VGOM January 2013 by Vermont's Great Outdoors Magazine

January 2013

Vermont’s

Volume 1 Number 1

Magazine

GREAT OUTDOORS Ice Fishing ● Fun with friends ● Species hot spots ● Safety on the ice

Winter fly fishing

‘Shed Antlers’ A father ponders the future New column debuts

Show time Yankee Sportsman’s Classic kicks off in Essex Jan. 18-20

● Christmas Bird Count ● Bat conservation help ● More deer season photos

● Think You Know Champlain? ● Snowshoeing in State Parks ● News, Calendar, More …

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January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 3

Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine www.VtGreatOutdoorsMag.com January 2013 • Volume 1 • Number 1

Features 18 Saving

Bolton

More than 1,000 acres of backcountry is being protected from development.

24 Show

Time

Three Toms

A father looks back over those who guided him to be the man he is today.

36 Winter

General Manager Lori Moro News Assistants Maya Marcy & Camilla Marcy

The annual Yankee Sportsman’s Classic kicks off Jan. 18-20 in Essex Junction.

30 My

Publisher & Editor Darren Marcy

Fly Fishing

Dedicated fly anglers continue to fish no matter what month is on the calendar.

Contributors Jeremy Baker, Kris Surette, Bradley Carleton, Steven Faccio, Capt. Mickey Maynard, Brian Cadoret, Erin Talmage, Megan Davin. Article & Photo Submissions editor@VtGreatOutdoorsMag.com Press Releases, Letters, Calendar news@VtGreatOutdoorsMag.com Advertising ads@VtGreatOutdoorsMag.com Phone (802) 331-0130 All articles and photos need to be submitted electronically.

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5. Editor’s Note 6. Photo of the Month 7. Calendar 8. Outdoor News 58. Out & About

22. Sacred Hunter 48. The Outside Story 32. LCI 34. Vt. State Parks 36. Bird of Vermont

Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine is published monthly as a free digital publication. This publication is protected by copyright and each individual story and photo is protected by copyright owned by the respective contributors. All opinions belong to the respective writers and do not necessarily reflect that of Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine.

Page 4 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Editor’s Note:

A great start to 2013

On the Cover

he beginning of a new year brings a chance to start again – a reset button to evaluate anew your priorities and intentions. At Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine, we are using this time to reaffirm what we started just a few short months ago. This magazine has grown more quickly than our original expectations and its acceptance has humbled us and focused our dedication. Sometimes when I’m writing or editing at 4 a.m. after a long day at the office, I wonder if it’s worth it. Then I log on and find a wad of new likes on the Facebook page, or an email from someone saying how much they like the magazine and it renews my spirit and strengthens my resolve to get up and do it again the next day. It is certainly a labor of love. I appreciate your comments – or critiques if you have them – and encourage you to send them in. We’d like to start publishing letters to the editor so if you have a comment about an article or the publication itself, please email them in or message us on Facebook. There’s a lot to this issue, and I’m proud to send it out – even if we are late (something that will get rectified very soon). Leading off is a great read on an important issue as Kris Surette, writer of the SkiMaven.com blog. She’s passionate about saving the Bolton backcountry and through her eyes, it’s easy to see why. Read it and see if you don’t agree. Next is an article about the Yankee Sportsman’s Classic, an annual hunting and fishing show that I’ve come to really enjoy. Check it out, there’s a lot to see. Jeremy Baker makes his debut this month and I’m telling you, you’re in for a treat. Baker is passionate about the outdoors and family and this story combines the traditions and family values that are such a big part of the outdoors. If you love to fish but put the rods away in the fall to await spring. You won’t want to miss the article about Brian Cadoret and his merry band of anglers who fish all winter, plying the ice-free lower reaches of Lake Champlain tributaries for trout and salmon. This story shows the measures an outdoor fanatic will go to in order to get their fix during Vermont’s long winter. There’s much more this month, including the debut of a new bird watching column by Erin Talmage, the executive director of the Birds of Vermont Museum in Huntington. Of course, Bradley Carleton is back, this month writing about ice fishing with his buddies, and there are columns from Lake Champlain International, The Outside Story, Vermont State Parks, as well as some more photos of great bucks from the Vermont deer hunting seasons. Do you have photos to share? We’d love to see them. Send your photos from hunting, hiking, skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing or whatever. We might choose to use some of them throughout the magazine and many will end up in our Readers’ Shots feature. Happy New Year!

Lonely ice This ice angler was a model of patience sitting on the ice of Lake Bomoseen watching a handful of tipups while jigging. The setting sun to the west cast a glow over the ice that made the solo angler look even more alone sitting out on the ice. Truth be known, this man or woman was probably not lonely in the least. Often, fishing alone is the best time, allowing you to be alone with your thoughts. Lori Moro, VGOM’s general manager, took this shot, which was turned into our cover this month. We’d like to see your photos. Have a nice shot to share? Please send it to us. With the new year upon us, we hope you’ll accept our best wishes for a successful year in whatever endeavors you engage in.

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 5

Photo of the Month:

A cardinal withstands a snowstorm. Birders around Vermont joined tens of thousands of others in North America for the Christmas Bird Count. “The Christmas Bird Count is one of the longest-running citizen science projects in the country and possibly in the world,” said Mark LaBarr, of Audubon Vermont. “Not only does it provide critical data for scientists, but it’s also a great time for folks who participate.”

Page 6 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Outdoor Calendar:

Calendar of Events ● Winter survival demonstration, Jan. 12, Green Mountain Conservation Camp Kehoe, 10 a.m. to noon, Kehoe in Castleton, a brief talk followed by Warden Rob Sterling demonstrating the winter searching skills of his K9, Rufus, the art of building a snow house similar to an igloo, free, 636 Point of Pines Road, Castleton. ● Fifth Annual Ladies Nordic Ski Expo, Jan. 12, 8:30a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, full-day Nordic skiing event is for women of all levels of ability taught by some of the country’s top female instructors, onsnow instruction, presentations, guided tour, and social. $65 for CTA members, $90 nonmembers, www.catamounttrail.org. ● Winter Trails Day, Jan. 12, noon to 4 p.m., Smugglers’ Notch Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Adventure Center, an afternoon celebration of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, free rentals and short instructional sessions, noon to 4 p.m., 802-644-1173, www.smuggs.com, smuggs@smuggs.com. ● Forestry for the Birds Takes Flight, Jan. 13, NorthWoods Stewardship Center, 154 Leadership Drive, East Charleston, noon to 2 p.m., $10, demonstrations of forestry that improves habitat for forest birds and other wildlife, be prepared to snowshoe one-half mile, limited loaners available, 802-723-6551, www.northwoodscenter.org. ● Family cross-country ski, Jan. 13, GMC Young Adventurers Club, Trapp Family Touring Center, easy 2 to 4 miles, trail fee required, contact Lexi Shear for details, 2299810. ● Wildlife Celebration, Jan. 19, explore wildlife and learn winter survival techniques, outdoor educational games and activities, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., VINS Nature Center, 6565 Woodstock Road, Quechee, adults: $12, seniors: $11

●

(65+), youths: $10 (4-17), 3 and under free, 802-359-5000, ext. 223, www.vinsweb.org Ice fishing season for trout, salmon and bass starts begins, Jan. 19 through March 15, 40 large lakes in Vermont. VASA’s annual meeting, Jan. 19, refreshments at 11 a.m., meeting begins at noon, Montpelier Elks Country Club, 203 Country Club Drive, meet VASA officers, board members, staff, volunteers and members, elect officers, office@vtvasa.org or 802-477-5075. Smuggler’s Notch Ice Bash, Jan 25-27, free gear demos, clinics for the beginner to advanced climber, multimedia slideshows, dry tooling competition, raffles and camaraderie, Smuggler’s Notch, www.smuggsicebash.com. VT/NH Reciprocal Weekend, all legally registered snowmobiles in Vermont and New Hampshire may ride in either state. Jan. 25-27. Bald Mountain Snowshoe, Jan. 27, NorthWoods Stewardship Center, 154 Leadership Drive, East Charleston, 10 a.m., snowshoe to the wintery wonderland on the summit of Bald Mountain -- the iconic pyramid peak visible all around the Northeast Kingdom, a physically challenging adventure, 4.2 miles, 1,500 elevation gain, wear plenty of layers, $10 includes snowshoe rental, contact for meeting location, 802-723-6551, www.northwoodscenter.org. Snowmobile hill climb, Jan. 27, register 8 a.m., competition starts at 11 a.m., Lyndon Outing Club, Stock, open and women’s classes, as well as fly-racing modified, and kids fun runs, www.skilyndon.com, 802-535-4170 or eventproentertainment@yahoo.com.

To have your organization’s meeting or activity listed in the outdoor calendar; or for additions, deletions or corrections, email news@vtgreatoutdoorsmag.com.

