes and tracks in the snow.”)

Another one of my favorites is the Tree Squeak.

I’ve heard them many times high on the ridge when closing out a day of deer hunting. Few have ever seen one of these canopy-dwellers. Once I got a quick glimpse of a real one at the Eastern Maine Sportsmen’s Show. Jack Dudley of the AlexanderCrawford Historical Society in Washington County

Page 39

Old Tales from the Maine Woods

over the trunk of the tree and beheld a large gray animal, whose short tail and

by Steve Pinkham tasseled ears proclaimed it Quincy, MA to be a loup-cervier. James had never seen one before, the young nimrod in a man- was Berry by the scrimand for some time forgot ner suggestive of business. mage that he did not reach that he held a loaded gun Not having time to camp until late, and even in his hand. But once alive fire, James clubbed his then nearly lost his way. gun and stock wildly at the The next day my friend reCautiously he peeped over the trunk lynx, hitting him squarely turned with him and togethin the head and laying it er they brought home the of the tree and beheld a large gray out. The lynx was up again lynx. That which surprised animal, whose short tail and tasseled ears proclaimed it to be a loup-cervier. in a jiffy and revenged them the most, was that James’ blow by ripping the only wound of more not far off. He knew it was to this fact he prepared to open his trousers legs in a than skin depth was that too light a step to be that act accordingly. The lynx’s lively manner. Berry knew inflicted by the revolver of a bear, but he quickly left side was turned toward his life was now depended bullet, the charge of shot replaced the heavy shot him, and as the animal was on the way in which he kept doing no damage beyond shells, and cocking both not over 25 yards distant, it at a distance, and once tearing the skin a little on barrels, waited. The sound he felt sure of his game. His more brought the stock of the top of the head. “Not came nearer until he could hand was none too steady his gun on the beasts head. enough to make any but a hear the creature, whatever as he raised his Parker to It was a lucky hit, for it mighty ugly one fight, as it was, scratching around shooting position and took stunned the loup-cervier one of the guides said. the meat. When he heard a long aim at the beasts fore to such an extent it enabled Steve is an avid hiker, the crunching of its jaws shoulder. At the report the James to draw a large revolver which he carried in paddler and historian, havas it began to sample the Lynx fell, and thinking it same he could stand it no dead, James made toward his pocket and settle things ing collected over 26,000 Maine Woods articles to longer; he must have a it. With a yell Berry never by shooting the animal.

So much exhausted date. look. Cautiously he peeped forgot, the beast sprang at end of Sebec Lake. They are shy and hard to find, freezing motionless like a rock until hikers pass by.

Chris Packard describes a host of other beasts – the Dungavenhooter, Dingmaul, Kaput bird, Lunksoos, Pamola, Side-hill Gouger, and Wamfahoofus – many of which have been known to the Packard clan for at least a century. Some think that many have gone extinct, but not Chris. A few species went with the Maine loggers to Minnesota and points further west. Like the legendary Youmistit, many are shy and elusive denizens of the North Maine Woods.

Chris and I think they are still there. One simply has to spend more time in the deep woods. Get lost at

night, look for them out of the corner of your eye, and listen for them with hands cupped to your ears.

Mark McCollough

once had a dream about a Will-Am-Alone while hunting in Hampden, Maine.

He can be contacted at markmccollough25@ gmail.com

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

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Page 40

Northwoods Sporting Journal

What's In Your Woods

After The Rut

by Bud Utecht, T4 Indian Purchase Township We have all read and studied the rut. We fully understand what’s and why’s; but what happens after the rut? True, we clean and put away our guns, continue to tell the stories and get ready for our next hobby.

chasing cows in December than deer. Sometimes I have seen three bulls bred. I have many series of hanging around a cow and pictures of bucks chasing showing off, “like males their female companions sometimes do” and they around an area well after tend to be younger bulls.

When I see a mature bull the breeding cycle.

We know that the breeding of deer in our area occurs in mid November

lers drop so does all rut activity as far as I can tell.

Now all that matters is survival which will be no easy feat after losing so much body weight during the rut. Higher mortality among males is actually

December 2021

are checking the females more frequently and ranging into territory that they are unfamiliar with. One thing I can also tell you is that wherever this happens, it will happen in the same place year after year. All

We know that the breeding of deer in our area occurs in mid November and if a doe is not bred she will come back into heat 28 days later. So why are bucks still chasing in early December and beyond?

The deer go into hibernation until next hunting season where we start all over.

Got a little carried away there. After breeding, the does should want nothing to do with the bucks and the whole rut should just end. With no does in estrus the bucks should stop chasing, correct? Well it’s not exactly like that. The bucks don’t realize those little facts and would certainly like to keep the rut going. The bucks will continue to search for unbred females and even chase the ones that were

and if a doe is not bred she will come back into heat 28 days later. So why are bucks still chasing in early December and beyond?

The bucks need to stay in the rut in order to be ready for any deer that was not bred during the first cycle and this means they are still going to chase does around and enlarge their territory looking for missed opportunities.

The moose will be doing the same thing and though their rut is much earlier, I have more pictures of them sparing and

Most of the fight I see is sparing which is a lot of pushing and rattling and not all out fighting in the later months but I have seen some battles in December as well. (Photo by Bud Utecht) with a cow he is either alone or posturing against another large bull. Most of the fight I see is sparing which is a lot of pushing and rattling and not all out fighting in the later months but I have seen some battles in December as well.

Now once the ant-

GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOT! At camp, this guy and his gundog - after a morning of chasing pa’tridge - found a comfy place to spend some time with their favorite read, the Northwoods Sporting Journal.

Where do you read your copy of the Sporting Journal? At camp, in the boat, at the ice shack? We’d love to see a photo of you with your copy of the Journal at an unusual place. If we like it, we will publish it in the Journal. If we select your best shot for publication, we’ll send you an exclusive Sporting Journal hat created just for the occasion. Send your Jpeg photo and a short blurb to vpaulr@tds.net. Please include your contact information, too. www.sportingjournal.com

good for both the deer and moose herd. There will be less competition for food and lower chance for inbreeding. If a male is dominant too long there is a chance that he will breed his offspring which most of us realize is not genetically good for the herd.

So for moose hunters this has no bearing but for the deer hunter using a late season muzzleloader it’s huge. The bucks in many cases get dumber than they did the first cycle. They

you have to do is find the place and be diligent.

Bud Utecht is a Register Maine Guide, sporting camp owner, Browning trail camera dealer, and consultant. His trail cameras are strategically placed throughout the Maine Woods. Feel free to email Bud for trail camera tips or to discuss what’s in your woods. bud@whatsinyourwoods.com

Bud Utecht Registered Maine Guide

Trail Camera Consultant (207) 404-1442

bud@whatsinyourwoods.com

December 2021

Dad

(Cont. from pg 37) Steve had also arrowed a big boar and we helped him find and drag that 320lb bear, then went to look for Dad’s bear. There was very little blood and a cool thick fog had rolled in, so after searching for an hour we decided to go back at dawn with more help. The next morning, I found the big bruin about 150 yds from the bait in thick jack firs. Dad’s arrow had passed almost the full length of the bear passing though most vitals and lodging in the neck. It took four of us an hour to drag him out and get loaded in my pickup. At the tagging station, Dad was thrilled to see the certified scales read 300 lbs but Steve’s boar beat him by 20 lbs. Steve and Dad’s boars received the 1st and 2nd largest Maine Bear Archery awards at the Maine Bowhunters Association Banquet the following spring. Dad and I would often go in his den and admire the beautiful half mount of the bear. He would say that it was the pinnacle of his bow hunting career. I now have that mount on my dining room wall to admire and think of Dad and all of our outdoor adventures together.

Brian is a Retired Maine State Police Detective and NRA Field Representative. He is a Life Member of the Maine Bowhunters Association and 1st Director at Large. He was as chosen MBA Bowhunter of the Year in 2005 and 2008. He is a Life Member of the NRA longtime member of Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine and serves on the SAM-ILA Board.

He can be reached at bowhunter@mgemaine.com

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Tying

(Cont. from pg 24) Tennessee and improving his techniques under his father’s direction, he writes about them as he goes along. Babb’s analogies to different situations are extremely innovative.

He begins with the basics using original equipment that was available back in the 1950’s which I started with and still use, i.e., a nine foot, rather stiff action Montague Rapidan fly rod, and a model 1496 1/2 Pflueger Medalist fly reel loaded with a Gladdings Aerospace fly line. Among the first fly fishing manuals available at that time were Herter’s catalogue, Noll’s Guide to Trout Flies and Ray Bergman’s classic “Trout.” Chapters of Crosscurrents include extensive backgrounds of the places he has fished, many with which I am familiar. Other sections depict his progression as a fly fisher beginning with the wet fly for brook trout in the 1950s to casting for Atlantic Salmon on Scotland’s famous rivers, the Spey, Dee, Tweed and Tay and many experiences in between; Midway Island fishing for a world record giant trevally, Narragansett Bay, Block Island Sound and Martha’s Vineyard for bonito and false albacore, Cabo San Lucas for dorado, Great Bear Lake for Arctic grayling and northern pike, Miramichi River for Atlantic salmon, Tellico River in East Tennessee for trout as well as numerous other locales. Additionally, he has touched just about every facet of fly fishing including use of waders, wading staffs, strike indicators, fly casting, use of Spey rods and more.

Page 41

Crosscurrents brought back special memories, much like Yogi’s “dejavu all over again.”

For me it was a great read.

Joe has enjoyed fly fishing for over 65 years.

His book, Fundamentals of Fly Fishing, is now available. He can be reached at: brewerberts@aol.com

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

Career Choices: Follow the Heart

As I look back on my life from the perspective of being more than mid-way through my eighth decade, I sometimes think about how satisfied I am with the things I have tried and the ones I feel were most successful. I went into the military right out of college and thought about making it a career. After six years I decided it wasn’t just right for me, so I resigned.

Next I joined in my families greenhouse business.

I liked doing it up until my father died. Shortly after his death I realized it wasn’t the business I liked, but instead I enjoyed working with him. From there I went on to accept a teaching job at the vocational center in Skowhegan.

This is where my satisfying career began.

Searching for meaningful, and interesting, projects for my students I was introduced to strip canoe building by another instructor.

He gave me an old Popular Science magazine that had an article about strip canoe building. My class and I

built a strip canoe from that magazine article and unknowingly launched a whole new career for me that meshed perfectly with my job of teaching vocational students. Writing!

As we worked away at future strip canoes I took notes and photographs of the process with the idea

put these notes into a more readable format so I asked our vocational secretary if she could type them up for me. She did and along the line she commented something to the effect of, “you should write a book”.

I didn’t take the suggestion too seriously at the time, but that summer my

Northwoods Voyager

by Gil Gilpatrick, Brunswick, ME

when he called, but I took the contact opportunity to submit the two books for publication. Thus was born Building A Strip Canoe and Building Snowshoes and Snowshoe Furniture.

Why did I tell this rather long, although con-

The reason is that I have often watched young people worrying about their career choice. I tell them it is not disastrous to make some wrong choices. I was about 10 years finding my way to a satisfying career. that these notes and pictures would help me teach about strip canoe building to future classes. I was encouraged to do this because there was obviously a lot of interest in the canoes.

