Northwoods Sporting Journal,Mar. 2020

Joe Helps Willard Budge Become Friends With “The Squatters” March 2020 Only

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Maine Angler Makes Hall Of Fame -V. Paul Reynolds

* Tying Bucktail Flies * Moosehead’s Big Br ookies * Fish Stocking Repor t Link (pa ge 55) * Camps, Cotta ges & Land For Sale

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

March 2020

Sunday Hunting Revisited

Dear Governor Mills: In case you haven’t read or otherwise heard, Sunday hunting will be legal in Pennsylvania starting this fall. The regulation change, signed into law

by Governor Tom Wolf, adds three Sundays to the scheduled fall seasons, one Sunday during the archery deer season, one Sunday during the firearm deer season and a third Sunday to be chosen by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The Sunday hunting of nuisance animals such

as fox, coyote, crows and feral hogs has been allowed for some time but this is the first regulation allowing hunting deer on Sunday since Pennsylvania was under British rule.

By my estimation that leaves just three or four states that prohibit any kind of hunting on the Sabbath.

Maine is one of them. And though it may seem like I’m beating a dead horse it’s time for a change.

Numerous attempts have been made at the legislative levels to do just that in recent years to no avail, largely due to opposition by such groups as the Maine Farm Bureau, Small Woodlot Owners

and Maine Forest Products Council, some of whom threatened to close off access to their land if Sunday hunting ever came to be.

That opposition is one reason why, as a small woodlot owner, I refuse to be a member of any of them.

They don’t speak for me.

But other groups have opposed Sunday hunting as well, including the Maine Professional Guides Association and Maine Snowmobile Association, among others. I can understand the opposition. It’s a simple matter of self-interest.

Most of the activities by these groups is done on private land and they don’t want to alienate the owners.

In the beginning, it was questionable at best whether the Pennsylvania Sunday hunting initiative would pass muster but

Page 3

Muzzleloading Afield

by Al Raychard, Lyman, ME

what apparently made the difference is a requirement in the new law that Sunday hunters on private land carry written permission from the landowner. I don’t know if that’s been tried in the numerous attempts to get Sunday hunting on the books but it might appease the various landowners and give user groups of that land less to worry about, although I doubt everyone would be happy or support going that route. Maine has always been an open state and few want to step over that threshold.

With so many organized groups in opposition, without some kind of guarantee owners retain some control over who hunts their land and when

it is doubtful, Maine will allow Sunday hunting anytime soon or ever, at least through the typical political system.

So, I send a request to Governor Mills to consider putting Sunday hunting in her budget the next time she presents it, either allowing landowners to hunt their own land, which we should be able to do, or require Sunday hunters to have written permission like in Pennsylvania.

Governor Baldacci went this route back in 2005 as I recall. It didn’t get very far but it didn’t include any control measures for landowners, which seems to be either directly or indirectly the big issue.

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Page 4

On The Cover

Joe Helps Willard Budge Become Friends With “The Squatters” - Pg 6 Maine Angler Makes Hall of Fame - Pg 9 Tying Bucktail Flies - Pg 29 Moosehead’s Big Brookies - Pg 24 Fish Stocking Report Link - Pg 55 Camps, Cottages & Land For Sale - Pg 68

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 Sporting Journal prides itself on being an independent 3. Muzzleloading Afield - Al Raychard voice for the region’s outdoor com6. The Adventures Of Me & Joe - Bob Cram munity for more than 20 years.

9. Maine Guide Named To Sportsman Hall Of Fame - V. Paul Reynolds Some of our writers are seasoned 11. “A Hiker’s Life” - Carey Kish and specialized outdoors people 12. Northwoods Voyager - Gil Gilpatrick who will share their know-how and 13. Anticosti - Mark Cote insights; some of our contributors are 14. The Allagash - Matt LaRoche simply lifelong outdoor people with 15. Best Bassin’ - Bill Decoteau interesting stories to tell.

16. The Gun Cabinet - John Floyd Our aim every month is to 17. What’s In Your Woods - Bud Utecht 18. Outdoor Sporting Library - Jeremiah Wood capture the essence of Northern 20. The Tyer’s Corner - Hugh Kelly New England’s remarkable outdoor 24. Question Of The Month - V. Paul Reynolds heritage by stirring memories, por25. On The Prowl - Justin Merrill traying outdoor humor, and sharing 28. Ramblings From T8 - R9 - Benjamin Rioux experiences and outdoor knowledge.

29. Fly Fishing - Joe Bertolaccini We also keep our readers up to date 32. The Buck Hunter - Hal Blood with late-breaking outdoor news and 33. Guns & Ammo: A Guide’s Perspective - Tom Kelly hard-hitting editorials about fish 34. Maine Outdoor Adventure - Rich Yvon and wildlife issues.

35. Blaine’s Outdoor Journal - Blaine Cardilli Anyone who loves to hunt 37. Northwoods Sketchbook - Mark McCollough and fish, or simply finds the Great 38. Marsh Island Chronicles - Matthew Dunlap Outdoors a treasured place, is more 39. Old Tales From The Maine Woods - Steve Pinkham 42. Fishin’ Lake Ontario - Capt. Ernie Lantiegne than likely to find some special 43. Salt Corner - Doug Jowett connections amid the pages of the 44. Women In The Woods - Erin Merrill Northwoods Sporting Journal.

Contents

45. Flight Of The Arrow - Jerome Richard 46. Outdoors In Maine - V. Paul Reynolds 47. South Of The Kennebec - Stu Bristol 48. The Back Shelf - Dave O’Connor 49. Vermont Ramblings - Dennis Jensen 49. Outdoors In Vermont - Gary Moore 50. Vt Federation of Sportsmen Clubs Inc. - Roy Marble 52. Green Mountain Report - Bradley Carleton 53. Kineo Currents - Suzanne AuClair 55. New Hampshire Outdoors - Peter St. James 56. The Singing Maine Guide - Randy Spencer 57. The Bird Perch - Karen Holmes 58. Against The Current - Bob Romano 60. Maine Tails - Jonah Paris 63. “Just Fishing” - Bob Leeman 64. Malarkey Cabin Chronicles - Ray Dillon 66. SAM - David Trahan 67. Cookin’ With New England’s WildCheff - Denny Corriveau

March 2020

www.sportingjournal.com

Main Office Phone: (207) 732-4880 E-mail: info@sportingjournal.com Fax: (207)732-4970 Vol 27 Issue 3 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 - Mike Morin General Sales Manager - Victor Morin Jr. Sales Department; Thomas Schmidt, Paul Hatin & Michael Georgia Regional Advertising Manager - Jim Thorne The Northwoods Sporting Journal invites submissions of photographs and articles about the Maine outdoors.

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

All rights reserved, 2020. 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.

Question Of The Month - Pg 24

By V. Paul Reynolds

On The Prowl - Pg 25

By Justin Merrill

Other Great Stories & Information

8. Editorial/Letters 10. Outdoor News 40. Bait Directory 41. Trading Post 44. Carroll’s Corner - Carroll Ware 68. Real Estate

Cover Photo: Carroll Ware (Photo by Lila Ware)

Green Mountain Report - Pg 52

By Bradley Carleton

Malarkey Cabin Chronicles - Pg 64

By Ray Dillon

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Page 6

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Adventures of Me and Joe

The Squatters

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

“Heck of a view, ain’t she boys” Willard Budge stared down across the grassy slope to where whitecaps scuffed the surface of Loonlaughter Pond.

Beyond the pond ranks of forest-clad hills, their multi-colored foliage brilliant in the clear autumn air, rolled southward to where the rugged slopes of Mt. Katahdin lifted majestically against the southward to where the rugged slopes of Mt. Katahdin lifted majestically against the horizon.

“Hard ta beat,” Joe agreed with a smile. “You got yerself quite a deal when you plunked down the cash for this spread, Willard.”

Budge nodded happily while still staring off across the pond. Willard Budge had woods crews busy in half the Allagash, supplying lumber to various mills and pulp to several paper companies. He had worked himself up from an office boy in a woods camp to his present position of woodlands manager for Crown Forestry and today, at 46, he was ready to enjoy some of the good life.

After purchasing sev-

eral prime acres of land looking down on Loonlaughter Pond, a famous area trout water, he had contracted with me and Joe to build him a genuine north country log cabin. He didn’t want anything fancy, just a big, square cabin with two bedrooms and a bath.

Most of the space would be taken up with a large living area, open to the rafter, with a huge stone fireplace occupying most of one wall.

Willard had heard of Joe’s skill at building fireplaces and there was no one better with an axe. I had done quite a bit of cabinet and finish work, so he had hired us to build the cabin at our leisure. “I’m in no hurry,” he advised. “I won’t be able to use the place much until next spring, and probably not a heck of a lot after that. But I want the place so whenever things get too hectic, I’ll always have it to come back to.”

We’d cut and peeled the spruce logs in the late spring and stacked them to dry through the heat of summer. In the meantime we’d cleared ground, contracted to have a septic

March 2020

The four men and Willard turned to see Floyd Gaunt standing by the corner of the cabin, his old Mauser rifle dangling from one hand. system installed and a well drilled, and gathered most of the materials we’d need for building. Now it was time to get started and Willard had stopped by to check on how we were doing.

A cement block foundation, sunk below frost line, was now in the floor stringers and first floor in

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.

place. We were up about four logs on the walls and Willard was pleased with the progress. He walked over to peer closely at one corner.

“Don’t know how you do it, Joe, cutting a saddle notch to fit that tight over the lower log. You couldn’t slide a piece of paper through that joint.”

“Take yer time, you kin do most anything, “ Joe said, but I could see he was pleased by the compliment.

“Great work, boys, “Willard continued. “I’ll take off now and let you get back to work. Be a few days before I get back by.”

He grinned. “Ain’t many crews I can just leave alone and know I don’t have to worry about the work they’re doing.”

After Willard had left, we got back to it, working together with the smoothness of long practice. We had another tier of logs in place when Joe stopped to peer down the slope to the trees on the east side of the clearing.

“Wonder who that is at the old shack,” he said, shading his eyes to see better.

I looked where he pointed. A tiny one-room shack, somewhere the worse for wear, perched on the bank above the water in a small copse of firs.

The shack had been on the property when Willard bought it and he had mentioned tearing it down once the main camp was built.

(Me & Joe cont. pg 7)

March 2020

Me & Joe

(Cont. from pg 6) A batter old Ford truck was backed up to the shack and two figures where moving slowly between the truck body, which was covered by a small camper shell, and the shack.

“Let’s walk on down and see what’s goin’ on, “ Joe said.

As we approached the shack a man and a woman, both advanced in years, came out of the shack and stood watching us walk up. They appeared to be in their late 60s or early 70s and looked somewhat tired and dragging. Their clothes were worn and patched, but scrupulously clean. Their truck was an early 50s model and both its body and the framework of the camper shell, had seen much patching and repairing.

Northwoods Sporting Journal “Afternoon,” the man said cautiously.

“Howdy,” Joe replied what a slightly quizzical expression. “What is it that you all are doin’?”

“Why, we’re movin’ into our new place,” the woman replied with a tired smile. “I’ll be glad to get a little settled. We been travelin’ quite some time.”

“Your new place?”

Joe asked uncertainly.

“Yep,” the man replied. “Jest bought her today. Don’t look like much but I “spect we kin make somethin’ out of it, given time.”

“But this land and building belong to Willard Budge,” Joe said. “there’s no way he would have sold it after just buying it.”

“Don’t take to bein’ called a liar, mister, “ the old man said with a scowl.

“I aint’ got the strength to uster have, but you wait

right there whilst I fetch my rifle gun.” He started to turn away, but I hastily interrupted.

“Excuse us, mister,” I said quickly, “ we didn’t mean to accuse you of anything, but did you say youd’ bought this place from Willard?”

“Oh no, “ the woman broke in. “We purchased it from a man named Scooter Carbuncle.”

Joe groaned. Scooter Carbuncle was a no-account loafer who hung around Mooseleuk and subsisted on doing odd jobs. It was true he had built the shack on the pond, but he had done so on land he didn’t own.

“I’m sorry, folks,” Joe said sadly. “But the building wasn’t Scooter’s to sell.

He just squatted here for a time and built the camp on somebody else’s land.”

I could see some-

Page 7

thing seem to die in the old man’s eyes, but he squared his narrow shoulders and glared at us. “I paid two hunnert dollars, last money we had in the world, fer this place. I figured we’ll stay.”

“But Floyd,” the old woman began uncertainly, “if the man didn’t own the land…”

“We got no place ta go and no money ta go with, Meg,” her husband interrupted sternly. He turned to me and Joe. “You tell this Budget, or whatever his name is, if he’s plannin’ on kickin’ us off this land, he’s got it ta do. Now, if you boys’ll excuse me, I got a truck ta unload.”

There was nothing else for it. Me and Joe went back up the hill and resumed work on the cabin. For two days nothing happened. I stopped down to the shack once or twice. While Floyd remained somewhat stiff, Meg was always friendly.

The couples’ family name was Gaunt. It seemed that they were originally from western Maine. Floyd had worked in a paper mill until he was 65. Upon retirement, he had taken a lump sum and invested the entire amount with a supposedly truckworthy investment counselor. But in the re(Me & Joe cont. pg 22)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

March 2020

ATV Policy Recommendations Completed

The Maine ATV Task Force, created last fall by Gov. Janet Mills, recently finished its work and sent recommendations to the governor’s desk.

At the outset, the 15-member group was charged with addressing three major areas of concern: how to manage the growth in statewide ATV use, helping the outdoor recreation economy, and how best to protect landowners and the environment.

Maine has 6,000 miles of maintained and designated ATV trails. There are 70,000 registered ATVs in the state.

Mills said this about the role of the ATV Task Force: “The rising popularity of ATVs provides many economic benefits to towns and business throughout the state, particularly in rural Maine, which is why it is critical that we implement a collaborative strategy that supports that growth, assists landowners in managing it, and continues to foster Maine’s tradition as a premier outdoor recreation destination.”

Here are the recommendations of the

task force: • Limit the size and weight of ATVs that can be utilized on state-maintained trails in Maine to 65 inches wide and 2,000 lbs.

• Adopt Best Management Practices (BMPs) for construction and maintenance of state-funded ATV trails.

• Create a standardized annual trail inspection process.

• Develop a collaborative communications campaign for landowners and ATV riders.

• Maintain a simple user-pay registration system with one sticker type and price.

• Increase fees across all ATVs equally, having a differential for residents and nonresidents and directing the entire increase to trail funding.

Representatives on the committee include Co-Chair Timothy Peabody of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; Co-Chair John Bryant of American Forest Management; Matt Stedman of Irving Woodlands, Kyle Burdick of the Maine Forest Products

Council, Tom Doak of Maine Woodland Owners, Julie Ann Smith of the Maine Farm Bureau, Brian Berube of Central Maine Power, David Montague of the Downeast Land Trust, Jim Sinclair of R.T. Allen and Sons, Dick Howlett of ATV Maine, David Jones of the Jackman Borders Riders Club, Ian Bourgoin of Fort Kent Powersports, Bob Meyers of the Maine Snowmobile Association, Brian Bronson of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and Dave Chabot of the Maine Warden Service.

At this point the timing and method for implementing or revising the task force recommendations have not been released.

Public response to these suggested changes remains to be seen. The governor and the task force are to be commended for acknowledging issues related to ever-increasing popularity of ATVs and working to set a constructive course for the future.

- VPR

Lead and Wild Meat it would probably excrete ing the venison along the deer carcasses. Researchers tion is somewhat more To the Editor: I believe you (Josh Reynolds column in Feb. issue) are barking up the wrong tree in blaming the death of eagles on anglers using lead sinkers now banned by state law.

It may well be that some frugal or uninformed anglers are still using banned lead sinkers, but if a fish swallows a lead sinker,

the sinker along with other indigestible material.

Birds like eagles and loons don’t chew their food. They grind it up in their gizzard with the aid of small stones that they have swallowed. The grinding process also grinds up any lead the bird has swallowed.

Most deer hunters assume that we are avoiding eating lead by discard-

wound channel caused by the bullet. Researchers have learned that a part of the lead core of the bullet may break into fragments that may lodge several inches outside of the wound channel, and can be found in meat that most of us thought was safe to eat.

This breakup of the lead core of the bullet has been confirmed by x-rays of

have also weighed the lead core of the recovered bullet and found that as much as one-third of the lead core is no longer present.

Lead is harmful to humans, especially growing children. Investigators have determined that in families who eat game, lead levels in the blood are higher than in families that do not consume game.

Non-lead ammuni-

expensive than traditional rounds, but considering the benefits to wild creatures as well as the benefits to human health, I believe it is a bargain. I have carried copper 30-30 ammunition during the past four deer seasons.

Jon Lund Hallowell, publisher Maine Sportsman

March 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 9

Maine Guide Named to Sports Hall of Fame

By V. Paul Reynolds This fall Carroll Ware, Maine Guide and columnist for the Northwoods Sporting Journal, will be inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame as its first fly-fisherman. The Maine Sports Hall of FAME was established in 1972 for the purposes of (1) appointing

and bestowing recognition awards and scholarships to outstanding Maine high school scholar-athletes and (2) to formally honor and memorialize Maine athletes and sports figures who have brought distinction to the state of Maine.

Ware, 74, and his wife Lila, also a Maine guide, own and operate Fins and Furs Adventures. Ware grew up in Skowhegan. As a youngster, growing up in a single parent family, his love of fishing and the outdoors was instilled in him

by his uncle, Ken Taylor.

Of Taylor, Ware recalls, “He was more like my father than my uncle. He was my hero. My mother’s family for 3 generations came from the ill-fated village of Flagstaff and he was from there. He was the best man with a fly rod over brook trout that I’ve ever seen. He taught me to fly fish, hunt, about the Maine woods, and life. He was an elementary school principal by trade but was a consummate woodsman and I idolized him. The first day that I told him that I loved him was the day before he died.”

Ware says that in 1986 his wife, Lila, and he went on their first guided adventure to fish for big

brook trout on the Broadback River in Quebec. A year later, after establishing their business as Fins and Furs Adventures, Ware discovered the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of FAME and began to pursue World Fly Fishing records based on fish length and tippet strength.

Initially, these records were helpful to publicize their business. When records are awarded, they provide a parchment and a listing in the Hall’s publication. On or about Ware’s

25 th record, his picture made the Hall’s annual calendar, and his effort took on a life of its own.

The goal of fifty world flyfishing records was born.

Finally, in 2019, this goal was achieved. Today the Skowhegan angler holds fifty two current or former world fly-fishing records and is a two-time Maine professional fly-casting champion.

When asked about his most memorable hunting experience, Ware unhesitatingly cites the time his wife, Lila, shot a caribou at 355 yards. He says that he and Lila are “extremely competitive” when it comes to hunting and fishing. “One November, we both shot an 8-point buck, on the same day. When we took them to the tagging station and

weighed them, her buck was 6 pounds heavier than mine! The next year was the longest 12 months of my life! Her largest tarpon on a fly rod is 125 pounds.

It took me 20 years but I finally caught up to her in 2019,” says Ware.

Ware served 12 years as a member of the Maine (Fame cont. pg 27)

The goal of fifty world fly-fishing records was born.

Finally, in 2019, this goal was achieved. Today the Skowhegan angler holds fifty two current or former world fly-fishing records and is a two-time Maine professional fly-casting champion.

Although he fishes with many different brands of fly rods, the L.L. Bean Double L rods remain his favorites. His go-to rod is an L.L. Bean 10 foot 6 wt.

“The Bean rods are wellmade, reasonably priced and are rocket launchers for long casts,” claims Ware.

Among his favorite flies for trout are an orange-bellied grasshopper, a muddle minnow, and a leech pattern of his own creation.

The Maine Sports Hall of Fame inductee met his wife Lila when he worked for a contractor. “Our very first date was a day of fly fishing, and when I left her that evening,” Ware recalls, I knew that she was the woman that I wanted to spend my life with!”

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Page 10

Edited by V. Paul Reynolds Last month, if you recall, that legendary marmot in Pennsylvania – Punxsutawney Phil – did not see his shadow. Early spring, right? Well, we’ll keep our fingers crossed and our fishing rods at the ready.

We’ll be smelting, picking fiddleheads, and scouting for turkey activity before you know it.. So.... hang in there. Go to church.

Tie some more flies. Check the fishing gear, again.

Revisit the Bean catalog.

Shoot a coyote. Take a vacation in Florida or get to as many state sportsmen shows as you can. To find a sportsman show in your area, check this month’s ads in the Journal.

Moose Lottery Open

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is now accepting applications online for the 2020 Maine moose permit lottery. Applications for the 2020 Maine moose permit lottery will be accepted online only. The online application process is fast and simple and you receive instant confirmation that you have successfully entered the lottery.

To apply online, go

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Outdoor News - March 2020 Illustration by V. Paul Reynolds

to mefishwildlife.com and fill out the online moose permit application. There, applicants will be able to indicate several preferences, including which wildlife management districts (WMD) they are willing to accept a permit in, and if they would accept a permit in another WMD if their name is drawn and all of their top choices are filled.

They will also be able to select your preferred hunting season, whether or not they would accept an antlerless permit, and their choice of a sub-permittee.

If an applicant does not have access to a computer or the Internet at home, the Department has the following suggestions for applying online: • Use a computer at work during lunch or a

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rope and fastened one end to the shore and the other end to himself, jumped into the water, and held a struggling Holbrook upright in the water so he wouldn’t drown until they could be rescued and pulled out of the pond.

Both Dennison and Holbrook were transferred to Pen Bay Hospital in Rockland. As of last night, Dennison was in stable condition. Holbrook was listed as stable but serious, and was transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland.

March 2020

county.

Raynold Chasse was operating his 2016 skidoo renegade 1200 on the Parmacheenee loop trail in northern oxford county at approximately 1:00 p.m. when he appeared to accelerate into gradual curve on the trail, lost control, and went into the trees and over an embankment.

Chasse was wearing a helmet while snowmobiling with two others, one in front of him, and one in back when the crash occurred. The two other snowmobilers stopped and

Two ATVers Rescued

A rescue by a Knox County Sherriff’s Office Sergeant likely saved the life of a Warren man after the ATV he was a passenger in drove into open water while on the ice on Crawford Pond in late January.

Craig Dennison, age 38, of Warren was operating his 2015 John Deere Gator 4x6 ATV with Donald Holbrook, age 28, of Warren as his passenger when the ATV drove into an area of open water about 100 yards from shore on Crawford Pond in Warren.

Residents on the shore heard the cries for help and contacted 911. Two Knox County Sherriff officers responded, as well as a member of the State Police and the Maine Warden Service.

Dennison was able to get himself out of the water and onto the ice.

Knox County Sherriff’s Office Sergeant Arthur Smith utilized his throw

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Ice conditions along the coast are hazardous in some areas. With the warmer weather, some areas that are normally frozen this time of year may not be. Please be sure to check the thickness of the ice before heading out,” said Sergeant Aaron Cross of the Maine Warden Service.

The Maine Warden Service is investigating the accident, and it remains under investigation.

rendered aid, but Chassee was unresponsive.

One snowmobiler traveled to Bosebuck Mountain camps, approximately 8 miles away, to call 911.

The Maine Warden Service, Rangeley Fire Department and Northstar Ambulance responded to the scene and arrived in the remote location at approximately 2:45 p.m. A group of snowmobilers comprised of off-duty police and firefighters from Wilton Man Dies In Massachusetts had also Snowmobile Crash stopped to assist, but were An 81-year-old Wil- unable to revive Chasse.

