Northwoods Sporting Journal, Jan 2023

Winter Vacation Almost Turns Catastrophic For Me & Joe January 2023

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Kids: Pickerel Passion -V. Paul Reynolds

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

January 2023

Kids: Pickerel Passion

They say first impressions are lasting. Not so, though, with fish. Take the chain pickerel. By rights I should loathe and fear this voracious, torpedo-like predator. But that’s not the case. In fact, I love’em! Let me explain.

I met my first pickerel as a 4-year-old angler, and we didn’t get off to a good start. My father introduced me to this toothy fish one overcast July afternoon at George’s Pond near Franklin. To entertain me, while he was casting a plug for bass, Dad dropped my line on the bottom with a small yellow perch attached. Long story short: the Mother of All Chain Pickerel became impaled on my hook. We decided to keep the fish ‘cause it was cheap groceries, and Dad had been recently put out of work. But when he attempted to boat this invader from the weeds,

I screamed, and so Dad elected to tow Jaws back to camp.

Time passed. I learned to love fishing for just about every fish Maine had to offer, save pickerel. Then I started taking my 4-yearold boy ice fishing. To keep him interested after the hot dogs were gone, I began somewhat reluctantly to fo-

early March.

The eating challenge remained, though. In our family, one never catches or kills anything that isn’t consumed. And yet the Creator -- it would seem -- did not intend for man to feast on these bone-laden fishes.

Those wispy, long bones have discouraged many a fish eater who decided

cus on pickerel. It worked.

Scotty took to it. Together we raced from flag to flag.

In fact, the fast action began to grow on us both and my childhood pickerel aversion quickly faded.

I know of no better way to get kids hooked on fishing than to expose them to an action-packed pickerel pond on a sunny day in late February of

that getting throat-speared by a sneaky fish bone was too big a price to pay for a mouthful of sweet meat.

Nevertheless, through trial and error and with the help of some preparation tips from my Medford guide Doug Russell, we eventually adopted and fine-tuned a surefire way to cook and eat pickerel free of bonechoking anxiety.

I know of no better way to get kids hooked on fishing than to expose them to an action-packed pickerel pond on a sunny day in late February of early March.

Page 3

Outdoors In Maine

by V. Paul Reynolds, Ellsworth, ME Here’s what you do: 1. Take a sharp fillet knife and carefully slice off both fillets from the pickerel leaving the skin attached to the meat.

2. Scrape off the brunt of the larger scales (but don’t work to hard at this).

3. Turn the fillet over on a cutting board, meat side up. Using a razorsharp fillet knife, start at one end of the fillet and draw the blade across the flesh until it reaches the underlying skin. Continue to make vertical cuts across the fillet. Space the cuts about one-half inch apart.

Then turn the fillet and make a series of horizontal slices similarly spaced.

What you are doing, in effect, is criss-crossing the cuts and making a cubesteak of pickerel meat with

the skin still attached and uncut.

4. Place the cubed fillets in a refrigerator dish and pour over them a cup or so of evaporated milk.

Let this set for an hour or so.

5. Remove fillets from dish and roll in your favorite fish batter (a mixture of well-peppered flour and corn meal will do fine).

6. Place the battered fillets flesh down in a skillet coated with a generous layer of cooking oil (olive oil is best) and cook until both sides are golden brown.

7. Remove and drain well on paper towels. Serve hot.

Lot of work? Yep. But don’t take shortcuts. The cubing, the milk-soaking, (Kids cont. pg 18)

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On The Cover

Winter Vacation Almost Turns Catastrophic For Me & Joe - Pg 16 Kids Pickerel Passion - Pg 3 The Togue Hunters - Pg 15 Black Bear Face-Off - Pg 51 Camps, Cottages and Land for Sale - Pg 67

Northwoods Sporting Journal 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 3. Outdoors In Maine - V. Paul Reynolds Sporting Journal prides itself on being 6. The Northwoods Bowhunter - Brian Smith an independent voice for the region’s 7. Northwoods Sketchbook - Mark McCollough 10. “A Hiker’s Life” - Carey Kish outdoor community for more than 28 11. The Gun Cabinet - John Floyd years. Some of our writers are seasoned 12. The Bird Perch - Karen Holmes and specialized outdoors people who 13.The Tyer’s Corner - Hugh Kelly will share their know-how and insights; 15. South Of The Kennebec - Stu Bristol some of our contributors are simply 16. The Adventures Of Me & Joe - Bob Cram lifelong outdoor people with interest18. Outdoor Sporting Library - Jeremiah Wood ing stories to tell.

19. Maine Tails - Jonah Paris Our aim every month is to capture 20. Aroostook Woods & Water - Mike Maynard the essence of Northern New England’s 22. Warden’s Words - Kale O’Leary remarkable outdoor heritage by stirring 24. Basic’s Of Survival - Joe Frazier 25. Native Fish Talk - Bob Mallard memories, portraying outdoor humor, 26. Cookin’ With New England’s WildCheff - Denny Corriveau and sharing experiences and outdoor 28. “The Trail Rider” - Dan Wilson knowledge. We also keep our readers 30. Muzzleloading Afield - Al Raychard up to date with late-breaking outdoor 32. Kineo Currents - Suzanne AuClair news and hard-hitting editorials about 33. Guns & Ammo: A Guide’s Perspective - Tom Kelly fish and wildlife issues.

34. The Maine Woods - Matt LaRoche Anyone who loves to hunt and 36. View From The River - Laurie Chandler fish, or simply finds the Great Outdoors 38. Maine Outdoor Adventures - Rich Yvon a treasured place, is more than likely 39. Old Tales From The Maine Woods - Steve Pinkham to find some special connections amid 40. New Hampshire Outdoors - Peter St. James 42. Best Bassin’ - Bill Decoteau the pages of the Northwoods Sporting 43. Northwoods Voyager - Gil Gilpatrick Journal.

www.sportingjournal.com

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

Contents

44. Women In The Woods - Erin Merrill 45. On The Prowl - Justin Merrill 46. On Point - Paul Fuller 49. Vermont Ramblings - Dennis Jensen 50. Outdoors In Vermont - Gary W. Moore 51. Maple Country Outdoors - Ben Wilcox 52. Green Mountain Report - Bradley Carleton 55. Against The Current - Bob Romano 56. The Franchi Momentum Rifle - Bob Banfelder 58. The Singing Maine Guide - Randy Spencer 59. Collateral Damage - V. Paul Reynolds 60. Question Of The Month - V. Paul Reynolds 61. Mass Wanderings - David Willette 62. The Back Shelf - Jack Gagnon 63. Marsh Island Chronicles - Matthew Dunlap 64. Anticosti - Mark Cote 65. “Just Fishing” - Bob Leeman 66. Cracker Barrel - Homerspit

Other Great Stories & Information

January 2023

Vol 30 Issue 1 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 Sales Department; Victor Morin,Thomas Schmidt, Paul Hatin, Michael Georgia & Mike Brown 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, 2023. 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.

Maine Tails - Pg 19 Jonah Paris

Anticosti - Pg 64 Mark Cote

8. Editorial/Letters 14. Outdoor News 41. Trading Post 54. Photo Page 67. Real Estate

Cover Photo:

Photo by Diane Reynolds

The Gun Cabinet - Pg 11 John Floyd

The Singing Maine Guide - Pg 58 Randy Spencer

January 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 5

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 6

The Northwoods Bowhunter

by Brian Smith, Machiasport, ME In the early eighties, I shot a 9-point buck that had several broken antler tines, a .270 caliber bullet lodged in his lower front leg and buck shot in his rump. He was a survivor of at least two bad encounters with previous hunters but finally fell to my 30-06. Ethical

and he slowly worked his way to my stand. With ten minutes left of legal shooting light he stood broadside at twelve yards. I drew my bow and placed the 15 yd pin on his vitals and triggered the release. The buck ducked at the shot and the arrow smacked the spine

January 2023

Fletch Had Three Lives!

but heard a deer blow so decided to wait until morning to resume the search.

We ended up grid searching all of the property for several days, crawling into thickets and watching for crows, ravens and vultures but there was no sign of the buck. It’s a sickening feeling to wound and lose a game animal and I relived the shot a 100 times.

A week into the firearms season, the same buck

and fired too soon, missing the buck clean. Ethan was very disappointed and kept saying, “I can’t believe I missed that beautiful buck, I thought I was on him.”

His grandfather took him to the range to check the rifle he had given him and found it to be dead on. We last saw Fletch later on a game camera but wondered if another hunter shot him.

morning. Just after daylight, Joyce spied a larger deer following two does and fawn and confirmed it was the same tall seven.

I put the Leupold crosshairs on his chest when he stepped out of the woods and he turned broadside at 75 yards. A high lung shot from my Browning X-Bolt 30-06 dropped him in his tracks. Thinking it could

I hunted almost every day of the bow season hoping for a chance at him but never saw a buck. On the morning of November 8th, the tall seven stepped out in front of Joyce at thirty yards just at legal light and she watched him for forty-five minutes as he followed a doe around. hunters try for the best lethal shot but sometimes it goes awry. Whitetails are tough critters that exhibit an incredible will to survive.

After bowhunting deer for three weeks in October 2021, I had seen only does and small bucks.

One evening I finally spied a tall six point we’d seen on game cameras and decided I would try for him if he presented a good shot. He was 150 yards away so I used a Primos Can Call

dropping him instantly.

Before I could nock another arrow he stood then jumped into some thick bushes where I had no follow-up shot. I watched him walk out of range and waited ten minutes before leaving my stand. I found most of my arrow broken off and the broadhead stuck in the ground. The last 2” of the arrow with fletching was missing and there was a short blood trail that petered out. My wife and I searched for more blood

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appeared on our game cameras and we could clearly see a mark above the spine over his vitals. We had videos of him feeding, sparring with other bucks and chasing does seemingly uninjured. We nicknamed him “Fletch” and followed his exploits on game cameras. On the second Saturday of the gun season we mentored fifteen year old Ethan who had never harvested a deer. He sat with Joyce in the morning as Fletch frequented the area near her stand. Shortly before legal light, Fletch stepped into view at 130 yards. Ethan was shaking as Joyce whispered for him to wait as they watched him slip away into the woods.

Ethan thought his chance was gone but Joyce assured him Fletch hadn’t gone far and would be back. After a half hour wait she decided to give the can call a try. Within a few minutes, Fletch returned and paused for a perfect broadside shot at sixty yards. She whispered for Ethan to relax and take his time but he had a little buck fever

The author with Fletch.

Later that afternoon I be Fletch, we looked for took Ethan to my stand and a scar on his back but he coached him to a perfect seemed to be unblemished. shot through the lungs of A few weeks later, when a fat three pointer at forty picking up the processed yards. His disappointment meat, our butcher presented at missing Fletch turned me with a healed section into elation as we quickly of frozen flesh and bone recovered his first deer. taken from my buck conHe got to blood trail, help taining 2” of my carbon with field dressing and later arrow and fletching. I was butchering of his buck. amazed to realize this buck In October 2022 we was indeed Fletch and had began seeing a tall seven survived my bad shot from pointer on our cameras 2021. He had matured into with similar but larger ant- a healthy 160 lb seven lers and wondered if it pointer chasing does and could be Fletch? I hunted sparring with other bucks. almost every day of the Fletch was one tough deer! bow season hoping for a chance at him but never Brian Smith is a Resaw a buck. On the morn- tired Maine State Police ing of November 8th, the Detective and NRA Field tall seven stepped out in Representative. He serves front of Joyce at thirty on the Boards of SAM-ILA yards just at legal light and Maine Bowhunter’s and she watched him for Association. He was choforty-five minutes as he fol- sen MBA Bowhunter of lowed a doe around. Over the year twice and can be breakfast, Joyce suggested reached at bowhunter@ I should try for him the next mgemaine.com

January 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Return to the Slash

Few of my Northwoods articles received as much impassioned input from readers as my October piece concerning the hundreds of moose hunting shacks that line Maine’s international boundary with Canada.

Some readers who hunt the border region relayed tales of Maine Game Wardens attempting to apprehend illegal hunters entering Maine from Quebec to retrieve moose, deer, or bears shot from the shacks. One reader relayed the story of a Game Warden years ago who caught two Quebec hunters trying to smuggle a moose across the “slash” back into Canada. The warden allegedly handcuffed one of the hunters to a tree overnight creating a minor international incident.

Others relayed their own experiences hunting near the narrow forest opening that dissects the vast North Maine Woods. A

Maine deer hunter admitted that he got lost in a blinding snowstorm late one afternoon and unknowingly crossed the international boundary. He wandered into a rockwalled cul-desac where he spied a large, orange object through the heavy snow.

It was a giant pile of carrots.

Perched high on the rocks above was a Quebec deer hunter who helped guide the lost hunter back into Maine. They remain friends to this day.

Other readers questioned whether my article may raise the ire of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In fact, the Houlton office of the Border Patrol contacted me and offered their perspective about this

Page 7

Northwoods Sketchbook

unique aspect of maintaining the integrity of the

by Mark McCollough, border. Deputy Chief of Hampden, ME the Border Patrol, Dennis Harmon, and his staff from My take-away from ample, Chief Warden Scott Houlton kindly agreed to Deputy Chief Harmon and said that they once worked Colonel Scott is that the with Canadian authorities Border Patrol and Maine to help a Maine hunter Warden Service takes their retrieve a deer that expired missions very seriously. in Canada. A New BrunsWhat might seem an innoc- wick conservation officer uous venture from Quebec agreed to drag the deer a

It was a giant pile of carrots. Perched high on the rocks above was a Quebec deer hunter who helped guide the lost hunter back into Maine. They remain friends to this day.

answer my questions. I also had dinner at the local sportsmen’s club with Dan Scott, Colonel of the Maine Warden Service.

Dan shared some thoughts about their role in patrolling the border for illegal activity.

into Maine to retrieve game (or vice versa), even of a few feet, is a serious infraction of Canadian and U.S. regulations. Canadian and Maine hunters must keep this in mind when hunting in the border region.

There is a legal way for hunters from both countries to retrieve game that inadvertently falls on the wrong side of the international boundary. As an ex-

short distance to the border where a Maine warden and the hunter waited. Deputy Chief Harmon said, “In instances like this we work in close cooperation with our law enforcement partners on both sides of the border to include the Maine Warden Service, Office of Field Operations, Canadian Border Services Agency, and the Royal Canadian (Slash cont. pg 9)

Page 8

Northwoods Sporting Journal

January 2023

Winter Ice Conditions

Each year about this time, the Maine Warden Service urges us to use extreme caution before venturing out onto any ice that may be covering Maine’s waterways.

This is timely advice. Almost every year, especially at night, a snowmobiler perishes or gets in serious trouble trying to cross thin ice or inadvertently driving a snowsled into black, open water.

This year, because of the extended period of unseasonably warm December weather, many ponds and lakes remain open, even in the northern part of the state.

As January progresses many bodies of water should “button up.” Still, caution is always advised. Maine’s lakes and ponds may appear to be frozen, however safe ice conditions cannot be assumed.

Ice conditions vary greatly throughout the state, and while ice conditions may be safe in some spots, conditions can be very dangerous in others. The Maine Warden Service is recommending that people check the thickness of any ice before ven-

Ethanol Boondoggle

turing out for any activity on frozen water.

If you must go on the ice, the Maine Warden Service offers these tips for ice safety: Never guess the thickness of the ice - Check it! Check the ice in several different places using an auger or some other means to make a test hole and determine the thickness. Make several, beginning at the shore, and continuing as you go out.

Check the ice with a partner, so if something does happen, someone is there to help you. If you are doing it alone, wear a life jacket.

If ice at the shoreline is cracked or squishy, stay off! Watch out for thin, clear or honeycombed ice. Dark snow and dark ice are other signs of weak spots.

Avoid areas with currents, around bridges and pressure ridges. Wind and currents can break ice.

Parents should alert children of unsafe ice in their area, and make sure that they stay off the ice. If they insist on using their

ing Journal). Our Ethanol Transparency Project To the Editor: (ETP) has been making Thank you for your similar arguments over the commentary featured in the past quarter century, but Piscataquis Observer (and the level of corruption has the Northwoods Sport- steadily eroded organized

resistance.

Nicholas E. Hollis Ethanol Transparency Project (ETP) Washington, D.C.

Butchering You Deer To the Editor: M a t t L a R o c h e ’s “Butchering Your Deer” (NWSJ Nov 22) is a must read for all deer hunters.

Lots of good information.

If you don’t gut your deer in the field, jerk the hide of ASAP, hang the deer for about a week, and butcher the deer yourself, you are not a real deer hunter. Just shooting a deer makes you a deer killer. My Dad enjoyed butchering a deer as

new skates, suggest an indoor skating rink.

If you break through the ice, remember: Don’t panic.

Don’t try to climb out immediately - you will probably break the ice again. Reach for solid ice.

Lay both arms on the unbroken ice and kick hard. This will help lift your body onto the ice. Once on the ice, roll, DON’T WALK, to safety.

To help someone who has fallen through the ice, lie down flat and reach with a branch, plank or rope or form a human chain. Don’t stand. After securing the victim, wiggle backwards to the solid ice.

Again, snowsledders take note. Snowsledding at night on frozen waterways can be tricky business, especially for those unfamiliar with the conditions of a lake, pond or other waterway.

- VPR

much as taking a deer. He used the meat in the rib cage too. In butchering, trimming the tallow from the meat in most important.

In checking deer hunters, it’s strange how many don’t have a knife with them or know how to gut a deer.

Don’t forget to save the heart and liver for good eating. Skin the liver for better quality meat. These two organs taste best when fresh, not frozen. The heart can be sliced and fried or baked as a stuffed (with filling) heart. Cook liver with bacon and onion, don’t overcook – keep pink inside.

Once the deer is hanging (to tenderize) without the hide we washed it down with a mixture of vinegar

and salt water, helps to tenderize the meat – from an old Italian butcher.

Pork is the best meat to mix with deer for burgers or sausage, plus black pepper or seasonings if you prefer. For an extra treat, smoke some of the sausage. Sausage meat can be put into casing, natural or artificial, for smoking.

The bird dog articles in NWSJ are important and needed. Hunters of any bird species should hunt with a good bird dog – then you are a real hunter. A good bird dog bonds with his owner and makes the hunt more enjoyable.

Fred Hartman Whiting

January 2023

Slash

(Cont. from pg 7) Mounted Police. Yes, we have few such cases where the Canadian hunter did right the thing and the animal was recovered legally and taken back to Canada.”

The bottom line, if you lose a deer or moose across the international border, call your respective Border Patrol or Warden Service agencies immediately for assistance.

Google Earth reveals that hundreds of Quebec hunting shacks punctuate the border like deer tracks in the snow. Border Patrol confirms that fact, but does not have an exact count of the hunting shacks. The Maine Warden Service does. Chief Ward Scott said that each Quebec hunting shack (and the few on the U.S. side) have been GPSlocated and are in a map database used by Wardens.

Many of the shacks have been used by Quebec families for generations.

Lest you think that no one is watching when you venture into the “slash,” consider this warning. “We regularly patrol these areas, and agents identify any activity of a moose illegally harvested on the United States border and report that game violation to the Maine Warden Service.

We also attempt to identify who may have made the illegal entry into the United States so we may take a further enforcement action on these parties.

The U.S. Border Patrol has several ways that it patrols and detects illegal entries and other illegal activities along the border. This ranges from sensors, cameras, ATV and snowmobile patrols, unmanned drone surveillance, collaboration

Northwoods Sporting Journal

with our law enforcement partners on both sides of the border, and liaison with the various camp owners and others that enjoy the North Maine Woods,” said Deputy Chief Harmon.

The U.S. Border Patrol works closely with the Maine Warden Service, Office of Field Operations, Canadian Border Services Agency, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

They have many contacts and collaborators along the border. To augment border security, Operation Stonegarden provides federal funds to local, county, and state law enforcement agencies for supplementary presence along the border.

This allows the aforementioned agencies to patrol areas under the auspices of the U.S. Border Patrol, especially at times when manpower issues do not allow them to be continually present in some areas.

Deputy Chief Harmon says, “As a result, our local and state partners have increased success in their mission and can assist us in ours.”

Although some have described the Maine-Canada border as a no-man’s land, it is far from it. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection takes their mission to defend the integrity of our borders seriously and invests considerable

staff and funds to do so.

The Maine Warden Service also considers illegal hunting activity on the border as a serious manner. Chief Warden Scott relayed a recent incident where tracks in the snow led Wardens to a Quebec man illegally hunting in Maine. The offender was apprehended and arrested.

I have a better appreciation of the efforts to

Page 9

keep our borders secure.

Despite the hundreds of hunting shacks that line the border, I have a suspicion that Canadian hunters have a hunch “that someone is looking over their shoulder…”

Mark McCollough is a retired wildlife biologist from Hampden, Maine. He can be contacted at markmccollough25@gmail.com

Have a Safe & Happy New Year!

Page 10

“A Hiker’s Life”

Northwoods Sporting Journal

by Carey Kish, Mt. Desert Island, ME With thousands of miles of hiking trails and walking paths rich in scenery, history and wildlife, New England is a hiker’s dream destination. And for trampers who appreciate beer, the region has the added appeal of being home to a burgeoning craft brewing industry that now

features 50 great hikes, each not far from a brewery or brewpub where great craft beer can be enjoyed.

The result of several years of research and writing, the new book will be available in mid-February. It was a wonderful journey, and I hope you’ll pick up a copy and enjoy the travels as

January 2023

Beer Hiking New England

and reflect, pint in hand, on the day’s outdoor activities amid jovial pub banter, while conjuring up plans for the next hike-and-brew endeavor.

The hikes selected for this guide range far and wide across the extraordinarily diverse natural landscape of New England. Among them you’ll find everything from easy pondside strolls to moderate hill walks and forest

and an amazing passion for their patrons, staff and communities.

From barns and old mill complexes to former machine shops, from main street storefronts to restored train depots, from small rural operations to large urban producers, from budding new businesses to long-established institu-

And somewhere in the vicinity of trail’s end, hikers can always find an inviting spot to enjoy a refreshing craft brew a fun place to relax and reflect, pint in hand, on the day’s outdoor activities amid jovial pub banter, while conjuring up plans for the next hike-and-brew endeavor. includes more than 700 breweries, microbreweries, brewpubs and tasting rooms. Someone should write a book about hiking and beer I’d thought many times over the years. And so finally I did.

Beer Hiking New England (2023, Helvetiq, 344 pp., $24.99 ) is the tastiest way to discover Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. The full-color guide

much as I did.

New England has hiking opportunities aplenty to suit every interest and ability, from high mountain peaks and leafy green hills, sparkling lakes and ponds, clear rushing rivers and streams to sandy dunes, beaches and rocky coastal headlands. And somewhere in the vicinity of trail’s end, hikers can always find an inviting spot to enjoy a refreshing craft brew—a fun place to relax

If you never get enough of the outdoor tips, tales and tactics in the Sporting Journal each month, or if you missed the best of our past articles, visit our online library. You don’t need a card, a password, or even a driver’s license. Just go to the Northwoods Sporting Journal website and click on Past feature Stories.... our collection of oldies but goodies is just a mouse click away!

www.sportingjournal.com

forays to strenuous mountain climbs. The majority of the hikes are loops, beginning and ending at the same trailhead, while a handful are round-trip (inand-out via the same trail).

A few hikes are one-way or point-to-point, beginning at one trailhead and ending at another.

The breweries and beer styles to be encountered are as varied as the region’s geography. New Englanders love their beer, and several states consistently rank among the highest in the nation for per capita breweries and beer consumption. “We brew the beer we love to drink” is a common refrain among brewers and brewery owners, who exude a palpable enthusiasm for their craft ORONO

tions, every New England brewery has its own unique character and flavor. The hazy, juicy, hop-forward New England IPA may be the dominant beer, but beer hikers will discover a wide range of drinkable brews on tap wherever you go— from traditional favorites to experimental batches and seasonal offerings.

The fact is that there’s a wealth of really good beer all over New England, from the New England IPA to the more traditional beers— the lagers, IPAs, wheat beers, Belgians, porters and stouts—plus fruit sours and other specialty brews. Most breweries feature a tap list of regularly available DOVER-FOXCROFT

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beers, while some have a constantly rotating tap list.