At the time I had never thought about writing to be published, I just wanted notes to help students build canoes.

One of our other popular projects was snowshoe building. In working through that process I made notes and photos much the same as for the canoes. I soon realized that I had to

guiding business was slow as I was just getting it off the ground. This resulted in my sitting down with a portable typewriter and putting together a building snowshoe book and a strip canoe book. The next problem was getting them published. Then as if fate knew about my publisher problem I got a call from David DeLorme. DeLorme is a name that is familiar to most Maine outdoorsmen because of their famous and popular Maine Atlas & Gazetteer. I can’t remember what it was he wanted

SEND US YOUR CLASSIFIEDS! LET US HELP YOU SELL YOUR THINGS! Call 207-732-4880 * E-mail: info@sportingjournal.com

Page 43

densed, story? The reason is that I have often watched young people worrying about their career choice.

I tell them it is not disastrous to make some wrong choices. I was about 10 years finding my way to a satisfying career. So, simply said, don’t worry about not finding the right thing right away. It will come along when the time is right for you. My father, who supported a family during the great depression and World War II, always said: “Take any job you can get

while you look for something better”. My advice to my vocational students was, find something you like then find a way to make money at it.

So that is my advice to youngsters who worry about what to do with their life. Just let it happen!

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

A Great Time for Game

Cookin’ With New England’s WildCheff

to hunt.

For a hunter who loves to hunt, it is always a great time for game.

It is particularly special when you can enjoy wild game when you are in a hunt camp. It is how a hunter breaks bread with his brethren.

As the week progressed, we certainly found key areas that screamed moose, but experienced no sightings. We put the work in, attempted calling and turned over every rock in

by Denny Corriveau, Kennebunkport, ME

Fall. My favorite time of year. It’s when all those pent-up dreams over the past year can now become a reality.

I always do my best to manage the wild game I have in the freezer so it can be enjoyed throughout the year leading up to the next hunting season.

December 2021

A week of exploring and discovery brought us to the woodlands where moose thrive. Many miles of creeping at a snail’s pace past clear cuts, meadows and swamps we surveyed, hoping to catch just a glimpse of a set of horns.

Each morning we would leave camp in the

These wild turkey kabobs will have you coming back for more.

(Photo by Denny Corriveau)

A week of exploring and discovery brought us to the woodlands where moose thrive. Many miles of creeping at a snail’s pace past clear cuts, meadows and swamps we surveyed, hoping to catch just a glimpse of a set of horns.

The key is in how you portion your game and of course, the method on how you wrap and freeze it. My first choice will always be a vacuum sealer. Eliminating air ensures that freezer burn will not get the best of your meat. If you don’t own one, I would highly recommend investing in one.

Recently I went on a September bull hunt for moose in one of the Northern Zones. A close friend of mine was fortunate to get a tag and we embarked on a week that will always be treasured in my hunting memory bank.

dark filled with positive expectancy that our destination will bring us to a bull’s destiny. When we returned each evening, we discussed how we were one step closer to closing the deal. Changing up the strategy and mapping our next location, we continued our effort to find an elusive bull to fill Warren’s tag.

I fired up a pan and cooked a different game dinner every night, celebrating our love of game with moose, bear, and wild turkey, all enjoyed with the intent of keeping us focused on why we live

their bedroom, living room and kitchen.

Sometimes that is just how it goes. If you truly love hunting, you somehow always find joy and exhilaration no matter the outcome. You don’t look at the situation as you understand that just around the corner everything can change at any moment in your favor.

This is what drives us internally. It is the hope and expectation that defines our outdoor experience.

The time we spend together with family and friends in the outdoors is

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There is nothing like the break of day in the moose woods. something you treasure mist, these are all part of and hold dear. The outdoor the experience. environment is one of the The last day we huntmost special places you ed, we spent the sunrise at a spot that had numerous bull will ever discover.

H e a r i n g l o g g i n g sightings to include bulls equipment running in the sparring, but there was no distance as you wait for a action that morning. We bull to step out first thing then drove to another cut in the morning, exploring that was supposed to have a new cutting that is loaded a big bull frequenting it. As with fresh moose tracks we turned onto the road we as you scan the cut for a could see the cutting on our glimpse of dark fur, driv- left and two vehicles had ing a dirt road and com- arrived before us. As we ing across a flooded road drove past them it was apwhere a beaver blocked the parent that they beat us to culvert, watching the fog the spot and had harvested lift with the hope of a bull a small bull that was stand(Game cont. pg 45) moose standing behind the

Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

Game

(Cont. from pg 44) ing in the cutting.

We continued up the road to find a new spot and attempted to call in a bull where an old cut had grown into wild grass. Fresh tracks were abundant.

After no action we exited and had to drive by the first cutting where the other hunting party had loaded their prize onto their trailer.

While congratulating the other party they mentioned that they never intended to turn onto this road and that it was just by chance they turned onto the road 40 minutes prior to our arrival and shot their moose.

While that was not the outcome we had hoped for I will forever be grateful that we were able to have this moment in time together in the Great Maine

Page 45

Woods!

Culinary Institute. As a house Blend, Roasted Gar- through.

Serve with mashed Wild Game Evangelist and Here is a recipe from lic Powder, sea salt and potatoes and your favorite trendsetter for wild game our week at Camp. Enjoy! pepper.

- Denny is a nationally Place meat and veg- salad.

Wild Turkey Kabobs gies onto metal skewers, recognized for his “best WildCheff Denny Ingredients practice” methodology and then put onto a sheep Corriveau is Award-Win- regarding the culinary side 1 wild turkey breast, pan. sliced and cubed Cook skewers on hot ning Celebrity Game Chef, of wild game. You can learn 1 sweet onion, peeled grill, rotating them until; all TenPoint Crossbow’s Na- more @ www.wildcheff. and large diced sides are brown, and meat tional Game Chef, and the com or visit him on Insta1 large orange bell and veggies are cooked Founder of the Free-Range gram @ thewildcheff pepper, large diced 1 zucchini, quartered and thick-sliced WildCheff Maplehouse Blend seasoning WildCheff Roasted Garlic Powder olive oil

by Homer Spit Sea salt and pepper, to taste Directions

By Homer Spit Preheat outdoor grill on high heat.

The Wild West had its collection of fast guns that are part of legend: Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Place wild turkey and and Pat Garrett to name a few. What about back East where lobsters, caulk-booted loggers and rugged coastline comprise our lore more than lean, steelyveggies into large bowl. eyed hombres with Hog Legs on their hips?

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off our rocky coast, he wound up as a teenager in Rangeley working as a bellhop and a part time fishing guide.

His name was William “Billy” Hill. He loved to hunt and shoot guns. As a boy on the island, he was known for his ability to consistently down eider ducks on the wing with a .22! Although, he did shoot his toe off while hunting rabbits, as a youngster, the experience never slowed him down or dampened his interest in guns and marksmanship.

According to Rangeley historian Bill Pierce, Annie Oakley, the iconic competitive shooter, who had no peers when it came to precision marksmanship, showed up at, of all places, the Rangeley Lake House on a holiday from one of her many world tours with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Shows.

Oakley was 33 years old at the time and had never once lost a shooting challenge’ Billy, who had his own local rep as quite a shooter, was offered up by his friends in a challenge match with Oakley. Billy was actually horrified when he found out what his friends had done.

Oakley agreed to the joust.The object was to see who could put a bullet through the most number of glass target balls, the most popular shotgun target of the day. They alternated by attempting to break 20 target balls per shooter at a time with a .22 rifle. All in all there was to be 100 toss ups.

According to Pierce, Hill went first and nervously missed his third shot. Annie would go on to break an impressive 88 out of a hundred targets. Billy, however, never missed again busting 99 out of 100, thus becoming the first person to ever best the Great Annie Oakley in a shooting contest.

Surely the onlookers in Rangeley were as surprised as Oakley must have been. Heck, the humble Billy himself may have been just as surprised as anyone. However, Annie then graciously sent a telegram from the hotel to her chief sponsor Remington Arms urging the President “to get to Rangeley and hire this kid.” He did and Billy would retire from Remington as one of their most celebrated shooting exhibitionists and instructors some 42 years later.

You can’t help but like Annie Oakley who was born and raised in rural Ohio as Phoebe Ann Mosey. Barely over 5 feet tall, she learned to shoot at a young age hunting squirrels and rabbits to help feed her impoverished family. At 15 years old she pulled a Billy Hill on a well known fast gun named Frank Butler and out shot him in a local contest. He was so impressed he eventually married Annie and, from all reports, they had a good marriage.

Wouldn’t you liked to have seen her in action? She drilled dimes in the air at 90 feet. Aside from her Marlin .22, her other favorite gun was a Parker 12 gauge side by side. In 2012, that gun sold in an auction for $143,000.00! She taught thousands of other women to shoot competitively.

Once in Germany, she shot the ash off the end of a cigarette between the lips of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Later during the war, she contacted the Kaiser and offered to try the trick again.

The Kaiser demurred.

You can learn more about Maine’s fastest gun at the Outdoor Heritage Museum in Oquossoc, north of Rangeley. When you visit just ask the curator, Bill Pierce, to tell you about Billy Hill.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 46

SAM News

by David Trahan, “Executive Director” In early October, I received an e-mail invitation from the Maine Farm Bureau, (since realized their mistake and separated themselves) to join a call with their special guest, Wayne Pacelle, to strategize opposition to Question 3, the Right to Food

States (HSUS) when we fought the last Bear Referendum and under allegations of wrong doing, was forced to resign his job at HSUS. Like a bad penny, he is back, and the organization he represents has a new name, the Animal Wellness Action, (AWA)

With the Passage of Referendum Question 3, the Right to Hunt and Fish is now a Constitutional Right. The New Right Establishes Reasonable Boundaries to Protect us from Animal Rights Activists. proposal on the ballot this fall. For those who know the name Wayne Pacelle, you can imagine my surprise to see his name on any political effort in Maine.

Wayne Pacelle is the most radical anti-hunting/ anti-animal farming activist in America. He was the Director of the Humane Society of the United

and most people will never know he and AWA funded the lion’s share of the “No on 3” opposition to the “Right to Food” amendment.

Here is the wording of the amendment: “Section 25. Right to Food. All individuals have a natural, inherent and unalienable right to food, including the

December 2021

Question Three: Historic For Sportsmen.

right to save and exchange seeds and the right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing for their own nourishment,

The key word for sportsmen and women in the new amendment, is “Harvest.” Animal rights groups know the word harvest-it is defined in Maine law several times to mean various types of hunting, fishing and foraging- and with passage of Question 3 could spell disaster for their animal rights cause.

They are correct to be concerned.

In testimony presented to the Maine’s new right-to-food Agriculture, referendum is groundbreaking law Conservation that expands the right of and Forestry sportsmen to harvest game. on behalf of (Photo by V. Paul Reynolds) the Humane sustenance, bodily health Society of the United and well-being, as long States, on 2/23/2021 on the as an individual does not Resolution passed Novemcommit trespassing, theft, ber 2, Katie Hansberry said, poaching or other abuses “the term “harvest” is freof private property rights, quently used to describe the public lands or natural re- killing of wildlife through sources in the harvesting, regulated hunting. Putting production or acquisition a right to hunt in Maine’s of food.”