Chasse was transportton man was killed in a snowmobile accident last ed to Wiles Funeral Home (News cont. pg 26) month in northern Oxford

March 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Great Hiking, Great Views Great Pond Mountain

The 4,500-acre Great Pond Mountain Wildlands in Orland is comprised of two large parcels of conservation land sporting an extensive network of foot trails and old woods roads that combine for many miles of good walking. The enormous granite cliffs and summit slabs of the namesake Great Pond Mountain are the big draw, providing three miles of fantastic hiking and outstanding views.

The 3,400-acre Hothole Valley parcel includes the extensive valley bounded by Great Pond Mountain to the west, Oak and Flag hills and Flying Moose Mountain to the east, and Hothole Mountain and Condon and Hedgehog hills to the north. A series of streams and brooks feed into Hothole Brook, which bisects the broad valley and flows three miles west

through swamps and beaver bogs into pristine Hothole Pond.

Fourteen miles of gravel roads—former logging roads—crisscross the Hothole parcel; some are open to vehicle traffic on a limited basis, and all are open for use by hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. Traditional foot trails reach the summits of Oak and Flag hills.

The Dead River parcel is 1,075 acres and includes the summit and the southern and western slopes of Great Pond Mountain west to the Dead River, the northern arm of Alamoosook Lake, and 1 ½ miles of waterfront. Four miles of gravel roads and hiking trails provide access to this section of the Wildlands, which includes this described hike.

The hike starts from

Page 11

“A Hiker’s Life”

by Carey Kish, Mt. Desert Island, ME

the Don Fish Road, a halfmile beyond the Dead River Trail parking area and a mile beyond the Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery. Follow the blue blazes of the Stuart Gross Path uphill to a 4-way intersection with Hay Ledges Path (to the left) and Dead River Connector Trail (straight ahead). Turn right to continue on Stuart Gross Trail.

Follow the wide track over exposed bedrock up the long moderate western ridge of the mountain. The views to the south get better and better as you climb.

You’ll want to be veering off to explore each of them as you go; plan on it.

Eventually the trail breaks out onto the wideopen summit slabs, a virtual sea of beautiful granite.

Before climbing further, take the obscure side trail down and to the left (as you face south) to the great cliffs on the south face of the mountain.

There, cliff top views range from Tunk, Caribou, Catherine, Black and

Schoodic mountains well Downeast to the many peaks of Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island to Blue Hill, Penobscot Bay and the Camden Hills. Mount Waldo and the Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory are also visible to the southwest.

Craig Pond is just below.

It’s a pretty amazing view, a pretty amazing place. Sit for a while and savor it, because after all, where else do you really need to be?

A little further east along the cliffs, views open up over the breadth of the Wildlands to Oak and Flag hills, and to Lead Mountain, as well as Toddy and Patten ponds. Trundle over the narrow path (be careful) and check it out too. It’s worth it. You can go quite a distance; turn back when you’ve seen enough or the trail peters out.

To reach the true summit, return to the main trail on the big open slabs and head upslope. The

path eventually enters the woods on the right and weaves upward through the mossy rocks and ledges.

Out into the open again, bear left across a final slab to the 1,038-foot summit, where there are limited views through the trees.

The Great Pond Mountain Wildlands is managed for wildlife habitat, recreation, environmental education and sustainable timber harvesting. It’s open year-round; dogs on leash are allowed.

There’s no fee, but donations are appreciated. The Wildlands Map can be downloaded online for free at greatpondtrust.org Bonus points: Posthike, visit the Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory and Fort Knox for tremendous views from the bridge top and wicked cool exploring around the historic fort.

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Page 12

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Northwoods Voyager

by Gil Gilpatrick, Skowhegan, ME Through my years of guiding I was exposed to a variety of folks from all over the United States as well people from far away foreign places. This exposure gave me a sense that our way was not the only way and that while most of my guests from away were intent on temporarily adapting to our ways, their ways came up from time to time. One of “their” ways was the foods they liked to eat.

In my early years I often guided summer campers ages about 12 to 16.

It was an interesting time for me and I hope they learned as much from me as I learned from them. One day we found ourselves with an entire afternoon

free from the need to travel.

One of the campers apparently thought of himself as a live-off-the land kind of person. He approached me with a crayfish in his hand and asked if he caught some more would I cook them. I had heard of folks eating crayfish so I said, “sure”, besides I thought,

March 2020

Some Unusual Foods

was enough to provide a taste to anyone who was curious. I do not care for lobster so I was not one of the curious, but I did feel obligated to at least try a taste. I had tasted lobster so could make a comparison.

I found the claw meat to have a sweet taste and a bit salty. It was not chewy as I thought lobster to be, but very smooth. The kids that tried it seemed to like it. It turns out that crayfish are known by a number of names including, craw-

to delay getting to camp for a bit and that we should go ahead. Normally I would not like members of the group to be separated like that, but since we were within sight of our destination I said okay and proceeded to our campsite. An hour or so later the guys came in with a plastic bag full of frog legs and asked if I would cook them. I could think of no good reason not to so I agreed to do so at supper time. I poured a generous

Well, the youngster did come up with a pretty good batch of them so at supper time I boiled some water and dropped them in as I had seen folks do with lobsters.

they look like little lobsters. Well, the youngster did come up with a pretty good batch of them so at supper time I boiled some water and dropped them in as I had seen folks do with lobsters. There weren’t near enough of them to feed the group, but there

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fish, crawdads, freshwater lobsters, mountain lobsters, mudbugs and yabbies. Haven’t you heard the song that goes, jumbli and a crawfish pie and a fil-a gumbo……. Anyway, that song comes to my mind whenever I hear them called crawfish.

The other strange (to me) food came along as I was guiding a group of adults many years after the crayfish meal. We were just coming into Round Pond when one of the men called to me that they would like

amount of oil into a frying pan and cooked up the legs and found that most of the other guests were anxious to give them a try so I did also. It sounds cliché, but it tasted like chicken.

Not bad, I thought. There were a lot of families in the area where I grew up who came to Maine from Quebec and I had heard them talk of eating frog legs like it was a common thing, but this was the first time I had tried them. They are known as delicacies in French cuisine and are

also consumed in other parts of the world, I found out. I later learned that the French started eating frog legs in the 12th century when cunning monks who were forced into a “nomeat” diet managed to have frogs classified as fish.

Pretty smart! So that is how a country boy from rural Maine came to be exposed to some rather unusual and exotic (to him) foods in the course of doing his best to please his guests in the wilds of Maine.

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

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March 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Anticosti Venison: The Best!

Early snow is not uncommon on Anticosti.

These deer may get through the winter foraging on coastal kelp.

When deer season winter weather from getends, the island becomes ting in.

I have often dreamed a very quiet, winter landscape. The camps sit si- of visiting some of the lently under a deep blanket hunting camps by snowof snow. The aluminum mobile to see them under coffee percolators are put snow. I’m sure it would away, the gun racks are make a picturesque postempty, and the doors and card. There is something windows are locked tight, intriguing about enjoying trying to keep the fierce the solitude of a clear crisp

day with absolutely zero man made noise, the trees’ branches bent over from the weight of bright white snow.

We all hope for mild weather with low snow totals for the sake of the deer herd. For as long as I have been going there, monitoring the severity of the winter has been a hot topic among hunters and management. Deep snow, brutally cold temperatures and thin crust that is not strong enough to walk on all produce grim results.

Winter kill is nothing new for deer in any northern region, but Anticosti’s winters have the potential to be much worse than the mainland. Think for a minute, when we have a Nor’easter here in Maine,

Page 13

Anticosti

by Mark Cote, Rumford, ME we are likely to have lots of snow because the lowpressure system gathers moisture from the Atlantic and circles it back on us.

Anticosti is surrounded by water so no matter which

mostly beside the sea shore where the surf delivers kelp daily. Like many places, the yards get over browsed but here the kelp provides much needed nutrients during a time they need it

Their diet gives Anticosti deer a distinct flavor. Although similar to their mainland cousins, I consider it to be more mild.

way the wind blows, it can collect moisture from all directions. It isn’t uncommon to get a foot of unpredicted snow at any time.

It’s definitely a tough place for a deer to make a living.

Deer on Anticosti congregate in deer yards

the most. I am not aware of any other place where a whitetail’s main source of winter food is seaweed.

During the rest of the year they eat normal forest fare, but they do eat kelp as well.

Their diet gives Anti(Anticosti cont. pg 31)

Page 14

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Allagash

AWW Superintendent, Matt LaRoche, ME

The Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW) has over two hundred miles of boundary lines. These lines mark the edge of the AWW restricted zone or State of Maine ownership.

The restricted zone varies in width from 400 to 800 feet from the normal highwater mark. The primary purpose of the restricted zone is to preserve, protect and develop the maximum wilderness character of the watercourse.

The waterway had a fulltime crew establishing boundary lines during the early 1970s. It has been a challenge - to say the least- to keep these boundary lines well maintained.

A blazed and painted line should be refreshed (reblazed and painted) about every 15-years. After 20-years, the line can be-

come difficult to follow and a lot of time must be spent looking for evidence of the line which slows-up the work.

I work in an office that includes the Maine Forest Service. So, I get to hear complaints come in about harvesting trees too close to brooks and streams or people cutting trees on someone else’s property.

Most of these situations are not intentional and could have been avoided if the landowner would have had a well-maintained boundary line. It has been said that good boundary lines make good neighbors. If you own a woodlot, this is so true!

The AWW has had a few cases of cutting over the line, but not very often and they have almost always been self-reported

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March 2020

Boundary Line Work

by the abutting landowner.

All the major landowners use a GPS when laying out harvest blocks and most of the wood harvesting contractors have GPS units in their harvesting equipment.

This greatly reduces the chances of cutting over the boundary line.

I have cleared, blazed and painted many miles of boundary lines over my career with the Bureau of Parks and Lands. I always enjoyed the work and it was a task that could be done during the offseason. One of the things I liked about doing linework was that it would take me through nice open hardwood stands, swamps and thickets - I didn’t like the thicket part so well. A bonus was that I got to see where the wildlife sign was heaviest.

I was re-blazing and painting the boundary line on the 2300-acre Lobster Lake property a few years ago with another ranger. I was blazing and Albie was painting and we were making good progress going down the side of Lobster Mountain on snowshoes.

We came to a steep rock face that the line went straight down. We marked the line as far as we could then we took off our snowshoes, threw them down over the ledge and slid down over the cliff on our backsides - it was slightly Let us know your opinion send letters to the Editor to: NWSJ P.O. Box 195 W. Enfield, ME 04493

dangerous but fun!

On another fall boundary line adventure, I was refreshing the line that went down along the river near Churchill Dam. The line took me through some good deer country- you would have had to be blind to not notice the deer trails beaten right down to bare ground. I ended up hunting that area for several seasons shooting two nice bucks in that area while I was stationed at Churchill.

If you own your own woodlot and don’t know where your boundary lines are, I suggest that you hire a surveyor to establish the lines. If your lines are established but not well maintained (difficult to follow) I suggest that you get out there and remark your lines. It is not difficult work, it will get you out in the woods and you might be surprised to find some wildlife sign!

Somethings to re-

member when doing line work: never alter an old blaze, it is evidence should a boundary dispute ariseput a new blaze above or below the old blaze. Don’t reach for a tree to mark if there aren’t any close to the line, if you are standing on the line you should not reach more than two feet off the line to blaze a tree.

See the Maine Forest Service boundary line information sheet available at: www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/ publications/information The AWW is managed by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Bureau of Parks and Lands as a wilderness area.

Matt LaRoche is Superintendent of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, a Registered Maine Guide and an avid outdoorsman.

He can be reached at 207695-2169 or at matt.laroche@maine.gov

Northwoods Sporting Journal

March 2020

Cold Water Cranking

K e n t u c k y ’s M a r k Menendez has developed a solid foundation in the competitive world of casting for cash along the B.A.S.S. trails over the years. A veteran with over 240 B.A.S.S. tournaments coupled with twenty-

ter Classic contender is quick to add an important factor to his cold water seminar...” While the water temperatures may be idling within the 38-42-degree range, bass still have to eat! Since they are not extremely active their bod-

Menendez does so well under these extremely tough conditions? “Bass are basically lazy creatures, especially largemouth bass,” laughs Menendez. “This is where my Garmin Electronics payout big dividends with Garmin’s LiveScope technology. Locate the bait and you will locate the bass, LiveScope will register fish activity 200

Best Bassin’

by Bill Decoteau, Hampden, MA areas with hard bottoms.

Rocky areas and hard bottom areas are key factors during this cold-water period because they hold heat.

Which in turn attracts both the baitfish and the predator bass population. “These offshore areas become bass

Rocky areas and hard bottom areas are key factors during this cold-water period because they hold heat.

Pro Angler Mark Menendez with a Cold-Water Jerkbait bass.

(Photo courtesy Elite Pro Mark Menendez)

nine years’ experience, Menendez qualified for his 6th Bassmaster Classic via the 2019 Bassmaster Elite Series.

Rewinding Mark Menendez’s 3-B.A.S.S. winning tournaments reveal the Paducah; Kentucky angler excels during the ‘Cold-Water’ periods!

In fact, just surveying his top-10 finishes reveal the months of March and April especially within the Alabama lake regions are when his cold-water cranking talents have paid major dividends.

“Anglers need to realize bass are a coldblooded creature. Meaning, as the water temperature warms their activity level increases, and as the water temperature decreases they become less active, all the way to the point of being lethargic.” instructs Menendez who holds a degree in fisheries biology.

The 6-time Bassmas-

ies do not require them to constantly be eating. Additionally, they will not exert enormous amounts of energy to chase food.”

So how is it that Bassmaster Elite Angler Mark

ft. away from my Skeeter thus saving precious time searching. Once I’m targeting the bass my Garmin electronics reveal the actual hardcover both the bait and bass are relating to. I can then duplicate this pattern of depth and type of cover in other similar areas.”

Key areas Menendez concentrates on are the lower ends of reservoirs including mid-lake offshore

Page 15

magnets, and when they do you can expect the bass to group up in large numbers!

The big bonus is more often than not these groups of bass will all be of similar size,” states Mark Menendez.

Menendez’s cold water arsenal is comprised of three specific Strike King lures, #1 Jerkbait, #2 Series-3 Crankbait and #3 Series-4 Crankbait. “This time of year, the cold-

water clarity will usually have its best visibility.

I’ll have two Lews David Fritts composite 7’M rods paired with Lews BB1 reels and spooled with Seaguar InvizX fluorocarbon. One rod will have a KVD 300 or 300 deep jerkbait with a white belly (Resembles Shad) and the other will have an orange belly (Resembling Perch).

I will utilize the same rod/ reel combination for the Series-3 crankbait with 8 lb. Seaguar InvizX Fluorocarbon line. This setup will dive to 7-8’, but the round bill of the Series-3 will dig and deflect off the rocks triggering strikes. With the Series-4 Crankbait, I will rig a Lews 7’MH David Fritts composite rod paired with a Lews BB1 Reel spooled with 10 lb. Seaguar (Cranking cont. pg 26)

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Page 16

The Gun Cabinet

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Milfoil on the March

by John Floyd, Webster Plantation For decades the lakes of northern and eastern Maine have been in the free and clear. Invasive aquatic plant infestations were mostly a southern problem.

Our pristine glacial lakes, fed by the headwaters of the St Croix River in the east and the St John in the north, remained natural and pure. The recent discovery of Myriophyllum heterophyllum, known more prevalently as variable water-milfoil, in Big Lake near Grand Lake Stream by Maine Game Warden Brad Richards has changed that.

The discovery marks the northernmost advance of this highly invasive aquatic plant and it may be a game changer for Maine’s northern waters.

First confirmed in the late 1970’s in Sebago Lake, variable-water milfoil had

March 2020

previously been contained on its march north in the Belgrade region; most notably in Great Pond and Messalonskee Lake. While the highest concentrations still remain in southern Maine, mostly in York, Oxford and Cumberland counties, the appearance of milfoil in Big Lake is a frighteningly large leap north; especially so in a region known for its world-class angling opportunities in pristine waters.

While fishing in southerly states where these aquatic invaders have long been established, I have seen first-hand the havoc these infestations cause – propeller choking weed beds, entire sections of lakes unpassable and the oxygenrobbing effect caused by the upset of the natural growth and decay cycle of native vegetation. Left

the season, flower spikes may emerge above the surface. The emergent leaves (called bracts) that are associated with the tiny white flowers are bladeshaped, serrated and arranged “Variable-water milfoil can be easily spotted late-season i n w h o r l s when flower spikes emerge above the water’s surface in around the stem. If you shallow areas along shorelines and coves. Photo: Dan find a suspiBuckley, courtesy of Lake Stewards of Maine”. cious plant, unchecked, milfoil keeps quality and habitat can not please mark the location growing and spreading, only deteriorate, so can the with a weighted buoy and eventually overtaking the economies of surrounding carefully collect a specinatural ecosystem in lakes communities dependent on men for confirmed idenand causing devastating recreational opportunities, tification. Do not attempt imbalances in water habi- as well as the overall qual- to remove the entire plant! tats. It is a big problem to ity of experiences we’ve Place the specimen in a be sure. come to enjoy on these container of water and I spoke with Roberta remote lakes and ponds. store in a cool place if Hill, Invasive Species Pro“Variable water-mil- possible. Contact Lake gram Director for Lake foil is a submersed, aquatic Stewards of Maine at 207Stewards of Maine, to learn plant with branching stems 783-7733 or stewards@ more about the organiza- emerging from dense, lakestewardsme.org for tion’s efforts to combat sprawling roots. Finely further instructions,” Hill milfoil infestations and divided leaves are arranged advised me. find out what we as anglers, along the stems in densely I can’t imagine Big boaters and guides can do packed whorls, giving the Lake, or any of the conto help. First and foremost plant its “bottle brush” or necting lakes we enjoy in was to take this discovery “fox tail” appearance. The the region for that matter, seriously. Hill noted that stems of variable milfoil void of its world-class the effects on the water may be reddish. Later in (Milfoil cont. pg 19) Huge Selection Of Ammo

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March 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Coyote Controversy

Page 17

What's In Your Woods

by Bud Utecht, Dedham, ME

Every time I see a coyote on Face Book I have to read the comments as they tend to be quite entertaining. Typically, verbal battles take place discussing whether we should kill them all or kill none. It gets pretty heated

for the record, the coyotes we have in Maine are not exactly the same animal the settlers dealt with. The western coyote is a smallish canid, and until they migrated, there were no coyotes east of the Mississippi. When they migrated

comes around they are either traveling alone or the alpha male will be with the alpha female.

So why do I get so many pictures of them?

Simply because they travel the same routes as all the other predators looking

never found the wounded animal. The coyotes will feed on it, however the kill will be there all winter.

A deer that coyotes kill themselves is devoured in days, bones and all. I found a deer kill in November which was three days old or less. There were a few bone fragments present, where they had crushed them up, beyond that there was nothing left.

One thing I know for sure is we are not going to eliminate these animals from Maine. Hunting the coyote population will cer-

tainly bring needed relief to the deer though, especially when they are most vulnerable. I think I’ll go post a few coyote pictures and see what gets stirred up.

Bud Utecht is a register Maine Guide, avid wildlife enthusiast and trail camera consultant. His trail cameras are strategically placed throughout the Maine Woods. Feel free to email Bud for trail camera tips or to discuss what’s in your woods. bud@ whatsinyourwoods.com

Without question, coyotes kill and eat deer. They do not only kill the sick and the weak, they kill any deer that can be run down. As I said, they are the ultimate survivor. with nasty name calling and just pure hatefulness (Is that a word?). For the purpose of this article, I will enact my liberty to use it. If you are a game camera enthusiast, the coyote will be a part of your world as they frequently grace the lens with their, ever alert, presence.

I have thousands of coyote pictures and videos, a few would make most people’s blood boil.

Coyotes are the ultimate survivor and since settlers came to this country we have tried to eliminate these creatures. We hunted, poisoned, trapped, and, whatever else we could think of, to destroy these animals. What did we get for all our troubles? More coyotes. Coyotes in places where they did not exist before, like Maine. Now

east, some lead coyote’s bred with wolves and dogs.

This is why the eastern coyote is a bigger animal than the western ancestor.

In the Northeast there are more wolf genes and less dog. In the south, it is opposite, as there are more dog genetics.

Having so many cameras out, permits me to get personal with specific populations of animals. I learn where they travel and also see how they interact throughout the year. Packs has become an interesting term for me. The reason is because I don’t tend to see coyotes in packs. When I see more than two at a time, I feel this is a family unit, specifically a female and her pups. The pups grow up fast and even in the mid-summer months they look grown. Once winter

for food. If I put cameras out for wildlife traveling along a stream, I capture some coyotes. On a beaver dam, along a deer trail, I get coyotes. I think you get the picture. The interesting thing is you see the same coyotes on a regular basis.

While there is no shortage of them, I tend to guess there are less coyotes than most people think. They are very active so they make a lot of tracks and when they howl it certainly sounds like they are everywhere.

Without question, coyotes kill and eat deer.

They do not only kill the sick and the weak, they kill any deer can be run down.

As I said, they are the ultimate survivor. I have noticed a couple things about this though. I have found deer killed either by car or maybe a hunter that

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The elusive Northwoods Sporting Journal’s moose Marty.

He has wandered into the northwoods.

Find Marty somewhere in the Northwoods Sporting Marty 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.

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

Marty was on pages 44 & 70

Name

Bill McKinley

(Marty was found on pg 44)

Address City

State

Phone I found Marty on page

Zip

Entries must be postmarked by 3/9/20 to be eligible for this issue.

Page 18 Northwoods Sporting Journal

Outdoor Sporting Library

“Unless you change your lifestyle, you’ve got about six months to live.”

Folks have been hearing those words from the doctor, in some form or another, since the beginning of modern medicine.

Most don’t change. Some try diet and exercise for a while, but lifestyle changes are hard, and most end up living out their final months in some sort of miserable state.

Being the owner of a night club in Montana did no good for Andy Nault’s health. The smoking, drinking, lack of exercise, stress and sleep deprivation had taken him to the edge.

But the doctor gave him a way out. With a complete

by Jeremiah Wood, Ashland, ME

March 2020

Taking to the Woods: Bigtime T h e Kamishak River and Bay were the talk of legends around Kodiak, and once he had his feet under him, Andy’s dream was to build a cabin and a trapline in that remote, untouched corner of the state.

On paper it sounded good, but it was a harsh land, and

shift in habits, the doc said, “you’ve probably got yourself another twenty years”.

Twenty years sounded better than six months, and with the prospect of a bright future in mind, Nault sold everything, packed up and moved to Alaska.

Getting back in good health was a slow, painful process, but in a matter of months, Nault felt like a brand new man. He got those twenty years, and they were some good ones.

Having a bit of hunting, fishing and trapping experience in his previous life, he took it to the next level in Alaska, making those once-practiced hobbies an integral part of his new life in Kodiak.

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just getting there with a load of supplies took two years of trying. It led to a winter spent on the harsh and barren land of Contact Point, a miserable torture without hope of rescue from air or boat for months.

But he made it, and the next summer Andy and a partner were building a trapping cabin on the Kamishak.