What you can always count on is variety and that you’ll find one or more beers that will delight your olfactory senses and satisfy your taste buds.

New England. Hiking. Beer. Beer Hiking New England. Great outdoor and indoor adventures await beer hikers in the pages of this new book.

Hike safely, have fun and please drink responsibly.

Cheers!

Carey Kish of Mount Desert Island, ME is editor of the AMC Maine Mountain Guide and author of AMC’s Best Day Hikes Along the Maine Coast.

His latest book, Beer Hiking New England, will be available in mid-February.

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January 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Hunter’s Remorse

Some call it a weakness. Some deny it and some never admit it. I embrace it. I’m talking about the phenomena known as hunter’s remorse. From the youngest of hunters to the most experienced sportsman, many have experienced it. I certainly

had another emotional moment, this one markedly different. I assumed he was thinking of his grandfather, his mentor and longtime hunting partner. I was half right. After a few moments I spoke with him and he revealed he was experiencing hunter’s remorse. I had the

anticipation of the coming hunt. I could tell my client Scott was a little on edge. We had discussed my plan, actions upon contact with a moose and general hunting experiences the night before. He and his family were avid upland bird hunters and while not averse to big game hunting, it was simply not as prevalent where they resided. He confessed quite candidly that he wasn’t

Page 11

The Gun Cabinet

by John Floyd, Webster Plantation, ME emerged, the frost twinkling on grasses and slash, we crept to the end of the road with the sunny clearing. The cow saw us first, rising from her bed and trotting off. I got Scott and his father-in-law (the subpermittee) in position and glassed the edge of the cut.

the roller coaster of emotions he was feeling at the moment – classic hunter’s remorse one of them.

As the adrenaline ebbed, I could see my client come to grips with his own reservations, his ability to cope with hunter’s remorse and the tumult of emotion

He confessed quite candidly that he wasn’t sure he would even be able to pull the trigger if and when the time came.

He was committed to the hunt, just uncertain of his reaction when the moment of truth was revealed.

“Hunter’s remorse can be one of the strongest emotions felt following a successful hunt.” have and still do. I believe feeling he was ashamed of it is one of the signs of a it. I assured him that in no true hunter, separating us uncertain terms should he from merely killing. Here feel that way; taking a life are a couple of my most is a visceral experience, memorable hunter remorse for some traumatic. His moments. emotion is the sign of a true Tyler was a young sportsman and a testament hunter but an accomplished to his granddad’s stewardone. By his early 20’s he ship of his early hunting had successfully taken career. plenty of nice whitetail.

On the opening mornHailing from Pennsylva- ing of an October bull nia, the heart of whitetail moose hunt, I had a hunting country, deer hunting was party of three in the truck, practically a religion for creeping down a rocky, him and his family. When washed out road enroute he arrived for his first ever to my first hunting spot. It bear hunt here at Tucker was dark as a pocket that Ridge, I was satisfied in morning and the glow of his ability and wanted to the dimmed dashboard ensure he had the best lights added to the quiet opportunity to take his first bear with his recently passed granddad’s rifle. On his second day of the hunt, he took his 380 pound boar with that rifle and I was elated to be a part of it. It was an emotional high for all of us. As we prepared the bear for some photos and field dressing, Tyler

sure he would even be able to pull the trigger if and when the time came.

He was committed to the hunt, just uncertain of his reaction when the moment of truth was revealed. I reassured him that it was his hunt, his choice and I would respect any decision he made. We had some early contact with a bull that wouldn’t come out of a stream bottom and some cow sightings later on. I could see Scott loosening up and after no success the first day, I was feeling confident for the next day; the temperature was set to plummet with clear skies in the morning.

Day two we moved further along the road following that stream where a clearing exposed to the rising sun lay. As first light

The bull moose popped up and after he took a step giving us the broadside shot I told Scott to take him. It was the moment of truth.

He fired and the bull went down. A follow up shot from his father-in-law kept it down. Standing over the bull in preparation for retrieval, I noticed Scott was having some serious mixed emotions. I took him to the side and asked if he was okay. He noted what a magnificent animal it was and

involved in killing a big game animal. Emotions I believe we all should feel after the shot.

John is a Registered Maine Guide, an NRA Certified Instructor and 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 @tuckerridgeoutdoors

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Page 12

The Bird Perch

Sporting Journal Northwoods

The Godwits

by Karen Holmes, Cooper, ME I have always found writing the “Bird Perch” to be fun. I am able to share my love of birds with people beyond Maine.

Recently one of my readers sent me a letter and an article with a remark-

battered, much used 1980 edition of A Field Guide to the Birds” by Roger Tory Peterson.

I found information only about the Hudsonian Godwit and the Marbled Godwit. The Hudsonian is

Black-tailed Godwit and the Bar-tailed Godwit. The Black-tailed and Bar-tailed are found in spring on the western Aleutians and the Alaskan coast.

All Godwits are large shorebirds with very long straight or upturned bills.

They often stand in water up to their bellies which is too deep for most shore-

January 2023

finally on Tasmania. What a remarkable event!

The Arctic Tern has long-been considered the long-distance champion of avian migration.

It breeds in the Northern Hemisphere and winters in Antarctic waters of the

nia, the southernmost state of Australia. It covered 8,435 miles without stopping.

Another Bar-tailed Godwit had flown 7,580 miles from Alaska to New Zealand and in the Guinness World Records in

Southern Hemisphere. It flies 22,000 miles on this trip. The Bar-tailed Godwit was tagged as a hatchling in Alaska during this past summer. This allowed it to have a tracking GPS chip and a tiny solar panel.

On October 13th, the now juvenile plumage bird left southwest Alaska. On October 24th, it reached the northeastern tip of Tasma-

2020 this is listed as the longest recorded migration by a bird without stopping for food or rest. The Records will now have to be changed. I find it so remarkable and humbling that a bird is able to do such a feat. Mankind constantly discovers it does not have all the answers and there is always something new to be learned. Since I am writing this for my January column, my New Year’s resolution will be to continue my love of nature, especially of birds. And I will never be bored because there is always something interesting and beautiful to learn.

All Godwits are large shorebirds with very long straight or upturned bills. They often stand in water up to their bellies which is too deep for most shorebirds. Their long bill enables them to plunge into mud or sand deeply for food. able bird story. Thank you, Jack, for your compliments about my writing. And I will now share the story he sent me about a remarkable migratory journey of a Bar-tailed Godwit. I was unfamiliar with this species and so I first searched my

an irregular fall migrant on the east coast of the U.S. The Marbled is hardly ever seen there, but is common on the U.S. western coast, Texas Gulf coast and Florida. I was glad I also have western birds field guides. In them I found the

birds. Their long bill enables them to plunge into mud or sand deeply for food. A young Bar-tailed has now set a nonstop distance record for migratory birds. It flew 8,435 miles from Alaska, down the Pacific Ocean, and landed

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Karen Holmes lives in Cooper, Maine. She is a retired teacher and now enjoys being a free-lance writer. She hopes that 2023 will be the year she completely recovers from hip surgery and can go out hunting and fishing again in beautiful DownEast Maine.

January 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Bird’s Nest

This month’s fly is a suggestive nymph originated by fly shop owner Cal Bird in California. The pattern has migrated steadily eastward since the early 1960s and though it has a presence here, you don’t see it often.

The beauty of this fly is that it suggests several food sources and can be tailored to your local color of caddis, mayfly or stonefly etc. by simply changing the color of the dubbed body.

Recipe for the Bird’s Nest Hook – 2x long nymph hook, size 10-16 Tail – Wood duck flank Rib – Copper wire Thread – Match dubbing color Body – Dubbed with color desired Hackle – Wood duck flank Thorax— Same dubbing as body I used some substitutions. I used teal flank dyed

474-5430

Page 13

brown for the tail and hackle, I used a mix of yellow rabbit fur and natural squirrel fur 50/50 for the dubbing. This blend is easy to make in the palm of your hand and works well as an all-around color.

Tie some flank feather fibers for the tail, about as long as the hook gap. Tie in the wire rib but don’t wind it yet. I like dubbing mixed 50/50% rabbit fur and squirrel because it is

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inexpensive and wraps on the thread well. I got this dubbing recipe from a pattern by Jack Gartside called the Sparrow.

The squirrel fur is spikey and has great bug like texture and the rabbit fur binds it together

and in this case, gives it a splash of color. If you prefer a synthetic blend or some other material for your dubbing, feel free to use what works for you. Give some thought

The Tyer’s Corner

by Hugh Kelly, Detroit, ME

to dubbing yarn. Wind on a dubbed body but leave a bit of extra room for a thorax in front of the hackle.

Wind the wire over the dubbed body, tie off and cut the excess. The hackle is the same material as the tail and Cal’s original recipe suggests using three sparse bunches of hackle fibers. One on each side and one on top.

This technique allows you to shorten the fibers to match the hook size. The hackle should

extend back to the bend of the hook. Sparse is the word here.

Finish the fly with a dubbed thorax.

This is an all-purpose pattern that can represent several common food items and is easy to tie. It may not have originated in Maine, but the design is a good one and the materials will appeal to Yankee thriftiness. You should have this fly in several colors, try black.

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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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 14

January 2023

Outdoor News - January 2023 Edited by V. Paul Reynolds

January. For ice fishermen, this is the best month to fish landlocked salmon. Early March is nicer, but the action is generally slower then. Liberalized togue limits on many waters make for extra opportunity. Maine in January can be harsh, but for those willing to be bold with the cold there is much to do in the outdoors. Snowsledders and cross country skiers will be busy enjoying some of the best trails in the country. Our snowmobile trail system stretches from Kittery to Fort Kent and provides incomparable snowsled opportunities.

The toughest among us will keep on hunting: rabbits, coyotes and sea ducks.

Meanwhile, some of us will hunker down near a warm stove, dream of spring and tie up some dry flies with an eye to warmer days.

However you get through Maine in January, all of us at the Northwoods Sporting Journal wish you a peaceful and prosperous New Year!

Subscribe Today!

(See pg 49)

Bluefin Bonanza Continues Support for Education, Conservation

The Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza tuna tournament continued their mission of supporting community, conservation and education with awards to several local groups.

At the Southern Maine Community College Marine Science Center, CBBB president Bob Humphrey presented a check for $41,000 to Marine Science program director Brian Tarbox. These funds will be awarded as $1,000 scholarships to 14 students, 2 from each of Maine’s 7 community colleges enrolled in trades and marine sciences programs and an additional $1,000 scholarship for two students, one each from Southern Maine Community College and Central Maine Community College. The remaining $25,000 will be added to the Bonanza’s endowment with the Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges, bringing the total accumulation to $50,000.

This will ensure scholarships in perpetuity.

“We congratulate the

Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza for another successful event and appreciate your continued support of the students of Maine’s community colleges,” said Foundation President John Fitzsimmons. “Maine’s community colleges are committed to creating a skilled and educated workforce and to building a more prosperous Maine.

The impact of a gift like yours is significant and can be seen on the campuses of Maine’s seven community colleges.”

The Bluefin Bonanza also awarded a check for $40,000 to Liz Erickson, Director of Philanthropy at the University of Maine Foundation and Dr. Walt Golet, Assistant Professor from the UMaine School of Marine Sciences, and Research Scientist at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute. These funds will provide internships for 6 students working at GMRI, and support bluefin tuna research conducted by the Highly Migratory Species lab at GMRI. The internships provide a valuable opportunity for students to gain practical experience in the field and make connections that will help them

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.

“This wonderful fishing book is the gospel when it comes to streamer flies and trolling tactics. A Classic!

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advance their professional careers. Meanwhile, research support helps ensure that the resource and the fishery remain healthy and sustainable.

“We are very proud to be able to give back to the community that supports us,” said Humphrey.

“Many of the businesses that support our annual event are in dire need of skilled trades workers and our scholarships help produce more qualified individuals for the local work force. Meanwhile, our support of the GMRI students and staff ensures that the best available science is applied in managing our valuable bluefin tuna resource, which in turn, supports local fishermen and the countless businesses associated with their infrastructure.”

tions are listed in the Index of River and Streams you can fish year round by following these rules: Only artificial flies or lures are permitted outside of the open season for trout (2nd Sat. in April – Oct. 31).

Catch and release only (trout must be immediately released where caught), except during the open season for trout.

During open season for trout, follow normal size restrictions, daily limits and possession limits.

Winter Bird Feeding

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department recommends Vermonters wait to put up bird feeders until December 1 to avoid attracting bears.

“Winter bird feeding

Left to Right Jane Humphrey, CBBB Secretary; Shawn Tibbetts, CBBB Vice President; Brian Tarbox, SMCC Marine Sciences; Bob Humphrey, CBBB President; Jessica Metayer, CBBB Treasurer.

Vermont Winter Fishing

Even if you’re not fishing during the open season for trout (2nd Sat. in April – Oct. 31), most stream and rivers are still open year-round in Vermont.

If no special regula-

is a good way to attract birds arriving from Canada, including evening grosbeaks and purple finches, as well as resident birds including northern cardinals and black-capped chickadees,” said Doug (News cont. pg 27)

Northwoods Sporting Journal

January 2023

The Togue Hunters

These men and women are a rare and hearty breed, for sure. They travel Maine from end to end, in snowstorms, ice and rain, sometimes for hours at a time in a single day. Armed with modern ice fishing

although that technique sometimes works.

Lake trout are called “togue” by Maine anglers and considered to be the longest lived and largest “native” freshwater game fish. Togue have been

rent Maine State Record is 39.2 pounds taken from Richardson Lake in western Maine.

Their diet is varied from plankton to foot-long white or yellow perch, smelt and suckers. Surprisingly they will also take a small 3-inch shiner but in deep winter at depths of 100 feet or more anglers need to employ specialized lures.

Page 15

South Of the Kennebec

by Stu Bristol, Lyman, ME are over-populated with lake trout and a few the regulations have been lifted. One example is Sebago Lake with a daily bag limit only on lake trout measuring over 26 inches. Double digit catches year-round are common. While there are

This type of ice fishing is more challenging than scientific. Each angler needs to have that special feel for a feeding togue.

Caleb Lavoie with deep water togue.

(Photo by Stu Bristol)

One of the most productive is the versatile soft swim bait and fliptail grubs in 3-6-inch size fished on a snakehead flat jig head. Popular colors are copper, white or silver spoons.

Back to the location search, the IF&W website offers lake depth maps on most of the popular lakes.

For deep water ice fishing, cross off the shallow lakes of 80 feet or less. Only a few exist is southern and central Maine, hence the need to head Downeast.

Some southern ponds

huge lakers in Sebago, the younger fish usually beat them to the choice baits.

Usually the dedicated deep water anglers will connect with the fat boys.

In northern Maine lakes the population is less concentrated allowing fish to grown larger and make for attractive targets of modern “Togue Hunters.”

Look in the regulations for lakes that have strict bag limits on togue and you should find larger fish.

As I mentioned earlier, Togue Hunters are a hearty bunch but they

gear they search for the known to live 20 years Togue (Lake Trout) honey or more and pushing the holes looking for those length of a yardstick. Curelusive 20 pounders. They are the “Togue Hunters.”

We are not talking ----Hunting Lodge & Outfitter---about randomly drilling a Located in Zone 4 in the Adaptive Unit North Section and only 13 10-inch hole in sometimes miles from the South Section. Offering fully guided or bed and meals. over two feet of ice. Careful study of Navionics bathymetric maps, satellite imagery and state-of-theSTILL OPENINGS FOR THE art sonar units are all in 2023 BEAR SEASON play.

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travel using ATV or snowmobile pulling a sled loaded with a quilted pop-up shelter, propane heater, battery-operated ice drill and sophisticated sonar of the Garmin E7 or higher resolution, and, of course a GPS to find exact location of underwater humps and rock piles.

Navionics offers a cellphone app that works well for little money (and a free short trial). Due to the depths being fished, anglers need a short rod with a fast tip and stiff butt. Instead of monofilament line they generally use a low-stretch Power Pro in 30 pound test and a long fluorocarbon leader.

If you are blessed to be living near one of these deep water lakes, appreciate the distance and hardship the togue hunters endure. They most times sleep in their trucks or their ice tents and almost always (Togue cont. pg 21)

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 16

The Adventures of Me and Joe

Fighting The Cold

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

Although some may not realize it, life as a Maine teenager is filled with ritual. This is true today and was also true during the early 1960s when me and Joe were making our convoluted way through high school in the northern Maine village of Mooseleuk.

By ritual I mean accepted and traditional patterns of behavior. Just as is the case today, only certain clothing styles were acceptable. Hairstyles had to fit into a certain pattern.

Recreational activities, the sports and hobbies that made rural life bearable, fit within narrowly defined patterns.

One ritual practice religiously followed by me and Joe together with our friends, Gasper Gooch and Condon Fishbane, was spending part of school vacation at camp. Without fail the four of us spent the week after school got out in June at a camp far back in the woods. We also spent

the week of winter vacation at the same camp.

Today it might seem strange to allow teenagers to spend a week unsupervised in the winter wilds of Maine without benefit of phone, vehicular access, or the various creature comforts we take for granted. But, as Joe’s father put it, “if them boys ain’t able to stay out in the woods on their own by now, they ain’t never gonna be ready!”

This was to be our third season of staying in Uncle Arnold’s old cabin on Cedar Brook Lake. Our parents pretty much took our expeditions for granted by now since, as Joe put it, we’d escaped alive every time so far.

The last week of school before winter vacation was mostly a waste for us, education-wise.

Our time was spent passing notes in class, planning menus, detailing gear requirements, and generally making our teachers’ lives

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

The result was immediate and catastrophic. A sheet of flame as wide as the stove shot to the ceiling with a whooshing roar. The interior of the bunkroom was bathed in a harsh yellow glow.

miserable. By the time Friday rolled around they were glad to get rid of us.

Uncle Arnold dropped five of us off, together with a mountain of duffle, at the frozen landing on Cedar Brook. It was a threemile hike up the ice of the stream to the pond where the cabin nestled in a thicket of hemlock and cedar on the western shore.

As Uncle Arnold’s old Model B Ford pickup sputtered away up the road, we took stock of the supplies and split most of it up to be dragged on a pair of sleds along the steam’s snowy

surface.

This year another friend from school had asked to go along. Turner Budge was a somewhat overweight boy with a cherubic face and a love for sweets. He was a good addition to the group and we had enjoyed his company on several warm weather excursions the previous summer. If Turner had one fault it was his preoccupation with the cold. Winter would be a great time, he maintained, if it weren’t for the low temperatures involved.

We slogged up the

frozen surface of Cedar Brook, our snowshoes making a clattering noise on the frequent patches of bare ice. Turner was dressed to the hilt, wrapped in a half dozen layers of wool and felt, his chubby face barely visible in the cone-like opening of his hood.

“Gee, it’s cold!” he complained after the first mile. “Hope we get to camp soon so we can get a good, roaring fire going.” “ I t ’s t e n d e g r e e s above zero, Turner,” Joe smiled. “Jist a nice winter (Me & Joe cont. pg 17)

Marty

Shown actual size

Connie Higgs

(Marty was found on pg 3)

Address City

January 2023

State

Phone I found Marty on page

Zip

Entries must be postmarked by 1/16/23 to be eligible for this issue.

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.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

January 2023

Me & Joe

(Cont. from pg 16) day. You know we got two miles ter go. You been up to camp in the summer.”

“Yeah, but in the winter it seems twice as long.”

He grinned wryly. “Does that big cast iron box heater work as good as it looks?”

“That heater will… uh…roast you right out.”

Condon Fishbane commented. “It’s just…uh…a little hard to get started, is all.”

“The cook stove starts easy (gasp). We let Joe start the big (gasp) heater.

He knows all its (gasp) faults.” Gasper Gooch shot a sly glance over at Turner.

“Course, if he can’t get it (gasp) started, we’ll all turn into (gasp) Popsicles.”

“Right,” I agreed, adding to Turner’s uncertainty. “The radio said it’s gonna go down to 30 below tonight.”

Turner’s eyes shot back and forth between us with uncertainty. “Say, if it gets that cold…I mean, if Joe can’t get the stove going, maybe we’d better head back…”

“I’ll git the heater goin’,” Joe said, giving the rest of us a disgusted look.

“Ain’t never failed yet. Jist you keep tuggin’ on that sled, Turner, or we won’t git to camp before it hits

25 below.” At that, Turner immediately leaned on the straps and forged ahead at double the pace.

An hour later we rounded the last point and saw the cabin perched on its beach a dozen yards from the shoreline, its low roof cloaked in a foot of snow. As we pulled up in front everyone pitched in to unload the sled and open up the camp. Food and supplies were stacked up on shelves, sleeping bags were unrolled on bunks and we all pitched in to bring seasoned beech and maple firewood in from the woodshed.

Within minutes cedar kindling was snapping and crackling in the firebox of the old Wood & Bishop cookstove. Turner huddled over the cast iron surface as it began to rapidly gather heat.

In the meantime Joe began his ministrations on the big, square, cast iron heater. The cabin was a two-room affair built in a tee shape. The main part of the cabin, containing the kitchen and eating areas, had its broadest side facing the pond, an open porch built along the front. The back part of the tee was the bunkroom, reached by an open doorway midway in the back wall of the main cabin. Double bunks were

built along two walls of this smaller room and the big wood heater was located in the corner to the right of the door, beside a north-facing window.

As Joe bent over the innards of the stove, black smoke drifted around the bunkroom and drifted out into the main cabin. Turner came to stand in the doorway, still swathed in wool.

“How’s it coming, Joe?” he asked anxiously.

“Almost there,” Joe replied, picking up a tiny tumbler of clear fluid.

“Time fer the secret ingredient.” “ W h a t ’s t h e … ? ” Turner began, but Joe had already dumped the contents of the tumbler into the open top of the stove. Immediately a tongue of flame leaped up and the kindling took off with a spate of furious snapping. Joe hurriedly closed the cover and turned to the wide-eyed Turner.

“Jist a little bit o’ white gas,” he smiled.

“Gotta be careful how you use it, but it sure gits this ol’ parlor stove goin’ quick on a cold day.” He opened the damper and draft and cautiously added a few small sticks of bone-dry maple to the fire. “ S a y, t h a t w o r k s great,” Turner replied enthusiastically. “It’s warming up in here already.

Page 17

By nightfall all the chores were done and we were sitting down to a supper of deer steak, mashed potatoes and canned fiddleheads. Outside the northwest wind was rising and a full moon made the landscape nearly as bright as day. The old thermometer on the porch stood at 15 below and dropping but in the camp it was almost too hot with both stoves going.

“After the dishes are (gasp) done, we can (gasp) let the kitchen stove go out,” Gasper said to Turner.

“The heater keeps it (gasp) pretty comfortable all by itself.”

“Feels just fine to me right now,” Turner said, his flushed face wreathed in a happy smile.

When the dishes were done, Joe turned off the 2-mantle Coleman lantern and took it outside to refill by the light of a kerosene lamp. Turner watched curiously through the window as Joe carefully filled the lantern’s base from a gallon glass jar filled with clear liquid.

“What’s in the jug?”

Coleman fuel?” He asked.

“Nope. Coleman fuel’s too expensive for our budget,” I said. “That’s white gas. Unleaded gas, really. It clogs up the generator eventually but it’s a lot cheaper than Coleman

fuel.”

Joe screwed the cap back on the lantern, put the screw lid back on the jar of white gas and carefully stowed it in a corner of the porch.

We played cards until late, interrupted only by Joe’s occasional trip to the bunkroom to throw another junk of hardwood into the heater. By midnight we were all yawning.

“Time ter hit the sack,” Joe said finally. “We got all week ter play cards an’ tell yarns.”

I looked out at the thermometer. Twenty-five below. The wind drove a sheet of fine snow across the moonlit surface of the pond. I shivered. The sleeping bag would feel good tonight.

We all settled into our bunks as Joe filled the cavernous interior of the heater with heavy blocks of maple. Closing the lid and the damper, he shut the draft and finally turned off the Coleman light, hanging from his hook near the doorway. As I dozed off the slight ticking of the stove and the whine of the wind outside were the only sounds.

The cold woke me up.