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 7

Outdoor News: Vermont hunting and fishing licenses are sold and with a printable application on the Fish & Wildlife Department website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). There is no limit on the number of times you may apply during a year. Castleton Spartans football ice For more information on hunting and fishing in fishing derby scheduled Vermont, contact Fish & Wildlife by calling 802-241CASTLETON -- An ice-fishing derby will be held 3700 or by emailing fwinformation@state.vt.us. from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 26 as a fundraiser for the Castleton Spartan college football team. Two hikers rescued from The event will be held on Lake Bomoseen and will Vermont mountain be based out of the Fishtail Tavern on Route 30 in Bomoseen. STOWE -- Rescuers helped a man and his daughter Adult entry is $30 with youth 14 and younger paying down off Worcester Mountain on Dec. 22 after the pair $10. missed a turn and ended up lost. Cash prizes will be awarded in both divisions for first Vermont State Police said in a news release the pair through third biggest fish for northern pike, bass, were headed for Pinnacle Trail but took a wrong trail brown trout and perch. and ended up on Hunger Mountain. They called for For information, call 802-468-1218. help several hours after dark after they had trouble seeing the trail and markers. George Young, 59, and his daughter, MacKenzie Williamstown man wins Young, 20, both of Weston, Conn., intended to come lifetime license lottery down to Stowe. WILLIAMSTOWN -- A 50-year old sportsman from Instead, searchers hiked up and located the pair Williamstown is the lucky winner of a Vermont around midnight, leading them out by about 1:30 a.m. lifetime hunting and fishing license. Neither were hurt. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department held its annual License of a “Lifetime Lottery” at the Dec. 13 Winter survival event planned meeting of the Fish and Wildlife Board in Montpelier. at conservation camp A lifetime hunting and fishing license is awarded to one person per year. Dan Hegarty won the license in a CASTLETON -- The Vermont Fish & Wildlife drawing of 329 lottery tickets. Department will host a winter survival demonstration “The License of a Lifetime Lottery gives anyone, from 10 a.m. to noon Jan. 12 at its Green Mountain resident or nonresident, an opportunity to win a Conservation Camp Kehoe in Castleton. Vermont hunting and fishing license that is good for The free event will include a brief indoor talk the rest of their life,” said Fish and Wildlife followed by a hands-on portion outdoors. Commissioner Patrick Berry. “Even if you don’t win The outdoor portion will feature Warden Rob the license, it is a good feeling to know you have Sterling demonstrating the winter searching skills of contributed to fish and wildlife conservation in his K9 assistant, a labrador retriever named Rufus. Vermont.” The traditional art of building a quincy, or a snow You can enter Vermont’s License of a Lifetime house similar to an igloo, will also be covered during Lottery by purchasing a $2 tickets available where the event, weather permitting.

Vermont

Page 8 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Outdoor News: This is the first in a series of events hosted at GMCC Kehoe facility in 2013. The events take place once a month. “The winter survival program is going to be a great way to start off the new 2013 event series at GMCC Kehoe,” said Alison Thomas, education director for Vermont Fish & Wildlife “Participants will hear about and participate in activities focused on ways to be safe and have fun in Vermont’s harsh winter conditions,” Thomas said. The facility is located at 636 Point of Pines Road in Castleton. More information, including a complete listing of 2013 Camp Kehoe events, can be found at www.anr.state.vt.us/fwd/KehoeEducationCenter.aspx. “Be sure to dress in layers,” added Thomas. “We’ll be standing still while Rufus does his demonstrations, but working on the quincy hut can be more vigorous and you might want to shed some clothes.”

A thermal imaging device was ultimately used by the Sheriff’s office and Morrisville Police Department to locate the alleged offenders in the woods. Poleio was charged with Taking Deer in Closed Season, which carries a potential two-month jail term for the first offense. Poleio could also lose his right to hunt, fish and trap in Vermont for three years and face $2,500 in fines and restitution. This is Poleio’s second criminal charge relating to Fish & Wildlife crime this fall. On the opening weekend of November rifle season Poleio and Floyd Pecor, 34 of Wolcott, were apprehended by a Lamoille County Sheriff’s deputy after attempting to locate deer at night with a spotlight. A loaded deer rifle was also found in the vehicle. An area game warden was called and the two were charged and their equipment was seized. A three-year license suspension and heavy fines apply to these charges as well.

Large buck killed after season closed

VASS names three men volunteers of the year

MORRISVILLE – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department says a poacher was apprehended in Morrisville late at night Dec. 14, after illegally killing a mature antlered buck. Skylar Poleio of Hyde Park, 22, was arrested at about 11:15 p.m. after he and another man returned to retrieve the buck Poleio had killed. A complainant called 911 at around 10:30 p.m. after hearing a shot outside a residence on Cote Hill Road in Morrisville. A Vermont State Game Warden was notified and he, along with officers from the Morrisville Police Department and the Lamoille County Sheriff’s office responded.

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports recently announced that Ross Almo, of Mendon; Harrison Keyes, a student at the University of Vermont; and Norm Staunton, of Colchester; are the 2012 recipients of the organization's annual Jim Hutchinson Volunteer of the Year Award. “These three volunteers exemplify what Jim Hutchinson stood for when it comes to being a volunteer,” said Executive Director Erin Fernandez. "They tirelessly offered their time and talent to the organization throughout the year and all three truly stood apart with their willingness to learn and execute many aspects of our programs.”

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January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 9

Outdoor News: The Jim Hutchinson Memorial Volunteer of the Year Award honors the exemplary efforts of outstanding individuals. Jim Hutchinson embodied the meaning of volunteer with his tireless dedication, strong leadership and big heart. Each year individuals are nominated for the annual volunteer of the year award in his honor and names are added to a memorial plaque hanging at each program location. Almo, despite his own personal and business hardships as a result of Tropical Storm Irene, lent outstanding support to the organization and staff during Irene Recovery, where the Pico program location sustained approximately $10,000 worth of damage. He hosted a housewarming fundraising party, attended the Hartford Ski Spectacular in Colorado to continue his education in adaptive snow sports and continues to bring many resources with him to the organization as a volunteer including his good nature, community involvement, awareness, and knack for getting things done.

He also is involved in summer programming and special events throughout the year, showing his yearround dedication and devotion to helping others. Keyes is the president and leader of the UVM Adaptive Sports Club, where he has taken the club to new heights and increased interest and commitment of the student participants, exceeding all of Vermont Adaptive's expectations. He rallied large groups of student volunteers to assist in daily lessons, special events and fundraisers. The pinnacle of Keye's work came last season when he spear-headed a grant application to the Newman's Foundation on behalf of the UVM Club and Vermont Adaptive that ultimately led to a $10,000 award which is being used for sit down equipment as well as training. Staunton has been involved in adaptive sports for more than a decade at programs throughout New England. He has been a volunteer with Vermont Adaptive for many years and brings a depth of knowledge from the volunteer perspective. In addition to his volunteerism,

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Page 10 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Outdoor News: The Johnson-based outerwear manufacturing company has been around for more than a decade and has developed a fiercly loyal customer base for their products, which are popular with hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts. “Over the past 24 months we have learned a great deal about our company, where we want to take it and the path we need to follow to get there.” Willett said in December. “We have been blessed to meet and work with some outstanding individuals and organizations during our first two years in business and we are thankful for opportunities and challenges presented to us.” The owners say BOW will remain in Vermont and not succomb to the cheap labor and higher profits available to outsourced products. “Too many companies are lured by the promise of cheap labor and higher margins, which result in the outsourcing of jobs to Mexico and overseas. We are Beagle wear celebrates 2 years determined to buck this trend.” Willett said. “The under current ownership US Made label means something and we believe that In mid-December, Derek Libby and Emile Willett a quality product, manufactured in America, can celebrated their second anniversary as the owners of hold a place in the market. Although that may lead Beagle Outdoor Wear. to a slightly higher price at the register, the long term

he is not only a full-time student, but is employed full-time as well. He is an important resource and knowledgeable on equipment, safety and teaching techniques. Staunton was involved in the Irene recovery at Pico as well, repairing damaged equipment that needed immediate attention. He also is one of the race coaches for the Vermont Adaptive alpine team and is responsible for setting the race course each Sunday, planning activities for racers and organizing all race functions. Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports is the largest year-round disabled sports non-profit organization in Vermont offering the most diverse program opportunities and unique, specialized equipment. For information, visit www.vermontadaptive.org.