Despite the constant presence of dangerous brown bears, ravenous bugs, and extreme weather, including a winter with ten feet of snow, Andy thrived in the Kamishak. The area had been untrapped for generations, and the fur catch Andy and his two partners put up their first season was incredible. Most notable was their catch of 23 wolverines! It’s unlikely that record has ever been broken. Foxes, wolves, mink and otter made up much of their catch that season.

“Staying Alive in Alaska’s Wild” was published in 1980 by Andy Nault and Tee Loftin, and follows along on many of Andy’s adventures. Long after he should have been dead, Nault was living the dream in Alaska, doing what many others talk about but never find the time, money or deep desire to get done. That should be a lesson for all of us.

It’s never too late to live your dream, and the outdoor lifestyle is one heck of a cure for many modern health problems!

J e re m i a h c a n b e reached at jrodwood@ gmail.com

Northwoods Sporting Journal

March 2020

Milfoil

(Cont. from pg 16) smallmouth bass fishing in clear, rocky waters. Choked with thick, invasive weed beds the largemouth bass and chain pickerel would surely take over, thriving in the changed habitat and consuming all they encounter; until the oxygen levels in the lake become too low for even them to survive.

I know it may be hard to envision, but the fact is… it has happened all over the country.

So what can we do?

Get serious about inspecting and removing any vegetation or plant matter from your boat, propeller and trailer every time you take out of a body of water.

While this is already a mandate, I’ve seen this step overlooked numerous times at launch sites and we all can do better to prevent transporting potential

invasives to other bodies of water. Clean and dry your equipment and gear after leaving the water – this includes lures, tackle, nets and waders. These two steps alone can make a big impact. Lastly, get involved and educated. Learn more about Lake Stewards of Maine, their mission and how you can help at lakestewardsofmaine.org Downeast Lakes Land Trust (downeastlakes.org) will be hosting a special event this month on March 30th at the Princeton Rod and Gun Club on Green-

land Point Rd in Princeton, ME to discuss the milfoil issue at Big Lake and potential responses – you can bet I’ll be there. And if you call this region home, I hope to see you there too.

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

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

Page 19

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 20

The Tyer’s Corner

by Hugh Kelly, Detroit, ME

This month’s selection is actually two streamers developed in the 1920’s by the same Dr. Edgar Burke who illustrated Ray Bergman’s book Trout. The Dr. Burke Streamer came first and the Family Secret is the same fly with guinea hen fibers substituted for the yellow hackle fibers used on the Dr. Burke. This is a smelt imitation, and these streamers were well known in Maine back in the day.

Recipes for the Dr. Burke and the Family Secret Thread – Black Hook – 8x long streamer, (Mustad R79-94720), size

6 Tail – 15 Peacock sword fibers, tied long Body – Silver Mylar Rib- Silver oval Wing – Four white saddles Throat – Yellow hackle fibers or Guinea Hen fibers, both tied long Eyes—Jungle cock The hook I used is a size 6 streamer hook that is 8x long. Tie in about 15 peacock sword fibers at the bend of the hook. Because of the amount of material in the tail, there will be a big lump under the body from the butts. Trim the butts of the fibers at an angle to minimize the lump and use

March 2020

Two from Dr. Burke

your thread windings to even out the body. Tie in the tip of the oval tinsel for the rib. Wind the thread to behind the eye and tie some silver Mylar-gold side out.

I like to put some head cement on the thread windings on the hook shank at this point to glue down the Mylar body. This will make the fly last longer after it gets chewed on by a few fish. Wind the Mylar back to the tail over the wet head cement on the shank and then wind it back to the point you tied it in at. Two layers will cover any gaps and look better. Since you tied it in gold side out, the Mylar should have rolled over to be silver side out when you wound it. Tie it off and trim the end, now wind the oval rib forward.

Six to eight turns should

do it.

The beard style throat is tied in rather long and full. Yellow hackle fibers for the Dr. Burke Streamer or use a bunch of guinea hen fibers instead for a Family Secret.

Dr. Burke preferred the Family Secret version and claimed it worked well on bass in addition to salmon and trout.

I use strung saddle hackle for the white wings. You can buy saddle hackles in small bags for a few dollars and they work well. Take the time to notice which side of each saddle hackle is concave and dull. Put the concave-dull sides in, and the shiny side out. The original streamers called for Jungle Cock eyes.

These are pricey and not everyone can afford them on the skin, but they can be bought loose now at much better prices. You might need to repair some split eye feathers. Put a drop of

thick head cement on your thumb and pull the Jungle Cock feather between your thumb and finger, the split will come together and make a very acceptable eye. The fish won’t care.

Substitutions, here’s three. Try using white marabou for the wing. Try using red fibers for throat.

And here is a trick that Eddie Reif of Bangor usedtry using a pair of grizzly saddles for the inside wings and keep the white saddles for the outside pair. This makes the streamer look like a salmon parr.

Both of these streamers catch fish and they have a great history here in Maine. They represent baitfish well and they’re not hard to tie. Give them a shot.

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 writes a fly tying blog at puckerbrushflies.com

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

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March 2020

Me & Joe

(Cont. from pg 7) cent nosedive take by Wall Street, the Gaunts had lost everything, including their modest apartment, and the investment councilor had skipped town. They had no family and there had been a long and protracted holdup in the social security benefits. With the last of their funds, Floyd had outfitted the old truck so they could live out of it temporarily..

Then they’d set out on the road, looking for work.

Scooter Carbuncle’s shack must have seemed like a godsend.

On Thursday, Willard stopped in to check on our progress and things when from bad to worse. Muttering that he’d have them of the property in short order, he headed down the hill.

We heard some shouting, followed by a long stretch of quiet. Some time later Willard came slowly back up the slope.

“What happened?”

Joe asked curiously.

Willard shook his head, ruefully. “The old man said I’d have to shoot him or he’d have to shoot me, but he wasn’t leaving.”

He stretched his arms wide in resignation. “Now what am I going to do?”

“You could let ‘um (Me & Joe cont. pg 23)

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March 2020

Me & Joe (Cont. from pg 22)

stay,” Joe ventured.

Willard’s expression hardened. “No way! I bought this place so I could be alone in peace and quiet and I don’t aim to have any squatters around!”

“Then I guess you got ta have them evicted,” Willard shook his head slowly. “I got to think on this awhile. You guys get the cabin built and I’ll try to come up with some way to get them out of here.” With that he climbed into his pickup and drove out the access road.

Weeks passed, and we made excellent progress on the cabin. The walls were up, the roof on, and we were working inside as the leaves began to fall. Nearly every day Meg Gaunt brought us up something to eat, even though we protested half-heartedly.

Sometimes it was partridge stew from birds Floyd had bagged. Other times it was pickerel loaf, spiced with herbs and plant that grew wild around us.

And Floyd was always around, cutting wood, helping us carry lumber and making our work easier in a hundred ways. I found out he was an excellent carpenter, far better than I was and he literally took over the building of the kitchen cabinets.

Willard stopped in from time to time and, while he admired the work being done, his expression became gradually darker.

He didn’t say much, but I could tell he was rapidly approaching a decision of some kind.

One day near the first of November, Willard drove into the yard and I could tell from the way he

Northwoods Sporting Journal climbed out of the truck and strode across the lawn that he’d decided enough was enough. Me and Joe were working inside and the Gaunts were down at the shack.

Before Willard reached the cabin, I noticed an old, non-descript sedan pull into the yard and jerk to a stop behind his pickup.

He stopped and looked back, as four men climbed out of the car.

They were obviously drunk and one of them staggered slightly as they approached across the yard. “well, lookee here,” one of them sneered. “a ban’ new log cabin. Wouldn’ choo like ta have you a log cabin like this, Nate?” The speaker was tall and spindly and he pulled a green bottle from the hands of his closest companion, taking a long pull from its neck.

“Sure would, Rufus,” one of his companions, a short, wide, bearded individual, spoke up. “But I ain’t got me the money fer nothin’ this fancy.” All four men were scruffy and disreputable-looking and they shared a look of meanness undoubtedly augmented by the alcohol.

“What all you think this here feller would do if we had ta torch his fine new cabin for ‘im? The one called Rufus asked caustically.

“You better not try it!”

Willard growled, his face darkening. The four men just laughed and crowded a little closer.

“An’ jist what you think yore gonna do about it?” Rufus retorted, suddenly serious. He tugged the brim of a dirty baseball hat down over his eyes for emphasis.

Inside the Cabin, I picked up a hand-axe and started for the door. Joe laid

a restraining hand on my shoulder. “Let’s just wait a minute, an’ see how things develop,” he whispered.

Outside, one of the men had produced a tire iron from behind his back, while another drew a hunting knife from its belt sheath.

“I ‘spect if we wanna burn this here cabin, ain’t much you kin do ta stop us,” Rufus grated menacingly.

“What’s goin’ on?

The four men and Willard turned to see Floyd Gaunt standing by the corner of the cabin, his old Mauser rifle dangling from one hand.

“Ain’t non o’yore business, ol’man!” Rufus grinned. “Now, you jist mosey off somewhere if’n you don’t wanna git hurt!”

Floyd just looked at him with no change of expression. “I guess it’s bout time you boys moved on out,” he said quietly.

“Looks like you gone an’ worn out yore welcome.”

“Look, mister,” Rufus sneered, “you better drop that popgun an’…”

Floyd simply tilted the gun and fired. My jaw dropped. A neat hole appeared in the brim of Rufus’ baseball cap. Tire iron, knife and a length of chain jangled on the ground as the four men turned as one and beat feet for the car. It’s doors slammed in unison and the tires spun as it swerved in a tight circle and headed back out toward the road, rapidly gathering speed.

Willard raised a shaky hand and wiped sweat from his forehead. “Thanks, Floyd. It’s a good thing you came along just then!”

“Don’t mention it.

Them fellers don’t seem to have learned the lesson that talk never won no battles.

Page 23

They’s a time ta talk an’ a time ta fight. They jist gotta learn the difference.”

He turned an innocent eye toward Willard. “An’ after all, what are neighbors for?”

“Uh, yeah,” Willard said uncomfortably as me and Joe joined them from inside. “Say you were pretty quick with that rifle.

Look like you’ve used it some before.

“Learn’t ta shoot where I’m lookin’ when I was a waist gunner in the 8th Air Force back in the big war.”

“You were in the 8th Air Force?” Willard asked in surprise. “My grandfather, my mother’s father, was an aerial gunner in the 8 th Air Force. Benjamin Dense.

“Weird Benny Dense!

Shore, I remember him!

Ball turret gunner. You gotta be a little crazy ta be a ball turret gunner, but Weird Benny was an awright guy for all that.”

“Say, Floyd, Willard continued, “I can’t see kickin’ a man off when he’s practically family. Besides, with that crowd around I think I’m gonna need somebody on the property to protect my investment.

How would you and Meg like to move into the big cabin and act as caretakers when I’m not here?”

“Wouldn’t want to be takin’ no charity,” Floyd said hesitantly.

“Charity? Heck you’d be doin’ me a big favor and I’m willing to pay for it.

I’ve got more money than is good for me, anyway. I’ll only be here occasionally and there’s plenty of room.

Let’s go down and tell Meg and work out the details.”

As they sauntered down the hill, deep in conversation, I turned to Joe with a relieved grin.

“Well, things looked bad there for a few minutes, but look how great everything turned out. I guess even some bad things can bring some good results.”

Joe nodded with a slow grin. “Yep, I s’pect they can. Come on, we got to take us a quick ride into town.”

“What for?”

“Well, ol’ Rufus an’ the boys poured it on a little thick, an I got a hunch they didn’t figure on gitin’ shot at for what I offered fa pay ‘um. Still, I guess it’ll be about the best twenty bucks I ever spent.” And he walked off toward the jeep leaving me standing with my mouth hanging open.

T.J. Coongate is an active outdoorsman who writes under a pen name. It is rumored that he lives in the Millinocket area.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 24

March 2020

Question Of The Month March 2020

What’s the Story on Moosehead Brookies?

By V. Paul Reynolds

In contemporary times, Moosehead has proven itself a remarkable sport fishery.

My late father took me fishing there as a kid many times.

In the early 1950s, 18 and 20 pound Lake Trout were not unusual.

In recent years, a population excess of lake trout, according to the These trout came from Chamberlain Greenville fisheries biologist Tim fisheries bioloLake. The fish on the right is 22 inches O’Brey says that last year was a gists, created and 5 lbs the fish on the right is 18.5 banner year for the brookie angling forage compeinches and weighed 3.1 lbs. Anglers are on Moosehead Lake. tition among (left) Dylan Bouchard of Millinocket, and lakers, salmon (right) Max Bouchard of Millinocket. and brook trout. greatly liberalized the take In 2008, the state limit on lakers in order these were real lunkers. spawning boxes at Lily Bay reduce lake trout numbers Obrey says that 35 % of by the Coalition are just and to impose some bal- these squaretails exceeded some of the initiatives. ance into the forage equa- 20 inches!

Given the angling tion. Today, 12 years later, This success story is successes at Moosehead, there is good news. Anglers attributable to sensible it seems plausible to exhave been catching larger fisheries management, not pect that it is just a matter and larger brookies, and to mention volunteer ef- of time before some lucky lots of them. forts over the years by the fisherman hooks up with a According to Green- Moosehead Lake Fisheries new Maine record in the Cabins ville fisheries biologist Coalition and others, all annals of brook trout bragCampground Tom Obrey, 2019 was a designed to help Mother ging rights.

Restaurant banner year for brook trout Nature recover the brookie Bowling Alley anglers on Moosehead. populations in the lake. ” y a The introduction of The author is editor Sled Rentals Records show that 830 o Pl t e brookies were boated or smelt eggs and the recent of the Northwoods Sportac Boat Rentals e Pl h put on the ice.

Some of T construction of brook trout ing Journal. He is also a “ Maine guide and host of a weekly radio program, “Maine Outdoors,” heard Mon. - Fri. 8am - 5pm at 7 p.m. Sundays on The Closed Sat. & Sun. Voice of Maine News-Talk Network. He has authored three books; online pur355 North Main St. chase information is availHoulton, Maine Island Falls, ME 207-463-2515 able at www.maineout(207) 521-5009 GARDEN CENTER doorpublications

Henry David Thoreau, beholding Moosehead Lake for the first time, wrote this: “a gleaming silver platter at the end of the table.”

If only he could have seen the lake from the air!

The first time that I saw the big lake from the air in a northbound ski-plane my jaw dropped. The expansiveness, not only of the lake itself, but the entire north woods watershed, presents a panorama like no other.

Forty miles long and ten miles wide, it is by far Maine’s largest lake and the largest mountain lake in the Eastern U.S. Long before Thoreau’s visit, Red Paint People came to Moosehead to fish and gather hornstone (flint) for their hunting tools.

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March 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Bone’s Grand Slam

Page 25

On The Prowl Justin Merrill, Cherryfield, ME

believe in face paint. It has been very good luck for us”, Steve points out to me in the interview. Steve tells me they are not hardcore turkey hunters but I beg to differ. Twelve year old Bone can call in turkey using diaphragm mouth calls while I struggle using a

down ten feet behind him.

After a few hen yelps I saw the Tom heading straight to Bone. Within seconds he had about a ten yard shot.”

This was the first of the four big game species that Bone would have to harvest to accomplish his Maine Big Game Grand Slam.

Having known the kind of deer hunting success Steve and Bone have had through the years it comes to no surprise that it’s their favorite hunting sport. “We take deer hunting very seriously,” Steve had said.

Not many Maine hunters head to the woods each year exuding the amount of confidence that 12-yearold Tanner Peaslee, (also known as “Bone”), had at the beginning of the 2019 Maine hunting season.

How many Maine hunters actually believe they will accomplish the Maine’s Big Game Grand Slam?

Not many!

Tanner’s father, Steve Peaslee, told me, “Bone was pretty confident. The hard part was going to be harvesting mature animals.” I’ve had the good fortune of meeting both of these gentlemen when purchasing bear bait from Steve. I’ve learned that if any father and son duo will accomplish the Maine Big Game Grand Slam – they will! Year after year the Peaslee’s fill tags shooting mature big game animals.

The knowledge Steve and Bone have gained through the years out-surpasses most veteran hunters.

Bone’s been hunting for five years under the tu-

telage of his father and informational video series such as “Deer Society”, among others. He’s been learning about hunting ever since he could walk. Bone harvested his first deer at age seven while hunting with his dad during New Hampshire’s Youth Hunting Day. Bone’s deer from the 2019 Maine deer season had his father in tears. The massive eleven pointer became a whole lot more

than another trophy rack for the wall. Steve’s twelve year old son reached a new milestone that most hunters only dream of.

Lyrics of “Chalk Outline” by Three Days Grace roll off Bone’s lips while Steve lathers on the camo face paint one cool May morning during Maine’s turkey hunting season.

This song and face painting ritual has always been a Peaslee tradition. “We

Greenville

box call. With the kind of turkey hunting success I’ve seen Bone have through the years it’s apparent that the Peaslee Team knows what it’s doing.

Steve tells me, “it wasn’t long in one of Bone’s favorite spots before he fired up a long beard. It was evident that it was coming on a string.

Bone sat down against a thick hemlock and I sat

I learned that the Peaslee boys are fairly new to bear hunting. Bone and Steve both have harvested a few black bear. Upon asking Steve about Bone’s bear hunt he had this to say, “Bone and I only had one day a week to bait this year. It seemed that the bear weren’t eating much during the pre-baiting season”.

Steve continues by saying, (Slam cont. pg 30)

Page 26

Cranking (Cont. from pg 15) InvizX Fluorocarbon. The wide wobble of Series-4 and long round bill will dive to 10-feet.”

As for colors B.A.S.S. Elite Pro Mark Menendez recommends natural colors for his Strike King Jerkbaits with both white and orange bellies. His Series-3 and Series-4 crankbaits all have bright contrasting colors ranging within

Northwoods Sporting Journal the red, brown, green and chartreuse hues.

Menendez suggest the following Pro-Tips for working your Cold Water baits as slow as possible.

“Try sitting down when reels during the cold-water periods, you will find it easier to retrieve your baits slower. When spooling your reels, spool on less line leaving about 1/4 inch less of line. This, in turn, will retrieve less line per handle turn. When retrieving jerkbaits apply

soft-jerks, longer pauses, and only slight movement of your line to twitch your jerkbait. And, one of the most important key factors during the cold-water period to remember...Bass do not feed at night! But, do feed during the first two hours of daylight and the last two hours of daylight!”

Anglers may follow Elite Pro Mark Menendez at www.Bassmaster.com, www.Seaguar. com, www.StrikeKing. com, www.lews.com

God Bless and Best Bassin’

News

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

(Cont. from pg 10)

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A Connecticut woman was killed in a snowmobile accident in Solon; and in a separate snowmobile accident, the Maine Warden Service is seeking information about hit and run accident in Brownville where a snowmobiler didn’t stop after striking a sled dog musher.

In Brownville, at approximately 11:50 a.m. on Saturday, January 25th, a snowmobile collided with a sled dog musher just north of Brownville Junction. The musher was Portage Lake, Maine Open 7 Days taking part in a sled dog A Week WELCOME SNOWMOBIL race that shared part of its ERS Restaurant route with snowmobile trail I.T.S. 110. The snowmobile was traveling towards the sled dog team on the P.O. Box 254 Portage, ME 04768 trail, and the snowmobile Tel: (207) 435-3701 deansmotorlodge.com operator couldn’t keep control of his snowmobile and sideswiped the dog sled and musher. The sled dog musher was knocked off the dog sled and the snowmobiler did not stop and continued to travel north toward Katahdin Ironworks. The sled dog musher refused medical treatment at the scene.

The crash is still under investigation by the Maine Warden Service. Anyone with information about the crash, or who may know Glen & Ann the identity of the snowKleinfelter mobiler is asked to call 871 OxBow Road, the Department of Public OxBow, Maine 04764 Safety at 207-973-3700.

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Fame

(Cont. from pg 9) Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Guide’s Advisory Board, both testing prospective candidates for their licenses and assisting in the development of a standard curriculum for preparatory training classes. For thirtyone of the thirty-three years that Ware and his wife have operated their business, they have provided one of Maine’s most successful Maine Guide’s training programs.

What was the Maine Guide’s most rewarding guiding experience? “I was the head guide at Bosebuck Mountain Camps, on Aziscohos Lake for 6 years,” remembers Ware. “Ellen, a woman from New Jersey was an annual customer and the last year that she came before she retired, she brought a friend whose name was Andrew and who was in his late sixties. I had one day on the water with him and he told me that he had never caught a trout that didn’t come out of a hatchery. Late in the afternoon, he caught a brook trout of about 2 pounds. As he released the trout back into the water, with an odd expression on his face, he said, “I guess that’s about the most important trout that I’ll ever catch.” When Andrew and Ellen left the next morning, she came to me and thanked me for my time with Andrew, and told me that he was dying with cancer and had a matter of weeks to live.”

The first Maine fly

Northwoods Sporting Journal fisherman ever to be inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame, Ware, who writes a monthly column for the Northwoods Sporting Journal, encourages everyone to take a ‘young person’ fishing!

“Young people are the future of fishing and the Maine outdoors,” he urges. “Make Maine better through sports!”

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Page 27

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 28

Cold Weather Angling

Ramblings From T8-R9

ern Maine to his trials and tribulations.

Fish act and feed difby Benjamin Rioux, ferently in the winter, so Millinocket Lake having success means getLast month we talked more consistent success we ting out of your comfort about winter fishing oppor- enjoy now. I don’t envy his zone and breaking away tunities in Maine and how efforts during that winter, from tactics that might the proper clothing and as I know how miserable gear make all the differ- conditions can be even on ence when casting a fly in a good day in December or temperatures below freez- January. But what he was ing. Now that we’re ready able to discover before he to take on the elements, starting catching fish was let us turn our attention to exactly what not to use, employing the proper gear where not to go, and when and tactics in search of not to fish at all. For someone who at that point had trout and salmon.

In any season, fly fish- been seeing a great deal ing requires a certain level of success as a fly fisherof luck and timing. As my man, that first winter must luck would have it, my have been a truly humbling buddy Chris Bard arrived experience for him. The at the winter fly fishing important message here is bring you success in the game a full season before I that he learned from those spring, summer, and fall. did. His trial and error ap- struggles and made the A combination of colder proach that first go-around necessary adjustments that water temperatures and during those bitterly cold ultimately brought him less plentiful feed means and often uneventful trips success. I owe much of fish – especially large ones went a long way towards my knowledge regarding – become lethargic and setting the table for the winter fly fishing in north- will feed more selectively

to conserve energy. This, combined with a lack of vegetation along the shoreline and moving winter ice, push trout and salmon out of faster, more shallow runs and into deeper pools with less current

where they can lay in relative safety among riverbed structure like boulders and logs and let the food come to them. I like to call these winter areas “couch water” because fish tend to congregate in these pools to

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lay-in-wait for food – sort of how I spend a majority of my evenings during winter stuffing my face on the couch in front of the television with friends.

So we’ve found where the fish are holding, and that comes with a spot of good news. For the majority of the winter months, you should find fish consistently in those same pools if conditions remain unchanged. In fact, we’ve caught the same fish several times over the course of a season. Unfortunately, finding them is more often than not the easy part of the mission. Getting them to eat is another battle entirely. Many folks opt for nymphing during the winter months, and I have no doubt that someone more skilled than myself could have loads of success nymphing the very runs that I fish on any given day during the winter. Because nymphing never really got my motor running, I instead opt for a single or double handed streamer rod so I can throw and swing streamers not unlike the steelhead guys. A five or six weight will do.

