Outdoor News - May 2024

nual spawning runs. Water temperatures are still very cold, and fish are still fairly lethargic, so try slowing down the presentation of your bait or lure. Stream fishing is generally a bit slow in the early season, but will pick up as the water temperatures warm to around 50 o F and are stocked around April or May. If you’re looking for stream dwelling trout, allow your bait to sink toward the bottom where they are more likely to be this time of year.

Remember that with early spring comes mud season. Roads are often soft and muddy making it crucial to be mindful of roads, where you park, and respect private landowners. You may have to wait a few weeks before being able to access one of your fishing spots.

In spite of the warmer weather, the water is still extremely cold this time of year. Water levels are often high and fast, so ALWAYS wear a lifejacket! This could help save your life if you end up unexpectedly in the water. Accidents can happen to even the most experienced of anglers, and it’s harder to put a life jacket on once you’re in the water.

IN THIS MONTH”S SPORTING JOURNAL LOOK FOR OUR COMPLETE SPRING FISHING REPORT WHICH INCLUDE THE BEST PLACES TO FISH IN A REGION BY REGION BREAKDOWN PROVIDED BY MAINE”S REGIONAL FISHERIES BIOLOGISTS.

Reminder: Ice fishing season dates

Remember that most of Maine’s lakes and ponds open to ice fishing, remain open through the month of April. Always use extreme caution on the ice when venturing on Maine’s frozen waterways and check the ice for yourself.

South Zone: Under General Law in the South Zone, lakes and ponds are open to ice fishing and open water fishing yearround (unless otherwise stated in the special fishing laws section).

North Zone: In the North Zone, lakes and ponds with special season code “A” are open to ice fishing and open water fishing year-round; lakes and ponds with season code “B” are open to ice fishing through April 30 Click here to search Maine’s special fishing laws (Search “A (Open” or “B (Open” in the regulation column to find which waters are open to ice fishing) or use the map-based Fishing Laws Online Angling Tool (FLOAT). After April 1, once the ice disappears, you can open water fish on most lakes and ponds in the North Zone.

Ice fishing shacks: A person who owns any shack or temporary structure used for ice fishing must remove the shack or structure (1) In any area of the State in which there is a closed ice fishing season, by ice out or 3 days after the close of the ice fishing season, whichever is earlier; and (2) In any area of the State in which there is no close of the ice fishing season, by ice out or March 31st, whichever is earlier.

Hiker Killed By Lion

One of two brothers hiking in the North - ern California woods was killed by a mountain lion on Saturday, while the surviving brother was injured. The attack took place near the El Dorado National Forest, which is a little over 50 miles northeast of Sacramento, according to ABC.The attack was the first in the state in 20 years and the first in the region in 30 years. deputies and the victim. Deputies discharged their firearms in order to scare the mountain lion off so they could render medical aid,” the sheriff’s office said.The animal retreated, but the victim of the attack was dead, deputies said.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife game wardens and an El Dorado County trapper hunted for the mountain lion, which was later killed.

New Hampshire Fishing Season Opens

April 1 marks the official start of the openwater fishing season on New Hampshire’s large lakes, which are managed for landlocked salmon, including Big Squam Lake, Lake Sunapee, and Lake Winnipesaukee. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department also manages other waterbodies for landlocked salmon, including Big Dan Hole Pond, and First and Second Connecticut, Conway, Francis, Merrymeeting, Newfound, Ossipee, and Winnisquam Lakes. Pleasant Lake in New London is also managed for landlocked salmon, but is classified as a designated trout pond with an opening date of the fourth Saturday in April.

On Saturday, an 18-year-old and his 21-year-old brother were searching the woods for shed deer antlers when they were attacked. Police became aware of the incident after a 911 call, during which the younger of the two said they had been attacked and had become separated, according to a statement from the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office.The first responders reached the scene at about 1:34 p.m. They began treating the younger brother who, according to SFGate, suffered severe traumatic injuries to his face. Deputies searched for the 21-year-old, and found him lying motionless with the mountain lion crouched between (News cont. pg 13)

Despite winter finally showing up in late March, anglers will not suffer for open-water opportunities on nearly all central Lakes Region water bodies, including Winnipesaukee, which observed its earliest ice-out on record with only a day or two when “The Broads” were lightly

(Cont. from pg 12) is completely free of ice, and anglers will have unlimited opportunities via boat, other watercraft, or the shoreline.