Constitution, something

that has been attempted and failed several times, is unnecessary”. The group “Animal Rights Maine” was very clear in their testimony, quote, “codifying hunting, farming, and fishing rights in our Constitution would render all future efforts to improve our relevant state laws a Constitutional matter, with much higher thresholds to meet to pass improvements in law”. Exactly! Animal rights activists will find it far more difficult to push their extreme agendas in Maine.

The sponsor of the amendment, Rep. Faulkingham, reinforced the fact that “harvest” meant hunting and fishing in his floor speech in the House of Representatives and furthermore, because the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee and the Maine Legislature rejected the oppositions arguments and pleas to remove any reference to “harvest” and other related hunting and fishing words like, trespassing, poaching, natural resources and harvesting, the legal consequences are now profound.

The animal rights activists knew if Maine people approved Question 3 language and placed it in the Maine Constitution, it would establish legislative intent and legal standing for a lawsuit in the future to reject or overturn a future HSUS-backed law or a referendum to ban a certain type of hunting, etc.

While Mainers were consumed by the CMP corridor issue, also on (Question cont. pg 59)

Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

Page 47

Hunting with COVID

The week of October third year 2021 was hectic.

On Tuesday of that week my employer conducted an emergency meeting to inform everyone that one of our fellow employees had COVID-19 and the plant will be shut down until further notice. We were all encouraged to go get a COVID-19 test and to

I had to isolate myself for ten days starting from the date I got my test results. Needless to say I had a lot of time to hunt! In my opinion it was the best way for me to prevent infecting anyone else.

My wife did bring to my attention that in the event I did harvest a deer I might put people at the

I had to isolate myself for ten days starting from the date I got my test results. Needless to say I had a lot of time to hunt! In my opinion it was the best way for me to prevent infecting anyone else. send in proof of results. My employer also asked for photo copies of vaccination cards from those who were already vaccinated.

Craziness! To say the least!

All in all, about six or seven of us from my place of employment tested positive for COVID-19, including yours truly.

My wife, Denise and my son, Bryson both tested negative. They were always asymptomatic throughout my quarantine. Very good!

Now what do I do to keep my family safe from this mess? I thought to myself.

GO BOWHUNTING FOR DEER! I mean, I was out of work for two whole weeks right in the middle of Maine’s regular archery season.

deer inspection station at risk. That might be why I passed up a big old doe at nineteen yards. Later on I missed one of my shooter bucks at thirty yards. The arrow sailed several inches over the bucks back.

Was this God’s way of keeping an infected individual from going around spreading the virus? I also thought maybe it was merely my “Buck Fever”, surging adrenaline and the shakes that caused the clean miss? I suppose that all depends on my personal beliefs and superstitions.

Surprisingly enough the only symptoms I ever got was losing my sense of taste and smell. Only one day did I get really hot and start to have some sort of heat flashes. I may have

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had one slight headache.

With the cat out of the bag now, let’s go hunting!

It was Friday October fourteenth about four days into my quarantine when these deer hunting experiences started. I had been playing a cat and mouse game with these bucks on the property I hunt five minute drive from my house.

On my walk from my hunting blind down in the woods several hundred yards off the food plot I had jump scared the tall wide eight point buck out of the white clover food plot.

Another instance on October fifteenth I was sitting behind my Ghost Blind up on the edge of the food plot and my trail camera in front of the blind down in the woods captured this nice eight point buck walking eight yards in front of that blind. Heart wrenching to say the least!

Well, finally on Saturday October sixteenth I got an opportunity that any Maine bow hunter dreams about. Minus the COVID-19 virus. On this day rain was falling lightly

On The Prowl

by Justin Merrill, Cherryfield, ME all morning. I saw no deer out of my blind down in the woods. It was high noon when I started heading to the truck. Knowing that deer are always feeding in the food plot mid-day I couldn’t just walk briskly through the woods risking spooking deer. I went into stealth mode stalking that food plot keeping a sharp eye out for deer. I slowly peered around the bend down the straight of way to the edge of the clover food plot. There he was with head buried in the grasses and clover. The buck never saw me. I quickly took my bow sling off, set it on the ground and nocked an arrow. I proceeded to stalk that buck. Taking careful steps not to make any noise.

Thank goodness for the wet ground! I crept to within thirty yards of the feeding tall wide eight point buck.

I do recall hearing another deer to my left coming to alert when I drew my arrow back to take aim. It got the

buck’s attention and he lifted his head to look my way.

Ready to bolt any second, I had to lower my thirty pin onto the buck’s chest.

I released the arrow once the sight pin rested on it’s mark midway right behind the front leg. The buck immediately crouched and wheeled around to flee the scene. My heart sank as my arrow sailed clear over that buck’s back. He ran off a distance then began to sound the alarm snort as he kept slamming his front hoof down.

Just like that my COVID-19 deer hunt was over. Sick to my stomach, not because of the virus, but for missing that brute of a buck. I never went back out that afternoon. I decided to mourn my loss until Monday.

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Page 48

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Kineo Currents

by Suzanne AuClair, Rockwood, ME

I live in a remote place. Most of where we live is Unorganized Territory, great swaths of private land that has been used for over 200 years for forestry, with thousands of acres of interconnected waterways, from the St. John River system to the West Branch of the Penobscot River systems, the beginning of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, and the oceanic Moosehead Lake, a 74,890 acre basin surrounded by mountains, left over from the glacial age 10,000 to 15,000 years ago, where the supporting two main tributaries of the Moose River and the Roach River and ponds, run to, and where the headwater of the great Kennebec River begins, here at the East Outlet, flowing through many cities down to southern Maine, emptying into

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Merrymeeting Bay. This is the land of the moose and of the wild brook trout, the Arctic charr, the black bear, the eagle, and the Canada lynx.

It is a place of the northern lights, and of the Milky Way, shimmering against

of your own body heat.

In the summer there are secret places still spongy wet, where if you lift up a piece of moss, there’s a dark underworld made of icy, crystal clear pools of water teeming with tiny trout, and when they are exposed to the light of day they are not used to, dart in every crazy direction for a place to hide. It is a place of a prevailing North wind

That is why Not In My Back Yard, aka NIMBY is not a bad word. the blackest black of the night because, outside of Greenville, there is hardly a street lamp to siphon off the showy arc in the midnight sky. It is a place of haunting names like Seboomook, Socatean, and Chesuncook; Misery Gore, Kineo, and Kokadjo.

It is a place so brutal in the winter that it cuts your breath like a steel sheer and forms a forcefield of bone-aching chill that you can feel hovering around your snowsuit, looking for a way to seep in, to take up every particle

that blows fresh air every month of the year into practically every place on the lake. Moosehead is a place that makes you know you are alive, and well. It offers a love affair of epic proportion that needs no explaining because anyone and everyone who lives here or ever comes here knows it. That is why Not In My Back Yard, aka NIMBY is not a bad word.

For many years I have been thinking about what it means for the Moosehead Lake region to become overly developed, with

Greenville

NIMBY

many different kinds of services fanning beyond Greenville, paved roads, lights, fluttering tourist flags, signs, stores, hotels, galleries, and other amenities that we find in most every other place.

The value of spreading that commercial flotsam into the Unorganized Territories pales in comparison to what is being offered already. No matter how many government bureaus, private consultants, or non-profit organizations conduct surveys looking for what people want, the results, year after year, turn out the same. People like the Maine woods for what it is now. More than that, they thrive coming here. Travelers value exactly what they can’t see somewhere else, what they can only experience here.

Survey after survey reveals the same exact answer. It’s well tested.

Often, Not In My Backyard is treated like a bad word. But that’s an easy cop-out. Lately, I’ve been reading about it across Maine. I’ve been questioning if NIMBY is selfish. I’ve come to realize that, no, it’s not selfish at

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all. Mainers, and visitors, know what they have. It’s an innate sense of place that tells you when you are in a soul-thriving place, and when the line is about to be crossed. It’s why residents of Southwest Harbor want a moratorium on cruise ships. It’s what bass anglers hail about in western Maine. It’s what Belfast residents tell their leaders mid-coast. It’s what Mainers are telling Central Maine Power. It’s what travelers to Moosehead’s epic landscape go gaga about.

Some years ago the Bangor Daily News ran a photo from Vermont. I can’t help but think the editor was giving readers some food for thought.

It showed an old fellow fishing, sitting under a sign. The sign said “Beauty Spot.” Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure I know when I’m in a pretty place. I don’t need a big sign to tell me so. I’m pretty certain that old man knew where he was. And, from what I hear, tourists know it too.

This column was written three years ago, but is relevant today because Moosehead’s Unorganized Territories are undergoing zoning review/change.

What it is zoned for will have great effect on the traditions of the area for future generations, one way or the other. Suzanne AuClair lives near Rockwood. She has been writing about the Moosehead Lake region for the past 27 years and produced “The Origins, Formation & History of Maine’s Inland Fisheries Division”.

December 2021

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 49

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PROXFISHING.com God Bless and Best Bassin Billy “Hawkeye” Decoteau is an outdoor journalist with a strong passion for pursuing the Black Bass. His activities include; emceeing The Bass University weekend educational seminar programs, as well as emceeing benefit tournaments such as Maine’s Annual May Special Olympics Team Tournament, Fishing For Freedom, and working with the USO.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 50

Vermont Ramblings

by Dennis Jensen, Vermont Sticking it out can pay off in the deer woods.

If you must bring one big thing into the deer woods, it is this: Do not give up.

Just a few years ago,

deer but all were either out of range or did not present a good, killing shot.

On the ninth and last day, I was a bit down. I knew that I had tagged a deer every year, either

The Deer Hunter’s Mantra

from the big ridge to my left. A big doe comes into view. I pulled up, found the deer in my scope and belted out a buck grunt. She came to a complete stop. I centered the cross hairs just behind her shoulder and

ways blocks the view and, by the time the smoke begins to clear away, either you have a deer, down in the leaves, or you have to find a blood trail, at once. I thought the shot went down with a large pine tree right

But over the years, taking all of those things into consideration, staying focused and not giving up are two other aspects that can go a long way in the deer woods.

I was having a tough time in my pursuit of dragging a good deer from the woods.

A badly-torn rotator cuff injury ruled out any chance of tagging a deer during the archery season. Rifle season came, I hunted 15 out of the 16-day season and all I ever saw was about eight or nine does.

The smoke pole season rolled around and I was determined to tag at least a good-sized doe. Still, the woods went quiet and despite having hunted in three key locations, I saw a few

in Maine or New York or in Vermont, since 1988.

It looked very likely that my long streak of putting venison in the freezer was coming to an end.

On that last morning, I sat in a good ground blind, eyes peeled and as alert as could be. Seven a.m., 8 a.m. came and went. I had to be out of the woods by noon and was now at a low point, in terms of what had transpired over the past couple of months.

Just around 9 a.m. I spot movement, coming

December 2021

A good buck, shot by the author during the muzzle loader season, was taken just inside a cedar swamp in New York.