Depending on the water level, a medium to heavy sink tip or poly leader will help you get your offering in front of the fish and keep it there through the duration of the swing. I like to set up at the top of these pools and work them from top to bottom, allowing my streamer ample time to sink into the zone before I start stripping it in.

I can’t put an exact percentage on it, but if I had to guess I’d say roughly 80% of my eats come right at the end of the swing (Angling cont. pg 36)

March 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Reverse Tied Bucktails

dressings that have been successful over the years.

Getting ready for spring fishing, it’s time to think about the flies that worked best for us this past year so we can replenish fly boxes, as well as tying up some patterns that we’ve heard about but haven’t yet tried. With that said, let’s take a look at a style of fly that was first tied by Carrie Stevens back in the early 40’s. She apparently didn’t think enough of this pattern to give it a name, so at the time it was known only as a “reverse-tied bucktail.” She developed it initially as a salt-water fly in need of a stronger wing but eventually adapted it to freshwater.

Early in the 1960’s, a New Yorker named Keith Fulsher carried Stevens’ idea a bit further by developing and testing the “Thunder Creek” series of baitfish imitations. These were part of a continuing trend toward slimmer more streamlined flies, moving away from the gaudy overdressed patterns of the past.

The general concept of this fly is relatively simple. A bunch of bucktail is

tied in at the front of the hook with the tips extending forward over the eye, on both the top and bottom of the hook shank. The tips are then pulled back toward the rear of the hook to fashion the wing and tied down behind the eye forming a neat, but rather bulky head.

Following are two

Golden Shiner Hook – Size 6 to 10, 6x long, ringed (straight) eye.

Thread – White and red 6/0.

Body – Flat gold mylar tinsel.

Overwing (top of hook) – Brown bucktail.

Underwing – White bucktail Lateral line – Small bunch of yellow bucktail.

Eyes – Black Saltwater Reverse-tied Bucktail Hook – Size 1 to 3/0, saltwater streamer.

Thread – White and red 3/0.

Overwing – White bucktail.

Underwing – White bucktail.

Lateral line – Two or four blue saddle hackles.

Eyes – Black.

Page 29

Fly Fishing

by Joe Bertolaccini, Orrington Tying Notes: 1. Tie on the tail and body of the fly (if any).

2. Attach the overwing and underwing with tips pointing forward over the hook eye. They should be tied in so that the butts are about equal to the length of the head (about 3/8 inch for a size 6 hook).

It is important to allow sufficient wing length so that when the tips are pulled back, they will extend a little past the bend of the hook. My preference is to use white thread to secure the materials and a band of red thread to finish off the fly. White thread when wet will not discolor the fly.

3. If there is to be a lateral line or hackle wing, it should be tied in at this time behind the hairwing butts.

4. With the tying thread just behind the wing butts, pull the overwing and underwing back forming the head and tie down.

The hairwing tips should reach to just behind the bend of the hook. I find it easier to keep different colors separated by pulling back and tying down each wing separately. Tie off the white thread and cover with a finished layer of red thread.

5. Add a liberal coating of head cement to the red windings and head.

When dry, add black painted or stick-on eyes Joe has enjoyed fly fishing for over 65 years.

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

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 30

Slam

(Cont. from pg 25) “We sat three times without any luck. Mainly because we were hunting sites that had larger bear”. I most certainly can relate. I too found that the 2019 black bear hunt was extremely tough. I know of a guide that had only one active bait out of twenty three baits.

Steve tells me they had a couple smaller bear frequently visiting their bait they called the “Rusty Can”. Bone made up his mind that he better try to take an easier bear. Here’s how Steve described the hunt, “It wasn’t long before Bone saw a bear emerge from the thicket. It walked straight toward our makeshift blind. The bear sat down to scan for danger.

He got up and went to

the bait.” Steve continues, “Bone made a perfect heart shot with only a ten yard recovery.” At this point in time Bone’s confidence is really high. He’s one step closer to that goal.

Steve had shared with me that his uncle, Richard Potter, shortly before passing had received a bull moose permit that he wished Bone could have.

The state of Maine graciously gifted the permit to Bone for zone twelve, after the passing of Steve’s uncle. They got to hunt during the moose rut in October.

Scouting for moose a couple days earlier pays off. It didn’t hurt that the rut was still underway. Steve said, “Bad weather left us without seeing a moose on Monday.” He goes on to say, “Tuesdays have always been good to me.

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The weather was perfect.

It was 25 degrees and no wind. After a short trek in I spotted two bulls of which one was a spike and the other a 30 inch bull”. Steve told me that Bone decided not to shoot anything under 40 inches. He continues by saying, “I suddenly heard a good deep grunt and a few calls. A short ten yard walk revealed the bull standing there with his two cows.

Without any rest Bone took the offhand shot and the bull crumpled after going ten yards.” Steve tells me that Bone’s bull had one of the best racks he’d seen on a Maine bull moose.

Having known the kind of deer hunting success Steve and Bone have had through the years it comes to no surprise that it’s their favorite hunting sport. “We take deer hunting very seriously,” Steve had said. He has harvested

March 2020

some impressive Maine bucks weighing over 200 pounds. Bone has harvested deer during all of the five years he’s been hunting so far. For this particular 2019 deer season Bone decided to only shoot a mature buck. Not an easy feat to accomplish in Maine.

Bone’s patience was tested. Steve tells me this, “After Bone passed several bucks and does the pressure was mounting.”

At one point Bone had said, “I never realized getting my buck would be the most difficult.” Bone even passed up a spike that he decided to shoot if he saw him again. This was two days prior to actually shooting his trophy buck.

Steve asked Bone, “Would shooting that spike buck make you happy?” Bone replied by saying, “Not really!”

Steve had only one

day to scout an area to try and find Bone a buck. He goes on to say, “I worked some area that has always produced some good bucks for me in the past. Not long into it I realized I was in some really good sign. I saw a really good buck make his way through to a bedding area.” Steve continued, “This would be Bone’s chance. So I backed out and on Saturday morning I sat him in the spot.”

What happened about an hour later made a grown man cry. The short video Steve posted to Social Media of the bucks recovery had everyone feeling his emotions.

Shortly after getting Bone settled in Steve walks to his right to sit down fifty yards away. In Steve’s own words this is what happened next, “I heard a red squirrel all nerved up and (Slam cont. pg 31)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

March 2020

Anticosti

(Cont. from pg 13) costi deer a distinct flavor.

Although similar to their mainland cousins, I consider it to be more mild.

Maybe it’s also because the absence of predators makes them less stressed. A few years ago, I was fortunate enough to be a featured

Anticosti Hunter on national television with Destination Whitetail. During an interview I mentioned that Anticosti deer meat was among my favorites of any whitetail out there, and a close friend and hunting buddy of mine from South Carolina watching the show sent me a text

freezers are full of nature’s finest organic wild venison.

My family eats almost nothing but wild game.

In fact, just yesterday I served a delicious rare bottom round roast to dinner guests. It will be providing my family nourishment until next season.

For more information

about a hunt on Anticosti, all my friends at the reservation desk at 1-800-4630863, tell them Mark sent you!

Mark Cote is a Registered Maine Guide from Rumford Maine. He has been hunting on Anticosti for over 20 years.

Central Maine Region

Slam (Cont. from pg 30) chattering. Within a minute I heard a deer walking and out emerged the buck we called “Tines” at only forty yards.” Steve goes on to say, “He was just walking and making his way to Bone. The buck disappeared for a few seconds and I turned my attention to Bone praying he would get the shot.” With lots of emotion Steve tells me that not only did Bone kill his largest buck, but it so happens to be the largest rack buck that either of them has harvested.

I watched that video of the recovery that Steve filmed with his phone and posted to his Facebook page. “That certainly was pure emotion uncut,” Steve says when describing the video. I remember Steve saying that he passed up the buck so his son could have a chance to shoot it and he got all teary-eyed when he saw the buck make his way right to Bone. Steve knew he would get a chance.

Bone connected on a massive eleven point buck. He is the youngest hunter that I personally know to have accomplished the Maine Big Game Grand Slam.

Bone didn’t just only complete the Grand Slam but he did it by harvesting four trophy big game animals.

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For now, thoughts of Anticosti are alive and well in my household. Our

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Page 32

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Praise for Lee Kantar

The Buck Hunter

by Hal Blood, Moose River, ME Winter keeps marching along but doesn’t really seem like winter. As I write this the first week of February, it doesn’t seem like there is much more snow in the north country than there was a month ago. January is traditionally the month of cold, but this one was as mild of one as I have ever seen. The coldest temperature in the Moose River valley was -15 one night and it only went below zero a half a dozen other times.

This is really great for the deer and it is keeping them spread out where food is plentiful. The moose have kept spread out instead of bunching up in their wintering areas. It makes it harder for the antler hunters to find sheds, but I think it

will probably benefit the moose. Any ticks that may be on the moose will drop off in a wider area instead of being concentrated. It should make it harder for the baby tick clusters to get on the moose next summer.

Time will tell on that one.

Ticks are only one of the problems that moose contend with. They are susceptible to several other parasitic problems such as brain worm and lung worm. I took a ride the other day on my snowmobile to check out some hunting areas. I was in an

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area that has a low moose population but was seeing a few tracks here and there.

Then I came to a spot with moose tracks crisscrossing the winter road. I slowed down, thinking that I might find a moose antler but instead spotted a dead moose down over the hill. It was a big older cow and looked to be in good shape. She had just died in the night and had barely stiffened up.

It is transmitted to moose through the wood’s snail.

The snails feed on deer feces and pick up the parasite. The snails crawl up brush and grass where they ingest the snails along with the browse they are eating.

It’s a terrible site to see a moose that has brain worm.

Their head will always be looking up and swinging

the head moose biologist for the state to tell him about my find. He told me that they have a had a few of the collared moose die this winter for various reasons. He was still in the process of collaring more moose this winter.

He is doing a great job of getting a handle on the winter tick problem with

around. This is because brain worm causes their mind to think that everything is in motion around them. They will stumble around and fall down as they are off balance. It doesn’t seem to affect them from feeding and they stay in good shape until finally the brain just shuts down.

Moose really do have a rough life.

I talked to Lee Kantar,

the moose. Lee has a tough job because he has to deal with non-hunters that think moose are going extinct because they won’t get in the woods to look for them and us hunters who spend a lot of time in the woods, who think the moose population is still too high and perpetuating the tick problem. Lee is trying to balance it out, but obviously there will be complaints with whatever decisions he make. I think he has real long-term plan that will bear out with the studies he is conducting. It is just going to take some time to find the real solutions.

Meanwhile, rest assured that the moose are not going to disappear from the state, and we have plenty of them for a quality hunt.

Lee has a tough job because he has to deal with non-hunters that think moose are going extinct… and us hunters who think the moose population is still too high and perpetuating the tick problem.

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Her hair was full and sleek, and I ran my hands all through it to check for ticks and never found a single one. As I looked around, I could see that she had been struggling for some time. There were places all around where she had laid down and seemed to have struggled. I’ve seen this same scenario many times over the years. I concluded that most likely this cow had brain worm.

Brain worm is a parasite that is carried by deer but does not affect them.

Until next month, good luck on the trail! Hal is a Master Maine Guide and Author. He lives in Moose River Maine with his wife Deb. He can be contacted at hal@bigwoodsbucks.com

March 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal Guns & Ammo:

Best Elk Rifles

In last month’s column, I talked about choosing a rifle for an Idaho elk hunt. I listed the three rifles and their weights and overall lengths and optics. The rifles are as follows: 1. A Ruger American in .30/06 caliber 2. A Remington mod 700 in 7 mm Rem. Mag. 3. A Ruger Mod 77 in .300 RCM I would now like to compare the ballistics of these three calibers. The particular bullet that I have chosen for the .30/06 is the 180 gr. Swift A-frame.

This round gives excellent penetration and weight retention while providing good expansion over a wide variety of ranges.

This round leaves the muzzle at 2700 fps. At 100 yds, it has 2465 fps, at 200 yds, it has 2243 fps, at 300 yds, it has 2032. It starts it’s journey 2.1 inches high and at 300 yds is 9.1 inches low, with a 200 yd. zero. The energy starts at 2913 ft. lbs. at the muzzle and maintains 1650 ft. lbs at 300 yds.

Pretty good ballistics.

The next candidate is a 7 mm Remington Mag-

num. I have chosen a 160 gr. round also a Swift Aframe for the same reasons.

This caliber leaves the muzzle at a quick 2900 fps., 2659 at 100 yds, 2430 at 200 yds and 2212 fps at 300 yds. The energy is 2987 ft. lbs at the muzzle and 1739 at 300 yds. It is sighted to start at 1.7 inches high and 6.9 inches low at 300 with a 200 yd zero.

The third caliber to consider is the .300 RCM. The round I have chosen for this is a Hornady 178 gr. ELDX round. It starts at 2900 fps. At 100 yds. it is traveling at 2726 fps, at 200 yds, 2559, at 300 yds it is still going at 2398 fps. The energy starts out at 3324 ft lbs and maintains 2273 ft lbs at 300 yds. It begins it’s journey 1.6” high and is 6.9 inches low at 300 yds with a 200 yd zero.

You can see from these results the .300 RCM maintains an edge ballistically. The next comparison is in accuracy. I chose to test these rifles at 100 yds.

I used padded bags to secure the rifles so the human factor would be minimized.

The temps were cool about

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With the Ruger American in .30/06, the best 3 shot group was 1.02”. This is sub-minute of angle which is 1.05 at 100 yds. This is exceptional accuracy for factory ammo.

The second rifle, a Remington Mod 700 in 7mm Magnum shot a respectable 1.5” group at 100 yds., not bad for an older rifle.

The third rifle produced a 1.3 inch group at 100 yds. This is also very good for a compact short barrel rifle.

We now have the physical characteristics of each rifle. We also have the ballistic comparisons. The last consideration would be to discuss with the outfitter how they will be used. I normally have dinner with Chad Bohn, the Chief guide and Owner of York Outfitters, who comes to Springfield, MA for the Sportsman’s Show, so I would

Page 33

A Guide’s Perspective

by Tom Kelly, Orient, ME

talk to him in detail then.

My plan for dinner has not changed, but my deadline for this article necessitated a phone call to Chad. The hunt is a high country hunt in the Selway Bitterroot Mountains. It is a combination of walking/climbing and glassing. There are also many miles spent on horseback covering the 250 thousand acres of Chad’s concessions. Chad said he would favor the rifle that I was most comfortable carrying long distances that I could shoot well. There you have it. Based on all of the above criteria at my advanced age and energy level, I chose the lightest, most compact rifle with the best ballistics. I chose the Ruger .300 RCM. The one adjustment I have made is to switch scopes. I have put the Leupold 3X9 scope on the .300. That being done, I need to work on getting

my old carcass in shape. If any of you are looking for an excellent elk hunt during the rut, contact Chad at York Outfitters at (443) 375-1598. Website: yorkoutfitters.com. Oh, and come and see us at the lake.

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

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

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

Page 34

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Maine Outdoor Adventure

by Rich Yvon, Bradford, ME

As a young boy, growing up as a fisherman, the Connecticut river and its tributaries was a special, undeveloped watershed.

I fished it frequently because of where I lived and its proximity to my home. Many fond memories of growing up were largely due to fishing with my childhood chums and neighbors. The Connecticut river and Scantic river (a Ct river tributary), provided good, carefree fishing for anyone with a worm, hook, line and sinker. It’s where I fished and worked farming, running irrigation to food and broad -leaf tobacco crops. The area’s soil is very rich and has much natural history with fishing and native peoples.

Today, the fishery mostly contains a mixture of native and invasive fish. Spring time was the kick off to

the great shad run up the Connecticut river and into its tributaries. As summer progressed into fall, the American eel was a common catch and looked upon by us kids as a fun, easy to catch fish. Little did we know, how great the table fare it was! As leaves fell and the river bottom turned dark with leaf litter, sexually mature eels made their annual run out of the river and to the sea. Also, the sea run brown trout, known as a native, anadromous Salter, was coming into the river to spawn. The American eel’s story is as special as our beloved Atlantic Salmon, which flourished as far south as Long Island Sound. The American Eel is commonly found all along the Atlantic sea coast, from Venezuela to Greenland and Iceland. Eels can also be found in the Great Lakes

March 2020

“The American Eel”

and Mississippi River as the only freshwater eel found in north America.

As with most native fish, loss of habitat, including pollution and man-made barriers has played a key roll into the destruction of habitat and degradation of the migrating fish. Now living near where my family originated from in Maine, fish passageways are getting restored and there is a glimmer of hope that a full restoration for the Penobscot River will unfold.

According to some biologist, as much as 60 years may be needed to quantify results on how successful restoration efforts will be. The waterways are certainly headed in the right direction as catadromous and andromedas fish become more prevalent.

An anadromous fish, such as Atlantic Salmon, smelt, shad, striped bass and sturgeon, are born in fresh water and spends most of its life in the sea and returns to fresh water to spawn. A catadromous fish does the opposite, it lives in fresh water and enters salt water to spawn. The American

eel is a catadromous fish.

The American Eel life cycle begins in a far offshore area in salt water. As the American Eel changes habitats they undergoe several physical phases, known as metamorphoses. In the first stage of life, eggs are hatched in a very special place called “The Sargasso Sea” were the Glass Eels migrate up and down the Atlantic sea board. They find their way back to the rivers and eventually into ponds and lakes, reaching phase three. From the lake, they fall back into the rivers and out to sea to spawn reaching their birth origin.

The birth place “Sargasso Sea” is special because it has sargassum. It is a form of free-floating seaweed or algae that is unique in the sense that it reproduces vegetatively in the high seas, unlike other forms

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of floating seaweed that reproduce and originate in the ocean-floor. As such, Sargassum mats are plentiful on the sea’s surface. The area is a haven for all kinds of sea life although it is not bound by a land mass. As the first stage “The Glass Eel” they leave the gulf stream around February and late April to migrate up the Atlantic sea board into estuaries. In stage two, they finally reach fresh water and turn into juveniles or “elvers” where they develop pigmentation. As a very resilient fish, they swim overcoming natural and even man made obstacles to finally reach the fresh water lakes and ponds as the third stage. This stage is referred to as the “Yellow Eel” which can be 4-40 years until reaching sexual maturity. The final fourth stage, “Silver Eel” is a salt water version. These Eels are now completely sexually mature and continue on returning to their birth place back in the Sargasso Sea. Hunting, fishing and trapping became more of interest as I spent more time in the woods with family. Fortunate and blessed, Uncle Rodney, who is currently a Master Maine Guide, had mentored me at as early as 8 years old. He (Eel cont. pg 41)

Northwoods Sporting Journal

March 2020

Harbingers of Spring

After a long winter, most of us are more than ready to shake off those “cabin fever” blues and March is just the month we’ve been waiting for.

Sure, we’re bound to have a few more solid snow and ice storms but c’mon.. you can almost feel and smell the onset of spring!

Here, in the mid-coast area of Maine, March is often a wet month. We get to experience some warmer days which allow for some melt off, and half the time, any snow storms we do get, end up changing to rain.

No matter how you slice it, though, March paves the way for great expectations of new life, especially after five months of dormancy in the woods.

For the deer hunter, March is a time we can begin to get back in the woods and look for sign left over

from last fall, and even though the rut is long gone, it’s still exciting to look for rubs you may have missed last season, along with the possibility of perhaps finding some sheds. I like to reassess my areas this time of year, and if a stand requires taking down, moving, or repositioning, there’s no better time, (other than right after deer season), to do this. The woods are still open enough to see shooting lanes, there isn’t any foliage, and it’s just a fun thing to do!

For the bird enthusiast, March is a time of spring migration and some birds will begin mating.

The Mourning Doves that have been at the feeders all winter will begin courtship while the Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles and Brown-Headed Cowbirds will start arriving in huge

flocks. Other birds you’ll notice showing up this month include phoebes, robins, geese, and the Great Blue Herons. Also, if you grab your binoculars or telescope and train them on a full moon this month, you will be rewarded as you notice huge, dark flocks of birds crossing the moon’s lit face.

In the extraordinary world of wildlife, many other interesting things will be going on in March.

Here in the Northeast, red squirrels will begin mating while gray squirrels will begin bearing their first litters of the year. Mink, woodchucks, snowshoe hares, and fisher-cats will be breeding this month, and chipmunks will begin popping out from their burrows, to be seen around old familiar stone walls and gardens. Muskrats and ot-

Page 35

Blaine’s Outdoor Journal

Blaine Cardilli, Winthrop, ME ters will be bearing young and black bears will be emerging from their dens.

Area lakes and ponds will be well into ice-out this month, as well.

Tu r t l e s , s o m e o f which, (such as snappers and some Painted turtles who spent the winter in a state of semi-torpor in the mud layer at the bottom of the lakes and ponds), will begin to wake and move around as the ice thins and allows more light to reach them, which acts as a trigger. Aquatic frogs such as the Leopard frog and the Bullfrog, (who spent the winter lying on top of the mud layer near oxygen rich water at the bottom of the pond), will also begin to

wake and move.

The terrestrial frogs, toads, and some of the softer-shelled turtles who couldn’t survive the winter under water, are burrowed deep into the soil on land, below the frost line, and will begin to also stir. Others, such as the Wood Frog and the Spring Peepers who don’t have the ability to dig deep, can be found both under the leaf litter in the woods, as well as within deep cracks and crevices in logs and rocks. Pretty cool thngs to know if you’re as into the outdoors as much as I am!

So even though March may seem a bit dismal and bleak, it’s an important (Spring cont. pg 36)

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Page 36

Angling (Cont. from pg 28) within the first three strips.

Remember, low and slow is the name of the game, and getting that streamer down to the fish is imperative. In the winter, ground water is generally warmer than surface water so fish don’t often stray from the bottoms of these pools. On warmer winter days (think above 40 degrees with

Northwoods Sporting Journal

bright sun) surface temps warm some and fish tend to feed more active and move more freely in the water column, so a slightly more aggressive strip can and should be used to trigger a strike.

On the winter menu, I try to offer fish a variety of weighted and unweighted patterns. My go-to in previous years has been an olive zonker on a size 6, 4x hook with a red bead head.

I’ve also found success

with a variety of bugger patterns in black, white, and brown. More recently we’ve experimented with more steelhead patterns and different intruder variations. In addition to being fun to fish, they are also a blast to tie. At the end of the day, finding the fish and presenting your offering in an attractive way is by-andlarge more important than using specific patterns or colors. These fish are opportunists, and waiting for

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an easy meal is what they do during this time of the year. Put in the work so they don’t have to, and you should be rewarded handsomely for your efforts.

March 2020

Spring (Cont. from pg 35)

month for both outdoorBen is an avid fly fish- folk and wildlife alike. So erman, registered Maine take a deep breath, stretch Guide, and the Marketing those legs, and get out in director for Libby Sport- the woods to see what’s ing Camps. When he’s not stirring! exploring T8-R9 in search Blaine Cardilli is a of new water, he can be freelance outdoor writer reached at ben@libbyc& columnist from Maine; amps.com A lifetime bird & wildlife enthusiast, Blaine is also known as “The Woodland Counselor”; He can be reached via email at ‘indianwd@gmail.com

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March 2020

Page 37

Why I Shoot Copper

So far, 2020 is an unfortunate year for eagles in Maine. In just the first two weeks of the year, five bald eagles were admitted to Avian Haven, the state’s premier bird rehabilitation

center. All were diagnosed with high levels of lead in their blood. Some had lead fragments in their gastrointestinal tracts. All five died or had to be euthanized.

