Northwoods Sporting Journal, Sept. 2020

Elgin Tries To Pull A Fast One On Joe September 2020

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Tactics For Big Moose -Nathan Theriault

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

September 2020

Page 3

“Ole Dill” and the Bear

Peering out at the silhouettes of cattails and flooded timber, I halfexpected an alligator to creep past the canoe. We could have been somewhere deep in the bayou

of Central Maine at some ungodly hour. Besides the bellowing of a zealous bullfrog, the periodic eruption of a pickerel inhaling some unlucky creature, and the occasional whoosh of a

Maine Tails

nally arrived. During a scouting venture several

By Jonah Paris, days prior, my friends and Scarborough, ME I had flushed dozens of wood ducks from a small weedy cove along the river. from any overhead birds. I a… uhm… uh… there’s a The bank of the cove was started to set decoys. bear right here.” lined with mature red oaks, I was reaching into With less compo-

We wheeled around and took a step back toward the river, staring intently into the web of dark oaks. A stream of white light cut the blackness, and something crashed through the forest heading eastward. and now as we approached our “woodie” haven under darkness, a new melody harmonized with the bullfrog and the rest of his swampy orchestra: the splashing of acorns dropping into the water. Ripe acorns are a wood duck hunter’s gold mine.

As our caravan landed upon the bank, the four of us got to work. Legal hunting time would come quick and we needed to be ready when the birds filed in for their acorn breakThe author with a drake wood duck. fast. Two of my buddies (Photo courtesy of Jonah Paris.) began constructing a blind country of Louisiana or night heron overhead, the from driftwood. Another Mississippi. Instead, we late September morning friend from UMaine, “Ole were paddling up a slug- was eerily still.

Dill,” elected to unload the gish, mosquito-infested The 2018 North Zone gear and stash the canoes stretch of river in the heart waterfowl opener had fi- back in the trees, hidden

the bag for the last decoy, sure, the three of us siwhen Ole Dill’s voice came multaneously squawked, low and staggered from the “Where?!” woods behind us.

Ole Dill calmly re“Hey guys… there’s (Dill cont. from pg 9)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

On The Cover

Tactics For Big Moose - Pg 23 More Cougar Sightings - Pg 24 A Good Guide - Pg 16 Camps, Cottages and Land for Sale - Pg 67

Feature

23. Tactics for Big Moose - Nathan Theriault

Contents

3. Maine Tails - Jonah Paris 6. The Adventures Of Me & Joe - Bob Cram 10. “A Hiker’s Life” - Carey Kish 11. Muzzleloading Afield - Al Raychard 12. On Point - Paul Fuller 15. Cookin’ With New England’s WildCheff - Denny Corriveau 16. The Gun Cabinet - John Floyd 17. What’s in Your Woods - Bud Utecht 18. Outdoor Sporting Library - Jeremiah Wood 20. Aroostook Woods & Waters - Mike Maynard 22. Warden’s Words - Kale O’Leary 24. Question Of The Month - Timothy Curtis 25. Maine Outdoor Adventure - Rich Yvon 29. The Bird Perch - Karen Holmes 31. Post-Script from Pocasset - Josh Reynolds 32. The Buck Hunter - Hal Blood 33. Guns & Ammo: A Guide’s Perspective - Tom Kelly 34. Anticosti - Mark Cote 36. Marsh Island Chronicles - Matthew Dunlap 37. “Just Fishing” - Bob Leeman 38. Best Bassin’ - Bill Decoteau 39. Old Tales From The Maine Woods - Steve Pinkham 40. The Allagash - Matt LaRoche 42. SAM News - David Trahan 43. Northwoods Sketchbook - Mark McCollough 44. South Of The Kennebec - Stu Bristol 46. Native Fish Talk - Bob Mallard 47. Northwoods Voyager - Gil Gilpatrick 48. On The Prowl - Justin Merrill 49. The Fur Shed - Blake Dougerty 50. Vermont Ramblings - Dennis Jensen 51. Outdoors In Vermont - Gary Moore 53. Green Mountain Report - Bradley Carleton 54. Outdoors In Maine - V. Paul Reynolds 55. Kineo Currents - Suzanne AuClair 57. Fly Fishing - Joe Bertolaccini 58. Flight Of The Arrow - Jerome Richard 59. New Hampshire Outdoors - Peter St. James 60. The Tyer’s Corner - Hugh Kelly 61. Ramblings From T8-R9 - Ben Rioux 62. Women In The Woods - Erin Merrill 63. Mass Wanderings - David Willette 64. The Singing Maine Guide - Randy Spencer 65. Malarkey Cabin Chronicles - Ray Dillon

The Sportin’ Journal

September 2020

The Outdoor Paper For “Maine Folks” The Northwoods Sporting Journal is the Northeast’s most comprehensive and readable monthly outdoor publication. Published at the trailhead of Maine’s sprawling North Woods, the Sporting Journal prides itself on being an independent voice for the region’s outdoor community for more than 27 years. Some of our writers are seasoned and specialized outdoors people who will share their know-how and insights; some of our contributors are simply lifelong outdoor people with interesting stories to tell.

Our aim every month is to capture the essence of Northern New England’s remarkable outdoor heritage by stirring memories, portraying outdoor humor, and sharing experiences and outdoor knowledge.

We also keep our readers up to date with late-breaking outdoor news and hard-hitting editorials about fish and wildlife issues.

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

Cookin’ With New England’s WildCheff - Pg 15

By Denny Corriveau

www.sportingjournal.com

Main Office Phone: (207) 732-4880 E-mail: info@sportingjournal.com Fax: (207)732-4970 Vol 27 Issue 9 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.

Muzzleloading Afield - Pg 11

By Al Raychard

Other Great Stories & Information

8. Editorial/Letters 13. Outdoor News 41. Trading Post 45. Carroll’s Corner - Carroll Ware 67. Real Estate

Cover Photo:

Nice moose shedding his velvet Provided courtesy of I-Stock Photos

Guns And Ammo - Pg 33

By Tom Kelly

Maine Outdoor Adventure - Pg 25

By Rich Yvon

September 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 5

Page 6

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Adventures of Me and Joe

September 2020

The Shooting Match

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

The annual sportsmen’s show at Snowshoe drew people from all across northern Maine, as well as several Canadian provinces. With the snow still piled deep in late March, and ice fast becoming treacherous, there was little to do while waiting for breakup and the sportsmen’s show was a welcome diversion.

“Had ‘um put some sharp cheese on mine,” Joe returned happily, taking another huge bite. My stomach lurched in incipient rebellion. I quickly looked for a rubbish container to deposit the rest of my dog.

I found one beside the Friends Of The Little Salt Pork River booth. While I was cleaning mustard

Jingo and the rest of the crowd stared at an increasingly mortified Elgin Bassett. “But, I don’t understand,” Jingo wondered, “how did he put the holes in the target?”

On the second day of the three-day event, me and Joe wandered through the crowded aisles munching on red hotdogs laced with onions, sauerkraut, horse radish, ketchup, mustard, and relish.

“You got all yer major food groups all in one package,” Joe burped with satisfaction and wiped mustard from the corner of his mouth. “An’ vitamins, too. This must be the original health food!”

“What about the dairy group?” I questioned, detecting the ominous beginnings of a major bout with heartburn.

stains from the front of my jacket, Joe engaged in desultory conversation with Homer Clamm, who was working the booth.

“Been cold, Homer.”

“Yep, but she’s bound ta warm up.”

“Spring’s a comin’.”

“Bound to, eventual.

Say, you boys wanna buy a raffle ticket? Proceeds goin’ t’ward puttin’ marker floats on the hidden rocks along the river.”

“Nope,” Joe said slowly. “I like them rocks just fine. I know where they are an’ the flatlanders don’t.

Keeps a lot of ‘um off the river an’ it’s getting’ too

congested now.”

“It’s a point a’ view,” Homer conceded. At that moment a series of shots rang out from the other side of the large building. Sporadic shooting had been going on since we arrived and we had been wondering what it was all about.

“Who’s doing all the shooting?” I asked.

“Got a pistol range

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.

set up over the other side,” Homer replied. “A lot of the folks are tryin’ it.

Three shots for a dollar.”

He glanced uncertainly at Joe. “Proceeds are goin’ to the hunter safety courses at the area schools.”

“Now that there is what I call a worthwhile cause. Guess we’ll jest drift on over there an’ take a look.”

Several people stood near the firing line of the 25 yard range along the far wall. A number of handguns lay on a wide table at the line. Jingo Hinks stood at the cash register watching as Elgin Bassett aimed a Colt .45 automatic downrange.

I felt a stirring of unease. While not exactly enemies, Joe and Elgin

couldn’t actually be called friends, either. Something about Elgin, perhaps his sarcastic and condescending demeanor, seemed to clash with Joe’s normally easy-going attitude. I noticed that Elgrin’s crony, Fetid Marshgrass, was busy thumbing cartridges into a clip for his partner.

Elgin had already fired his first two rounds as we came up to the blanketdraped table. Both shots were well within the black.

Elgin must have caught sight of Joe out of the corner of his eye. He twitched slightly and his third shot was in the white.

“Not bad, Elgin, not bad,” Joe said conversationally. “’Course that last one was a tad wide, but it (Me & Joe cont. pg 7)

September 2020

Me & Joe (Cont. from pg 6)

still would’ve hit a moose.

Somewheres.”

Elgin reddened slightly as a few of the onlookers chuckled. “I suppose you could do better?” he said angrily, holding out the Colt.”

Joe took the proffered weapon gingerly, glanced at the target, and punched three quick shots downrange. They formed a tight circle around the center Xring. “She’s a mite loose, Jingo, but not bad.” He laid the gun on the table and dug out a dollar bill.

Jingo smiled back.

“Here, Joe, you win this here cartridge pouch for yer belt, donated by Sly’s Sport Shop over in Munsungan.”

As Joe examined the pouch, Fet Marshgrass muttered petulantly: “You coulda beat him easy if’n you’d had yer .22, Elgin.”

“That’s true, Fet, that Ruger target pistol is dead accurate.” A crafty gleam came into his eye and he turned back toward us. “How about it, Joe? A shoot-off between you and me. I’ll bring my Ruger and you bring whatever pistol you care to. Winner gets the other man’s gun.”

Joe looked at him for a long moment. “I ain’t so proud of my shootin’ that I’d risk a gun,” he said slowly. “Still, it sounds like fun. Tell ya what, the loser pays for a whole semester’s hunter safety course at Mooseleuk High School.”

“Okay,” Elgin said agreeably, “it’s a deal. Meet you here when the show opens tomorrow morning.”

Joe nodded as the two men turned and worked their way through the crowd.

“Don’t know as I trust that man,” Joe said

Northwoods Sporting Journal thoughtfully.

“What can he do? The match will be right out here in front of everybody.”

“Guess yer right. Let’s go git somethin’ to eat!”

My stomach gave a nervous leap.

The next morning we entered the sportsmen’s show just after it opened at 9 a.m. Joe carried his old .22 Smith & Wesson Kit Gun, most of its bluing worn off from years of holster carry, innumerable storms, stream crossings and blizzards. It had bagged literally scores of partridges and rabbits and had ended the careers of numerous predatory coyotes.

Word had apparently spread about the shooting match and a sizable crowd stood milling about near the shooting range. Elgin Bassett was already in position, his sleek Ruger Target Model lying on the table before him. Jingo Hinks stood to one side near the cash register.

Joe walked up and laid the old Smith on the table. “Mornin’, Elgin.

Where’s yer partner in crime?”

“Oh, Fet had a few chores to do. Shall we get started?”

“Ready if you are.”

“Okay, gent,” Jingo broke in, “it’s gonna be five shots apiece at individual targets. Best average of three targets wins. I’ll flip a coin to see who goes first.”

Joe won the toss and quickly slid five Long Rifle cartridges into the Smith.

Aiming carefully, he slowly fired the five shots. Jingo brought the target back for examination. The five shots clustered around the center, with one round almost exactly in the middle of the “X”.

“Fine shootin’ Joe,”

he said admiringly. “Your turn Elgin.”

Basset picked up the already loaded Ruger and calmly fired his five shots.

Jingo returned with the target, a look of consternation on his face. The five shots made one jagged hole in the exact center of the target.

Joe looked at his opponent thoughtfully.

“That’s real fine shootin’, Elgin.”

“Just lucky, I guess,” Bassett replied with a superior smirk.

It set the tone for the rest of the match. Joe made excellent shots, but each of Elgin Bassett’s succeeding targets were mirror images of the first. And he fired each shot in such an effortless and offhand manner that the whole thing had the flavor of magic.

As Elgin fired the last round, the ejected empty

case flipped over and hit me on the shoulder. In reflex, I caught it before it could hit the ground. For a moment I simply stared at what I held in my hand.

Then I reached out and tapped Joe on the shoulder.

He glanced back and then down at my shielded palm.

Then he looked over to where Elgin was just laying his gun.

“Say, Elgin,” Joe said, “that is some of the finest shootin’ I ever did see.

Don’t suppose I could try a shot with that there target gun of yorn?”

For a moment, Bassett hesitated. Then he smiled and handed over the Ruger.

“Sure, why not? But I have to warn you, that gun is adjusted to my tastes. You might not be able to hit anything with it.”

“Yeah, maybe.” Joe lifted the pistol and fired a shot downrange.

Page 7 Elgin smirked. “See what I mean? You didn’t even hit the target.”

“Didn’t really expect to,” Joe bent and picked up the spent case he’d just fired, then held it out toward an astonished Jingo Hinks. “.22 birdshot. Number 12 shot. Doubt if it even carried 25 yards, let alone penetrated the target.”

Jingo and the rest of the crowd stared at an increasingly mortified Elgin Bassett. “But, I don’t understand,” Jingo wondered, “how did he put the holes in the target?”

Joe reached down and quickly lifted the floorlength spill of blanket that covered the table. Crouched underneath, cradling a target model pellet rifle, complete with scope, sat a chagrined Fetid Marshgrass, a small tripod seated firmly (Me & Joe cont. pg 27)

Page 8

Northwoods Sporting Journal

September 2020

The Sporting Journal’s “New Normal”

Some sage once said that in life “change is the only constant.” How true that is. The Covid-19 era underscores the profound nature of change like nothing we have seen in many years. Uncertainty, confusion, and anxiety have seemingly combined to put fear as the central emotion that seems to have our country in its grip.

New terms or trendy buzzwords have burst forth in our Covid-19 lexicon. One of the most used and least uplifting, in our view, is “the new normal.”

We could be wrong but it seems that the Covid dooms dayers invoke this dreadful term, with all of its dire implications, to frighten us into social submission. “We will never shake hands again, or hug a person we care about.” And how long will it be until we will see human faces again without masks? Is it a clinical, joyless world that lies ahead without smiles from passersby on the street, or physical contact when meeting another kindred spirit for the first time?

As an outdoor magazine, we are obliged at times like this to be a little in-

Disagree with Editorial To the Editor: I just had to write something in response to your editorial, “Lost Freedoms,” in the July issue. I feel sure that by now that you realize how wrong and far afield your observations were. I am not a democrat, but I will tell you that Mills was right on with what she did as opposed to Trump who has done little about the crisis but lie. Look where the southern and southwestern states are now. It was interesting to see Fox News actually challenging him.

Gil Gilpatrick, Skowhegan

trospective: 1) Does this change anything for our customers, our advertisers and our readers? 2) Do we need to approach our publishing obligations any differently? 3) Is there a so-called “new normal” for the Northwoods Sporting Journal, or is it business as usual?

Like so many individuals and small businesses confronting this strange era we will “feel our way,” and try mightily to face the future with forethought and renewed optimism. Here is what we do know.

In Maine, and hopefully elsewhere, the conservation heritage remains intact and vibrant. We see it everywhere. More than ever, people – eager to get out of the Covid-19 box and away from the TV – are finding solace and hope in the Great Outdoors, fishing, camping, hiking, kayaking and simply breathing and relishing Maine’s precious fresh air and the sweet scent of pine and balsam on the breeze.

This fall, when the October colors debut and the frost kills the pumpkins, hunters from near and far will take to the woods.

Funky Fly Rods To the Editor: From a longtime reader of V. Paul Reynolds’columns and the recent Funky Fly Rods and, an avid fly fisherman. Next time around, V. Paul, spring for an Echo rod. They cost a bit more than 13 bucks.

There is nothing fancy about them, but are among the best I’ve used over the course of my nearly 80 years.

Paul Haertel

Mountain Lions: Shhhhh To the Editor: I read your pieces about mountain lions.

Folks have for years trying to verify the existence of mountain lions in Maine.

While doing a job at IF&W a number of years back I asked a biologist why the State of Maine was so reluctant to admit the presence of mountain lions. The response was, “Because we do not want to have to manage the whole state for an endangered species”.

Can you imagine what the do-gooders and antihunters will do with that?

My advise in regards to mountain lions is to let sleeping dogs, or in the case, lions, lie. The less said about mountain lions the better off we are.

Bob Mercer, Bucksport

No mask required, just an orange hat, vest and a hunting license.

And the Northwoods Sporting Journal, which has been serving outdoor folks for more than 27 years, will continue to do so.

As is our aim and obligation, we will continue to publish a comprehensive outdoor monthly, featuring close to 50 outdoor columnists each month. We never rest on our laurels, but keep on building one brick at a time a better outdoor magazine and cutting edge website for our customers, readers and advertisers alike! We welcome aboard three new writers, native trout advocate Bob Mallard, Aroostook Game Warden Kale O’Leary and trapping writer Blake Dougerty.

So we wish you all an outdoor autumn to remember. And we join you in prayers for a return to peace for our country, for a vaccine, and for health and a return to prosperity.

- VPR

The Rising Trout To the Editor I read V. Paul Reynolds’ article about the “rising of trout” experience he had with Wiggie Robinson. I spent 25 years in Millinocktet. My son and I fished in Sourdnahunk Lake, which, I believe is what you are referencing in your story. A fisherman would be mistaken if he were to put a worm on a hook. The “retirees” would monitor fishing activity with binoculars. I have heard many times that story you shared, never able to experience it personally. A treasured place in Maine. I understand the camp ground is privately owned and fishing is with

permission of land owner, whoever that may be.

Steve R.

Lyme Disease: Critical Issue To the Editor: The critical issue for both game people and those of us who do not hunt or fish (the majority by the way) is Lyme and associated diseases by ticks.

The tick vector is deer (and of course mice). It is an unfortunate fact that there is an over population of deer in Maine.

It is another fact that fewer people are hunting and harvesting deer here.

This is a critical issue (Letters cont. pg 9)

September 2020

Letters

(Cont. from pg 8) for those of us who love Maine, use the woodlands for non hunting recreation, and for firewood for heating our homes.

I’d like to see you and SAM do more on publicizing this.

Aaron Brooksville

Dill

(Cont. from pg 3) plied, “Uhm… like right here… like a few feet from me.”

We wheeled around and took a step back toward the river, staring intently into the web of dark oaks.

A stream of white light cut the blackness, and something crashed through the forest heading eastward.

The whole cove - even the bullfrog - was silent for a long while afterwards.

As Ole Dill would later recount during a lull in the morning flight, he had dragged a canoe thirty yards back into the oaks and stopped when he heard a soft rustle behind his right shoulder. He turned and switched on the high beam of his headlamp to illuminate the forest.

Only six feet away, a large bear stood tall on his hind legs, nose pointed up as he sniffed the air trying to make sense of the curious odors suddenly wafting through his acorn buffet: Hostess Donettes, coffee, and smelly humans. As the two locked eyes under the glow of an LED bulb, Ole Dill couldn’t decide who was more surprised.

We hunted the cove several more times through the tail of September and into the first weeks of October. We saw the bear again

Northwoods Sporting Journal

one morning, this time in the daylight and from a distance. His glossy dark coat caught the sun’s rays as he rooted around under the oaks like a hog searching for a truffle. I now realize that the bear must have brought me some extraordinary luck; certainly my typical shooting performance, a source of constant entertainment for my hunting buddies, cannot explain how I managed to take a limit of woodies each hunt.

When the leaves take on their golden hue and the apples grow crimson, reach for a box of steel #4’s and that old rusty 12 gauge. You know the one I’m thinking of; it’s that well-oiled Remington or Mossberg, or perhaps it’s a Winchester, stock worn smooth from the hands of many seasons, and barrel graced with more than the occasional scratch. Round up a group of hunting buddies and take to the Maine backwaters for wood ducks and good stories; both will be relished on some cold winter’s night. And, if you run into our bear up there in the cove, make sure you offer to share your coffee and donuts. In exchange, he’ll let you hunt over his acorns. Fall - the best time of the year in New England - is here.

In memory of Louis J. Selig (Gramps Louie), outdoorsman, long time subscriber to NWSJ, and grandfather to Ole Dill.

Jonah Paris teaches English at a small high school in Southwestern 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

Page 9

Page 10

Northwoods Sporting Journal

“A Hiker’s Life”

by Carey Kish, Mt. Desert Island, ME Editor’s note: Carey Kish is a two-time Appalachian Trail thru-hiker and recently completed the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail through California, Oregon and Washington.

The Appalachian Trail north of Damascus, Virginia, follows a portion of the Virginia Creeper Trail, a popular 35-mile rail trail, before climbing into the high country of grassy bald summits and spruce-fir for-

is the herd of feral ponies, about the size of Shetlands, that roam free amid the amazing mountain scenery.

At several points I was able to get close enough to these beautiful animals to get some great photos as well as earn a few thrilling nibbles at my leg.

A short distance behind the Mount Rogers visitor center is one of the most remarkable campsites on the trail, the Partnership

Virginia is home to 550 miles or roughly one-quarter of the entire Appalachian Trail, which this year tallies 2,189.2 miles.

ests of the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area.

The heavily forested Mount Rogers is the highest peak in Virginia; at 5,729 feet, it reigns supreme over some 5,000 acres of high elevation terrain.

The highlight of this beautiful section of trail, which also includes Grayson Highlands State Park,

Shelter. Attached to the log structure is a shower stall with hot running water.

A sink out back, and a clothesline and clean toilet complete this hikers dream.

Bonus: Hikers can order pizza for delivery from nearby Marion, and you can bet we did.

Virginia is home to 550 miles or roughly one-

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September 2020

Hiking the AT: Mastering Virginia’s Triple Crown

quarter of the entire Appalachian Trail, which this year tallies 2,189.2 miles.

In the southwest corner of the state the trail winds through Jefferson National Forest, while in central Virginia it passes through George Washington National Forest. Together these federal lands encompass 1.8 million acres, much of it as wilderness.

A short hiking day from tiny Atkins, the trail passes the quarter mark on its way to ascending 4,400foot Chestnut Knob. My trail friends and I reached its summit meadow around 1 p.m. and called it good, all of us intent on enjoying the sunny afternoon and a night in the stone shelter there. We relaxed for hours, drinking in the view over Burke’s Garden, a farming community and valley encircled by mountain ridges and often referred to as God’s Thumbprint.

The author on the AT. Nightfall brought a violent thunderstorm, a spectacular display of nature that shook the shelter and kept us awake in our bunks well into the night.

Pearisburg is a tidy little town of 2,800 situated along the New River, a fine spot with all the services needed to rest, refuel and resupply.

My chronic back pain had flared up to the point where I became concerned about the future of the hike, so I sought out a chiropractor in town to address what had become a serious problem. Turns out a rib end had popped out near the T6 vertebra, but once back in place I breathed a big sigh of relief.

A hiker ’s primary mode of transportation is their boots, and mine were in pretty rough shape. I felt a little like I was hiking with my check engine light on. Luckily, I was able to find a local cobbler who

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stitched up my boots for a few bucks, likely extending the life of my Lowas by several hundred miles.

Vi rg i n i a ’s f a m e d “triple crown” of scenic mountain vistas is found in a single 35-mile stretch of the Appalachian Trail west of Roanoke near Catawba.

Dragon’s Tooth is a 35-foot high outcropping of Tuscarora quartzite on Cove Mountain. I climbed to within a few feet of the top of the pinnacle but then lost my nerve.

Next up is McAfee Knob, one of the most photographed points on the AT, its rock finger jutting out into space and offering an extraordinary lookout. I crept out to the very edge of the broad shelf to get the prized photos, which were graciously snapped by a fellow hiker.