(Photo by Dennis Jensen) touched off a shot.

And here is the thing about hunting with the muzzle loader. I always keep a close watch on how a deer behaves when I shoot with my rifle. If the deer hunches up, violently, you can almost be certain that you have delivered a killing shot.

But that darn, huge puff of smoke almost al-

behind my target. I went to that place. No hair; no blood. What the heck? I went up the hill, confused.

Still no blood. I looked up at a spot where, two years earlier, I had put up a popup blind. Then I saw her, on her side, stone dead.

Later, after I gutted out and tagged my doe, I went back and discovered that I had placed the

location of my shot at the wrong pine tree. Just a little higher, I found where a large collection of hair was stuck to a pine and, a few feet away, a large chunk of lung was on the ground.

A n y w a y, I h a d punched my tag, my first deer of the year, with only three hours left to hunt. I looked over the doe, which dressed out at 128 pounds, counted my blessings and commenced to drag the deer back home.

The point is this: When it comes to deer hunting, talent, pre-season scouting, knowing your weapon and practicing with it and, yes, sometimes good luck, all can contribute to success. But over the years, taking all of those things into consideration, staying focused and not giving up are two other aspects that can go a long way in the deer woods.

Dennis Jensen is the outdoor editor for the Rutland Herald and the Barre Times Argus and a freelance writer. Contact him at d.jensen62@yahoo.com

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

Vermont Has A New Fish & Wildlife Commissioner

Vermont Governor Phil Scott appointed Chris Herrick, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, to take over the Department of Fish & Wildlife.

Herrick took over in November, replacing Louis Porter, who announced his resignation in September to become general manager of Washington Electric Cooperative. The F&W Department has an annual budget of $20 million and is responsible for managing and conserving the state’s wildlife population and its habitats. Prior to becoming Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, Herrick was the Director of Vermont Emergency Management and before that, Chief of the Vermont Hazardous Materials Response Team.

Herrick was born and raised in Greenfield, MA. He came to Vermont to attend St. Michael’s College and worked at the college’s fire department during his undergraduate years. Upon graduating, he took a job at the Howard Center, helping adults with disabilities, before pursuing a master’s degree in education at the

Chris Herrick on Norton’s Brousseau Mountain a mile from the Canadian border.

University of Vermont.

Herrick worked as a deputy sheriff in Grand Isle County before becoming chief of Vermont’s hazmat team when it was created in 1999. He spent 30 years as a volunteer firefighter, including five years as chief of the South Hero Volunteer Fire Department, and he was a certified emergency medical technician for 25 years. No stranger to local politics, he has chaired both his local select board and

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I am a long-time member of the state hazmat team and thus have known and worked with Chris for many years. We have had many conversations about hunting, fishing and the need to protect a wide variety of habitats.

Chris has four grown

Page 51

Outdoors In Vermont

by Gary W. Moore, Bradford, VT children of whom he is proud, son Connor who has been in U.S. Coast Guard for eight years and is currently serving on a ship in Virginia, daughter Maeve is an archaeologist in N.C., son Jon who works for Pete’s RV and daughter Jenna who is studying to be a nurse practitioner at Mass General. He told me he has, “Fond memories of hunting geese with Connor.

Sitting in a blind watching the sun rise and the natural world come to life. It was some of the best times we spent together.” Chris lives in Grand Isle in the Champlain Islands where he bird watches, kayaks and hunts waterfowl. For many years he has been a partner in a camp on Wallace Pond in Canaan, a few hundred yards from the US/ Canada border. He spends time there hunting, fishing and hiking.

Wisely, he is not ready to say what if any changes he will make as he needs

time to learn about the Department, its personnel and its programs. “I don’t have any preconceived notions,” he stated. He did say he would like to, “focus his energy on broadening the demographics of the sporting community to involve more women and more young people.”

I wish Chris well in his new job, one that serves very diverse populations who feel strongly about the often-competing issues.

The deer herd is always a topic that can make (Vermont cont. pg 67))

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Page 52

Green Mountain Report

Northwoods Sporting Journal

A Quixotic Bride

by Bradley Carleton, Charlotte, VT The road to camp isn’t that far. Only a mile up an old logging road with water bars that can take out a

mostly submerged boulder that could not be seen under a blanket of snow. It earned its moniker from the

For those of us who just can’t wait, our hopes for getting out on first ice for the slab yellow perch, December is a quixotic bride. transmission of a standard vehicle. We used to have a favorite reference to one specific area we called “pumpkin rock” – a large

December 2021

differential of an old truck that lay in the woods beside the road. Sometimes, in December, we might snowshoe up to the cabin.

“It’s only a mile” we tell ourselves. But the snow is deep and heavy. It may take us 30 or 40 minutes, and when we arrive, we need to dig down through three-foot drifts up against the door. Once inside the first duty to be dispatched to the members is to get the woodstove roaring. Dinner by candlelight with a bottle of good merlot to go with the venison loin au poivre and mashed potatoes, and soon we are all relaxed and begin planning out the tomorrow morning’s hunt. It’s late muzzleloader

season and the deer will be yarded up in the pines below the landing and up on top of Big Baldy – but

and out the door, we need our sleep. Outside the wind is whistling over the roof ridge and the snow is blow-

that’s another mile up the winding road to the saddle.

There is something about late muzzleloader season that feels more primitive.

Those who relish the struggle to succeed at taking a big buck under the most challenging conditions.

It reminds me of some of the old “Field and Stream” or “Outdoor Life” stories of solitary mountain men who chose to live simply and live hard. As the last few drops of merlot are consumed, we all agree that 5:00 a.m. comes early, and if we are to get up, dressed

ing all around the windowsills. I fall asleep listening to the ash logs crackling in the woodstove. What will tomorrow bring? Will that big 10 pointer show up again wandering through the snow-laden pines?

Every few years it seems we get a December cold enough to freeze up the shallow bays and ponds throughout the state. For those of us who just can’t wait, our hopes for getting out on first ice for the slab yellow perch, December is a quixotic bride. She may (Bride cont. pg 53)

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Bride

(Cont. from pg 52) entice you with a clear cold night where temps drop down into the single digits, and when she does, you can expect the hardcore ice-fishermen and women to be out testing the ice. If you’ve never fallen through, don’t underestimate the impact it can have on your ego, and worse, on your longevity. I love the throbbing bite of a hawg yellow as much as the next guy, but I have fallen through, and it has made me much more cautious.

One of my strategies is to only fish water that I can stand in if I go through. It’s not an indication of manliness. I have known some very healthy, strong men make the wrong choice and have wound up as one of the statistics. If you want to try some of the shallower bays of Lake Champlain, look at Carry Bay, Dillenbeck, Keelers and Pelots in the Islands – South and

Northwoods Sporting Journal North Hero-as well as Isle LaMotte. If you’re inland, Memphremagog, Norton, Little Avery and Joe’s Pond are all good bets.

On October 15, Governor Phil Scott announced the appointment of Chris Herrick as the commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Herrick will lead the department responsible for the management and conservation of fish, wildlife, and their habitats. For the last five years, Chris has served as deputy commissioner at the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and prior to that he served two and a half years as director of Vermont Emergency Management within DPS. “Chris has demonstrated strong leadership within state government, including through the pandemic, and has a wealth of knowledge that will benefit the Department,” said Governor Phil Scott. “He will serve the state well in this new role and contribute

to our already successful, science-based management and conservation of wildlife, land and waters.” “Chris will be a great addition to the Agency’s leadership team and the important work of stewarding Vermont’s natural resources for the benefit of all Vermonters,” said Agency of Natural Resources Secretary Julie Moore. “As an avid outdoorsman, I look forward to Chris bringing together his personal interests with his knowledge of state government and clear commitment to state service.” Herrick will start his new role November 8, replacing Louis Porter who previously announced he would step down at the end of October.

Bradley Carleton is the founder and Executive Director of www.sacredhunter.org which teaches the public respect and empathy through hunting and fishing.

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Page 53

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 54

On Point

by Paul Fuller, Durham, N.H. After two weeks in Northern Maine, my wife and I pronounce the 2021 grouse/woodcock season as very good. We spent three days at Tim Pond Camps in Eustis, Maine and six days in the Allagash region of the North Maine Woods. Here’s our report.

numbers but it meant difficult shooting. The three days we hunted, we had eight grouse flushes in front of dog work the first day, eight the second day and six the third day. Those numbers only represent flushes in front of dog work and not the total birds we

Good Grouse Days

ical grouse habitat, hunters that concentrated more on woodcock habitat did very well. We heard reports of 15 to 25 woodcock flushes per day. Great sport with a pointing dog.

The week of October 17 found us traveling North to the Allagash area of Northern Maine. This was our seventh consecutive trip to the Northern tip of Maine. From this location, we hunt only the North

A high point at Tim Pond Camps was while Susan and I chose to hunt typical grouse habitat, hunters that concentrated more on woodcock habitat did very well. We heard reports of 15 to 25 woodcock flushes per day.

It’s always a joy to visit Tim Pond Camps in Eustis. Tim Pond Camps is exactly what we think an old-time Maine sporting camp should be. Accommodations are clean and comfortable and food outstanding.

The other element are birds and there were birds this year. We were at Tim Pond the week of October 10.

A negative for bird hunting was that it was very warm during our visit.

Birds weren’t moving. We had to get into the bush with the dogs to find birds.

They were there in good

saw or wild flushed.

Something interesting for Susan and me was that when weather is warm and birds aren’t moving, we usually hunt low. And, we felt we were correct in doing so. However, two hunters in camp consistently hunted high and consistently came back to camp each evening with multiple grouse and woodcock kills.

They were hunting whippets while we were hunting heavy pine cover. This supports the old dictum: Birds are where you find them.

A high point at Tim Pond Camps was while Susan and I chose to hunt typ-

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Maine Woods (NMW). The North Maine Woods is a 3 1/2 million-acre section of Maine which is owned by several paper companies.

Since paper companies only make money by cutting mature forests, there is always new growth in the North Maine Woods. And, new growth is important to both grouse and woodcock.

However, they who give, also taketh away.

Our first morning (October 18), we traveled 50 minutes to our favorite grouse road. Every year we harvest several grouse off this old road. It’s always been our “go to” grouse covert.

When we approached the road, I was immediately suspicious when I saw heavy truck tracks in the road. We had never see a logging truck on this road.

We only went about 200 yards when we met a huge logging truck full of freshly cut logs. There was no way my truck and the logging truck could pass each other on this remote road.

So, we backed up until we came to a small turnout.

The logging truck driver

came down from his cab and came to our truck. He was very nice but warned us that there were several logging trucks behind him.