The year is far from over.

This is tragic news, but not a new problem.

From the time I wrote articles about lead and eagles

Northwoods Sketchbook

and are never found. Even more are affected by sublethal exposure to lead that

by Mark McCollough, compromises their nervous Hampden, ME system for the remainder of their life. Some die from is in mid-winter during the they ingest tiny fragments collisions. Others feed on coyote bait hunting season. of lead.

Lead exposure durroadside carrion and are hit There is little evidence that ing the hunting season I am inspired every time I see a soaring eagle in makes sense, but what about coyote hunting over Maine. I am sickened to see the symbol of our bait piles? During a recent country dying in convulsions because they have deer season, I visited a eaten lead. We can do better. game butcher in central by cars because they cannot lead is coming from fishing Maine that had a room full into the bird equipment (now banned of 55-gallon barrels filled that bind with react quickly.

The problem is that in Maine because of lead with deer torsos. When the lead reneagles, vultures, and other poisoning in loons). X-rays asked, the butcher said they dering it nontoxic. Many birds of prey are extremely of poisoned eagles show (Copper cont. pg 62) more eagles sensitive to lead. A 30-calih a v e s u b - ber bullet looks harmless lethal levels in the hand, but just a fleck of lead, the equivalent of a of lead.

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Page 38

Marsh Island Chronicles

by Matthew Dunlap, Old Town, ME One of the bills carried over from the first regular session of the Maine legislature last year to the second session this year was LD 1804, An Act Regarding the Baiting of Deer, sponsored by Senator Paul Davis, R-Piscataquis.

As the long session thundered to an abrupt finish in late June, hundreds of bills were carried forward to the next session in almost wholesale fashion in order to adjourn the legislative session on time.

Baiting of deer has been illegal for over a hundred years. In the forty years between 1880 and 1920, the Legislature revolutionized wildlife management in Maine with the development of the Warden Service, establishment of licensing for

sportsmen, and conservation laws around use of dogs, bait, and bag limits.

The passage these series of laws became the bedrock of natural resource conservation in Maine.

Some states do allow hunting deer with bait and hounds. Often, the prohibition on such activities is attributed to the social objective of promoting fair chase, but that’s not the case at all—just like the old prohibition on hunting after sunset that was repealed some years back, restoring twilight hunting. That was presumed for the forty years of its existence to be for safety reasons—but actually, it was to reduce the deer kill while the deer population in Maine recovered from a series of catastrophic winters in the

The Late Mouse late 1960’s.

In fact, Maine is near the northern limit of the range for the white-tailed deer, and the further north you go, the more scattered the population of deer gets. To put it in perspective, North Carolina allows hunting deer with hounds, for sure. But they also have a bag limit of six deer per hunter. Illinois hunters tag more deer during their hunting season than even live in the State of Maine. The prohibition against baiting deer wasn’t established for fair chase at all—it was to conserve the number of deer we have to sustain a stable population.

We’re pretty good at hunting. Using bait would allow us to tag more deer than the population could sustain.

But something curious emerged during the discussion about LD 1804—the debate turned not on conservation, but on class.

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Rep. Paul Stearns, R-Guilford, spoke in favor of the bill. In his written testimony from June of 2019, he wrote that “Maine currently allows the baiting of deer. A person is allowed to grow crops that are highly desirable to a deer, and then position themselves near that food source in hopes of taking some venison or a trophy.

We do not allow placing bait….I am certain that the deer are not sophisticated enough to know whether the carrots that they are about to dine on have roots in the ground or not. One is OK, while the other is a crime….It seems to me that a person owning land and having the opportunity to manage a food plot, has an unfair advantage over a person that does not. They have the ability to attract that resource onto their property, and to even post the land if they wish.”

Other members outside of the committee room openly referred to the situation as a conflict between the “haves” and “havenots”, referring to landowners versus land users.

For a while, the bill appeared to have real traction, much to the alarm of planners at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife along with other conservationists. But in committee deliberations

this winter on the bill, the committee began to have a few second thoughts about going too far with restoring the use of bait in law for the first time in over a hundred years.

Instead of legalizing the use of bait, the committee amended the bill to decriminalize baiting—removing the penalty as a crime and replacing it as a civil infraction, but with a hefty fine of $500, and providing for a revocation of all hunting privileges for a second offense. Removing baiting as a crime takes offenders out of court, and leaves them paying a fine and risking losing their hunting privileges.

There’s an old saying that relates “the early bird may get the worm, but the late mouse gets the cheese.” When it comes to this change in the prohibition of the baiting laws, Maine sportsmen may have gotten both, in preserving landowner relations and making it simpler to adjudicate baiting offenses. Time will tell.

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 WRKLD 1450 AM.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

End of the Trail

The following stories of William Haley of Long Pond (1825-1894), one of Rangeley’s oldest and best guides, was included in an article published by the Lewiston Daily Sun in August 1894, soon after the death of the old guide.

It was reprinted on August 23rd in the Franklin Chronicle.

“The owners of Camp Burnside, on Long Pond, will especially miss his familiar figure and valuable aid, and their trips to Rangeley will have lost much of their former enjoyment. His entire life was passed in the Rangeley region, in farming and guiding, and no better guide could be found in that section, and the sportsmen who secured his services was sure of a wise counselor and faithful guide.

He was guiding Senator Frye on Long Pond, when the message came for

Come See Us At The Shows!

the sad announcement of the assassination of President Garfield. A heavy gale was blowing and the waves were running high, making it dangerous attempting to cross the lake, and still the message made it seem necessary that the senator receive it without delay.

No one else being found who was willing to attempt the extremely difficult and somewhat hazardous un-

approval of her father and the bravely earned praise of the senator.

Dr. A. K. Harvey, in speaking of him, says: “I have known “Uncle William, for years and had learned to love this old man. His quaint humor and gentle spirit made him a delightful friend and companion, as his skill and faithfulness made him a valuable guide. He had a

Page 39

Old Tales from the Maine Woods

by Steve Pinkham Quincy, MA

yards ahead of the advance party, who were watching him, but made no attempt to shoot, thinking useless at such a distance. We had nearly reached the shore when Haley, seeing that in a moment more he would be in cover and the advance party were not going to Dr. A. K. Harvey, in speaking of him, says: “I have known shoot, suddenly threw up “Uncle William, for years and had learned to love this old his rifle and fired, the bullet man. His quaint humor and gentle spirit made him a a whistling passed the ears delightful friend and companion, as his skill and faithfulness of the astonished sportsmade him a valuable guide. men ahead, and dropped dertaking. Mr. Haley’s heart so near akin to na- A few years ago he was the deer in his tracks. It daughter, Mrs. Snowman, ture, and knew so well the guiding a party to the Ken- was a remarkable shot, in then a young girl, volun- haunts and habits of fish nebago country. They were that it required the greatest teered to make the attempt. and game, that he seemed dragging a moose up the judgment as to the distance Her friends endeavored to to know intuitively just lake and had separated and elevation, the drop of dissuade her, but without where and when to drop into two groups, the guide the ball at such a distance, success, and stepping into a line or look for deer or and his party being several making it necessary to sight her boat she rowed across moose. He cared compara- hundred yards in the rear the place ten or twelve feet the lake, a distance of two tively little for fishing, but of the others, when a large above the back of the deer.” miles, and delivered the was passionately fond of deer was seen crossing message amid the proud his rifle, and even at the the lake further up at right angles with the path of the Steve is an avid hiker, sportsmen, and making for the thicket on the shore. In paddler and historian, havorder to reach it he would ing collected over 25,000 have to cross the path of Maine Woods articles to the hunters several hundred date. advanced age of 69 few sportsmen were his equal in the use of this weapon.”

The doctor relates the following incident which he says, the old man never tired of telling, and which he repeated to him just two days before his death.

(See page 68 for details)

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March 2020

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Eel (Cont. from pg 34) is well known and respected by his peers, family and neighbors. He is known to be an ethical, prudent, and sometimes “secret” outdoorsman. Some folks refer to Rodney as “The fiddlehead man”. In the 1990’s, Rodney had participated in several annual fall eel harvest seasons. Naturally, his eel weirs and eel fish-

Northwoods Sporting Journal ing captured my attention and fascination with these beautiful, wild, native fish.

As I interviewed my uncle, he started from the very beginning...”I would first get permission from the land owner and then a permit from the state to fish eels.” He then explained on just how he accomplished capturing eels and some of the struggles involved making a weir in a river.

He went on to explain how daily struggles with beaver,

mink and muskrat did not make it very easy for him.

“Picking the right spot is essential” he said. Muddy or gravel areas can wash out so picking a good rocky site is essential in making a weir. After building the weir, the challenge now is to keep critters from chewing through netting or beavers from blocking the weir with brush and trees. Fish would sometimes get into the trap where he would release them unharmed.

So for about ten years every fall, Rodney built his weirs. At the end of each season, every rock had to go back and placed in its natural position in the river.

“No sign left behind” has always been his motto as an exemplary Steward of the outdoors. For years, Maine biologist consulted Rodney’s field knowledge and practical application on The American Eel. Copies of eel fishing photos can be found in museums

Page 41 residing in New York City.

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(See page 35)

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Page 42

Downriggers: When Less is More

Fishin’ Lake Ontario

by Capt. Ernie Lantiegne, N.Y.

Downrigger cables vibrate like a guitar string, sending sound waves through the water to sensitive lateral lines of fish.

N e w Yo r k S t a t e changed fishing regulations from two to three fishing lines per person.

The intent was to give an advantage to anglers who fish large waters like Lake Ontario, increasing success rate. The theory…, more lines in the water means more fish.

You might think a spider web of lines in the water guarantee more fish, but that’s not always the case. Reasons why include tangles from fishing too many lines, and wasted time rigging multiple lines instead of focusing on location, trolling speed, and changing conditions. The most important reason, though, on Lake Ontario is subsurface disturbance from too many downrigger lines. Too many riggers can turn off some species, especially king salmon.

March 2020

When I first started fishing downriggers in 1974 on 28-mile long Lake George in northeastern New York State, I mounted two riggers, port and starboard on my 16-foot aluminum boat. And, guess what? I caught plenty of fish. A few years later, I was fishing five.

Each of these riggers creates subsurface noise as the weights pass through the water. Downrigger cables vibrate like a guitar string, sending sound waves through the water to sensitive lateral lines of fish. The “whine” of downrigger cables is actually amplified in an aluminum boat. In 1974, when I put my first downrigger weight in the water, it was hard to believe a fish would come within 100 feet of the whining rigger cable.

Fast forward 30 years to a July, 2004, morning on Lake Ontario. With a spread of 5 riggers, two wire dipsys, and two copper lines on each mega-

board, the early morning rigger bite was hot and we had a bunch of kings in the cooler. But at about 7:00 a.m. as the cloud covered sky brightened a bit, that changed. Downrigger action slowed to a crawl.

Fortunately, the dipsys and copper lines took up the slack. Because they were producing plenty of action, I did not change the now dead rigger spread.

As we neared the end of the 6-hour trip, I was mulling over the morning’s fishing. Hmmm…, 5 riggers working early, then nothing, as the stealth lines fishing way back took up the slack. I had seen it many times before.

After the early morning activity period, rigger noise was turning off kings, but the flashers we trolled on our riggers were sucking kings in to spoons and flashers fishing well away from the boat on dipsys and copper. As we finished the trip, we pulled our stealth rigs, the dipsys and copper, first. Next, we pulled three riggers, leaving two corner

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.

The lateral line of king salmon can sense the movement of a flasher through the water. riggers down 80 and 100 feet, with the same green ProChips and glow green Howie Flies we had been trolling all morning.

With the first two riggers we were pulling out of the water and the third just below the surface on its way up, the deepest corner rigger fired, then the second corner rigger, a double on kings on two riggers that had not had a touch in 3 hours. The difference…, fewer riggers and less noise in the water.

If the dipsys and copper had not taken up the slack when the 5-rigger spread died, I would have reduced the rigger spread earlier in the trip. In ex-

treme cases, I have even reduced the spread to only one rigger.

In my mind, there is no doubt about the effect of subsurface noise on king salmon behavior. When they are hyperactive, anything goes. But when they are not and in one of their touchy moods, a slim, 2 or 3 rigger spread will often make a great day out of a slow one.

Capt. Ernie Lantiegne has operated Fish Doctor Charters on Lake Ontario for 37 years, and worked as a fishery biologist/manager for the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation for 22 years.

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March 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Penobscot River Salmon Club

Changes have been made to the Clean Waters Act which was amended and signed into law in 1972. The new, expanded law was introduced by Maine’s Senator Muskie on October 28, 1971 and was enacted October 18, 1972, 46 years ago. The Clean Waters Act established the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulated quality standards for surface waters. The basic Act was enacted in 1948 and was called the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. The law lived up to its promise, protecting broad segments of the United States waterways but lacked in its intended mission.

Has the law worked.

The short answer is yes and I can document it? I can vouch for its value personally and it didn’t take 46 years to see the value of the law.

As memory serves me, in 1970 or so, I was returning from a trout and landlocked salmon safari in the northern waters of Maine when it dawned on me that I had never seen the then defunct Penobscot River Salmon Club in the Brewer,

Salt Corner

Maine area. I stopped at several places to ask where the club house was located.

I just wanted to see it before something like fire or flooding water destroyed it. The club has a lot of history, including the presenting the first, yearly caught Atlantic salmon from the river to the President of the United States.

It took some time to

It was low tide along the shore of the river. I walked down the tidal ledges over slippery, sharp rocks. A putrid smell enveloped the air and I almost lost my lunch and I have a strong stomach.

Pollution had gripped the big river. I retreated up the slippery ledge to my truck and left before I lost it.

Fast forward to 1973 or 74 just a short time from

previously slippery rocks.

All the scum was gone making footing much safer.

An om-man! There at my feet next to two-footdeep crevices in the ledge filled with water from the

find where the club house was located on the east side of the big river in the town of Brewer, just downstream from the Bangor dam.

The club is a historic, private club established in 1887 with the distinction of being the oldest fishing club in the United States which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

When I approached the boarded-up club house, a chill went up my spine.

There it was in all its glory, the Penobscot Salmon Club, not a palace structure, but just a simple four walled camp with a lovely front porch overlooking the river.

the passage of the new Clean Waters Act and another visit to the old club. Again, it was low tide. To my relief, walking down the ledges, repeating my previous visit and I couldn’t smell a thing except clean, crisp smells of a big, flowing river. Wow, the river was already cleansing itself in a short year or two.

To cap the experience, I was watching my feet as I gingerly moved about the

receding tide was an adult Atlantic salmon, still alive!

I tailed and cradled the fish in my arms, made a careful descent to water and released the fish. It just sat there upright for a bit, gathered its breath and swam to the depths only to reappear in a gracious leap as if to say thank you. At least that is what I thought. What a wonderful experience.

Salmon anglers en-

by Doug Jowett, Brunswick, ME

The club is a historic, private club established in 1887 with the distinction of being the oldest fishing club in the United States which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

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joyed several years of Atlantic salmon fishing after that along the shores of the Penobscot River. With the removal of other dams up stream, a few years of good spawning and just maybe we will once again enjoy that fishery. Maybe one may be a descendant of the one I recovered

Captain Doug Jowett is a Master Maine Guide holding a USCG Captain’s License who charters on Cape Cod and Maine. He has been writing outdoors columns and articles since 1965 in regional and national publications and in six books. Reach him at: http:// www.mainestripedbassfishing.com

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Page 43

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 44

Women In The Woods

by Erin Merrill, Portland, ME I will admit it. The nostalgia got to us and we threw our money at Disney+. Hubs and I were excited to show our kids the cartoons and movies that we grew up with. It never dawned on me that I would be faced with defending my love of hunting and trapping to those kids as we watched the movies.

March 2020

My Battle with Disney

Beauty and the Beast Another antagonist, Gaston is described as an “arrogant hunter” who sings about how no one can shoot like him and that he uses antlers in all of his decorating. If you are a kid watching this, you probably won’t pick up on all of the antlers and heads mounted on the walls of the tavern or that he walks around with a quiver full of arrows but for someone who does some of those things (I have a few animals hanging on my office wall) it’s easy to spot.

hunt Tod if that’s his friend?

Amos Slade is the antagonist. An “evil” trapper who wants to hurt poor, cute Tod the fox. He raises hounds, sets jaw-toothed traps (the illegal kind) and continues to threaten the Widow Tweed about Tod getting into his chickens and needing to return to the wild. The story is more about the conflict around The Fox and the the friendship between the Hound dog and fox, but the underAre those the traps lying issue is about hunting Bambi (this one is you use? and trapping. the worst!)

Why would Copper

Carroll’s Corner Get The Tackle Out

March is here and that means fishing season is looming large. Depending on what kind of winter we’ve had, ice fishing is winding down or perhaps for some, already over. This is all the excuse that I need to start looking over, upgrading and doing regular maintenance on my tackle. I oil our reels using Petroleum Jelly sparingly. I open both fly and spin reels and wipe any gravel or debris from the inside of the reel then apply the Jelly.

All rods should be checked to see that windings around the guide aren’t unraveling, and that the reel seat is tight and secure. Old leaders on fly lines or trolling rods ought to be discarded and replaced. If you are a spin or hardware fisherman, then all hooks should be sharpened. Replace any bent or broken hooks and replace swivels too. If you are using lead-core line and have backing on the reel behind the lead line, I would cut the knot connecting the two and retie them.

Fly fishermen should be doing the same procedure with the knot that connects fly line to backing. Somewhere in the Dead River, there is a very large landlocked salmon swimming with ninety feet of fly line trailing behind him because I didn’t do this! Again, check eyelets on the fly rod, especially the tip guide, as this one in particular is subject to most wear. Pull all of your fly line off the reel and check it for signs of the coating wearing off or cracks in it.

One of my “must-do” spring tasks is to pull all of the fly line off my reel and wipe it with a line cleaner, and then redress the line. Believe it or not, I dress my lines with a product intended for auto interiors called Armor-All. This solution does a great job of coating the line and makes it really sail when you cast. I have used this for years and have never experienced any negative effect on the fly line. We sinking-line fishermen should examine those sinking lines for any sign of the coating wearing away. Most of us fly fishermen typically have a zillion flies in our inventory, truthfully using only a couple of dozen of them! But……….we are ready for anything! As usual, bent or dull hooks should be addressed as necessary.

Last but not least, take a young person fishing!

Next month: How Much Does That Trout Weigh?

Carroll M. Ware is a Master Maine Guide, holder of forty-eight world fly-fishing records and a two-time Maine Professional fly-casting champion.

go?

Where did his mom

Why would they let their campfire get out of control?

Why are there so many dogs chasing Filene?

Is that what happens when you go bear hunting?

I have not watched this movie for a LONG time but I knew his mom dies and I was prepared for it. The idea of killing a deer so that we can eat it, is not foreign to my kids and I wanted them to be prepared for it when it happened in the movie. But before we got to that point, there was the campfire that spread throughout the forest caused by hunters that left to go hunt birds and rabbits (you watch the animals get shot in the movie!) His mom dies and then Filene (Bambi’s love interest) gets chased by a pack of dogs, presumably out hunting deer. It was mortifying.

The movie was released in 1942, when hunting was more of a common thing but the entire movie is just one example after another of how bad hunters are.

I was happy that the kids were bored with the movie and had no desire to watch it again.

Anthropomorphizing cute cuddly animals may sell tickets to the movies but when we see people going into the woods and National Parks thinking that those bears, foxes, moose, buffalo etc. are friendly, the reality can have devastating consequences.

So, for every antihunting and anti-trapping movie we watch, I will make my kids watch an episode of Drury Outdoors, MeatEater and Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures.

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

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

March 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Archery and Crossbow Education

If you have ever thought about getting into archery or crossbow hunting, but know little or nothing about it, a great way to start is by taking an International Bowhunter Education Program certified Archery Hunter and Crossbow Hunter Education Course. Starting in 2020 anyone can hunt during the October Archery Season using a crossbow, so don’t wait to the last minute to sign up and take both the 10-hour archery safety class and the 3.5hour crossbow safety class.

It is mandatory in Maine to take both safety classes if you want to hunt using a crossbow. Last year I saw a huge increase in the num-

ber of students in anticipation of this law allowing crossbows in the archery season, so I can only imagine that the numbers will be much larger than last year.

Several states are now requiring the IBEP course for archery including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Alaska, Montana, Nebraska, Idaho, and South Dakota plus Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Quebec, and Nova Scotia. The exact requirements may vary from Maine, but it is safe to say it is important that old and new bowhunters and crossbow hunters obtain the IBEP certification

especially if you plan to travel to other states to hunt. Several states now require the hunter to show their Archery/Crossbow Hunter Education ID card, not your Maine bowhunting license, to obtain an out-of-state bowhunting license, so an affidavit or “grandfathering” exemption may not exist in those states.

A listing of Archery and Crossbow Hunter Education Course can be found on the IF&W website www.mefishwildlife.com by clicking on “Education Courses and Events” and list the courses by counties.

IF&W suggest not waiting until the last minute to sign up for a class in the fall

Page 45

Flight Of The Arrow

by Jerome Richard, Clinton, ME

since class size is limited and all instructors are volunteers.

Some classes can be completed over a two or three-day period or doing the “home study” method. All classes have some type of outdoor exercise or indoor hands-on activity except none of the classes have live fire of archery equipment. There is also an online method using the Internet for the archery course, but it still requires the student to attend a shorter class room attendance. The online course is not available for the crossbow course. Both classes require the student

to pass a written test at the end of each course.

The Archery Hunter Education Course consist of several subject matters from archery equipment, shot placement, treestand safety, blood trailing/game recovery which is specific to archery than firearms hunting; however, the course does cover similar topics as in the firearms hunting class such as map and compass, first aid, survival, landowner relations and ethics. The Crossbow Hunter Education Course covers the equipment, history, and other safety aspects of crossbow hunting (Rights cont. pg 51)

Page 46

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Outdoors In Maine

by V. Paul Reynolds, Ellsworth, ME It has been said before in this space, but applies once more. When it comes to hunting big game there are hunters, and then there are hunters. Most of us are of the former, we enjoy the

and accomplished hunter.

A Maine deer hunter for many years and a successful business man, Deschaine, 67, has been a Maine guide for years and once served as president of

As you might guess, hunting mountain sheep and other high country critters involves long-distance shooting.

His longest shot was a difficult 547-yard shot at a Columbia Blacktail deer in Oregon!

hunt but we don’t live to hunt; the latter are among the minority, they live to hunt and they standout in the hunting community because of their dedication, perseverance and singular accomplishments in the field.

Mike Deschaine from Dresden is such a stalwart

the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine.

As fate would have it, life took two abrupt turns that changed him forever.

When in his 40s, he lost his wife to cancer. Emotionally adrift and alone, Deschaine took the advice of a friend, Sammy Cantafio, and booked a long-held

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March 2020

The Super Ten Hunts

dream for the two of them: a caribou hunt in Northern Quebec. He brought home two “magnificent trophies.”

He was hooked, not only on the so-called “exotic hunts, but the welcome distraction from his loss and the renewed sense of purpose the hunts brought to him.

Since that first caribou hunt, Deschaine has hunted 8 states, 8 provinces and Mexico. He is the only Maine hunter to achieve the “Super Ten Designation with the national Grand Slam Club. This, as you may have surmised, is no small feat, to bag North America’s 10 big game animals. They are: bear, deer, cougar, elk, moose, bison or musox, American Mountain Goat, antelope and bighorn sheep.