Finally, there’s Tinker Cliffs, where the trail weaves along the precipice for a half-mile, providing many airy moments and a few scary ones.

Carey Kish is the author of “AMC’s Best Day Hikes Along the Maine Coast” and editor of the “AMC Maine Mountain Guide.” Follow more of his outdoor adventures on Facebook @Carey Kish.

September 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Ah, September!

Don’t know about you, but I’m ready for September! No more high humidity and 90-degree days and sweating standing still, cooler nights and daytime conditions that make being outdoors is a

somewhere around 60,000 turkeys there’s plenty of opportunity. Crossbows can also be used during the fall season this year. If you just invested in a horizontal bow in anticipation to the October archery season

to hunt now. Nearly all the property is private, not all land owners are welcoming to hunters and the open areas are not that large to begin with. I live within a 20 minute drive of WMD 24 and still find it a challenge locating a piece of ground year-to-year.

Page 11

Muzzleloading Afield

by Al Raychard, Lyman, ME

read. Most years conditions in September are just the opposite. But angling in September can be more challenging, largely due to the lack of predictable and our more prolific insect

Although not as intense as early in the season the females deposit their eggs at about this time of softbottomed lakes and ponds and slower stretches of our rivers and streams. Select-

For trout enthusiasts September can provide some of the most rewarding opportunities of the season. I’ve always preferred wetting a fly line at this time more than during the spring when stream conditions can be more unpredictable, unforgiving and harder to read.

For trout enthusiasts September can provide some of the most rewarding opportunities of the season.

I’ve always preferred wetMaine has lots of wild turkeys, a long fall ting a fly line at this time season, generous bag limits, and this fall more than during the spring crossbows are legal weapons. joy. And there’s a lot to do when they can be used this when stream conditions out there before our brains year and through 2022 dur- can be more unpredictable, overload on chasing par- ing the so-called three-year unforgiving and harder to tridge and archery deer in “test” period hunting fall October and the November birds is a good way to get rifle deer seasons. educated.

There is some hunting For those who want to opportunities this month of get in the deer woods early course. Maine’s fall turkey Maine’s eleven Expanded season opens September Archery Zones open Sep12 in all wildlife manage- tember 12. Certain rules ment districts except 1-5, apply and only specific 7-9 and 14. Basically, the areas are open so be sure northern half of the state to check the MDIFW webs is closed to fall turkey site for details. One word hunting. Keep in mind of advice. Unless you live Maine’s bag limit on fall within or anywhere near turkeys have been greatly any of zones and have a increased, birds of either hot spot already scouted sex can be taken and with out start looking for a place

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Sporting Journal Northwoods

On Point

by Paul Fuller, Durham, N.H. What to pack? This month’s column is a product of a recent email. The email sender wrote that, this October, he was taking his first trip to the North Maine Woods (NMW) for ruffed grouse. Beyond the toothbrush, he asked me for suggestions on what to pack and how to prepare.

It’s a good question and makes for a good column for this month.

The North Maine Woods (NMW) is a huge piece of property; three and one-half million acres huge. In certain areas, you can drive all-day long and not meet another vehicle.

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September 2020

The Gear List

all over the country and Canada; however, we never miss spending a week in October in the North Maine Woods.

Let’s first discuss your vehicle. Make sure it’s been serviced and checked for any problems that might develop. There is no cell phone service (except at a limited number of commercial camps) so if you have vehicle troubles, you could sit for a very long time.

Make sure you have good tires…Kevlar if possible.

And, that includes carefully checking your spare tire. The stones and rocks you’ll encounter easily cut

shears.

Due to the remoteness of the NMW and due to an emergency dog injury last year, we’ve decided we definitely need a personal locator device. After much research, we’ve decided on a Garmin In-Reach Mini.

No matter what our location, we’ll have commu-

How about the dogs?

Yes, going remote means taking extra time thinking about our hunting buddies.

First, find the nearest vet to the NMW gate you’ll be using. If you have a dog injury emergency, you don’t want to take time to search for a vet. Have their telephone number handy.

Due to the remoteness of the NMW and due to an emergency dog injury last year, we’ve decided we definitely need a personal locator device. After much research, we’ve decided on a Garmin In-Reach Mini. No matter what our location, we’ll have communication with the civilized world. tires. Also highly recommend you carry a hydraulic jack. And, a board that fits under the four wheels of the jack. Plus, a good under the truck light for changing tires in the dark. In your truck, you should have a tow rope, axe (or electric chainsaw) and lopping

nication with the civilized world. That’s a very comforting thought. It’s our understanding that many of the people working in the woods have given up their satellite phone for the Garmin In-Reach Mini. We won’t leave camp without it.

For lesser injuries, carry a canine first aid kit. Google exactly that and you’ll have several choices. Make sure you carry plenty of water…for both you and your dog. We run three dogs.

Each dog is run once in the morning and once in the (List cont. from pg 26)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 13

Outdoor News - September 2020 Edited by V. Paul Reynolds September. Music to the senses. The cadence quickens. Time to bid summer farewell and make plans for Maine’s finest hour and Mother Nature’s supreme orchestration: the debut of Autumn and those magical October days.

September’s song includes a landscape of golds and rust-colored ferns. Windless days of apple picking, ripened Big Boys and dedicated anglers squeezing in a few more hours on the waters.

Hiking mountain trails and camping can be great this time of year.

Cool nights for deep sleeping and bugless afternoons for lingering beside still waters. For hunters, there is bear season, special archery season for deer, an early goose season and much planning to be done.

There are dogs to be trained, guns to be sighted in, camp roofs to be fixed and woodlands to be scouted for deer and moose.

And for those true huntergatherers, there are wild mushrooms aplenty and vine-ripened blackberries to be plucked and put up in jam jars and pie plates.

Maine in September.

Next to October, who could ask for anything more?

Chesuncook Salmon Derby

The Chesuncook Lake Salmon Derby is normally held on Memorial weekend, but due to the Covid situation, it was postponed until Labor Day. The Natural Resource Education Center at Moosehead (NREC) is once again sponsoring the derby and

the prize money. They also have a few more prize donations this year. Tickets are on sale now online and will be at the physical locations by the end of the week.

We are keeping a close eye on Chesuncook.

I checked anglers and their catch on the lake last winter and again this spring/ summer. The fishing has been pretty good. Catch rates were good, and the larger fish were in nice shape. There are still a lot of smaller salmon, but there is reason for optimism. We hope anglers will help us out and remove some of the smaller fish. That is why we have the no size or bag limit on salmon under 16 inches.

This derby is a great way to help. Please consider a trip up to participate this coming Labor Day. - Tim Obrey, Greenville Fisheries Biologist

ATV Fatality and Other Crashes

Maine Game Wardens responded to multiple emergencies in early August, including a fatal ATV crash, stranded kayakers on the Dead River, an injured hiker on Tumbledown Mountain as well as multiple ATV crashes with personal injuries.

In Lincoln, speed, inexperience, and possibly alcohol appear to be the causes of a fatal ATV crash.

Shannon Brewer, age 40 of Corrinna, was driving a 2020 Can Am Maverick 1000 side by side ATV with owner Michael Martin in Lincoln. Brewer was traveling on the Pierce Webber Road near Upper

Pond at approximately 8:30 p.m.. Brewer approached a 4-way intersection, lost control of the ATV and skidded over 50 feet before rolling the machine against a tree alongside the trail. Brewer was pinned between the tree and the ATV, and despite efforts by Martin to free her, he was unable to.

Martin called 911, and another ATV rider stopped to assist, but they were unable to free Brewer. The Maine Warden Service, Lincoln Ambulance, and Lincoln police responded to the scene, but Brewer died at the scene and was transported to Lampson Funeral Home in Lincoln.

The accident remains under investigation, but it appears that excessive speed, inexperience and possibly alcohol are factors in the crash.

In Eustis, the Maine Warden Service rescued three kayakers on the south branch of the Dead River who had called 911 for help at 7:30 p.m.

Kelly Dymond, age 41 of Turner; Kristin Schrepper, age 32 of Rumford; and Sylvie Long, age 48 of Lewiston started kayaking down the Dead River from Coplin Plantation with the intent of kayaking to Flagstaff Lake. As they neared the lake, the river becomes extremely shallow and rocky, and unable to paddle in the shallow river, they had to drag their kayaks over the rocks down the river.

As darkness began to fall, and they became more exhausted, they called 911 seeking help. 911 Dispatch was able to pinpoint their GPS location through their

cellphone, and provided the location to Warden Scott Stevens. Stevens contacted them by phone and directed them to travel downstream to where a power line crosses the river. Stevens accessed the river by the powerline, then walked upstream until he met the kayakers. Stevens assisted the kayakers off the river, then gave them a ride to their truck. The kayakers did not need medical attention.

In Weld The Maine Warden Service rescued and carried down another injured hiker off Tumbledown Mountain.

Damon Thomas, age 44 of Portland Maine, had to be carried from the summit of Tumbledown Mountain down the length of the Brook Trail after he injured his ankle at approximately 6:00 p.m. and was unable to walk down the mountain.

Game Wardens, Weld Fire Department, Wilton Fire, Franklin SAR and Mahoosuc search and rescue personnel started hiking to the summit of Tumbledown at 6:15 p.m. and upon reaching the victim near the summit, stabilized Thomas’ ankle, placed him in a carrying litter, and carried him down the mountain. They reached the base of the mountain at approximately 10:30 p.m., where they were met by NorthStar Ambulance, and Thomas was transported to Franklin Memorial Hospital.

In Standish at approximately 7:00 p.m., Maine Game Wardens responded to an ATV crash where one woman had to be transported by ambulance with injuries to her hip and leg.

Olson Staples, age 22 of Standish, was operating a Polari Sportsman ATV on a trail behind the Milt Brown Road in Standish with Mariah Folsom, age 22 of Steep Falls riding as his passenger. While traveling on the trail, the throttle on the ATV became stuck and they traveled approximately 100 yards before the ATV crashed and rolled over.

Both Staples and Folsom were wearing helmets.

While Staples suffered only minor cuts and bruises, Folsom was transported by ambulance to Maine Medical Center with injuries to her hip and leg.

The incident remains under investigation.

In Kingsbury Plantation, the Maine Warden Service responded to an ATV Crash where two people were injured.

At approximately 12:45 p.m. game wardens stopped an ATV that was traveling on a public way.

The rider alerted wardens that he was headed to camp to get his truck in order to transport his friends who were injured in an ATV crash where there was no cell service and they couldn’t call for help.

Wardens went to the area of the crash, where an ATV had rolled over and injured Sonya Oliver, age 26 of Westport, Mass; and Michael Menard, age 25 of Tiverton, Rhode Island.

Both had minor lacerations on their body and soreness in their ribs. The pair were treated on scene by EMS personnel from Greenville’s Mayo Hospital and did require transport to the hospital.

(News cont. pg 28)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

September 2020

A Matter of the Heart

One of the biggest dilemmas a hunter faces after killing their large game animal is what to do with things like the heart and liver; whether it be bear, deer, or moose.

For some, it’s automatic. Old school hunters were most likely raised to utilize as much as the animal as possible; today we

use fancy words and call it nose-to-tail sustainability.

It’s personal decision as to whether you take these vital organs, or to leave them in the woods.

They serve a purpose either way.

Those who were not accustomed to eating liver and onions or heart as a child may choose to leave

We set our plan into motion and go to the sacred place we call “the woods” and if we are fortunate enough that day, we harvest a beautiful animal that we can take home to feed our family. (Photo by V. Paul Reynolds)

them to serve as food for wild animals that see them as a delicacy.

Some will think of a friend or family member that enjoys these, and then place them into gallon freezer zip lock bags and surprise them with a gift from the wild.

I have to say, that I’ve

Page 15

Cookin’ With New England’s WildCheff

by Denny Corriveau, Kennebunkport, ME

have been blessed to harvest. At times I have felt that leaving the heart in the woods would in turn leave the spirit of the animal to

game, so I have worked hard to develop methods that work well for these instances.

Liver can serve a

With Indian blood in my heritage, I have been perplexed at times, deciding what to do with the heart of the animals that I have been blessed to harvest. been living a sustainable lifestyle for years – always gathering my food close to the source as possible. When I have faced this same situation, I have opted to do what my own instinct tells me at the time.

With Indian blood in my heritage, I have been perplexed at times, deciding what to do with the heart of the animals that I

remain in those woods.

At other times, I have thought of a close friend that may have expressed an interest in the heart if I connect with a game animal, and I have surprised them with the heart to enjoy.

As a seasoned game chef of over 30 years, I have been approached by individuals for years on my best practices for cooking

much greater purpose then just venison liver and onions. With a little effort (less than you probably exercised dragging that animal out of the woods) you can make an absolutely delicious liverwurst or pate with it.

My focus however, is to talk to you about the heart.

(Heart cont. pg 19)

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Page 16

Who to Hire?

The Gun Cabinet

by John Floyd, Webster Plantation,ME Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a guide and a guide service? What about the term outfitter? What does that mean? Add in sporting camps and lodges and you may find yourself confused as to what you are seeking, and what you do or don’t need for your planned outdoors excursion. You are not alone.

There are very specific differences in these terms and what you book or who you hire can make a big difference in what you can expect for your hunt or trip.

Here is a quick rundown, in general terms, of what all of these terms and organizations mean and what they do.

Guides In short, guides are individuals licensed as outdoor professionals in spe-

September 2020

cific classifications such as hunting, fishing and recreation. Some are licensed in all classifications including tidewater fishing and seakayaking. It really depends on where the guide operates and what their goals are in providing assistance

also may hire on as an employee with an outfitter or sporting camp. Guides are the meat and potatoes of the outdoor professional community.

Guide services A guide service is typically the next step for a guide. After enough time in the field and after gaining enough experience under their belts, guides may

like navigation and recommendations for game processing. Unless expressly mentioned, don’t expect lodging or meals when booking a guide service.

Outfitters & Sporting Camps When you expect lodging, meals and every detail pertaining to your trip provided, outfitters and sporting camps are the

A guide service is typically the next step for a guide.

After enough time in the field and after gaining enough experience under their belts, guides may strike out on their own. Typically, a guide service offers the guiding portion of a trip only. to clients. Guides are individuals and may work for guide services, outfitters or sporting camps. Some may dedicate their time to a specific organization, year after year and some may ‘float’ working as specific needs arise at different locations around the state.

All guides are independent contractors by nature, but

strike out on their own.

Typically, a guide service offers the guiding portion of a trip only. Clients may be staying in a private lodging facility, hotel or even a family owned camp. A guide service may hire out for a week or even just one day. The guide service may be one or more guides working together, providing services like scouting, equipment set up, field care and retrieval, and general assistance along the way

ing and upland game such as ruffed grouse and woodcock. Both sporting camps and outfitters provide lodging, meals, guides and any equipment a client may need, but may differentiate on how it is provided. Outfitters typically use a bigger lodge-type, communal building to provide quarters and dining for a client.

Sporting camps tend to be more rustic, with several smaller, private camps for lodging, clustered around a central dining facility and pro shop.

When booking your next fishing or hunting trip, feel free to ask the outfit you are considering what exactly is included and specifically what is not.

Any guide, guide service, sporting camp or outfitter will be happy to lock down every detail of your trip experience. After all, they all want the same in the end – a happy and satisfied client.

choice. While occupying the same space in terms of what they provide, outfitters and sporting camps have different focuses in general terms. When the term outfitter is used, you can typically expect the organization to prioritize big game hunting. Bear, deer, moose, elk and all other big game species will be the target and what the John is a Registered outfitter is specializing in. Maine Guide, an NRA CerIn a sporting camp, you’ll tified Instructor and is the expect to see primarily fish- owner of Tucker Ridge Outdoors in Webster Plantation, Maine. He also works as an outdoors writer and can be reached at john@ tuckerridge.me or on Facebook @writerjohnfloyd

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

September 2020

Camera Placement in Summer

If you see me in the woods these days you may wonder why I am turning over rocks and dead logs.

Well, I’m trying to figure out where my luck went!

Okay, it’s not that bad, however this year’s craziness has taken quite a toll on how everyday “life” unfolds. Spring started June 2nd and ended June 5th, summer came with an on slot of unbearable heat coupled with gale force winds. The results for Bud; cameras with 5000 pictures of trees and ferns. Par for the course, I guess. Lucky for me that cameras placed out in the woods are plentiful and kept me busy with ‘that’ whatever you want to call it winter roaring into summer event.

As I’ve mentioned before, summer can be challenging for game camera enthusiasts with all the foliage present. It’s quite noteworthy to place a camera out when the ground is covered with old decaying leaves then return to discover ferns and leaf

The Sporting

Journal is the gift that Keeps on giving!

See page 35

covered tree limbs blocking the view of the camera lens. We all need a long walk in the woods. Deleting an entire SD card is one of the benefits (sigh) of my

What's In Your Woods

by Bud Utecht, Dedham, ME

When no leaves are present on trees the branches do not move nearly as much when covered with leaves.

The next tip is to find areas where the foliage

Another trick is to venture out on a windy day and walk around the woods taking note where the wind may not affect where you are. Hills and large forest stands block wind. I always take note of where I am standing in the woods.

Tops of the trees may be swaying, however you may not feel the impacts of any wind on the ground.

So you’ve set up your camera, trimmed what may

As I’ve mentioned before, summer can be challenging for game camera enthusiasts with all the foliage present. hobby.

The million dollar question – how do I get summer pictures? There are a couple of ways to handle the foliage. One is to cut it. For certain spots, I trim ferns, raspberry bushes, and grass in order to clear the camera’s detection range. You need to anticipate how tree limbs will blow when it’s windy.

Page 17

doesn’t grow. Areas where game crosses a ledge, you can usually see a path in the moss where they walk.

Seek out mature dark forest and if it’s swampy, all the better. Again the trails will stand out and, if not, put the camera on the edge. Usually streams will have great pathways too and you can always find a spot where the growth is minimized.

cause issues, and come back to thousands of pictures with nothing in them.

You look for the culprit but there is none to be had.

What is triggering the camera? Perhaps you placed it on a tree that is moving with the wind. Motion on

either end of the process will cause the camera to trigger so try and use more substantial trees to mount the camera on in order to avoid this pit fall.

Summer is a great time to get beautiful pictures, however it does come with extra planning, preparation, and effort in order to avoid Mother Nature from filling SD cards and draining batteries.

Bud Utecht is a Register Maine Guide, sporting camp owner, Browning trail camera dealer, and consultant Bud. 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

HELP US FIND

The elusive Northwoods Sporting Journal’s moose Marty.

He has wandered into the northwoods.

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

Dana Morin

Name

(Marty was found on pg 52)

Address City

Marty

Shown actual size

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

State

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Entries must be postmarked by 9/14/20 to be eligible for this issue.

bud@whatsinyourwoods.com

Page 18 Northwoods Sporting Journal

Outdoor Sporting Library

Books of Alaska

When John McPhee visited the Alaska’s upper Yukon River in the mid 1970’s, he was met with an eclectic group of individualists who had decided to make the rugged wilderness their home.

different, but all had something in common. They wanted to get away from the life they’d lived elsewhere, and they weren’t afraid of hard work and brutal conditions.

M c P h e e ’s b o o k

Indian Village of Eagle, a separate settlement a few miles from the main village. Unlike most of the white settlers who’d either moved to Eagle or settled on down the river in a cabin, Potts had immersed himself in the native village. Born in Iowa, Potts dreamed of being a mountain man and trapper as a boy. He left for Alaska the

They ranged from folks like John Borg, who settled in the village and ran most every part of it, to Dick Cook, who lived off the land in a remote cabin and relished self sufficiency.

The Ulvi’s and friends were hippies from California.

Brad Snow and Lilly Allen showed up from New Hampshire. They were all

“Coming into the Country” was powerful in its ability to captivate readers with the stories of its subjects.

Each was a unique character, and as a friendly, unassuming observer, McPhee described them beautifully.

Mike Potts was one of McPhee’s many interesting subjects. They met while John was visiting the

day after he graduated from high school.

After discovering Eagle, Alaska, Potts made friends in the Indian Village. He had a great respect for the natives and took every opportunity to learn from them. He built cabins in the mountains nearby, ran a trapline, and hunted and fished throughout the

by Jeremiah Wood, Ashland, ME

September 2020

They were all different, but all had something in common.

They wanted to get away from the life they’d lived elsewhere, and they weren’t afraid of hard work and brutal conditions.

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an interest in learning what ever happened to different characters I read about.

It’s human nature to want to hear ‘the rest of the story’. So when I wandered across a book written by the very same Mike Potts forty years after McPhee’s book came out, I had to pick up a copy.

“Tales of Trails in the Far North” is Mike Potts’ story of his life in Alaska. In 180 pages, Mike writes of his adventures, shares trapline journals and discusses the various life changes and pursuits he’s experienced through the decades. It isn’t exactly a literary masterpiece, but if you’re interested in hearing more from the young man McPhee introduced to the world back in the ‘70’s, check it out. For me, it’s another addition to my fast growing Alaska book collection.

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

Northwoods Sporting Journal

September 2020

Heart

(Cont. from pg 15) I have experienced a matter of the heart issue with game animals for years. My love for hunting is something that runs deep through my heart. You might say it’s heartfelt. As a matter of fact, I believe it’s ultimately a healthy issue.

I get up in the middle of the night, often driven by my inside clock. All the meanwhile others sleep.

After washing my face, I seek java so I can perk myself up. I gather my belongings and try my best to sneak out the door without waking anyone else up.

I then load up my vehicle with my hunting gear that I will need for the day.

I sense the quiet and calm of the wee hours, and after gently closing my truck door, I start my engine and slowly drive off saying a prayer of protection and peace over my family.

As I drive towards my destination to meet up with kindred brotherhood, I sip on my java, reflecting internally on the day ahead and its meaning, arriving in the dark.

We set our plan into motion and go to the sacred place we call “the woods” and if we are fortunate enough that day, we harvest a beautiful animal that we can take home to feed our family.

You see, a hunter’s heart is much like the wild game that we pursue. It is strong and vibrant. It has a lifeblood principle that drives it. It has a wild purity that connects it with nature.

It feeds what we call living the Sustainable Lifestyle.

Our goal is nourishment and to experience the spirit of the outdoors.

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Page 19

You should end up with 2 to 4 nice, clean pieces of meat.

In a large bowl, whisk 2 tablespoons of olive oil with the vinegar, Worcestershire, smoked salt and spices.

Place the pieces of heart into the marinade and massage into the meat.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 20

Aroostook Woods & Water

by Mike Maynard, Perham, ME So the current plague has affected me in ways I couldn’t have anticipated just a short time ago. I find I have more time to myself, away from the madding crowd and the influences of others (you know who you are…). I’m finding new and exciting ways to spend time and money.

After a lifetime of walking over hill and dale with a traditional fly rod in hand, and not knowing any better, I suddenly found myself

thrown into the deep end of the spey pool. My own fault, of course; apparently I’m easily led astray. Now, not having mastered that particular discipline yet, I’ve thrown myself into the opposite end of the gene pool: Tenkara! …and not only tenkara, but tiny tenkara. From a 9’ traditional rod to a 13’ spey rod to a 5’ collapsible rod that will fit in your back pocket.

I know, I know, we

The Tiny Tenkara Temptation should be discussing the coming of bird season and new found coverts. We should be discussing the best method for the cleaning of sacred deer rifles and sighting-in our new scopes, arguing calibers and ballistics; but here we are, starting on a new adventure at the tail end of the season. Humor me. We all have our favorite hunting rifles and shotguns; and we tolerate no disrespect towards our chosen rounds.

We are like the proverbial

sword in the stone, solidly set, and it would take one helluva’ successful argument to draw us free from that stone. These are but a few of the things that are hard-wired into our collective sporting DNA. But Tenkara is new (to most of us anyway).

We have no long standing cultural heritage from which to draw our conclusions on tenkara and make our long-winded defensive harangues. Granted, I’ve been reading about tenkara

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September 2020

now for a while, but with only muted interest; sitting around the woodstove in February during a blizzard and having already con-

So off I went, to tinytenkara.com and bought myself a ‘Tiny Ten’ rod. $52.00 later I was the proud owner of a new 5’ long addiction. This thing will literally collapse down to the size of a medium sized Maglite. sumed a lifetime’s worth of traditional hunting/fishing content will do that to you.

At that point I’ll read damn near anything.