Stove’s finally burnt out, I thought drowsily. I glanced at the luminous dial of my (Me & Joe cont. pg 35)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 18

Outdoor Sporting Library

by Jeremiah Wood, Ashland, ME

It was the 1920’s and Donald Smith was just a boy. At 18 the Connecticut born farm kid found himself managing a small hotel in New Jersey and badly in need of a vacation. He took

matching wits with the animals and Mother Nature, and tackling the challenges of a beautifully extreme environment.

So he quit his job and moved north. The Hearst

The Great Trapline

trapline. They spent many seasons trapping together and building a circuit of cabins and trails to accommodate their activities. Beginning in early winter when fur began to prime, they would set traps for various furbearers: marten, lynx, fox, weasel, otter, beaver and mink.

So he quit his job and moved north. The Hearst area was true wilderness at the time, with a small railroad the only connection to civilization, help and supplies. a fishing trip to Northern Ontario, in the Hearst area, and found a paradise that would be his home for a decade.

A chance encounter with an old time trapper during his fishing trip made a big impression on Don. He realized he could start a trapline up here and make his living in the outdoors,

area was true wilderness at the time, with a small railroad the only connection to civilization, help and supplies. Don teamed up with another trapper the first season, but quickly established his own trapline and started building cabins.

It wasn’t long before Don’s brother Sid came north to join him on the

January 2023

Trails would be cleared and cabins stocked up with needed food and supplies.

Most years, a moose or two would be killed to supply the winter’s meat and a variety of small game and beaver filled out the pot.

The Smith trapline cabins varied widely in size and amenities. Most were small, simple log structures

with pole and dirt roofs, a couple of bunks and a wood stove. They kept the cold out, but didn’t do much more. But after a long day on the trail in brutally cold weather and hard physical exertion, they were far better than sleeping under the stars.

Don and his brother Sid named each of their cabins, and each had unique stories associated with them. After all, a decade of life in the wilderness is bound to come with its share of memories. They all added up to what Smith called ‘The Great Trapline’. It was on this line that Don and his brother supplied fur they sold to cover expenses, make a good living and support family members back home. It was a different world in those days.

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A laborer’s wages brought $80 a month. During a six month trapping season, Don could make more than three times that amount by selling fur. The beauty, romance and adventure associated with the lifestyle?

Well, that was tacked on for free.

“The Great Trapline” was first published in 1980.

After significant demand, a French language version was published in 1998, followed by a second printing in English in 2003. It’s a well written story accompanied by a pile of interesting and historic photos.

J e r e m i a h c a n b e re a c h e d a t jrodwood@gmail.com.

His new book, “More than Wolverine” offers a unique perspective on wilderness traplines.

Kids

(Cont. from pg 3) and the frying in hot oil all serve to minimize the bones and liberate all of that sweet, succulent fish flesh. And it is some good!

In fact, prepared this way, a winter-caught chain pickerel will give any pan-fried trout or salmon a run for its money.

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 at 7 p.m. Sundays on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network. He has authored three books; online purchase information is available at www.sportingjournal.com Click on Outdoor Books.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

January 2023

Page 19

Ice Fishing Misadventures In theory, ice fishing can almost be considered romantic. Drill a hole, set bait on a trap, or jig a lure, and wait until a fish bites.

To pass time, the cribbage

But what about those days on the ice when nothing seems to go right?…

Days that begin with wet socks, a tipped bucket in the back seat and two doz-

fishing trip in college was a bust. Aside from getting pulled out of a ditch by an old farmer and his tractor, and the hellish cusk trip to Moosehead (stories for another time), the following misadventures are hard to forget.

Alligator Blizzard A group of us from the UMaine Fishing Club

Maine Tails

By Jonah Paris, Scarborough, ME the transportation - in his brand new, fully loaded Ford F150. The Stud Mill, like many dirt highways in Maine, can either be smooth and nicely graded, or ridden with holes capable of swallowing up

ing, a full blown blizzard rolled in from the hills.

The storm was not expected, or actually it probably was, but certainly none of us bothered to check the weather forecast. And despite the falling pres-

The man looked like he was going to give us advice on how to maneuver the truck. Instead, he shouted, “Well that was dumb, boys. You could die out here.” The woman seated behind him nodded her head.

board comes out, a lively discussion is sparked - always at the expense of one of the crew, and in the comfort of a lawn chair, you crack open the Sporting Journal. Amidst an ample supply of snacks, venison steaks sizzle away on the green Coleman stove, and beverages stay cold. The sun is out, the temperature is mild, and there is no wind. When you turn around, a flag is up and the spool is spinning.

en dead smelts on the floor mats, and an auger that refuses to fire up. I seem to have a lot of those days.

In fact, the more I think back on it, almost every ice

decided to venture down the Stud Mill Road one winter morning. Running eastward through the DownEast high country, the Stud Mill connects Milford with the Grand Lake Stream region. My buddy Kyle, who allegedly had an uncle with a camp somewhere on Alligator Lake at some point, suggested the destination during a biology lab. Supposedly, the lake was home to big fish.

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a pickup truck. The Stud Mill, no matter the time of year, tends to be the latter.

We arrived at the lake in the dark and made our way out to a cove. It was cold. By sunrise the wind started to blow, and snow began to fall. By late morn-

sure and a collective army of traps, the fishing was painfully slow - a common occurrence for me. One small trout was caught by someone else.

From the south, we heard the distant moan of (Ice Fishing cont. pg 23)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal January 2023 Aroostook Woods devastating one for our res- should the trend continue; Winter ticks spend their ident moose population. A and there’s no reason to lives attached to one host; & Water prolonged warming trend think it won’t. a moose. Deer ticks are the

Page 20

Ticks and Moose

by Mike Maynard, Perham, ME Winter ticks: They’re here to stay. Aroostook County is seeing a significant drop in our moose population because of them. Places (my backyard) where moose have been a generational pain in the arse due to overpopulation, are now moose ghost towns. I literally have not seen a moose wander through my yard in at least

Piscataquis and Somerset counties was 90%. Raising cattle for decades, we never saw a tick on one of our cows, yet the research will tell you that ungulates: deer, moose, etc, as well as cattle and horses, are susceptible. Unlike deer and dog ticks, moose ticks hunt in packs; …it’s true! The larvae gather in interlocking clumps on vegetation,

to the end of the summer season (warmest October in History, November right behind it) has given the winter tick everything it needs to continue its devastation of our moose population.

Hunting this fall, we constantly checked every grouse and rabbit for ticks, and found none. My dog, he runs like water, has never come home with a single tick. If I lived down-

Maine’s solution to the tick problem is to kill more moose. If you think like a bureaucrat, it makes sense. Kill all the moose and the tick problem will

harlots of the forest, engaging in scandalous behavior and wanton self-gratification. They spend their days in a quest to ‘interact’ with as many animals as

Cold temperatures early in the season will usually work well to stall a winter tick offensive, but years like this one (71° on November 4th in Caribou) are a harbinger of doom.

three years. It isn’t overhunting that’s doing them in, it’s a creature called the ‘winter tick’. I’m not a biologist so I don’t understand all the nuances of this evil little critter, I just know it sucks (literally).

What stands out to me, is that grouse are not affected, rabbits are not affected, neither are deer. Yet 86% of all the moose calves that were radio collared by F&G in the last three years, are dead. The mortality rate for calves in May alone, in

and when a passing moose brushes up against the tick collective, they grab ahold and thousands of ticks go along for the ride.

Cold temperatures early in the season will usually work well to stall a winter tick offensive, but years like this one (71° on November 4th in Caribou) are a harbinger of doom; we cannot sustain these levels, no matter what your personal opinions on global warming may be. This year is going to be a particularly

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state, I would be bathing in permethrin to stave off the onslaught. But here, there doesn’t seem to be a tick problem, …unless you’re a moose.

UMaine extension service will tell us that some animals, deer, cattle, horses, other ungulates, are fairly adept at removing the winter tick through grooming. The moose fails at this.

Why? I have no idea, and every time I pose the question to F&G, I don’t get a satisfactory answer. What you need to know is that sustained 70° temps in November, when there should be snow on the ground, are not helping matters one bit.

This is Aroostook County, we don’t have 70 degree temps in July, let alone November! (alright, I’m exaggerating a wee bit). There isn’t a damn thing you and I can do about the warming temperatures, other than go along for the ride and bitch and moan about the whole affair; I’m not offering a solution here, I’m just letting you know that there aren’t going to be a lot of wall hangers in your future

(Illustration by V. Paul Reynolds)

go away, right? Remember Arnaud Amalric? He’s the guy who said, “Kill them all and let God sort them out”. He wasn’t talking about moose, but he might as well have been. The state has decreed that if they kill enough moose, the ticks will somehow vanish. A single tick lays upwards of 3,000 eggs at a time. Males, usually just go along for the ride (I know, right?).

While the females will climb aboard and immediately start sucking the life right out of you (seriously, no jokes here, please).

The males hang on and do nothing, until they die (…biting my tongue) The females will take a bite as a larvae, and a second bite as a nymph. Sounds like a fly fisherman’s dream, until you realize that they’re the ‘dirty-bombs’ of the natural world.

Winter ticks are a one-trick pony, they won’t spread diseases like deer ticks because they don’t have a wandering eye.

possible. The moose tick, on the other hand, is an adherent of the animal kingdom’s Ten commandments.

If you’re a hard-working male winter tick, you never need worry about your wife jumping the fence. Cold temperatures and an early snow will greatly reduce the winter tick’s ability to thrive, even survive. But the last 5 of 6 years up here have seen a ridiculous warming trend at the outset of the season; just what these little bastids want. Yes, last winter was a brutally cold one, but it took its sweet time getting here. When it finally did, the damage was already done. I can’t image the horrors being visited upon our resident moose herd as I write this. It was 71° today. 70° yesterday, and much the same is forecast for the next several days.

Mike Maynard can be reached at perhamtrout@ gmail.com

Northwoods Sporting Journal

January 2023

Togue

BEST SHOT!

(Cont. from pg 15) have a 7-hour or more trip each way.

Obviously, I will not divulge the names of lakes even though they are obvious. Serious anglers never want others to hear about their success in favorite waters. Just as with bass fishing using specialized electronics or hunting deer with modern cellphone game trail cameras, it is the skill of the individual that leads them to success.

Stu Bristol is a Master Maine Guide and Outdoor Writer. His columns and features have been published nationwide for nearly 60 years. Inducted into NE Wild Turkey Hunting Hall of Fame in 2019.

He operates Orion Guide Service in Southern Maine and makes custom game calls at www.deadlyimpostergamecalls.com

Page 21

I’m reading Me & Joe to my dad who passed away back in 2003. Makes me feel close to him, plus he taught me how to shoot, hunt, fish and trap at a young age. He was just like Me & Joe throughout his years. When he was too old to go he still loved to tell stories of his adventures.

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Warden’s Words

Northwoods Sporting Journal

by Game Warden Kale O’Leary, Ashland, ME The Maine Warden Service is looking for the public’s assistance on two separate incidents that occurred during the fall of 2022. Along with support from Maine Operation Game Thief and the United States Fish and Wildlife,

ing poaching crimes can reach out to Maine OGT via the 1-800-ALERT-US hotline, where information will be then be given to the appropriate Warden for the assigned area.

However, in an effort to modernize and stream-

Rewards Offered!

or personal information is needed in order to send a text style message through the Tip411 app. Other capabilities of Tip411 also allows the user to share photos, coordinates and various other multimedia information that can be seen only by us as Wardens.

Maine OGT is encouraging anyone with a smartphone to download the app, but as always, the 1-800-ALERT-

and intentionally covered based on evidence collected at the scene.

The moose was found in a large clear cut, several hundred yards off the Rocky

During the September moose hunting week in Zone 2, the Maine Warden Service located a bull moose that had been covered with several small trees in an obvious effort to avoid its detection. After a thorough investigation, it was determined that this moose had been shot and intentionally covered based on evidence collected at the scene. substantial rewards are being offered in both cases for information leading to conviction of both crimes.

I would like to also take a quick moment to share some news regarding Maine Operation Game Thief and a new way that we are now collecting information. As always, concerned citizens who wish to share information regard-

line the reporting of information, OGT has recently begun utilizing an app which can be downloaded onto a cellphone called “Tip411”. After downloading the Tip411 app from any app store onto your smartphone, you can then connect to the app and share information via text.

As always, this information is anonymous and no name

US hotline will continue to be an option.

During the September moose hunting week in Zone 2, the Maine Warden Service located a bull moose that had been covered with several small trees in an obvious effort to avoid its detection. After a thorough investigation, it was determined that this moose had been shot

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Brook Road near the 36mile marker in T13 R11 WELS. This large clear cut also stretches from the Rocky Brook Road to short, dead-end spur road that is unnamed. This unnamed road is directly across from the 5 Finger Brook Road if headed south on the Rocky Brook Road, and is a likely area where the

moose was shot from. The moose was found approximately 400 yards from the unnamed road and roughly 500 yards from the Rocky Brook Road. It is believed that the suspected party spent some time in this area concealing the animal before leaving.

Any information, even as small as seeing a vehicle parked near this location or subjects standing out in the clear cut could be of significance and be the piece of information needed to solve this case.

Maine Operation Game Thief is offering a $3,000 dollar reward in connection with this case.

(Rewards cont. pg 29)

Northwoods Sporting Journal

January 2023

Ice Fishing (Cont. from pg 19) a snowmachine. Two figures, a man and a woman, appeared on an old Arctic Cat. They waved, stopped, mumbled something about action-packed fishing, and headed back out of sight.

By early afternoon, five or six inches of snow had fallen, and we needed to head out. The fresh snow, along with the old snow already on the road, and the ice frozen in the ruts under that old snow, created tough road conditions.

Mitch’s truck could not make it up the initial hill.

As several of us pushed against the rear bumper, we heard a familiar sound. The old Cat pulled up alongside. The man hollered, “You have chains?” “No,” my friend replied. “You have a plow?” “No.” A long pause ensued. The man looked like he was going to give us advice on how to maneuver the truck.

Instead, he shouted, “Well that was dumb, boys. You could die out here.” The woman seated behind him nodded her head.

The guy, now quite pleased with his dramatic comment, and his wife’s agreement, slowly got up to help push. With several of us sitting on the tailgate attempting to weigh down the back end, we finally after a long, wind-burnt, frost-bitten ride - made it back to the pavement.

None of us have returned to Alligator Lake since.

Mopang Gale A few years back, my friend Sully and I had planned a trip to Mopang Lake. We invited my uncle and cousin to join. It was supposed to be a bit breezy, but we had dreams of catch-

ing leviathan splake. A spectacular sunrise greeted us from the lake, and as the sun got higher, the wind started to rip. Gale force winds. We would later learn that gusts exceeded 50 miles an hour.

A flag popped and Sully landed a salmon.

After the action, Sully and I decided to check traps, while my uncle and cousin jigged from within the pop-up shack. The shack was secured by eight ice anchors.

Suddenly a terrific

gust of wind blew and grabbed the shack. Immediately, all eight straps to the ice anchors were sheared, and the shack went tumbling down the lake. My uncle and cousin lay sprawled in a heap on the ice, both knocked down as the shack took flight.

Sully took three steps forward as if running to catch his shack, but soon realized his efforts would have been futile. Along with the shack, we watched as a pair of prescription sunglasses, several dozen smelt, a

Southern Aroostook

Page 23

pack basket, two sleds, a skimmer, tackle boxes, an audio speaker, coolers and thermoses, and over a dozen traps raced to the far shoreline half a mile away.

As traps blew out of the holes, yards of line ran off the spools, and baits - now very dead - dragged behind on the ice.

The rest of the day was spent picking up gear scattered throughout the

woods. No splake were caught. And if anyone happens to find a fully stocked jig box lodged among the pines out Quillpig Mountain way, please reach out.

A four-season outdoorsman, Jonah lives in Gorham, ME with his fiancée, Ashley, and beagle, Aurora. Jonah can be reached at jonaheparis@ gmail.com.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 24

Basics Of Survival

by Joe Frazier, Bangor, ME Once you have your base layer, insulation is the next layer. What temperatures you are expecting and how active you expect to be will determine how much insulation you need.

The clothes on the top half of your body should have a zipper to make it easy to vent if you get too warm and easier to take off. You

ritating. Merino wool has much finer fibers so it is soft and comfortable. It is very warm and retains most of its insulation value even when it gets wet. Another advantage is wool doesn’t melt and doesn’t burn easily. That is a major consideration when you are near a campfire.

Polyester is a man-

January 2023

Clothing Insulation Layer.

When it is warm they can be worn on their own. My personal favorite for an insulating layer is a military field jacket liner. They are Quilted, thin, very warm, and wind and rain resistant.

They can be worn under most any clothes and make a big difference. Pants of the same material are also available.

Your insulation layer should help you deal with wind chill. You need a layer that will block the

layer as well.

Pockets in your insulating layer are great for keeping things warm.

Batteries die quickly when they get cold. Your phone, GPS, anything that needs protection should be zipped

help trap heat and block wind from cooling you down. Wrap 5 to 10 layers around your torso and secure it with clothing or tie it with strips of cloth. Wrap layers around your arms and legs as well, keeping

in next to your body.

Your hat can be part of this layer or your outer layer. Thin gloves with touch screen fingertips are very handy so you don’t have to take them off all the time.

Heavy wool socks are great for keeping your feet warm weather you are active or sitting still. Be sure to have a couple extra pair with you so you can swap them if they get wet or if you are going to bed.

If you don’t have enough warm clothing, you can improvise with newspaper. Newspaper will

your elbows and knees only covered with a couple layers so you can still bend and move. Paper bags work fairly well also, especially around your head and neck.

To keep your feet dry, you can improvise boots that work even in snow. Put several layers of newspaper under your feet, wrap more paper around your feet and ankles, cover them with plastic bags or sheets of plastic, then wrap with cloth to hold it all together.

You don’t need to go buy lots of new, expensive clothes; just be aware of what material your clothes are made of and the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Merino wool is one of the two most popular materials for an insulation layer. Regular wool is usually scratchy and irritating. Merino wool has much finer fibers so it is soft and comfortable. should also consider a hood to keep your head and neck warm.

We all like hoodies and sweatshirts, but they are almost always made of cotton. The reason it is said “cotton kills” is because it stays wet. It absorbs water and takes a very long time to dry. You should never wear cotton in the woods.

Merino wool is one of the two most popular materials for an insulation layer. Regular wool is usually scratchy and ir-

made material that works great for insulating. Polyester fleece is inexpensive and drys quickly when it gets wet. It is also used as the insulation in most winter jackets. Again, Polyester is basically plastic so keep it away from sparks and open flame. Melted plastic causes severe burns.

Puffy jackets or Quilted jackets are a great choice for your insulating layer.

They are usually made of nylon or Polyester outside and a polyester fill inside.

Katahdin

wind and be at least water resistant if not water proof.

A drawstring hood is also a good idea to help keep you warm.

Your insulation layer should have elastic at the wrists and hips to help hold in heat. If your wrists or waist are open, as you move you will pump warm air out of your clothes and cold air in. Some jackets have a drawstring around the bottom instead of elastic.

When you buy your insulating layer, keep in mind it needs to fit comfortably over your base layer. It should be loose enough to move around in, but not overly big and floppy. You will need to plan on putting your outer layer on over the insulating

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January 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Fly Fishing Maine

December will see the release of my fifth book, Fly Fishing Maine: Local Experts on the State’s Best Waters. This follows 50 Best Places Fly Fishing the Northeast, 25 Best Towns Fly Fishing for Trout,

Squaretail: The Definitive Guide to Brook Trout and Where to Find Them, and Favorite Flies for Maine: 50 Essential Patterns from Local Experts.

In many ways, this should have been my first book, not my fifth book.

Unlike most writers who start close to home and work their way out from there, I started outside Maine and worked my way in. In fact, after three books that featured Maine, but were not about Maine, my last two books have been solely about Maine. Interestingly, my article writing had the opposite trajectory, starting in Maine and branching out from there to include many regional and national publications.

In fact, my first paid ar-

ticle was published here in the Northwoods Sporting Journal. This led to my first paid regular column, and my writing took off from there to now include dozens of local, regional, and national publications.

Having done one collaboration and four solo efforts, while collaborative, my next book is not as much so as my first book.

Rather than a s t r i c t model that used guest writers for most destination specific sections, I wrote 22 out of 42, and used guest writers to do the other 20. I also included notably more frontmatter than I did in my first book, including history, biology, celebrity, status, threats, conservation, etc.

Folks who contributed to the effort include

V. Paul Reynolds (Northwoods Sporting Journal), TV celebrity Tom Ackerman; conservationists Emily Bastian (NFC), Andrew Goode (ASF), Dwayne Shaw (DSF), and Lucas St. Clair; authors Graydon Hilyard, Dennis LaBare, Bob Romano, Catherine Schmitt, Ted Williams, and Lou Zambello; several outdoor writers, and a couple of guides and shop owners.

The Foreword was written

Page 25

Native Fish Talk

by Bob Mallard, Skowhegan, ME way I wanted it done and with a large national publisher. If it were my first book, I would likely have been forced to follow a relatively strict template, or do it as part of a canned series, using a local/regional publisher.

My first two books

hind me I had more leverage.

It would have been easy to just write about where to fly fish in Maine.

But that is only part of what makes the Maine fly fishing scene unique and interesting, and some would say a small part. Maine has a

In many ways, this should have been my first book, not my fifth book. Unlike most writers who start close to home and work their way out from there, I started outside Maine and worked my way in.

by the late George Smith, a long-time ally in my fish and fishing advocacy, friend, and mentor. George also contributed a chapter on the East Outlet. And as a fitting and deserving nod to what he meant to Maine’s sporting, tourism, and recreation scene, fish and natural resource advocacy, and me personally, the book is dedicated to George.

While I could have written a book about Maine’s fly fishing years ago, and almost did more than once, I am glad I waited. By waiting, I was able to collect my thoughts, figure out where I wanted to go with it, and do it the

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contained very limited geography, history, biology, and conservation; four things that are very important to me. Unable to dictate the terms, I was forced to slip it into the chapters where I could, while forgoing sections that I believed would have added value and readability. That changed with Squaretail, and carried on to this book, as with several books be-

deep fly fishing history. It also has more wild native fish than most other states, and fewer nonnative, stocked, and otherwise manufactured fisheries.

As eastern states go, only Maine, New York, and Pennsylvania can really stand on their own in regard to a fly fishing book in my opinion. And in some ways, especially in regard (Maine cont. pg 39)

Page 26

Cookin’ With New England’s WildCheff

Northwoods Sporting Journal

by Denny Corriveau, Kennebunkport, ME

Have you ever realized that food is a medium that connects us all?

Whenever you pick a food topic with people, it seems to surface something in people’s minds that is tied to the food you speak about.

If you mention mac and cheese for example, you will get varied opin-

ative versions of mac and cheese with fish and game.

We were both dying to get into her moose meat and with the cooler weather, I generally like to create all kinds of comfort food dishes.

When the light bulb went off, I thought that I could have the best of both worlds – comfort and

Comfort and Game

As the burger started warm the cream through so cooking, I broke up the it would slightly thicken as meat with a spatula and it heated. followed with adding my WildCheff seasonings. Airdried shallots, Maplehouse seasoning, roasted garlic powder and a touch of maple sugar.

In another pan I boiled salted water and cooked my pasta and then drained it off and added it to a casserole pan.

Breaking up the meat as it cooked, you could smell the aroma of the

Breaking up the meat as it cooked, you could smell the aroma of the moose, maple and garlic permeating the air near the pan. Once cooked I added the burger to the pasta and stirred to combine. ions. Some will be happy with boxed mac and cheese, some reach for the Velveeta, while others envision an elevated homemade cheese sauce.

Recently I had a similar occurrence. My daughter is a big fan of mac and cheese. She particularly loves it when I make cre-

game, and appease my daughters love for mac and cheese.

I thawed out a pound of moose burger. That is a great start in anyone’s book. Warming some olive oil and butter in a saute pan, I swirled the butter into the olive oil and then added the burger to the pan.

moose, maple and garlic permeating the air near the pan. Once cooked I added the burger to the pasta and stirred to combine.