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These introductory rates are intended to introduce your organization to VGOM. Despite the demand and excitement generated by the publication, we have chosen to keep rates low enough to allow everyone to get in on the ground floor. Enjoy the added advantage that each monthly issue of VGOM will continue to be available through the digital reading platform and for download at the end of each month. Long after a printed magazine is pulled from the shelves or tossed in the recycle bin, people will continue to run across these old issues as they discover the magazine or find interesting articles during Internet searches.

ads@vtgreatoutdoorsmag.com January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 11

Outdoor News: benefit of quality, and supporting our local economy is priceless.” Beagle Outdoor Wear products are distributed through retailers throughout Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, and in the coming year the company plans a significant growth in its dealer plant. And as the new year dawns, Libby and Willett have announced an addition to their offerings under the parent company C.A.B.N Outdoors, LLC -- the formation of Custom Stitching Solutions and Embroidery, an expansion of work they had already offered on a limited, as-needed basis. In 2013, the company is expanding their efforts to include: custom embroidery, custom logo digitization, contract stitching, knife and die cutting, and other services with more to be added soon. The owners are quick to point out that the new business won’t affect the longstanding popular Beagle Outdoor Wear product line, which is expected to be expanded in 2013. For more information, log on to www.beaglewear.com or call (802) 635-9200.

participating states will be allowed on trails in all three during the weekend of Jan. 25-27. All other host state regulations will apply, including speed limits, youth laws and Vermont's mandatory liability insurance. New Hampshire and Vermont held an annual reciprocal weekend opening their trails to the other since 2010. Maine joined last year after a law was passed in 2011 including it in the weekend. Participating states plan to hold the snowmobile weekend each year on the fourth weekend in January.

Region

Saranac Lake woman rescued near Plattsburgh

Vt., N.H., Maine snowmobilers can cross borders Jan. 25-27

SARANAC LAKE -- Rescue crews came to the aid of Sarah LePak, 29, of Saranac Lake after the woman fell and was trapped for two days. LePak was hiking Dec. 12 at Point Au Roche State Park in Plattsburgh when she fall down an embankment and suffered a leg injury. Unable to move, she remained there for two days until crews were able to locate her and rescue her.

CONCORD, N.H. -- Snowmobilers registered in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine can cross state lines during the reciprocal weekend for the northern New England states. Any snowmobile legally registered in one of the

Hunter shot and killed by his son in New York CHESTER -- Police said a New York man shot and killed his father while hunting in the Adirondacks on Dec. 1. Police decided not to charge James Lavergne, 23, of Glens Falls in the shooting of Terry Lavergne, 53, of Warrensburg. Police said the pair were hunting with another son, when the younger Lavergne fired a shot that struck his father, who was in some brush, in the torso.

Hunting, Fishing, Hiking, Backpacking, ATVing, Biking, Camping, Skiing, Snowshoeing, Snowmobiling, Bird Watching, Climbing, Photography, Power Boating, Paddling, Skijoring, Conservation, Four Wheeling, Dog Sledding, and … try us!

Most races and competitions. There will be some allowance for fishing tournaments, some shooting events, and a few others, but we’re not interested in 5k, 10k, half marathons, triathlons, bike races, ski races, swim meets, auto/motorcycle races, adventure races and similar events that are already covered by other publications and local newspapers. Also, no golf, Frisbee games, dog shows (unless they’re bird dogs), gardening, backyard birding, polo, team sports, well you get the idea. We have to draw the line somewhere, and this is a good starting point. Some things will be on a case-by-case basis. It never hurts to ask.

Page 12 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Outdoor News:

Owner of rafting company faces more charges Patrick Cunningham, the owner of Hudson River Rafting Co., is in more trouble related to his business. In September, Tamara Blake, 53, died after she was thrown into the Indian River while on a rafting trip with her boyfriend on a trip with a Hudson River Rafting Co. guide. The guide was found to be under the influence and pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide related to the incident. In October, the company’s guiding license was suspended by the state. In December, however, Cunningham was cited with two misdemeaner counts of second-degree reckless endangerment after he was accused of abandoning two clients on the Hudson River last May. The pair, from New York City, were able to negotiate the final 4 miles after Cunningham left them. Cunningham also faces reckless endangerment charges for a pair of incidents in August 2010 after he allegedly used an inflatable kayak for a river trip instead of a raft, and a raft of children didn’t have the appropriate number of guides aboard. Those charged were originally dismissed but later reinstated because of the May accusations.

Man critically injured in ice climbing fall A Syracuse man fell 200 feet while ice climbing on Nippletop Mountain in the Adirondacks. Calum Stewart, 41, of Syracuse, fell Dec. 15. A backcountry rescue team was able to reach the

man, who was tended to by a climbing partner who stayed with the injured climber while others went for help. A team of two dozen Department of Environmental Conservation rangers, members of local volunteer fire departments, a conservation officer and a backcountry rescue doctor were able to reach the injured man about 3:40 a.m. the following morning and were able to lower him to the bottom of the slide and evacuate him 3 1/2 miles to a road.

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We have had some interest by people who would like to write or submit photos to Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine. We welcome submissions by writers and photographers but keep three things in mind: 1. Understand our budget starting out doesn’t allow for payment. If you want to write because you love it, we can afford that, but we’re not paying any writers or photographers right away. Even the editor is working for free to start. We hate this, but it’s the way it has to be for now. 2. You will be edited. The best writers still need editors – some more than others. If it makes you feel better, I’ve been writing and editing professionally for 20 years. I won’t hack your work to death. 3. Query with an idea. Don’t write 1,000 words only to find VGOM doesn’t publish vampire fiction, even if the vampire sucks the blood of an 8-pointer. Let’s talk about your idea and decide if it’s right for this magazine. Then we’ll do it. January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 13

Outdoor News:

New License Season Vermont hunting, fishing and trapping licenses for the New Year are now available online at the Fish & Wildlife Department’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). “Many people like to purchase new licenses for themselves, friends or relatives,” said Vermont Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Patrick Berry. “Whether you want to give a license as a gift or purchase it for yourself, we want to make it as easy as possible with our new online licensing system.” If you are purchasing a license for someone else, you must have the license recipient answer the questions and provide the information on the application, but you can assist them and use your

own credit card to make the purchase. “While you are there, consider signing up in “Join Our Mailing List” to receive Vermont Fish and Wildlife news, and you can also purchase a 2013 Fish and Wildlife calendar,” Berry. Printed copies of the Hunting, Fishing & Trapping LAWS and GUIDE are available from license agents. The department’s website will soon have a link to an online version. A nationwide survey revealed that Vermonters ranked second only to Alaskans in enjoying fish and wildlife resources recreationally in 2011. Sixty-two percent of Vermonters went

fishing, hunting or wildlife watching, or enjoyed a combination of these activities, while 64 percent of Alaskans did the same. Vermont led the New England states in hunting and fishing with 26 percent of residents participating in one or the other, or both. The funds created when hunters and anglers purchase Vermont licenses, about $6 million annually, are matched with $7 to 9 million each year in federal excise tax dollars on hunting and fishing equipment as well as boating fuels to underwrite most of the fish and wildlife conservation work done by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.

New bear tags, 5-year licenses now available Early season bear tags and licenses good for five years are new options available to Vermont’s hunters, anglers and trappers. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department announced that a “late season” bear tag good for bear hunting November 16-24, 2013 is included on each hunting license except the nonresident small game license. This late portion of the bear season coincides with the first nine days of the November rifle deer season. It also includes a four-day extension of the bear hunting season during the

November deer season. A hunter who wishes to hunt bear in the “early season,” September 1November 15, 2013, must purchase a separate early season bear tag – residents $5, nonresidents $15. The purpose of the changes in bear hunting tags is to be able to best manage the black bear population by gathering more information about bear hunters and bears. Anyone who purchased a lifetime, permanent, five-year hunting, or fiveyear combination license before 2013 does not need to purchase the early

season bear tag. The bear tag on each of those licenses is good for the entire bear season. The annual limit for bears has not changed. A hunter may harvest only one bear per calendar year. The five-year license option may appeal to dedicated hunters, anglers and trappers for a slight savings. For example, a resident fishing license for five years is $119, whereas if purchased at the 2013 rate of $25, the cost would be $125. The angler would have additional savings if the rate went up during the five years.

Page 14 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Outdoor News:

First Day Hikes Start the New Year out right with a hike in a Vermont State Park. Join in one of free, guided, easy, family hikes taking place in state parks throughout the state. Professional guides and outdoor educators will lead the way, sharing their knowledge and love of the Vermont outdoors. Don't need a guide? Then get outside at the state park of your choice. They are always available and close by to all. Entry is free and you will discover a whole new world in the winter. Bring the whole family. Dress for the weather; bring snowshoes if there is a lot of snow. Bring some beverages and snacks. Dogs are welcome on leash. You don't need to pre-register,

just show up. To check the status of the hikes call (802) 828-2488, update messages will be posted on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Here are the known hikes: ● Little River State Park: Meet: 10 a.m. at Little River State Park gate Hike: 1 hour +/- easy to moderate terrain on park roads and trails. ● Elmore State Park: Meet: 9 a.m. at Elmore State Park beach parking lot Hike: 4 hours, moderate terrain on park roads and trails to cabin on Elmore. ● Kettle Pond State Park: Meet: 1 p.m. Kettle Pond parking area in the Groton State Forest Hike: 2 1/2 hour +/-, easy terrain on park trails around Kettle Pond. ● Underhill State Park: Meet: 10 a.m. at the Stevensville Trailhead, Stevensville Road Hike:3 miles, moderate terrain on trails to the Nebraska Notch bridge and return. ● Woodford State Park: Meet: 1 p.m.