It wasn’t until I read a blog post by Alan Petrucci that I started to feel the burn. Alan writes the wonderful ‘Small Stream Reflections’ blog from his home in Connecticut. The blog is a true gem. So well written; beautiful pictures, master class fly tier, and a simple philosophy that draws from the pure joy of fishing for small wild trout in the thin blue lines of, as he calls it, ‘Brook Trout Forest’. (smallstreamreflections.blogspot.com) Alan recently wrote about his first experiences with tenkara using a 5’ rod. His words and pictures struck a chord in me and suddenly I found myself diverted once again. I started thinking about all those meandering, alder (Tenkara cont. pg 21)

Northwoods Sporting Journal

September 2020

Tenkara

(Cont. from pg 20) choked streams we all have in our backyards and our memories. I started thinking that trying to weave a 9’ rod through the bracken and shrubbery was wayyyy more hassle than the little 6” brookie I was hunting was worth.

So off I went, to tinytenkara.com and bought myself a ‘Tiny Ten’ rod. $52.00 later I was the proud owner of a new 5’ long addiction. This thing will literally collapse down to the size of a medium sized Maglite. Stuff it in your pocket, grab a prescription bottle with just a couple of flies in it and off you go. It immediately brought back the joy of being a kid and crawling around on your hands and knees, sneaking up on a favorite hole. No waders, no sling pack, just a tired pair of jeans and some ratty old barn boots and go slithering through the mud. I’m thinking that the ancient pair of highly patched Red Ball hip waders that have been collecting dust out in the barn for the last 20 years may be

turned back in to service.

Alan also said something about kneepads, I thought he was kidding. Turns out he wasn’t; I get it now, Alan.

Great fun.

When the rod showed up, it immediately asked yet one more question I hadn’t considered until that moment: why hadn’t I learned how to make my own furled leaders yet? This tiny rod begs for one. Some people just don’t know when to say when…

Time is short and the learning curve not entirely flat, so for the moment I’ll buy a premade furled leader

and wait for another cold, snowy day in February to start learning how to braid horsehair. (Right, I don’t believe that one either) My guess is that I’ll still be buying the premade leaders for quite a while.

Thoreau famously said “Simplify!” Well, this is Stone Age simple. This is eye opening. To pare down to its simplest forms, a passion whose dunnage I had been steadily increasing with every season was damn near cathartic.

What’s to learn?! You already know everything!

Now just peel back the ve-

neer of all that accumulated knowledge and remember your roots, remember being a kid. No reel, just a stick and a string. Belly crawling through the skunk cabbage and making short drifts; pick it up and repeat. It’s like being Huck Finn but with better equipment.

Mike Maynard is a part time farmer, grandfather of several, and an incorrigible water- logged stream rat (soon to be a briar-scarred covert crawler).

He lives in Perham, Maine and can be reached at: perhamtrout@gmail.com

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It is a great privilege to have been asked by the Northwoods Sporting Journal to come to you each month and share my experiences, stories and daily work. I often see and do things that many others rarely ever will do and I am privileged and honored to work as a Maine Game Warden. I try each day to not take this for granted and do my best to protect Maine’s natural resources that we all hold so dear.

Many people, even avid

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Warden’s Words

by Game Warden Kale O’Leary, Ashland, ME

sportsmen and women may not understand the duties, sacrifices, time and effort that is put into this job to protect the resources for others to use and harvest.

For example, I currently cover a “district” or assigned area that encompasses sixteen townships ranging from Oxbow Plantation in central Aroostook county to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway headwater lakes in northwestern Piscataquis county.

It can be overwhelm-

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The Warden’s Story

ing to think of the vast responsibility to be the sole protector of so much pristine and valuable resource in the form of trout, salmon, deer, moose, bear, grouse and everything in between!

One question I receive often is how I am treated by the sporting community when checking or interacting with them afield.

My answer has always been that I can count on one hand the number of poor interactions or negative encounters I have had when checking a man or women who is actively hunting, fishing or trap-

ping in the North Maine Woods. I work for the honest, law abiding sportsmen to ensure wildlife is being protected. I do not work against them. I am here to protect and ensure the continued opportunities that we are blessed with in this region. A true sportsmen is a close ally and friend of the local Game Warden, not an adversary. A sportsmen who does things correctly and honestly should take offense to those intent on cheating and taking fair chase out of the equation.

Most Mainers may understand the general job description of a Game

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Warden, but many are often surprised by the wideranging duties that we actually carry out. The “North Woods Law” television show brought national attention to the duties and responsibilities Wardens are tasked with. I often tell young people who are interested in the career of a Game Warden that the most thrilling aspect of the job is the unpredictability and the “unknown” that comes with waking up

It can be overwhelming to think of the vast responsibility to be the sole protector of so much pristine and valuable resource in the form of trout, salmon, deer, moose, bear, grouse and everything in between!

everyday and jumping into the truck. One minute you could be called to a search for a missing deer hunter and before you return home that evening you’ve covered a personal injury ATV crash, rescued individuals whose boat capsized while canoeing and come across a hunter who had killed too many grouse. Each season brings with it a total change in activity and keeps the job changing and evolving with every month that passes.

I can tell you the Warden Service is a bond of men and women like nothing I have ever, or will ever be a part of. For the lucky few who have donned the (Story cont. pg 41)

September 2020

By Nathan Theriault You have been drawn for a once-in-a-lifetime moose tag. Or maybe, second, third or fourth. If that is the case, you are extremely lucky or blessed.

There’s nothing wrong with a little of both, if it gets you a tag. However, being lucky alone does not work so well today with filling a tag.

Over the years OMM has invested in all the best tools of the trade to be able to get our clients in front of some of the largest bulls in the woods. Trail cameras and scent, along with careful calling, are critical tools and improve a hunter’s odds of success.

You probably have heard the saying “you get out of it what you put into it.” This statement cannot be more accurate when it comes to moose hunting. Whether it is choosing your outfitter or planning a do-it-yourself

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Tactics for Big Moose During the fall rut, the biggest bulls will travel far and wide looking for receptive cows.

harder for the human eye to see. The time has come to collect your thoughts and put together strategies to address this dynamic.

Cameras will help you study animal movement.

Make sure to spread your cameras into many types

An Outfitter’s Tools of the Trade: A Highly Successful Maine Moose Guide and Outfitter Shares a Few Tricks of the Trade. hunt, hunters need to do their homework.

Nathan Theriault Sometimes we are fortunate to locate animals within a half mile from a road, but most trophy moose are miles away from any ground accessible by vehicle. Moose habitat has changed with the landscape thus pushing the moose into places that can be

Page 23

of terrain, forest types and areas with water. By doing this you will be able to put together a timeline that will add to your scouting repertoire. When placing your cameras be sure the batteries are new, and the memory card is formatted and cleaned so the pictures are in the proper order.

Trigger the camera before setting to make sure you get the shot. You may only get one chance. Be cautious of false triggers and clear away any brush that may cause them. We set our cameras for 3-shot bursts to catch those bulls following a cow. We try to set cameras on the high side to keep them out of reach of pesky bears. Sometimes

This can be the hunter’s reward for doing his homework on a Maine moose hunt. a stick behind the camera ing to a bull that has laid can give a better angle. claim to an area. These Camera use is regulated, so visuals are taken seriously get landowner permission by a big bull and cause him prior to setting and label to be more responsive to calling. the cameras.

Artificial and natural Calling is the most scent can be extremely fun way to interact with a helpful in attracting a big cagey old bull. A scapula bull and can also help to or shoulder blade makes a keep him in the area. Mak- very realistic antler sound ing a fake pit and tearing up when used on trees and nearby bushes is intimidat- brush. This resembles an

aggressive bull marking his area and announcing he is present and willing to fight for territory or his cow. Natural sounds such as breaking branches or stripping leaves to imitate walking or feeding is a great way to get a response.

It is a subtle tactic and allows you time to adjust your location and get the wind right. Be careful not to over call. As a rule, if the moose are very vocal you can be too.

In conclusion, much needs to be considered during each week of hunting.

One common factor to look at is the normal breeding time in the zone. As bulls breed the cows in their respective areas, bulls will begin to travel looking for additional receptive cows.

(Moose cont. pg 39)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 24

September 2020

Question Of The Month September 2020

Are There Cougars On the Red Dirt Road?

By Timothy Curtis

My name is Tim Curtis, I am 31 years old. I grew up in Down East Maine north of Eastport. I have spent my whole life in the Northern Woods of our state either cutting wood or having fun in some way.

I am an avid sportsman; I spend countless hours every year chasing Maine’s most elusive big game animals, moose, deer and bobcats to name a few.

Through my excursions, I have learned a lot about the North Woods and the creatures that roam it. In more recent years I have lived in Old Town, which has allowed me to spend all of my late falls and early winters on what I like to call “That Red Dirt Road,” more known to locals as the “Stud Mill Road.”

I travel the whole length of the road every year and know it like the back of my hand. For people who don’t know about the Stud Mill Rd, it is a 60 mile stretch of road runs from Milford to Princeton with miles upon miles of vast wilderness and old woods roads between the two towns. Whenever I want to go back Down East

to visit family I take the Red Dirt instead of the tar in hopes to have an encounter instead of a boring ride.

Living in Maine my whole life has allowed me so many great encounters with the animals our creator left for us to enjoy and live off.

Today through this text, I will only tell of two that in a funny way changed my life forever. Normally I keep these experiences to myself because it is a true-life experience that I

buck home to Old Town because we had got our first significant amount of snow overnight and knew it would be fun looking for tracks and book-marking them in my head for years to come. It did not take me long to realize that almost all the creatures in the woods were on their feet as they usually are after a first snow. There was coyote

the Red Dirt to check and see if there were any fresh deer tracks that year. This particular cut was known to have lots of deer movement late November in years prior. As I was riding in the road smothered with coyote tracks and no deer tracks, I remembered that I had my .270 behind the seat and my cottontail screamer.

I decided to park at the end

Today through this text, I will only tell of two that in a funny way changed my life forever. Normally I keep these experiences to myself because it is a true-life experience that I cherish and so many people tend to disregard and not believe. cherish and so many people tend to disregard and not believe. The article in last month’s Journal regarding Mountain Lions in Maine has inspired me to do so, and share with author V. Paul Reynolds. I almost felt obligated to after all the years of reading the North Woods Sporting Journal.

I love and appreciate all writers and shared stories.

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One October day back in 2008, my cousin and I took a ride out the Red Dirt in hopes to shoot some birds while also doing our yearly deer scout. In those years, we spent a lot of time deer hunting in the Nicatous Lake Region of the wilderness. We were riding along and I was looking out my side window in hopes to see a bird when my

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cousin says – “What’s that in the road up there? That’s a cat!” When I turned my head to look, I saw what appeared to be feline with a long sweeping tail. It walked across the road 75 yards or so in front of us.

My cousin swears to this day that is was a Mountain Lion aka Cougar and I believe he is right. Here is why this event becomes more significant to me. Fast forward eight years to the first day of Maine’s muzzleloader season on deer 2016. I had been Down East a lot that November hunting with my brother on the ground I grew up on and had spent Thanksgiving week with family.

I had already tagged out with a 221 lb buck that turned out to be 8.5 years old sporting a 33” neck so I wasn’t deer hunting with my muzzleloader. However I decided to take the

Illustration by Mark McCollough track everywhere. I saw of the road to have lunch a couple deer and lots of and scream a little with my deer tracks. When I got to rabbit call in hopes to get “Woodchopping Ridge” by a shot at one of those deer the compressor station for killers. I sat and called for the pipeline, I looked down a bout an hour and nothing. a side road as I always do I was just messing around and I caught a glimpse of I didn’t really care to get something in the mouth of results so after that hour I the road. When I backed up decided to leave. I didn’t go to see what it was I put the far after I started the truck binoculars on it to be sure I and headed back out to the was looking at a bobcat and road when I saw what I had I was right. Further inspec- been waiting to see since tion of the fresh tracks on that 2008 encounter. the snow made me realize This time there was that he was hunting rab- no questioning it when it bits. No surprise there as ran across the road in front bunnies are one of their of me at 30 yards. It was a favorite meals. I carried cougar. The size of this cat on with my day and when and the long sweeping tail I got close to the 32,000 made me realize it in an road that goes in towards instant this was no doubt a Nicatous Lake I wanted lion. It was no fisher cat, no to ride in a side road off (Question cont. pg 30)

September 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Fishing Maine’s Arctic Charr

The Arctic Charr, is native to North America, Europe, and Asia. Here in Maine, in its most southernly range, it’s said to be the oldest native strain found in North America.

Populations of non-native Arctic Charr can be found in Maine, Idaho and Colorado. Native Arctic Charr in Maine is a very special and unique fishery, especially because it’s the only state in the lower U.S. forty eight states to have wild, native charr. As a matter of fact, each charr water is unique unto itself.

The evolution of a body of water lends itself to it’s inhabitance. Charr is no different, so understanding its evolution is vital to its future.

There are 12 waters that host these rare, special fish. People ask me now and then, what makes Maine so special? People always guess at the lobster, moose or our mountain jewel, Mt Katahdin. I immediately bring up this fish we affectionally call the “Blueback Trout”. Although there are other places that non-native Arctic Charr can be found, Maine is the only state in the lower 48 that has populations of this wild (born in nature), native (historically found) species. Fishing for them is certainly a premium opportunity and should be on anyone’s fishing bucket list that has an appreciation for native inhabitance. As a Maine Registered Guide, I truly feel blessed and privileged to be able to share the Maine charr fishery with all walks of life. Whether I’m talking at a trade show, school or on a guided charr

Page 25

Maine Outdoor Adventure

by Rich Yvon, Bradford, ME ways be taken not to target these fish of the deep when surface temperatures are above 70 degrees fahrenheit. Injury or even death may occur with thermal shock and over exertion.

No matter what fish is targeted, sometimes it’s better not to fish for a species if conditions are not conducive to do so. Remember, if we are to take care of the fish and its habitat, the fishing will take care of itself!

these fish live and thrive in cold glacial lakes, ponds and rivers. Each body of water that holds charr in Maine has its own set of conditions that the fish has historically survived and prospered. The charr needs cold water to survive. It can only be found in the shallows either in the spring foraging for food, or the fall, spawning in the shallows. Some common ways to target the fish is to fly fish after ice out. On The author with an Arctic Charr.

Contact Rich at 207some water bodies known 907-9151, info@Twinmapto have evolved both with trip, I always feel fortunate to cause harm to the speto be where I am spreading cies by introduction of an smelt and charr. The charr leoutdoors.com the education and native invasive species. Fishing will gladly take a favorite Rich is a Registered fish passion to others. artificials is one way we Maine smelt imitation such Maine Guide. He owns Fishing for Arctic and operates Twin Maple There are 12 waters that host these Charr, like any fish, goes Outdoors guide service back to understanding its rare, special fish. People ask me and sporting lodge located behavior, evolution, and now and then, what makes in Bradford, Maine. When current state of being. As I Maine so special?

Rich is not on adventures, mentioned previously, the charr of a water is unique. can keep our native fisher- as Joe’s smelt, Grey Ghost he serves as a board memIn some waters, charr had ies intact for future genera- or Warden’s Worry. The ber for the Native Fish Coevolved to live and grow tions. Fishing for the rarest two most popular deep- alition, Maine chapter. He eating nothing more that freshwater salmonid east of water methods of catching is also an outdoor writer, plankton. While in other the Mississippi is all about the Arctic Charr, are down tree farmer, fly-fishing inwaters, the fish had evolved quality not quantity. riggers and lead core line structor and certified NRA with other fish such as the The Blueback trout is trolling. Caution should al- firearms instructor. rainbow smelt. Obeying very similar to its other nafishing laws and knowing tive siblings the brook trout the evolution is vital not and lake trout. As a charr,

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 26

List

in our vest; for both us and the dogs. We never give our dog water from a camp fau(Cont. from pg 12) afternoon. They’re offered cet…nor do we drink from water after each run. If it’s a camp faucet. We always an exceptionally warm fall use bottled spring water. day, we carry bottled water Also, when you pack dog

food, be sure to add for an additional day or two. If a snow storm or hurricane comes through and blocks the roads for a few days, you don’t want to be short on dog food. The last com-

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Garmin Alpha would work well. If you’re just worried about your dog, then the Garmin 550 Plus will work very nicely.

Always pack a gun cleaning kit when traveling for a hunt. I’m not suggesting you hunt in a downpour; however, a little rain has never stopped us from stepping into the woods.

Hunting season is too short to give up hunting time to a little bad weather.

If you’ve rented a housekeeping cabin (no meals served), plan your meals carefully. Susan and I always stop at the last grocery store before getting to the camp. That keeps our groceries as fresh as possible before the long journey through the woods.

Travel and hunt safely this fall.

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September 2020

September 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Let’s see if this gun is as accurate as yorn.”

Someone in the crowd (Cont. from pg 7) began to snicker and Basbetween his spread knees. sett simply turned and ran.

“Howdy, there Fet,” “Joe! Don’t you DARE!” BANG! Joe said mildly. “Thought I heard a kind of “chunk” just after Elgin’s last shot. In the heart of the Allagash Sounded jest like a pellet and Fish River waterways....... gun.”

“Now Joe,” Fet began Fly Fishing weekly, “it was all in fun… and Trolling we was just…”

“I like ta have fun, WIN THE MOOSE too,” Joe said agreeably.

LOTTERY? “I always wondered if this CONTACT ME FOR anemic .22 birdshot would sting any at close range.

On Fish River Tell you what…be a sport Portage Lake, Maine an’ let’s find out.” He lowEmail me at Specializing in Northern ered the muzzle of the highlandingcamps@gmail.com Maine Bear Hunts Ruger slowly toward Fet’s cramped posterior.

“No! Joe! Wait…!”

Fet dropped the rifle and eeled out from under the (603) 381-0080 or (603) 381-8376 table, running for the backwww.highlandingcamps.com stop. Joe let him get about *Registered Maine Guide - David Prevost* five steps.

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Joe turned the gun • ROOMS AVAILABLE toward Elgin, who began to back away, sweat running down his face. “Now, Joe…” “I figure you jest lost the match, Elgin,” Joe said in a low and savage voice.

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Page 27

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 28

News

(Cont. from pg 13) The crash remains under investigation.

Snow Traps Tuckerman Hikers

At approximately 1:30 p.m., on Saturday July 18, 2020, a 911 call was received for a hiker who was caught in an avalanche in Tuckerman’s Ravine Trail. The call was transferred to a Conservation Officer. When the CO spoke to the caller, it was relayed that he watched one person get caught in an avalanche. While obtaining more information, the

caller stated that other hikers, near him, were saying that there was potentially two people caught.

When the situation was described further, it was understood that there was not an avalanche but an actual collapse of a snow formation known as “The Tuckerman Snow Arch.”

The CO asked if anyone could safely make their way over to the snow pile and assess the situation for safety of responders and potential lifesaving of the victims. The caller said that he did not think it was safe for anyone at that time.

Calls were made to Appalachian Mountain

Club, Androscoggin Valley Search and Rescue Team, and other Conservation Officers in order to respond to the area for the emergency.

While responding to the area, further information was received that there was only one person under the snow.

A coordinated response was organized and hikers were relayed up the Sherburne Ski Trail to Hermit Lake Shelter where they hiked up to the victim’s location. Due to the rescue being on the White Mountain National Forest, US Forest Service contributed resources including ATVs and hikers in order to assist with the rescue.

September 2020

The victim was identified as 28-year-old Alphonse Riang of Quincy Massachusetts. It was stated that Riang went off the trail and under the snow arch to take a video of the area. The snow arch collapsed while Riang was underneath it, crushing him with what was described as, “a basketball court size amount of snow.” Another witness said that, “it sounded like a sonic boom when the snow arch collapsed and landed.”

It is unknown how long Riang was under the snow and ice, however passing hikers who saw and heard the event, helped pick up and move the large

ice/snow blocks that fell on him and moved him to safety. AMC personnel from Hermit Lake were the first to arrive at Riang, after he was moved from the snow collapse. As more rescue personnel arrived it was determined that Riang had received serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Due to his injuries, and location on the Tuckerman Ravine Trail, it was determined that a slow, assisted walk down the trail would be just as safe as a carryout. Riang was assisted down to Hermit Lake shelter where he was then loaded onto an ATV. Riang was brought down (News cont. pg 52)

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September 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Migrating Raptors

During the month of September I can be found on especially clear days looking skyward for migrating raptors. Raptors is the term used for both diurnal and nocturnal birds of

other observers in Maine and elsewhere. This all helps the “big picture”. I always love the challenge of identification of the various species soaring overhead.

Sometimes they can be

Migrating raptors riding the thermals. prey. There are 38 species of diurnal/daytime raptors in North America.

I like to “hawk watch” on days following a cold front passage bringing north and northwest winds.

This often produces thermals, rising columns of warm air. The raptors like to use them for energyefficient travel. A few years ago I set up Cooper, Maine as an official Hawk Migration Association of North America/HMANA watch site for both the spring and the fall migratory months.

I use the official HMANA forms online to record what I observed. The public is always welcome to access the data. It allows analysis of migration movement patterns and population numbers.

The American Kestrel is an example of one species that has dwindled in numbers. So when I do see them, I am happy and hope for the best. On some days I may see no migrating raptors at all. I still send in my reports as they are still valuable. They can be compared with those from

seen only with binoculars.

I have to use silhouettes, field marks, and even behaviors to determine what species they are. If this is not possible, I can report they were accipiters, buteos, or falcons. A bird with short, rounded wings and a long tail could be an accipiter. Buteos have large, rounded wings and broad, shorter tails. Falcons have long, pointed wings and

long tails. Much larger raptors in size and wingspan could be ospreys, eagles, or vultures. It is an exciting experience to try to identify various species flying together in a “kettle”, a group of mixed species of raptors soaring on thermals together.

In Cooper I have seen

Page 29

The Bird Perch

by Karen Holmes, Cooper, ME Shouldered Hawks have white tails with narrow black bands while BroadWinged Hawks have broad black bands on white tails.

The things can get more interesting because juve-

nature will always go on “doing its thing” no matter what problems humans can create for themselves.

Karen E. Holmes is a writer and a retired

In Cooper I have seen kettles containing Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, Turkey Vultures, and Ospreys. In the fall I mostly see individuals such as Red-Tailed, Red-Shouldered Hawks and American Kestrels, Merlins, Northern Harriers, and Bald Eagles. kettles containing Sharpshinned and Cooper ’s Hawks, Turkey Vultures, and Ospreys. In the fall I mostly see individuals such as Red-Tailed, Red-Shouldered Hawks and American Kestrels, Merlins, Northern Harriers, and Bald Eagles. I find it very exciting to spot a Peregrine Falcon or Golden Eagle. My bird field guides help me discern the important field markings. For example, Red-

nile hawks especially have different plumages from the adults.

You cannot let all this stop you from having fun, going outside and looking up. This is not supposed to be stressful. When I see any migration, I remember that

e d u c a t o r re s i d i n g i n Cooper,Maine. She coordinates the Annual Loon Count for Washington County and also volunteers for other wildlife research projects. She always enjoys the variety of wild flora and fauna in Down East Maine.

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Page 30

Question (Cont. from pg 24) bobcat, no lynx, no deer, no domestic dog, etc. Further inspection of the tracks proved so even more. Now I grew up hearing stories of people seeing them quite often so to me at the time this was a good day for sure but by no means unheard of. It was not until after

this day did I realize what a controversial issue this was. I never did take any good photos of the tracks and I regret that I didn’t.

I was going to follow the tracks in hopes to see him again but when he went out across a huge bog I thought better of it, so I went back to see where he had come from. When I got back to the road and on the side of the road he came from,

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I came across a stump that the cat sat on just off of that side of the road.

Only thing I could think of was how he must have been sitting on that stump listening to my rabbit call and when I started the truck and headed in his direction it spooked him into running across the road in front of me and out onto that open bog…Ironically, this encounter was less than a mile as the crow flies from the 2008 sighting. I spent the rest of that winter with a camera on a well-

September 2020

positioned bait that sat at the end of a blown over tree that the cat had walked by before going out across that open bog with no luck of him coming back. Cats usually hunt and travel in big circles and it’s not very unlikely for them to use the same trail twice or more.