He strongly suggested we not attempt driving up the road. With much disappointment, we left to search

eight grouse flushes in front of dog work. “In front of dog work” means that there was dog work involved in the flush. It might mean a perfect point and walk-up flush or tracking and then a flush. Our counts do not include road birds. Speaking of road birds, although bird contacts by the dogs in cover was fairly consistent with last year’s numbers, road bird numbers were definitely down from last year. Not sure if many of the road birds (often first year birds) had been shot or simply road and hunting pressure kept the birds in Author’s wife Susan with their the cover. gundog. (Photo by Paul Fuller) O u r third and for a new favorite road. fourth day of hunting were Being so large, it’s not very warm. The birds hard to find new roads to weren’t moving. We were hunt in the NMW. Howev- happy to get four or five er, not all of them have the bird flushes in front of dog combination of soft woods work. The birds were in the and hard woods that grouse deep dark cover. However, favor. We didn’t find a road things changed quickly on comparable to our old “fa- the fourth and fifth day. vorite”, however, we did At 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, find two roads which pro- Susan finished with a five duced grouse. We ended up bird flush over her ten year with eight grouse flushes in old GSP, Dena. front of dog work. We were Overall, another great happy with that. grouse season for Susan, Our second day, we the dogs and me. traveled North through the NMW Little Black Gate to coverts we have had sucPaul and Susan host cess with in the past. They the Bird Dogs Afield TV produced the same as the program. Contact: paul@ coverts in day one. We had birddogsafield.com

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Losing Our Voices

South Of the Kennebec

by Stu Bristol, Lyman, ME Turning a page, the end of an era; whichever you choose for a label, the outdoor communication world has lost another icon.

Frank Sousa, publisher of Woods and Water USA and longtime show Producer is gone.

Frank, his wife Char-

December 2021

outdoor communicators such as Frank for decades have kept the wolf away from the door so to speak, standing up for hunting fishing and conservation.

Sadly, our voices as outdoor communicators are dwindling fast. The majority of daily newspaper and

of hunters and anglers armed with GoPro cameras fill the airways with personal experiences, but combined these storytellers cannot replace the columnists who stand toe-to-toe with politicians on matters related to outdoor sports and conservation.

I haven’t quite caught up to my departed friend, Gene Letourneau who, for 65 years provided a daily

men. Giving current agency leaders in power today their due respect, they are simply not as forceful as Cronin or Kehoe.

Far too many funds have been diluted through

same clubs barely provide 25-30 members and no food and fund raisers.

The clubs now seem fractured with first the skeet shooters showing interest then the archery

Sadly, our voices as outdoor communicators are dwindling fast. The majority of daily newspaper and weekly “hook and bullet” outdoor columns have been canceled or replaced with the softer side of outdoor recreation. lotte, daughter Diane and son Doug provided hunting and fishing shows around the Northeast, the most popular being the Springfield Sportsman show held each year at the Eastern States Expo.

The other major show producer, my good friend, Paul Fuller, who for years produced Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Expos (Worcester, Wilmington, Suffern and others) has moved on yet still produces an outstanding TV and You Tube show, Bird Dogs Afield.

Bridging the gap between the fish and wildlife scientists and the public,

weekly “hook and bullet” outdoor columns have been canceled or replaced with the softer side of outdoor recreation.

Small circulation publications are still producing throughout the country, but the man or woman outdoor scribe who visited rod and gun clubs, provided informational seminars and stood ready to provide news reporters with accurate information each time a situation arose when fish or wildlife demanded news reporting are fewer and fewer.

Granted, the social media blogs and the army

and weekly voice in his “Sportsmen Say’ columns in the Portland Press Herald. My weekly newspapers columns ran for more than 50 years and now have ceased due to lack of advertising dollars, yet I continue monthly columns and social media outlets.

Gone are the heads of fish and wildlife agencies the likes of Mass Wildlife, Dick Cronin and former Vermont Fish and Wildlife Commissioner, Ed Kehoe.

I had the privilege of being in the room many times when each man bellowed at those trying to rob the dedicated coffers of sports-

Frank Sousa and wife Charlotte, publishers and show producers. progressive wrangling.

One thing lacking is stronger rod and gun club memberships. For years I would travel New England speaking to rod and gun audiences of 100-400 members with game suppers and raffles. Recent visits to the

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crowd then trap shooters or ATV users. Missing is the number of youngsters tagging along with older members. It looks good on a bumper sticker to say, “Take a Kid Fishing” but a driving force for rod and (Voices cont. pg 66)

December 2021

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 57

Late Season in the Marsh

Snow fell heavy on Christmas Day of 2017. I recall low temperatures, high winds, and mounds of light, powdery, crystalline snow. The following morning was cold, clear, sunny, and just as windy.

I received a call from my UMaine friend, Sully. He

Mossberg, we approached.

The duck, having heard the crunching sound of ice chucks rubbing against the hull of the canoe, took flight - but only for a brief moment. Bang! The duck fell back to the water. As I pumped another shell into the chamber, a second black duck, previously unseen, lifted off. Bang!...

Bang! The last shot connected, and the duck dropped.

I turned around and grinned.

Sully, with wide eyes, met my glance. You see, despite working my way through many boxes of shells, ducks - actuThe author with a limit of late ally all types season black ducks. of game (Photo courtesy of Jonah Paris) tend to pass figured the recent winds by me unscathed. Neither would bring a flight of of us had seen an impresCanadian birds southward sive shooting performance - and even if it didn’t, the by yours truly in quite backside of a storm is al- some time. I admired the ways a worthwhile time handsome pair of fat, late to pursue game. We made season “red-legs” now at plans for a late morning jump shoot through the salt marsh. With the inland waters long since iced over, the brackish river systems of the Coastal Zone was our only option, short of hunting the bay.

As we drifted through the main artery of the salt marsh, I saw the dark body of a black duck against the white bank. The duck then swam behind a bend ahead. Pulling up my rusty

my feet.

After watching ducks continue to fly across the marsh, we set out a halfdozen decoys that had been stashed in the canoe. The tide was dropping, and by this point, the wind was blowing the snow creating near white-out conditions.

Had I anticipated that we would be sitting over decoys, I probably would have dressed myself more appropriately for the occasion. Instead of my insulat-

Maine Tails

By Jonah Paris, Scarborough, ME wind, we both heard the high-pitched whistle of wings, and froze. A drake bluebill, also known as a greater scaup, buzzed overhead and landed not twenty feet from us among the remaining decoys. For the second time that morning, Sully and I stared at each other. We slowly reached

The last shot connected, and the duck dropped. I turned around and grinned.

Sully, with wide eyes, met my glance. ed waders and camouflage coat, I was wearing a pair of blue jeans with long johns underneath, several sweaters, and a recently acquired, oversized goosedown jacket - a five dollar bargain from the Bangor Goodwill.

The ducks flew high and far, and either they never saw our decoys or decided they didn’t want company. Thoroughly chilled, Sully and I unloaded our guns and placed them in the canoe. We then began picking up the decoys, most of which were now sitting on the exposed mudflat. Somehow, over the howling

for our guns, but the faint movement of hands alerted the bluebill and sent him airborne.

It’s no secret that sportsmen, waterfowlers especially, talk to themselves. We ponder the big questions in life: “Why, when I am standing among the decoys packing up, do the ducks suddenly decide to set in?” “Why do the ducks always present a close passing shot the moment I turn my back to unzip?” “Why does my gun jam when the ducks are 20 yards out approaching, and suddenly free itself when the ducks are 100 yards out flying away?” “Why does

a relatively uncommon, prized duck land only after my gun is unloaded and out of reach?”

Content with a limit of late December black ducks, I arrived back at my truck.

My blue jeans were now soaked through and my face was bright red with windburn. All I could think of was how unconventional the hunt had been: jump shooting among saltwater icebergs, hunting well after the traditional morning flights, sitting over decoys in white-out conditions, the bluebill sighting...and actually hitting the ducks I was aiming for. Sometimes unconventional is good; the winter blues were long forgotten, the coffee remained hot in the thermos, memories were captured, and duck was for dinner.

Jonah Paris teaches English at a small high school in Southwestern Maine. A four-season outdoorsman, Jonah lives in Gorham, ME with his girlfriend, Ashley, and beagle, Aurora. Jonah can be reached at jonaheparis@ gmail.com

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 58

The Singing Maine Guide

December 2021

Best Days of the Year

by Randy Spencer, Grand Lake Stream, ME Sightings of Lou at any time of year would remind you what season it was in case you’d lost track. In winter, he wore

“These are the best days of the year,” he announced to me one November.

Even as a late octogenarian, he seemed more alive to me at that time of year. “A fella can work outside without gettin’ too hot,” he went on, “and better yet, there ain’t no bugs!” his trademark red wool cap with ear flaps (always down), an LL Bean red wool hunting coat (circa 1950), green wool pants, and calk boots from his

days in the woods.

In the spring his outfit changed but little. The hunting coat came off to reveal a wool shirt which would suffice for his woodcutting even during the 30-degree days of March and April. Lou was a walking placard for wool. I never inquired about base layers, but I’d lay odds that you would’ve found either a wool Union suit or woolen long johns next to his skin. It took Lou three months of chipping away at his pile of tree-length cordwood (dropped off annually just before mud season) to put up his wood for the year. Smoke rose from two chimneys in the farmhouse that had been his parents’ and his grandparents’ before him. All three wives had predeceased their husbands, straining the statistical average, but the cumulative legacy this left was a playbook for how

to live alone into your 90s.

Summer was all khaki, but the calk boots remained. I wondered if they actually served to stabilize Lou’s knees and ankles as his legs got rickety. This could’ve been a playbook item picked up from his predecessors. He grew a garden of pole beans, squashes, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, and corn.

Lou was a busy man, so much so that I began to think that this must be one of the keys to longevity.

Being busy left little time for worry, or self-pity, or sadness. There were people who “looked in on him” who seemed concerned about these things. I didn’t look in on him. I visited, and Lou knew the differ-

ence. For me, it was more like taking a class, or apprenticing under a master.

After his beloved Betsy passed away, Lou took over the canning, but not the baking. He confessed to missing the pastry just enough so that things got dropped off now and then.

“These are the best days of the year,” he announced to me one November. Even as a late octogenarian, he seemed more alive to me at that time of year. “A fella can work outside without gettin’ too hot,” he went on, “and better yet, there ain’t no bugs!” Lou’s rickety legs, boots or no boots, prohibited the long treks in the woods he used to love as a younger deer hunter. But

he still dressed as if commemorating the season.

The wool returned, along with the ear-flapped hat, hunting attire that would not only have been warm and quiet back in his day, but legal. Lou’s hunting heyday predated blaze orange.

I had to laugh one time when he told me about the deer season that had completely stumped him.

Well into November, try as he might, he couldn’t find a single sign of the rut.

Days passed, and still not a pawing or a rub was to be found anywhere in the woods on, or surrounding his property. “So I went to Van Raymond’s and bought enough doe-in(Days cont. pg 59)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

Days

Question

(Cont. from pg 58) estrus to float a battleship,” he chuckled one morning as we sipped coffee at his kitchen table. Lou set out wicks in all of his likely old haunts. Some hung from tree limbs. Some wafted up from the ground. He even left small vats of the stuff here and there, like offerings. He said that when he’d finished, there was enough buck lure out there to bring in bucks from outof-state.

Sure enough, within two days he began to see scrape lines in the very places he’d always seen them. On the third day, he bagged his buck, a nice six-pointer with a proudly swollen neck. His scheme had worked, and Lou was sure of it. He believed with all his heart that he had single-handedly jumpstarted the rut himself. That weekend, when his neighbor, Mitchell, dropped by to say he’d just harvested a beautiful 8-pointer, Lou simply said, “You’re welcome,” leaving Mitchell more than perplexed.