In a third pan I made a roux of butter and flour, and then added heavy cream. With the addition of fresh nutmeg and chef’s ground pepper, I began to

Once heated through, I shut off the heat under the pan of cream sauce. To finish the sauce, I added one of my favorite special cheeses to the cream.

I whisked in around 8 ounces of Cinnamon Tuscano cheese and grated parm until the cheese sauce was complete. Pouring the sauce evenly over the burger and pasta mixture, I stirred everything until it was incorporated together.

I then added a sprinkle of buttered gluten-free bread-

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crumbs on top and put it into a 400-degree oven for 15-20 minutes.

The result was beyond joyous; it was quintessential Comfort & Game!

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January 2023

News

(Cont. from pg 14) Morin, Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s bird project leader. “Black oil sunflower is a good seed choice that will attract a variety of birds. Adding other seeds or suet can help to attract certain species. Thistle, for example, attracts many of the finches. Gardeners will find leaving late-blooming flowers uncut provides seeds which can also attract birds.”

While watching your bird feeders, you can participate in one or more bird monitoring projects by looking up the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, the Great Backyard Bird Count and Project Feeder Watch -- all three collect important information for understanding bird populations.

The Fish and Wildlife Department offers these tips for bird-friendly bird feeding: • Keep cats inside.

Domestic cats are the leading cause of bird death in North America, and feeders can make birds particularly easy prey.

• Place feeders closer than 4 feet or farther than 10 feet from a window. Being close to, or far from, a window may reduce bird collisions.

• Clean feeders regularly. To eliminate harmful bacteria and viruses,

Northwoods Sporting Journal

feeders should be washed every few weeks with a 10 percent bleach solution, then rinsed and allowed to dry before refilling.

• Feed birds only between December 1 and April 1 but remove feeders if you see signs of bears.

Most bears should be in dens during this time, but some delay entering their dens while even those that have denned may reemerge to feed if there is a period of warm weather.

Bears that learn to get food from people will continue to do so, potentially leading to property damage and dangerous encounters with people which can result in the bear’s demise.

Feeding birds, even in the winter, runs the risk of attracting bears. During winter thaws some bears will occasionally take advantage of the mild weather and leave their den in search of food. If a bear visits your bird feeder or the feeder of someone in your community, it is important to take down your feeder for a week. If the bear can’t find easy food it will quickly return to its winter den.

NH Transfers Dispatch Duties Effective Friday, November 25, 2022, NH Fish and Game Dispatch will now be administered by NH State Police Dispatch within the NH Department of Safety.

The number for the public to call will remain the same, 603-2713361, but people will now reach State Police Dispatch and this service will relay calls to Conservation Officers

instead of Fish and Game Dispatch. All other Fish and Game contact numbers will remain the same.

“For the past year or so, after-hours calls to our dispatch number have been handled by State Police but this change will make it permanent and it will now be effective 24/7/365,” said NH Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division Chief Colonel Kevin Jordan. “The public will not have to do anything different, but their phone may show State Police instead of Fish and Game when they dial the number.

State Police Dispatch will forward calls for service to the Conservation Officers moving forward.”

The Restoration of the Kennebago River

The Kennebago watershed supports one of the US’s most resilient, self-sustaining wild Eastern Brook Trout populations. The presence of cold, well-oxygenated surficial groundwater combined with high elevation creates a quality habitat that Brook Trout require to thrive.

Eastern Brook Trout are essential indicators of New England’s long-term forest and aquatic ecosystem health.

RLHT, in partnership with the USFWS, Trout Unlimited, and MDIFW, has begun an ambitious restoration project on the upper Kennebago river and its tributaries. A network of roads crisscrosses the watershed as the river and its tributaries wind toward Cupsuptic Lake. Often, culverts at these crossings are undersized, in poor condition, or perched above the stream surface, creating barriers to the passage of aquatic organisms, (News cont. pg 48)

Page 27

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Page 28

A Slippery Slope

“The Trail Rider”

by Dan Wilson, Bowdoinham, ME I like January. It’s the start of a new year, full of possibilities. There is a good chance of fresh snow and there may even be enough ice to go ice fishing… maybe. It also happens to be my birthday month.

reports, and familiarize yourself with the lake or pond you’re fishing. Check out the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife website for winter ice safety tips, covering ice color, thickness guidelines, and what to do in an emer-

January 2023

Super Jag 440, with seating for two people. This was our first snowmobile that had hand warmers and reverse gear. It is also the main snowmobile I drove until buying my 2021 Yamaha Venture. The Jag still gets some use each winter, and I’m glad to still have it. The sled has a nice storage rack/bin in the back, suitable for your ice fish-

Check out the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife website for winter ice safety tips, covering ice color, thickness guidelines, and what to do in an emergency. https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing-boating/fishing/ice-safety-tips.html

To take a snowmobile out on a lake or pond, a minimum of 5-7 inches of ice is needed. I prefer even thicker ice to feel comfortable, keeping my eyes and ears focused on the ice and area around me. It’s important to stay aware, listen to local ice

gency. https://www.maine. gov/ifw/fishing-boating/ fishing/ice-safety-tips.html When the ice is thick enough, my preferred method of getting to an ice fishing spot is on a long track utility snowmobile (if you have access to one).

We have a 1989 Arctic Cat

ing traps and maybe a few pieces of gear, but if you want to bring along a camp stove, full size auger etc., you’ll want a sleigh/sled to help carry your gear. There are many ways to customize your snowmobile for ice fishing too, with options of adding an auger bracket,

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hitch kit, or GPS. I have such nice memories of ice fishing with my Dad and family friends. Cooking up deer steak with peppers and onions, grilling a hot dog, and sipping hot cocoa to keep warm. I haven’t been ice fishing in a long time, and look forward to introducing the sport to my nephews.

While ice may be safe in some spots, it may not be in others. I remember taking a ride to a local pond one time, where part of the snowmobile trail went through a marshy area. We stopped for a break and I hopped off the snowmobile and filled my boot with ice cold water. It wasn’t very deep, thankfully, but certainly gave me a surprise.

In many of the trails I ride on in the Midcoast area, there is usually a snowmobile bridge over streams and brooks, maintained by (Slope cont. pg 29)

January 2023

Rewards

Northwoods Sporting Journal

offering a reward of $4,500 dollars for anyone who comes forth with information leading to a conviction in this case.

As I have said many times in my articles, Maine Game Wardens cannot be everywhere at once and we rely heavily on the assistance of the public to solve cases. The waste of a trophy bull moose and the shooting of a Bald Eagle are inexcusable offenses that should make all of us upset. We all want to hold the individuals responsible for these crimes accountable and your information may allow us to do so. Please reach out via 1-800-ALERT-US or by using the new Tip411 app.

(Cont. from pg 22) In the second case, Wardens were called to an injured Eagle near the Mattawamkeag River off the Wilderness Park Road in Mattawamkeag. Warden Josh Lugdon arrived on scene and found that the Eagle could not fly. He captured the bird and transported it to Avian Haven, a bird rehabilitation center in central Maine. Upon arriving at the clinic, X-rays were done to check for the injury sustained to the Eagle. It was then determined that the Eagle had been shot as several pellets had been detected during the scan. This event occurred sometime around November 1st and it is believed Kale O’Leary has to have occurred in the been a Maine Game Wargeneral area where the bird was located. Maine Operation Game Thief along with U.S. Fish and Wildlife is

den since of January of 2016 and works in the Masardis/Oxbow district in central Aroostook County.

Slope

Page 29

you can see icy surfaces, and sometimes they are hidden below fresh snow, increasing chances of getting stuck.

Snowmobiles can generally handle icy conditions, but like any vehicle on ice, it’s a slippery slope.

The ski runners (wear bar/ skegs) with carbides on the bottom, help steering in icy conditions, and the track, with varying amounts of tread/grip, connect with the ground to move you through the snow. Slow and steady wins the race when riding on ice, with emphasis on steady speed.

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(See pg 49)

(Cont. from pg 28) local snowmobile clubs.

These bridges help make trails more accessible and prevent pollutants from finding their way into water sources.

Streams and ponds aren’t the only place you find ice on the ride, especially if it has been a rainy winter. Trails that go through fields will sometimes collect water, making large, shallow puddles, or fill up drainage Daniel Wilson works ditches. Hills can become in healthcare and enjoys icy, making riding condi- time outside in nature with tions slippery, groomed or his family. not groomed. Sometimes

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Page 30

Wonderful Perch

Muzzleloading Afield

others don’t. Perhaps we’re spoiled by our abundant salmon, trout, togue, bass, pickerel and white perch.

At any rate, most Maine natives and some visitors do not hold the yellow perch

by Al Raychard, Lyman, ME

I’ve always been a nut for trout. The seed was planted as a kid dunking worms in a small brook for pan-sized natives not far from my homestead, eventually blossoming into fly fishing for specimens measured in pounds rather than inches in remote bastions. But when it came to ice fishing trout have never been high on my priority list. I can’t really explain it.

In retrospect, deep inside I think I selfishly thought trout, especially brook trout, were too spe-

cial to haul through a hole in the ice. I didn’t hold anything against those who feel, think and do otherwise, still don’t. It just wasn’t my cup of tea.

Instead, whenever I hit the ice I targeted what are often considered less desirable species, species far below the level of respect and admiration and adulation enjoyed by brook trout. Topping the list were yellow perch. Yup, that’s right, yellow perch. One of those so-called “bucket fish” Maine anglers tradi-

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Here’s why I like yellow perch and enjoy fishing for them, especially during the winter season and why those who don’t are missing out on some great fun, not to say some fine eating.

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In my archives of Maine fishing literature I recently found an article that appeared in an old Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine. I’m not sure when the

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in high esteem as a sport or food fish.”

It seems some things don’t change. Yellow perch are still largely considered junk fish, trash fish or any other low-level superlative you can think of. Except by those comparatively few anglers who specifically target them. Including me.

Here’s why I like yellow perch and enjoy fishing for them, especially during the winter season and why those who don’t are missing out on some great fun, not to say some fine eating.

For one thing, yellow perch are abundant and widespread throughout (Perch cont. pg 31)

January 2023

Perch

(Cont. from pg 30) Maine. Although native in some southern and central Maine waters yellow perch were not originally present in the Fish River drainage in Aroostook County but are now well represented there. The same is true in the Rangeley Lake and Moosehead drainages where perch either introduced or otherwise first appeared in the 1950s. Back whenever the article I just quoted was published the MDIF&W had surveyed 851 ponds managed for trout, salmon or togue. Of those 232 contained yellow perch. I don’t know if any recent yellow perch surveys have been conducted or whether the department knows how many lakes, ponds and rivers contain perch but I dare say they are perhaps one of our most abundant and readily available fish.

Compared to trout and salmon and even bass,

Northwoods Sporting Journal

yellow perch are also easy to catch. They can be finicky and unpredictable and the action can be slower than desired at times but if specifically targeted, often near the bottom and down to 10-to-15 feet or so in bays, coves, along shorelines and shallow flats offering weedy cover and other structure, odds are good you’ll find some action. I like to jig with small plastics or a small fluttering spoons tipped with wax or meal worms but live minnows on tip-ups can be just as productive.

Yellow perch are school

fish, meaning where you find one chances are good you’ll find others and relatively consistent action.

But the main reason I like ice fishing for yellow perch is they offer some pretty fine table fare.

Depending on the size yellow perch can be baked, sautéed, poached, grilled and used in chowders.

I’ve tried them all at some point in time but for me the only way to go is pan-ordeep frying them in bread crumbs. There’s more than a little garlic in there, too just because I like garlic. I got the recipe from a book

Central Maine Region

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Kineo Currents

by Suzanne AuClair, Rockwood, ME Up to recent times the Moosehead Lake Region has been the jumping off point into the North Woods, where private timber companies logged and hunters, fishermen, and, in the grand scheme of things, not too many other people went into the woods to experience “outdoor paradise.”

Moosehead Lake, especially Rockwood, has long

been known for its guides, showing the way into the heart of Maine.

We still like to hang on to that idea. It’s a long root. It feeds the spirit to not only be here, but to know that it is here. The difference from the old days is that, with new technology, the Moosehead Lake area is reaching a much wider, global market to attract as

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Moosehead Lake: Bar Harbor North?

many new tourists to the area as possible, the slogan being that there’s “enough room for everybody.” But, as other Maine places, like down around the coast, fill to overflowing, more visitors are heading north. Will Moosehead Lake become Bar Harbor North? From

It’s part of the experience.

We are not too far away.

How ready are we to meet the future? As an outdoor place — termed a destination — what do we want to be? Do we want to be all things, to all people? How many people is enough? How will this

among adults in Bangor was that nobody was going to go Acadia, because it was just too far away from anywhere.

In 2022, Acadia’s attendance topped over 4 million. It is ranked as popular as Yellowstone and Cape Cod National

The story is not any different than what has happened to other places. Many people are retiring and moving up, mostly from out-of-state. The construction market has been smoking hot, with new subdivisions popping up around the region. this vantage point, yes, it’s on track.

Roads are in excellent shape, newly paved into a fast-moving two-lane highway. Branding signs are going up, in places where they never were before, far into the woods and waterways. Outdoor tourism is the new, and about only, economy, besides places to eat, sleep, and buy supplies. And, according to a recent cultural tourism conference I attended, we don’t need to worry about people not coming if the roads are poor. They said they are far better than other remote places around the globe where people want to visit, and, yes, they come!

affect locals? The outdoor experience? What sort of pressure will this put on the wildlife, fish, water and woods, and services?

These questions have been asked in survey after survey, whether from local organizations or outside consultants. The answers have been the same. Yes, we want to welcome visitors in, but we don’t want to turn into Bar Harbor.

How that doesn’t happen to the Moosehead region is a billion-dollar question.

It reminds me of when I was a teenager in Bangor.

A fun drive out was down to the island, a day at Acadia National Park, or to Katahdin. The big joke heard

Seashore. In a list of the 400 national parks across the U.S., Acadia is in the top 16. Imagine that! Last time I went to Bar Harbor, it felt like downtown Manhattan, with thousands of people crawling in every direction, except the buildings weren’t skyscrapers.

This was a set design for shoppers, not a real town.

The pressure on Cadillac Mountain has taken a toll, and now reservations are needed to be on it. People are encouraged to use a free shuttle bus to get around the island. With Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument now well on its way, near Baxter State (North cont. pg 69)

GIVE US YOUR BEST SHOT!

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

January 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal Guns & Ammo:

Control That Muzzle

Unload your firearm when not in use.

Point your firearm only at something you intend to shoot.

Do not run, jump or climb with a loaded firearm.

Store firearms and ammunition separately and safely.

Avoid alcohol or drugs while shooting or handling firearms.

There is a reason muzzle control and direction are #1.

It does not matter whether the discharge is intentional, accidental, negligent or a result of mechanical failure. The projectile will only go where the muzzle The lever action guns are is pointed, no exas American as apple pie, but ceptions. In huntthe cocked hammer makes ing scenarios, them dangerous if not handled one of the most properly. critical times (Photo by V. Paul Reynolds) where muzzle thank Mr. Ray Laberge for control is vital, is at the catching the error. vehicle. This could be at The main subject of the arrival to the hunting this column today is the area or loading into the veneed for muzzle control hicle at the end of the hunt. when handling any firearm. I recently had the privilege We are all aware of the tried to interview a gentleman and true 10 commandments who was the victim of a of gun safety according to horrible instance of poor the International Hunter or non-existence of muzzle control.

Education Association.

Here is a synopsis of Watch your muzzle.

Treat every firearm as his story. For the purpose if it is loaded. of confidentiality, we will Be sure of your target refer to the gentleman as and what is in front of and Ray. Ray and his hunting party had just arrived at beyond it.

Keep your finger out- their hunting destination. side of the trigger guard They were outside the vehicle gearing up. One of until ready to fire.

Make sure your fire- Ray’s companions was arm is functioning cor- loading his lever action rectly and you have the .30/30 and experienced an unintentional discharge. correct ammo.

The first subject today is a correction. In a previous column in the September issue, I wrote about the torque required to tighten the mounting screws on a scope mount. I erroneously said the screws should be tightened to 18 to 26 ft lbs.

This of course is wrong. It should be 18 to 26 inch lbs.

I apologize for any confusion. I would also like to

The round struck Ray in the lower leg below the knee. The impact and pain knocked Ray to the ground.

A quick inspection of the wound revealed that the lower leg was hanging by a string of flesh and pant leg fabric. The 170 gr soft nose bullet had done an efficient job of destruction. Thanks to modern medical technology and physical therapy, Ray’s leg was saved. After several years and many

Page 33

A Guide’s Perspective

by Tom Kelly, Orient, ME

although much maligned by traditionalists, makes this process safer. However, this tragedy could have been avoided if the muzzle was pointed away from Ray. I think we have all been in similar circumstances but have avoided tragic negligent results.

as well as the other 9 commandments of gun safety.

Stay safe!

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

He is a retired police of-

Obviously, Ray’s companion was not exercising muzzle control, but what else? The rifle involved was an older model lever action rifle. Why does this matter? Well, when the lever is operated and a round is loaded into the chamber, the hammer is cocked and ready to fire. hours of doctors, therapists and personal effort, most of the function to Ray’s leg had returned. If the muzzle angle had been slightly different, the result could have been easily fatal. Let’s look at what went wrong.

Obviously, Ray’s companion was not exercising muzzle control, but what else? The rifle involved was an older model lever action rifle. Why does this matter? Well, when the lever is operated and a round is loaded into the chamber, the hammer is cocked and ready to fire.

It is necessary to manually lower the hammer into the half-cocked safer position.

Newer levers have a crossbolt safety system that,

The good news in this case is that Ray continues to enjoy hunting and is willing to speak about the incident to help others.

Hunting remains one of the safest of sports we can participate in because we all care and endeavor to keep it that way. So, remember when you take that kid or new shooter to the range, teach them muzzle control first and foremost

ficer as well as a retired manager from two major firearms manufacturers.

He is an NRA Certified Instructor as well as a Hunter Safety Instructor in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. You can reach Tom at Shamrock Outfitters (207) 694-2473.

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Page 34

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Maine usWoods ing myI hadoldbeenblack Matt LaRoche, Shirley, ME

Those short stark days of December without any snow on the ground are behind us. The start of a new year brings with it an optimism for an outdoor person. How big of a brook trout will I catch this winter? Will anyone catch a big togue?

I’m looking forward

and waits for someone to catch a chub and throw it far enough away from the tip-ups so he is comfortable swooping down to grab it.

We often see an otter up by the inlet of the lake and last year we saw it head down the lake hopping and sliding along seemingly without a care in the world!

I’m looking forward to an ice fishing trip to camp and enjoying a couple freshly caught brook trout rolled in a mixture of corn meal and flour then cooked in bacon fat. to an ice fishing trip to camp and enjoying a couple freshly caught brook trout rolled in a mixture of corn meal and flour then cooked in bacon fat. When they curl-up in the pan, you know they are really fresh.

It truly is one of the simple pleasures of life!

One of the delights of going to camp is seeing wildlife. In recent years, there has been an eagle that comes by the camp everyday looking for chub on the ice. If the eagle doesn’t see what he wants, he usually lands in one of the big pine trees along the shore

My youngest daughter, Leah bought me a set of Heritage ice fishing traps as a retirement gift. I put new line on the traps and put them into service last winter. One of the things I did when I put the new line on was to thread a small button on the cloth line above the swivel. Now when I sound the hole, I can mark the depth by siding the button up or down.

This makes it easy to reset the trap after getting a flag.

When checking your trap after a bite, you can also see how much line the fish has taken out.

MAINE WOODS GUIDE SERVICE

Ice Fishing

January 2023

Those big native brook traps for the last 30 trout of the years and didn’t reNorthern Maine alize that I needed lakes seem to bite a set of new traps. best during the The old ones had first few weeks seen too many of the season. So, rough snowmobile make sure your rides and had too cloth lines are in many kids pull the good shape and trap up through the you have tied ice that forms in new leaders on the hole. The new before heading traps are nice with out on your trip. adjustable tension That 20-inch on the reel. brookie might be Another new just waiting for item I put into use you to dangle a last winter was a minnow in front cordless drill auger. of his nose!

I purchased a new The ice conIce fishing is a great way to enjoy eight-inch auger ditions can be fresh air and get out of the house. from Cabela’s at spotty during the a very reasonable price. in recent years they have first few weeks of the seaI power it with my Rigid been hard to come by. In son, so check with somecordless drill. It is much March we went down the one who knows the current lighter than my old Jiffy au- lake to fish the morning in conditions before heading ger and doesn’t require any the deepest part of the lake out on your Northwoods smelly gasoline to run it. without any luck. After ice fishing adventure. The The drill had all it wanted lunch I went out and jigged Allagash Wilderness Wato auger 15- holes through with a large Swedish Pim- terway will have the curthe thick ice in March last ple. After moving a couple rent ice conditions posted winter, but it did it. It cer- times, I finally hooked into on their conditions and tainly is much easier to a good one. It took me quite alerts page at: www.maine. handle than my old Jiffy a while to get the fish up gov/allagash that has served well for so to the hole only to have it make a couple runs back many years.

Matt LaRoche is a Last year I was deter- to bottom. That fish looked retired Superintendent of mined to catch a togue on like a submarine as it swam the Allagash Wilderness the lake. We used to catch by the hole before I was Waterway, owner of Maine them on a regular basis but able to get it up on the ice! Woods Guide Service and an avid outdoorsman. He can be reached at 207695-2877 or at matt.laroche2877@gmail.com See www.mainewoodsguide.com

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January 2023

Me & Joe

(Cont. from pg 17) wristwatch. Three-thirty in the morning. Better get Joe up to rebuild the fire.

Suddenly, I was aware of movement. The outside door of the cabin creaked shut. Footsteps approached the door of the bunkroom.

The moon had gone down and in the gloom I could just make out the solid figure of Turner Budge as he approached the heater stove. I could see that the top cover was open and the poker stood out like a ramrod. Been trying to get it started by himself, I thought with amusement.

Didn’t want to bother waking Joe. Well, that wouldn’t do him any good…then I saw what he held in his hands.

Leaning over the big heater, Turner was tipping the gallon jug of white gas

Northwoods Sporting Journal

toward the opening. The screw cover of the glass jar was nowhere to be seen.

My eyes bulged as a splash of the volatile liquid spilled down into the opening. If even one spark remained alive…

“Turner!” I screamed.

“Don’t…”

But it was too late.

Apparently on the premise that if a little’s good a lot’s better, he poured another pint or two down into the stove. The result was immediate and catastrophic.

A sheet of flame as wide as the stove shot to the ceiling with a whooshing roar. The interior of the bunkroom was bathed in a harsh yellow glow.

Turner still held the glass jug in his hands, but its wide mouth was now topped with a cone of fire.

He stumbled around in a circle, obviously trying to find someplace to set the jug down. Before he could

do so the fire reached his hands. With a howl of fright he dropped the jug.

The glass shattered and a pool of fire gushed out over the floor right in the doorway to the front room.

For Gasper, it had to be a startling awakening.

From his perch on the top bunk by the doorway he awoke to find a column of flame rising beside his bed and licking at the ceiling rafters. Like an eel he slithered out of the sleeping bag and off over the foot of the bunk onto the floor.

It was well that he did so because Joe leaped from his bed and dragged the mattress from Gasper’s bunk onto the raging fire blocking our escape from the room. At the same time Condon jumped from his bunk and kicked out the window beside the stove in case we needed another escape route.

In a matter of min-

utes the whole affair was over. The thick mattress smothered most of the flames. Condon wandered around the edges with a bucket slopping water on any remaining tongues of flame while Gasper beat out residual flames with the remains of his coat. The gas in the heater stove finally burned off and subsided to a sullen column of black smoke.

Wordlessly, we set about cleaning up as best we could. Me and Joe towed the burning mattress out into the front yard. It lay in the snow smoldering for hours until only a rectangle of gray ash remained.

Mopping up water, cleaning up broken glass and generally putting things right took time.

Condon nailed a square of canvas over the window opening to cut down the 30 below draft from the still-howling north wind.

Page 35

I built a fire in the cookstove and Joe tried to get a fire going in the heater.

With no gasoline left, his efforts resulted in a desultory smudge that threw little heat. A pall of black smoke hung throughout the cabin and, even with the cookstove going full blast the inside temperature hovered around 50 degrees.