Cougars however, have a lot bigger circles than a bobcat or lynx do, especially male cougars. That cat never came back across that trail that winter. Male cougars have been known to have circles up to 100

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miles in a radius. Grown females tend to have circles around that 20-mile range but these big cats can travel far distances. A few years back a cougar got ran over in Connecticut that was collared from a state out in the mid-west somewhere. (this info can be found on google.com) To this day I am upset with myself for not taking good photos to bring back and prove my story. I am not sure it would matter.

Starting that same winter, I started hunting bobcats with a veteran guide and a good friend that I had met on that red dirt road on one of his hunting trips. I spent the next few winters learning all about cats and how to run them with hounds with this lifelong cat hunter. He has been hunting bobcats for 50 plus years and does not believe my lion story.

He like everyone else is understandably skeptical because of the lack of evidence proving they exist here. You would think in 50 years of hunting bobcats through Maine winters he would of come across a lion track. I spent the next few winters running hounds with him to this day still have not cut another lion track. We did however, cut just one lynx track in the north region of our state near Bingham and we all know there is a breeding population of lynx in our state.

Here is why I believe people won’t buy into the fact that cougars exist here in Maine: 1) A lot of Mainer’s have spent tons of time recreating in the rural regions of Maine without ever seeing one thus creating it must not be possible that they are here. The old saying, “I’ll believe it when (Question cont. pg 35)

Northwoods Sporting Journal

September 2020

Getting to The Spot

If you are among the fortunate few who either have exclusive access to good hunting property in Maine or the even fewer who own your own property on which to hunt, then this month’s column may

When you have a good hunting spot, I mean that rare occasion where it all comes together and you want to spend serious time there, hunting from a stand or skulking around the fringes one problem

you plan ahead.

Trail maintenance.

How many times have you spent all this time putting up a stand in a primo location only to neglect the access trail? I’ll raise my hand. One friend of mine takes pains to rake all the leaves, sticks and crunchy things out of the trail leading to his stand sites. By doing this, he may be showing other hunters

Page 31

Post-Script From Pocasset

by Josh Reynolds, Wayne, ME What started as a way to combine two sports we both love, mountain biking and hunting became perhaps the fastest, most stealthy way to get to the spot. The Fat Bike. If you’ve never seen a fat bike, take a look at the photo accompanying

spots, particularly in the urban hunting areas. Bike tracks can be a common site and the speed of the bike allows him to park his truck much further away from his spots, preserving secrecy.

For those less fit, less

What started as a way to combine two sports we both love, mountain biking and hunting, became perhaps the fastest, most stealthy way to get to the spot.

in the area the way to his Hunting equipped fat bike. spot, but his tactic ensures (Photo by Josh Reynolds) silent ingress and evacuanot be for you, unless, you always persists. How do tion. The trick has proven too are looking for a quick I get to my spot in away its worth time and time and stealthy ride into your that I remain undetected by again for him. More than hunting spot. man or beast? How many once he has arrived at his I have the good for- times have you been busted stand undetected to find tune of knowing and hunt- doing this? Busted by the his quarry there almost ing with a diverse cast of wind, busted because you immediately. Had he not characters; some casual were too late because the silenced the route in, those weekenders, some dedi- walk is too long, busted by bucks would have busted cated trackers, some slow your own noise on a frosty him long before he ever stalkers, some wayward morning. It’s happened arrived at the spot.

The Fat Bike. This woods wanderers, some to me too many times to tree stand sitters, some up count. Some of those hunt- other trick has been used early any weather all day ing friends I mentioned to great effect by another plodders and some sleep in, above have a trick or two friend. He and I love to ride fair weather strollers. As all that can really pay off if mountain bikes together. of those above mentioned are at least 40 years old and have been hunting for SELECT JOTUL WOOD STOVES UP TO 20% OFF a long time, all have seen WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! success in the deer woods, some more than others and you can guess which ones hit the mark more than BREWER 603 Wilson St. 989-0077 not. For a good hunter, the ELLSWORTH 403 High St. 667-4122 learning never stops and I can truly say that I have learned lessons from every one of these individuals, sometimes the lesson came from me helping to show the ropes to a more novice hunter, but more often its me learning from others with more experience and success.

this column. Think of it as a human powered ATV ‘cause that’s what it is. The big, soft, hi-float tires role over anything silently. It’s 3/4s of a mile into your stand, how does getting there in 10 minutes vs. a half hour sound? A dude in camo zooming along on a mountain bike looks different to deer, they get confused and usually make a couple jumps then just sit and watch – your there, your gone and so is your scent. My friend is very careful about protecting the secrecy of some of his

athletic types there are even electric, power assisted fat bikes. That’s right, you don’t even need to break a sweat and stink up your hunting clothes, though a high-end electric fat bike may break your bank account.

Combine both tips – raking the trail and using a fat bike and you’ve just increased your odds at catching up to that buck.

Josh Reynolds is the Assistant Editor of The Journal. He can be reached at jreyn207@gmail.com

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Page 32

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Buck Hunter

by Hal Blood, Moose River, ME Like sand through an hourglass, summer is slipping away once again.

Soon the first frost of fall will blanket the raspberry bushes and goldenrod. This summer was probably one of the warmest and driest in recent memory. My memory anyway! The dry condition prevented very many berries from ripening.

Bears rely on berries this time of year and the lack of them has them rummaging around for alternatives.

Bears in the north country rarely go near houses or any human activity. This year has been much different as hunger has made them bold enough to take a chance near dwellings.

Several people around here have had bears raid their bear bait in their backyards or at their camps. As soon as hunters were able to put their bear bait in the woods, it didn’t take the bears long to find it. I put out a few baits myself and

start them off with a 55-gallon drum half full. One of mine was empty the first time I checked it and it looked like a big bear was camped out near the bait site. The bear kill statewide should be higher than the past few years if the Covid virus doesn’t scare hunters

September 2020

Game Camera Ethics

was also a record for me with deer sightings. There were very few mornings that I didn’t see a deer and sometimes several while driving Route 201 or Route 15 between here and Rockwood. Some were buck, but mostly doe’s and most had fawns with them.

The downside is that a few of them have been hit by vehicles. If the weather cooperates, it should be a great deer season coming

lately is the trail cameras that send a photo to your phone as soon as the camera is triggered. Granted, you need a cellular signal for it to work which limits the use in the Big Woods, but I have been thinking of it in the sense of ethics.

I have a few trail cameras and use them for the fun of seeing what might come by a certain spot. I may use the information to determine if I might

What fun or accomplishment is it to have your phone ding when you’re sitting home watching TV and you get a photo showing a buck around your stand location? into staying home. I don’t know why it should as what better way to spend a week than sitting by yourself in the solitude of the woods and enjoying nature.

The dry weather dried up the insects a lot quicker than most years. The deer flies came out in early July this summer but were mostly gone by early August. Usually they are a menace in August when they swarm your ears while hauling bait pails into the woods. I think this summer

up.

In this age of technology, things advance quicker than I can keep up with. Being from the old school, I have a hard time embracing most of it. Like a lot of things in hunting, many hunters have turned to technology as a crutch, shortcut or easy way out when it comes to hunting and some use it instead of improving their hunting or woodsman skills. I embrace technology as a handy tool, but never rely on it to replace my intuition while hunting. One thing I’ve been seeing a lot of social media chatter on

hunt an area but never to determine when to hunt.

Animals in the wild are not on any type of schedule, with maybe the exception of where there is a lot of human activity and they have learned to pattern people. I think cameras will actually cause you to more wrong decisions than right ones. You’re far better off to do your scouting, learn the habits, read the sign an animal has left to make your decisions. Remember a trail camera can only tell you what there “was”, not what will be there.

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sending real time photos to you. My opinion is that it is not ethical in the respect that it is actually taking the “hunt” out of hunting and maybe making it just about the killing. What fun or accomplishment is it to have your phone ding when you’re sitting home watching TV and you get a photo showing a buck around your stand location? You then sneak out to see if you can shoot him.

Is that really hunting? Are you going to be able to tell a good hunting story about that to your kids or grandkids? I think not and if you do, you are training them to take the easy road as well.

Hunting is by definition about the “hunt”. It’s about matching wits and skills with your quarry in hopes of prevailing and bringing home the meat. Hunting should be more about sharing the stories of the hunt with friends and family, so they may learn from your success or failure. Technology is wonderful, but I hope we as hunters realize that just because it is there, it doesn’t mean we need to use it if it crosses an ethical line.

This is just something to ponder as we all go along on our own hunting journey interacting with Gods creatures.

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

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September 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal Guns & Ammo:

The Barbecue Guns

dustry. In the 90s, I was involved in the reintroduction of the Schofield Revolver.

This was a state-of-the-art, modern revolver made to the traditional design by reverse engineering an original. It is in the original .45 Schofield caliber, also known as .45 S&W. This gun was presented to me by the employees who worked with me at the Smith & Wesson Performance Cen-

Page 33

A Guide’s Perspective

by Tom Kelly, Orient, ME

was one of the first of these new models made. It also has an additional unfluted cylinder with an engraved signature from each engineer whom I was blessed to work with. Priceless to me.

The last of my barbecue guns is a very utilitarian 3½“ barrel, Ruger Super

put on your best leather and shooting iron, and enjoy a barbecue. Teach your kids to lock up the guns before you crack open a beer or cocktail and don’t forget to come and see us at the lake.

Tom is a Registered Maine Guide. He is the

I have, in my past lives, been involved with some exciting developments in the firearm industry. In the 90s, I was involved in the reintroduction of the Schofield Revolver. This was a state-of-the-art, modern revolver made to the The author’s barbecue guns. traditional design by reverse engineering an original.

In my life, I have had want to stress that these ac-

the distinct honor to have met and become friends with some honorable, awesome characters. Many of these people have been associated with the firearm and outdoor industry or law enforcement. In many cases, both. In these circles, the barbecue is a time-honored social event.

These events range from the Master’s Tournament of Shooting to Sheriff’s Barbecues in Texas. Most of these events did not fall into the “Bermuda shorts and flip flops” category, at least not to start. The events I am talking about today, are the “iron creased jeans with your best leather, and your favorite barbecue gun.

These guns are fine quality, fully functional, dress up guns and leather. I also

cessories were shown off, sometimes shot at targets and then locked away before any alcohol was even thought about.

Sadly, these barbecues are largely a product of the past. So, that is a barbecue gun. The time frame in which I participated in these activities was largely in the “80s” and “90s”. So, as a result, many of these guns were revolvers and 1911 pistols. I have accumulated a number of barbecue guns over the years.

Most of these have been awarded for some type of service. This makes them priceless to me and never to be sold or traded.

I have, in my past lives, been involved with some exciting developments in the firearm in-

ter when the project concluded. Priceless to me.

While I was employed there, I made a unique revolver based on a Smith & Wesson model 1917. The original was in .45 acp.

The one I made was in .44 mag. It is the only one ever made. This gun was sent to my local dealer for me by my former boss, shortly after leaving that job. Priceless to me.

The next cherished gun is a Ruger Super Black Hawk Bisley revolver in .454 Casul caliber. This

Red Hawk in .44 magnum with a one of a kind factory Melonite Black finish.

These last two Ruger guns were presented to me upon my retirement from that great company. Priceless to me.

These guns represent a large part of how I have spent my life. I still carry on the barbecue tradition with my family, and on the first day of each hunting week with my hunting guests, which happens to be a Sunday. My point in all of this is, press your jeans,

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.

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

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Page 34

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Anticosti

by Mark Cote, Rumford, ME The good news is, the hunting season on Anticosti will go on…. The bad news is, it will be without some of us.

The Canadian government made the decision to delay the border re-opening until late August. Because of that, Sepaq was forced

Canadian Provinces to hunt with us, but I assure you, we will make every effort to make it right with them.” stated Robin Plante, Director of Sepaq Anticosti. “We will offer a full refund to those who choose, or apply their money to the 2021 hunting season. I prom-

September 2020

Anticosti: The News is Mixed

guests carry their reservations to 2021, we will protect their spot for the week and chosen camp. If they request a refund, we will happily return their money, but the spot will be available to be filled by someone else and they will lose the possibility to re-book the spot.”

“It is important to note that no decision has been made yet regarding the hunting trips scheduled for

been under the impression that a ten percent harvest is a healthy number. The deer population has been estimated to be over one hundred thousand. Even

the total revenue to Sepaq Anticosti. Hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, grocery stores, etc. all will feel the impact. Hopefully they will be able to weather the

on a good year the harvest numbers seldom reach ten thousand. Allowing it to swell beyond the carrying capacity of the land could have devastating consequences. Starvation would most certainly inflate winter mortality.

Non-residents account for twenty percent of

financial storm left in the wake of Covid-19.

“It is important to note that no decision has been made yet regarding the hunting trips scheduled for November and December of 2020. We will be closely monitoring the border and Covid-19 situation later in the fall.” Robin concluded. to make the difficult decision to cancel all nonresident guest reservations for September and October hunts. With quarantine requirements still in effect, it became apparent that it would be impossible to assure American hunters their stay.

“We are sad to announce the decision not to allow our friends from the United States and other

ise, nobody will lose their money.”

When guests hunt on Anticosti, they are offered priority to return the following season on the same week. Some of us have held the same week for years.

That will not change. In fact, just because we may not be able to go this season doesn’t mean we will lose our spot.

Robin continued, “If

November and December of 2020. We will be closely monitoring the border and Covid-19 situation later in the fall.” Robin concluded.

Although it is disappointing that we have come to this point, I think we will all agree, this is a very fair decision of how to handle it. If we want to continue to have the opportunity to continue hunting Anticosti, the outfitters need to be able to financially survive this.

At one point, there were concerns that the season would not go on at all. To be kept healthy, any deer herd needs to be thinned out. I have always

For more information contact my friends at the reservation desk at 1-800463-0863 or visit www.

Sepaq.com/Anticosti As always, I welcome your comments at AnticostiMark@ gmail.com

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September 2020

Question

(Cont. from pg 30) I see it” is understandably true. 2) There are no good photos or game camera pictures to prove their existence because for anyone that has ever seen one understands the sighting usually doesn’t last very long and is totally unexpected. Not many roam our woods with a camera at the ready to capture the once in a lifetime image.

Now Maine hunters should understand that concept more than anybody. It’s not much different than trying to catch that buck of a lifetime in your scope other than there are a lot more big bucks in Maine then there are Mountain Lions. In my opinion, there have been no good game camera pictures because most game cameras are set up near farmland not out in the big woods. Most

Northwoods Sporting Journal

hunters I know set their cameras up closer to town in places easily accessible.

Now I am not saying lions never roam those areas, it is just more likely for them to be closer to the real rural areas of our state where less people are. I’ve talked to and heard of some hunters catching what appears to be a lion on their trail cameras, however when asked to produce these images they usually come up with some excuse as to why they can’t show them to you, which causes even more skepticism for those who have never seen one.

We live in a state filled with tall tales from the past; some are experts at telling these tails thus creating a huge lack of trust and accountability to believe someone we barely know.

3) Cats are instinctively illusive animals and I have learned that bobcats are no doubt Maine’s smart-

est animals. Whitetails are very smart animals and it wasn’t until I started hunting bobcats with hounds that I realized how smart they are. They know their own territories better than any other animal and know how to navigate them when being hunted. They almost always hang out in jack-fir thickets where you cannot see 10 feet in front of your face. I believe there is an estimated 3,000 or more bobcats in the state of Maine, now think about how many times you have seen one of them. I bet you can count them on one hand. Same goes for lynx.

Lynx are on the rebound in the state, we hardly ever see them, usually only people that ever do see the are people who know where a few lynx are known to be, and they are known for hanging around roadways when breeding in February.

I don’t believe bobcats nor

cougars like roadways at all except for when they cross them in a hurry, hardly ever do lions or bobcats walk down roadways like lynx sometimes do. This all matters and comes into play when trying to explain why people will not believe lion are here. 4) Last but certainly not least, I don’t believe the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW) wants to acknowledge that mountain lions are here even through some of their members must know they exist.

Acknowledging they are here would require them to be put on the endangered species list, which would cause a whole lot of havoc on the Maine hunting, and trapping laws as did the undeniable lynx population. However, when I attended the 2015 Maine Sportsman Show in Orono and got a copy of the “Species of Maine” list that

Page 35

the IFW passes of every year, the cougar was on that list, in years following whenever I got that same list the cougar was not on it. Leaving me to wonder why it was on it the list for that one year. The state acknowledge they were here in the early 1900’s. I don’t get why it would seem so far-fetched that they could be on the rebound such as lynx. I guess that is only a question that our future can answer. I will say that if and when you do get a good look at one of these prestigious cats there will be no mistaking it for a fisher-cat or anything else for that matter. You will know for sure that what you just laid eyes on was Maine’s ghost cat, and what a great day that will be for anyone lucky enough to lay eyes on this majestic animal.

Timothy Curtis lives in Baileyville.

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Page 36

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Marsh Island Chronicles

by Matthew Dunlap, Old Town, ME “Big game hunting.”

It’s a phrase that has a strange allure; and if you’ve read the gripping narratives of adventure in the bush by famed writers like Robert Ruark, Elmer Keith, or Ernest Heming-

moose hunt, strategically positioned in an Eastern white pine overlooking a well-traveled game trail along Churchill Stream in Jackman during the 2008 moose hunt. It felt as if the whole world were before

September 2020

Emily’s Second-Chance Moose

now was the moment. “If one steps out, I can take it,” I marveled under my breath.

I’ve told the story here before. In the end, I took a medium-sized bull, somewhere over 700 pounds with a 42-inch rack. I don’t think I’ve ever hunted so hard in my life, and I wouldn’t have had a chance without the exper-

partment of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and told them to hand the treasured permit off to an alternate.

“Well, this sounds like a true, unavoidable hardship,” I was told. “We’ll defer you to next year.”

With that new hope, we’re planning for a moose

doesn’t like getting up in the pre-dawn hours any more than any other teenager (and this is the last year of that), and hasn’t had the quantified success of many other junior hunters, she gets it. As we sit in the woods, in a fishing boat, or duck blind, she

hunt. Friends are lined up to help, and once again the reservations are made. It’s a thrilling prospect, and she’s been sighting in a new Savage .308 Winchester for the perfect stroke at the key moment.

Emily and I have been hunting together any number of times. While she

slips into the sportsman’s mindset, complete with that faraway look in her eyes.

The memories from those trips are among my favorite as a sportsman.

When she was six years old, I shot my first Maine black bear. It was an enormous undertaking over (Moose cont. pg 44)

Emily and I have been hunting together any number of times. While she doesn’t like getting up in the pre-dawn hours any more than any other teenager (and this is the last year of that), and hasn’t had the quantified success of many other junior hunters, she gets it. way, when you immerse yourself in their stories, you can almost hear the crackling of the campfire and the report of the rifle in the moment of truth. Big game hunting carries with it the full mystery of the outdoors; it’s something both intimate and sacred.

It brings out the purity of our spirit as outdoorsmen.

That’s about as good a summary as I can come up with of how I felt in the predawn hours of the

me; all the years of hopeful submissions for a chance in the Maine Moose Lottery had finally borne fruit. I had a tag; I had prepared over the summer with arrangements for guides and a place to stay, a butcher to cut it up and a taxidermist to memorialize the event. I had the right equipment— a Weatherby Vanguard in .30-’06—and had practiced thoroughly. All I needed

tise of Maine guides Larry Totten, Mike Patterson, and Edgar Eaton to show me the ropes. It’s been a wonderful memory.

Last year, I teased here about my daughter Emily being drawn for the hunt. With her first year of college in full swing and a bout of the flu, it became painfully obvious we weren’t going hunting.

I somberly called the De-

Katahdin

September 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 37

September Musings

While trolling lake tops and wading swiftly flowing river currents in quest of salmon, last signs of the new season were duly noted.

In a matter of only weeks now, little sign of life will be evident along the waterways, marshes, and lakes and ponds.

Hard ice will form to seal the hibernators, the fish, and the underwater prowlers.

Lakes are peaceful places to visit in late September. Vacant cottages stand as silent memories of summer past. Hardwood hills, splashed with autumn finery here and there, march down to admire themselves in mirrored coves.

Loons gang up in small groups and are often joined by merganser. Both are hardy breeds of fish eaters, and may dally for a few more weeks before moving on. Black cormorants prefer to rest and dry wings on little rock islands while digesting a full crop of fish.

In the lowland

“Just Fishing”

marshes and slow-running streams, muskrats are just beginning to heap up reeds and grasses for what will be the foundation of a winter

Soon, the painted turtle will lift upon a favorite

by Bob Leeman, sunning place for the last Bangor, ME time before hibernating.

Overhead, a gaggle of Can- a snack. Their low cackling a few hawks, some of the owls, and the persistent, is a sign of contentment.

Along the shallows, meat-eating furbearers. pickerel will continue to All will keep a cold, lonely lurk for an unsuspecting vigil, ever alert for an easy meal of baitfish. It is here meal. the bittern and ganglylegged heron will ever so carefully stride in search of Bob Leeman is a Masa tasty frog morsel or two ter Maine Guide, outdoor before ice begins to form. writer, naturalist, book In a matter of only author, and a co-host of weeks now, little sign of the MAINE OUTDOORS life will be evident along radio program on Sunday the waterways, marshes, evenings from 7-8 p.m. His Photo courtesy of Bob Leeman and lakes and ponds. Hard three books are all availfood supply and fortifying ada geese will steal a ride ice will form to seal the able, in soft cover only, the main dam. on a chilled, northerly flow. hibernators, the fish, and at several bookstores and Along river trails, a And the whistling wings the underwater prowlers. fly shops, or directly from few giant mushrooms still of migrating ducks may be All inland waterfowl will him. For information on stand erect, but many have detected as they settle in have departed. Remaining his books, please call 207withered and shrunken briefly for a short rest and only will be the scavengers; 217-2550. or been stomped upon by passing traffic. Quite surprisingly, tiny green frogs persist everywhere underfoot.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 38

2020 ICAST Socially Distanced

Best Bassin’

by Bill Decoteau, Hampden, MA The Coronavirus has certainly devastated what was once the norm worldwide! Comments echoing within the six-foot socially accepted distance, muffled through facemasks seem to render the same message.”This is a totally new different world we live in now.”

Factor in modern technology and that sixfoot social distance shrinks our communication ability to typing on our keyboard and staring at the screen.

With programs like Zoom and Face-Time, not to mention the Internet, Facebook and YouTube, motivated industries such as ICAST, International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades to think outside the box. Or, in their case outside their convention center closed doors!

Subsequently, as stated by the ZMan Fishing Sales Team, “Virtually Our BEST Show Ever!”

Posting a 5-Day ICAST Product review schedule on their Facebook Page ZMan Fishing opened their ICAST ‘ZMan New Product Tour’ to every Face-

book member worldwide!

Additionally, many BassSpecific websites followed and now have their own videos paired with new product information attained from manufactures who had planned to attend the 2020 ICAST event.

Fortunately, my media credentials afforded me a sneak peek on several of the following products listed below. However, my scanning new-products search will reveal several angling products I found quite intriguing, along with some of the 2020 ICAST Best in Show Winners.

Freshwater Hard Bait ZMan Fishing Jackhammer Stealth Blade: Spearheaded by ZMan Pro Staffer Bret Hite, the Stealth Blade is clear plastic developing a tighter vibration allowing the use of lighter line. Hite states, “Along with the Stealth Blade ZMan has utilized a thinner hook making for extremely excellent hook penetration.” (Best in Show ICAST-Award) ZMan Fishing Chatterbait Willow Vibe: To-

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tally different than any other Chatterbait you have seen! Designed by Ron and Ronnie Davis creators of the original Chatterbait.

The Willow Vibe Chatterbait comes in sizes ¼ oz. to 3/8 oz. Sporting a 2/0 nickel hook mounted on an aspirin style jig head causes intense enticement to school bass as it vibrates. Designed to be paired with smaller style soft plastic swimbaits. I predict this will be one of ZMan Fishing’s most popular

com/vmchooks) TroKar Finesse Rigging Kit: When the BassBite becomes non-existent calling for Finesse presentations just reach in your tackle storage compartment and pull out the TroKar Finesse Rigging Kit and start catching! (www.