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at snowmobile parking lot across from entrance to Woodford State Park Hike: 1+ hours, easy to moderate terrain on park roads and trails. Quechee State Park: Meet: 1 p.m. at Quechee State Park entrance Hike: 1 hours +, moderate terrain. Molly Stark State Park: Meet: 10 a.m. at the entrance gate at Molly Stark State Park Hike: 2 hours +/-, moderate terrain on park roads and trails following the ridge to Hogback Mountain, Button Bay State Park: Meet: 1 p.m. at the entrance to Button Bay State Park Hike: 1 1/2 hours on easy park roads trails through the park and natural area. Hollbrook Memorial State Park: Meet: from the intersection of Vermont Route 16 and Vermont Route 122 south of Glover, take Vermont Route 122 toward Lyndonville and go 1.7 miles, parking and start of hike will be on the left side of the road Hike: 2-3 hours, moderate terrain on park roads and trails.

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 15

Conservation:

Students Help Bats Waitsfield Elementary School students raise money for bat conservation Fifth- and sixth-grade students at Waitsfield Elementary School raised $700 for the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s Nongame Wildlife Fund to support research and conservation of Vermont’s bat populations. The students presented the money to Director of Wildlife Mark Scott and to wildlife technician Alyssa Bennett in an all-school assembly Dec. 7. The students were inspired to raise money for bats after Bennett gave a presentation last spring on the massive die offs that threaten several of Vermont’s bat species with localized extinction. The die offs have occurred during the past five years due to white-nose syndrome, a fungus that has affected bat colonies in the Northeast. “At a time when Vermont’s bats continue to struggle, we are incredibly thankful to these students and teachers for reaching out to their community, sharing their knowledge, and raising financial support for bats,” Bennett said. “Vermont has been a leader in bat conservation since white-nose syndrome began to devastate the bat population. Our conservation efforts depend on the citizen reporting and community support we receive to be successful.” After learning about the threats facing Vermont’s bats, the students were inspired to embark on a service learning project to help save them.

Students and teachers at Waitsfield Elementary School present Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department wildlife technician Alyssa Bennett and Wildlife Director Mark Scott with a check for $700 to the Nongame Wildlife Fund to support bat research and conservation.

You can find out how to build your own bat box, how to report a bat colony that you’ve found, and other ways you can help Vermont’s bats at www.vtfishandwildlife.com/wildlife_bats.cfm The students built four-chambered bat boxes and sold them to raise money to donate to the Nongame Wildlife Fund. They also filmed public service announcements for their local TV station, composed a brochure on bat conservation, and created a children’s book on bats for their school library. “The beauty of this project was the organic development of studentgenerated projects that directly supported habitat restoration for

bats in Vermont," said Waitsfield Elementary teacher Lee Van Dine. “This project engaged students, staff and community members to raise awareness and support.” Vermont is home to nine bat species. White-nose syndrome has caused a 90 percent decline in Vermont’s two formerly most common bat species, the little brown bat and the northern longeared bat, and it threatens fragile populations of the small-footed bat and Indiana bat.

Page 16 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Like that special tree stand from which you always see deer, or that stretch of river where the trout always rise, there are just some places that are unique. A spot that holds a place in your heart so special that you keep it to yourself. If you’re looking for an advertising opportunity to share your message, this can be your special place. This prime spot can be yours next month. By advertising in Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine, you’ll not only be supporting a growing publication that is generating a lot of excitement in the Green Mountain State, but you’ll also place your message in front of avid and dedicated outdoor enthusiasts. And you won’t believe how affordable this space is. There are other publications that cover some of the outdoor experience in Vermont and this little slice of Heaven they call northern New England. They do a good job, but none of them cover the depth and breadth of the topics you’ll read about in Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine. So contact us today to ensure we can get your advertisement in the next monthly issue of a growing and exciting publication that covers the topics that are important to you and your business. Email: ads@vtgreatoutdoorsmag.com Phone: (802) 331-0130 January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 17

Backcountry:

Saving Bolton Page 18 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Backcountry:

n February 2011, I first got word that the owners of Bolton Valley Resort were selling a large parcel of land to an individual. The shocker was that the sale would include the resort’s Nordic trails and deny access to a wonderful backcountry trail network. The word was that most of the trails would not be accessible for the 2011-2012 ski season. Tears came to my eyes while reading that news. I had fallen in love with backcountry skiing on

this spectacular land perched high in Bolton. My Nordic skiing husband taught this lifelong alpine skier to venture into ungroomed territory and enjoy its scenic beauty, wildlife spotting and its bounty of powder. In Bolton he coaxed me to ski uphill to “earn my turns” downhill. It was here that we would often escape the crowds (and sometimes work) to venture out and enjoy what winter had to offer. Thankfully, the story didn’t end in February of 2011.

Fortunately for skiers, snowshoers and hikers, a group of skiers had quickly formed the Friends of Bolton Valley Nordic and Backcountry and the prospective buyer decided not to purchase the parcel. The group’s leaders started talking to the resort’s owners and the Vermont Land Trust to make it clear that many outdoor enthusiasts wanted to preserve this special land with such amazing recreational and natural value.

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 19

Backcountry:

The Vermont Land Trust agreed that the land had tremendous value and together with the Friends they have been working nonstop in a campaign to preserve the land from development. The Vermont Land Trust brokered a deal for the purchase of 1,161 acres for the price of $1.6 million. Yes, it’s a big project. The large parcel includes Nordic and backcountry trails on the northwest side of Joyner Brook, as well as 170 acres of

often ski on trails that fall between 2,150 feet and 2,690 feet in elevation) and allows for great skiing and snowshoeing even when the conditions may backcountry trails on the northeast not be good in the lowlands and many other cross-country ski side of the brook, to the north of areas. It’s also a gateway for a the alpine resort. If everything section of the Catamount Trail goes as planned, the land would be purchased, transferred to the called the Bolton-Trapp Trail—a well-known high-altitude, remote state, and become a part of the ski experience. Mount Mansfield State Forest. The Nordic center trails offer You might ask, “Why are people so passionate about these high-quality groomed crosscountry skiing, while the wooded 1,161 acres?” backcountry trail network and This land is high in altitude (I

You might ask, “Why are people so passionate about these wooded 1,161 acres?”

Page 20 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Backcountry: The campaign to save the Bolton backcountry is in its final stretch! As of Jan. 4, we are 95 percent of the way to the $1,850,000 fundraising goal! We have $93,000 left to raise by the end of March.

glades offer an extraordinary ungroomed experience. When you ascend into these trails, you feel far away from the world, even though this area is adjacent to an alpine ski resort and so close to Burlington and Montpelier. For decades a dedicated group of volunteers affectionately called “The Old Goats” has created and maintained these backcountry

trails. They volunteer every year to keep the trails clear for winter fun. What a shame it would have been to waste all their hard work! Picture a winter wonderland with trees and branches heavy with snow and you’ll get an idea of what it’s like to be on this property after a snowfall. You glide through powdery snow and every curve in the trail reveals

another quiet winter scene to admire. When the sky is blue it makes the all-white landscape even more breathtaking. As you explore you see animal tracks in the snow and try to figure out what made them. This land is contiguous with the Mount Mansfield State Forest and is home to wildlife such as moose (we ski across moose tracks frequently—they seem to like the trails, too!), bear, birds and more. The picturesque Joyner Brook makes its way down through the forest and toward the Winooski River. If you ski to a lookout point called “Stowe View,” a lovely view of Mount Mansfield and the Worcester Range is spread out before you. In the summertime, hikers enjoy this beautiful piece of land, where they can even connect to the adjacent Long Trail. Also of importance is the accessibility of this area; it’s within a reasonable drive for a large population of Vermonters. And now for some good news: The campaign to save the Bolton backcountry is in its final stretch!

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 21

Backcountry: As of Jan. 4, we are 95 percent of the way to the $1,850,000 fundraising goal! We have $93,000 left to raise by the end of March. To reach that goal, the Friends and Vermont Land Trust have planned fun events and fundraisers this winter. They include guided tours of the Bolton backcountry, a benefit slideshow and raffle. (See sidebar.) As a member of the Friends of Bolton Valley Nordic and Backcountry, it’s been amazing to

see this large conservation project get so far in such little time. We are so close to conserving this land! If you’d like to help, please visit the Vermont Land Trust website at www.vlt.org/initiatives/bolton to donate online or to contact the land trust for more information. For many reasons, the Bolton backcountry land is definitely land worth saving. Kris Surette publishes the Vermont skiing blog at SkiMaven.com.