We sat down to take stock.

“Gee, guys, I’m real sorry,” Turner quavered.

“I thought I’d just get the fire going without bothering Joe.” Joe scowled back at the bedraggled figure across the room. It was hard to stay mad. Turner was a sorry sight. Both hands had blistering burns along the backs. His eyelashes and eyebrows had disappeared and only a tuft of shriveled hair remained above his forehead.

(Me & Joe cont. 41)

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Page 36

Northwoods Sporting Journal

View From The River

January 2023

Winter Daydreams

by Laurie Chandler Bremen, ME Nothing perks up the soul in the dark and cold of January like planning a river trip. Even the adventures that never come to pass can while away many a pleasant hour. There is joy in poring over maps, making the acquaintance of a new waterway, and pondering shuttles and resupplies.

Recently, I’ve been contemplating a solo through paddle of the Connecticut River Paddlers Trail. The idea is gradually gaining momentum. This 410-mile route follows New England’s longest river from its headwaters up near the Canadian border to Long Island Sound.

The infrastructure—maps, campsites, access points, and portage trails—is all in place. You can even download a map for your phone, which is then available offline.

I am definitely due (overdue is more like it) for a long journey.

My research commenced on the Connecticut River Conservancy website. This non-profit is the fiscal sponsor of the trail, although there are many collaborative partners that

help with stewardship.

Organizations like the Appalachian Mountain Club, the Trust for Public Land, and the Silvio Conte Fish and Wildlife Refuge have worked to grow the trail, which now passes through New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. It also tickled me to read that the Connecticut River watershed includes “a tiny sliver” of Oxford County in my home state of Maine.

Over the years, I’ve discovered the value of first-hand knowledge from fellow paddlers. When I worked up the courage to announce my Northern Forest Canoe Trail through paddle, willing and eager help was offered again and again. In fact, I think my new friends believed in me more than I did myself.

I grew comfortable with reaching out to strangers, who often became more new friends. I learned that no question is wrong.

Here are some of the questions I will be asking this time around. When in the season did you go?

Was there enough water, or too much? Are there

Some campsites along the Connecticut are courtesy of generous landowners. Vermont’s Samuel Benton Campsite is also part of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. places where the maps were wrong? Where were the most challenging spots, memorable campsites, and best cheeseburgers, pizza, salads, and baked goods?

A through paddle of

Trail. Although campsites are first come, first served, there is an online campsite registry where you can share your hoped-for itinerary.

I’ve ordered the book,

The final sixty miles, from Long Island Sound to Hartford, are tidal, navigable by huge barges that will dwarf a small canoe.

In time, this winter daydream may fade or take

Over the years, I’ve discovered the value of first-hand knowledge from fellow paddlers. When I worked up the courage to announce my Northern Forest Canoe Trail through paddle, willing and eager help was offered again and again. the Connecticut River goes by the catchy name of “Source to Sea.” Mack Truax, who has completed the Northern Forest Canoe Trail four times, did his Source to Sea in just ten days. Knowing Mack’s prodigious paddling skills, that would probably translate into three weeks or more for my journey.

The waterway offers over fifty camping locations, some with multiple sites, including state park and other campgrounds. In 2015, I camped on the edge of a farmer’s hay field, along the 20-mile Connecticut River portion of the Northern Forest Canoe

River Days, by Michael Tougias. Within its pages, the author explores the Connecticut by canoe and kayak not long after it became an American Heritage River. This 1998 designation brought federal protection for the waterway and its surrounding wetlands, as well as funding for cleanup and conservation.

Already, there is much to anticipate. Fossil fish and piping plovers, nesting peregrine falcons and perhaps even dinosaur tracks. All of these can be found along the Connecticut. There will be no upstream travel and plenty of quiet stretches.

wings and grow. I know I’m hoping it grows and that summer will find me floating down the Connecticut, bound for the sea.

Laurie Apgar Chandler is the author of Through Woods & Waters, which provides an adventurous look at Maine’s Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, and Upwards, the story of her 2015 solo self-propelled thru-paddle of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail.

For more information or to purchase the books, visit www.laurieachandler.com

Page 38

Maine Outdoor Adventure

Northwoods Sporting Journal

by Rich Yvon, Bradford, ME

“America the beautiful” is a phrase we all can identify with no matter where we live in the United States.

Back when Twin Maple Outdoors was started in 2012, the goal was to establish a business that would impact all walks of life. The business would focus on enriching, educating, and creating memories

ganization which was actually getting things done where it truly counted, on our precious lands and waters. There are certainly many great organizations out there that are making huge differences in our environment. Sometimes its more powerful to bring like-minded people together to accomplish very similar goals. LLW, cer-

January 2023

America the Beautiful

currently three sections of the Penobscot river which have been adopted. The west branch portion of “Big Eddy”, and two of the lower sections at Greenbush and Old Town flowages.

Twin Maple Outdoors currently does two clean ups a year for each stretch starting in the spring of the year by collecting visible floating trash. The second, is later in August when the river is typically at its lowest depth and flow.

Bringing “Adopt a River Mile” to Maine in 2016, seemed to be a great start for my guide waters, where I make a living.

Adopting the water is the gun shot! After that, it’s all work with getting volunteers into action. that would last a lifetime.

As years passed, I found myself wanting to think big picture, making a greater impact for our lands, waters, as well as the gratification of people. Finding the right vehicle to help in this quest would be imperative.

After doing some research and discussion with several conservation minded groups, I found one group that stuck out amongst the others. This group is called “Living Lands and Waters”.

This group is a boots on the ground or-

tainly brings major sponsors and many like-minded individuals together.

The potential possibilities are infinite and the results are magnificent indeed!

Bringing “Adopt a River Mile” to Maine in 2016, seemed to be a great start for my guide waters, where I make a living.

Adopting the water is the gun shot! After that, it’s all work with getting volunteers into action. Organizing clean ups, working with local sponsors, and creating solutions that make a difference. Today, there is

Getting submerged, visible items is the goal here. Most of this work can be done without sophisticated gear or dive equipment. The biggest and best resource is you! If you care to make a difference wherever you live, be a volunteer today.

It’s a great way to get involved with the community while making a huge positive impact for our environment.

Bringing folks together for a common cause, the potential here is endless.

Like minded organizations that can support each

other for common goals is simply perfect! As a Maine working guide, being involved with LLW and Maine’s Flagship “Native Fish Coalition”, has been very rewarding. Working together for a greater good, there is certainly evidence for hope, inspiration and finding “America the Beautiful”.

I encourage and challenge everyone to help make their “America” a healthy and clean one. Protect, preserve, and restore

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January 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Treed By a Bull Moose

Originally sent in to the Bangor Daily by the Mattawamkeag correspondent, this story was republished in the Daily Inter Ocean in Chicago, on Oct. 4, 1891 “Mr. Henry Priest of Medway, a well-known lumberman, has had a thrilling experience with a bull moose. A few days ago, he was at Mud Brook, near Millinocket Lake, spotting lines and for timber preparatory to a lumber operation. For some time, he heard the rampaging and bellowing of an animal some distance away, but paid no attention to it, as he knew by previous experience in the woods it was a moose. Suddenly the animal appeared in sight, and seeing Mr. Priest made a rush for him, head down. Mr. Priest is about 50 years of age and lame, but knowing how savage a bull moose is at this season of the year he was not slow in taking a Nelson gait for the nearest tree, into

the branches of which he swung himself just in time to escape the infuriated moose.

“Mr. Priest was unharmed, but perched in the tree he had a good chance to inspect this “monarch of the forest.” Mr. Priest says the animal was a huge fellow and would weigh over half a ton. On his widespreading antlers were twenty-five prongs, which were pointed and sharp, and would pierce the flesh like a Damascus sword.

For an hour the moose walked about the tree, pawed the ground, and occasionally emitted bellows, which were anything except music to Mr. Priest’s ears. The minutes passed slowly, seeming like hours to Mr. Priest in his uncomfortable seat in the tree. Finally, the moose when away some distance and Mr. Priest took the opportunity to slide to the ground and started for a white birch growth which was some distance away.

Maine

where-to guide books. But I believe it is much more than simply a where-to, or I would not have written it.

I’d like to thank everyone who provided chapters, pictures, and artwork, the latter of which includes Maine artists Karen Talbot, Mike Butler, and the late David Footer, as well as nationally known fish artist Joseph Tomelleri. The contributions from these people up the ante and make the book much more readable and enjoyable, and for me, more fun and interesting to write. As is the case with all of my books, you can purchase signed copies of Fly Fish-

(Cont. from pg 25) to history, species and habitat diversity, along with wild it’s robust native fish complement, neither New York nor Pennsylvania has a better story to tell than Maine.

Having edited and approved the print-ready manuscript, I am quite pleased with how Fly Fishing Maine turned out. With 2 large paperbacks, 1 large hardcover, and 1 small hardcover behind me, the book is being done in a 5”x8” softcover format that is so popular with regard to

He had safely covered part of the space when the moose discovered him.

Then there was a wild goas-you-please race. Mr. Priest fortunately had a good start, and reaching the birch trees, struck a match and touched it to the bark which, catching fire like tinder, the flames with a roaring sound shot into the air. This was a new experience to the moose, a

Page 39

Old Tales from the Maine Woods

by Steve Pinkham Quincy, MA

moose attacks A few years ago, and Indian who was camping near Mount Katahdin called a moose with a moose horn. The bull surprised poor Lo, and had a fearful hand to hand struggle. When Joe Daney,

bull moose at this season of the year to attack men. The late Moses Wadleigh of Old Town and an Indian were once treed by a moose.

The moose saw fit to pay particular attention to Mr. Wadleigh. The Indian slid out of his tree, and, as he

For an hour the moose walked about the tree, pawed the ground, and occasionally emitted bellows, which were anything except music to Mr. Priest’s ears. The minutes passed slowly, seeming like hours to Mr. Priest in his uncomfortable seat in the tree. genuine surprise. He stood for a moment looking at the ruddy blaze, and listening to the crackling flames, when he turned, and with a bound disappeared in the forest.

The method of attack with the bull moose is with his antlers and forefeet, the edges of the hoofs of which are sharp as a keen cutlass.

Woe to the man whom the ing Maine: Local Experts on the State’s Best Waters, at BobMallard.com/shop/ The best way to support your favorite writers is to buy direct.

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the Indian, who was one of the tribes at Lincoln Island and quite famous in his day, emerged from the battle and took refuge in a tree, he had not a shred of clothing upon him, and his face and body bore evidences that the struggle had been one which nearly caused the death of poor Joe. It is not unusual for

started on the run, said: “Any news to send down to Oldtown, Mr. Wadleigh?”

Mr. Wadleigh escaped, and lived many years to tell of the adventure.

Steve is an avid hiker, paddler and historian, having collected over 30,000 Maine Woods articles to date.

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

617-407-0743

steve@oldtalesofthemainewoods.com www.oldtalesofthemainewoods.com

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 40

Proud Father

New Hampshire Outdoors

by Peter St. James, Warner, N.H. I have never been one to sit back at the end of a year and create a mental ledger sheet of the good and bad that transpired the previous year. To me, that process is always ongoing. Analyzing how I approached different situations and what the various outcomes were. Can

what might have been and in another case - what was.

It was early last year when I started feeling “off”.

Couldn’t put my finger on it but I knew I wasn’t … me. Then, I had a nerve issue in my left leg. But instead of getting a local cortisone shot to relieve the discomfort, I was given a

questioning medications, diagnoses and a rehab schedule because by then I had lost weight, muscle mass and still was suffering from vertigo-like episodes that made it impossible to drive or just walk from room to room. And then, one doctor said, ”You’re exhibiting classic symptoms of long COVID”. I had all my COVID shots and boosters. But…could I have contracted it when I was in the hospital? Sure.

youngest son have success in the woods. I’ve always been proud of him but watching from the sidelines made me appreciate the work ethic that he has when he hunts. There’s always an

But my bright spot of last year was watching my youngest son have success in the woods. I’ve always been proud of him but watching from the sidelines made me appreciate the work ethic that he has when he hunts.

I develop a better process that will result in a more favorable outcome, more consistently? Is it the tackle, is it the firearm, is it me? We all do these questions and answers for different reasons. Some of us just want to be better stewards of the outdoors and treat our fish and wildlife resources intelligently and ethically. While others want to stop “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” According to Albert Einstein, that’s the definition of insanity.

But starting off this new year, I have a reason to look back and reflect on

battery of cortisone pills.

Well, my body decided it didn’t like cortisone because my blood pressure spiked and other ancillary issues cropped up. Long story short, I was admitted to the hospital. One doctor said, “He’s had a small stroke”, so I was treated accordingly. It wasn’t until I had been released from the hospital and was home for a while when my primary care doctor told me in no uncertain terms that she saw my MRI and that I didn’t have a stroke. At that point I wondered why I was being treated for something that I didn’t have? But it went on like that with me

Why not?.

Anyway, I’ve made it to a new year in better shape than I was at this time last year. However, a year without trolling for salmon on Squam Lake or wading for salmon with a fly rod on the Connecticut River in Pittsburg or hitting some local pond in west/ central NH in the kayak for brookies and rainbows is unacceptable. Let alone no turkey hunting, no deer hunting, no time at range, no outdoor activities. The last time I missed deer season, Gerry Ford was President!

But my bright spot of last year was watching my

element of luck in hunting and fishing. But for those who approach each hunting season as an AP class, luck is a low priority. His consistency in harvesting big-racked bucks is impressive. He does well with elk and mule deer trips to Colorado. Yes, I say this as a proud father. But also as a father that knows only too well that I may have turned him on to hunting and fishing, but the level of consistency and accomplishment that he’s attained were all on his own. And that’s what passing the torch is

all about. Some kids will take the torch and run with it for a while but then life gets in the way so they put the torch down. Some will pick it up again while others never will. He picked it up in grade school and has run with it through high school, college, graduate school, marriage, fatherhood, home ownership and a professional career. so while I had to put the outdoor torch down l a s t y e a r, watching my son has given me the strength to pick up the torch in 2023 so I can be more like him. What better compliment could a father give his son than that?

Peter St. James is a member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association, Outdoor Writers Association of America, is a licensed NH Fishing Guide and has a daily radio show on WNTK-99.7FM. Reach him at : stjames.peter@ gmail.com

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January 2023

January 2023

Me & Joe

(Cont. from pg 35) “Wonder we wasn’t all kilt,” Joe growled. “Jist lookit this camp! Not ter mention Gasper’s mattress an’ the holes burnt into his sleepin’ bag.”

“I know,” Turner said mournfully. “I’ll pay for a new sleeping bag. And I’ll get another mattress.” He hung his head sorrowfully.

“The worst thing is, I’ve ruined the whole trip. Now we’ll have to go home.”

“No we won’t!” Joe said emphatically.

“But…but…the window’s broken. The gas is all gone. It’s freezing cold and…”

“You listen to me!”

Joe looked around at all of us. “If word of this gits out our parents won’t let us go to the corner store by ourselves, let alone ever come in here again. I’ll git the heater goin’ once it gits daylight an’ I kin split up some fine wood. We’ll board over the window openin’ an’ scrape down these walls an’ floor. Uncle Arnold don’t hardly ever come in here no more an’ by the time he does we’ll have her jist like new.”

We all nodded our heads gravely. “But what about me?” Turner asked shakily. “What about my hands and hair?”

Joe grinned mirthlessly. “Looks to me like you jist got too close to the campfire outside whilst we was cookin’ hotdogs, Turner. We’ll lance them blisters an’ put butter on the burns. By the time we head out on Saturday you’ll be well on the mend. One thing I’ll guarantee.”

“What’s that?” Turner asked nervously.

“After this week, you ain’t gonna be anywhere

Northwoods Sporting Journal

near so spleeny about the cold. Nosiree.”

On Saturday morning Uncle Arnold came to pick us up at the landing on Cedar Brook.

“Well boys, looks like you had a bang-up time of it.” He drawled. “Say there, Turner, you look a little the worse for wear. What happen to you?”

“I…uh…got a little too close to the campfire is all.”

“Guess you did at that.

An’ say, what you doin’ without a winter coat?”

“Gasper’s coat got damaged,” Joe broke in hurriedly. “Ol’ Turner jist couldn’t bear to see his chum go cold, so he give him his own coat to wear.”

“Well that there’s right nice of yer, Turner,” Uncle Arnold continued uncertainly. “But even with that there heavy sweater, you got to be cold. It’s only 25 above right now.

Best git in the cab for the ride…”

“Oh no,” Joe broke in, “he wouldn’t hear of it.

Ol’ Turner thrives on the cold. He’ll ride on back along with me. Won’tcher Turner?”

“Ssure,” he replied through chattering teeth.

“Be glad to.”

As the old truck clattered along with Condon and Gasper in the front and me, Joe and Turner on the back, I glanced at our portly chum. It was true that he looked a little blue and pinched, but the week at camp had made a new man out of him. I doubted that the cold would ever bother him quite as badly ever again. And if it did, it would probably be a cold day in the lower regions before he ever again tried to do something about it all by himself.

Page 41

SPORTING JOURNAL MARKS 30th ANNIVERSARY THIS MONTH! This New Year, 2023, marks the 30th anniversary of the

Northwoods Sporting Journal.

For all of us on the staff at the Sporting Journal, most of whom started with the Sporting Journal on day one, 30 years ago, this is a proud moment!

On this occasion we want to thank our loyal readers and advertisers.

Without you we would not have been able to publish a popular outdoor monthly magazine that strives to cover hunting, fishing and the great outdoors like no other.

As a way to show our gratitude and celebrate this occasion, we are offering a FREE $25.00 Gift Card for Berg Activewear in the month of January to all new subscribers, and current subscribers who renew for two years.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 42

The Redfish Lodge

Best Bassin’

by Bill Decoteau, Hampden, MA Its brutally freezing outside with wind chill factors registering in the single digits. I’m contemplating donning gloves to warm my hands, while I go through a pile of mixed baits and tackle scattered all around my office. My brain is frozen, there’s no sign of concentrated productive thoughts and suggestions ever going to thaw out, so I made the decision to just straighten out my

ette instructing me, “The Popping Cork floats on the surfaces while either a piece of shrimp or a plastic bait dangle below. Snapping your line causing the Popping Cork to make a loud surface splashing commotion attracting the attention of Big Bull Redfish. When they smell and see your bait, its fish on!.”

That memory flashed before me as one of the most enjoyable fishing

Whatever your angling ability may be, the Frenette’s provide professional special attention given to each client. Their goal is to provide memories to experience that will never to be forgotten.

The Redfish Lodge relaxed and friendly accommodations make every client feel the home away from home experience. Clean relaxing cool evening sea breezes offer clients a good night’s peaceful sleep. Morning breakfast aromas fill the air, and guests are able

of canes sending flocks of various bird species to flight. Then without warning these narrow channels open up to backwater ponds ranging in size with varying depths of crystalclear water.

The Red Fish Lodge is

The Redfish Lodge located in Venice, Louisiana has over 50 years of experience in the Charter Boat Industry, the Frenette Family works diligently catering to their guest with a wide variety of angling options. tackle and properly stow it.

Sorting through an entanglement of topwater baits I came upon a ‘Popping Cork’…Wow! What’s a Popping Cork you ask? It just happens to be one of the most productive techniques for enticing Bull Redfish or any other predator species within range of hearing your surface popping commotion. As my brain thawed I recalled Louisiana Redfish Lodge Charter Boat Captain Mike Fren-

trips I have shared over the years with Captain Mike Frenette and The Redfish Lodge located in Venice, Louisiana has over 50 years of experience in the Charter Boat Industry, the Frenette Family works diligently catering to their guest with a wide variety of angling options.

Seasonal Day Trips framed with a family friendly atmosphere, and a boat loaded with all the tackle needed for a fish catching experience.

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to make their own sandwiches of choice as they pack their lunches before boarding with their captain.

When your boat returns to the dock, Cajun Culinary and seafood specialties await every angler’s hungry pallet.

Surrounded with picture prefect backgrounds the Mississippi Rivers backwater estuaries better known as the ‘Marsh’ offer vast winding marshes alive with wildlife as the sounds echoes throughout these beautiful narrow channels framed by tall walls

all family owned and operated by Captain Mike, his wife Lori who manages the Lodge, wears the Chef’s hat and as Mike says, “Lori works behind the scene coordinating and scheduling our guide trips to perfection so every client has a pleasurable experience coupled with the culinary cuisine of New Orleans.”

The Redfish Lodge team of charter boat captains are all family as well.

Captain Mike Frenette Senior paired with their two sons Michael and Stephen Frenette. Like his dad Michael is a well-respected and accomplished Redfish angler. With over 15 years of experience Michael is regarded as one of the most Professional experienced Guide specializing in Trophy size Redfish for both conventional tackle and fly-fishing tackle. Captain Stephen may be the youngest of Frenette Captains, however his ability has been influenced stepby-step being tutored by both his Dad and brother Michael. Captain Stephen primarily focuses on catching Giant Redfish, but certainly is capable of locating other species such as Sharks, Triple Tails and other inland species.

Fly anglers and light tackle enthusiasts have a true shot at a Giant Redfish!

And, the Redfish Lodge Captains pride themselves (Lodge cont. pg 43)

January 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Smart Stuff!

I don’t know about anyone else, but the flood of “smart stuff” that has come into common use has me overwhelmed. The real start of my realization of how dumb I was about the whole thing was when we needed a new TV. I went to the store with my daughter and chose a nice looking, wide screen TV set. This was just the beginning of my troubles.

Right away I found that I couldn’t get the thing going like it was supposed to. I had two remotes, mine from the cable company

David. They came over and showed me how to get started. Finally we could watch TV. The trouble was I had to use both remotes to get things going.

This solved the immediate problem; we could watch TV, but it was frustrating to have to use both remotes every time we wanted to view a program. My relatives came over again and somehow David managed to set it up so I could do turn everything on and switch stations all with one remote. I have no idea how he managed that and I don’t

would like to have on a daily basis. Things like how far I walked on my daily hikes and how many steps I took during the day. Oh, by the way, it also told the time. Short story; I bought it. The watch arrived in a couple of days and right away I knew I was in for trouble again. I had to have an app on my cell phone to make the thing work. I’m not calling for help again, I vowed, I would figure this out. The easiest way to get the app was to scan one of those little squares that are filled with little square

I got on the phone again to my daughter, Kathy and her husband David. They came over and showed me how to get started. Finally we could watch TV. The trouble was I had to use both remotes to get things going and the one that came with the set both had to be used just to turn the thing on and get a program to watch.

Nothing went right!

I got on the phone again to my daughter, Kathy and her husband

really want to know. No more smart stuff I vowed.

Turns out I wasn’t smart enough to honor my own vow. I saw a smart watch on Amazon that looked pretty good and would give me info that I

dots. I had no idea how to do that so I use the alternate method of going on line and figuring it out that way.

I don’t know if that method works as I never was able to find the app. Back on the phone to Kathy!

Lodge

782-3474.

God Bless and Best Bassin’

include; emceeing The Bass University weekend educational seminar programs, as well as emceeing benefit tournaments such as the Annual Ike Foundation Pro-Am, Fishing For Freedom, and working with the USO.

(Cont. from pg 42) in making their clients dreams come true. Redfish are runners add to that excitement these Giant Bull Redfish are usually in 3-4 feet of water!

Just as an example of some Professional Bass Anglers who enjoy the Redfish Lodge and their hospitality are; Bill Dance, Roland Martin, Mark Zone and Shaw Grisby to name a few.

Contact the Venice, Louisiana Redfish Lodge and visit their website at; www.laredfish.com , Email mike@venicefishing.net or call Team Frenette @ 504-782-0924, 504-

Billy “Hawkeye” Decoteau is an outdoor journalist with a strong passion for pursuing the Black Bass. His activities

EASTERN MAINE Phone 827-2676 Fax 827-5950

546 Main Street Old Town, ME 04468

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Northwoods Voyager

Page 43

by Gil Gilpatrick, Brunswick, ME She showed me how to scan that little square and we were able to get the app and eventually get my watch paired with the phone and the the time magically appeared on my watch and has been a reliable timepiece ever since.

Talk about feeling dumb and overwhelmed! That describes me to a tee.