EagleCraw.com) Z M a n Fishing Pro

New and improved Arbogast Jointed Jitterbug Photo Credit: Heddon @ Lurenet.com BulletZ Weedless Jighead: Similar to ZMan Fishing’s smaller Finesse TRD Series Weedless wide Freshwater Terminal gap hook BulletZ. The new Tackle VMC Cross-Over Pro BulletZ is available Rings: (Best in Show in two colors ranging in ICAST-Award) These weight from 1/8 oz. to 3/8 unique Cross-Over rings oz. but comes equipped slide down your soft plastic with a 3/0 or 4/0 wide style stick baits for Wacky gap hook. Which happens Rigging or Neko Rigging. to pair perfectly with the The difference from normal new ZMan Pro CrawZ and O-Rings is the Cross-Over larger TRD style baits.

Rings have a separate sec- (www.ZManFishing.com) tion for your hook, thus increasing your hook-up Top-Water Freshwater Baits ratio. Also available is Heddon Arbogast the new VMC Crossover Pliers. (www.rapala.com/ Jointed Jitterbug 2.0: Designed with a lower vmchooks) VMC Wacky Rig- pull point, the 2.0 Jitterging & Neko Rigging Kit: bug increases it’s topwater These individual VMC all- commotion enticing addiinclusive Terminal Tackle tional attraction with a rear Rigging kits come com- feather treble hook. Upplete with everything an- dated free movement hook glers need to excel when hangers keep bass pegged Wacky Rigging or Neko and eliminate slow forward Rigging their favorite soft momentum. While, high plastic baits. (www.rapala. definition crackle patterns new baits for 2021. (www.

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make for an updated finish. (www.Lurenet.com/ Heddon) Swimbaits Lunkerhunt Easy Prey Jointed Swimbait: My first impression viewing the Easy Prey Jointed Swimbait, brought back visions of several antique triple treble hook baits.

And, like that I wanted one of these Lunkerhunt baits!!! Available in 3 inch and 4.25 inch models weighing 1/2 oz. and 1 oz. respectably. Mimicking a wounded bait fish the Easy Prey swimbait is a slow float one-foot diving Big Bass enticing bait! (www.Lunkerhunt.com) BEST in Show Soft Plastic Bait.

A Band of Anglers ‘Dartprop: Well, Patrick Sebile once again has developed another award winning lure...The DartProp. This dual prop soft plastic bait measuring 5.5 inches and weighing 5/8 oz. is equipped with an EWG weighted hook. Much like it’s hard body ‘Spy Baits’ the Dartprop can be fished a various depths. (Best in Show ICAST-Award) (www.abandofanglers. com) 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.

September 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

A Moose Hunt in Maine

Page 39

Old Tales from the Maine Woods

This tale, which was related by anonymous author Senarius, was published in the American Sportsman, Jan 3, 1874.

He stated it happened about twenty years previous in the mid-1850s, on the East Branch of the Penobscot, but it he was actually on the West Branch at Mud Pond Carry.

“The next morning we started in our batteaux, pushing up the river. When nearing a carry, so called, where we were to leave the river and strike the shores of Mud Lake, we came upon a party of twelve lumbermen, stopping for dinner near the mouth of a brook. After dinner, one of them told us that he had discovered a hole in the brook, full of trout, and we had better stop long enough to capture enough for supper. I looked round for their fishing rods to gain some insight into the way they took these highly esteemed fish. What was my astonishment, when I saw them jump into the

water, making as much noise and splashing as possible. Presently the trout by dozens, threw themselves upon the stones in the shallow water where they were gathered up by one of the men stationed there.

Then the others, by feeling among the rocks at the bottom, seized those that had taken refuge, and threw them on the bank. I must confess, unsportsmanlike as it was, my companions and myself joined in the melee, and that night we supped on delicious trout, some of them over two pounds in weight.

We accomplished the carry, and presently noticed one of the guides coming towards us in a canoe, seemingly in great excitement. When within hail, he cried out, “There’s a moose in the lake.” I caught up Boston’s rifle, R., his double gun loaded with No. 4 shot and we, with the other guide, jumped into the canoe. What was my chagrin to find, upon examination, the rifle empty

and the bullets ashore in Boston’s pocket, there was no time to return in them, as the moose was making tall travel for the shore, and it would be only by great exertion, that we could get near enough for shot before he landed, fortunately as I then thought, I found a lead sinker in my pocket, large

determined to land in spite of us. What were we to do? A noble moose within shot, a chance coming to one probably but once in a life time, and we with

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(Cont. from pg 23) Soon many of the bulls are beat-up and tired so it is important to be patient when calling. Being too aggressive with calling may hurt your chances rather than help them. During a week of hunting I usually expect to only get 2 days of great weather.

It may be spread out across the whole week but those are the times to take advantage of the knowledge gained from your scouting tools and hone-in on your target bull.

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by Steve Pinkham Quincy, MA

will escape. The moose was now perfectly enraged, and forced us to make way for him to the shore, I waited till his side appeared above the water, then the cartridge bursting only as it reached I found a lead sinker in my him, let out his life blood, pocket, large enough for a slug, and coloring the water for yards soon had the rifle loaded, and here we around. The second barrel, were, four men in a birch canoe bearing fired in mercy, extinguishing all life, and we soon down to attack a bull moose... drew his eight hundred enough for a slug, and soon empty guns, R., however, pound carcass ashore.” had the rifle loaded, and soon found some buck shot here we were, four men in cartridges in his pocket, Steve is an avid hiker, a birch canoe bearing down and nervously succeeded in to attack a bull moose, not loading both barrels, then paddler and historian, havexactly upon his native handing the gun to me, he ing collected over 25,000 heath, but in one of familiar said the game is too large, I Maine Woods articles to lakes. feel that I shall miss, and he date.

By hard paddling we succeeded in turning him from the shore, and when near enough, the guides said fire. After a quick aim, I saw my slug strike the water a foot over the moose’s neck, while R.’s charge of No. 4, only made him more

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 40

The Allagash AWW Superintendent, Matt LaRoche, ME Fall fishing can be feast or famine depending on several factors. The most significant influences on stream and river fishing in the fall are water temperature and volume. Trout and salmon will usually gravitate towards the inlet

temperature and weather.

On rivers that are dam controlled, many river managers will release water in the fall as an attraction flow. If we have the water reserves in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW), we will release water at

Fall Fishing Tactics

Once fish have been in the stream for a while, they seem to lose interest in hitting flies or lures and must be enticed to bite. Timing is everything with so many outdoor pursuits – fall fishing is no different.

My favorite attractor fly is an orange body Hornberg. I tie these myself just how I like them - on a number 10 hook, with copper tinsel, a few orange calf tail

Fish that are heading upstream to spawn are not really interested in feeding. Therefore, they need to be coaxed into biting. Flies that usually work well in the fall are light or bright colored and might not look like any natural foods. of a lake or pond in the fall when the water starts to cool and the urge to spawn intensifies. When the waterflow increases, the fish are drawn in and will swim up the river or stream.

Some years, fish will come into streams to spawn in late August and other years they will not come in until the last of September.

It all depends on the water

Churchill, Telos and Lock Dams to attract fish into the streams below these dams.

Brookfield Power does the same at Seboomook and other dams on the West Branch of the Penobscot watershed.

I have found that the fishing can be excellent when fish first enter the stream and will hit attractor flies with a vengeance!

September 2020

fibers, wood duck wings and a grizzly hackle. I fish it wet or dry depending on how the fish want it.

My brother Mark and I were fishing in one of our favorite places a couple falls ago and after catching a few trout, the fishing slowed. It was one of those years when the water was low and it remained warm until the end of September. Occasionally, a nice brookie would come up and look at our fly but they wouldn’t bite.

We decided to go down the lake and try fish-

A fall brookie in full color, nothing more striking in nature! (Photo by Matt LaRoche) ing in the mouth of a couple upstream to spawn are not of the brooks. We sat in the really interested in feeding. boat watching the water for Therefore, they need to be a few minutes. Occasion- coaxed into biting. Flies ally a fish would dimple that usually work well in the water. We tried to figure the fall are light or bright out what they were rising colored and might not look for but could not figure it like any natural foods. The out. As I look back on it, I presentation is also impordon’t think they were rising tant, the fish that will not for anything other than for take a fly unless it is dead the fun of it. I threw out drifted overhead in the my orange body Hornberg, spring might not hit unless gave it a twitch and wham! you make your fly dance on We caught brook trout after the water in the fall. brook trout at both locaThe AWW has amtions, there didn’t seem to ple opportunity to catch be any end to them. We one of those twenty plus have been back to those inch brightly colored male brooks a couple times fish- brook trout with a hooked ing and never hit the fishing jaw that are something to as good as it was that day. behold!

Fish that are heading AWW Notes: Ben Hall has been hired as the new ranger at Allagash Lake. Ben was formerly an intern on the waterway from UMaine Fort Kent and the Assistant Ranger at Chamberlain Bridge. Ben has a bachelor’s degree from UMFK in Conservation Law Enforcement.

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September 2020

Story (Cont. from pg 22) badge, “Bean boots”, Stetson and iconic red jackets, we all understand the blood, sweat and effort put into this career that we so honorably worked to achieve. It is an unspoken bond that isn’t talked about among fellow Wardens, but something that does not need discussion. I often think back to being a

Northwoods Sporting Journal “green” young Warden (I don’t mean green in the color of my uniform either!) and meeting retired Wardens for the first time.

Most of them shared the same words of wisdom and advice to us rookies.

“This isn’t just a job, it will become a way of life.” No truer words were ever said in any book, online class or lecture I took while completing the many weeks of training to become a Game Warden.

Commissioner George Stobie once said “Wardens are not just fish and game protectors, they are much more than that.

They are the State of Maine personified”. Wardens encounter people in the field on some of their best days, like when they have just harvested a trophy bull moose on a family hunt.

But often, a Warden encounters people on their worst days, like when a loved one has died in a

snowmobile crash. All of us are human and have emotions, and this career can often be a rollercoaster!

We will always try to be professional, capable and compassionate in the performance of our duties.

In the coming months I will come to you as the reader with more information about myself and my career, along with notes and observations from the field. I intend on bringing you stories of cases I have

Page 41 encountered, history of the Warden Service, biographies on different Wardens and general information from the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. I look forward to sharing all this with you.

Until then, see you in the woods and waters!

Kale O’Leary is a Maine Game Warden assigned to Aroostook County.

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COYOTE CALLING SEMINARS. 50 years experience calling predators. $125 per day. Dick Drysdale, Registered Maine Guide. Call 207-4657801 for more info.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 42

SAM News

by David Trahan, “Executive Director” On July 3rd, I inter-

viewed V. Paul Reynolds, Publisher of the Northwoods Sporting Journal on a new Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine radio show titled, Conserving the Maine Outdoors. The show airs every Friday at noon, on Legacy 1160 AM and then plays on our social media outlets and our YouTube Channel.

My co-host on the show is Mike Shaw, past Chairman of the Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee and a SAM Board member. https://www.facebook. com/110003532417899/ videos/300385728038460 I asked Paul to be on the show for several reasons, one being, I wanted his perspective on how journalism and the press have changed in their coverage of issue affecting the outdoor like, hunting, fishing and firearm rights during his long journalistic career? Paul was a past Editor for the Bangor Daily News and is an avid outdoor writer. His opinion is one I value and respect because it is founded in real life experience. His answer was swift, emotional and

sobering. Twice, he emphasized, and I quote, “the press is corrupt”.

After deep reflection and a trip down memory lane, I must concur with Paul, with a slight deviation. First, I think it is important to separate the newsroom reporters from the editorial page writers.

I also believe the level of bias is much greater with the national media than with local journalists I have had a relatively decent experience with beat reporters at the statehouse.

They depend on trusted sources to help them “get the scoop” on hot stories of the day, as a result, they must earn and maintain trust.

Generally speaking, I believe our state reporters do a fair job, where our daily papers crash and burn is on their dreaded editorial page. My experience is that most editorial writers for statewide daily papers have a distinct liberal bias.

Nearly every one of them are predictable, if there is a gun control bill, they will support it. The press appears to have sold out

September 2020

Free Press: On the Edge of Extinction? on the Second Amendment right of citizens to own firearms. They constantly use the media to promote their support for gun control and it is no longer, whether they are biased, but how far they are willing slant the news to achieve it.

As a young sportsman, growing up in the heart of Maine’s farm country, I

ported that 84% of Americans say, of their “go-to news source has some form of bias.” Half the respondents in the poll said the press had, “a great deal “of bias when reporting. If this poll is even somewhat accurate, it marks a day in American history, when truth was on the verge of extinction. In addition, it

equally, but more importantly, established as the First Amendment, the right of, free speech, or of the press. I can’t speak for the founding fathers, but I suspect they understood a free press, protected from the undo influences of the political party in power was the vital arbiter of truth that kept our three branches of

“Media bias feeds on itself. That is the bias makes us more liberal, which makes us less able to detect the bias, which allows the media to get away with more bias, which makes us even more liberal, and so on.”

-Professor Tim Groseclose, author “Left Turn” eagerly read every outdoor column I could find. My favorites were by writers and artists like, Bud Leavitt, Gene Letourneau, Ken Allen, Tom Hennessey, and yes, V. Paul Reynolds. It seemed these writers were talking directly to me. I suspect I connected with them because when they wrote from a place founded in real life experience and a genuine love for hunting and fishing. What has changed over the years, is, as these outdoor writers retired or passed on, they were not replaced with actual sportsmen or women who could write from a place of sincerity and passion. Instead, the void they left was mostly unfilled. The result is, very few writers or reporters can articulate why living a life in the outdoors enhances our lives, builds stronger families and friendships.

The Press Has Bigger Problems On 8/4/20, the Gallup and Knight Foundation re-

reveals a deeper and more disturbing trend among Americans, the desire to receive information from news sources that are more likely to agree with their political slant.

If Americans and V. Paul Reynolds are right, our outdoor community and our country are in big trouble!

During my over twenty years in politics, I said many times that there are four branches of government, the Executive branch, Judicial, Legislative and the most important, the press. Why would I say that? Answer, because once upon a time, journalists were the most trusted source of unbiased information in America.

Not so much anymore!

When our founding fathers created our nation and wrote the Constitution, they built in a series of checks and balances that were designed to ensure that each branch of government share power

government honest.

If Americans have given up on a fair and unbiased media and are now migrating to media sources that they politically align, truth is on life support, not just for sportsmen and women, but for America.

You see, politicians lie, governments will always seek power and corruption always follows money.

When the press sells out to one political party, truth is extinct-freedom will soon follow.

First Amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances David Trahan is executive director of SAM.

September 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 43

A Good Guide

If you are fortunate, you will meet generous people in life who will take you under their wing and teach you a thing or two. Forty years ago, I was a wet-behind-the-ears student from Pennsylvania when I arrived to attend

later as Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Bucky had a cyclonic career and took Maine by storm. Enthusiastic. Optimistic. Can-do-it attitude.

Boundless energy. Bucky made work and learning fun. I learned much in

eagles. I turned down a job offer at the new Gates of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to stay in Maine another four years. As often happens, a relatively inconsequential decisions would not only change my career path, but my life forever. One of Bucky’s outgoing graduate students took me aside and confided, “Here is the secret of surviving as Bucky’s graduate student.

Bucky will have 10 ideas.

Your job is to figure out

by Mark McCollough, Hampden, ME sconeag to Dennysville.

Charlie and I swirled in the whirlwind of ideas. They all sounded good!

One of Bucky’s momentous notions was to send me to Pennsylvania to pick up a young eagle from Maine that was shot by a teenage delinquent and would never fly again. We kept the eagle in a Univer-

One of Bucky’s outgoing graduate students took me aside and confided, “Here is the secret of surviving as Bucky’s graduate student. Bucky will have 10 ideas. Your job is to figure out which one is the best!”

Bucky Owen and his dog, Alder on the West Branch of the Penobscot River.

Photo Courtesy Native Fish Coalition graduate school at the University of Maine. One of my wildlife professors at Penn State gave me parting advice, “Look up a professor named “Froggy” or “Bucky” or something like that…you will learn a lot from him.” Maine was all so big and new, and within the first week of arriving I met Bucky Owen at wildlife summer camp in Pittsfield. My life has been richer ever since.

Many of you know Bucky. Maybe he was your ecology instructor at UMaine. Or perhaps you know him as the chair of the Wildlife Department or

Bucky’s classes, but even more outside the classroom.

Bucky asked me to join him as one of his graduate students to study bald

which one is the best!”

Bucky, Charlie Todd (another eagle grad student), and myself concocted many crazy schemes to help Maine’s ailing eagles.

Gathering tons of trapped beavers, dead chickens, and road-killed deer and moose to feed eagles in the winter. Sitting under picnic table blind at Cobscook Bay State Park to read the band numbers on eagle’s legs with a telescope. Capturing eagles with padded foothold traps in Cathance Stream. Banding eagle chicks in nests from Deb-

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Northwoods Sketchbook

sity chicken coop, taught him a few manners, and took “Bart” to nearly every school and sportsman’s show in Maine.

Bucky made sure my graduate education went far beyond books, statistics, and how to write scientific papers. On numerous occasions in the 1980s, he took me Atlantic salmon fishing in his vintage wood-andcanvas peapod. I lost track of the salmon I hooked and lost before I finally landed my first on the banks of the Penobscot one memorable morning in October. I had

a lightning bolt on the business end of my fly rod. My reverberating knees nearly buckled by the time Bucky netted the salmon.

Most notable was a late-September fishing trip that Bucky, Alder (a Brittany spaniel), and I made to the West Branch of Penobscot in pursuit of landlocked salmon. Bucky was a pioneer of the West Branch, long before it became the fabled fishing water that it is today. We departed near Lobster Lake in a 20-foot wood-andcanvas canoe and with a motor borrowed from Dr. Mal Coulter (bartered in exchange for valuable fishing reconnaisance). We camped on Big Island and visited fishing holes named The Big Pine, Fox Hole, and many other secret holes that Bucky knew. He had names for all of them.

The fishing was glorious, and the salmon were unusually feisty. Bucky and I kept score of how many missed strikes and salmon we landed and released.

The person who landed the last fish lost their prefer(Guide cont. pg 45)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 44

South Of the Kennebec

by Stu Bristol, Lyman, ME Down here in the heart of southern Maine’s Vacationalnd with over ten miles of sandy beaches it is impossible (and illegal) to fish during the daytime hours. That suits many of us just fine. The summertime prize for saltwater anglers is the striped bass and sometimes bluefish, and they both shy away

of your trip, such as the type of water, if you have a boat or perhaps your plan is to fish off the beach or a jetty.

With the water temperatures in the coastal rivers very high, the striped bass, especially the larger ones will be cruising the surf after dark and that’s when I suggest you get

I’ve had the best luck on the incoming tide between two and three hours either side of high. Stripers have surprised me as to which baits they prefer. from bright lights and slow water.

Nighttime fishing is for people who either have vacation time or are retired.

For weeks of hot weather like we just had there are a lot of positive reasons to take a long nap in the afternoon and head out just before dark with plans to come home at daybreak.

One fellow night angler said it best. “Night fishing is a win-win for me. I can keep the wife and kids happy by laying on the beach during the day and I can do my fishing at night.”

Of course you will need to plan a few aspects

your feet wet, so to speak.

Many of the local beaches prohibit fishing during the daytime. Each town has it’s own regulations so check with the Town or City Clerk for details. One of my personal favorites is the beach at Ocean Park and the mouth of Goosefare Brook in Old Orchard Beach.

Over the past few years I have been meeting a friend from Vermont on the beach for striped bass angling after dark. Surprisingly, we have seen very few other surfcasters especially when the high tide rolls in around midnight.

Anglers in the Night

I’ve had the best luck on the incoming tide between two and three hours either side of high. Stripers have surprised me as to which baits they prefer.

One time they will take fresh mackerel and other times they won’t touch the macs but will gobble down clam necks or seaworms.

You’ll need to exercise some caution when fishing off the beach, especially in areas where the tide washes in to lower areas. Be prepared to move quickly if the tide begins to wash in behind you.

I take a beach chair and a five-gallon bucket to hold all my gear. I use two 9-10-foot surf rods and a couple of sand spikes to hold the rods into the sand.

On the end of each rodtip I tape a small glowstick that helps me see when the fish strikes.

A sliding rig is necessary for beach fishing. This consists of a snap swivel that features a small tube through which you feed your line and a one or two ounch pyramid sinker is clipped on. The weight helps to cast the line out and the line runs freely through the slider rig and the fish can pick up bait without feeling the weight.

Of course you will

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want a flashlight or headlamp. I prefer the type that uses a red or green light, similar to the ones used by deer hunters in a blind.

They don’t ruin your night vision as quickly as a white light.

Saltwater refulations change every year. For 2020 anglers may keep only one striped bass that measures between 28 and 35 inches. Because you will likely be fishing past midnight you could legally take one fish before midnight and a second after midnight but coastal wardens may scrutinize your catch.

In fresh water, night fishing can also be great fun. Of course, if you are using a boat, you need to be familiar with the waters you are fishing and I mean every rockpile and point of land. It’s very easy to get stranded at night with a broken propeller.

On nights without a moon you’ll need to use top-water baits that make a lot of splashing noises.

That’s for bass, of course, but if your gamefish is bullhead (horned pout) you will

just need a folding chair or bucket to sit on, a lantern or light of some sort or, where legal, a small campfire.

It’s always best to fish with a buddy and that goes for daytime angling as well. It’s an added measure of safety plus the hours can get long and having a friend along adds to the enjoyment.

If you can’t get time to fish at night, the next best thing is just before daybreak or just at dusk for a couple of hours. Most gamefish are active during these times and it still leaves plenty of sleeping time for those folks that have a job.

Stu Bristol is a Master Maine Hunting, Fishing and Tidewater Guide, outdoor writer and custom game call maker. He operates 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

she heard, and I was concerned that she was upset you’d shot a bear.” Then (Cont. from pg 36) she laughed. “Emily said a couple of months—I “I can’t believe he shot it had found a place to hunt, without me being there!!”” and did everything on my I think we’re going own. The bear itself was to have a great hunt. Stay a true keeper; over 270 tuned! pounds live weight. Once we had it dressed off and Matt Dunlap is a had it loaded in the back of the truck, I called home sportsman from Old Town to give my wife the good and is a periodic co-host news, which she passed on on Maine Outdoors, heard to Emily—that Daddy had statewide every Sunday night at 7:00 pm on WVOM shot a bear.

“I was a bit alarmed,” 103.9 FM, WVQM 101.3 my wife reported. “She FM, and 1450 AM in Rockseemed really upset when land.

Moose

September 2020

Guide

(Cont. from pg 43) ence of which side of the canoe to fish from. I had never experienced such grand fishing. After cascading down numerous stretches of fast water and riffles we finished the day at the Fox Hole. Being the neophyte, I asked Bucky, “How do we get back to the campsite.” Nonchalantly he answered, “This is why I brought you along!”

We swapped places in the canoe while Bucky gave me a lecture in how to finesse a canoe upriver.

At first the wobbly-legged

Northwoods Sporting Journal apprentice wielding a 15foot pole lost two canoe lengths for every one made forward. Easing the bow into the current from the shelter of a rock, the canoe would arc downriver and I would have to find a new purchase to plant the pole and get the canoe headed upstream. However, with further tutelage from the professor, I was soon struggling, then streaking up the rapids. Alder fell asleep, as did Bucky, so I guess I graduated with a passing grade from Canoe Poling 101.

I stayed in Maine and eventually led the endan-

gered wildlife programs for Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Bucky become Commissioner, and he took the Department by storm.

I’m not sure what middle management thought of the man in the Commissioner’s chair. Charlie and I secretly shared our wisdom with our co-workers, “Bucky will have 10 ideas.

Your job is to figure out which one is the best!” Two decades hence, Commissioner Owen’s legacy still persists. He petitioned the

Legislature to auction a few moose permits each year, and the proceeds have sent hundreds of kids to conservation camp. His Quality Fishing Initiative of the early 1990’s made sweeping changes to the management of Maine’s wild brook trout and greatly improved the fishery.

In retrospect, all of Bucky’s idea were good.