Lou’s gone now and I miss him. But it’s November as I write this, (which is why I’m thinking of him) and these are the best days of the year. Things are way too quiet in the woods though, and I haven’t yet seen one clue that the rut has begun. If this keeps up, I may borrow a page out of Lou’s playbook.

(Cont. from pg 46)

Randy Spencer’s new book, “Written on Water: Characters and Mysteries from Maine’s Back of Beyond” is now available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers.

the ballot in 2021, something special happened and few know of its relevance. Maine passed a first in the nation, hybrid, right to hunt and fish amendment that included, the “right to save and exchange seeds and the right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing for their own nourishment, sustenance, bodily health and wellbeing”.

Question 3 is not absolute, just like all the Con-

stitutional Amendments that make up the state and federal Constitutions, state Game Departments and the Legislature will still have statutory and regulatory authority over wildlife, foraging, humane treatment of animals, seeds and protecting natural resources as no right is absolute.

What the Legislature or regulators can’t do is, take that right away altogether. If a rule or law goes too far, we can take the animal rights groups to court, ironic that the tables have turned as these animal rights groups are fond of using the courts to harass

sportsmen.

In the coming legislative session, we will work with Sen. Hickman and Rep. Faulkingham to pass implementing legislation that further defines the word harvest and the term poaching to ensure state laws reinforce our hunting and fishing rights as well as strengthens the laws that protect our natural resources.

This is a new, first in the nation right to food that will take years to fully implement and we expect many states to follow suit.

The Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, Institute

Page 59 for Legislative Action and a very diverse group of volunteers and small farm associations joined forces to pass this groundbreaking legislation. Senator Hickman, D-Hallowell and Rep. Faulkingham, R-Winter Harbor are owed much of the credit and so are the SAM members and supporters that helped spread the word and get out the vote. Good things are happening in the outdoor community, I am proud to be part of it!

David Trahan is Executive Director of SAM.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

The water that flooded the valley and swamped the river created Aziscohos Lake. Today, releases from the dam are responsible for a world-class tailwater fishery on the lower stretch of the Magalloway River where an angler can cast flies to native brook trout and landlocked salmon that have gone wild since their introduction in the late 1800s.

These days, the sporting lodge can be reached by driving thirteen miles over a logging road that winds through forestland stretching outward for miles in every direction. It’s been nearly forty years since my wife and I first drove along the western edge of Aziscohos Lake on our way to the sporting lodge that back then was owned and operated by Master Maine Guide, Tom Rideout.

Upon arrival, those “from away” will find the forest surrounding Bosebuck Mountain Camps much the same as it was when Perley Flint owned and operated the sporting lodge from 1919 until his death in 1951. The seemingly endless tract of conifers and hardwoods stretching down from the hills surrounding the lake, and the river above it, remain much as it did as back as the 1800s.

Logging companies own much of western Maine’s forest. To protect

through the river’s serpentine course.

As the river widens, the forest closes in from both sides. The current now vacillates between shallow riffles and deep runs with iconic names like Salmon Pool, Cleveland Eddy, Little Boy Falls and Landing Pool. In early spring, the big fish leave Parmachenee Lake to chase spawning smelt up through these pools while in late fall the same fish once again enter the river on their own spawning run.

Presently owned and operated by Mike and Wendy Yates, Bosebuck Mountain Camps also caters to hunters, who come for the abundant deer, moose, black bear, grouse and woodcock. In winter, snowmobilers regularly stop in for a hearty meal and to gas up their machines. Although Mike and Wendy serve the needs of anglers and hunters, their lodge is family-friendly, catering to anyone, young or old, interested in outdoor activities.

Although folks may travel to a traditional Maine sporting camp to fish, hunt or engage in any other manner of outdoor activities, it is the Region’s rich sporting history that draws many back year after year. Not far up Route 16, you can visit Upper Dam, where Carrie Stevens created her now famous Gray Ghost streamer and Shang Wheeler penned his Ode to White Nose Pete. Further down the road is the Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum located in the town of Oquossoc.

While staying at Bosebuck Mountain Camps, you can troll the lake with (Bosebuck cont. pg 66)

Against The Current

by Bob Romano, Rangeley, ME Anglers have been coming to western Maine since the 1800s when word first spread of the region’s enormous brook trout.

Sporting camps were soon constructed to cater to the men and women, many of whom came for the trout, and later, the land-

building where “sports” could take their meals.

These sporting camps remain an integral part of Maine’s rich sporting tradition.

Bosebuck Mountain Camps is located in the northwest corner of the Rangeley Lakes Region.

Bosebuck Mountain Camps is located in the northwest corner of the Rangeley Lakes Region. Situated near the top of Aziscohos Lake, it overlooks the junction of the Big and Little Magalloway Rivers. locked salmon that were introduced to the region’s waters near the end of that century.

Surrounded by a vast conifer forest, the first accommodations consisted of a single rustic structure. It wasn’t long before these rudimentary lodgings evolved into a series of cabins that flanked a large

Situated near the top of Aziscohos Lake, it overlooks the junction of the Big and Little Magalloway Rivers. In the early years, a steamboat was employed to bring guests up the Magalloway from the dam at the bottom of the lake.

In 1911, a much larger concrete dam replaced the previous wooden structure.

Bosebuck Mountain Camps their land, these companies maintain gates, restricting access to many of the region’s streams and ponds.

Although over the years, many of the gates have come down, the ones above Aziscohos Lake remain.

Nevertheless, visitors to Bosebuck can fish the upper river, which remains available to the lodge’s customers and a half-dozen or so families lucky enough to own private camps in this tract of semi-wilderness that also contains Parmachenee Lake, one of the jewels in the crown of lakes and ponds for which the Rangeley Region is renowned. The restricted access, as well as a catchand-release philosophy, is in large part responsible for a healthy fishery in the upper part of the river, which is also comprised of native brook trout and wild landlocked salmon, some of which are as large as an angler will find south of Labrador. An angler fishing above the gates may see a beaver, mink, deer or moose, perhaps even a black bear, but few other anglers.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

Holiday Gift Guide

Are chestnuts roasting on an open fire at your home? Is Jack Frost nipping at your nose? The holiday season is upon us and it is time to think about what to get your snowmobile or ATV riding loved one. I know that the

weather ATV riding, a new jacket is a great gift. There are numerous designs and styles so it is easy to find one that would really work for the people on your list.

TEK vests- if your ATV rider likes to ride aggressive courses, then this

season makes us think of snow and snowmobiling, but the ATV riders need good stuff also! Lets face it, sometimes figuring out what gifts to give is tough.

Here are some of my suggestions for this year.

Jackets - Any snazzy jacket is a great gift. Whether it is a heavy winter jacket for the snowmobile season or a lighter jacket for cool

piece of personal protection is a must have. It is also a great idea for any ATV rider or snowmobiler.

If you are unfamiliar with these vests, they protect the rider’s torso from debris and in the event of an accident, steering column impact. They provide the additional benefit of keeping the wind off the torso when riding which results

Ethan Cates, 15, of Cutler with his first deer.

(Photo by Brian Smith, Mentor)

in a warmer riding experience.

Boots - If your feet aren’t warm the riding experience is bad. Warm boots is always a good idea.

New Helmets - The new helmets on the market today are awesome. Heated face shields, multiple vents, venturi airflow, even communication system add ons so you can chat with your riding partner.

Helmets are a great gift for both the snowmobiler and

Page 61

The Trail Rider

by Rod Fraser, Hyde Park, MA an ATV in the spring and fall, so appropriate gloves is a great idea.

The Ride-Lite - Although not as personal as a jacket, the ride lite riding communication system makes your loved one’s riding much safer. The RideLite signals to on coming riders whether there are

everyone I know sports some ride themed clothing in the winter. Some of the real hard core riders wear it in the summer.

ATV tool kit - You need to have a complete tool kit with you when you are out on the rail and there are ATV specific tool kits which make sure you have everything you need to make trailside repairs and Lets face it, sometimes figuring out adjustments. Having a dedwhat gifts to give is tough. Here are some of my suggestions for this year. icated ATV tool kit enables you to put a kit on your ride the ATV operator in your other riders behind you in and not move tools back life. Check out their hel- your group or if you are the and forth from your normal mets, if they look like they last one so that you do not tool kits, which makes you are beat up and could stand have to take your hands off much more organized. replacement, there you go. the handle bars. I am not a Gloves and gaunt- big fan of hand signalling I wish all of the NWSJ lets - I have quite a few but am a big fan of the readers a very happy different sets of gloves and Ride-Lite. It makes for a Christmas and a prospergauntlets that I use based much safer and control- ous and safe New year! on the temperature and lable situation when meet- See you on the trails! Rod conditions. I carry extras ing other riders on the trail. Fraser is an avid outdoorsin my saddle bags. Keeping Apparel - hats, tee man and twenty year Navy your hands warm is vital shirts, casual shirts, sweat- veteran. Originally from to a fun day on the trails. ers or sweatshirts with our Maine and living in MasGloves are vital to both sled’s OEM logo or snow- sachusetts, Rod has written ATV and snowmobiling. mobile related designs are extensively about snowmoYou can get cold hands on always a nice gift. Most biling and Amazon.com

Page 62

New Hampshire Outdoors

Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

Muzzleloader Elk Hunt

crops was difficult. Which meant the deer were roaming more in search of food

by Peter St. James, which may increase the Warner, N.H. chances of encountering one for some. Time will While the archery sea- almost 7,000 square miles, th tell if I should retire my son for deer will wind up Catron County is the 29 th crystal ball? on December 15 , the last largest county by total area Last year, Christmas day of rifle season for deer in America (two places was altered by COVID. in all units (except WMU- ahead of Aroostook CounThis year, it’s the breakA which closes a week ty). But, it’s the third-least down of the supply chain. earlier) will be on Sunday, populous county in New th So look past the material December 5 . I’m hoping Mexico. The town I stay things and enjoy Christmas that I will have filled a tag in has a population of 72. for what it is with family by then because I won’t be The town down the road and friends. And if we’re around that weekend. I’ll My load of choice for the hunt is 120 grains of Blackhorn lucky, maybe some venison be back in New Mexico 209 and a .275 grain Parker Ballistic Extreme polymer tipped steaks and elk tenderloins trying to fill my elk tag. bullet. My longest muzzleloader shot for elk was 235 yards. will be part of the celebraThis is the make-up for my COVID-cancelled elk hunt where we get gas, groceries listic Extreme polymer would eclipse the 14,113 tion? Here’s hoping for all last year. and a hot meal boasts 289 tipped bullet. My longest deer harvested in 2018. of us! Merry Christmas.