Talking with Deschaine on my radio program, Maine Outdoors, it was evident that he is a man who relishes the physical and mental challenges that most of these hunts represent. “Mountain hunts are always the toughest,” says Deschaine. Needing the highly coveted Dall Sheep to round out his Super Ten list, Deschaine recently realized a lifelong dream and hunted his sheep in the

Mackenzie Mountains in the Northwest Territories.

“Easily the most physically demanding hunt of my life,” says Deschaine, “this hunt combined many of the outdoor activities I

Mountain Lion and muskox also made it to their dinner table!

What is left for hunting challenges for Deschaine? When I last talked with him in December, he

Mike Deschaine with a trophy hard-earned. have come to love: hunting, fishing, hiking, mountain climbing, canoeing, horseback riding, camping, sightseeing, flying in bush planes and spotting wild animals.”

As you might guess, hunting mountain sheep and other high country critters involves long-distance shooting. His longest shot was a difficult 547-yard shot at a Columbia Blacktail deer in Oregon!

Deschaine and his second wife, Susan, who also hunts and has taken two caribou, say they never buy red meat at the store.

was hunting whitetail deer in Iowa, and has no plans to stop doing what he likes to do best.

The author is editor of the “Northwoods Sporting Journal.” He is also a Maine guide and host of a weekly radio program — “Maine Outdoors” — heard Sundays at 7 p.m. on “The Voice of Maine News - Talk Network.” He has authored three books; online purchase information is available at www. maineoutdoorpublications. com. or at www.sportingjournal.com

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March 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Green Curtain

What I call the “Green Curtain” is that portion of the forest people see everyday, on their way to work or on a trip. It’s a façade of evergreens that line either side of our

good to see a group of well-meaning passers-by throw a rope over the head of a deer that has broken through the ice and haul it to safety. As it trots away on wobbly legs, people

The heartbeat and respiration of deer slow to a fraction of its summertime rate. The animals take cover in large groups under the protective canopy of softwoods such as hemlock fir trees. As needless as it may seem, deer will seldom leave the protective cover to find food and sometimes

Page 47

South Of the Kennebec

by Stu Bristol, Lyman, ME

curtain are treated to misguided acts of human kindness. Deer are being fed in backyards as are wild turkeys. Racoons and skunks, during warm breaks in the

In the real world, behind the “Green Curtain”, life is harsh and the weather is unforgiving, especially during the cold winter months, here in the Northeast.

highways,hiding the real life dramas that play out in the lives of wildlife.

Too often we perceive wildlife as family units, as depicted on Christmas cards, in Disney movies and on television. The creators of such animated characters have damaged our perception of real wildlife species. Radical-minded animal rights groups constantly further those distorted perceptions to the point where the public in general is beginning to think real animals think and reason like humans.

In the real world, behind the “Green Curtain”, life is harsh and the weather is unforgiving, especially during the cold winter months, here in the Northeast.

It makes people feel

cheer, but almost always, due to the unique changes in the metabolism of the deer, it will die within hours or days.

Too often I am stuck between two ideologies; one of the hunter who enjoys the challenge of pursuing deer and wild turkeys and one of compassion for the lifestyle we humans have forced on creatures of the wild.

Most humans don’t realize the unique changes that most wildlife creatures undergo as the seasons change. A few species feed ravenously and either fall into a deep sleep or go into a full hibernation to escape the rigors of winter. Deer, moose and other large animals in the family of quadrupeds undergo a dramatic physiological change.

die a slow painful death from starvation.

Not fully understanding how critical these softwood covers called “deer Yards” or “wintering areas” are to the survival of Maine’s deer herd, shopping malls, golf courses, housing developments and other creature comforts of human existence take precedence over the critical needs of wintering deer.

Although lawmakers have provided for the preservation of these areas, crafty lawyers and local planners have found ways around the regulations and the wintering areas are being diminished quickly.

In addition to the deer herd, lesser creatures of the wild such as racoons, skunks, chipmunks upland game birds and many more are affected by the selfish actions of humans.

Those wildlife creatures that venture on the human side of the green

winter weather are treated to pet food left on the back deck for human pets that are allowed to roam outside while their humans are at work or school.

Despite pleas from wildlife managers, humans continue to feed wild creatures, by choice or by accident and so long as the humans see only the healthy-looking appearance of animals, the wildlife managers must be wrong, in their minds.

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Once a rabid animal appears on their doorstep, or a wild turkey pecks the leg of a school child at the bus stop looking for more free sandwiches and cookies, the animal suddenly become “the state’s’ problem.

How many times can outdoor writers like me and wildlife managers plead with the public not to feed wild animals. Wild animals never make good pets; ever! They shouldn’t even make good backyard attractions. Stop feeding deer, stop leaving pet food and water on the back deck.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 48

the Back Shelf

From the files of the Northwoods Sporting Journal.

The best hunting and fishing columns going back 25 years

“So you’re trying to be like Herself, just a bit of downright cussedness that runs to your core?”

He was ugly. I suppose in looking back on it that he was probably right to think that I was selling him down the drain. It wasn’t that I made a practice of it, you understand, but this was to be something that would be special in years to come.

The Ole Man had a real attachment for some of his guns. The Parker, the L.C. Smith and a Purdy that he had picked up in Europe for a small tag. Each had a special purpose that he considered an essential

Why Try Brand

By Dave O’Connor mark that was meant to put his guns on a higher plane, one established by him (or is it him).

When a gun got dunked in salty water or got sprayed by the freshwater marsh, he invariably treated it like an emergency case. Blood was needed

need to buy another Purdy, unless you want it to be for another purpose. Parker did good stuff too. I think my favorite is the L. C. Smith with 26 inch barrels, at least on the upland.” He knew his stuff on scatter guns, they were fine pieces indeed.

(Hoppe’s Number 9). A safe room in the Holiday Inn (his gun cabinet) was needed as an immediate treatment. In a few days he would want to disassemble the gun for the second time to make sure that no infection had set in.

It got to be a fanatical association of man and gun.

He was incapable of feeling neutral about certain guns, or guns in general, for that matter. He hated automatics, military pieces and anything that was poorly made. “Get one of those sloppy guns, shoot sloppy, and go home to a pig pen.

No need of a man owning anything but the best. Lasts a whole lifetime too. Never

I remember a day in the late fall when most bird hunters had given it up. They were home at rest when the dawn came. We were deep into the Qualey Place. It was only a mile off the Mill Road from the last four wheel drive foot hole.

No one had been there all season due to the extra effort needed and a jungle of apple trees that stood about three feet apart. It made getting a good shot nearly impossible.

The Ole Man knew enough to hit the trail after everyone else had gone home. The leaves would be off and with the aid of lady, his brittany, he would be able to sneak up on a few (Back Shelf cont. pg 61)

function. The gun was called upon to shoot skeet, or maybe it was ducks, or perhaps you were to hit the upland. Each was as precious as the last.

I could remember mornings that he was up a few minutes early on the hunt, just to take care of the gun he was going to use. It was a “modified and full day”. (On some decoying duck days or on the upland, it was a “cylinder bore”.

He seemed to take as much pride in shotguns as most people did in their family photo album. Not a day or pre-season or open season passed without some re-

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March 2020

late season birds that had not been shot at. No one needed more of a chance than that.

Down from the rack would come the Smith 20 and off we would be. It was barely light when we hit the “restin’ spot” where we would have a pipe to catch our breath after the long hike from the battered jeep. The sound of migrating geese or red squirrel heralds were a part of the morning. A sweet smell of curing that happens only in the late fall is still in the air and a crisp frost lies clearly on the ground. No one can escape without knowing that the winter is a bout to strike.

At the first tree a whirring of wings would see the Smith let fly with the first sound of morning that rose above a mere bit of sound. He was sure to be successful or else the heavens above would ring with “honest reasons to swear”.

It wasn’t that he missed getting birds or minded the birds getting away, but he felt, that the best gun should be used by the best shot in the hunting party... and he was certainly the best shot. So to miss the first bird was an insult to the gun maker of old who took his time to do the best job possible. If you missed too often then you were insulating his fine work.

I don’t know that he missed very many birds either on the first shot, or on any shot thereafter, but he felt that the hunter was part of the gun which in turn was definitely part of the gunsmith who had turned out the piece. The oaths that came upon a

Northwoods Sporting Journal

March 2020

Pondering March Sadness

March Madness? I don’t think so. For me, it’s more like March Sadness.

Why sad? Simply put, there isn’t another month that I can think of that is more challenging when it comes to what you can do. Or, to put it another way, what you cannot do.

OK, so we can get out on the ice, jigging for perch or watching for that flagging tip-up in January and February. I’ll get to March last because, frankly, that’s where the month belongs.

In April, I’m back on the mountain bike and scouting the woods for the spring gobbler season.

Come May, I’m out there trying to coax in a reluctant long beard, who is gobbling like crazy 150 yards out but can’t quite figure out why that “hot hen” (me calling) hasn’t come right up and said, “Hello, big boy.” Oh, and I almost

forgot: The trout season opens on April 11.

June comes along and we are now in real fishing mode. Watching the fishing forecasts, I just might head to the Maine coast for a few days and try my luck along some of the prettiest landscapes you will ever see. Bass season is also on the calendar, opening on June 13.

In early July, my old friend Bob and I will take our annual trek down the Connecticut River, trying our best to hook up with those feisty smallmouth bass. You want a fish that fights? I believe that pound for pound, no fish in Vermont can match the fighting ability of smallmouths.

A little later in the month, we head to Maine for a week of striped bass fishing, both day and night, low tide and high. Let’s hope that the striper bite is

Outdoors In Vermont

by Gary W. Moore, Bradford, VT

March is the month I like the least. Now that I don’t sugar I find it a good time to take a short vacation to a warmer place. My wife likes the sun and I like to fish and explore.

My colleagues all caught fish. I only caught a small stingray. So much for my fishing prowess.

The fishing gods were not with me when I was in Orange Beach, Alabama for a board meeting the second weekend of January. It was Sunday morning and we were fishing in Perdido Bay at its mouth were it enters the Gulf.

The trip was arranged

by Inter coastal Safaris, https://intercoastalsafaris. com and its owner Stephen Lee went out with us.

Our trip was with Captain Bligh’s Fishing Charters.

Captain “Hollywood” Shaver was at the helm and patiently kept four of us over fish and our hooks baited. The first few hours we fished in about 60 feet of very fast moving water tied to an abutment of the Perdido Pass Bridge.

It took very heavy lead weights to get the bait to the bottom where it would quickly bounce along head-

a heck of a lot better than we found it last year.

August brings yet another week on the Maine surf. The kids and grandkids who joined me in July (and, really, they get to do much more “fishing” than I do. I want them to learn, to experience the thrill of a striper taking out line) don’t make this trip so I get to actually fish for stripers on my own terms and times.

September is something of a down month because fishing is all but over for me and the deer seasons are just around the corner.

But it is time to get in some practice with the crossbow, finish up on the firewood supply and get in the last of my mountain biking.

Now comes October and the heart gets to beat a little faster. This year in Vermont we will see the first-ever fall muzzle-

Page 49

Vermont Ramblings

by Dennis Jensen, Vermont loader season (antlerless only) and, judging by the number of does I usually see, just out of range of my bow, I think I will have an excellent chance to put some venison in the freezer before the firearms season opens. On top of that we have the fall turkey season, when we push the woods, calling as we go, hoping to entice a flock of birds to come to our calls.

November has to be the sweetest month with the 16-day rifle season and all that it means. It is a time of family, friends, deer camp and memories, all in the name of deer hunting.

The year winds down with the last of the deer seasons, the December muzzleloader hunt, a cold, nasty experience that has

been a Godsend because it sometimes comes through, in the venison department, when the other seasons have let me down.

And March? I almost forgot March because, well, what does the month offer me? Not much to think or plan about, other than what I can do during the other 11 months. But maybe this so-called March Sadness whining is going a bit too far. Count your blessings, Bubba. Eleven out of 12 ain’t bad at all.

Dennis Jensen is the outdoor editor for the Rutland Herald and Barre Times Argus, a freelance writer and a longtime member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association.

A Dose of Saltwater Fishing

ed out into the Gulf while no trouble landing several often getting snagged. sheepshead, while Ken and Nick seemed to have Katie also had success.

Me, not a one could I hook.

After a couple of hours, Hollywood decided to take us into the bay where we could fish for black drum. It was there I caught my only fish, a stingray.

The fishing was much slower than it had been at the mouth but Nick and Katie both landed nice 18 pound black drums after long hard fights. The action and the fish made for ideal photos for our group of four journalists.

Throughout our time Nick Lowrey holds on the water we saw counteighteen pound less dolphins swimming by black drum. and a variety of waterfowl

and shorebirds. It was a most enjoyable and educational morning made so

by Captain Hollywood and Stephen Lee and my colleagues.

Check out the Gulf Shores & Ocean Beach Tourism website, https:// www.gulfshores.com and plan your trip to the coast for warmth, fun and great food.

Syndicated columnist Gary W. Moore is a life long resident of Vermont and a former Commissioner of Fish and Game.

He may be reached by email at gwmoore1946@ myfairpoint.net or at Box 454, Bradford, VT 05033.

Page 50

Northwoods Sporting Journal VT Federation of Sportsmen Clubs, Inc.

Vermont Federation of Sportsman Clubs

by Roy Marble Morrisville, VT

The 2nd decade of the 21 century is already upon us. Remember, those who show up and participate are the ones who influence our elected officials. The State Legislature is in session. It is the duty of every citizen to keep their representatives, senators and the governor informed of their concerns and opinions on legislative initiatives. This goes for our congressman and U.S. senators as well.

At times it appears that no one listens, but no response from you is as good as confirmation that those who do call, write, e-mail are on the right track. Take the time and let your opinion be heard!

Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, Inc .

March 2020

2020: MEETING SCHEDULE. January 12, 2020, February 16th, March 29th, April 19th, May 17th June 14th and July 12th is the Annual Meeting . All Meetings are held at the Barre F & G Club, Barre, VT. with lunch available.

Gun Shows: The Barre F & G Club holds its 38 Annual Gun Show February 8th & 9th at the Barre Municipal Auditorium, Barre, VT. Contact Brad Herring, Chairman at 802-224-6128 or e-mail at bradbarrefishandgame@ hotmail.com for details.

Annual Federation Banquet: March 14, 2020 at the Barre Elks Club, Barre, VT. Information and tickets available call Marcia & Roy, 802-888-3418

or e-mail marblerealty@ comcast.net The Lamoille Valley F & G Club holds its 33rd Annual Gun Show (Gun & Outdoor Sportsman Show) March 21st & 22nd at the Champlain Valley Expo., Essex Jct., VT. Contact Larry Hamel, Chairman at 802-917-2886 or e-mail at lwhamel@aol.com for details.

Annual VT Trappers Assn. Banquet: March 28, 2020 at the Barre Municipal Auditorium, Barre, VT. Contact Bruce & Penny Baroffio at pbaroffio@ hotmail.com and www. vermonttrappers.com for tickets and information.

Vermont State Rifle & Pistol Assoc. 2020 Bulls Eye/Precision Pistol Match Schedule: April 25-26 SPRING 2700. May 23-

24-25 VT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP (Wheeler Memorial Tournament) September 19-20 FALL 2700. September 20th thru 27th CMP CUP & NEW E N G L A N D T R AV E L GAMES. Contact Steve Kirby, VSRPA Match Director 802-735-5425 or e-mail kirorc@gmavt.net for information.

Vermont Shooting Sports Association Annual Banquet is Saturday evening, September 21 at the Barre Elks Club. For information, VSSA, PO Box 45, East Barre, VT, 05649, Frank Malnati at 802-2728751 or VTGuns@aol.com Vermont Shotgun Sports Events for 2020: Go to www.vtfsc.com Calendar to see scheduled Skeet & Trap Events for the Chester F & G

Club, Sportsmen’s Club of Franklin County, North Country Sportsmen’s Club, Randolph F & G Club, Waterbury-Stowe F & G Club event schedules.

See www.gmpsvt. com for Green Mt. Practical Pistol Shooters 2020 Calendar of Events. Go to www.lvfgc.com for Lamoille Valley F & G Club Skeet Shoot Calendar, Well Armed Women schedule and GMPS schedule.

Plan to visit The VTFSC & Vt. Operation Game Thief Booths at the Barre F & G and Lamoille Valley F & G Gun Shows. Support the Federation and OGT through our two annual raffles. We look forward to seeing many of you at these events.

Vermont Greg and the crew at Vermont Field Sports reminds you that the start of 2020 Trout & Landlock Salmon season starts April 11th.

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March 2020

Curtain (Cont. fromn pg 47) so-called, “save” a wild animal baby or one that appears to be sick or injured.

Call a Game Warden and if one cannot be reached call the local sheriff or police and they will notify the Warden Service.

Rights

(Cont. from pg 45) in a much short class room time.

I know a lot of people are confused about “why do I have to take the archery class when I only want to go crossbow hunting?”. Well the answer is the course was set up so that no one would have to repeat the same subject matter twice. Remember in Firearms Hunter Safety Class the student already has to take map & compass, first aid, landowner relations, and other topics. Then when the student signs up for Archery Hunter safety education they repeat a lot of the same subject matter that was covered in the firearms class. Would you want to repeat the same information for a third time? That is why Maine has chosen to piggy back archery and crossbow classes to save time for the students and the volunteer (non-paid) instructors.

Jerome Richard is a bowhunter from Clinton, ME. He is past president of the Maine Bowhunters Association, Master Outdoor Safety Education Instructor for IF&W, Licensed Professional Engineer, and a Registered Maine Guide.

He can be reached at jerome.richard7@gmail.com

Northwoods Sporting Journal That doesn’t mean a warden will rush right over to pick up the animal. Maine has a series of local Animal Control Officers that assist in these tasks. The Maine Warden Service, due to budgetary cuts, has been pared down to a skeleton crew.

Take an active part in local planning of shopping malls and other types of development. Be sure that the wild side is given a fair hearing. Almost always the wild creatures are not even being considered in local planning issues.

Many portions of Maine’s outstanding deer population has been deci-

mated, largely due to lack of control on the states timber harvesting. The recreational side of wildlife is now suffering a critical loss of revenue.

While no wildlife species should be exploited for financial gain, we humans are the stewards of all species of fish and wildlife and it is our responsibility to look out for their concerns.

Deer, bear, moose and upland game species should be considered a renewable resource. We can balance the expansion of human progress and, at the same time, balance the populations of wildlife species.

What we cannot af-

Page 51

ford to do is to wipe out the living space of wildlife in favor of human creature comforts. At the same time, it is irresponsible for humans to force wildlife to suffer needlessly.

On the way to work or on a trip, glance out your window and try to imagine what is going on behind that “green curtain” you see at the roadside. In your spare time, don a pair of snowshoes or skis and take a closer look at how the other half lives.

ates Orion Guide Service out of southern Maine. His outdoor features have been published nationwide for more than 50 years. Stu was recently inducted into the National Wild Turkey Hunting Hall of Fame. Visit his website at www.deadlyimpostergamecalls.com

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Page 52

Green Mountain Report

by Bradley Carleton, Charlotte, VT

As another season winds down into longer days, on the ice the almost famous White Perch Festival is upon us in St Albans Bay, and our attention is focused on the tip of the ice rod. With a six-gallon bucket beside us, we revel in each vicious bite. Rods bend down heavily and

Northwoods Sporting Journal

March 2020

Ides of March Upon Us

for free vittles from a cute woman named “Kelly” in orange ski pants. She’s grinning and doling out one-liners with everyone she serves. The sun beats down on the two-foot thick ice and bathes everyone in warmth. At the end of the day there will be raccoon eyes for those who

course is part of partnership between the Mad Dog Chapter of Trout Unlimited and VT F&W. The course runs from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Tuesday evenings, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31 There is a $20 materials fee, participants are expected to attend all 4 evenings. Event Start Date will be Tuesday, March 10, 2020 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The VTF&W says preliminary numbers show 16,479 deer were taken

highest buck harvest since 2002,” said Nick Fortin, the department’s deer project leader. The primary goal of Vermont’s deer management strategy is to keep the deer herd stable, healthy and in balance with available habitat. “Maintaining an appropriate number of deer on the landscape ensures deer and the habitats that support them remain in good condition and produc-

hosting the avian benefit gala Saturday, March 21 at the North Hero Community Hall on US Rt 2 in North Hero. Tickets are available by calling Eddie at (802) 752 – 0909. Seats are limited to just 150 lucky partygoers. Knowing Eddie’s proclivity for beautiful guns and locally renowned decoy carving, there will be some outstanding prizes.

Doors open at 4:00 p.m.

tive,” said Fortin. “A strong buck harvest following the relatively severe winter of 2019 clearly demonstrates the value of keeping the deer population in balance with its habitat.”

Another reason March can be fun: The Islands Ducks Unlimited Dinner!

This year Eddie Gagne and his entourage will be

and expected run time is until 9:30. Make you purchase soon though, because this event sells out almost every year.

With a six-gallon bucket beside us, we revel in each vicious bite. Rods bend down heavily and there is a circle of whitey fanatics surrounding us. there is a circle of whitey fanatics surrounding us.

There is none of that “give me a little room there will ya?” mentality. When one or two guys get into the bite everyone is welcome to come sit next to them. It’s a profound feeling of abundance – there is more than enough for anyone who wants to play. Soon a dozen anglers are sitting around in a circle laughing, cajoling and hauling up fish as fast as they can get there bibbits back down there. A whiff of burgers and hot dogs on the grill drifts downwind and soon there is a line of hungry fisherpeople waiting

had the foresight to bring good sunglasses. Bucket after bucket will be loaded onto sleds until they’re too heavy to lift into the bed of the truck. The sun begins to swing low in the horizon and there is an overwhelming feeling of gratitude and satisfaction for all the friends we made and the many white perch we will take home for fish frys with our friends and family. Long live the Ides of March!

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during Vermont’s 2019 deer hunting seasons, the fourth highest total since 2000. Reports from big game check stations indicate hunters had successful deer seasons in 2019, taking 3,739 deer in archery season, 1,636 in youth season, 7,467 in rifle season, and 3,637 in muzzleloader season. The 16,479 deer brought home by hunters yielded nearly 3.3 million servings of local, nutritious venison. “The legal buck harvest of 9,982 was similar to the previous three-year average of 9,833, and it was the third

Eric Champney of Fairfield, VT with a large Lake Trout that won him First Place in the Rozzis Hardware Fishing Derby at Lake Champlain.

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

Northwoods Sporting Journal

March 2020

Page 53

Moosehead Lake: Maine’s Big Girl

Moosehead Lake has been named by marketers as the “Crown Jewel of America.” I don’t think that’s an exaggeration.

She’s Maine’s big girl, and no matter if you’re an old timer or a new timer, or just in for a few days, it’s always a thrill to see her in all her glory. So every once in a while, it’s good to take a step back and see her with fresh eyes, as if for the very first time. She’s the largest lake in one state east of the Mississippi. She’s clean.

She’s wild. She’s dangerous. She’s stunning. She’s like a contrary lover you never quite get over.

What makes her so great? Why do outdoorsmen and women care so much about her? Why has she always attracted attention, from summering natives 10,000 years ago to the new crop of tourists driving into Greenville to explore these north woods?