Nordic pass or day ticket will be required. Banff Mountain Film Festival Contact milena@vlt.org or (802) World Tour Experience the Bolton 262-1241 for more information Friday and Saturday, Jan. 25-26 Backcountry in the company of about availability, details, or to sign at 7 p.m. those who know it best. The up today! Friends of Bolton Nordic and Davis Center, University of Backcountry community group has Vermont been working hand-in-hand with the Locally sponsored by SkiRack, Skiing Chamonix: Big Mountain Vermont Land Trust to raise the the Banff Mountain Film Festival Skiing and Hut-to-Hut Alpine funds necessary to protect the World Tour comes to Burlington area. And now they’re inviting you Adventure every year as a benefit event for Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 7:30 p.m. the UVM Outing Club. to get to know the land! Outdoor Gear Exchange, Join members of the Friends The tour brings a selection of the group for a free guided tour of the Burlington internationally famous Festival’s Join backcountry skier Murray Bolton backcountry property on any best films to Vermont—adventure Banks for an epic slideshow one of the following dates: tales of climbing, mountain Saturday, Jan. 19; Friday, Feb. 8; highlighting backcountry adventures along some of the most expeditions, remote cultures, and Saturday, Feb. 23; and Friday, the world’s last great wild places. famous ski routes and regions in March 8. All tours are at 1 p.m. This year, SkiRack and the the world. Tours are available for Outing Club will include a massive Sponsored by Mammut and intermediate and advanced raffle to benefit the Bolton backcountry and Nordic skiers, as OGE, the evening will include light campaign. Prizes will include a hors d’oeuvres from Skinny well as for snowshoers. All tours $1,000 shopping spree at Pancake, a cash bar, and a will start and finish at the Nordic SkiRack, a $500 gift card from fantastic raffle with prizes from Center. Patagonia Burlington, a full Mammut! As part of The Point Radio’s “Ski Rossignol backcountry gear setup, Tickets are $5 each, available at and Ride with The Point” events Feb. 8 and March 8, access to the the door or in advance at the OGE and more. Details and advance tickets for Nordic and Backcountry terrain will website. the film festival and the raffle are All proceeds will benefit the be 100 percent free on those two available at www.skirack.com. dates; on the two Saturday dates a Bolton campaign. Page 22 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Backcountry:

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 23

Yankee Sportsman’s Classic:

It’s Show Time

Big crowds are expected for the three-day Yankee Sportsman’s Classic set to kick off Jan. 18-20.

For three days every January thousands of outdoor enthusiasts flock to the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction for the Yankee Sportsman’s Classic. This year’s event, the 21st annual show, will be held Jan. 18-20. One out of every five Vermonters takes to the field to hunt or fish and infuses the local economy with $258 million every year.

That explains how a three-day event can draw some 15,000 sportsmen, women and children. They will roam the hunting, fishing and great outdoors displays, seminars and demonstrations and meet some of the biggest names in Vermont’s outdoors. “It’s that one time of the year where a decent percentage of the sporting community gathers under one roof," said show promoter

Frank Stanley. “We’re trying to promote every aspect of hunting and angling and the great outdoors.” Another thing the show does is bring together old friends who often use the show to catch up with each other as well as hunting and fishing. “Guys who haven’t seen each other all year, get together and catch up on the issues,” Stanley said. “I just love seeing all the

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Yankee Sportsman’s Classic:

exhibitors. I see so many people there I don’t see all year round.” With nearly 175 exhibitors, there is something for everyone. For three days, more than 45 seminars will run one after another at three locations featuring some of the biggest names and best hunters and anglers in the region who will be sharing their hints and tips.

A complete list of seminars and exhibitors can be found online at www.yankeeclassic.net. One highlight will take place Saturday when the Third Annual Celebrity Whitetail Symposium is held at 1 p.m. featuring several of the top white-tailed deer hunters in the Northeast discuss deer hunting and take questions from the

audience. Celebrity hunters Shane Benoit, Lanny Benoit, Hal Blood, Jim Massett, Joe DiNitto, Scott Kirkpatrick, Bob Howe and Ken Hammel. Former Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department Commissioner, Wayne Laroche, will moderate the panel discussion.

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 25

Yankee Sportsman’s Classic:

The Benoits

Nate Laskiewicz of Lakes Region Fishing Show.

Stanley said the event is extremely popular and draws hundreds of attendees for the hour and a half symposium, so arrive early for a good seat. These hunters will also offer individual presentations each of the three days and there are five different seminars on the schedule dealing with hunting whitetails. But there are also seminars on hunting other species. Bradley Carleton and Bruce Parker will talk waterfowling, Quaker Boy prostaffer Joe Judd will give a presentation on turkey hunting tactics, Bob Howe will talk coyote and hare hunting, while Big

Woods Bucks staffers Tom Hamilton and Mike Stevens will give a presentation on hunting black bears. In addition, turkey hunters won’t want to miss a turkey calling and hunting symposium at 3 p.m. Saturday featuring the last four National Wild Turkey Federation state calling champions. With turkey hunting just around the corner there is still time to work on your calling and hunting techniques to bag that Vermont gobbler in the spring. Fishing seminars include one by the man whose name is synonymous with ice fishing, Dave Genz,

Bradley Carleton.

Jimmy Kennedy.

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Yankee Sportsman’s Classic:

Dave Genz.

Alec Sparks.

who will present on a program on winter fishing systems. Fish Hounds Outdoors guide and Ice Team Pro James Vladyka will talk ice fishing on Lake Champlain. And Lakes Region Fishing TV show host Nate Laskiewicz will offer a seminar on finding fish on lakes in Vermont and New York. Other seminars will talk about preserving your trophy after the harvest for taxidermy, Operation Game Thief, Angling for Clean Water, wild game cooking, and training bird dogs. A lucky hunter who has a large rack needing scored can bring the antlers to the show to have them scored by certified scorers with the Vermont Big Game Trophy Club and while you’re waiting for your antlers to be scored, take a look at the NRA’s Great American Whitetail Collection featuring 12 of the top whitetailed deer racks anywhere. If you’re wondering when Vermont will add a deer to a collection like that, ask Vermont’s Fish &

Wildlife Department’s new deer biologist Adam Murkowski, who will be at the show talking about Vermont’s deer herd and listening to hunters. Murkowski will give a presentation at noon Saturday on the status of the Vermont deer herd. Kids will have plenty to do with many activities geared toward youth interested in the outdoors. The popular trout pond is back, giving kids a chance to try to fool a trout with a rod and reel. Other opportunities will allow kids to shoot archery equipment and pellet guns. A Bass Federation kids casting competition will be held and members of the Ice Team will host a Kids Corner to help get youth interested in ice fishing with minnow races and instruction. Another popular feature, the 20-foot rock climbing wall returns to give youngsters a chance to climb something other than the walls. “One of our main goals is to get our youth involved, getting them away from the TV and video games,”

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 27

Yankee Sportsman’s Classic:

The Ice Team’s Ice Corner.

Stanley said. “And getting them involved with the great outdoors. We’re all about celebrating our hunting and angling heritage.” The show will feature groups who are trying to protect and promote that heritage. “It’s the one place where you have dozens of sporting organizations and conservation organizations under one roof,” Stanley said. “It’s a good time to bring a few bucks and help support these guys -- to pitch in and help protect what we have and promote increased opportunity.” Some of the groups on hand will include the National Wild Turkey Federation; Camp-Ta-Kum-Ta; Champlain Valley Friends of the

“Bobber Bob,” LCI spokesbobber.

NRA; Ducks Unlimited; Hunters; Anglers Trappers Association of Vermont. Also, Lake Champlain International; Operation Game Thief; Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; The Nature Conservency; Traditions Coalition;

Vermont Bear Hunters Association; Vermont Bowhunters Association; Vermont Federation of Sportsman’s Clubs; and the Vermont Trappers Association. A portion of all show proceeds will benefit Camp-Ta-Kum-Ta. Admission is $10 per person, $3 for youth, kids younger than 3 are free. The show’s hours are noon to 7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information: www.yankeeclassic.net or (802) 238-7501. Darren Marcy is editor and publisher of Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine.

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Yankee Sportsman’s Classic:

Scott Kirkpatrick.

Jamie Vladyka.

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 29

Hunting:

My Three Toms

Page 30 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Hunting:

eel, toe, heel, toe ... roll your foot over the leaves. Feel the forest floor through the soles of your feet. Take four slow steps, stop, look

and listen. Then do it all over again and do it slowly.