Regardless of ice conditions or location within the state, please note the last day for ice fishing lakes managed under the landlocked salmon and lake trout designations is March 31, and no openwater fishing of any kind, for any species, is permitted on these managed lakes until April 1. Landlocked salmon may never be taken through the ice in New Hampshire

To ensure the future of high-quality landlocked salmon and other fisheries, anglers must take extra care when releasing salmon, as the percentage of hook-wounded fish continues to be a problem. Hook-wounded fish are significantly shorter and in poorer physical condition than non-hook-wounded fish of the same age. Using rubber nets, proper release techniques, and other con- siderations can minimize the negative effects of hook wounding, thereby increasing the number of qualitysized salmon available in the future. For more information, please visit www.wildlife.nh.gov/fishing-new-hampshire/catchinglandlockedsalmon-nh/ prevent-hookwounding New Hampshire fishing licenses can be purchased online at www. nhfishandgame. com or from any NH Fish and Game Department license agent. Reel in lots more information on fishing in New Hampshire, from depth maps to tackle tips, by downloading the current Freshwater Fishing Digest at www.wildlife. nh.gov/fishing-new-hampshire

New Hampshire

Moose Lottery

New Hampshire’s 2024 moose hunt lottery is now open. Enter today for your chance at the adventure of a lifetime—hunting moose in the rugged woods of the Granite State. The lottery entrance fee is $15 for Granite State residents and $25 for nonresidents.

Visit www.wildlife.nh.gov/hunting-nh/ moose-hunting-new-hampshire where you can enter the New Hampshire moose hunt lottery online or print out a mail-in application. You can also pick up an application at any Fish and Game license agent, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department headquarters, or at Fish and Game re - gional offices.

Moose hunt lottery applications for 2024 must be postmarked or submitted online by midnight Eastern Standard Time on Friday, May 31. Applications can also be delivered to the Licensing Office at New Hampshire Fish and Game Department headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH, before 3:45 p.m. that day. Winners will be selected through a computerized random drawing and announced on June 21.

Applicants can enter the moose hunt lottery once per year. A bonuspoint system improves the chances for unsuccessful applicants who apply in each consecutive year. The point is earned for each year, and each point translates to a chance in the drawing. As an example, last year the overall odds of a resident applicant being drawn were 1 in 114, and resident applicants with a total of 20 points had a 1 in 39 chance of being drawn. For nonresidents, the odds were 1 in 477 overall and 1 in 178 for applicants with 20 points.

In 2023, a total of 5,950 people entered the lottery for the chance to win one of 33 permits. More than 1,190 people continued to accrue bonus points because they submitted an application for a point only to hold their already accrued points. Hunters from six other states won permits in the 2023 lottery.

While people travel from all over the country to take part in the New Hampshire moose hunt, the majority of permits, almost 85%, are awarded to Granite State residents. The number of permits available to nonresidents is capped, based on the prior year’s sales of nonresident hunting licenses.

The number of moose hunting permits that will be offered this fall is detailed in the 2024 Moose Hunt- ing Season and Management document. To learn more about moose hunting in the Granite State visit www.wildlife.nh.gov/ hunting-nh/moose-hunting-new-hampshire Thirtythree either-sex moose permits will be issued through the lottery: WMU A1, 2 permits; A2, 8 permits; B, 7 permits; C1, 3 permits; C2, 5 permits; D1, 3 permits; L, 3 permits; and M, 2 permits. This year’s hunt will run from October 19–27.

New Hampshire has had an annual moose hunt since 1988, when 75 permits were issued for a three-day hunt in the North Country. The state’s current moose population is estimated to be about 3,000 animals. The annual harvest of moose provides valuable information on the physical condition and productivity of moose and provides a unique recreational opportunity.

(News cont. pg 68)

Body...Golden yellow floss

Rib...Flat silver tinsel

Wing...2 red saddle hackles flanked by 2 silver doctor blue saddle hackles

Throat...4 peacock herl strands next to hook then white bucktail, both extending to bend of hook

Shoulders...Mallard flank, 1/3 wing length

...Jungle cock

Warden’s Words

by Game Warden Kale O’Leary, Ashland, ME

Last month I started telling you the story of a moose investigation involving a shot and left bull moose during the cow only hunting week in Zone 5 in October of 2022. During our efforts to collect physical evidence from the crime scene, we had located a tooth that was lying in some tall grass where the bull and cow had been shot 52 feet apart. The violators had then dragged the cow several hundred yards down the road, field dressed the animal and loaded it to attempt to avoid detection, or at least make the two scenes look like they were not connected. Having a limited number of words to tell the rest of this tale, I’m going to jump right back into the middle

wiscassetspeedway.com