Even though I’m a residents. The next county muzzleloader shot for elk Now…I’m not so sure? born Maine-er and a resi- over (Socorro County) has was 235 yards. But the The reason I’m hedging is Peter St. James is a dent of New Hampshire over 6,600 square miles distances are very deceiv- because of the mast crop. for forty years, I look for- within its boundaries. Get- ing. Cross-canyon shots In my area, I couldn’t buy member of the New Engward to getting back to ting the picture? Lots of are hard to gauge without an acorn in October. They land Outdoor Writers AsNew Mexico every year. land, lots of game, lots of a range-finder. But, if you were there in August and sociation, Outdoor Writers Even though I’ve fished breathtaking scenery and - can hit consistently at two September but gone in Association of America, is a and hunted in Colorado, not a lot of people. My kind hundred yards at the range, October. In parts of the licensed NH Fishing Guide Wyoming, Arizona and of place! you’ve got to believe you central region, they were and has a daily radio show Montana, to me, nothing Because I couldn’t can replicate the shot in swimming in acorns. In the on WNTK-99.7FM. Reach beats the Gila National For- pull a rifle tag in the unit I the field. It’s just a lot dif- southern part of the state… him at : stjames.peter@ est area of New Mexico. At wanted, I’m back in Unit ferent than shooting around nothing. So targeting mast gmail.com 15 which is a muzzleloader-only unit that consists of over one million acres.

So, my TC Strike is dialed in at two hundred yards.

But, once I get there, I’ll make sure the airline didn’t alter my sighting-in efforts.

There’s a public range near where I stay that sports targets out to 500 yards.

My load of choice for the hunt is 120 grains of Blackhorn 209 and a .275 grain Parker Bal-

here. And unfortunately, you don’t get a lot of time to get used to it as the season is only five days long.

Plus, because it’s a lateseason hunt, the elk have been chased around for the preceding two months. So they’re out there. But, let’s just say that they’re not hanging around waiting for me!

In my last column I stated that I thought that this year’s deer harvest

Northwoods Sporting Journal Offers A FREE DIGITAL COPY to All Active Duty Military Personnel Worldwide!

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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.

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.

As a way of saying thank you, we make the digital versions of the Northwoods Sporting Journal past and current - available online to service people around the world. If you have a loved one or friend now serving on active duty in Iraq or Afghanistan, or anywhere else, please let them know that they have free access to our digital magazines at: www.sportingjournal.com

December 2021

Me & Joe

(Cont. from pg 19) We’re on our way!”

As we drove up to the bridge, I saw Onus standing just inside the tree line, his ancient Model 85 Winchester .45-70 singleshot cradled in one arm.

I’d asked him once why he used a single-shot rifle.

He’d seemed genuinely puzzled by the question.

“Why in the worlt, “he said, “would I need more’n one shot?”

As we climbed out of the Jeep, Joe started to ask a question, but Onus put a finger to his lips and motioned for us to follow him. In silence, the three of us worked our way through the woods, angling uphill.

Once Joe tapped Onus on the shoulder and said in a hoarse whisper, “I thought the moose was down by the river.”

“Is,” Onus replied.

“But jist give me a minute.”

Second later we came to the edge of Eric Meat’s back lawn. Thirty feet away his back door opened onto a small porch. Onus just stood there, looking at the house.

“What?” Joe asked impatiently. Onus held up a hand, then pulled an ancient watch from a pocket and glanced at it. He stood quietly, seemingly waiting for something. Joe fidgeted and fumed, but Onus ignored him. Finally, looking once again at the watch, Onus nodded his head in satisfaction and reached down by his feet.

For the first time, I noticed the small burlap bag nearly hidden in the weeds.

From the depths of the sack he pulled a dark red object, which I immediately recognized as the heart of a large animal, possibly a moose.

Before anyone could say

Northwoods Sporting Journal anything, Onus reached back his arm and pitched the heart overhand toward the house. It hit the door with a loud, wet “thump’, and then fell to the floor of the porch and lay there, oozing blood.

From within the house came a voice raised in consternation. Onus motioned for us to pull back a little more inside the tree line. The door slammed open and Eric Meat stood in the doorway, glaring all around. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man with a mop of black hair and a permanent scowl on his dark face. Finally, he looked down and swore in surprise. He reached down and picked up the heart.

At that exact moment Onus raised his rifle. I thought for a shocked instant that he was about to shoot Eric Meat, but he simply stuck the barrel in the air and pulled the trigger. The roar of the .45-70 was deafening in the afternoon stillness. Instantly, Onus turned and ran in the direction of the river.

Joe, mouth hanging open in stunned surprise, turned and hurried after him. For an instant it registered in my mind that I had never heard Onus make so much noise moving through the woods. Then I saw Meat reach back through the door and grab a rifle that had been standing by the doorframe. I jerked around and ran as well. Behind me came the roar of Meat’s rifle and I heard a bullet thump into a tree a few yards to my left.

I ran so fast that I caught up with Joe and Onus just as they broke into a little clearing by the river.

Joe came to a shuffling halt.

In the clearing lay a small bull moose, already dressed out, with the gut pile lying

to one side. Near the open belly lay a unique hunting knife.

“That’s one of my knives!” Joe said in consternation. Onus reached back, grabbed Joe by the collar, and pitched him ahead toward the edge of the clearing. He motioned hurriedly to me. “In here!

Quick!” We crawled into an alder thicket, to a small space that seemed to have been cleared out sometime previously.

We were just in time.

Eric Meat came out of the woods at the edge of the clearing, breathing hard, his rifle grasped in both big hands. He jerked to a stop and stared at the dead moose. His jaw dropped.

Slowly, hesitantly, he walked closer to the bull.

Then he saw the knife on the ground and swore loudly. Reaching down, he picked up the knife, just as Pinch Brody and three other wardens stepped out of the woods at the other side of the clearing.

Seeing Meat with the rifle and the knife in his hands, all four wardens brought up their handguns. “Drop the weapons!”

Brody shouted.

Meat stared. “It wasn’t me!” he cried.

“Drop the weapons and step back!”

Rifle and knife dropped from nerveless fingers and the wardens quickly surrounded him, cuffing his hands behind his back.

Joe started to stand up, but Onus put a hand on his shoulder and whispered in his ear. “Less jist see how this works out…”

“But I didn’t shoot it!” Meat was crying desperately. “I heard a shot and I came down here, but I didn’t shoot it.”

One of the wardens

was sniffing the rifle barrel. “Gun’s been recently fired.”

“Yes! But I didn’t shoot the moose! You can dig out the bullet and…”

Another warden had lifted a hindquarter and tipped up the moose. “Bullet went right through.

We’ll never find it.”

“But…but…”

“That’s your knife, isn’t it?” Pinch asked gruffly. “The one Joe made, that was auctioned off.”

“Yes…but…”

I heard Onus mutter quietly, “Borryed that knife from his truck cab yestiday.

I’m returnin’ it today…”

Pinch Brody turned Meat toward the road. “A dead moose, a smoking gun, and your hands covered with moose blood standing over the carcass.

I think we got all we need.”

One of the other wardens called out suddenly.

“Say…both the inside tenderloins are gone!”

“We’ll prob’ly find ‘um in his freezer,” Brody said.

“No you won’t! I never took ‘um!”

“Probably threw them in the river when he heard us coming,” the fourth warden said. “I’ve got the rifle and the knife. We’ll come back with rope and a come-along and get the moose out in an hour or so.

With Eric Meat still bitterly protesting his inno-

Page 63 cence, the five men moved off toward the road. At the last minute, Pinch Brody stopped at the edge of the trees, looked back, and gazed slowly around the clearing. Then he turned and followed the others.

Slowly, Onus and me and Joe came out of hiding.

We stood staring down at the moose.

“Well,” Onus said with quiet satisfaction. “I guess that turnt out purty well. Ol’ Eric gonna finally git what’s comin’ to ‘im.”

Joe cleared his throat.

“Look, Onus…I know I put you onta this job, but you didn’t…”

“I got to git back to my camp,” Onus interrupted him. “Gonna be suppertime afore you know it.” He shouldered his rifle and started off up along the river. “Glancing back over his shoulder he said, “Say, why don’t you boys come up to my campsite for supper. It’s on me, kind of a celebration.”

I swallowed noisily.

“Uh…what you having for supper?”

“Tenderloin,” he said with satisfaction. “Broiled tenderloin.”

Joe’s mouth sagged open, his face pale. “Did you say… you didn’t say ‘tenderloin’, did you Onus?

Onus?” But the tall figure of the poacher had already disappeared among the trees.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 64

Anticosti

December 2021

Anticosti Hunts:New Options

by Mark Cote, Rumford, ME In last month’s edition of Northwoods Journal I announced the acquisition of the Safari Anticosti territory. Since then, the level of excitement is off the charts at Sepaq Anticosti!

The new lodges, cabins, another airport, and most

2023 when the hunting packages are announced.

New seasons will be created in the Safari sectors to match what Sepaq has.

The pricing has always been comparable, but for example, there were some differences in the length of

Before the acquisition, Sepaq managed 1560 square miles of hunting, fishing and summer vacationing. Now, it has increased another 30% to a little over 2100 square miles. importantly, Safari employees joining the Sepaq organization brings many more opportunities to clients of both outfitters.

It will be exciting to see what happens in

stays, September and October hunters with Sepaq have a seven day stay with six days of hunting, Safari closed their camps for October and re-opened in November.

Jonathan Pelland from Quebec with his beautiful buck, 28 inches wide and 16 points shot in Lac Huard, an unguided sector on September 21 at 5:30 p.m.

Before the acquisition, Sepaq managed 1560 square miles of hunting, fishing and summer vacationing. Now, it has increased another 30% to a little over 2100 square miles. The number of hunters that spend their hunting vacation on Anticosti is in

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excess of 3,400.

I am frequently asked how big Anticosti Island is. It is 139 miles long and 36 miles wide. To put that into perspective, the state of New Hampshire is 190 miles long and 68 miles wide. Some think hunting on an island is like shooting fish in a barrel but as you can see, it would be a pretty big barrel! It takes over four hours to travel by truck from one end of the island to the other.

To continue the comparison, in 2019 New Hampshire Fish and Game department estimated a pre hunting season population of 120,000 deer. Anticosti also boasts a deer herd of 120,000, but it’s about a third the size. I don’t know about you, but when I go fishing or hunting, I like going where there are a lot of fish and deer!

So far, the 2021 hunt-

ing season has been nothing short of excellent. The light hunt last year, due to the effects of covid, along with a relatively mild winter allowed the deer numbers to reach higher than typical levels. Hunters’ reports from all over the island were favorable.

Plenty of deer sightings per day and lots of them were mature bucks.

A definite highlight of the season so far was Mr. Jonathan Pelland, from Quebec. He harvested a magnificent twenty-eight inch wide, sixteen point buck while hunting Lac Huard, an unguided camp on September 21st at 5:30 p.m. It is a buck of a lifetime by anyone’s standards and will be tough to top.

For information about a stay on Anticosti, call my friends at the reservation desk at 1-800-463-0863.

Tell them Mark sent you.

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December 2021

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Armed Hiking

I do not have a dog. In hunting, this offers many handicaps, especially when plying the ancient craft of small game hunting. Dogs are very effective hunting companions, and they have their own built-in economy.

In camp, they don’t cheat at cribbage and they don’t drink your beer. In the field, they do all the work, you get to shoot, and they even bring you the bird, duck or rabbit, and drop it at your feet. They not only don’t complain about the wet and the cold, they are living their best lives when leading you to success.