That was one of several lessons my Grandfather, Thomas Dockum, taught me some 30-plus years ago. These lessons were taught in the mountains of Southwestern Vermont. My mother’s family hunted together, and as soon as I could walk, I hunted. My instructors were Grampa, Aunt Jeanne, her husband Dave, and of course, my Grandfathers son ... Uncle Tom. Whenever I would call him Tom in my Grandfather’s presence he would quickly snipe “That’s Uncle Tom to you Boy ...” They all shared the responsibility of teaching me how to hunt, among other things. They were my childhood heroes, mentors and most important ... my family. I can’t remember entire January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 31

Hunting: days in the woods but I sure can remember the time when ... ■ ■ ■ My Uncle Tom and I returned to the hills of Shaftsbury Hollow after we checked in a doe he shot earlier that morning. Our walk was interrupted by a series of shots in the distance. After the first shot rang out he turned to me and said, “That was Jeanne.” More shots followed and he grinned, adding “And that was Dave.” Of course he wasn’t certain of that but I would have believed anything he said. He was after all, Uncle Tom. We continued walking and were interrupted again, this time by a 5point buck that immediately got Uncle Tom’s attention. “Get Down!” he said. I think he emptied his lever action .32 Special and the buck was still going as the last shell casing melted into the leaves. As quickly as it was upon us, it had disappeared. He searched for blood, found some and told me to stay put. We weren’t far from the truck and he had a wounded deer to track down. Moments later a faint but consistent rustling sound in the logging road up ahead grew louder and louder. Sure enough it was Jeanne and Dave in their red plaid wool, each dragging the deer they had shot. Uncle Tom was right, making me think he really did know they had shot deer adding to their legendary status. Jeanne and Dave asked if we saw the buck that was trailing the does they had shot and I tell them a wide-eyed 10-year-old’s version of what unfolded. My Uncle Tom ended up tracking that buck until he killed it. We piled all four deer into his Chevy pickup and proudly headed home.

■ ■ ■ I can remember the time in Benedict Hollow, in Arlington, when I said to Uncle Tom, “Look...it’s a moose,” and he said “No it’s not, it’s a deer, shoot it!” So I did. I’ll never forget how big that deer looked as she bounded over the hill toward us in the midst of an opening day snowstorm. My first deer, a beautiful 133-pound doe with Uncle Tom right by my side. He field dressed her, I tagged her and then she dragged me down the mountain. Benedict Hollow is steep country and with snow on the ground, that deer took a 12-year-old boy for an unexpected ride. ■ ■ ■ Fast forward to the 2012 November youth deer season and it starts again, with my son, Thomas Dockum Baker. We are together in the deer woods of Central Vermont, Mendon to be precise. Tommy had joined me in the woods before on hunting excursions but this was different. He was now the hunter ... a responsible young man carrying a gun capable of taking a deer’s life with a well placed shot. He and his sister had successfully passed their hunter education course earlier that summer and while his sister will have to wait a few years before accompanying us (Laurel is 8 and needs time to grow and mature), we were headed for the deer woods. Tommy proved he could handle the .243 I bought for this occasion. We spent several afternoons at the Mendon Fish & Game Club shooting range until he was confident and comfortable handling the weapon. We discussed several scenarios that could potentially play out over the course of the two-day

season. What do you do if ... ? Are you going to shoot a doe or wait for a buck? Where do you aim when the deer is quartering away? And so on. I wish I could tell you I was confident he would have an opportunity to tag his first whitetail but after a lot of scouting and no pictures on the trail cams in the weeks leading up to the season, I was at a loss. I tried to manage my son’s expectations without thoroughly discouraging him. We were in position in the pre-dawn light on the opener and the woods had a good feel to them. That good feeling was replaced with silence and after an uneventful hour Tommy fell asleep. As I watched him it triggered memories of falling asleep while I accompanied my idols. It brought a smile to my face and warmed my heart as I admired my son sleeping so peacefully. While he slept, I thought. How am I going to keep this kid interested? Did Grampa worry like this? I can’t ask him because he has long since passed, but I wish he were here to offer advice. The days of driving home with four deer in the truck on opening day are long gone. This self imposed pressure urges me to wake my son and ask if he wants to take a short walk and relocate for an hour or so. During our walk we stop and clear out a spot behind an old decaying log that we will return to for our evening sit. This spot was accompanied by one of three empty trail cameras for the past two weeks. We stumble on to, and follow, three sets of tracks in the wet leaves giving me hope that we might actually be sharing the woods with deer. I show him what they were browsing on and explain their eating habits. We find their beds and that offers another

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Hunting:

teaching opportunity. We decide to sit where they were bedded since the location offered us a good vantage point, no coincidence I suppose. I watch my son as we sit motionless and acknowledge his alertness and patience. Did Uncle Tom observe me in this manner while we hunted together? Mid-day is approaching and we make our way back to the truck. A hearty lunch at home and a quick rest should re-energize us. I tell my son I have a good feeling about our pre-determined spot as we make our way into the woods for the afternoon. Despite the lack of sign that spot seems worth trying and I love

stands of Hemlocks. Nothing says deer to me like Hemlocks. “Heel, toe, heel, toe ... roll your foot over the leaves,” I tell him. Upon arrival, I predict the deer will most likely come down off the mountain out of the hardwoods and into what I thought was a transition area. I check the wind and it is in our favor. We set up our seats behind the log and I place him on my right for the much anticipated shot. “You look up the hill and straight ahead, I will scan everything else” I tell him. Not much time passes and he is back to sleep again. I can’t blame him. The inactivity is nap inspiring. I could wake

him and demand that he stay alert but what would that accomplish. I begin texting other fathers that accompany their children in distant towns. “Nothing here for us either ... Not even a chipmunk in Wallingford ... Just saw a bobcat in Benson.” Once again I become discouraged and feel as though I am letting my son down. My mind begins to wander. “Where are we going to hunt in the morning? A two day season and we are almost half way through it. I still need to finish packing for my hunting trip to Ontario.” He awakens and I break the news to him. No deer while he slept and it is likely we may not see one. I tell him that we might be lucky if we see a deer by the end of the weekend and provide an opinion that explains why, once again managing expectations. To my left, out of the corner of my eye ... a deer. Not 40 yards from us. I can’t believe it. How did she get so close without either of us noticing? No time to waste, I need to alert the boy. I begin whispering as calmly as possible. “Tommy, there is a deer to our left and you are going to have to move very carefully in order to position yourself for a shot.” I start breathing heavy and my heart rate is accelerating. She is browsing with her head down, and I continue whispering further instruction. This might actually come together. Then she nailed us. She looked us both in the eyes with her ears facing forward and I thought, “Damn it!” It was bound to happen. At least we got a chance to see a deer. Experience tells me she is going to evacuate but she doesn’t. As she returns to her browsing I whisper “OK Tommy, you are going to have to decide when you have the shot.”

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 33

Hunting: I can’t tell you how helpless you feel when you can’t see through the scope for your child and say shoot, knowing they are on the mark. “I think I can take her dad ... are you sure ... yeah, I have her in the scope ... OK buddy.” Off goes the safety, the trigger is pulled, BANG!” She stands alert and motionless. I sit dejected and bewildered. “Just like his old man...gets too excited and looks at what he is shooting rather than shoot what he’s looking at” I murmur to myself. Tommy stays calm while I begin to lose my wits. He is shooting a break-open singleshot rifle. I want to teach him that the first shot counts acknowledging that I have always struggled with that concept. “Pass me the gun very slowly. I have to reload before she bolts.” Once again we choreograph our movement with hers for what felt like an eternity. Somehow we manage to reload, get the gun back in his hands and prepare for a second shot while she remains in our lap. “Take her when you have the shot,” she starts walking away in the direction she came. He claims he has her and BANG! This time she gives us the trademark mule kick and bounds away crashing into some brush just out of sight. Elated, overjoyed, proud ... words are wasted in my effort to describe that moment. My son turns to me and says with conviction, “Dad, I think we should give her some time before we go after her.” Are you kidding me? My teeth are chattering, my knees are knocking and this 11-year-old boy is instructing me how to proceed?

I convince him that she was running dead and we don’t need to wait to recover her. I watch him process that and he begins to understand what just transpired. “I got her? You really think I got her...? I killed a deer, oh my gosh, I did it, I really did it dad.” He sure did. My son Tommy killed his first deer and we were sitting side by side. I don’t think I need to worry about keeping him interested. I don’t

think I ever had to. If he is anything like his old man, it won’t be all about the deer but more about family, the experiences shared and the stories we will create and tell. Jeremy Baker represented Rutland County on Vermont’s Fish & Wildlife Board and is the former president of the Mendon Fish & Game Club. He and his family reside in Rutland and enjoy their time in the woods and on the water.