He nominated me as a board member to The American Chestnut Society. He was instrumental in the Penob-

Page 45 scot Restoration Project and continues to be active in a dozen conservation programs. Fifteen years ago, he asked me to illustrate some of his articles for the Northwoods Sporting Journal, and eventually I took over his column. One of Bucky’s good ideas? I’ll let you be the judge…

Mark McCollough writes from his home in Hampden, Maine. He can be contacted at markmccollough25@gmail.com

Carroll’s Corner Weapons Preparation and Care Although I am not sure where the last three months have gone, the hunting seasons

are just around the corner. The time of the year to think about getting our weapons, bow, shotgun or rifle prepared for the coming season is here.

Bow hunters will want to inspect bow strings for any worn or frayed areas and if that is the case, change them. As with any weapon, pre-season practice is critical. Place yourself in different postures and practice coming to full draw and putting your pin on the target quickly. Shot gunners will need to inspect barrels and any moving parts of the weapon for corrosion. A good, thorough cleaning and oiling as necessary is important. Shooting at ducks and upland birds means that we need to get out on the range and test-fire the weapon and pattern the shot load. Shooting at clay birds is lots of fun and a great way to “sharpen your shooting eye” as my Dad used to say. Shoot at the clay birds from different angles and positions, including facing away from the thrown birds, forcing you to spin and shoot. If you reload your own ammo, inspect your shot loads to be sure that the crimped end is tight and not leaking shot.

If you have been fortunate enough (don’t ask) to receive a moose permit, or if you’re just thinking ahead to deer season, a thorough cleaning and inspection of your weapon, including your scope or other sights needs to be done. Of most importance, shoot, shoot and then shoot some more. Give lots of attention to your ballistics when test-firing your weapon, and sight for dead-on at appropriate distances. As it turns out, I am guiding 2 moose hunts for our friends up at Allagash Adventures during both the September and October moose weeks, and I can’t wait. Moose hunts are my favorite guiding to do these days and my pre-arrival discussion with my hunters always centers around several things that are firearms related.

We talk about calibers and what are and aren’t appropriate for a large-boned animal like the moose. One of my early questions is always to ask if they are comfortable shooting at 100, or 200 yards or longer distances. Pre-hunt shooting is so critical, and with that comes an understanding of the importance of shot placement. I am insistent with my moose hunters that when the time comes to pull the trigger, we are NOT going to get creative. The object is to make an ethical, humane shot the first time. Consequently, I talk with my hunters about a pass-through shot that takes out both lungs. The way that the moose is positioned may require a different angle than the usual behind-the-point-of the shoulder point of impact. If we put the projectile through the lungs, that animal is dead, altho’ he may not know it right away! The second shot is into the big part of the shoulder, hopefully breaking a bone and taking him off his feet.

Regardless of the game that you are hunting, the absolute priority is safe gun handling and showing respect for the animals by not taking unethical shots. So, hunt successfully, hunt safe and good luck! Remember to maintain the appropriate safety measures regarding the Covid-19 issues.

Next Month: Grouse and woodcock recipes 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.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 46

State Heritage Fish Waters

Native Fish Talk

by Bob Mallard, Skowhegan, ME In 2005, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine (SAM) went to the Maine legislature to try to help save our remaining neverstocked brook trout lakes and ponds. At the time,

September 2020

use of live fish as bait on so-designated lakes and ponds. Originally applicable to brook trout only, it was amended in 2007 by Dud Dean Angling Society to include rare Arctic charr.

Unfortunately, critically important waters that meet the SHF inclusion criteria were left off the list due to pressure from anglers opposed to the live bait restriction.

While initially applied to never-stocked waters only, in 2013, lakes and ponds not stocked in twenty-five years or more were added, roughly doubling the number of protected waters.

In 2009, the SHF law was amended to allow IFW The Law The SHF law pro- to stock Big Reed Pond to hibits stocking and the restore Arctic charr, and per Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW), there were fewer than 300 left, down from what was likely well over 1,000. This resulted in the ground-breaking State Heritage Fish (SHF) law.

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Emily Bastian of Native Fish Coalition and volunteers Lincoln Kelly and Jerry Derosier posted a State Heritage Fish sign on a remote pond in Somerset County. (Bob Mallard) again in 2013 to address Wadleigh Pond. Several waters, including Webster Lake, were exempted in 2013 due to opposition from anglers. Each year, waters are added, and occasionally removed, bringing the current number of protected waters to 584.

The SHF law was indirectly responsible for the 2020 live bait prohibition by rule not exception in the critically important North Zone. While the bill failed, a common sense and long overdue request

by George Smith to amend the SHF law to extend the protections to tributaries of those waters resulted in the legislature directing IFW to address the concern.

Status Unfortunately, criti-

Cougars in Maine?

cally important waters that meet the SHF inclusion criteria were left off the list due to pressure from anglers opposed to the live bait restriction. This includes Fish River Lake, as well as Telos Lake, Round Pond, Chamberlain Lake, Churchill Lake, and Eagle Lake in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.

Each year, some level of SHF waters suffer invasive fish introductions. In early July we discovered highly invasive golden shiners in a small SHF pond, likely dropped down from another recently infected SHF water. Other waters are compromised by angler exploitation.

And warming water and development are lingering concerns.

While closed to the

use of live minnows, roughly 50% of SHF waters, and 60% of the total acreage, are still open to the use of worms and other forms of bait, which comes with a 30% incidental mortality rate. Approximately 40% have a 5-fish daily limit, and over 50% have a 6-inch minimum length limit.

In 2018, Native Fish Coalition (NFC) and SAM approached IFW with a proposal to post informational signs on SHF waters.

Then IFW commissioner Chandler Woodcock approved the project, NFC raised the money and assumed responsibility for getting the signs posted, and SAM housed signs and hardware for pickup by volunteers. As of July 20th, 384 signs had been posted on 250 waters.

If you think you’ve seen a mountain lion (cougar) anywhere in Maine in the last five years, we’d like to hear from you.

Please phone or email our editor, V. Paul Reynolds, at 207-745-3133 or vpaulr@tds.net

What’s Next Wild native brook trout lakes and ponds are an important part of Maine’s outdoor heritage, tourism economy, and quality of place. We need to do everything we can to try to (Waters cont. pg 56)

September 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Mountain Bikes In The Woods We were walking on the trail getting our daily exercise when up ahead I saw a couple of mountain bikers heading our way. I quickly pulled our dog, Sukey II to one side and shortened the leash.

For some reason Sukey hates bicycles, he tries to charge them and I’m not sure what would happen if he managed to reach one of them. Anyway, he hasn’t managed that and so I stood there, while holding on to him, and watched the bikers wind their way down the wooded trail. As I thought about it later I was reminded of my own biking days.

Those were the days before I had a driver’s license. The bike allowed me freedom that I never would have had in rural Maine otherwise. I could visit friends who lived a little far away for walking or I could get to town where all the girls were.

There were fishing spots that were miles from our home or new wooded areas

to explore. The bikes those mountain bikers were riding were a far cry from my simple machine. They have huge tires that will allow riding over soft ground.

They have gears that allow down shifting for hills, and probably there are other features that I haven’t even thought of. But I thought,

surprised to find how many places in Maine advertise mountain biking. To name a few across Maine are Carrabassett Valley, Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal, and Mount Agamenticus in York. There are many, many more, just Google “mountain biking Maine” and find a long

Northwoods Voyager

by Gil Gilpatrick, Skowhegan, ME

roads of the working forest. There is the matter of liability and probably a lot of other considerations.

There are however, a lot of discontinued hauling roads and other trails that could be used without endangering the bikers or causing problems for woods work-

They have the same freedom that canoeists enjoy while traveling along under their own power in the outdoors. what a wonderful sport it must be. They get to travel over trails at whatever speed the trail will allow and then pause when a nice view presents itself. They have the same freedom that canoeists enjoy while traveling along under their own power in the outdoors.

I got to wondering if any guides were cashing in on this interesting outdoor activity, that is a new one to me. I didn’t dig too deep into the subject, but a check of the websites of Maine’s two guide organizations revealed only two guides listing it as a possibility.

There may be more. I was

list. As I write this I cannot help thinking that someone who actually participates in the sport should be writing it and not an old retired canoeist who knows practically nothing about it.

Nevertheless, I think it is a fascinating activity that should be encouraged. I feel bad that it is banned in the north woods. What a great opportunity to open up a wild area to a new sport.

An organization called North Maine Woods controls access to the huge area in northern Maine. I can understand why they don’t want bikes on the hauling

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

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

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Page 47

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Maine Outdoor Publications

ers. Perhaps one way for bikers to access the North Maine Woods areas would be to allow guided trips only. That way the guides interested in the sport would have a huge area to offer, and their guests would get to explore an almost endless wild area.

And, North Maine Woods could hold the guide(s) accountable for any transgressions by bikers. There are probably other ways to do it that smarter people than me could figure out. It just seems a shame not to use this vast resource. Well,

these were my thoughts on the subject of mountain biking. I know little about it having never done it but just watching those people, young and old enjoying the wooded trails makes me feel that it must be a great outdoor sport!

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

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 48

On The Prowl Justin Merrill, Cherryfield, ME

Disclaimer: All the black bear attractants and baits used were of personal preference. All the hunting methods described are not fool proof nor of any expert opinion. All findings were from my personal experiences. These black bear baiting tactics are meant for one bait site and not intended for guided hunt.

The most popular method of hunting black bear is over some kind of attractant or edible bait.

I’ve always said, “if the black bear doesn’t know you’re there and is hungry he’ll want to come into the bait”. Now whether or not the hunter sees the black bear in daylight hours is a totally different matter.

There’s a lot of controversial debates over what odors and foods are most effective. I avoid conflict completely and do my own thing. Over the past few years I have learned you don’t need all those fancy expensive commercially made bear scents and baits.

The local grocery store has all you’ll need for one black bear bait plus at the fraction of the cost. The majority of the food and attractants you can eat some of them put the rest out at your bait site. A win-win situation.

Get your paper and pen ready. You might want to make a shopping list of the foods and attractants I’m about to share with you. My favorite black bear baiting ingredients you might be willing to try at your personal bait site.

All of what I’m about to share is meant for one and

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ber to save a few slices for the black bear.

A really good attractant scent combination is 100% pure anise extract, 100% pure vanilla and the largest container of petroleum jelly (Vaseline). The secret is to put all three ingredients together in a large non-stick pot on the stove. Stir while heating on low heat. Continue stirring so it doesn’t burn or stick to the pot. Turn off the stove and take the pot off the

If you want to keep things simple and very inexpensive look no further than white bread, peppermint candies and marshmallows.

at most two bait sites.

Yo u m i g h t l a u g h when reading that pizza is a good black bear bait. Get a load of this: My wife and I have watched black bear paw through pastries, cereal, bread and marshmallows to grab our left over green pepper and onion pizza. The bear typically grabbed the pizza with its mouth and sauntered off about twenty yards from the bait to sit and eat the pizza. My wife always chuckled under her breath and whispered, “we love pizza too buddy”. When the bear returned to the bait and found no more pizza it would leave the area. The raccoon’s would arrive shortly after to start eating the other foods. The moral of the story: Put pizza on your grocery list. Remem-

SEAL COVE MAINE

September 2020

burner after it boils for approximately five minutes.

Once the petroleum jelly mixture begins to harden put it all in a large plastic container with a strong leak proof lid. This one large batch could last the entire black bear hunting season.

I have watched and gotten pictures of black bear licking and scratching at the stumps and tree trunks.

They love this “anise-vanilla-vasaline mix”.

If you want to keep things simple and very inexpensive look no further than white bread, peppermint candies and marshmallows. Purchase all three foods each day you plan to freshen your black bear bait. How many of each you buy depends on how many black bear are visiting your bait. I’ve found that one of each per bear works. So two bear translates to two loafs, two bags of candies and two bags of marshmallows. The Dollar General and Family Dollar stores have all these things for a dolor each. For your attractant to help pull in the black bear use packets of

cherry Cool-Aid powder.

Sprinkle the powder on trees, stumps, rocks, ferns and all around the bait site.

The Cool-Aid will stick to all the critters that visit the bait. They will leave a scent trail everywhere they go.

This will act like a calling card to bring in black bear.

I also will mix some CoolAid and water in a large spray bottle. I will spray the cherry Cool-Aid high in the trees and all around the bait site in addition to sprinkling the powder everywhere.

This next black bear baiting tactic I call the “powdery sack”! It involves lots of sweet scented powder like that of powdered coffee creamers and conventional sugar, brown sugar and Cool-Aid powder in a potato burlap sack.

I’ll hang the sack at approximately seven feet above the ground. A large black bear can reach the sack with it’s paw. The black bear like to swipe at it allowing the sweet powder sprinkle all over their nose.

This too also will deposit on the vegetation and the ground when the black bear walks off ultimately attracting other black bear. When it rains you can either leave the sack to drip or just dump out the remains and put fresh powders back in once the burlap sack is dry.

The idea behind me sharing these tactics and tricks with you is to keep the black bear hunt inexpensive but successful.

When you can legally start placing bait try setting it up one week before you plan to hunt.. If you do your “hunters homework” and find a bear rich environment with ample water nearby typically black bear

should find your bait site in two to three days. Try to put your bait in a natural travel corridor. To increase your chances at harvesting a black bear I recommend loading up the bait site so at least two or three black bear could eat for about three days. Freshen the bait after those first three days and check your trail camera pictures early in the morning. The next time you go to freshen your bait it will be the morning of your first hunt. Shortly after freshening the bait get ready to head right back in to hunt.

If the black bear doesn’t smell you he should come in before dark.

I have a couple suggestions for attracting black bear that you can choose to try on your next hunt. I call these my “secret weapons”. I use these attractants when my bait goes cold. It’s produced a harvested black bear on the very last day. Also, one of my friends harvested his first black bear using one of my “secret weapons”. I highly recommend having a few cans of plain sardines and an anise scented Bear Bomb with you in the event black bear sightings are hard to come by.

I hardly scratched the surface when it comes to attractants and baits I use when hunting black bear.

I could potentially write a 100 page book on the topic.

If you are planning to give baiting a try this fall don’t hesitate to use these tactics I’ve shared. I’ve harvested black bear with my bow using all the baiting methods listed in this column.

Do not be afraid to switch things up by trying some of your own tricks this September.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

September 2020

Bear Trapping

The Maine 2020-2021 trapping season kicks off on September 1st 2020 with the bear trapping season.

Maine is the only state in the United States that still allows bear trapping. Bear trapping in Maine is highly regulated. Some of the rules to be aware of are as follows: • You are not allowed to have more than one trap

online.

Additionally, a bear trapping permit and a trapping license are required to set a trap for a bear during the annual bear trapping season. At the time of this writing in June the fee for a bear trapping permit is $27 for residents and $67 for nonresidents. The season runs until October 31st

closed cable loop, must be no greater than 8 feet.

• The area within the catch circle must be clear of woody vegetation, debris and manmade material that could cause entanglement of a trapped bear.

This restriction does not include a tree used as an anchor. Sticks and rocks, and rotten/decaying woody material may be used for

Maine is the only state in the United States that still allows bear trapping. Bear trapping in Maine is highly regulated. set for bear at any time.

• The only legal bear traps are cable traps (foot snare) and cage-type live traps.

• All bear traps must be tended at least once a day.

• You are not allowed to catch a bear in a trap and allow another person to kill or register the bear.

• You cannot continue to trap for bear after you have already killed or registered one in a trap.

• Bears caught in traps must be killed or released and not moved away from the catch site. A bear caught in a trap may not be used in conjunction with a hunt or to train a dog for bear hunting.

• The same rules apply to hunting and trapping for bear with the use of bait.

You may not trap within 500 yards of a solid waste disposal site. These areas can be identified by a visible line of demarcation.

Exception: an agent of the commissioner is exempt for the purpose of live trapping of nuisance bear.

• All trapping licenses are issued from the MDIFW office in Augusta and cannot be purchased

2020.

Page 49

The Fur Shed

by Blake Dougerty, Suffield, CT tube or pipe. Animal-based bait is defined as animal matter including meat, skin, bones, feathers, hair or any other solid substance that used to be part of an animal. This includes live or dead fish.

Only non-animal based bait and/or lure can be placed within the device and it must be placed below the trigger.

The opening to the device must be covered by a weight of at least 30 pounds when set, placed, and tended to prevent access by non-target species.

Other rules apply so please go to https://www. maine.gov/ifw/huntingtrapping/hunting-laws/ bear-trapping.html for more information.

speak to what secret ingredients make this trailing scent so effective but it works. Mercer catches high numbers of cats each year. The trick is to begin the trail inside the cage not outside. As this scent will elicit a rolling response you will want to start it 6-8 inches inside the cage to ensure the cat is inside the cage when it reacts to the trailing scent. While it is on the pricey side, in this case you get what you pay for. I’m convinced it has helped me close the deal on several occasions. Fox seem to be attracted to it as well.

stepping guides, blocking, and backing for trap sets, Cable Traps if they are not rooted to the • The cable must have ground. a minimum closing diameter of not less than 2-1/2 Design Standards for inches Bucket, Tube or • The cable must be Pipe-style Traps at least 3/16 inches in diUsed to Capture ameter Black Bears Product Description • The cable must inWhenever a cable trap Lawing’s Cage Magic clude at least one swivel, is used in conjunction with Lead-In Scent is proven to which is typically located a device that is designed cause interest and rubbing between the foot loop and to capture a bear when it in bobcats. To use, apply a Blake’s Take the anchor point reaches into the device to Mercer Lawing’s Cage stream to the floor of your obtain bait (e.g. bucket, cage set on the pan and out Magic Lead-In Scent Deployment tube, or pipe-style traps): to within six inches of the Standards for ALL • The trigger must be door opening. Each pint Cable Traps Used to recessed at least 12 inches bottle will handle from 75 Capture Black Bears below the opening of the to 100 sets. You can also • The cable must be device. mix 50/50 with bobcat set at or below ground level • The opening and urine and apply the same in such a manner as to catch inside diameter of the deI have used this prod- way, extending all the way the animal only by the foot vice must be no more than uct with success. I can’t to the cage opening. or leg.

6 inches.

• Drags are prohib• A bucket or other ited. similar device can be used • The cable must be if it is modified to have an securely attached to a fixed opening and inside diameanchor point. ter no greater than 6 inches.

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6 inches in diameter at 4.5 Standards for feet above ground level Bucket, Tube or • Learn how to catch more & bigger bass and must be free of limbs Pipe-style Traps Used • Help us keep the Maine Bass fishery worldclass for at least 7 feet above the to Capture Black • The most active volunteer sportsman organization ground.

Bears in Maine donating thousands of hours and • The catch circle, • Animal-based bait contributions to charity each year which is the distance from and/or lure cannot be Check us out at www.mebass.com the anchor to the end of the placed within the bucket,

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 50

Vermont Ramblings

September 2020

Life After Covid

by Dennis Jensen, Vermont

So we are all hunkered down. That does not mean that we must be immobile. I know. It is hard coping with these strange days. Grandparents not seeing their beloved grandchildren. Adult brothers and sisters find themselves apart, cousins separated by miles and the threat of a severe, if not deadly, illness.

What to do? Do not despair.

Go fishing. Go hiking. Or,

like me, jump on a mountain bike to get that fresh air and badly-needed exercise.

There’s even more to do. The archery season is but a month away. Take out that bow and practice, starting right now. Back in the day when I carried a 40-pound recurve into the woods, I would start shooting about six weeks before opening day.

Over the past five

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Fall bass fishing is a great way to get outside in the fresh air. portant to bring that rifle up years or so, I have hunted lerless hunt-only season. with a crossbow because But there are other and, as quickly as possible, of a bad left shoulder. This things that should come to look down the scope and year that trusty bow will mind — most importantly, squeeze off a shot. I think probably remain hanging in the November firearms this practice has helped me my basement because that season. While I have been enormously, when the real shoulder, following rotator occupied with cutting up deal, opening day of the cuff surgery, is still on the seven thick, tall ash trees, buck season, finally arrives.

Bass fishing is great One big change in deer hunting is in September. The waters coming to Vermont in late October. The are cooling down and big first-ever fall muzzleloader hunt, a bass can be found in the four-day event, will be held. shallows, especially in the mend.

I take a break every day early-morning and lateOne big change in or so and bring out the old afternoon hours with a setdeer hunting is coming to .22 rifle. I sit in a chair on ting sun.

Vermont in late October. the front porch, steady the This month, I will tie The first-ever fall muzzle- little rifle on the railing the kayak to the bed of my loader hunt, a four-day and take anywhere from pickup truck and head over event, will be held. I cer- 15 to 20 shots at a tar- to the Connecticut River tainly plan to take out the get about 50 yards away. for some tackle-busting smoke pole a few days be- I have been doing this smallmouth bass. The plan fore opening day and make for a few years now. And is to camp at Wilgus State sure that gun if working as while the .22 is nowhere Park in Ascutney for a few it should. By the way, this near as potent as my old nights, then drive to Sumwill be a permit-only, ant- Marlin 30-30, I find it im(Covid cont. pg 56)

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September 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Upcoming Hunting Seasons

Labor Day is past and the weather is cooling and fall hunting seasons are on the minds of sportsmen. However, September can be prime fishing as the cooler weather lowers the water temperature and makes trout and salmon more accessible.

The attached photo of a twelve pound, 291/2-inch lake trout Mike Wheeler hauled from Shadow Lake in Glover is an example of what attracts those of us who have done little fishing during the unusually hot and humid summer months.

I like to combine some fishing with a bit of scouting for ruffed grouse, turkey and deer. Often, I take along my .22 rifle to bag a gray squirrel as the season opens September 1 and continues through the last day of the year.

It has been years since I went bear hunting but this may be the year I do. Bear hunting opens September 1 with the early season continuing through November 13. There are a lot of bears throughout the state as the complaints Fish and Wildlife has had for months indicate.

Two of Vermont’s most popular small game hunting seasons open Saturday, September 26.

Ruffed grouse, or partridge as we know them here, and snowshoe hare are much sought after species, especially among those with hunting dogs.

The grouse season continues through December 31 and the hare season through March 31 of next year.

Mike Wheeler holds nice a lake trout taken from Shadow Lake.

I have nether rabbit hounds nor bird dogs and have to rely on friends who do. That said, I have taken many a grouse and snowshoe hare by still hunting with my old 12-gauge Ithaca double. It is light, easy to carry and comes up nicely.

REAL SPORTSMEN VOTE

Outdoors In Vermont

by Gary W. Moore, Bradford, VT Waterfowl seasons commence in September and get hunters excited as they prepare for the October seasons.

A statewide hunting season for resident Canada geese occurs September 1-25. The purpose of the September season is to help control Vermont’s resident Canada goose population prior to the arrival of Canada geese migrating south from Canada.

The daily bag limit is five Canada geese in the Connecticut River Zone

and eight in the rest of the state during the September season.

Vermont’s youth waterfowl hunting weekend is September 26 and 27. It is a time for adults to make lasting memories as they share the experience with youth and help them learn the ethics and enjoyment of hunting.

Both resident and nonresident hunters 17 years of age or younger on those dates may hunt ducks and geese within the Lake (Seasons cont. pg 58)

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Page 52

News

(Cont. from pg 28) the Sherburne Ski Trail and arrived at Pinkham Notch Visitor’s Center parking lot at approximately 6:45 p.m.

Riang was then loaded into a Gorham Ambulance and transported to Androscoggin Valley Hospital for treatments of his injuries.

Authorities said that Riang is very lucky to be alive and this incident should act as a reminder to stay on the trail and not go on or under any suspended snow bridges or arches of any kind, especially in the summer months when all snowpack is losing its structural integrity due to

Northwoods Sporting Journal

the sun and temperature.

Maine Game Wardens, Forest Rangers Rescue Hiker On AT

A 33-year-old hiker from Ohio was airlifted from one of the most remote sections of the Appalachian Trail in early August after he was experiencing chest pains.

Game Wardens received a call at approximately 7:15 a.m. that a hiker was experiencing chest pains at the Sidney Tappan campsite on the Appalachian trail, located between Gulf Hagas Mountain and West Peak. This campsite is

September 2020

located on the area known as the 100-mile wilderness, one of the more remote and difficult sections of the AT. Rescuers split into two groups in order to access the campsite from each side of the mountain. Game Wardens were able to use an ATV to get within a half mile of the trail, then were able to hike into the campsite where they located the ill hiker.

Once there, they were able to radio a Maine Forest Ranger Helicopter who then extricated the hiker from the trail, brought him to an awaiting ambulance, Along with the and then transported him Maine Warden Serto CA Dean Hospital in vice and Maine Forest Greenville.