We l l , M o o s e h e a d Lake covers an enormous area of some 117 square miles. She’s 35 miles long and 15 miles wide. She harbors some 50 islands,

ranging from less than an acre to more than 5,000 acres. She is the basin for an equally enormous area of waterways that converge from some 18 Townships.

Her two largest tributaries are grand all on their own.

The Moose River on the west side originates on the Canadian border near Jackman and empties into the

and Little Spencer to No. 4 and Elephant, Shaw and White Cap. Moosehead Lake drains an area of about 1,266 square miles, larger than the state of Rhode Island. She is the headwaters of the great Kennebec River, which meanders across a swath of inland Maine to empty into Merrymeeting Bay in

She’s clean. She’s wild. She’s dangerous. She’s stunning. She’s like a contrary lover you never quite get over. lake near Mt. Kineo. The other, the Roach River on the east side, connects to its own set of waterways, with Katahdin seen in the background. Both are important spawning places.

The Moose River drainage is the largest, with some 91 lakes and ponds with surface areas 10 acres or greater.

The lake is nestled among a range of mountains to the west, north, and east, carved from glaciers some 15,000 years ago. Her mountains carry the names of legend and lore — from Kineo to Big

southern Maine. The East Outlet, the major feeder from Moosehead to the Kennebec, was dammed to bring logs to southern markets, but now is a major fly-fishing destination for landlocked salmon and brook trout.

Moosehead Lake’s native fish — brook trout, lake trout, and cusk are spectacular. Right now, the wild brook trout of Moosehead Lake are all together in a league of their own, enjoying unparalleled growth and condition as never seen before in

Kineo Currents

by Suzanne AuClair, Rockwood, ME recorded history. Moosehead’s cold, unadulterated, well oxygenated water is void of accidentally introduced non-native plants that have choked out other lakes in southern Maine.

Moosehead’s highly irregular, rockbound shoreline remains largely free of homeowner development.

Moosehead Lake is wild, unpredictable, which makes her entrancing, but dangerous. There is a prevailing wind from the north that carries fresh air in constantly circulating patterns, at all times of the year, in practically all parts of the lake, making her very tricky to navigate. She is wickedly cold in winter, lovely and balmy in summer. Wind can kick up any

time, buffeting her water and creating high swells like you’d find in the ocean.

Her swells can swamp a boat or capsize a canoe in a moment’s notice. Many people through the ages who live in dense, high traffic places have come to breathe her fresh air and find respite in her untamed arms.

Suzanne AuClair lives near Rockwood. She has been writing about the Moosehead Lake region for 25 years and produced “The Origins, Formation & History of Maine’s Inland Fisheries Division.”

She is an award-winning member of the New England Outdoor Writers Assn.

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March 2020

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

N. H. Outdoor Expo

Coming into the home stretch for ice fishing as the season ends on March 31st.

When the ice finally set this season, anglers took quick advantage of it. I know of twelve- and fourteenpound lake trout taken out of Lake Sunapee in January on jigs and live bait. Typically, the ice starts getting “dicey” in some spots this month so I shouldn’t have

tion – nhoutdoorexpo.com Applications for the 2020 Moose lottery are still open. Last year, 5875 folks put in for one of forty-nine permits. The odds of winning one were 1 in 120.

Better than Powerball for sure! Permit allocations this year won’t be finalized until May, but I assume that they’ll be around where they were last year. The

with the Department from surrounding states, it appears that females with dependent young, taken in September, is very low.”

Also stating that approximately 9% of small game hunters actually pursue squirrels. In closing, they said, “This, coupled with the hunter observation rates and data obtained from squirrel hunters, we feel

to remind folks to have their bob houses off the ice by the end of the month.

So, I won’t.

If you’re ready for open water and to get back afield, then check out the New Hampshire Outdoor Expo, Friday through Sunday, March 6th–8th, at the Hampshire Dome in Milford. See the latest in freshwater and saltwater fishing, hunting, camping, kayaking, and boating. On Saturday, March 7th, CO Shawn McFadzen from the TV show North Woods Law will be available for photos and to sign autographs. For more informa-

drawing will be held on June 19th and the deadline to submit an application is midnight on May 29th.: For more info or to apply, go to : wildlife.state.nh.us This winter has been one of on-going attempts to enact legislation impacting hunters and firearms owners as well as season changes. A petition was filed with the Fish and Game Commission to modify the existing squirrel season from its current start date of September 1st to a minimum of September 15th. In response, a biologist said, “Based on the data and studies shared

there is minimal impact to our current gray squirrel season start date of September 1st.” Commissioner Eric Stohl then said, “The information presented indicates that this is a solution hunting for a problem.” He then moved to “Deny” the petition, per the documentation and data provided.

The motion carried with 5 in favor and 2 opposed.

In the State Senate, Senators Dietsch and Kahn introduced Senate Bill 469, which allow shooting ranges to be shut down over noise complaints. According to the Sportsmen’s Alliance, “while current law

If you’re ready for open water and to get back afield, then check out the New Hampshire Outdoor Expo…See the latest in freshwater and saltwater fishing, hunting, camping, kayaking, and boating.

Page 55

New Hampshire Outdoors

by Peter St. James, Warner, N.H. allows localities to regulate noise, it also includes protection for ranges…already in existence. SB 469 removes this grandfather clause. Additionally, the new language will allow individuals to take civil action against operators for a violation. Senate Bill 469 will result in the closure of shooting ranges near towns. Access to shooting ranges are important for hunting and firearms safety.

SB 469 encourages new homeowners to police lawabiding shooting ranges and requires that range users fire at a rate of no more than one round every two seconds. Not only is this language arbitrary and unenforceable, especially if more than one shooter is present, it also sets a harmful precedent by subjecting

established organizations to fines, lawsuits by individuals and government overreach as a result of homeowner complaints, which could be politically motivated, biased and unfounded”.

Now, add to that a half dozen other bills in the legislature pertaining to trapping, hunting and wildlife. As the Beatles once sang, “Obla di, Obla da…life goes on”.

Peter St. James, host of the award-winning NH Wake-Up Show on 107.7FM in Concord, is a member of the New England Outdoor Writers Association, Outdoor Writers Association of America and is a licensed NH Fishing Guide. Reach him at : stjames.peter@gmail.com

Fish Stocking Report www.mefishwildlife.com Fish Stocking Report Now Available from Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife With Daily Updates

The fish stocking report now features daily updates from hatchery staff. Instead of hearing when and where the hatcheries have stocked well after the season has ended, anglers now will be able to easily locate waters freshly stocked with catchable trout.

Waters are grouped by county, listed by town, and include the date of stocking as well as the species, quantity, and size of fish released. Find the report online at www.mefishwildlife.com. Just click on stocking report.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 56

The Singing Maine Guide

March 2020

Be Careful Out There!

body ever fished it, was that seen any of the literature lake. Kicking as hard as it was too obvious. This put out by the Department he could, he kept himself

by Randy Spencer, Grand Lake Stream, ME happens more often than of Inland Fisheries and afloat while reaching into you might think. A pond Wildlife, or the Warden his shirt pockets. He came Nothing is quite so begun fishing this pond in can’t be any good because Service. I was lucky to up with two twenty-penny cold as the water you’re in late December. My chum it’s right in the middle of have survived at all. nails! after you’ve fallen through and I weren’t fishing for town and nobody ever sees More recently, an After breaking away the ice. It literally takes game fish in those days. anybody on it. Therefore, it adult friend of mine went some of the shale ice where your breath away, mean- We were all about pan can’t be any good. Every- through, also in March. In he’d gone down, he got to ing you can’t breathe. For fish. Pan fish. Does any- one leaves town and travels that moment of panic when some better ice that didn’t an instant, or maybe two body even use that expresAfter breaking away some of the shale ice where he’d or three, taking a breath sion anymore? Our catches gone down, he got to some better ice that didn’t give way is impossible. You thrash went straight home and there with your mouth straight into the frying pan. when he slammed his fists down on it. open, looking like you’ve It wasn’t at all hard to catch just seen a ghost, when a “mess of fish” as we said to more interesting ponds. the cold makes it through give way when he slammed what you’ve really seen is back then. That’s because More interesting because your clothing to your skin his fists down on it. That’s your own mortality. we were fishing for yellow they are somewhere else. and you find yourself when he gave the most vigIt was March when perch and pickerel on a We always had the place breathless, he somehow orous kicks he could musI fell through. Everything pond that had pretty much all to ourselves. And not remembered something ter, rammed the two nails only did it feed us in winter, that ended up saving his down into the ice as far as looked normal. I’d fished nothing else in it. this same body of water Bartlett’s Pond was but in fall. We set out rafts life. He’d been at a job site he could reach, and hauled all winter long, and on this our little hideaway with no of decoys and picked off that day, working on a deck himself out. Had he stood day the only difference was camps or houses on it, and black ducks and mallards for a camp where he was up right then, he would’ve the length of the days. We’d the only reason we could when they landed in front a caretaker. Sometimes, most likely plunged right instead of wearing a nail back in. You see, he’d read added two hours since we’d come up with as to why no- of our blind.

Bartlett’s is where I apron, he liked to keep the some of the literature put fell through the ice. And nails in the breast pockets out by the Department and not just me. My chum, who of his flannel shirt. It was the Warden Service. He was almost a hundred yards fifty degrees during the slithered along on his belly away, fell in right after I day, so he’d been able to until he was well away did. Neither one could help take off his jacket. He’d from the unsafe ice, then FORT KENT POWERSPORTS the other. By that time, I gone home, and the next stood up.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Signs of Spring

In March there are usually a few snowstorms and a “nip” in the air. But still I look for signs that the engine of spring is beginning to sputter. There is a great stirring of life.

Fishers, red and gray foxes, coyotes, red squirrels,

to vocalize in recognition of coming warmer weather, too. Turkeys gobble from their roosts before dawn and often into the morning.

Woodpeckers are active with their calls and hammering on trees. I always anticipate the re-

Blue Jays, Purple Finches, Black-capped Chickadees, Northern Cardinals, Tufted Titmice are singing spring songs. The mourning doves are endlessly cooing. I am still waiting to see my first Tufted Titmouse here in Cooper. Song and Whitethroated Sparrows return.

At dusk I walk down to my field anticipating the “peents” of woodcock and the skyward spiraling males’ mating flights.

I hope to hear more this spring of the drumming of Ruffed Grouse, made by beating their wings against their body. Flocks of Canada Geese, Redwinged Blackbirds, Common Grackles fly overhead. meadow voles, bobcats, turn of yellow-bellied Also there is the return of and other furred critters are sapsuckers and recognize the Turkey Vultures. They soon giving birth to their their loud drumming that are commonly seen here litters. Birds are beginning slows down at the end. now and there is a large

Page 57

The Bird Perch

by Karen Holmes, Cooper, ME roost in nearby Calais. On any open water in inland areas Ring-necked, Hooded, Wood, and other ducks returned mostly at night and will rest and refuel during the day.

One of my favorite birds are the plucky Redbreasted Nuthatches. Often now they can be seen gathering pitch from conifer trees. Then they will smear it around any cavities they will use for nesting. Supposedly this deters any raiding squirrels. But my favorite sign of spring is when I hear a plaintive call of the Eastern Phoebes.

They will be constantly flicking their tails on perch-

es and then hopping down to feast on the emerging muck flies. Later in the spring they nest under my porch and my husband Ken and I love watching them raise their babies.

Karen Holmes lives in Cooper, Maine. She is a naturalist, retired educator, and free-lance writer for various publications. She coordinates the Washington County Annual Loon Count and does surveys for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Maine Bird Atlas project, and other organization. Hopefully she will have more time to hunt and fish in 2020.

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Page 58

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Against The Current

by Bob Romano, Rangeley, ME My wife and I have owned a camp in the Rangeley Lakes for more than thirty years. On more than one occasion, I’ve been asked, “what’s so

extent they can be found in western Maine.

The Rangeley Lakes are a part of northern New England that hasn’t changed much since fly-

March 2020

Rangeley: Wild Fish and Wild Country

been the place for writers and artists to congregate, but fly-fishing’s elite gravitated to the Rangeley Lakes. Since the eighteen hundreds, men and women have cast their flies on western Maine’s rivers and

lake’s surface to find their meals. The fish encountered in the lakes, rivers, and streams of the Rangeley Lakes Region are as wild as their surroundings.

When the Abenaki first paddled their birch

than willing to rise to a fly while the bigger rivers provide the challenge of wading heavy water for large fish in early spring and again in late fall.

The region also boasts water that fishes

streams, lakes and ponds.

Names like Fly Rod Crosby, Carrie Stevens, and Louise Dickinson Rich; Ed Grant, Herb Welch, Wallace Stevens, Colonel Joseph Bates, and Shang Wheeler are well known to those of us who cherish the rich traditions of our sport.

Today, those wishing to learn about this history can visit the Rangeley Region Sporting Museum, located in Oquossoc.

As in the past, anglers must share the river with otters, beavers, and mink.

For this remains a place where a black bear may cross the stream above you while a moose may be found around the next bend. Loons sing their eerie songs, eagles glide upon thermal currents, and ospreys dive through the

bark canoes across Mooselookmeguntic Lake, they found brook trout that have inhabited these waters down through the millennia. Although smelt have replaced the once abundant blueback trout, and the brook trout can no longer be caught in the numbers and sizes once found by anglers in the late 1800s, they remain as large as you’ll find south of Labrador.

Landlocked salmon were introduced more than one hundred and twenty years ago. Quickly adapting to western Maine’s waters, they have grown as wild as their char cousins, and are willing to perform a pas seul upon feeling the prick of a hook.

The region’s headwaters are a haven for smaller brook trout that are more

well through the summer months. Whether fishing below Upper Dam, along the lower stretch of the Magalloway River, or on the Rapid River below Middle Dam, you can be assured of action even in high summer.

Trolling across a lake while paddling a canoe or motoring a small boat is a Maine tradition as is hiking into one of the many isolated ponds found throughout the heavily forested hills.

Many of western Maine’s sporting camps have been open since the late eighteen hundreds.

Spending time at one is a unique experience that every angler should try at least once. Although they remain rustic, they are family-friendly. The meals are hearty and the hospitality warm. Miles from any paved roads, these lodges are accessed over logging roads, and in some cases only by boat or float plane.

Whether breathing in the scent of balsam on a fog-drenched morning, listening to the call of a (Rangeley cont. pg 64)

Landlocked salmon were introduced more than one hundred and twenty years ago. Quickly adapting to western Maine’s waters, they have grown as wild as their char cousins, and are willing to perform a pas seul upon feeling the prick of a hook. special about this region of western Maine?” After giving this question some thought, I’ve come up with three factors that, in my opinion, make this “Land of Fishing Legends” unique.

Many fly-fishing destinations can boast of excellent fishing. Although some are found in wild surroundings and others have a rich sporting tradition, few provide all three to the

fishing’s Renaissance man, Herb Welch, guided sports across Kennebago Lake and Carrie Stevens first tied her Gray Ghost streamer at Upper Dam. Parts remain as wild as when Johnny Danforth spent the winter of 1876, with his friend, Fred Barker, hunting and trapping along the Magalloway River above Parmachenee Lake.

Prior to the 1940s, Paris, France may have

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

March 2020

News (Cont. from pg 26) her snowmobile on the pond and was headed towards the shoreline at approximately 9:45 p.m. when she drove off the ice and struck the shoreline.

She was ejected from her machine and struck the treeline. She was not wearing a helmet and died at the scene. It appears speed and operator inexperience are likely factors in the crash.

The Athens Fire Department, Solon Fire Department and the Somerset Sheriffs office all assisted at the scene.

“Speed and inexperience combined can often result in crashes, and sadly they can be deadly,” said Sergeant Aaron Cross of the Maine Warden Service.

“Operators should also wear their helmets when-

ever they are riding.”

Moosehead Snowsledder Perishes

A 56-year-old New Hampshire man died this winter after breaking through the ice on his snowmobile on a treacherous area of Moosehead Lake.

At approximately 9:00 p.m. Steven K. Allard, of South Hampton, New Hampshire and his wife Tiffany were snowmobiling together on two separate sleds and were returning to Rockwood

Cottages. When they got back to the shoreline where the trail meets the lake, Steven Allard left and looped around towards the mouth of the Moose River when he broke through the ice.

Maine Game Wardens, Rockwood Fire and Rescue, and US Border Patrol all responded to the area. With the use of a rescue sled, Rockwood Fire was able to follow Steven Allard’s snowmobile track onto the area of bad ice where he broke through. At approximately 10:15 p.m., Steven Allard was pulled from the water where he

Page 59

broke through the ice several hundred yards from shore, but was unresponsive. Attempts to revive Steven Allard were unsuccessful and he was transported to CA Dean Hospital in Greenville where he was pronounced dead.

“Snowmobilers need to be aware of their surroundings and understand that ice conditions can

change quickly,” said Sergeant Bill Chandler of the Maine Warden Service.

“This section of the lake, where the Moose River flows into Moosehead Lake, always has poor ice, and that is why there are marked trails on the lake so that snowmobilers can avoid the bad ice in this area.”

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(Cont. from pg 56) ments of breathless panic, I began thrashing like a banshee. The shore was never very far away on Bartlett’s, and that’s where I was headed. “God helps fools” someone once said, and this fool thrashed and crashed through clumps of ice until I could reach the limbs of some alders hanging out over the water.

My friend was somehow able to get himself back up on the ice. We met on the road, both soaking wet and shivering. Dumb, lucky, but still alive.

Be careful out there in March!

Randy Spencer is a working Maine guide and author. Contact him at randy31@earthlink.net or via www.randyspencer.com

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 60

Maine Tails

by Jonah Paris, Scarborough, ME By 9 a.m., the temperature had crept up to a crisp 12 degrees. It was one of those late December days - bright sun and a bluebird sky overhead, but certainly cold enough to warrant two pairs of socks, a wool shirt, long johns, and an oversized thermos of scalding coffee.

My friend, Pete, and I had planned to hunt the turn of the tide in the Coastal Zone. Despite facing less than ideal waterfowling conditions, we knew that the birds would trickle back into the creeks and sloughs with the incoming tide. Our strategy was to set a string of decoys across a deep pool that formed at the confluence of two small creeks - a proven hotspot for lateseason black ducks. However, as I raised my binoculars to scope a distant flock of geese, I spotted a hunter

and his dog already set up on the pool. As if mocking us, a trio of plump mallards set down fifty yards ahead; ducks seem to have a knack for getting under the duck hunter’s skin.

Slightly disappointed, I stepped back into my truck and headed south. Since the pair had claimed the spot first, we would have to follow through with “Plan B.” “Plan B” was to target buffleheads closer to the open ocean. Arriving at the usual pull-off, I was greeted by several other trucks. In the distance, I could make out four different parties of camo-clad waterfowlers. I was thrilled to see others out enjoying the frosty New England morning, but again disheartened with our immediate situation. We were crowded out.

By this point, our duck hunting options pretty well

PETS/VETS

March 2020

The Rabbit Country of Yesteryear

exhausted, we had a decision to make: call it a day or formulate a “Plan C.” Fortunately, New England sportsmen tend to be an adaptive and opportunistic bunch. It was Pete who suggested we take advantage of the recent dusting of snow and chase hares.

I had hunted snowshoe hares - what Mainer’s often call “rabbits” - up north on several occasions, but had never pursued them in the southern part of the state. Since deer season had closed a month prior, I was eager to get back in the woods and stretch my legs. And so, with refreshed optimism, checkered wool coats and lead shot soon replaced neoprene waders and steel shot. Once the coffee thermoses were refilled, we headed west to the rabbit country.

We arrived at an area which, in the past, had always yielded a brace of hares for Pete. More than a decade had passed since he last tromped through this parcel. In fact, my friend hardly recognized his old hunting grounds.

The woods, once allegedly teeming with hares, had changed over the years.

Dense low growth was no longer abundant. Large patches of brambles, wild blackberries, and other shrubs had given way to

a small stand of scrappy pines. Where acres of green juniper once grew thick, we found only brittle, brown skeletons, which promptly cracked underfoot. Nonetheless, we spent a few hours working our way through the tract, walking parallel and stomping through the sporadic brush piles and blowdowns.

The occasional set of hare tracks in the snow proved that some bunnies remained in the vicinity, but not nearly the amount either of us had anticipated.

Instead, the parcel was littered with coyote tracks - another recent development. We found plenty of fresh deer sign as well, including a rub-line impressive enough to make any big game hunter drool.

Whether the local coyote population was dining on venison or rabbit, the wily dogs were eating well.

The rabbit country had its own story to tell.

During the hunt, I came across an old hay rake - a forgotten relic from the days of horse-drawn harvests. Nature’s method of depicting time typically goes unmatched; over the years, a large pine tree had grown around the axle and through the wheels of the rusty steel entanglement.

Several apple trees nearby, a meandering rock wall,

Spring Ahead

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March 8th

as well as a trove of metal scraps and glass bottles, confirmed my suspicion that we were indeed hunting an old farm site. Tillable fields had morphed back into forest and the fruitful rabbit cover of years past represented a brief phase in the process of forest succession. I have no doubt that the influx of coyotes to the parcel further limited the abundance of our bushy-tailed quarry.

I returned home that afternoon without any bunnies. If I had been intent on a game stew for supper, I could have easily harvested a limit of squirrels or perhaps, if feeling adventurous, a fat porcupine. Instead, I was more fascinated by the history lesson encompassing me than firing a few shots.

Though the old hare haunt had now proven itself relatively hare-less, my friend and I vowed to return with rifles and calls in hopes of a successful predator hunt. Additionally, I have acquired several promising spots to sit come next deer season. Even when settling for “Plan C,” and returning home with an empty game pouch, a day spent exploring the snowy New England woods is never a waste of time.

Jonah Paris is pursuing a master’s degree in Teaching from The University of Maine. A four-season outdoorsman, Jonah lives in Scarborough, ME with his girlfriend, Ashley, and beagle, Aurora. Jonah can be reached at jonaheparis@gmail.com

Northwoods Sporting Journal

March 2020

Page 61

to Herself when Down went the cash, ing that he was displeased that I saved the day, and Back Shelf mended she was pondering a pur- and home came the gun. was all in my mind. was for once a little help(Cont. from pg 48) miss were something to be heard. And yet, there were honest misses that pleased the Ole Man. If you happened to miss five birds in a row when the hunting was “too good to last all day”, it was quite excusable. He didn’t want to limit out at any early hour, that was capital sin number one, worse than missing too many first shots. He wanted the hunt to last for most any day, especially when the Qualey place was where you were hunting, and no one else was there to bother the hunt, or say it was time to get home to go to work.

Time seemed to pass as though we had captured it in a memory bank. All winter we would remember the shots, the smell, the dog’s fine work, the swing of the Smith or the charge of apples that we put under our hunting jacket.

What caused the big row I alluded to at the beginning of this story was a gun that I had recom-

chase for the Ole Man on his birthday. I thought that it would fill a need, real or imagined, that he had when it came to specialized guns.

On a hunt to the Qualey Place he had mentioned that he needed a gun that could handle briars, was open bore, would not cost an arm and a leg and would shoot well. I knew such a gun that with very little modification would come up to those standards and would do him proud. The only thing was that it was still being made, and that was a cardinal error. To the Ole Man there was no rifle like the old Winchesters or no shotguns like the Smith, a Parker or smooth Purdy.

So naturally, when the lady of the house asked me for advice I told her that a nice over and under of recent vintage would be the cat’s meow. I even recommended several manufactures that would fill the bill.