Page 34 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Fishing:

Winter Fly Fishing

Fly fishing can be challenging in the best of circumstances. From choosing the right fly to making a pinpoint perfect cast and mending for a dragfree drift. But the challenge is magnified when casting fly-line with frozen eyelets and reels full of ice, not to mention bulky

clothing and fingers frozen numb from 10 degree weather. “I would say winter fishing in Vermont is not for the light hearted but more for adventurous individuals,” said Brian Cadoret of Middlebury. Cadoret is one of a growing group of anglers who -- despite living in Vermont, where winters are given over to skiing, snowshoeing and

snowmobiling -- continue to cast flies throughout the winter on dwindling open-water streams to ocassionally interested fish. Cadoret is co-owner of Stream and Brook Fly Fishing, a Middleburybased full-service fly fishing guiding outfit. For the most part, Cadoret and a handful of his fellow frozen anglers

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Fishing:

are fishing for themselves. But Cadoret said Stream and Brook Fly Fishing guides take a couple to as many as five clients a year out for some off-season angling and the numbers grow as word of their success spread. “It keeps going up because we keep putting up photos of us with nice fish,” Cadoret said. “Right around midOctober, the rivers empty out. People are either deer hunting, chopping wood, winterizing their house ... and that’s when the fishing really starts to get great.” Trout season closes Oct. 31 until early April, but Lake Champlain and

its tributaries to the first natural barrier are open to catch-and-release trout and salmon fishing year round. It’s those tributaries -- “tribs” -where the winter angling takes place. Other rivers include sections of Otter Creek, the Salmon Hole on the Winooski, Lewis Creek, the Lamoille, and tribs in New York. There are other rivers where winter catch-and-release trout fishing is legal. Check your proclamation for details on which streams are open for winter trout fishing. “Most of the big rivers have several miles or more open to catch and

release year round,” Cadoret said. “There’s quite a bit of water we can legally keep fishing.” But that doesn’t mean its easy. Cadoret said he gears up like he’s going snowboarding with layers and Patagonia outer wear top to bottom, then slides into waders -- all at home. He also pre-rigs his rod at home rather than trying to do it in the cold. Then he drives to the water, parks close and fishes until his hands go numb. When that happens, he heads back to the truck, cranks the heater and drives to another spot while he thaws

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 37

Fishing:

out his reel and himself. “I move a lot,” Cadoret said. “Fish for 30 to 40 minutes then head to the truck and warm up and head to the next spot.” One key, he said, is to always be close to the vehicle. Cadoret said he’s dunked himself a time or two. In the summer, you get wet. But in winter, you get hypothermic and having that vehicle close can be critical. In fact, safety is paramount and fishing with a partner can be key and choosing not to take chances is wise this time of the year. Page 38 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Fishing: For gear, Cadoret said he puts away his 3-weight rods and fishes 5-weights and even 8-weights as he likes to throw pairs of big streamers -- sometimes with weight to get down to where the fish are. Many patterns Cadoret likes are big and hairy. Among some of his favorites are white and olive woolly buggers in size 2 and 4, Mickey Finns, Zongers in black and white, tan sculpin patterns in size 2, and large maribou flies. Other patterns include size 6 to 14 nymphs. Angler looking for an idea on what the fish might be eating can flip rocks, even in the dead of winter, Cadoret said. “The life cycle goes year round,” he said. “There’ a lot of bugs in all season.” A two-fly setup works well with a larger indicator pattern followed with a smaller natural looking fly tied to the bend of the first hook about 20 inches back. Patterns to try include Golden Stones, Black Stones, Prince nymphs, Copper Johns, Hare’s Ears, San Juan Worms, egg patterns and Pheasant Tails. The key, Cadoret said is to fish deep. Sometimes the weight of the flies will be enough. Other times, it might require a couple of split shot to get down where the fish are holding. He said the technique can vary. Sometimes it requires a dead drift through a pool, other times you’ll want to swing them through and at other times the fish will chase a fly stripped in. “Sometimes they’ll chase and, but they’re very sluggish,” Cadoret said. Expect very clear water at most times.

“The water is pretty much gin clear, low and clear,” Cadoret said. Your gear will be a challenge. A lot of winter anglers will wear some sort of gloves, or the flip-down mittens so they can feel and handle the line, but cover the fingers as well. Eyelets on the rod will freeze up when it’s real cold, and the line itself will freeze in the reel. “If it’s real cold it can freeze up

solid,” Cadoret said. “You’re constantly having to break the ice off your rod, and even your fly will freeze up.” The fish don’t always cooperate either. In the dead of winter, they slow down a lot and Cadoret said he remembers going four trips with only one fish, while other times he’ll catch fish on back-to-back casts.

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 39

Fishing:

But winter fishing is much more than catching fish. Those who are fishing this time of the year talk about the solitude and different a place can look, sound and feel from summer to winter. John Synnott recently posted photos of a beautifully colored steelhead salmon he caught in a Lake Champlain tributary on Facebook. He said fishing in January is different in several ways. “Winter fishing offers a couple of unique experiences that you can’t find during the regular season,” Synnott said. “First is the solitude. While there are plenty of spots to get away from it all during the rest of the year, winter

fishing has a feel all its own. The woods are quiet, the stream is muted by the ice and snow and you know for certain you will not be running into another anger.” Cadoret also mentioned solitude as a benefit of winter fishing. “Around here for the most part, there’s very low fishing pressure,” Cadoret said. “When you go to one of your favorite fishing spots, and we’ve had some snow, you can tell nobody’s been there because there are no tracks.” The woods and water even look different. “I think everything has a different look without the leaves and the snow and ice,” Cadoret said.

It’s not easy to fish in the dead of winter. “But the rewards are catching that nice 20-inch brown and when you release it, your hands are so numb you pack it up and call it a day,” Cadoret said. And, of course, there’s also the challenge. “I also enjoy the sense of accomplishment at catching a fish when logic and tradition hold that I shouldn't be able to,” Synnott said. “But mostly, it just feeds the addiction.” Darren Marcy is editor and publisher of Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine.

Page 40 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

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January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 41

Fishing:

Ice Fishing a Sacred Ritual

Dillenbeck Bay at dawn.

y eyes blink open moments before the alarm clock goes off, set for 5:30 a.m. A cold north wind blows through the window in the bedroom circulating crisp clean Arctic air over the layers of down blankets. I turn off the clock one minute before it rings and scuttle out of bed, down the stairs, and put a few logs on the woodstove to take the tinch out of the kitchen. First things first. Coffee, my last remaining vice. Other men struggle

with alcohol, tobacco and Internet intrigue. Me? It’s coffee. Give me a robust French roast with a drop of maple syrup and I will drink a half-

gallon thermos throughout the day. Next, I scrummage through the refrigerator to find some goose sausage links and the container of scrambled eggs with habanero Tabasco. I gently place these in my soft-side cooler. I double check to see that my propane cylinders are full and the heater/cooker is situated in the camo backpack. I reach for my down parka and my favorite fleece balaclava, pack my rubberized Norwegian ice-fishing

Page 42 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Fishing: mittens in the pack and out the door I go. The gang is all waiting in the driveway. Two trucks are running, their parking lights illuminating the styrofoam-crunchy snow. I proclaim loudly “Heading north boys! Roll ’em out!” and fire up the truck to form a caravan of hardwater revelers. First stop, Dockside Outdoors in Colchester on Route 2. The proprietor, Ben Sullivan, greets us with a smile and gives us the latest news on where the best ice is and what’s biting, what color bibbits, spikes (maggots in a vial full of sawdust, for those uninitiated to the sport) and how far down the perch are piling up. Ben seems a little more content these days, and we tease him about taming a woman previously known as “Wild Fisher Woman” who was an outdoorsman’s dream girl until Ben finally landed her. A round of chuckles goes through the shop and out the door we go, trucks blazing north again. We roll into Dillenbeck Bay in Grand Isle as a reluctant sun peeks over the horizon of the distant mountains. The temperature is minus10 degrees and we are grateful that there is no wind. I breathe in and the hairs on the inside of my nostrils clatter together. My lungs tell me to cover my mouth immediately before taking another breath. I look around me at the other hardy souls dedicated to this seemingly insane sport and grin under my balaclava. We are crazy in love with this sport. Our crew is composed of Chris “Dot.com” Thayer, Chris “My alarm clock didn’t go off again” Holwager, Eric “I’m on my way” Ovitt and Zack “What about crispy tails?” Gregory. We all laugh at each other and unload

Eric Ovitt, Chris Thayer and Zack Gregory working a tip-up.

sleds, shanties, buckets full of tip-ups and micro rods, heaters, backpacks full of donuts, thermoses full of coffee and one cooler full of goose sausage and scrambled eggs. And now the long drag to the drop-off begins. Like a lost wagon train of renegade ice cowboys we trudge in a line 400 yards out to the drop-off where we have

pinpointed our previous successes with GPS coordinates. Arriving at our “destination” according to the latitudinal and longitudinal vectors, we begin to set up camp for the day. Ovitt immediately marches off to drill hole after hole for tip-ups. Five fishermen with 15 jacks per person on Lake