Rangers, Greenville Rescue, CA Dean Ambulance and an Appalachian Mountain Club employee assisted in the rescue.

No other information is available at this time.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

September 2020

Early September Hunts

My tribe and I are setting up our decoys in the darkness by the headlights of the old Toyota. The dew soaks the hems of our pants and begins to work its way up to the shins. The smell of fresh cut hay warms my nose, pungent and earthy.

Canadian friend, gathers the rest of the crew to begin “pickin’ grass.”

There is no substitute for the actual live vegetation for camouflage.

No “killer weed” or fancy “realgrass” colored raffia can beat the real thing. It is

like magic when the big honkers begin their descent into the spread. The grass is woven into the stubble straps of the blinds. They see nothing out of place.

We blend in like, well, grass lumps.

The horizon slowly begins to change from black to a dark purple, then hints of sage green above.

Page 53

Green Mountain Report

by Bradley Carleton, Charlotte, VT greeting calls guys!” and the boys blow a sweet melody on the calls. “Okay!

Let ‘em finish. Quiet now!”

I whisper loudly.

The flock turns downwind to set up for a mi-

cleaning birds in the hot sun, we have a few cold beverages and plan on returning to my place in the evening, an hour or two before dusk with our .22’s.

Another great way to spend

And let’s not forget the Holy Day of the Last Saturday of September; Opening Day of Ruffed Grouse (or “pahtridge” as we like to call ‘em just to irritate the gentry) who insist that this magnificent king of the woods deserves a more fitting moniker akin to royalty.

David Blanshine and his daughter Jennie enjoy the September woods.

(Photo by Bradley Carlton) The left-over hay seeds cling to everything wet. We all have a job to do. Chris sets out the Canada goose sentries, at what will be the tail of the spread. Eric sets out the “pushers” and feeders leaving a clean pocket as a landing zone with the closing end of the “V” upwind. Frederic, our

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Frederic calls out “Honkers!” as a flock begins to awaken on the bay. We all know it will be awhile until they fly but it is comforting to know that they are where we hoped they would be. As the sky begins to turn a burnt umber with a crimson red above another loud honk from the west and suddenly, just over the tops of trees they appear.

Wings beating in unison in an undulating wave coming right toward us. “Flag ‘Em! I call out and Chris flails the goose flag with his right arm. “Just a couple of low

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raculous descent. A few of the birds whiffle their wings, spilling air from their powerful pinions to drop altitude quickly.

As if on cue, feet drop and the entire flock of 20 plus honkers pitch into the spread. I wait until I see them back pedaling to land and call the shot; “Take ‘Em!” The guns of autumn echo through the valley and birds begin to fall like manna from heaven. It’s here at last! September!

After the goose hunt in the morning, and after

a September day; in the oak woods hunting bushytails.

If anecdotal evidence is any indicator, squirrel hunting is destined to be a bumper year. I have seen more squirrels and chipmunks this year than any in recent memory. Squirrel season opens the same day as Canada goose; September 1, and it runs all the way to the end of the year. If you have got a young person to mentor into the art of hunting, squirrels offer one (Hunts cont. pg 54)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Outdoors In Maine

by V. Paul Reynolds, Ellsworth, ME For many years the policymakers at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIF&W) resisted bringing the crossbow into the mix of legal hunting devices. All the while, other states were adopting fairly liberal allowances for the crossbow.

The Maine Bowhunters Association long op-

that crossbows opened up new hunt opportunities for older folks, the disabled and others less capable physically.

All of this is relatively moot now. MDIF&W is finally on board with the crossbows, albeit with some minor restrictions and seasonal parameters for hunters. The crossbows regulations are changing

September 2020

Crossbow Regs: The Highlights

Season and the November firearms season, but unlike conventional bow hunters you can not take a doe unless you have a doe permit for the zone in which you are hunting. Neither can you hunt with a crossbow during the muzzleloader season or the Expanded Archery season in September.

3. If you are 65 or older, the world is your oyster! You may, with a

equipment. Draw weight must be at least 100 lbs.

Crossbows must have a trigger safety.

Pistol grip

perience hunting deer with crossbows in Maryland.

Although somewhat awkward to carry through the woods when still hunting, they are extremely accurate and effective as a deer hunting device.

T h e ones I

Regulations regarding disability permits and youth hunting with crossbows are a bit complicated, so you need to check for the details on the MDIF&W website.

MDIF&W is finally on board with the crossbows, albeit with some minor restrictions and seasonal parameters for hunters. The crossbows regulations are changing rapidly. crossbows are prohibited used required cocking and This fall’s crossbow rules are quite different from last year’s. but scopes or sights are some physical effort. posed the crossbows, arguing that they did not fit the bow criteria like traditional bows, recurves and compound bows. The nonpurists, on the other hand, argued that the crossbow was just another hunting device, ethically no better or no worse than compound bows when it came to the ethical dimensions of fair chase. The same group insisted that not all hunters are physically capable of handling the draw weights of compound bows, and

Hunts (Cont. from pg 53) of the best ways to teach young people respect and gun handling. Last year, I took David Blanshine and his daughter, Jenny, of Charlotte to a favorite spot of mine for the big grays. We did not actually score but I was very proud of Jenny for choosing not to take a shot that

rapidly. This fall’s crossbow rules are quite different from last year’s. Here are the highlights: 1. You don’t need to take BOTH the archery safety course and the crossbow safety course, if you already hold a firearms big game license. And the crossbow safety course is now offered online.

2. If you are 64 years old or younger, and hold a crossbow license, you may hunt with a crossbow during the October Archery

crossbow, hunt any wild bird or animal during any open season. You may also hunt deer with a crossbow during the muzzleloader season and the expanded archery season. You may also take a deer of either sex during the October archery season without a special doe permit as long as you are hunting in a wildlife management district (WMD) that issues doe permits.

There are particular regulations about crossbow

allowed.

Regulations regarding disability permits and youth hunting with crossbows are a bit complicated, so you need to check for the details on the MDIF&W website.

Be advised, too, that there are some specific areas of the state, Marsh Island in Old Town, for example where crossbows are not permitted. Ditto some of the offshore islands and state sanctuaries.

Check the law book.

I have had limited ex-

was a bit of a stretch. She showed composure and patience. David had taught her well that hunting does not mean you always come home with meat, but what it does promise is time well spent with family, learning about our natural world.

Jenny and David both enjoyed themselves and this year may pursue their first whitetail.

And let’s not forget

the Holy Day of the Last Saturday of September; Opening Day of Ruffed Grouse (or “pahtridge” as we like to call ‘em just to irritate the gentry) who insist that this magnificent king of the woods deserves a more fitting moniker akin to royalty. Either way, you will find my friends Hank Rackliff of Jericho or Chris Ingram of Middlebury working the edges of

abandoned orchards and snaking their way through the berry bushes. There is nothing like experiencing an explosion of wings from under the tree when you are least expecting it. These two gentlemen are passionate about their birds. I dare say, they are probably two who insist on calling this bird by its majestic name.

Strange as it may seem, the limit on these birds is 4

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. Contact email is: vpaulr@tds.net

per day but it is truly a rare day that one sees the game pouch filled with a limit.

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

September 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Moosehead‘s Monster Brookies

The brook trout in Moosehead Lake are a wonder. For the last number of years they have attracted a lot of attention because of their unusual monster size, depth, and

30. However, from April 1 - 30, all brook trout caught in Moosehead Lake must be released live, without removal of them from the water. Likewise, for landlocked salmon lovers, from

pervisor Tim Obrey. They work closely together to arrive at what I would call best practices, since most every outdoorsman and woman here places a very high value on the outstanding fish and wildlife we have in this north woods country. Every sector of our economy depends on the quality of the Moosehead Region’s outdoors life.

Page 55

Kineo Currents

by Suzanne AuClair, Rockwood, ME so at the end of its life, is it okay to take that? What about the younger ones that still have a lot of life left in them and can still produce for all to enjoy? Is it possible to manage that? Is it possible to not lift a nice fish out of the water into the freezing air for a photo op?

On another note, in

ead Lake. Weyerhaeuser wrote to the commission last year that the market downturn beginning 2008 was a principal reason for wanting to end the development plan. Much has been written about this, and what it might mean to the local economy.

Again, until I re-read

There may be some changes underway to help conserve these brook trout in Moosehead Lake, so be on the lookout, maybe sometime around mid-August, to see what it might entail. A proposal is now underway to be reviewed by Maine’s Fisheries & Wildlife Advisory Council.

One unusual finding is that these big brook trout in Moosehead Lake are spawning much later than their river brethren. Instead of the typical spawning that begins around midOct., winter checks on Moosehead Lake found these freshly caught brook trout dripping with milt and Jim Young with a handsome eggs in January! If they are Moosehead brookie. spawning in early winter, condition. Trout in the 3 Jan. 1 - Feb. 14, all land- what will the regulations to 6-pound plus range is locks must be released live, be? Also to look for is: if a not uncommon these days. without removing them mature trout is caught, say These are rare trout indeed! from the water. There may to be six or seven years old, It’s pretty safe to say that be some changes underthere is no where else on way to help conserve these Lawrence’s the eastern seaboard of the brook trout in Moosehead Lakeside Cabins U.S. where these kind of Lake, so be on the lookout, trout can live, except for maybe sometime around & Guide Service this cold, remote, north- mid-August, to see what it might entail. A proposal western Maine water.

Anglers have been en- is now underway to be rejoying catching, and some- viewed by Maine I reserve opinion times, keeping for a trophy, Open Year Round On Moosehead Lake In Rockwood or eating, these trout. Cur- a b o u t a n y r e g u l a t i o n Modern well maintained rent open water regulations changes, and do not want to housekeeping cabins on quiet dead end equipped with therm. heat, linens, for Moosehead Lake allow get hung up on words like road towels, shower, kitchen w/microwave, for the taking of one brook “protect” vs. “conserve.” gas grill, direct TV/flat screen.

Fishing ~ Hunting trout, minimum length 14 I do place a lot of stock Summer Vacation inches. During the winter, in our regional Mooseh207-534-7709 there currently is ice and ead Lake Fisheries Focus Box 101 Rockwood, ME 04478 www.lawrencescabins.com open water fishing on the Group and in our IF&W Email: cabins101@aol.com lake from Jan. 1 - April Regional Fisheries Su-

July, the Land Use Planning Commission approved a petition to terminate the Moosehead Lake Concept Plan. It was the largest development plan made in Maine history. Along with it came a very large conservation easement that lies outside the surrounds of Moosehead Lake proper.

Originally, the plan was designed by Plum Creek, which has since merged with Weyerhaeuser, the current real estate investment trust (REIT), largest land owner around Mooseh-

the details of the re-zoning that was done here a few years ago in the Unorganized Territories by the Land Use Planning Commission, I would not wish to speculate. I was very involved with the particulars of the Moosehead Lake Concept Plan. I imagine that the Land Use Commission will rely heavily on the recommendations that are being made by the Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Council, since commis(Brookies cont. pg 68)

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Page 56

Waters

(Cont. from pg 46) preserve them in perpetuity, as once lost, you often can’t get them back. Are we doing enough? Not in my opinion.

Would an artificial lures restriction on SHF waters be prudent, or too much to ask of anglers?

Should we consider a 2-fish limit where 5-fish limits are in place today? What about a 10-inch minimum versus 6-inch, would it help

Northwoods Sporting Journal protect these waters from angler exploitation, while allowing them to meet their potential?

Amending the law to align the criteria for adding new waters to the SHF list, with those established for creating the initial lists would help. While the original criteria were very clear and documented, new waters are added at the discretion of IFW, and based on somewhat ambiguous and inconsistently applied criteria established by IFW.

St John Valley

And what about wild native brook trout in rivers and streams, don’t they deserve the same protections as those found in lakes and ponds? The simple answer is yes, especially when you consider Maine has most of the remaining river populations, and roughly 90% of the sea-run brook trout, left in the country.

After 15 years of anglers driving the SHF initiative, it would be a huge help if IFW took a more proactive role in evolving the law to better protect this unique and irreplaceable resource. A more cooperative effort between IFW, advocates, and the legislature would help move things forward in a more efficient and timely manner.

Maine’s SHF waters should be a source of pride for all of us, and a top priority for the powers that

be, as few things are more important to Maine than wild native brook trout and Arctic charr lakes and ponds. While no one will get everything they want, we should all be willing to make some concessions to help protect this uniquely Maine resource.

BOB MALLARD has fly fished for forty years.

He is a former fly shop owner, Registered Maine Fishing Guide, and commercial fly designer. Bob is a blogger, writer, and author. He is also a native fish advocate and founding member, Executive Director, and Maine Board Member for Native Fish Coalition. Look for his books 50 Best Places Fly Fishing the Northeast and 25 Best Towns Fly Fishing for Trout (Stonefly Press,) and his most recent, Squaretail: The Defini-

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Covid (Cont. from pg 50) ner Falls, about 14 miles upriver. There is a nice place to launch your canoe or kayak but you have to be careful: You could drive by the access area and not even know it. Your best bet would be to ask a local about just where that turnoff is.

Anyway, I set out early and fish just below the rambling waters called Sumner Falls. There are several rocky islands where you can land your craft and fish, but beware: Water is released once a day from upriver and, if you are not paying attention, your craft could simply drift away, as mine did once some 10 years ago.

The Connecticut River is a jewel. You can paddle along, enjoying the sights, an occasional bald eagle and, when you feel you are in the right place, hug the shore and cast up close. The smallies love to hug the shoreline. Smaller spinnerbaits, bright in color, seem to work very well.

So we are in a predicament. But that does not mean that outdoors folks can’t find plenty of things to do. Keep busy, stay healthy and get outdoors.

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

September 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Mighty Midges

Page 57

Fly Fishing

by Joe Bertolaccini, Orrington, ME

small pupae drifting by in match it. the water that were less Upon arriving home, Three mighty midges. (Photo by Joe Bertolaccini) than ½ inch long and had I checked several referMuch has been writ- the only aquatic insects two friends and I were a grayish translucent body ences on midges and came ten about midges, but an- that trout will rise to dur- fishing a pond near Baxter with a white thorax. Occa- up with three patterns that glers fish them very infre- ing the winter when water State Park. There were oc- sionally a very small light likely could have solved quently compared to the temperatures are in the Every once in a while a mayfly would come off the water more common imitations 40-degree range. Stories that we attempted to imitate, but to no avail. After looking of mayflies, caddis flies, abound about experienced closely, I spotted many small pupae drifting by in the water stoneflies, etc. Yet midges, fly fishers being “skunked” that were less than ½ inch long and had a grayish called by a number of dif- trying every dry fly in their translucent body with a white thorax. ferent names including boxes while trout are risno-see-ums, gnats, and ing all around them, not casional rises so the trout colored mosquito-like fly our problem. They all consnow flies, are said to be splashy rises that would be were feeding on something would emerge from one tain only two materials and the most important aquatic produced by a caddis hatch, but we never found out of the pupae that I thought are quick and easy to tie, insect that trout feed on. for example, but subtle what it was. Every once might be a midge but really even in the smaller sizes.

They are small two winged rings that would be made in a while a mayfly would wasn’t sure. I had a hunch When fishing midges, it is flies that breed abundantly by trout taking insects just come off the water that we that the adult fly was what essential to use at least nine in any water that holds fish, on or under the water sur- attempted to imitate, but they were taking, however foot leaders tapered to one 12 months of the year. face. I experienced that to no avail. After looking between the three of us or two pound test tippets Midges are perhaps challenge first hand when closely, I spotted many we had nothing that could (Midges cont. pg 68)

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Page 58

Flight Of The Arrow

Northwoods Sporting Journal

September 2020

The Check List

by Jerome Richard, Clinton, ME Editor’s note: The author is off hiking and camping. What follows is his typical route and supply plan for hiking a section of the Appalachian Trail.

• Plan on a typical Mountain House meal to cover a lunch and a dinner.

Typical package contains about 2-1/2 cups of mix to 2 cups of water, so each meal could be 1-1/4 cups of mix to 1 cup of water. Use trail mix for breakfast and snacks. Mountain House Chicken & Rice add Tuna.

• Breakfast needs to be dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, etc.) and granola bars.

• Lunch needs to be something easy and fast such as 2 burrito wraps with peanut butter. Maybe an occasional hot meal.

• Dinner needs to be much better.

• Don’t carry a weeks’ worth of food. Hit more resupply points along the trail

to keep pack weight lower.

• One large canister of gas will last 2.5 weeks especial if you eat a few meals in town.

• Carry hard candy such as Jolly Rancher for snacks. NO, not good.

• Carry only 3 pair of socks • Relocate camera bag from hip belt to shoulder strap.

• Cut weight of total pack weight to 22 lbs. including water and food weight. Don’t carry compass, metal match, cotton balls, anything extra.

• Carry medicated skin cream for chaffing.

Cut back on medical kit including moleskin. Carry safety pins to hang socks from pack and to pop blisters. Keep small Swiss Army knife.

• Clothing – Carry only two t-shirts, one long sleeve t-shirt, one sweater, one pair of running pants,

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Seasons

through Monday only.

The crow is a migratory species and thus regulated by federal treaties that provide states parameters for setting seasons.

We don’t eat the crows but reducing their numbers sure makes farmers happy and they generally welcome us just as they do when we ask to hunt woodchucks, another bane of farmers, especially those who raise cattle.

We are experiencing very trying times as so much of what we took for granted just six months ago has been eliminated or drastically changed by the pandemic. My advice is to get outside as much as possible to hunt, fish, hike or canoe. I leave you with the following quote.

The difference be-

tween loneliness and solitude is your perception of who you are alone with and who made the choice.

Anonymous

(Cont. from pg 51) Champlain and Interior Vermont Zones during the weekend while accompanied by an adult 18 or older.

In the Connecticut River Zone, youth must be 15 years of age or younger on those dates. Both adult and youth must have Vermont hunting licenses. The adult may not hunt or carry a firearm. Youth ages 16 and 17 must have a Vermont Migratory Waterfowl tag and federal duck stamp.

Not to be overlooked by those wanting to sharpen their shooting skills are crows. The season for the big black birds opened August 21 and continues through December 19.

Hunting is allowed Friday

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.

His latest book, Four Seasons in Vermont, can be purchased at local stores or ordered online at www. bondcliffbooks.com, on Amazon at www.amazon. com. A signed copy can be ordered by sending $17.95 to cover postage and handling to the author at the above address.

Northwoods Sporting Journal

September 2020

Trouble With Chipmunks

Finally. The Dog Days of Summer are behind us.

Like we needed the heat and humidity thrown in on top of everything else that we’ve been dealing with this year? For me, this is the best time of the year for fishing. The air and the water are cooling down and

If you have chipmunks under your porch or otherwise around your house, the risk of you, your family, and your pets getting Lyme disease increases. the bugs aren’t as active as they were a month ago.

For lake trout and salmon, you’ve got until September 30th to boat a big one.

September 1st marks the start of the bear hunting season in the State.

Bears may be hunted over bait, by stalking or with hounds. The statewide population has grown to approximately 6,100 animals throughout the state.

Last year, we were able to identify six separate bears in our area, but so far this year, I haven’t seen one of them. I know they’re here, they just haven’t shown themselves. I think that speaks to the fact that there have been a lot of wild blueberries, raspberries and blackberries in the woods.

Hopefully, the intermittent rain we got this summer will be enough to produce a decent crop of acorns and beechnuts to compliment their menu.

Bow season for deer and turkey kicks off on Tuesday, September 15th which is two days before

the New Moon. Both seasons run through December 15th.

By now you’ve seen the stories with headlines like “Chipmunks gone wild” or “Chipmunk invasion has homeowners going nuts”. They all talk about the chipmunk “explosion” that we’ve experienced largely because of a bumper acorn crop last summer. But those media outlets, to me, are doing a disservice to their audience because not one of them talked about an important equation in that chipmunk explosion. And that is: ro-

dents and chipmunks are one of the juvenile deer ticks primary carriers. In fact, population booms in chipmunks have been linked to increased incidents of the diagnosis of Lyme disease. If you think I’m being an alarmist, look for yourself. Type in Chipmunks and Lyme Disease into your computer and look what comes up. According to one article, “If you have chipmunks under your porch or otherwise around your house, the risk of you, your family, and your pets getting Lyme disease increases”. I found

Welcome to Rangeley & Oquossoc Region

Page 59

New Hampshire Outdoors

by Peter St. James, Warner, N.H. a study led by a University of Pennsylvania biologist in the tick-infested woods of the Hudson Valley which demonstrates that chipmunks and two shrew species, not just mice, are the four species that account for major outbreaks. It found that, white-footed mice account for about a quarter of infected ticks.

Short-tailed shrews and

masked shrews were responsible for a quarter each and chipmunks for as much as 13 percent.

So, while the chipmunks may be cute, be advised that they may increase your exposure to Lyme Disease. Too bad that no mainstream media decided to devote any time or space to what could have (Trouble cont. pg 60)

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Page 60

Northwoods Sporting Journal

The Tyer’s Corner

by Hugh Kelly, Detroit, ME

This month’s fly is the Red-Gray Ghost Marabou streamer. This is a marabou version of the original Gray Ghost streamer the Carrie Stevens designed and tied 1924 at Upper Dam. This enormously popular streamer has dozens of versions, as well it should.

Some of these versions are easier to tie than others; that’s why I’ve chosen this one to write about. This is one of the best. It takes the best qualities of the original Gray Ghost, and adds the color red with a marabou wing. Red on a streamer fly is a proven color in Maine; it seems to trigger strikes from every species that swims here. By using marabou in place of the original feather wings, we get streamer with a lot of action and for most of us, faster to tie.

Recipe for the Red-Gray Ghost Marabou Thread - Black Hook – 8x streamer, size 4-10, 6 is popular Body – Red floss Rib – Silver Mylar Belly- Red buck tail Throat – Red hackle barbules, beard style Underwing- Peacock herl Wing – Gray marabou Shoulders- Silver Pheasant body feather Eyes – Painted, black pupil on white The priciest component of this fly is the hook.

I use Mustad’s 8x streamer hook but you can use a shorter one if that’s all you have on hand. Tie in a piece of silver Mylar (I use size 12). Next, wrap on a body of red floss. Finish the body about a quarter inch back from the hook eye. You don’t want a lot

September 2020

The Red-Gray Ghost Marabou

of bulk up there because marabou is a thick material.

Wind the Mylar forward.

Don’t wind a tight, narrow spaced spiral. The gap between each wrap of Mylar should be about twice the width of the Mylar. About five to six turns should do

it. Be sure to tie both ends of this Mylar in tight; you don’t want it to become a trailing strip of tinsel after the first salmon grabs it.

Now tie the belly and then the beard hackle. This is the time to notice what a good idea it was to leave the first quarter inch of hook shank bare. There is a lot of material in this fly and most of it is tied in at the head; you’ll need to leave room for that.

The peacock herl looks best to me when it is tied on top of the shank; the

Trouble (Cont. from pg 59) been an important teaching moment. I’ll be curious to see if there’s an uptick in dog/human case of Lyme in concert with this chipmunk explosion.

They don’t get a lot of credit but the NH Wildlife

Cougars in Maine?

length should just exceed the hook bend. You’ll find that the gray marabou will handle better when you’ve slightly moistened your fingers. Use water for thisyou won’t need much. Fly tying materials have been sprayed with insecticides, so don’t wet your fingers in your mouth or you’ll develop an insatiable thirst for Moxie. The wing should exceed past the hook bend by about a hook gap, give or take. The shoulders are the same as the original, Silver Pheasant body feathers. There are substitutes and you’re free to use them but you can keep your costs down by buying these body feathers by the dozen in a small package. An entire skin is cheaper in the long run but the up-front costs may be more than you want to spend. Remember, this is only a hobby. I tie in my shoulders with a few

wraps of thread and then twist them into position as needed before wrapping my head.

The original Gray Ghost used Jungle Cock for eyes, and they work well.

They’re also a bit pricey for a streamer that started out as an inexpensive alternative. I paint them on the head and the fly works fine.

Any time you spend more on a fly’s materials than you would need to buy a hamburger, it’s time to think about how bad you want the fish. This streamer is a fine smelt imitation that won’t cost more than your lunch. It’s also a fly that you could teach to a tenyear-old. Not a bad idea.