I do like the watch a lot. I can see how far I walk on my trips into the woods out back and I can also see my heart rate, and a lot of other stuff that I haven’t entirely figured out yet, but I will get there in time.

The thing is, I started out with a computer fairly early in their common use.

In the 1980’s I attended a talk about computers during a teacher’s workshop at school. I was writing at the time and right away I saw the advantage of the computer keyboard over my portable typewriter. No more need of white-out to

cover mistakes of typing whole pages over again. I just had to make the correction on screen and it magically, eventually prints out just the way you want it.

Anyway I guess I just didn’t keep up with all the smart stuff. Too late now.

I’ll just call Kathy!

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

Page 44

Women In The Woods

by Erin Merrill, Portland, ME

Years ago, I had my first negative run in with another hunter while out in the woods. I was sitting in my stand and he walked down an access road about 50 feet from me. He saw me and yelled to get off his land. I informed him that I was on land that we owned

random people show up on the trail cameras almost every year. This year, we had them again and it’s getting a little old.

I get photos within 2 minutes of a picture being taken. As I sat in my stand at the end of deer season, my camera was on over-

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Encounters Of The Worst Kind

person roaming around our property. Dad asked why he didn’t have a gun if he was hunting. The trespasser said he had left it in the stand. I am not sure why anyone would walk around the woods at 6:45 a.m. during hunting season without a gun. Dad asked where he was headed and he said he was heading to “Debbie’s

ing together. When random people show up roaming around our property, we post the land.

I understand that when you head into the woods, everyone’s goal is to get a deer. If you are

January 2023

sure you know where you are supposed to be hunting. Don’t be the person that ruins a hunt for someone else.

Hunting land is being lost all the time due to urban expansion. Hunters

If you have any questions about why landowners post their land – this is it. We prioritize deer hunting together. When random people show up roaming around our property, we post the land.

to which he countered with “don’t shoot any of my deer.” I was shaken by the encounter For the past few years, we have added to the number of trail cameras that we have out in the woods on our properties. Sometimes we see vehicles driving into our food plot. In that case, I send the photos to a local police officer who finds out who the license plates are registered to. We have seen

drive, causing my phone to vibrate constantly in my pocket. When I pulled out my phone, I saw a number of photos of a random person on our property.

This was the second time that week that someone we didn’t know was hunting on our property. This trespasser was dressed in orange but did not have a gun. There are photos of my dad, climbing down from his stand to talk to the

stand.” When asked who Debbie was (there is no land owner named Debbie around us) the trespasser just sort of pointed into the woods and said that that was the stand he was trying to find. They parted ways and the trespasser walked into the woods and Dad walked back into his stand.

If you have any questions about why landowners post their land – this is it. We prioritize deer hunt-

Most responsible hunters know on whose land they are hunting. (Photo by Erin Merrill) hunting on land that you do not have permission to be on or land that you do not know the boundaries for, do some research. Get one of the mapping apps. Hunting apps like DeerCast and OnX have maps that show you property lines and landowner’s names. Look up the tax maps. Make

are losing access to land all the time. From one hunter to another, please know where you are when you are in the woods and get permission to be on someone else’s land.

Erin is a member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association and the New England Outdoor Writers Association. She is a senior writer for Drury Outdoors’ DeerCast. You can read about Erin’s adventures and contact her at www.andastrongcupofcoffee.com

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January 2023

Page 45

Calling all Predators

An indescribable awareness of surroundings occasionally comes to me when in the outdoors, whether I’m at work or actually hunting. Although I’d like to take credit for discovering a kill site in the center of a cranberry bog, I can’t, since a fellow employee that I was working close to at the time gets the kudos for this. His awareness skills showed

spection uncovered the truth about which Maine predator ate the goose.

Actually, it was the tracks of a large coyote that gave it away. All this excitement got me thinking. I had the thought of learning Canada goose distress calls and incorporating these sounds during my predator hunts.

In this real world scenario the contact social calls and the sight of these

ing birds under the cover of darkness. It’s not just the coyotes that will eat a goose, but the red foxes and bobcats are quite adept at hunting birds, more so than coyotes.

While the majority of hunters take predators using bait and dogs, the minority take to the woods with plastic or wooden open and closed reed mouth calls. Let’s not for-

On The Prowl

by Justin Merrill, Cherryfield, ME of your scope.

My repertoire of calls includes some from Hunter’s Specialties, Primo’s Calls, Knight & Hale, Buck Expert, Mick Lacey, Johnny Stewart and Western Rivers. All these mouth calls and e-callers work.

I’ve called in predators with the majority of the

had the most luck calling in red fox and coyotes using these. Interestingly enough I haven’t called in a bobcat with either of these but have with a Primo’s mouth call. There’s no, one, two, punch with any type of call.

You will need to weed them out yourself, besides, it’s tons of fun. What hunter

Closer inspection uncovered the truth about which Maine predator ate the goose. Actually, it was the tracks of a large coyote that gave it away.

through and a large pile of Canada goose feathers were spotted first, then a trail of feathers and lastly the murderer’s tracks on the banks of the bog.

Dozens of red fox burrows spread out all through this cranberry bog might make one think this was a fox kill. Closer in-

birds most likely got the attention of a nearby coyote, not necessarily distress sounds. Also, the flock of geese holed up in the bog all day and night. They roost in the flooded cranberry bogs or the surrounding ponds. It’s assumed that the coyote was so lucky by stalking the rest-

get the electronic calls (ecallers) that have become ever so popular. With some e-callers you can go to the companies websites to download animal calls for free. You can include on your e-caller all the goose calls you would need to attract a bird eating predator into view of the cross-hairs

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calls I own. I never found one that outperforms or is better than all the rest. I recommend trying in real life hunting situations all the predator calls your wallet can handle. Do your research online by watching YouTube videos and reading reviews or blogs about each predator call your thinking about buying.

I think it’s feasible to let you know what I prefer to use and that is the Buck Expert three in one XTreme mouth call and the Western Rivers e-caller. No explanation, just that I’ve

wouldn’t want to field test dozens of predator calls?

Justin graduated from Unity College with a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology. He is a member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association (NEOWA). He has authored two books. He has over 30,000 acres to hunt predators and deer. He is the owner of the YouTube channel, “SPIKES and GILLS”. You can learn more by visiting www.wildmaineoutdoors.com

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Page 46

On Point

Northwoods Sporting Journal

January 2023

Gun Dog Genetics

by Paul Fuller, Durham, N.H. A common piece of advice for puppy buyers is to “buy good genetics”. Exactly, what does that mean?

For most of us, that means to buy a puppy with parents that perform and act in a manner that you want in a dog. The theory being that the parents will pass along those traits to the offspring.

However, the genetic question goes much deeper.

How many breedings (generations) does it take to develop an inherited trait?

it might take fewer generations if every sire and dam for several generations honored point. I then asked him about breeding out an inherited trait. He thought once the inherited trait was firmly established in a bloodline, it would take several generations to breed out an inherited trait.

And, maybe never.

About four years ago, I asked our local veterinarian the question about how many generations would

be able to buy a German shorthaired pointer puppy. His purpose would be strictly hunting. I gave him three kennels from which I would personally buy a

However, the genetic question goes much deeper. How many breedings (generations) does it take to develop an inherited trait? And, how many breedings (generations) does it take to breed out an inherited trait?

And, how many breedings (generations) does it take to breed out an inherited trait?

Several years ago, I met a canine genetic specialist at Pheasantfest. I asked him about the question of how many generations to both develop an inherited trait and breed out an inherited trait. He told me the question was difficult to answer. There are too many variables.

For example, if you wanted to develop honoring point in your bloodline,

it take to establish an inherited trait. His response was four generations if all sires and dams had that trait. Students of genetics often site the famous Russian silver fox experiment.

It took six generations to take a silver fox from a snarling show-your-teeth fox to a loving pleasant pet me silver fox.

Now, the real reason I’m writing about genetics.

A Facebook friend recently asked me to recommend a kennel where he would

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puppy. One of the kennels, Autumn Kennels in Maine, both hunts and shows their dogs in the ring. The puppy buyer shied away from a kennel with show dogs.

His theory was that a show dog kennels might not have a strong inherited trait for hunting. Here are examples which make that theory a fallacy.

In his book, African Genesis, author Robert Audrey, cites the Rhone beaver study. After being in captivity for many generations, the beaver was re-introduced to river life.

The beaver returned to its inherited trait of building dams. Another example

given by Audrey is the weaver bird experiment. In natural surroundings, the weaver bird would weave their nest into a cocoon-like structure. A researcher by the name of Marais kept four generations of weaver birds in captivity. None of the four generations had access to materials to weave nests. The fifth generation was released back into the wild. That generation immediately built the weaved nest. Inherited traits are hard to breed out.

And, here are more examples of long lasting inherited traits. Fifteen years ago, Susan and I bought a male GSP puppy from a show kennel. He was my Dillon. His conformation was perfect. A beautiful animal. And, an incredible hunting dog. Staunch on point and steady to the flush and shot. And, a natural retriever. Dillon was so good that we bought a second puppy from the same kennel. This pup is

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our beloved Dena. She’s beautiful and has hunted exceptionally well across the country. And, given us two litters with exceptional hunting talent.

Here’s another example. We have a good friend, Jennifer Jacob, who has a German wire haired pointer. The dog’s name is Beacon. Beacon earned a NAVHDA NA perfect score (112) title very early.

Beacon had a strong hunting instinct. Beacon then went on a three year show circuit trip. She has won 28 All Breed Best in Show and a National Championship.

After her three-year show tour, Jennifer brought Beacon to one of our training fields. Her first encounter with a bird in three years and she gave us a perfect point.

The moral of the story? Don’t be afraid of a purebred show kennel puppy when you’re looking for a hunting companion.

You can have the best of both worlds.

Paul and Susan, his wife, host the Bird Dogs Afield TV Show. All past episodes are available on their website:www. birddogsafield.com Website: paul@birddogsafield. com

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Page 48

News

(Cont. from pg 27) including Eastern Brook Trout. Replacing these barriers is one of the first steps to reconnecting and restoring miles of critical Brook Trout spawning, rearing, and thermal refuge habitat. In a changing climate, these fish need access to deep, cold lakes and tributaries that offer asylum from critically high-water temperatures.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

RLHT completed a survey of all crossings on our land in the Kennebago watershed in October.

RLHT staff and a USFWS river restoration specialist took detailed measurements of each culvert to determine if they were candidates for removal. As a result of this survey, the crew identified a total of 10 crossings as barriers to aquatic organism passage.

The survey determined the final design for the instal-

lation of bridges. The new bridges constructed out of concrete materials will allow for the passage of aquatic organisms, emulate natural stream channels, have a longer lifespan than standard steel culverts, and be less prone to washing out from extreme rain events or spring run-off.

Bridge construction will begin in the summer of 2023 and reconnect the upstream habitat on Otter Brook, Sol Brook, and two

other unnamed tributaries.

A sawyer crew with Trout Unlimited completed a large wood addition project on Otter Brook and Norton Brook. The introduction of felling large wood into streams provides several vital ecological functions. It gives complex structure and adequate cover for trout, trapping organic material in the stream on which macroinvertebrates feed. It restores floodplain connectivity, and contact with cold groundwater creates scour pools, catch and deposits sediment, and more. Pending the replacement of culverts, the further wood addition projects will continue into 2023.

Henry Repeating Arms Donates $50,000 to First Responders Children’s Foundation

Today, Henry Repeating Arms, one of America’s leading firearms manufacturers, announced a donation of $50,000 to First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF).

FRCF was founded in 2001 in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 for the 800 surviving children who lost a first responder parent on that tragic day. Since then, FRCF has grown to be a national non-profit focusing on four key program areas: scholarships for children of first responders injured or killed in the line of duty; Financial Assistance Grants/Line of Duty Death Bereavement Support; a Mental Health Resiliency Program; and First Responder Community Engagement.

“The primary focus of our Guns for Great Causes program has always been about children, which is

January 2023

why we are extremely proud to help support such an esteemed and worthwhile organization,” said Henry Repeating Arms CEO and Founder Anthony Imperato. “No one does a better job of meeting the real financial needs and taking care of the children and families of our fallen heroes.” The donation is part of a $1 million pledge made to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary through a charitable branch called Guns for Great Causes.

“FRCF is deeply grateful to Anthony Imperato and Henry Repeating Arms for their generous commitment to supporting first responders and their children. This donation will help to support our mental health resiliency program, which provides confidential, trauma-informed counseling at no cost to children of first responders,” said FRCF President and CEO Jillian Crane. “Henry is an iconic American family-owned business supporting the first responder community since day one. This partnership will make a real difference in the lives of first responder families.”

For the past twentyfive years, Henry’s Guns for Great Causes has helped a wide variety of beneficiaries, including individual families of sick children going through medical treatments, children’s hospitals, military veteran organizations, law enforcement and first responder groups, and wildlife and habitat conservation agencies.

January 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 49

The Annual Camp Swampy Catalog

Some years ago, we posted our first Annual Camp Swampy Catalog.

We haven’t heard any demand for another, newer catalog but that doesn’t matter to us. We know that our readers will simply gobble up the deals we have for you. So let’s get to the merchandise for this

Our legal department is in the midst of getting the legal parts of this great gift but not to worry: The way things have been going, with all of that advanced stuff out there that is already legal, we think we can get this one through the game laws.

Price: $1,399.

Vermont Ramblings

book for anyone who relishes that tender, before- Well, we’ve come up with the-season-even-opens a great idea. We’re talking taste. Price: $29.99. red meat and feathered creatures on the menu. It’s Deer Drive Robot what we like to refer to It’s getting late in the as the critter killer. It’s a season. You still haven’t neat, powerful BB gun that punched that buck tag. sits on top of your rifle or Well, don’t you worry, scope. It will take out any Bubba. For the price of feathered intruder or noisy, your kid’s first year of col- barking squirrel up to 50 lege, you can own your yards. own team of robotic deer And when you get

by Dennis Jensen, Vermont

stand there, motionless.

We are offering tame deer, for a limited time, that you can harness and bring to the woods. When that big eight-pointer comes cruising by and sees the real thing, he is all but hanging in the door yard. Price: $495.

All of these products should be available by next Christmas so order

And when you get back home that late afternoon and the little woman says, “Another day without a deer, honey?” with that nasty smirk on her face, you pull out a sack full of squirrel and blue jays...

year, shall we?

Killer Game Camera Yeah, we know you have more than a dozen trail cameras out there but you ain’t seen nothing like this one. First, our high-end camera takes two or three photos but then, when the big old buck turns broadside, it sends out a volley of high-caliber bullets.

Season over.

The Poached Deer Cookbook You know, with the price of everything —especially meat— going skyhigh, we thought we’d send out our new cookbook, offering sumptuous recipes for everything from poached deer tenderloin to corn-fed trout. Our special recipe for roasted spring hen turkey beats all.

This is the one cook-

drivers. These 6-feet-tall, battery-operated robots will push the woods, making enough noise to even drive other hunters away.

Price: $8,000. Comes in a box of six dummies, I mean robots. Blaze orange outfits, add $199 each.

Critter Killer How many times while deer hunting on a quiet November morning have you sat up in a tree stand and saw nothing but chickadees and red squirrels?

back home that late afternoon and the little woman says, “Another day without a deer, honey?” with that nasty smirk on her face, you pull out a sack full of squirrel and blue jays.

Then you tell her: “Time to get skinning and plucking, darling.” Price: $149.99.

Live Deer Decoys Any smart deer hunter knows how useful a deer decoy can be in buck season. But think about it; those petrified critters just

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Only $31.95 for a one year subscription! (12 issues) or $50.00 for a two year subscription $91.95 Canadian subscription (due to postage) Mail to: Northwoods Sporting Journal P.O. Box 195 West Enfield, ME 04493 Email: info@sportingjournal.com Call: 207-732-4880 or Fax 207-732-4970 Order with this form or online at: www.sportingjournal.com (please allow 4-6 weeks for your first issue)

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now. Contact us, if you dare, at camp.swampy@ webebozos.com Send cash (only) to: Camp Swampy Catalog, 666 Rundown Road, Swampy, N.Y. 16666. Satisfaction guaranteed for as long as we stay in business.

Dennis Jensen is the outdoor editor of the Rutland Herald and the Barre Times Argus and a freelance writer.

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Page 50

Let the Hard Water Angling Begin

Outdoors In Vermont

by Gary W. Moore, Bradford, VT The hard water angler is a different breed. They seem to thrive on the challenges winter brings and look forward to a day on the ice, often enjoying the fresh air with friends. No couch potatoes there.

Vermont has no closed season on pickerel, northern pike, yellow perch or smelt. Most smaller bodies of water will be frozen over and safe to venture onto by January 1, but many will not, so be very careful. A meal of delicious fresh fish is not worth a cold dunking or worse.

There is no closed season on lake trout or salmon on Lake Champlain and those who fish it before freeze up often do very well. The main lake does not freeze over until February if at all.

The “inland sea” between Grand Isle County and Franklin County and the many bays along the huge lake do freeze and provide excellent ice fish-

ing.

On the eastern side of Vermont, many of us head to the Connecticut River setbacks for some early ice fishing. The shallow water freezes long before the main stem of the river and often makes for some fast action with perch, pickerel

January 2023

necticut River including all bays, setbacks and tributaries to the first upstream highway bridge on either side of the river.

If you do fish the big river, be sure to check the regulations published in both states’ digests.

January 1 many of Vermont’s lakes open to ice fishing for trout, salmon

you know just how thick the ice is.

Though all ice is potentially dangerous, the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research & Engineering Laboratory in Hanover, N.H., offers a “rule of thumb” on ice thickness: There should be a minimum of six inches of hard ice before individual foot

On the eastern side of Vermont, many of us head to the Connecticut River setbacks for some early ice fishing. and northern pike.

The Connecticut River offers more fishing opportunities than any body of water in Vermont with the possible exception of Lake Champlain.

The river is open to fishing all year from the northern boundary of the town of Canaan to the Massachusetts border from January 1 through October 16.

New Hampshire and Vermont have an agreement whereby a resident fishing license from either state is valid in the Con-

and bass. The list is long and several lakes have restrictions so be sure to check the digest before going out.

Whenever you are ice fishing anywhere, check the depth of the ice frequently. It can go from several inches to an inch or less in a few feet depending on currents, springs and structures.

I like to take an ice chisel along and start at the shore tapping the ice. Your ear will tell you if the ice is too thin. Chopping a small hole every few feet will let

travel, and eight to ten inches of hard ice for snow machine or AllTerrain Vehicle travel.

Keep in mind that thick ice does not always mean safe ice. It is possible for ice to be thick, but not strong, because of varying weather conditions. Weak ice is formed when warming trends break down ice, then the slushy surface refreezes. Be especially careful of areas with current, such as inlets, outlets and spring holes, where the ice can be dangerously thin.

I like the saying,

Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore is a lifelong resident of Vermont and a former Commissioner of Fish and Game. He may be reached by e-mail at gwmoore1946@icloud.net or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033. copyright 2023 Gary W. Moore

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Thick and blue, tried and true Thin and crispy, way too risky *** Hunters too enjoy brisk January days. Snowshoe hare are the favorite game sought by many and the season remains open through March 12 except in WMUs D & E which are open through March 31.

Listening to a good hound pursuing a bunny through a swamp is a real joy.

Coyotes are fair game year-round and many hunters devote their winters to hunting the elusive animal both with hounds and by calling. Either way, coyote hunting is a challenge.

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January 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 51

The Bear Buck

The conclusion of hunting season is a time to look back at the successes and failures of the past year. In my computer I list the deer I killed and note any important lessons.

While doing so, I saw my PA public land 8 point listed and recalled the crazy

was miserable being sick and cold on the top of that mountain. Suddenly, a doe chased by a giant buck and a spike crashed through the woods 15 yards away.

Shortly after, I spotted the doe followed by the big buck coming back towards me ever so slowly through

The author pictured with the bear buck the day after the incident with four bears. The buck was shot from the ground with a crossbow while wearing blaze orange. story that made this deer so the thick woods. Eventumemorable. ally they were standing November 1, 2017 10 yards behind me but it was a day I’ll never forget. was too thick to get a shot.

Our first day in Pennsyl- Finally the doe decided she vania, we parked at the top wanted to come into the of a mountain and made a landing and as I turned my one-mile walk back to an body to follow the deer, the area where my dad and I snap on my pocket scraped had encounters with bucks a rock and the deer boundthe prior season. I remem- ed. Minutes later the buck ber feeling quite ill that day stepped out at 20 yards but and after making a giant saw movement as I lifted scouting loop, concluded the bow. Unfortunately for that all the sign led to our him it was too late and an two spots. arrow was on the way.

I decided that it was The recovery is where time to head up to an old things get real interesting log landing where I had and a little bit scary. After missed a wide- racked buck the deer took off I called the previous year. It was my dad and then found the spitting snow and rain, arrow. As I looked down and quite windy. My legs the blood trail I saw two were soaked from scout- bears following it back ing and I was sitting on the toward me about 40 yards ground with a few sticks in away. I yelled and they front of me as some sort of took off the way they came. camouflage. Honestly, it My dad arrived and we

followed the trail about 75 yards and found where the buck had stopped but not gone down. At this point we decided it would be best to give the deer some time so we walked the mile back to the truck to drop our bows and lighten our packs. Taking up the blood trail after dark we

Just as I grabbed the big 8 point rack we heard a loud growl. We yelled and the more we yelled the louder the growling got. My dad shined his light into a tree about 5 yards away and we saw two - 2 year old bears. only went another 30-40 yards and found the deer piled up in a nasty thicket.

We immediately noticed that it had been fed upon and was missing part of the hind quarters, guts, tail and half an ear!

Just as I grabbed the big 8 point rack we heard a loud growl. We yelled and the more we yelled the louder the growling got.

My dad shined his light into a tree about 5 yards away and we saw two - 2 year old bears. We knew the mother was very close somewhere in the dark and was the one growling.

We decided to drag the deer away from the bears and went about 75 yards through a thick mess. We gutted the deer and hoped the bears would feed on the gut pile and leave us alone. Making our way back to the landing, my dad says, “I’m running back to the truck and driving it

Maple Country Outdoors

around the gate.” I decided I would stay with the buck.

Periodically shining the light on the drag trail, I had almost forgot about the bears. Sitting in the dark It had been a while since I’d checked on them. I clicked on the flashlight and all I saw were bears and they were close, 19 paces to be exact and there were FOUR of them. I had no weapon. I immediately sprinted at the bears screaming to scare them away. They didn’t run. I was now about 12 paces away and they were slinking back and forth looking at me like ‘give us our deer back, now.”

At that point I remember thinking where the *?!* is the truck, when I heard it in the distance. The bears and I continued our stare down as the truck got closer.

Soon my dad ripped down into the landing and they slowly backed off into the woods.

I’m not sure what my next move would have been, but thankfully I didn’t have to find out! Lots of people tell me they would have left the deer, but that thought never crossed my mind. I now have a nice head mount that is missing half an ear, and a great

by Ben Wilcox, Essex, VT

story to tell.

Ben Wilcox is owner of Maple Country Anglers, located in Northwest Vermont. He is a current member of the USA Fly Fishing Team. He is a registered Maine Guide and graduate of the University of Maine.

He also owns a large Maple Sugaring Business, Amber Ridge Maple. These occupations allow him to be in the woods or water nearly every day of the year. He can be reached at maplecountryanglers@ gmail.com

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Page 52

Green Mountain Report

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Ice Fishin’ With Friends

by Bradley Carleton, Charlotte, VT Happy New Year! Fingers crossed, we don’t slide into the black hole that the media likes to sell us. Inflation. Recession. War. Market volatility erasing years of savings. And then there is that pervasive threat of a new variety of virus.

Honestly folks, when the world seems like it might implode, personally, I shut it off by focusing my gaze down a circular hole in the ice and my entire attention is fixated on the tiniest nibble on my ice rod. I swear,

January 2023

if you’re anything like me, you can sit for hour after hour without a thought of worldly problems. The mind empties into the vast aquiline universe below the surface in search of the great yellowbelly perch.

My crew has added a couple new members this year.