But as I mention, I don’t have a dog. I have a cat. Cats are not good hunting companions, especially our cat Harry. If he went outside, he’d make a dash for the treeline, and then we’d spend an hour trying to find him. I know this to be true because I have gone through this exercise a number of times.

On those hunts where a generous companion let me hunt with them and their dog, it’s been majestic. Hunting over dogs truly is the sport of kings. It’s not only amazing to watch a dog work, but you’re far more likely to put a shot on game than if you’re just walking along a lonely woods road, hoping for the best.

I employed this second method earlier this

fall on a lush fall morning with my friend Greg. Greg is a little new to this whole hunting thing. Greg owns one shotgun—a Remington 870 pump. If you’re going to own one shotgun, that’s not a bad pick. With the interchangeable choke tubes, the 870 offers itself as a top choice for duck hunting, turkeys, and with the right load, even deer hunting.

For bird hunting it does more than hold its own.

Greg has a dog, but alas, it’s a pet, not a crisp hunting dog. If we took Sassy out in the field, she’d wait until we stopped for lunch, and then try to nestle her hundred pounds or so into one of our laps.

Greg showed up at my house around six in the morning, and we took my truck and headed into Maine’s unorganized territories (which sounds incredibly exotic, but it’s about a ten-minute drive for me from Old Town and consists primarily of working forest). After exploring a few logging roads on foot with no success, we changed directions and went across the long ridge known as The Horseback.

We walked slowly and quietly, our guns at the ready. After a while, we exchanged some observations, and every now and again we’d spy a grouse at the side of the road, but by the time we’d get to it, it

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

From all of us at the Northwoods Sporting Journal!

was long gone. Our observations became conversations, and as we moved on, grouse would explode in every direction, and we’d scramble to get our guns up, only to bring them to bear on a memory of where a bird had just flown.

To be fair, we had a great time. I even cocked the hammer to my shotgun once. But we weren’t hunting with a dog—we were on our own, and our inattention overcame any chance of pan-seared grouse breasts in butter with a little salt and pepper being our dinner reward that evening.

By mid-day, our smart watches told us we had walked some six miles,

Page 65

Marsh Island Chronicles

by Matthew Dunlap, Old Town, ME which is at least coming away with something. As we promised each other to try it again soon—and maybe get some duck hunting in, where a dog is a greater convenience than a necessity—we laughed about our morning. It’s a handy excuse to explain getting shut out the second week of bird season; the first wave of hunters had already laid claim to the dumb birds, we reasoned.

“But really,” I said to Greg, “bird hunting without a dog is really just a lot of armed

hiking.”

“Well,” he reckoned, “at least we were safe.”

Another big laugh. That’s the joy of hunting with friends, whether luck is with you or not.

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 1450 AM in Rockland.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 66

Voices

(Cont. from, pg 56) guns in the past was to introduce youngsters.

Ask yourself how many new laws that adversely affect hunting and fishing, open land and conservation have been passed in recent years that hunters and anglers have even heard about?

In this age of “cancel culture” the animal rights fanatics and politicians are gaining ground and I wonder if there are voices left to combat these forces?

Losing strong voices like Bud Leavitt, Gene Letourneau, Frank Sousa and

a long list of my comrades who have gone before me, and yes, even I will continue to fade as my health issues prevent me from butting heads with politicians and the incoming waves of progressives and borderline socialists.

Our right to bear arms, our right to hunt fish and fowl are protected by the same U.S. and state constitutions that those politicians who fight us at every turn swore and oath to protect and DEFEND. We all need not be afraid to stand up for those rights!

Stu Bristol is a Hall

of Fame wild turkey hunter, Master Maine Guide (Orion Guide Service) and Outdoor writer. His books, newspaper and magazine articles have been published nationwide for more than 50 years. He operates Deadly Imposter Game Calls in southern Maine. www.deadlyimpostergamecalls.com

Bosebuck

(Cont. from pg 60) streamers first tied by Carrie Stevens, hike trails once trodden by Johnny Danforth and Fred Barker as they explored the wilderness around Parmachenee

December 2021

Lake, wade the pool where President Eisenhower once fished or cast a Parmachenee Belle, the wet-fly pattern first tied by Henry Wells in 1876. Hiking the same trails, paddling over the same water, or casting your flies into the same pools as these intrepid souls, you can’t help but feel their presence in this Land of Fishing Legends.

If you’ve always dreamed of watching a salmon tail-dance across the surface of a sun-dappled lake or feel the pull of a brook trout as it strains your line to the breaking point; if you’d enjoy watching a rainbow frame a conifer hillside after a passing thunderstorm or

hear the haunting cry of a loon under the light of the moon; if you’d like to wade through pools once fished

by President Eisenhower or come home to tell a tall tale like the one told by Shang Wheeler; if you want to be a part of western Maine’s sporting history, why not spend a few days at Bosebuck Mountain Camps.

Now is the time to make a reservation for the spring season that begins in May. Bob and Trish Romano have owned a cabin on Aziscohos Lake for nearly forty years. More information about Bosebuck Mountain Camps can be obtained at www.bosebuck.com

Houlton Office 207-532-4500 Hermon Office 207-605-0556 Scot Walker, Broker

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Overhead Door Company of Bangor

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021

Vermont

ture, Chris will have to spend considerable time in various committees urging support for some bills and for the defeat of others as well as argue for his budget. It is safe to say he will be very busy in the very high profile job.

(Cont. from pg 51) people emotional and vocal but the current hot button issue involves bear hunting with hounds. Members of the advocacy organization Protect Our Wildlife have been very active urging the end to hunting with hounds and to trapping. They purchase ads in papers and write a lot of letters to the editor as well as using social media to attack hunters and trappers.

Then come January and the second half of the biennium for the legisla-

Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore is a life long resident of Vermont and a former Commissioner of Fish and Game.

He may be reached by email at gwmoore1946@ icloud.com or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033.

SELLERS LANE

BUYERS ROAD

Page 67

REAL ESTATE

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Roxbury - 29 +/- acres. Rugged, steep terrain and good road frontage on Route 120. Half this lot has been recently harvested. Small stream. This property lies at the base of the 1,985' Partridge Peak. $49,900.

321 + ACRES Rumford/Peru - 321 acres. View from Lovejoy Hill/Burgess Hill, South Peak are simply amazing. Recently harvested. Snowmobile trail (17N) passes thru lot. Good access. $295,000.

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Carroll PLTCute little cabin with substantial makeover right on Main Road.

Walls & ceiling are insulated, new windows, knotty pine interior, 100 Amp electrical. New metal roof, new privy & gray water bed for sink. Possible Owner Financing. $44,900

Lakeville- Lots of well wooded land. This cute cabin is located at the end of a private road with no through traffic on Spaulding Pond Rd. Situated in a wonderful area for many of Northern Maine’s recreational activities. Ready for you today. $70,000

LakevilleSpacious inside with a covered porch & large back deck. Two sheds.

Solar & generated power.

Two driveway entrances for your convenience on Birch Hill Rd. Extremely low taxes & access to dozens of lakes. $109,000

Lakeville- 52 acre lot with rustic cabin sits at the top of the hill offering breathtaking 180 degree views of area lakes & hills. ATVing & snowmobiling are at your door step on Vista View. Set it up for solar and live here year round. $89,000

Grand Falls- This cabin was landed on this lot two years ago and ready to finish off and use. This 41 acre lot sits high on a hill with great views on Lord Brook Rd. ATV and snowsled from this location.

Take a look. $79,000

Prentiss TWP- Sitting on 43 acres in a nice wildlife area, the cabin has been lived in, year round, the past few years right on Rosewood Haven. Put the work into removing the mold, put down a floor & turn this into a nice, little hunting cabin. $49,900

Mattamiscontis TWP- Nice 2 plus acre lot on the Penobscot River. Driveway has been installed. Enjoy all this water front lot has to offer. $39,900 Mattamiscontis TWP- Nice 2 plus acre lot on the Penobscot River. The lot has a driveway installed. Enjoy all this lot has to offer. $39,900 Carroll PLT- This lot was recently selectively harvested. Driveway in place, a year round road, electric available & a small Tolman Brook at one edge- its too good to pass by. POSSIBLE OWNER FINANCING!! Come look today. $39,000 Lincoln- Nice year round waterfront lot on Folsom Pond. There is a informal road association that has maintained the road. Electricity is at the street. Take a look today. $67,500

8 + ACRES Nicatous Lake - Butterfield Island. A private self-sufficient 8 acre island with historic cabins from the 1920's & 30's and a newer main cabin. Move right in, fully furnished. Boat house with dock on mainland. $615,000.

58+ ACRES Milo- Private wooded 58.5 acre lot with publlic road frontage, power and good internal access. Not far from the town of Milo and the Piscataquis River. $69,000.

800 + ACRES Hancock County - Over 800 acres with 5,400 sq. ft log cabin completely surrounding Fox Pond. Miles of maintained trails. Adjacent to 20k acres of conservation lands. FOXPONDESTATE. COM $4.3mm

105+ ACRES Caratunk - 1,064 acres. Views of the Kennebec River - Wyman Lake, Moxie Mountain - east & Bigelow Mountainswest. Interior gravel roads and groomed snowmobile trail. $625,000.

Pembroke - Over 3,000' on Pennamaquan River and 1,000' on the lake this 113-acre woodlot is wonderful. Approx 600' of frontage on a town-maintained road with power. $220,000.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 68

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December 2021

SELLERS LANE

BUYERS ROAD

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200 +/- acres Masardis Maine. In the same family for 100 years and managed sustainably as a woodlot. This well forested tract of land features its own brook and a special corner that is exceptionally mature. Interior lot that allows hunting without concern for trafficked roads. Snowmobile to your getaway in the winter and drive on a nice, graveled road the rest of the year. Enjoy the trees, create paths and trails or clear a spot near the brook or other prime spots and build your dream cabin. An investment that will both grow and pay for itself as some wood can be harvested to help with costs. Land-they are not making any more of it. This is a very good opportunity you do not want to miss! Call Chuck today at (207) 227-2305 or Cbjohnston 72@hotmail.com

Northwoods Sporting Journal

December 2021 SELLERS LANE

BUYERS ROAD

REAL ESTATE

Page 69

P.O. Box 616 Long Lake, NY 12847

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Pemadumcook Lake Island Overhead Door Company of Caribou “The original since 1921”

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WHITING: Lot is at 1059 Cutler Road. This is a nice water front lot on Holmes Bay with a well and septic already on it. Lot is mowed so it would be easy to find the right spot to put a home on. Then if you have a friend who would like a nice lot there is another lot right next to this one that also has a well and septic.

The price for each lot is $99,900.

BERRY TWP: This two room cabin sitting on leased land with frontage on Round Lake. Cabin is off Balsam Knoll Road which is off the 19 road. The cabin has new windows and doors. Cabin has two rooms with kitchen and living room combined. If you have ever wanted a nice cabin on water and good fishing then this is the spot. Can't you just see yourself sitting on the enclose deck and just enjoying the view and the great MAINE air. Great price at only $70,000.

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