She called me from sporting goods store and asked if I though Brand X would be the right one. I said it was perfect, and I meant it.

The Ole Man’s birthday was on Saturday and she knew that he would want to try out the gun on the Saturday hunt to the Qualey Place.

Friday night we all gathered to do the Ole man a little honor for the occasion. I gave him an L.L. Bean shirt, the chamois kind, and Jake got him a pair of bass boots, the kind designed for long distance hikes. At the final moment the box with Brand X was brought out.

He was polite about it, but quite obviously disturbed by the final gift. His expression of gratitude was nearly perfect and there was a sound of near disappointment in his voice. I couldn’t understand why he was so quiet in his acceptance or why the scene was not one of rejoicement.

He said he was pleased, he said it was right thing to get, he said that he was very pleased to have something that was so badly needed. The more he talked the more I was convince that perhaps my feel-

The outburst came at the Qualey Place on Saturday. It was the first thing he said when we finally got to the “restin’ spot”. I was shocked. It was as though he had penned up some hostility until he could hold it no more.

Finally, the story came out. He had ordered a custom made gun to fill the same bill. This A”cheap imitation?” of something good would put him in hot water with herself and the company that was doing up the custom work. It had to be either one or the other or both.

If the custom gun arrived he would need to own up to the fact that herself’s offering was only a cheap imitation of the real thing.

That would not make her happy. If he had taken the order back to the custom builders, they would have been displeased, and so would he.

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ful. I asked him why not keep both and hide one.

That wasn’t exactly what he wanted, but it leaned in the right direction. He said he would invent a new need and that the custom gun wouldn’t be needed, or ready for delivery, until another year went by anyway, so he could get away with having two new guns by then.

That was the perfect solution. The Brand X was designated as a pinch hitter for the Qualey Place and the new, sleek custom job was made the first line gun where you wanted open bore in heavy going. Neither gun seemed to have any conflicting uses since both were first line guns in the eyes of the beholder and both were often seen to come into the Qualey Place, although he never mentioned that fact to herself. It was peaceable ending to a tragic tale.

2

Page 62

Copper (Cont. from pg 37) would all go to coyote hunters.

Fragments of lead ammunition travels in deer carcass more than you would think. Researchers with the Minnesota DNR fired several types of centerfire bullets (Nossler, Hornady, Remington, Winchester), muzzleloader, and shotgun slugs into 80 deer and sheep carcasses, then X-rayed them. They found that high velocity centerfire bullets, which are designed to expand quickly upon impacting the animal, left scores of tiny lead fragments throughout the body

Northwoods Sporting Journal cavity and meat. Most lead fragments were within five inches of the wound channel, but many were found in a cone-shaped area as far as 18 inches from where the bullet entered. Bullets fired from slower velocity, heavier shotgun slugs and muzzleloaders left less lead behind.

Lead-poisoning can be a serious issue with people. We all know about the problems with children being exposed to lead paint. For a child or fetus, exposure to lead can cause permanent brain damage.

Adults are less sensitive, but lead exposure can cause neurologic and heart disease. A Center for Disease

Control study found that North Dakota residents who consumed wild game shot with lead ammunition had a small but statistically significant increase in blood lead levels compared to residents that did not consume wild game. The ND study population had lower lead levels than average Americans. Despite the equivocal results, ND advised pregnant women and young children from consuming game shot with lead ammunition. I shudder to think how much lead I exposed my young family to during my early days of hunting.

I may be accused of being a scaremonger. After all, I started my career

studying bald eagles (and feeding them clean carcasses in the winter) and spent decades of hard work to bring their populations back from the brink of extinction. Maine’s bald eagle population is over 700 pairs and still growing. Lead poisoning is not causing them to slide back to extinction.

I am inspired every time I see a soaring eagle in Maine. I am sickened to see the symbol of our country dying in convulsions because they have eaten lead.

We can do better.

I changed all my ammunition to copper in 2013.

The transition was easy.

Sighting in my 30-30 and 30-06 to copper bullets took no more than five

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March 2020 rounds of ammunition.

Both my rifles shoot lead and copper nearly identically. Each gun and ammunition manufacture will be different. Copper bullets are longer than equivalent weight lead composite bullets. Barrel rifling may influence bullet trajectory.

Once sighted in, copper bullets have equivalent or superior ballistics.

Non-lead bullets are easy to find at Cabellas, LL Bean, the local gun dealer, and on-line (but usually not yet available at big box stores). A recent review indicates that lead-free bullets are made in 35 calibers and 51 rifle cartridge designations by 37 companies, including names familiar to gun enthusiasts – Barnes, Nosler, and Remington. The cost of my Barnes VOR-TX 30-06 shells are about $20 more than department store lead lead-core bullets. I rationalized that the health of my family and bald eagles are worth the small investment.

No one is proposing a regulatory solution at this time. A few western states require non-lead ammunition in some areas (mostly to protect the endangered California condor). Hunters who inform themselves on the issue at websites like HuntingwithNonlead. org will hopefully make a personal decision to protect their family and eagles by choosing copper ammunition. Coyote hunters should be extra cautious and only use carcasses that have not been shot. Hunters can also bury the remains of a carcasses to prevent another eagle from dying.

Mark McCollough is a wildlife biologist from Hampden, Maine and can be contacted at ellmcc25@ yahoo.com

March 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 63

“Just Fishing”

by Bob Leeman, Bangor, ME

Atlantic Salmon Heads Up

We may well be on our way to increasing migrations of Atlantic Salmon in our Maine, and other Northeast rivers, in 2020 and several years to come.

That is, if a “Buy-Out of drift netting vessels in the Greenland fisheries holds true.

About sixty or seventy years ago, trawlers working off the coast of Greenland Straits discovered the whereabouts of feeding masses of Atlantic Salmon. It was then, when the pillage began, and it continues today.

A “Buy-Out” was tried back in the 1990’s and it worked temporarily.

Now, a new “Buy-Out” has been agreed upon by the Greenland Salmon Conservation, the Greenland Government, and most importantly the 2019 Atlantic fishery and its netting ships.

The new agreement will be for a twelve-year period. A quota of twenty metric tons of Atlantic Salmon will be harvested.

That will be a reduction from forty-five metric tons and be for local use only.

Fishermen will be substantially supported by other organizations and the government to reduce dependence on the fish alone.

In the recent past, only about 2% of smolts leaving worldwide rivers make it to Greenland’s feeding grounds. But, once salmon have reached adulthood, and the fish has been able to complete its cycle,

the chances for survival reach seventy percent.

The mighty Penobscot River in Maine had a slight increase in returning Atlantics in 2019 to the tune of 1200 or so fish.

Over the last few years, returns were around 700 to 800 or so.

Back in the late 1970’s and into the early 1980’s, Atlantic Salmon runs into the Easts major spawning rivers jumped up to a few thousand in numbers yearly, due to a moratorium among the Greenland Government and other organizations.

Hopefully, cross your fingers, this new “BuyOut”, moratorium, or whatever you might call it, will last more than twelve years, and renewed At-

526

lantic Salmon spawning migrations will be restored to what it used to be.

And, IF, and MAYBE our Feds will see straight by then, and take this revered and prized fish species off the “protected list” and back to “able to fish for” list. But to “fly fishing only” list, we can only hope.

Bob Leeman is a Master Maine Guide, outdoor writer, naturalist, book author, and co-host of the “MAINE OUTDOORS” radio program on Sunday evenings from 7-8 p.m. His three books are all available at several bookstores and fly shops, or direction from him. For information on his books, please call 207-989-7696.

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Page 64

Malarkey Cabin Chronicles

Northwoods Sporting Journal

March 2020

Terry’s Last Moose

I knew he was sick while Terry bailed out and the hospital. He was very but neither Sam nor I knew chambered a cartridge. sick and needed immediate just how sick he was. That The bull had heard my care. Sam and I finished up second morning of the grunt and stopped up just the aftermath of the moose

by Ray Dillon, Keswick Ridge, N.B. hunt saw us driving out feet from the swale giving hunt and he headed back The clock with the but being forever stoic into some different terri- Terry the shot he wanted. to Boston. Terry spent a digital lighted numbers on and not wanting to cause tory where we had bagged “Ka-bang”! month in hospital battling it sat directly across the anyone else distress, he room from my bed and told never complained. He had me it was 3 a.m. I turned always been there with his away to face the cabin wall dad hunting and roaming I so I wouldn’t see what the woods from the ripe time it was but I would be old age of two when I had lying if I told you this was ignored my wife’s protests the first time I had checked and carried him in my day the hour. The annual moose pack. hunt in New Brunswick Sam had started huntwas scheduled to start this ing with us many years earmorning and my son Terry lier and had become more and our “adopted” family than a nice client to us. He member, Sam Nicolas from had become a brother and Woburn, Mass. were anx- part of the family and his iously waiting to get into lovely family had become the woods and hunt for a part of our family as well. nice bull moose.

An excellent hunter and A quick breakfast and deadly shooter himself, he some hot coffee and we had fit tight in and so on were in my truck heading this morning, we were on a for the big woods in the quest for fresh moose meat Sam Nicolas with the author’s late son Terry and his 750 lb bull. high country. Terry was for winter and a good time. riding shotgun and Sam The first day gave moose in the past. The day The bull dropped right back from the brink. Such was in the lookout seat us no results although we had dawned sunny with a there and we drove up, was his passion to hunt. behind him while I drove, covered a lot of territory we slight breeze and cloudy celebrating the great shot Today we are mournbut Sam and I both knew had scouted in the summer. periods, but it was still Terry took and the beautiful ing the loss of a great son, that my dear son was very Terry was more subdued warmer that we would have supply of winter moose we husband, father and my sick and should not have than usual. That concerned preferred. As we drove would have. Sam played dearest hunting buddy… even accompanied us. I had me but even then, he cam- slowly towards a section a great part in the hunt as my son Terry. He lost his discussed this with Terry ouflaged his suffering and of logging road with alder he always does, keeping battle with Vasculitis and the evening before, but he just how sick he was. He swales and swampy ground up our spirits and a smile Kidney failure January 21st. loved his hunting with a went home to his wife and on both sides it happened. on everyone’s face but and although life will go “Moose” Sam and he showed us something on, it will for us never be passion and was insistent family that evening after that he go with us. the hunt and did his dialysis Terry exclaimed in unison. else that day. He set about the same. He will always Terry was the second and returned the next morn- A nice Bull had strutted out dressing out the animal as be with us in spirit, in the hunter on my license and ing, although he shared at two hundred yards and I assisted holding its legs woods hunting or fishing. he wanted to be there. We with me that he might not was walking across the old apart and positioning it for May God give him peace. knew he was sick (Vascu- be able to hunt the last two road. I stopped and stuck easier access and he did my head out and grunted it as well as any butcher litis and Kidney failure) days.

Ray Dillon is an Outmight. door writer, best selling shoulder as the wind her cocker spaniel, Happy We f i n i s h e d a n d book author, Professional sweeps down off of Bose- Garrison, trotting by her hugged Terry again and Guide and owns/operates (Cont. from pg 58) buck Mountain, you may side. congratulated him but he Malarkey Cabin Guiding loon on a moonlit lake, find young Johnny Danwas more subdued. We Service in New Brunswick, or watching the maw of a forth smiling back at you, For more information loaded the moose and Canada. To book a tronineteen-inch salmon rise or maybe, just maybe, as about the Rangeley Lakes headed for Fredericton to phy Big Game or Uplands through a plunge pool to evening approaches and a Region check out Bob’s register it. We dropped Bird hunt with him, go to grab your streamer, you summer breeze slips across website: forgottentrout.

Terry off at home but found www.malarkeycabin.com may feel as if time has Upper Dam you might spy com and follow him on his later that day that Sonja, his phone 506-363-2839 or stood still.

Carrie Stevens walking Facebook page: ROBERT wife took him straight to e-mail rdillon@rogers.com Looking over your along the Carry Road, with J. ROMANO, JR.

Rangeley

Northwoods Sporting Journal

March 2020

Page 65

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

SAM News

by David Trahan, “Executive Director” When I see what’s happening politically at the national and state levels, I become very concerned for the rights of Maine sportsmen and women.

Everywhere I look, I see the quiet, well-financed growth of candidates and groups that are hostile to firearm rights.

These forces appear better-organized and betterfunded than at any other time in history. With the general election still many months away, they are already here in Maine making preparations to receive unprecedented millions to influence upcoming races.

Billionaires like George Soros and recently-announced Presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg are pouring money into urban areas of Maine, hiring political operatives and setting up headquarters.

Their targets are Republicans and rural moderate Blue Dog Democrats – sportsmen’s friends who consistently support our traditions and outdoor culture, including hunting and firearm rights.

They sense an opportunity to take over every Congressional seat in New England, where Democrats and Independents currently hold 32 out of 33 House and Senate seats. In my opinion, this is bad news for Republicans and for moderate, rural Democrats.

Maine People’s Alliance The core of this movement is Maine People’s Alliance (MPA), based in Portland, which receives funding from groups established by billionaire George Soros. During the LePage administration, the MPA successfully used the referendum system and Soros’ organization, the Open Society Foundation, to place liberal policies on the referendum ballot and to build a political network of paid canvassers and political operatives throughout the mostly populated urban areas of Maine.

On the Agenda: Gun Control In the fall of 2019, news organizations took note that Soros was spending millions of dollars on gun control, advocating

March 2020

Gun Owners’ Rights at Stake for repeal for the current federal law that protects gun manufacturers from lawsuits related to those who use firearms in the commission of crimes. In total, Soros spent more than $8.5 million lobbying for repeal of this liability protection.

In December, 2019, Michael Bloomberg announced a series of gun control measures he would introduce if elected President, and repealing current laws protecting gun companies was at the top of his list.

If Soros and Bloomberg are successful, this repeal would be the end of firearm manufacturers, as it would expose them to endless, expensive lawsuits.

Beto O’Rourke Goes Off-Script Presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke rocked the Democrats’ world when, in a televised debate, he stated that, if elected, he would confiscate AR-15s and other types of semiautomatic firearms.

Do you think it was a coincidence that just a few short weeks later, his campaign collapsed?

I expect leaders of the gun control movement like Michael Bloomberg felt panicky as Beto O’Rourke went off script, because until then gun control advocates had successfully controlled the message, using words and phrases like “gun safety” rather than the real goal, “confiscation.”

Enter: Bloomberg No billionaire is more committed to gun control than Michael Bloomberg. He’s helped establish gun control organizations

throughout the country, including Maine, and has declared war on the NRA. In the not-too-distant past, as Mayor of New York, he instituted the “stop and frisk” policy that allowed officers to stop city residents and search them randomly for weapons. At the height of his program, in a single year more than 600,000 New Yorkers were stopped without cause and searched. And the stops were not random – the vast majority of those affected were African American and Hispanic.

In a landmark civil-rights ruling, a federal court declared the program unconstitutional, violating not only the 4th Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure, but also the 14th Amendment’s prohibitions against racial discrimination.

Here’s a thought – perhaps Bloomberg does not expect or intend to win the Democratic primary.

Perhaps his real goal is be on the stage to retake the gun control message, reframing the debate from “confiscation” back to “common sense gun regulation.”

The Perfect Storm of Money and Emotion Several new anti-firearm groups have emerged in the last year. Suit Up Maine, a supposedly allvolunteer grassroots group, claims they are working to raise awareness around issues such as civil rights and social justice. They’ve held vigils at Sen. Collins’ offices, and recently attacked SAM on social media, claiming we were a puppet of the NRA.

They also posted a picture of our staff on their site, wanting to know “names.” I thought the threat was serious enough to go public. I appeared on the radio program WVOM in Bangor the next day to discuss my concerns.

A group called “Lewiston Indivisible” followed suit with the same types of threats. A quick internet search immediately connected these two groups to – you guessed it – the Maine People’s Alliance, and George Soros!

Every Legal Firearm Owner Should be Concerned This election cycle, Michael Bloomberg and George Soros, their billionaire friends and national activists with spend money at levels unprecedented in modern political elections.

They will be seeking likeminded individuals to run as candidates for office who will vote to take away our firearm rights, and in many cases our outdoor culture.

They will establish political centers in every populated area of Maine, and will hire paid canvassers to swarm like locusts over the countryside, urging you to support their favorite candidates.

They have, and will, use their money to buy up media outlets well before the election. In turn, those media outlets will raise their ad rates to levels the opposition cannot afford.

They will squash and manipulate the debate by buying their opposition out of the media market.

All media markets will be consumed by the (Rights cont. pg 68)

Northwoods Sporting Journal

March 2020

Using Game Leftovers

Have you ever wondered what to do with your leftovers?

Some individuals take the easy route and simply throw them on a plate and into the microwave, but you can exercise some creativity and create a whole new meal with your leftover game.

I recently recorded a Podcast speaking about this topic. It seems like I never run out of ideas to share with others, and hopefully it helps you to get your creative juices into action.

Let’s talk about various types of game and how you can approach this.

Take wild turkey for example; have some leftover turkey meat, the obvious notion is to dice the meat, add some cooked veggies and gravy, and make a delicious pot pie.

Other recipe ideas include getting some pizza dough and creating a calzone that utilizes the turkey meat combined with other fresh ingredients that will allow you to develop a new food experience.

So let’s stay on that theme, and say that you have some cooked turkey meat and a fresh pizza dough.

Take something like diced butternut squash or sweet potato, along with some sweet onions and place them on a sheet pan.

Drizzle some olive oil over them and season them up with things like sage, rosemary, sea salt and pepper.

Roast them in the oven at 425 degrees until they get a slight caramelized edge on them. Let them cool.

Now, roll the dough out on a floured surface.

Add the ingredients to the center of the dough, along with some dried cranberries; maybe some crumbled goat cheese. Fold the dough from side to side and tuck the ends under (like a burrito) and place onto a large sheet pan. (Other option could be to forgo the cheese and use dollops of stuffing and gravy as a part of your filling.)

Heat oven to 400 degrees and place in oven and cook until the dough is browned and cooked.

Let it cool for 10 minutes or so, and now you have a yummy wild turkey calzone!

Another idea would be to place that cooked turkey meat and turn it into a rustic wild turkey croquette dinner.

Have some leftover game roast? This meat

Page 67

Cookin’ With New England’s WildCheff

by Denny Corriveau, Kennebunkport, ME

would serve you well in creating a wonderful shepherd’s pie, enchiladas, or maybe a breakfast hash with eggs.

You may even give some thought to chopping some roast meat and combining it with cooked quinoa to stuff some colored bell peppers for a stuffed pepper dinner. Be sure to add something like roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce or something for moisture.

Make a big pot of game chili and have some left? How about making a breakfast omelet where you use some chili as your filling?!

Take that same chili

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and use it as a topper for some Maine red chili dogs.

Another fun dish would be to remove the stem, seeds and veins from some poblano peppers.

Now fill the bottom with refried beans, add some chili and then Mexican cheese. Bake or grill them for a mouth full of flavor.

One of my classics is to take leftover venison Salisbury steak; crumble the burger with the onions and gravy in a bowl.

Now take a flatbread (widely available at supermarket) and brush a small amount of olive oil on top of the flatbread. Top with (Leftovers cont. pg 68)

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Page 68

Rights (Cont. from pg 66) U.S. Senate race, while activist groups use their vast funds to win the ground game throughout Maine for legislative candidates loyal to policies promoted by the Bloombergs and Soroses of the world.

For Republicans already in the minority at the statehouse, the situation is bleak. With limited funds and the U.S. Senate majority at stake, National SELLERS LANE

BUYERS ROAD

Republicans contributors will put resources into that campaign, which means only minor funding will be available to defend state Republican House and Senate seats. Every seat lost to firearm opponents is a lost friend.

What’s at Stake If we have learned one thing from the most recent national and state elections it is that the political divide between rural and urban areas of the country and state are growing.

Vote totals in the bear

and background check referendums showed urban voters strongly supporting both initiatives and rural voters opposing in droves.

It also showed Democrats winning big in populated urban centers and Republicans winning rural areas.

So what’s the problem with this urban/rural divide? Simple – urban areas are where the wealth is concentrated. Rural residents in lightly-populated areas are less able to raise money and defend their communities from outside

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March 2020

influences.

Our firearm and hunting rights are at risk. If we love our way of life, we must fight for it!

Remember: There’s one thing millionaires can’t buy with money – the deep love and passion we feel for the outdoors and the freedom our Constitution guarantees.

Leftovers

(Cont. from pg 67) the crumbled burger and gravy mixture, and then place shred cheddar cheese over the top. Toss into a 400 degree oven until cheese is melted.

WildCheff - Denny Corriveau is Award-Winning Celebrity Game Chef, Iron Chef Winner, and the David Trahan is Ex- Founder of the Free Range ecutive Director of the Culinary Institute, the only Sportsmans Alliance of national wild game cookMaine (SAM). ing school in the country. You can learn more @ www.wildcheff.com or visit him on Instagram @ thewildcheff Overhead Door Company of Caribou “The original since 1921”

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

March 2020 SELLERS LANE

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P.O. Box 628 Main Street Machias, ME 04654 Office Tel. & Fax: (207) 255-3039 Email: anitaj@midmaine.com Website: www.sunlist.com Anita Johnson EAST MACHIAS: Beautiful two bdrm, two bath home on the shore of Gardner Lake. Master bdrm has a walk in closet, great bathroom. Home is at 175 Kennedy Blvd and it is at the end of the road. Wake up from the bdrm with views of the sun coming up over the lake. Home sits on 2.5+/- acres. Sit on the deck and just enjoy the great view or jump in your boat and go and try to catch a fish. Super great price for such a great place. $179,000.00 JONESBORO: This is the view from this beautiful three bedroom two bath home on the Evergreen Point Road in Jonesboro. Home sits on 2.21+/- acres with 260+/ft of water frontage. Basement has nice lg windows so if you wanted you could make a room or two and have great views of the water. The public landing is next to this property so if you wanted to go fishing it is easy to put your boat in. On those hot summer days sit by the water and just enjoy the view. This is a one of a kind property and a super price. $279,000.00

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Danforth- Only 25’ from the water ’s edge, family camp is log sided w/ a b e a u t i f u l k n o tt y pine interior. Large, detached 2 car garage offers parking or storage. Lakeside of cottage is all glass providing great views on Upper Hot Brook Lake. $135,000

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T3R1-Private 1.9 acre lot, driveway, seasonal road, ATV & snowmobile trail access, other lakes close by, convenient to Lincoln’s amenities, owner financing, 228’ frontage on Bill Green Pond. $24,500 Mattamiscontis- Great Frontage to enjoy all this beautiful River has to offer, fishing, hunting or paddling. Located on a year-round Road, choose from the 1.6 or 2.4 acre lot for your new getaway on Penobscot River. Owner financing. $21,900 Lincoln- Nice 1.77/2.78 acre lots with 240’+/- of frontage, driveway in, electricity available & owner financing. Enjoy 800 acres of water to play on & snowmobile trails for winter fun on Long Pond. Reduced to $59,900 Lowell- This nice private 1.5 acre lot has a driveway already installed and offers very nice frontage with great views out across the water. Many recreational opportunities from this beautiful area. This is a great property on Eskutassis Pond at an affordable price. $39,900

Page 69 SELLERS LANE

BUYERS ROAD

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CAMPS LOTS AVAILABLE ON MATTASEUNK LAKE & MATTAWAMKEAG AREA WE OWN WHAT WE SELL! OWNER FINANCING AVAILABLE

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 70 SELLERS LANE

March 2020 SELLERS LANE

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