Aside from the “regulars” Ozzie, Chris and my lovely wife, Katie, we have added a young medical intern from NH that is doing his rotation at the University of Vermont Medical Cen-

ter. His name is Trevor Coles. He’s a bright, enthusiastic young man with a genuine passion for the outdoors. He is also one of the most conservation-

One of the high points of this January will be the return of the 29th Annual Yankee Sportsman’s Classic which will run from Friday 1/20 through Sunday

Wildlife Commissioner, Chris Herrick. Chris is a very approachable and easy to talk with gentleman, who knows how to “actively listen” to our concerns as sportsmen and women. And last but not least, yours truly will be

I swear, if you’re anything like me, you can sit for hour after hour without a thought of worldly problems. The mind empties into the vast aquiline universe below the minded young men I’ve 1/22. Master organizers, surface in search come across in some time. John and Debbie Laberge, of the great As we all sit in our respec- will bring in some of the yellowbelly perch. tive shanties on that first ice, our hopes run high.

Who will be the first to yell out “One!” taunting the rest of us? As we grill venison sausage on the heater, drink hot french roast coffee and tease one another, it seems that, at least for this morning, all is right with the world. Until Chris yells out “One!” and the competition is on!

most respected guides and speakers in the Northeast.

Hal Blood and Chris Dalti, of Big Woods Bucks will be on the speakers list, sharing the spotlight with my dear friend and master turkey caller, Ken Hammel, my favorite charter Captain, Matt Trombley of 3rd Alarm Charters, Joe Judd, Turkey Calling Hall of Famer, and VT Fish &

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presenting a “non-competitive duck and goose calling symposium” where we are asking all waterfowlers to bring in their calls, and rather than show off how talented they are, we are asking them to pair up with those who want to learn in a “no egos allowed” format to teach and coach those who want to learn but are a bit intimidated by the fear of making a fool of themselves. This forum will focus on cooperation and helping to inspire and share with other waterfowlers the wonders of communicating with ducks and geese. We ask you to bring your calls and, if you’re a hot-shot, please leave your ego at the door. We are looking to learn from and enjoy each other’s talents.

One of our native wildlife species historically played an important role on holidays like Thanksgiving. North (Friends cont. pg 53)

January 2023

Friends (Cont. from pg 52) America’s native wild turkeys were the ancestors of the Thanksgiving turkey on our dinner table. Originally found only in the wild, turkeys now exist as meat-producing domesticated derivatives -- the broad breasted white, broad breasted bronze, white Holland, bourbon red, and a host of other breeds – all of them descended from our native wild turkey. More than 140,000 servings of Vermont wild turkeys are harvested each year – that’s 140,000 servings of free-ranging, wild and sustainably harvested protein. Wild turkeys exist throughout Vermont today, but that was not always the case. Wild turkeys disappeared from Vermont in the mid-to-late 1800s due to habitat destruction when land was cleared for farming, and only 25 percent of the state was covered by forest. The wild turkeys we see in Vermont today originated from just 31 wild turkeys stocked in Southwestern Vermont by the VT F&W in 1969 and 1970. Vermont’s forest habitat was once again capable of supporting turkeys. State wildlife biologists moved groups of these birds northward, and today Vermont’s population of turkeys is estimated at close to 50,000. Funding for Vermont’s wild turkey restoration was derived from the sale of hunting licenses and a federal tax on hunting equipment.

Bradley Carleton is the founder and Director of Sacred Hunter.org which teaches the public respect and empathy through hunting, fishing and foraging.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 53

Page 54

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Photos From Our Readers!

While deer hunting in Piscataquis County, Mark Cain of Hampden happened upon this moose antler and skull wedged between a large tree. It appears that the moose got its antler stuck, perhaps while shedding velvet, and died a slow death from starvation or predators. Cain said that the moose rack measured 57 inches from tip to tip.

(Photos by Mark Cain and V. Paul Reynolds)

Ray O'Brien of Enfield caught and released this beautiful lake trout on East Grand Lake.

January 2023

Phil Stanchfield of Brunswick bagged this young buck in Piscataquis County on the first day of his week at deer camp. For the rest of the week he washed dishes, lugged firewood and played a lot of cards.

The brothers Geikie, Ian and Duncan, hit the jackpot this fall in the deer woods. One buck was taken in Lexington and the other in Wells.

Needless to say, their father and hunt mentor, Craig Geikie from Cape Elizabeth, is just a little proud of his boys.

January 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 55

Brook Trout and Banyon Trees

Last summer, I was seated on a bench. Not any bench, but my favorite slab of abandoned lumber located beside this little rill where I spend much of my time playing tag with native brook trout while at my fishing camp in western Maine. With a fine cushion

of brilliant green moss, it’s just the right size and shape for my skinny ass to rest comfortably while contemplating a bit of this or that.

Having no knowledge of quantum physics, I was ruminating on the absurdity of this rock-androll planet’s inexplicable ability to spin within a galaxy that like so many others in space has been expanding through the millennia. I’d been wondering too, how, in an infinite universe, with so much stellar junk floating around, we haven’t bumped into anything larger than a chunk of space-rock astronomers call meteorites, say for instance, a British police box containing a shape-shifting time traveler. But no, it seems our only visitors

may be those the government has been hiding away in the New Mexico desert.

The temperature, in the mid-seventies, was quite pleasant. A woodpecker hammered against the trunk of a distant tree.

Not far away, a crow cawed from somewhere deeper in

the forest, another calling back. A harrier hawk swept low over the contours of the marsh surrounding the little stream. With the sun on my neck, I interrupted my cosmic wonderings while staring down on a set of familiar riffles. I was hoping to catch a sign, perhaps a rise or subsurface flash that would reveal the presence of a fish. After a while, my mind resumed its rambling, stopping to examine what might be the opposite of infinity. At first, I decided it must be zero, but if infinity has no end why would its opposite be any different? I mean, if a number can be combined over and over again, then I suppose it can be divided into smaller and smaller bits, however infinitesimal,

never actually reaching zero.

As my head began to ache, I heard a rustling of leaves along the far bank. A mink stood on its haunches.

Its little head popped above the tall grass, between its jaws dangled the limp body of a garter snake.

I remained still when the mink’s beady eyes shifted in my direction. Although I didn’t move, the carnivorous mammal hadn’t survived that long by taking careless risks. Rather than drawing closer, it slinked down the bank and swam to the far side of the brook. A red squirrel, who had been watching from the branches of a spruce tree, chattered a complaint as the sleek animal vanished downstream.

The first law of thermodynamics states the principle known as the conservation of energy. That is, energy can change from one form to another, although the total amount of energy does not change, making the cosmos an enormous recycling plant­— Mayfly becomes trout, trout becomes mink, mink becomes man, man becomes.... You get the idea.

The second law of thermodynamics states that all natural systems tend toward disorder, a characteristic called entropy, which means that every system, including our bod-

Against The Current

by Bob Romano, Rangeley, ME ies, our social groups, the very atoms comprising the universe, the earth, those galaxies I’d been thinking about earlier, are gradually dissipating.

It’s hard not to argue that everything from the tiniest sub-atomic particles to the universe as young as

dances with glee when we bring that fish to the net.

The part that strikes out in rage or falls helplessly in love. The part of us that hums, even sings from time to time, the part that decides to sit in thought for seven weeks under the shade of a banyan tree or

It’s hard not to argue that everything from the tiniest sub-atomic particles to the universe as young as it may be, must someday come to an end. But to admit that we are mere stardust, poof and we’re gone, is that a bridge too far? it may be, must someday come to an end. But to admit that we are mere stardust, poof and we’re gone, is that a bridge too far? Is the mayfly, the trout, the mink, the bear, and even the angler, nothing more than a collection of molecules that are constantly expanding, dying, changing, comprised of flesh and bone, mere containers to hold a mixture of bodily fluids?

What about that other part of us? You know, the part that while standing naked in the shower worries about what the day may bring or over previous mistakes. The part that curses when we miss a strike on an exceptionally large fish or

for an hour or so by a little stream in western Maine.

The snow melts, the rain dries, the rivers flow, the mayflies hatch, the trout spawn, our bodies shed flesh, our stomachs grow fat, our hair turns gray, (worse yet, we lose it altogether), the earth warms, the universe expands, and yes, we all die.

Rising from my bench on that early-summer afternoon, I came to the conclusion that when it’s all said and done, I’d continue to play tag with the occasional trout. Taking the advice of my favorite singer-songwriter, Iris Dement, I decided to “just let the mystery be.”

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Page 56

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Franchi Momentum Rifle

By Bob Banfelder In November of 2013, my son and his girlfriend had just purchased a vacation home and handed me the keys to a cabin on thirty-nine acres in Tomkins County, situated in Central New York.

“Here you go, Dad. Luce and I are very busy at work these days, so we won’t be getting up here too often. Donna and you are welcome to use the cabin anytime. Of course,

January 2023

Many folks know about Franchi’s quality shotguns, but the Momentum rifle is new. I made my choice based on the company’s reputation and was not in any way disappointed, for I had put the rifle through its A 2-lug bolt design paces for better than a year is generally positioned at before writing this article. 90 degrees when closed, which cycles the push-feed Let’s take a look at design slower than would some of the Momentum’s Franchi’s 60-degree bolt key features: handle. Momentum’s coneThe Momentum has shaped 60-degree bolt lift, a chrome-plated, robust, along with its short handle, I was thrilled as I believed that I was finally going to be monolithic bolt design, translates to a quick 2nd or, able to hunt deer with a rifle. Having been brought up in meaning it is all one piece. if needed, 3rd shot. There is New Jersey, I could only hunt deer with a shotgun.

Note the attractive spiral no sloppiness during ejectI’ll expect you to fill the deer hunting with a hand- calibers .243 WIN, .270 fluting, which helps reduce ing; the action is fast and glassy smooth. freezer with venison. Enjoy gun. Hence, I purchased WIN, .308 WIN, 6.5 Creed- overall weight.

A firing pin indicathe hunting.” a new Thompson/Center more, 30-06 Springfield, tor is located at the rear I was thrilled as I be- Encore .308 caliber pistol and WIN. 300 Magnum. of the weapon: protruded lieved that I was finally go- and harvested my first deer The focus here referencindicates that the weapon ing these hunting rifles ing to be able to hunt deer with that weapon. is cocked ~ flush indicates with a rifle. Having been This year, Tomkins is on the .308 caliber; an that it is uncocked. brought up in New Jersey, County is allowing rifle excellent choice in a deer The rifle has a 2-poThe bolt release is I could only hunt deer with hunting for deer and bear hunting rifle.

Franchi is under the a horizontal hinged latch sition safety; the chamber a shotgun (single-aught or as part of a two-year exdouble-aught buckshot). periment. There had been umbrella of Benelli, an located at the left rear side can be unloaded with the safety ON; a neat, safe, Living out on Long Island, a good deal of specula- Italian firearms manufac- of the receiver. feature. ON is symbolled in I could only hunt deer with tion that this was going to turer founded in 1868, white (safe position); OFF a shotgun (single ball or happen sooner than later. well-known for their susymbolled in red (firing slug). I own several rifles: Therefore, I had my hopes perb shotguns. The composition). .22 caliber, .30-30, .30- set high in anticipation and pany celebrated its one The 22-inch free06 for fun at the shooting had purchased a Franchi hundred and fifty-second floating barrel is made of (152) year in business! cold-hammer forged steel GREAT GIFT FOR YOUR That’s some track record. and chrome molybdenum, Nevertheless, the MomenFAVORITE SPORTSMAN OR tum rifle model is Franchi’s There are 3 locking which strengthens alloys SPORTSWOMAN! against wear and corro“On the Wrong Side of the River” first center-fire sporting/ steel lugs for a rock-solid sion within the bore and

by Carroll Ware, Legendary Maine hunting rifle, so why would hold of a cartridge, not you buy something brand 2 lugs as often seen. The chamber. The importance Guide and well-known outfitter, recounts the people and the places new? Well, Brand is the lugs encompass the sliding- of a free-floating barrel is and the stories that filled his profes- key word here, and Franchi plate extractor and spring- paramount to its accuracy. sional life. Like most career Maine is all about its reputation. tensioned plunger.

Note that the barrel does guides, Ware knows how to tell a not make contact with the story. His book drips with charm, Field Trial and Hunt Test Bloodlines forearm/stock at any point. range. It was going to be a great opportunity to ultimately hunt deer with a rifle . . . or so I thought.

The rub was that Tomkins County was one of the counties that did not allow rifle hunting. Virtually all the counties in both central and upstate New York allow rifle hunting for deer and bear). I was very disappointed. However, I found a legal way around that law.

Tomkins County allowed

humor and a well-earned understanding of people and what makes them tick. Anyone who hunts and fishes will identify with this Maine man’s life and outdoor passions.

- V. Paul Reynolds, Editor, Northwoods Sporting Journal Send a check or money order for $14.95, along with this ad and add $2.00 for postage, to: Carroll Ware 32 Greenwood Ave., Skowhegan, ME 04976

.308 caliber Momentum Bolt-Action Top-Loader Rifle and Burris Fullfield II 3–9 X 40 mm Scope Combo Package early on. I had done a good deal of research prior to making this decision and was positively thrilled with the weapon’s overall performance at the shooting range, eagerly awaiting opening day, November 21st, 2020.

The Franchi Momentum rifle is available in

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(Rifle cont. pg 57)

January 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Rifle (Cont. from pg 56) Without getting into barrel harmonics referencing vibration, simply put, a free-floating barrel will vibrate at the same frequency consistently when fired; whereas, if the barrel touches anything else, it will not prove consistent.

Hence, the inconsistent vibration will affect accuracy. The firearm’s overall length is 42.3 inches point.

The Momentum’s muzzle has a knurled protection cap and is threaded for accessories such as a suppressor. The thread is 5/8–24”. You can opt to purchase the rifle with or without the threaded cap — same price. Also, you can purchase the rifle separately or as part of the combo package; i.e, a Burris Fullfield II 3–9 40 mm scope with ballistic-plex reticles. As Burris has three such scopes, Franchi could have offered the less expensive plain-plex reticles as part of the package; however, you are receiving the upgraded scope with reticles calibrated for long distance hold-over shots.

Very neat. Windage and elevation knobs are comprised of steel clickers for .25 MOA adjustments.

Both the barrel & receiver have a black/blue matte finish.

The rifling is a righthand twist 1:11-inch ratio.

The receiver employs a top-loading box magazine with a hinged floorplate. Floorplate, follower, and spring are all metal, not plastic. The magazine release lever is located within the lower forward section of the trigger guard.

The magazine capacity is 4 rounds, plus 1.

The single-stage trigger is adjustable from 2–4 pounds. Out of the box, the crisp clean pull is set at approximately 3½ pounds.

The black stock is ergonomically designed in a molded polymer synthetic with textured checker-like gripping in all key locations; that is, on the bottom rear section of the stock, along the back and sides of the butt pad, throughout the pistol grip, above the receiver, and finally running the length of a good 7½ inches below and alongside the forearm. These key locations are important referencing your holding/ shooting positions: standing (offhand), kneeling, sitting, prone, and bench shooting referencing sleds and shooting bags. You’re covered nicely for both the field and/or the shooting range.

Note: Referencing shooting bags, Donna and I prefer Uncle Bud’s Bull’s Bag and the X7 Bulls Bag 7-in-1 System.

inserts. Beautiful.

The weight of the Franchi Momentum is 6 pounds 10 ounces. The scope’s weight is 16 ounces, for a total of 7 pounds 10 ounces.

Note that the swivel attachment points are recessed. Cool.

Features not seen: Construction within the polymer framework (that is, its stock and forearm) is serious. You have solid bedding points ~ molded-in reinforcing cross-members ~ and a longitudinal aluminum stabilizing bar for rigidity.

The bedding material used, which secures the action, is a Polymer Steel Glass (Epoxy Putty) bedding compound manufactured

by Devcon, noted by gunsmiths as one of the very best materials for this type of construction.

The rifle’s receiver without the scope is already drilled and tapped for Remington 700-style, 2-piece mounts and bases.

However, the Momentum Combo Pack is as follows: a) The combo package offers Burris’s Fullfield II 3–9 x 40 mm scope. The optics are crystal clear.

The scope is both water/ weather resistant, fog proof and shockproof. You won’t be disappointed. b) Two 1-inch steel Burris Zee Rings.

Franchi’s Rubber TSA recoil pad gives a very comfortable 45–50% felt- recoil reduction. The magic? Answer: gel-filled

c) Two Weaver-Type bases.

Note: I elected to add after-market scope caps in order to protect the optics.

Addressing these exact measurements now will take out the guesswork and

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Page 57

save you a bit of aggravation later if you decide to go this route: Butler Creek scope flip-open caps for the Burris Fullfield II 3–9 x 40 mm scope measure 1.516” (38.5 mm) for the rear cap; 1.760” (44.7 mm) for the front cap.

With the combo package, you’re getting a $239 Burris Scope, rings and base mounts included (a $28 value), for only $120.

That’s a serious savings of $147 referencing the scope.

The cost of the rifle alone sells for $609; add $120 for the scope, rings and mounts, and you’re looking at an MSRP of $729. That’s a true bargain! Street prices will vary, so do your due diligence and shop around.

The ammo that my .308 Franchi Momentum bolt-action loves is Hornady’s Custom Lite 125 grain SST (Super Shock Tip).

The accuracy is superb: Franchi Momentum is truly Monumental, Momentous. In a highly alliterative phrase, “Fit, finish, and function are fantastic in a Franchi.” That should be Franchi’s bywords. You receive both high quality and value as the Momentum is priced to sell.

Whether you are purchasing your first rifle for deer hunting, or simply wish to add a rifle to your arsenal, you won’t be disappointed with this combo package.

To add icing on the cake, Franchi offers a standard 7-year warranty on this combination package!

Definitely not the norm in this business. You’ll generally see a 1-year warranty at best from other manufactures. Need I say more?

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Page 58

The Singing Maine Guide

Northwoods Sporting Journal

by Randy Spencer, Grand Lake Stream, ME I learned to like backwater ponds when I was much younger. That’s what my father and grandfather called them, these ponds that were ten acres or less, sometimes much less. They could be on a local farmer’s land, or deep into the woods. We knew about

chor. We reasoned that without knowing anything about the pond, we should start in the middle.

When we got out there, my Dad noticed an inlet at the opposite end of the pond from the outlet.

“We should set a couple of lines over there,” he

January 2023

Backwater Gems

the hike and the work, we were hungry, and we knew that there was nothing that would put a flag up any faster than taking a break for lunch. The bologna sandwiches were nearly frozen of course, but my Dad said that our stomachs would warm them up. And sure enough, when we got them unwrapped and starting eating, one of the flags at the inlet went up.

on the snow. It was an 11inch brook trout. The small shiner was still alive in its mouth, so we quickly set it again.

Our unfinished sandwiches were firming up back in the middle of the pond when we returned to

These days, whenever I see the sign that says, “Take a kid fishing,” I always think of those outings when we went exploring, not really caring how successful we might be, but hoping just the same. Every flag was an exciting sur-

In the brief time it took us to get there, this fish had unspooled an unbelievable amount of line. I yarded and yarded until finally, a flash of red, orange, black and silver lay squirming and flopping on the snow. some of them because we’d followed a trout stream all the way back to its source and discovered the stream was actually an outlet to a beautiful small pond with no camps or cottages along its shores.

That early winter, we’d get back to that pond no matter what it took.

Once, it was old, wooden cross country skis, and that trip I remember especially clearly. We were lugging a pack basket with some of my grandfather’s tip ups, and pulling a green wooden sled behind us. It held a pickax, a chisel, a bait bucket, and lunch.

I couldn’t believe how different the pond looked from the last time I’d seen it. It was so…alone. Quiet.

Stark. Beautiful. The wind was down that day and our tracks were the only impressions in the snow except for a few crow and squirrel prints. Finding where we should fish was strictly guesswork. When we’d come during open water, we had no boat or canoe to move around in, testing depths with an an-

said. The rigs we were using would be unrecognizable today. They looked like pieces of kindling with part of a coat hanger swiveling on one end. This piece had a weight attached and a piece of red flannel.

You stuck the wood in the ice at an angle so it hung over the hole we’d made with the pickax and chisel.

We had a total of only eight tip ups, which left us each a chance to jig (you were allowed five lines per licensed anglers then, just as now in many places).

After we’d set six lines about ten feet apart from each other, we went over to the inlet, testing the ice with the chisel as we got closer to open water. When we got down to about four inches of ice, we cut two holes and set the lines. “If I were a brook trout, I’d be hanging around here,” my Dad said. We knew there had to be brook trout in this pond, because we’d had good luck with them in the outlet which ran for miles through thick woods and finally into a large river.

When we’d finished

I loved this part, because around the age of ten, I was just beginning to be able to almost beat him running through the snow. Truth is, I think he let me win this one. I looked up at him and he said, “go ahead!.”

I set the hook and started hauling. In the brief time it took us to get there, this fish had unspooled an unbelievable amount of line. I yarded and yarded until finally, a flash of red, orange, black and silver lay squirming and flopping

When the flag goes up on the ice hole, everybody gets excited, kids and grownups alike. them. I don’t think we ever prise, and that’s a language got to finish them, and I all kids speak. know we never got to jig.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

January 2023

Collateral Damage

By V. Paul Reynold

Not being much of a road hunter, grouse hunting has never been quite the same for me since I lost my beloved upland partner quite a few years ago, a gorgeous English Setter named Sally of Seboeis. I still find the ruffed grouse a fascinating game bird, however, and delightful table fare.

We paid heed and began gathering birds for the pot when the opportunity presented itself.

We harmed not one moose, but not the same can be said for the Up County grouse.

Whether you shoot ‘em on the ground on a logging road with an old, beat up 12 gauge single or pursue them in the Thornberry coverts with a pricey Parker 28 gauge and a top shelf gun dog, you are all part of Maine’s most popular fall hunt, surveys show.

My late friend, Millinocket guide Wiggie Robinson, loved to ask his sports if they knew the difference between a grouse and a p’atridge.

Yep, you’ve heard it, right?

If you have to swing with the wheeling bird and shoot it on the wing, it’s a grouse; conversely, if you plug it flatfooted on the ground as you peek around your pickup door, it’s a p’atridge.

Recently Diane and I, along with friend Mark Cain, son Scotty and Limestone outdoorsman Kurt Derah, hunted moose in Wildlife Management District Three. No moose

tagged. Saw a couple bulls and some cows early in the week, but no decent shots could be taken. We called a lot and drove a lot. It’s a long week when you sit in a truck creeping along from daylight ‘til dark. Most of us had never seen that particular part of the County north of Limestone. The expansive views across endless po-

Cooked properly, grouse meat has no peer when it comes to wild tablefare.

(Photo by Tim Flanigan)

Page 59

tato fields, rolling hills and flaming fall colors made for some breathtaking October scenery.

The first few days we drove on by the plentiful roadside grouse pecking at pebbles. Then some old shop-worn adages began to haunt us later in the empty-handed week: “A bird in the hand”… or “If (Damage cont. pg 67)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 60

January 2023

January Question Of The Month The Servel Legacy: Who’s Gonna Fill His Shoes?

By V. Paul Reynolds

If you are a sporting camp operator, or if you simply own a remote camp or cabin in the North Woods far from the electric grid, some method of refrigeration is as important as those gas lights that light your favorite get away. If your place has some years on it, chances are good that the old fridge beside the

dependable an appliance, in fact, that the manufacturer offered a 10-year warranty, which is unheard of today in appliance merchandising! Unlike the modern electric refrigerators sold today that cool with a compressor, the Servel – and all propane refrigerators today – operate on what is called the “absorption method.”

Simplified, it is a closed

tors are good but they are not Servels. While the new ones operate on the absorption method - same as the revered Servels- they just don’t have quite the “precision chemistry” of their precursors. He says that Servel had the “chemistry perfected” in their time: chemistry being the precise mix of water, ammonia and hydrogen.

50 years, this appliance has never been serviced, except perhaps for a flue cleaning.

(Try that with any new appliance!)

Elkin, who once wrote a manual about tuning up a Servel, has been an invaluable resource to backwoods people trying to trouble-

helping to keep the beer cold in the backwoods for so many years. He says that there is a man in Burlington who knows a thing or two about gas refrigerators, including Servels.