Federation, the Sportsmen’s Alliance and other sportsmen’s groups in the state, were able to defeat a handful of bills that would have negatively impacted sportsmen and dog owners.

The abbreviated 2019-20 New Hampshire legislative session came to end in mid-summer, killing bills related to the makeup

of the state’s game commission, training sporting dogs, recreational trapping and discharging firearms at shooting ranges. To all those that spoke, wrote letters and lobbied legislators against these and other bills impacting the outdoor community…THANK YOU!

If you think you’ve seen a mountain lion (cougar) anywhere in Maine in the last five years, we’d like to hear from you.

Please phone or email our editor, V. Paul Reynolds, at 207-745-3133 or vpaulr@tds.net

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

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

September 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Maine Outdoors: Good Days Ahead

If there is one thing corona in 2020 has reinforced for me, it’s that social media and interacting with customers online is more important now than it ever has been. Navigating through a pandemic when your business is tourism

that. Having an active online presence has not only helped us communicate better with potential guests from all over the country, but also given us a unique opportunity to showcase what we have to offer to Maine residents who typi-

Page 61

Ramblings From T8-R9

by Benjamin Rioux, Millinocket Lake, ME

for the great number of both remote and luxurious sporting camps. Wealthy sports would travel by buckboard, river, and later train to reach these camps, often times staying for a month or more. While times have changed and a great number of these camps have succumbed to societal shifts and changes in the economy, several

Maine’s natural beauty and the peace and solitude that come with it. Sporting Camps are well suited, ready, and willing to provide that opportunity, and the shift is an exciting and welcomed consequence arriving on the tail of several months of sleepless nights and uncertainty.

and generally eager people with a great need to show their friends and family a safe and relaxing time away from the stresses or daily life. Every week I get several emails from families who have chosen to stay in Maine due to travel restrictions or out of an abundance of caution,

still remain – Libby Camps among them, that offer experiences not far removed from those early days.

Maine Sporting Camps are viewed by many as historic relics of the past, but that doesn’t mean they are any less relevant in the landscape of Maine’s present-day tourism industry.

If anything, Covid-19 has given people a golden opportunity to reconnect with

While the glory days of the early 1900s are likely gone forever, I firmly believe the renewed interest in fishing, hunting and exploring the outdoors as a way of social distancing will very likely benefit our camps and many others in the long run. The spike in interest is undeniable, and my inbox is full of requests for additional information, inquiries on specific dates,

and we’ve seen many new faces in camp as a result.

These groups and families may have never sought us out if it wasn’t for the circumstances we face today, and I am confident that a great many of them will return next year, and for many years to come. Still too are residents of other states reaching out in great numbers, having found (Outdoor cont. pg 63)

While the glory days of the early 1900s are likely gone forever, I firmly believe the renewed interest in fishing, hunting and exploring the outdoors as a way of social distancing will very likely benefit our camps and many others in the long run.

People are eager to get out of the house, and even patrons of states we can’t currently accommodate are making serious inquiries or booking for the 2021 season when restrictions will be more relaxed, God willing.

(Photo by Ben Rioux) and hospitality and your cally venture outside of the location is northern Maine state for their vacations. brings with it a unique Through all of the struggles set of challenges, and this and difficulties this year has year has been a learning brought, the silver lining experience to say the least. has been meeting so many Keeping guests safe and from right here in our great comfortable while preserv- state that are experiencing ing the authentic Libby their own back yard for the Camps experience was very first time. our greatest concern going At the turn of the into this season, but as we twentieth century the approach fall, I think we’ve state of Maine was known succeeded in doing just throughout the country

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 62

Women In The Woods

by Erin Merrill, Portland, ME “I was looking for a narrative that described who we are as hunters,” my friend Robbie Kroger explained to me, “Essentially looking for an authentic

YouTube, featuring some of the most influential people in the hunting world.

People like Will Primos, Cuz Strickland and Jim Shockey all share a small

September 2020

The Blood Origins Project

and old and each one is a personal look into the importance of hunting and conservation. “It is about our community, and conveying the truth around hunting” said Robbie.

The fact that Robbie and I even connected is a testament to the power of the hunting community.

I asked Robbie what he had learned since he started doing this. “Everyone has a unique story. But there is a connected thread among all of us because we hunt. truth about who we are. I couldn’t find it. So, we built it with Blood Origins.” If you have never heard of Blood Origins, set aside a solid hour and watch the videos on their website or

piece of their story and the how and why hunting was so important.

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As a native South African, American and Mississippian, Robbie was determined to show just how connected we all are. As a born and raised Mainer, I really took notice when fellow Mainer Britt Longoria was featured in Season Four of Blood Origins. Many people know Britt through her father, Joe Hosmer, who served as one of the Board Members for Maine’s Fish & Wildlife Conservation Council, during the first black bear hunting referen-

Robbie Kroger and Jana Waller dum in 2004. Britt’s story is hunt. And when we start an incredible one, marked expressing that story in a by attacks she faced after a truly authentic, emotional, photo of her with a leopard transparent way then you she had killed went viral. will be surprised how many I highly recommend you people it resonates with, watch her video! including non-hunters,” I asked Robbie what he said. And he is right. So he had learned since he many of my friends and started doing this. “Every- colleagues do not hunt but one has a unique story. But they understand why I do there is a connected thread and support it. Most people (Project cont. pg 64) among all of us because we

The Sebago Region

September 2020

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Building a Longbow

Page 63

Mass Wanderings

Some people just like a challenge. Even with today’s advancements in bow hunting- some people, like New Hampshire’s Mark Ledgard like to take a step back and really challenge themselves in the deer woods. Ledgard has bow hunted all his life with marginal success, starting with a recurve and then the first compound, a Jensen Maglite. About ten years ago a friend of Mark’s showed him a longbow that he had just made. Mark shot it a few times and instantly fell in love with longbows. But Mark just doesn’t go out and buy a longbow-he goes into the woods and finds the right tree. “I like to use a 4”-6” diameter American beech tree, and it has to be nearly straight, that’s the hard part. Sometimes I’ll use a Hop Hornbeam or Hickory tree which can be hard to find. It can take up to half a day to find the right tree, cut it down and then drag it back to the truck,” Ledgard said.

“After I get the tree back to my shop, I cut it in half lengthwise and then the tree has to dry out for a full year,” Ledgard said.

“Once it’s dry I draw out on the wood the shape of the bow that I want to make. I then start tillering it to get it to bend at both ends simultaneously”. Tillering is removing parts of the tree with hand tools such as a saw, rasp, and a planer knife. The whole process takes about 40 hours. “Once I get the bow close to the shape that I want, I then attach a tillering bowstring and start testing the bow for poundage, (50# max), draw length (28“max), to set up a 6” brace height, and stacking. Stacking is when you pull back a longbow, the poundage increases as you pull back. The smoother the stacking- the more accurate you’ll be. My bows are usually 1.5” wide at the handle tapering to ¾” at the nocks where the string attaches. The bow is about

90% finished at this point.”

There are two different kinds of longbows, those with backing and those without. The back of the bow is the side that faces away from the shooter. Here, Mark likes to use rattlesnake skin. “I get it from the traditional archery supply companies. It looks cool and it gives me some camouflage,” Ledgard said.

Early on, a longbow

loses its poundage by softening up. When this happens, Mark has to adjust his homemade bowstring.

“I make my string out of Flemish bow string“, Ledgard said. “When the bow starts to soften up, I have to maintain the 6” brace height, so I’ll twist the string to shorten it to keep the brace height where it should be. I have to do this because weather affects the bow too. The bow is

to taper it to 5/32 at the nock. I like the arrows to have their weight forward, it helps with stability. I also have to taper the end, like sharpening a pencil, that goes into the back of the broadhead. My broad heads weight 140-160 grains and my arrows fly at 130-150 feet per second.”

For fletchings Mark only uses turkey feathers.

“Someone will give me a couple of turkey wings to

They will fight for stability and the arrow won’t fly well,” Ledgard said.

We all have our reasons for hunting, but in Mark Ledgard’s case he doesn’t make bows to hunthe hunts so that he can make bows.

Outdoor

tions and limitations has been a long, difficult road that hasn’t been without its bumps and bruises along the way. The support from our repeat clients is something we are beyond grateful for, and excitement of our new guests that have discovered us in this time of increased difficulty has been refreshing. As the world continues to evolve and adjust in the face of uncertainty, I know that some day soon we will return to at least some semblance of normalcy. When that happens and people return to their daily lives, I hope they hold on to their renewed love for the outdoors and

remember the comfort it provided them in a time of great unrest. I hope they continue to visit us and instill in their children just how valuable Maine’s outdoor heritage really is.

If that can happen, I think

Maine has a bright future on the other side of this pandemic.

S t a y h a p p y, s t a y healthy, and get outside!

erman, registered Maine Guide, and the Marketing director for Libby Sporting Camps. When he’s not exploring T8-R9 in search of new water, he can be reached at ben@libbycamps.com

(Cont. from pg 61) us online while hunkered down at home avoiding the masses. People are eager to get out of the house, and even patrons of states we can’t currently accommodate are making serious inquiries or booking for the 2021 season when restrictions will be more relaxed, God willing.

I realize we are lucky, and not every camp or business for that matter has weathered this pandemic the same way that we have.

Reinventing ourselves in the face of new restric-

by David Willette, N. Adams, MA a piece of wood and it changes with atmospheric conditions.”

For arrows, Mark buys different size dowels depending on the poundage of the bow. “I usually buy dowels with an 11/32 diameter,” Ledgard said. “I have

use. I made a jig that shapes the feathers into fletchings.

The key is that I have to be sure to use the feathers from the same side on each arrow. You can’t mix feathers from the right wing with feathers on the left wing on the same arrow.

About ten years ago a friend of Mark’s showed him a longbow that he had just made. Mark shot it a few times and instantly fell in love with longbows.

Ben is an avid fly fish-

David Willette is the author of the book, “Coyote Wars”. He can be contacted at coyotewars@ gmail.com

Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 64

The Singing Maine Guide

by Randy Spencer, Grand Lake Stream, ME My rate of water rescues is approximately one every three years, probably because of the amount of time I spend on the water.

You never know what it’s going to be: a medical emergency, a capsized boat or canoe (which can also be a medical emergency), or just a sticky situation. Most of these incidents, luckily, do not involve lives hanging in the balance.

For example, while guiding on a local lake, I had passed a canoe with three teen-aged girls in it moments earlier and didn’t like what I saw. The girls were attempting to switch positions in the canoe.

That meant standing, then passing each other while at the same time stepping over the canoe seats. I kept my eyes on them watching the whole thing unfold.

One of them lost her balance, tipped the canoe to the point of no return, and

in the next instant, they were all in the lake. It took all of two minutes to get back to them. Panicky, they thrashed and kicked.

Taking care not to swamp ourselves, my sports and I hauled them in and towed their canoe to safety.

Help is on the Way

but waving help. I changed courses and when we got close enough, I learned that they hadn’t remained in that position all morning for good fishing. The hull of their power boat was hung up on a stump. The only thing they could do under power or by paddling was go around in circles.

We went around the boat, pinpointing exactly where the offending stump was.

sitting atop the baggage. If this picture had a caption, it would read, “Don’t do it!”

It took quite a bit of convincing before this crew hit the pause button. I still don’t think they knew what they were in for: before they got out of sight of the dock, the top-heavy canoe with the child on top would have flipped. To rescue her, the big boat would have had to turn around to reach

…. and in the next instant, they were all in the lake. It took all of two minutes to get back to them. Panicky, they thrashed and kicked. Taking care not to swamp ourselves, my sports and I hauled them in and towed their canoe to safety.

Not long after that incident, two sports and I came upon a much funnier one. We’d noticed a power boat, stationery for most of the morning on the St. Croix River. We knew the area and figured they’d happened onto some good fishing. Maybe a perch hole. But then, hours later when we were passing within a hundred yards of them on our way to a lunch ground, they began waving. Not waving hello,

September 2020

Then, with the permission of the boat owner, I invited one of my sports to join me in boarding the craft. As soon as we got everybody in the bow of the boat, she drifted off the stump to freedom and a round of applause.

On a different lake, it became necessary once to reverse a situation that was surely going to require a rescue. A power boat, loaded to the hilt with dunnage was about to leave the dock against two foot waves from a south wind.

A canoe, just as loaded with gear, was tied to the boat with an 8 year-old girl

her in a following sea, except that the canoe was still attached. Bad to worse in a heartbeat.

Sure enough, within a couple of years, on a beautiful, cool, sunny day off, I was watching the northwest wind throwing white caps over the boulders along the shoreline of West Grand Lake (WGL).

That’s one of the winds that can get you into trouble on WGL, so I was relieved to see no boats in view, until–I did see one. It disappeared from sight below every other wave, cresting the ones in between. That’s when I realized it was a

Project

port and spread the word.

The next time you want to remember why you love hunting and being outside, pull up Blood Origins on their website, YouTube, Facebook or Instagram and watch the videos. I guarantee that you will be nodding in agreement and maybe you will even find yourself tearing up. Because, as they say ‘it’s in the blood.” ** To read the full interview with Robbie, please visit And a Strong

(Cont. from pg 62) in my network, will not turn down a meal of wild game (unless it is beaver, then they get a little leery.)

We need more projects like this to highlight conservation efforts and hunting. More people like Jana Waller, Braxton McCoy and Mette Petersen to share their ‘why’ and we need to listen, sup-

Grand Laker canoe. A guiding colleague maybe? Most wouldn’t chance a sea like that, but this one had only gathered strength that afternoon. The party had probably enjoyed a glorious day until now. I glassed the canoe and saw that the motor was up, and that the man in the stern was paddling furiously toward the nearest shore, with the wind. A dead motor. A following sea. A woman in the bow seat of the canoe, undoubtedly concerned.

With a center-console boat handy, it didn’t take long before I pulled up alongside the canoe. Everybody looked healthy. The motor had, in fact, died. They had a nice long painter tied to the bow which I secured to a stern cleat while rocking and rolling with the waves. The episode ended well with a nice social call at camp before trailering their canoe to town with an available spare.

May all your rescues have happy endings!

Randy Spencer is a working guide and author.

Reach him at randy31@ earthlink.net, or via www. randyspencer.com Cup of Coffee.

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

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

Northwoods Sporting Journal

September 2020

Page 65

Bigger Bears Next Season!

Spring bear season this year in New Brunswick came and went almost unnoticed and outfitters’ camps sat vacant. This terrible Corona Virus has swept through Canada, the USA and indeed the world.

A few local hunters did

venture out and they took some nice bruins, but they didn’t make a dent in our growing bear population.

Having our borders closed to our hunters and US families has protected us here in New Brunswick from this sweeping pandemic,

Malarkey Cabin Chronicles

but it has severely hurt our economy and age-old spring hunting traditions.

Our favorite hunting areas are still out there in the wilds, but this spring season lacked the excitement and enthusiasm of actually having a hunt.

Each spring we look forward to seeing and host-

family to us and we know what they like for deserts at the dining table and how they want to hunt. It has all become part of the annual tradition.

ing our loyal clientele in camp, sharing the past years’ hunting tales and visiting with these hunters who have become more than clients to us over the years. They have become

When I speak with the guys on the phone or through e-mail, they usually ask how we are doing and follow up with a question or two about their hunting areas and the bear

by Ray Dillon, Keswick Ridge, N.B.

population. To say that our bear population is growing steadily and is in very good shape is true and to tell the guys there will be more animals and bigger animals

The bear population has taken advantage of the lack of hunting pressure especially by non-resident hunters and more bears are surviving and reaching maturity in woods that are ideal habitat with lots of food for the animals.

Fall and spring bear hunts each have their respective advantages.

NORTH AMERICA'S NORTHEAST WILDERNESS OUTDOOR OUTFITTERS ADVENTURES

for next spring is also true.

That is something we have noticed over the past few years.

The bear population has taken advantage of the (Bear cont. from pg 67)

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

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September 2020

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Bear

(Cont. from pg 65) lack of hunting pressure especially by non -resident hunters and more bears are surviving and reaching maturity in woods that are ideal habitat with lots of food for the animals. Bears live longer and they are becoming much larger as they enjoy being the top predator in a wilderness filled with foods they enjoy. Being omnivores and having voracious appetites, they will eat just about anything and their metabolisms are primed so that they not only survive on a vast variety of food sources but they will thrive on them. Bears gain considerable weight in summer… but there are other things to consider when choosing your hunting season...

I have often been asked if fall bear hunts are better than spring hunts, but that isn’t an easy question to answer. A bear’s fall coat that grew back in summer after they had shed is the same coat they slept in all winter and when they emerge from the den in the spring, it is the same quality coat albeit hanging on a body that has lost some body fat during the winter. Before the heat in late May and June comes and triggers the animals to start rubbing, the coats look the same as they did when the animal denned up. So considering their coats in spring vs. fall isn’t much help in making your decision on when to hunt them.

How about the difference in body weight?

There is no doubt that bears gain considerable weight through summer and into fall. Now that is a good argument for a fall hunt. Still, you need to consider other factors as well. It is more

Northwoods Sporting Journal

difficult bait fall bears due to an abundance of natural foods not available to them in the spring. Fall bears spend more time roaming vast distances constantly feeding to put in weight for hibernation. It can be easier to hunt the animals in springtime on a bait site after they have spent the winter not eating.

You can argue one way or another on which season is most desirable to hunt bears but one of the biggest arguments in favor of a spring hunt is the fact that May and early June offer big game bear hunting at a time when you can hunt very few other animals save for wild turkeys. It is our first big hunting trip of the year and it always promises to be exciting and full of adventure.

Spring time in New Brunswick also offers fishing for native brook trout and sea-run trout and small mouth bass fishing.

So what I do when asked which season is best for bear hunting is lay out the options for the hunters and let them choose for themselves. We have groups of bear hunters who prefer spring and book in for a certain week to get together every year. We have also had groups of hunting buddies book a fall bear hunt.

Both season have proven to be successful so let’s all hope and pray we can get back at it in 2021!

Ray Dillon is an Outdoor writer, bestselling book author, Professional Guide and owns/operates Malarkey Cabin Guiding Service in New Brunswick, Canada. To book a trophy Big Game or Uplands Bird hunt with him, go to www.malarkeycabin.com phone 506-363-2839 or e-mail rdillon@rogers.com

SELLERS LANE

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Page 67

REAL ESTATE

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LAND FOR SALE IN NORTHERN MAINE

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Asking $28,995.00 please call 207-745-6951 for further details.

445 + ACRES Avon - Mountain views & 6000' on Mt. Blue stream. Views of Saddleback, MT. Abraham & Mt. Blue are great. Good access & public road frontage. 445 acres for $249,000.

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325 + ACRES Rangeley - Approx 3,000' on Round Pond, improved internal access roads & spectacular views make this 325 acre kingdom lot one of a kind. $799,900.

800 + ACRES Hancock County - Over 800 acres with 5,400 sq. ft log cabin completely surrounding Fox Pond. Miles of maintained trails. Adjacent to 20k acres of conservation lands. FOXPONDESTATE. COM $4.3mm

Page 68

Brookies (Cont. from pg 55) sioners have mentioned it a number of times. One thing I do remember from the Concept Plan, Plum Creek made it clear that it was not going to develop any time soon because it was essential first to brand the area in order to attract buyers. In recent years, that’s exactly SELLERS LANE

BUYERS ROAD

Northwoods Sporting Journal

what has taken place. The Moosehead Lake Region is branded as “America’s Crown Jewel” and is being marketed as a worldclass outdoor recreational destination. I’ll be curious what shape that might take on the ground; how it may keep what’s special to this place, compared to other places.

Suzanne AuClair is an

avid outdoors woman. She lives near Rockwood and has been writing about the Moosehead Lake Region for the past 25 years. In 2013-14, she produced Maine’s anthology, “The Origin, Formation, and History of Maine’s Inland Fisheries Division.” She is an award winning member of the New England Outdoor Writers Assn.

REAL ESTATE

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Midges

or 8/0.

Body – Gray fur or sparkle yarn, dubbed thin.

(Cont. from pg 57) Collar –White or for proper presentation of cream dubbing or sparkle these small flies. yarn.

Brassie – This fly was originated some 50 years Griffith’s Gnat – A ago as a general impres- standard imitation of the sionistic imitation of a adult midge or clusters midge larva or pupa for of midges. The smaller western streams. The cop- sizes can be tied with only per wire provides flash hackle, palmered in close, with a natural looking seg- tight turns around the hook mented body that makes it shank. effective in eastern waters Hook – Sizes 16 to 24, as well. dry fly hook.

Hook – Sizes 14 to 20, Thread – Gray 8/0. standard length.

Body – Peacock herl Thread – Black 6/0 or or gray dubbing.

8/0 for smaller sizes.

Hackle – Quality dry Body – Fine strand fly hackle, either grizzly copper wire, thickness de- or gray, palmered over the pending upon hook size. body. Length of the hackle Collar – Peacock barbs should be about equal herl, ostrich herl, or coarse to the hook gap. dubbed fur.

Midge life cycles, fly Throat (optional) – patterns and tying instrucPheasant tail barbs. tions can be found in stanMidge Larva or Pupa– Can be tied in any number of color combinations of tan, gray white, brown and black. The pupa imitation should have a coarse, wellpicked out collar.

Hook – Sizes 14 to 28, standard length.

Thread – White 6/0

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September 2020

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dard references such as Designing Trout Flies, by Gary Borger and Guide to Aquatic Trout Foods, by Dave Whitlock.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

September 2020 SELLERS LANE

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Page 69 SELLERS LANE

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P.O. Box 628 Main Street Machias, ME 04654

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Office Tel. & Fax: (207) 255-3039 Email: anitaj@midmaine.com Website: www.sunlist.com Anita Johnson

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Power available at roadside. Direct access to Sunrise Trail. 8 ft. fence surround the property. $28,500.00 EAST MACHIAS: Soil tested, driveway permit has been done. Would need to be renewed. Surveyed. Direct water access for good fishing, kayaking and canoeing from this river front parcel. $29,900.00

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Burlington- Year round road & electricity, nearly finished cabin, would be a great places for snowsledders or ATV enthusiasts. Knotty pine interior, plenty of room for a big crowd to stay & enjoy on Moores Rd. $59,000

Lee- Well-built cabin offering water & septic. Back property line is a small brook, ATV or snowmobile from driveway & heats easily in winter. Knotty pine interior, cathedral ceiling & full bath on Sarah Lane.

This cabin is well worth a look. $69,000

Prentiss TWPWell built, nice cabin has acreage to electricity, year round access & M a i n e ’s G r e a t outdoors. Pine floors & walls, cathedral ceiling & full bath on Averill Road. Can be full time residence or vacation get away. $129,000

Grand Lake Stream- Exceptional frontage on West Grand Lake, one of Maine’s premier cold water fisheries.

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Lee- Privately plowed, seaonal road. Electricity & nice frontage on a beautiful, clean Silver Lake. Two lots being sold, could potentially sell one lot & keep the other. The well is on lot 14 while the buildings & septic are on lot 15. $139,000 Winn-2.8+/- acre riverfront lot, electricity available, year round access, outdoor recreation in every direction, minutes to Lincoln’s amenities, 265’+/- on the mighty Penobscot River. $23,500 Lincoln-Wonderful private 1.16 acre lot, driveway installed, ability to boat to Caribou & Long Ponds, access to snowmobile & ATV trails, owner financing, frontage on Egg Pond. $54,900 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. $21,500 Mattamiscontis- Nice 2.4 acre lots with fantastic frontage along the majestic Penobscot River.

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Northwoods Sporting Journal

Page 70 SELLERS LANE

September 2020 SELLERS LANE

REAL ESTATE

BUYERS ROAD

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Commercial

1-800-696-2235 56 Liberty Drive, Hermon www.overheaddoorofbangor.com

Judd Goodwin Well Co

"We Do It Right The First Time"

Complete Well & Pump

Installation, Service and Repair Residential • Commercial Camps • Cottages

P.O. Box 17 Greenville, ME 04441 Office: 207-695-3645 Cell: 207-280-0923 goodwinjudd@yahoo.com www.juddgoodwinwell.com Member Maine Groundwater Association

Professional application equipment - Training Available - Quality Discounts

SAND BLASTING SAND • Crushed Glass Grit • Black Beauty • Glass Beads Call for price quantity breaks