If your place in the popple boasts a Servel, don’t get rid of it. Chances

Elkin, who once wrote a manual about tuning up a Servel, has been an invaluable resource to backwoods people trying to troubleshoot their gas refrigerators or find parts. To the dismay of many, Al is hanging up his spurs and closing his shop on Feb 28. sink and the pitcher pump is a Servel.

Servel at one time was THE only camp fridge.

Manufactured by National Electric Products Company from 1933-1957, the Servel was, during its heyday, the only game in town. It was to camp refrigerators what the 30-30 Winchester was to the early deer rifles.

Because it has no moving parts, the Servel was known for its unmatched reliability. It has been so

circuit cooling system that uses heat to cool, and a combination of water, ammonia and hydrogen. The mechanics and chemistry of this ingenious system was invented reportedly by a two grad students in Sweden at the turn of the 19th century.

According to Al Elkin, owner of General Appliance in Brewer, who has been servicing propane refrigerators for 50 years, modern propane refrigera-

Elkin believes that today throughout the Maine woods there are still hundreds if not thousands of Servels still ticking in remote cabins and sporting camps – a testimonial to their fabled reliability. At a remote deer camp that I belong to, we have an original Servel that has been at the camp since 1972. It gets fired up every November and remains idle the rest of the year. So in more than

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Al Elkin proprietor of General Appliance in Brewer, and every sporting camp operator’s consultant and friend, is hanging up his spurs on Feb 28th. Pictured here, he is alongside the old camp standby, the fabled Servel gas refrigerator. (Photo by Patty) shoot their gas refrigerators are it will still be making or find parts. To the dismay ice cubes long after we are of many, Al is hanging up gone. his spurs and closing his shop on Feb 28. On my Sunday night radio proThe author is editor gram, sporting camp opera- of the Northwoods Sporttor Steve Norris, who owns ing Journal. He is also a Servels, observed that “Al Maine Guide and host of Elkin was more important a weekly radio program to keeping life on track in “Maine Outdoors” heard the Maine woods than our Sundays at 7 p.m. on The state Game Wardens!”

Voice of Maine News-Talk They say that change Network. He has authored is the one constant. Indeed! three books.Online purWe wish Al smooth sailing chase information is availin his well-deserved retire- able at www.sportingjourment and thank him for nal.com, Outdoor Books.

January 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Bingo! A BC Bow Bull

A person just never knows when it’s their turn to be blessed and that was the case on this hunt, but there were several hints that the stars were aligning for a great hunt. It all started on a hot July

outfitters and a few phone calls. The prices were much higher than I thought and they were already booked out through 2024. So I kind of dismissed the whole thing. A few weeks later I got an email from Keith

was selling for ½ price. I had hunted with Wilf before in 2002 and I took a 6x6 elk with him. I knew that he runs a pretty tight ship so I instantly replied back to Keith Atcheson and booked the hunt.

This six day hunt could be scheduled any time between 10/1 and 10/21. I was going to fly out to Montana on 10/19 to hunt the elk/deer rifle

Page 61

Mass Wanderings

by David Willette, N. Adams, MA

spots so I wasn’t really expecting to shoot a moose with a bow. I kiddingly said to Wilf that we would probably do some scouting and locate a few bulls with the bow and then go hunt them the next day with a rifle.

The guide knew of one small swamp/swale that he

of it. And it did, but it was quartering towards us. It stood there for a minute or two and then turned broadside and I loosed an arrow.

The hit was back but the Auto-Lock broadhead, (auto-lockbroadheads. com), did its job. The bull went about 500 yards and

It was 25 degrees with no wind. We slipped easily into the bog just after daylight and started calling. We occasionally would hear a bull scraping his headgear on red willows but we couldn’t see anything. A few minutes later we started to see brush move about 75 yards away.

opener so all I had to do was change my flight to 10/12 and I was good to go.

On a whim I decided that I would hunt one day with the bow, (and then switch

The bull shortly before the author took his shot at 50 yards. night when I was bored and about to go to bed when I decided to consider what I could hunt that was within easy driving distance from my son’s house in NW Montana. A quick search turned up Shiras Moose in Southern British Columbia, (BC). I googled the BC outfitter sites and emailed a couple of them along with a few other sites that represented outfitters who hunted moose. I also sent a blind email to Atcheson and Sons Booking just because they popped up on my feed.

A few days later I got some response from some

thought might hold moose so that’s where we went on the first morning. It was 25 degrees with no wind. We slipped easily into the bog just after daylight and started calling. We occasionally would hear a bull scraping his headgear on red willows but we couldn’t see anything. A few minutes later we started to see brush move about 75 yards away.

Then we could see antlers, big antlers. I had ranged a tree at 50 yards, hoping that the bull would step in front

toppled over. The hunt was over before I could get hungry.

The pack out was brutal but we were close to the truck. After the moose got processed and the head cleaned up for US Customs, I headed back to Montana where I bought a lottery ticket.

I didn’t win. The gods had stopped smiling on me.

David Willette is a free-lance outdoor writer who lives in Massachusetts.

ENTER TO WIN A FLYROD!

The author with his bow bull.

Atcheson stating that he represented two outfitters in BC but that he had another outfitter, a Wilf Boardman, who had just bought out an outfitter who had recently gotten divorced and that Wilf had a moose tag/hunt that he

to a rifle), as the moose as it was late rut, plus this ended my hunt on the 10/19, giving me plenty of time to get back to Montana and hunt with my son.

Southern BC is extremely mountainous and there are very few level

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Page 62

THE BACK SHELF

Northwoods Sporting Journal

From the files of the Northwoods Sporting Journal The best hunting and fishing columns going back 25 years!

By their very nature backshelf articles, resurrected from our archives, may contain information or facts that have been altered or changed by the passage of time.

By Jack Gagnon So you’re going to take up fly fishing. You’ll need equipment. Thumbing through catalogs is fine, but before you take out the credit card and reach for the phone, consider buying a used rod and reel.

have unfrayed wrapping on the guides, and ferrules that fit well. A used reel should be free of rust, with a drag that functions properly. When you look at used equipment, take someone with you who already fly fishes. They’ll

January 2023

Fly Fishing for Beginners

else.

You will want new flyline. Line finishes degrade over time, making them tougher to cast. Worn fly lines also absorb water; sinking lines get too heavy and floating lines sink. I would suggest you start with just a floating weightforward fly line. For general stream fishing, it will handle wets, dries, nymphs, and even streamers, with a little weight attached to the leader when needed. You

line. The mono loop will allow easy attachment of leaders for the life of the line.

Waders are personal.

You live in them when you fish. They have to fit. They have to keep you dry. If someone wants to give you

fer a bit more ankle support, stocking foot waders with separate wading shoes and ankle gaiters (gravel guards) might be the way to go. Whatever you choose, be sure the soles have some version of felts attached. Felts give

When you look at used equipment, take someone with you who already fly fishes. They’ll know what to look for. And don’t overlook friends and neighbors as an equipment resource.

New isn’t necessary. New doesn’t catch more fish.

The major difference between a brand new fly rod and reel and a comparable used outfit that’s been well maintained is the packaging you get to discard. The money you save can be used for something else, like high quality waders.

We’ll get to that.

A used rod should

know what to look for. And don’t overlook friends and neighbors as an equipment resource. Every fly fisherman I know who’s been at it a decade or two has perfectly good fly rods and fly reels they haven’t used in years, tucked away in drawers and closets.

There might be a better deal across the street than you’ll find anywhere

can easily spend a hundred dollars or more on a fly line, but you can spend less than half that and still get a quality line with a good guarantee. And this is a great time of the year to find tackle on sale.

You’re going to need backing on the reel if it doesn’t already have it.

Backing isn’t just extra running line in case you hook a fish that bolts to the other side of the river. Backing increases the diameter of the spool, allowing more line to be retrieved with each turn. You can put the backing and fly line on the reel yourself. If you Google “fly fishing knots” there are numerous websites that show you how to do it. If you have a fly fishing shop nearby, buy your line and backing there, and let them do this for you. Ask them to also attach a hard mono loop to the end of your fly

Casting a fly line to a rising trout is about as good as it gets! their old waders, a simple you traction on slippery no thank you will suffice. surfaces. Plain rubber soles People buy new waders are treacherous. Without for one reason: Their old felts, slippery rocks on ones leak. There’s no item the stream bottom feel of fly fishing equipment like greased bowling balls. that is more important for Note that we’re talking your comfort, and your about chest waders. Not safety, than your waders. hip boots. Hip boots have Buy the best waders you their place but wading a can afford. No leak is ac- trout stream beyond knee ceptable, ever. On a warm deep is not one of them. spring day, when the water Some waders have the temperature is in the fifties, required suspenders ator even the sixties, a damp tached to them, some don’t. foot or knee will transition And don’t overlook the from a minor irritation, to purchase of thick socks shivering, faster than you that cushion your feet and can wade out of the stream. insulate you against the Waders come in many stream temperature. Take styles. Boot foot waders your time assembling your that have the “shoe” built wading gear. Be sure it all in tend to be the least ex- fits. Put your socks and pensive. If they feel right waders on and walk around and have a reasonable in them before you buy guarantee, they might be them. They should fit as all you need. If you pre- well as your shoes.

TIME TO SELL SOME OF THAT SPORTING EQUIPMENT OR ANYTHING THAT YOU’VE GOT COLLECTING DUST! ONE MAN'S GARBAGE IS ANOTHER MAN'S TREASURE! SEND US YOUR CLASSIFIEDS! LET US HELP YOU SELL YOUR STUFF!

Jack Gagnon is an avid fly fisherman and upland bird hunter. He has written for a number of national sporting publications.

January 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Last Day

The open rifle season for white-tailed deer in Maine in 2022 was, by a lot of accounts, a big success.

The new any-deer permit system seemed to work well, and social media was wall-to-wall with pictures of smiling sportsmen triumphantly posing with huge deer they had bagged

works five or six days a week. A bonus to any effort to travel to her place and sitting in the cold woods for a few hours is that hot cup of tea and a chance to visit for an hour or two. I might miss better opportunities for a deer, but I’ll never pass that up.

The final day of the

moments of relative calm.

When the sun came up and the wind would die down, it actually got pretty warm, at length melting the smattering of flakes that had coated the understory with a half-inch of tracking snow in the hills the night before. I followed one set of tracks until the snow had become thin enough that the leafy understory no

Page 63

Marsh Island Chronicles

by Matthew Dunlap, Old Town, ME scouting plays a huge role in hunting success, not to mention gathering intelligence; conversations with locals, game wardens, and field biologists gives the sportsman a real leg-up.

wears on, it’s easier and quicker to get into that zone as we rebuild ourselves in the model of our hunter-gatherer forebears.

We become a part of the landscape we traverse.

Of course, even in boom years, less than twenty percent of hunters manage to fill a tag. Some of that is because of effort. If you only go out one time and call it good after a half-hour, odds are you are going home empty handed.

with good luck and a sure aim. Not that I would know much about that firsthand, of course.

Not for want of trying, dear reader. I was out at least once or twice a week during the entire season. I hunted in the afternoon as well as at first light; I spent a longer amount of time, and walked further, trying my hand at the time-tested by patience-testing method of still-hunting. I got within earshot of one late in the season; but it never stepped out for me to get a look at it, never mind draw a bead on.

I’m not complaining.

I’ve killed a lot of deer over the years, and as time has passed I see deer season as a two-fer social outlet. I love stopping to talk with other hunters, sharing information and stories. Where I hunt—and I’ve taken four or five nice deer out of there—is on an old farm that’s now owned by my mother, who at 92, still helps run the shop and

open rifle season happened to be my birthday. That happened one other time, in 2005; that morning, I managed to tag a small spikehorn buck. I had no reason to think that might happen again, but I had no reason to think it wouldn’t, either, so after pondering the possibilities, I set out for one more morning, with my rifle slung over my back, and made my way to the hunting grounds.

It was most certainly not quiet. The wind came in mighty gusts of up to thirty miles per hour, punctuating

longer betrayed the track of the deer in its transit; then, I found a rock to sit on, and whiled away the morning reflecting on my now-many seasons of both futility and success.

Of course, even in boom years, less than twenty percent of hunters manage to fill a tag. Some of that is because of effort.

If you only go out one time and call it good after a half-hour, odds are you are going home empty handed.

On the other hand, even the devoted master hunter who packs a lunch and covers a ton of ground from opening to close on every legal day in the season may go home without anything— but their chances of success are much better. Pre-season

I fall somewhere in the deep middle. I know the areas I hunt well; I’ve scouted them to death, have used game cameras in the pre-season and have had a good amount of success over the years. I probably hunted a quarter of the days allowed me this season (not counting archery or black powder seasons, which are topics of several future columns); I could have done more, and wish I had, but not for the reason of filling a tag.

You know what I’m talking about. It’s elusive to describe; the combination of adrenaline and endorphins when you feel the rush of excitement and a sort of Zen calm all at the same time. As the season

The last day came a lot faster than I would have liked. As I watched the day emerge from the purple shroud of night, I hoped and listened and watched and reflected until the wind finally got the best of me, and I nestled next to a cup of tea with my mother, and toasted the local deer for escaping me this season.

Wait until next year, Buck.

We have a date.

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

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 64

Too Much Snow!

Anticosti

by Mark Cote, Rumford, ME Be careful what you ask for. Haven’t we all heard the expression the old timers used to say, “Be careful what you wish for”? Well, this year is a prime example. Usually about a month before I go to Anticosti on my annual deer hunt, I start hoping for snow on the island. When the higher elevations get snow, it signals the deer to

year after year. If you hit the timing right, you can sometimes see 100 deer pass you in a day. It is a deer hunter’s dream! This year, the island got that snow on the second week of November. It didn’t take long for word to get around, the migration was on! Photo after photo was shared on Anticosti Deer Hunters Facebook page

ing yards. By the third week, territories closer to the seashore were having great luck…until it snowed again, and again, and yet again. Getting around became very difficult for the hunters, in fact, today I was told there were five pickup trucks stuck in the snow in various sectors.

Sepaq has hundreds of miles of roads to plow and keeping them open is no small task even on a normal year. This year it hasn’t quit! Getting on and

By the third week, territories closer to the seashore were having great luck…until it snowed again, and again, and yet again. Getting around became very difficult for the hunters, in fact, today I was told there were five pickup trucks stuck in the snow in various sectors. start heading for the seashores where they spend the winter eating kelp. The salty sea mist from the ocean reduces the snow depth considerably, making it the best place for them to yard up for a long brutal winter.

We call their trek to the sea ‘The Migration’.

Once they begin their migration, it is unbelievable to witness. They travel the same certain routes

boasting mature bucks.

We were all excited for our turn to get on the island for our opportunity to harvest a trophy Anticosti whitetail. The center of the island got three feet of snowfall before November 15th! Hunters who had reservations in the camps there were treated to exceptional deer movement.

But now the snow is just too deep and the herd is en route to their winter-

January 2023

Normally, deer hunters pray for snow. But on the island this fall, there was too much of a good thing. (Photo by Mark Cote)

off the island has been a huge problem as well due to weather delays and canceled flights. Most hunting packages have four days of hunting, and plane delays reduce them to three, and in a few instances, two. That will stress out even the most patient of people. My hunt begins in ten days. If the weather doesn’t break soon I fear it could be in jeopardy simply from the inability to move hunters

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Anticosti bucks begin to migrate to the island’s coast in search of kelp and reduced snow depths. (Photo by Mark Cote) around the island.

All eyes are on the forecast. Snow has made the headlines all season.

Lake effect snow of over six feet, record snowfall in northern Canada….the list goes on. I am all packed

and ready, but I may be all dressed up with nowhere to go. Usually before our hunt we’re begging for snow! Once again, be careful what you ask for… The old timers could be right this time.

January 2023

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Winter: Fleeting Thoughts

Winter is: A packbasket with tip-ups… frosted windows…stubborn starting autos…blow-

loaded firs…cardinals at the feeder…beaver trapping…picturesque snow scenes…icy roads…lonely

punched hole tracks in the new snow…stubborn oak tree leaves shiver in the arctic wind…weasels are now pure white…bubbles hurry along under the brook ice…a log camp is comforting…a red squirrel

Page 65

“Just Fishing”

by Bob Leeman, Bangor, ME pan…lily pads and pickerel…hardwood and an axe… crews and cornfields…parlor stores and home -made apple pie…maple syrup and pancakes…moccasins

dles…discarded Christmas trees…a new mobile home in my favorite partridge cover…leaky boots…lake levels drawn down…droughts…biting

…shed deer antlers protrude from the snow in hidden

orchards…pine scent is clean…frost flakes seem suspended in the brisk night air…a purple sun goes to bed early.

ing snow…mackinaw and gum rubbers…wool sweaters…squeeky snow under foot…shorter days…long nights…snow shoes and skis…ice fishing…snow-

has left pine cone chewings on a tree stump…arctic winds make the pine forests sing…shed deer antlers protrude from the snow in hidden orchards…pine scent is clean…frost flakes seem suspended in the brisk night air…a purple sun goes to bed early.

Outdoor Go-Togethlake shore camps…cook fires and fry pans…frosted ers: Teapots and campfields…a snowshoe rab- fires…mothballs and fly bit thinks he’s hidden in tying…snow and snowthe snow…ice stacks on shoes…bird feeders and hurrying brooks…deer- winter…smelts and a fry-

and Indians…canoes and spring…loons and a remote lake…a can of worms and a meat rack…guides and setting poles…pine groves and chickadees, burdocks and wool britches…salmon and peas…gardens and weeds…trout ponds and long cabins…duck hunting and a hot thermos.

It Bugs Me to See: Rust specks on gun barrels…old, discarded plastic bags in the woods… thin ice…split axe han-

winds when it’s below zero…leaky canges (?) and powerboats…a new bridge over the old trout pool… muddy camp roads…traps with worn springs…gusty winds when trolling…unkempt log camps…kinks in wire lines…a rooster tail at the foot of a canoe run…unfriendly canoeists…floating beer cans… wind blown tip up flags… somebody griping…

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E CTIV A O Y ET FRE ILITAR M

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 66

January 2023

Cracker Barrel

by Homer Spit

Maine Deer Hunt: Banner Year!

When the final fall deer harvest numbers are totaled, in a few weeks after the close of the December muzzleloader season, the results will be irrefutable and very impressive.

At this writing, Maine deer hunters have tagged close to 42,000 deer! That number eclipses last year’s

to a grand total harvest of 44,000 animals.

To what do we owe this banner year for deer hunters? What is the dynamic at work?

Of course, hunters have already begun to speculate on the reason or reasons for this hunters’ bonanza. As Bangor

If deer hunting is your passion, like me, this news is as exciting as it gets, for a number of reasons. In more than 50 years of hunting Maine whitetails, I don’t recall ever having seen so many does. figures by a margin of about 14 percent. If past is prologue, black powder hunters will tag another 1,500 animals. With the new doe system in play, you can expect the total figure to hover very close

Daily News outdoor writer Peter Warner reported recently, we won’t be privy to much professional analysis until DIF&W has had a chance to study and correlate the harvest data.

Warner writes, “...there is

one dynamic that may have affected the increase: the revamped antlerless deer permit system.”

That is a good bet.

But there are surely other significant causal factors at work. Weather wise it was a wonderful deer season.

During the peak of the rut in mid November where I hunt, we were blessed with an early snow cover that resisted crusting over: perfect tracking conditions.

Milder winters are playing a role, too, no doubt.

We should not ignore the likely cause of higher deer survival rates upon substantive coyote control programs either, especially in the North Woods. Kudos to those recreational coyote hunters and dedicated trappers who have culled our coyote numbers con-

siderably. (Yes, coyotes near deer yards take down deer, even healthy ones).

If deer hunting is your passion, like me, this news is as exciting as it gets, for a number of reasons.

In more than 50 years of hunting Maine whitetails, I don’t recall ever having seen so many does.

Equally, exciting is this fact: tracking snow tells the story. Either the deer are there or they aren’t. In Piscataquis County, where I have hunted for more than 50 years, we have endured some pretty lean years deer population wise. Clearly, deer are rebounding in this neck of the woods. This can not be attributable to this year’s revamped doe permit system. It has to be a result of reduced predation by coyotes and bear, milder

winters, and – in my hunt area - new-growth forest on the heels of years of massive clear cutting.

As if that isn’t enough good news, Maine is also on the cusp of sweeping and historic protection and preservation of traditional Maine deer wintering areas statewide.

Frankly, I never expected in my time to witness a whitetail reformation of this magnitude.

Much of this reformation is Nature based, but assorted groups of policy makers, biologists and Maine conservationist groups also share the credit.

As an aging but still enthusiastic and eager deer hunter, whose legs thankfully still work in the deer woods, I rejoice and pray for mobility next November. For the younger generations of hunters coming along – my sons, my grandsons and my granddaughters- my heart rejoices for them as well.

Deer hunters all. Next year holds much promise for the Maine deer woods!

Homer Spit lives on a lake in Maine. He likes to keep a low profile.

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SPACE CALL 207-732-4880 OR EMAIL: info@sportingjournal.com

Northwoods Sporting Journal

January 2023

Damage

(Cont. from pg 59) the Lord give you lemons, make lemonade.”

We paid heed and began gathering birds for the pot when the opportunity presented itself. We harmed not one moose, but not the same can be said for the Up County grouse. Call it collateral damage.

Back home in the Downeast lowlands Branch Lake, with our daily limit of grouse in Zip Lock bags, we elected to try a new grouse recipe. Over the years we generally just cut the breast meat in strips and sauteed gently in garlic butter. Yours truly donned an apron and, after having thumbed through a few outdoor cook books, concocted this succulent culinary amalgamation.

For lack of a better recipe name, I’ll call it: Geezer’s Great Grouse.

5 skinned grouse, lightly dusted with flour and peppered 1 can of mushroom soup 1 can of cream of chicken soup ½ packet of Lipton Dry Onion Soup Mix Half a sweet onion chopped fine ¼ cup of cooking sherry 1 cup of water In a mixing bowl combine all of the ingredients except the grouse and stir well. In a big fry pan add cooking oil and braise the grouse for a minute or so on both sides. Place the grouse in a crock pot. Pour the mixing bowl of ingredients over the grouse along with the drippings from the fry pan.

Cook in the crock pot on high heat for 4 or 5 hours, then on low for a

Page 67

couple more. Serve with rice and your favorite veggie, say string beans almondine or oven-roasted brussels sprouts. Make sure you pour some of the delicious gravy over the bird and the rice. A half a glass of good Sauvignon Blanc doesn’t hurt either.

The author is editor of the Northwoods Sporting Journal. He is also a Maine Guide and host of a weekly radio program “Maine Outdoors” heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on The Voice of Maine News-Talk Network. He has authored three books. Online purchase information is available at www.sportingjournal.com/Outdoor Books.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 68

January 2023

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

January 2023

North

(Cont. from pg 32) Park, it is very likely Millinocket area will find new life, and then some.

Here at Moosehead, since Covid there has been a marked turnover taking place. The story is not any different than what has happened to other places.

Many people are retiring

and moving up, mostly from out-of-state. The construction market has been smoking hot, with new subdivisions popping up around the region. Camps and regular houses are being snapped up at good prices and turned into rentals, not any different than what has taken place for a longer time on the coast, or around the world. This is not how people imagine Moosehead to be.

The Allagash canoe trip is popular, with more trips, more often. So is the West Branch. The East Outlet, between Greenville and Rockwood, is combat fishing in season now, something once reserved for rivers in western states.

Certain known hunting places are crowded. The woods and lake are becoming a noisy mishmash of motorized and non-motorized sports. It is harder to

get away in the get-a-way.

This summer I heard a lot of lamenting, from residents and from visitors.

Can Moosehead retain its genuine nature?

Can it still be Maine’s real outdoor paradise?

Whether we become Bar Harbor North depends on the fortitude of local people, and, hate to say, regulations. Visitors will come no matter what. And will, for the most part, re-

Page 69

spect whatever the locals expect.

Suzanne AuClair has been writing about the Moosehead Lake Region for the past 28 years. She produced the state anthology, “The Origins, Formation & History of Maine’s Inland Fisheries Division.” She and is an award-winning member of the New England Outdoor Writers Assn.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 70

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January 2023

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