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 43

Fishing:

Champlain means we can legally set out 75 traps. The rest of us begin setting up the shanties. One pop-up snaps quickly into place. The second, a sled-type with a floor, has to be constructed using aluminum poles that expand telescopically. More holes are drilled with the Mora hand augers for jigging for perch inside and outside the shanties. After Ovitt has drilled tip-up hole No. 50, Holwager finally finds compassion and offers to help with the remaining 25 holes. We laugh at his generosity. As is the way of youthful enthusiasm, Zack is the first one to

wet a line. He begins jigging vociferously, intent on claiming the title we all vie for by announcing “One!” after catching the first fish. At this point we all laugh and reminisce about our dear friend, Rudy Castro, who now, unfortunately, lives in Michigan and is bound to his newly started business, Great Lake Auto Rescue, another “harassed slave of commerce.” We miss him dearly, but in some small way, I know that when he is not around, I actually stand a chance of being the one to call out “One!” before anyone else. If we fish with Rudy, he is always the one to

announce the first fish. Soon, a school of 8- to 9-inch yellowbellies ventures into our area and we begin “bailing” the fish, catching one after another, sometimes two at a time on double set jigs. About half of them have distended bellies and are full of eggs. It looks like we’ve come into the first mating run early this year. We begin to fill buckets. There are no longer limits on perch in Lake Champlain after the creel limits were repealed about a decade ago. We will fillet the majority of these fish for a fundraising fish fry later this winter to help support the

Page 44 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Fishing: mentoring program that Sacred Hunter.org runs called Traditions Outdoor Mentoring.org. (For more information on our efforts please visit our websites and Facebook pages). All of a sudden, as if the Great Spirit turned off the perch spigot, they stop biting. No one is getting even a nibble. We are sitting around in our heated shanties wondering what the heck just happened. That’s when Zack looks out the window and yells “FLAG!”… two flags! ... three, no four flags! Holy cow! What’s going on out there?” Tip-up flags are flying into the frigid air like prairie dogs popping up in the desert. Everyone runs for one. Each of us sprints to the best of our ability. Thayer and I, the “older guys”, shuffle quickly. It’s comical and the young guys burst out laughing at us. We all get to our prizes in time though. Ovitt calls out “This one’s got some beef to him!” Zack replies “Mine too!” Holwager quietly reels steadily, not revealing any emotion. Thayer gets one near the hole and claims “It’ll never make it though this!” Me, I try to keep my expectations to a minimum and set the hook on what seems to be nice fish. Zack scores the first “gator” through his hole and ices him. Thayer pulls in a nice one, squeezing its major girth through the 7 inch cylinder of ice. Holwager loses his to a sharp edge on the underside of the ice and Ovitt’s pike gets free by biting through the 20-pound mono leader. Mine, the smallest of the bunch, I release quickly back into the hole. We all stand about 50 yards from one another and collectively shout a string of superlatives about how that was the most incredible wave of action we’ve ever seen. “No wonder the perch all

Zack Gregory shows off his nice pike.

disappeared! That was an entire army of pike!” I proclaim. Cameras are pulled out and cell phones are thawed. Flashes of light go off around the lucky ones in the crowd. “What a day!” I bellow. “And it’s only 9:00! Time for breakfast boys!” Ice fishing in Vermont is one of the most sacred of rituals among its practitioners. When everyone else is complaining about how cold it is, die-hard ice fishermen and women are celebrating the winter weather in grand form. If you think it’s all about freezing and being miserable while waiting for nothing to happen, think again! Sitting in a shanty where it can

be 75 degrees, fishing in your t-shirt and sipping coffee, cooking breakfasts of goose sausage and scrambled eggs over a heater/cooker, and laughing with friends can make the coldest day of the year generate more warm feelings than an August heat wave. Give it a try, or contact us and tag along! Bradley Carleton is Executive Director of Sacred Hunter.org, a nonprofit organization that is being formed to educate the public on the spiritual connection of man to nature and raises funds for Traditions Outdoor Mentoring.org, which mentors at-risk young men in outdoor pursuits.

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 45

Fishing:

Ice fishing caution and safety reminders The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has some ice fishing safety reminders. “Once we have sustained cold weather to form good ice, ice fishing can be safe and a lot of fun,” said Col. David LeCours, chief game warden. “But when we go onto the ice, we need to use good judgment and observe several safety precautions.” Leave your car or truck on shore. Every year several motor vehicles go through the ice on Vermont lakes, and people have drowned as a result. Leave information about your plans with someone -- where you intend to fish and when you expect to return. Wear a personal floatation device and don’t fish alone. Ice varies in thickness and condition. Always carry an ice spud or chisel to check ice as you proceed. Be extremely cautious crossing ice near river mouths, points of land, bridges, islands and over reefs and springs. Current almost always causes ice to be thinner over these areas. Avoid going onto the ice if it has melted away from the shore. This indicates melting is underway, and ice can shift position as wind direction changes. Waves from open water can quickly break up large areas of ice. If you can see open water in the lake and the wind picks up, get off! Bring your cell phone with you. Carry a set of hand spikes to help you work your way out onto the

Vermont Fish & Wildlife warden Russell Shopland helped set a trap during last winter’s ice-fishing season. Safety is key on the ice.

surface of the ice if you go through. Holding one in each hand, you can alternately punch them into the ice and pull yourself up and out. You can make these at home, using large nails, or you can purchase them at stores that sell fishing supplies.

Carry a safety line that can be thrown to someone who has gone through the ice. Heated fishing shanties must have good ventilation to prevent deadly carbon monoxide poisoning. Open a window or the door part way to allow in fresh air.

Page 46 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Fishing:

Ice fishing opportunities great Vermont offers great ice fishing on lakes throughout the state when ice conditions are safe. Vermont Fish & Wildlife recommends at least 6 inches of solid ice for safe ice fishing. Vermont’s premier fishing destination, Lake Champlain, offers many ice fishing opportunities. According to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, ice anglers can find quality fishing for many species on this 120-mile long lake, including landlocked salmon, lake trout, northern pike, yellow perch, white perch, walleye, crappie and smelt. “Lake Champlain attracts twice as much fishing activity during the winter as during the summer, particularly in the northern third of the lake,” said State Fisheries Biologist Brian Chipman. “The plentiful yellow perch is the mainstay of the winter fishery, but many ice anglers also find good fishing for other species.” Traditional northern pike hot spots include Lake Champlain’s Kelley Bay, Missisquoi Bay, Dillenbeck Bay, Carry Bay, Keeler Bay, St. Albans Bay, the shallow flats south of the Sandbar Causeway between Milton and South Hero, and the area south of the Champlain Bridge from Addison to Benson. Later, as more ice forms, landlocked salmon and smelt can be caught in the Inland Sea north of the Sandbar Causeway. There is no closed season for trout and salmon on Lake Champlain. If cold weather provides good ice on the deep-water areas of the lake, lake trout will be found off the west shore of Grand Isle and in Outer Mallets Bay, Shelburne Bay, Converse Bay and Button Bay south to the Champlain Bridge. Smelt can be caught in several of these areas, as well as at other sites between Thompsons Point and Button Bay. While walleyes can show up anywhere in Lake Champlain, the most consistent winter action can be found in the southern end of the lake off Benson and Orwell, as well as the northern end in Swanton and Alburg. Yellow perch and other panfish are being caught at

Ice fishing in Vermont can produce big fish like this northern pike as well as fun-filled memories to last a lifetime.

sheltered Lake Champlain bays and shallows as well as on some other Vermont waters. Vermont’s ice fishing season for trout, salmon and bass starts Jan. 19 and continues through March 15 on 40 large Vermont lakes. For a list of those lakes, go to page 55 of the 2013 Vermont Guide to Hunting, Fishing and Trapping, available where licenses are sold and at www.vtfishandwildlife.com. To locate places to stay and help on the latest fishing activity, go to the Vermont Outdoor Guides Association website (www.voga.org) and click on “ice fishing.”

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 47

Fishing

Fishing in a Winter The Lake Champlain ice fishing season usually begins around early December when bays and passages on the north end of the lake first freeze. Fishermen gather at some of these early spots like the Veterans’ Memorial Bridge connecting Rouses Point, N.Y., and Alburg. Other early spots include Missisquoi Bay, the bridge at Hog Island, and Kings and Catfish Bays on the New York side. Keep in mind that the best fishing occurs on newly frozen areas, so wise anglers will follow the ice as it progresses. All of these spots will freeze before the adjacent broad lake, creating excellent perch fishing conditions. Of course care should be taken when fishing on the relatively thin ice in these circumstances. As the colder weather sets in, the ice makes its way south. Some of the next good areas to consider include the bridge at Isle La Motte and the cliffs at Alburg. By this time Monty’s Bay with its several holding areas and Deep Bay at the Point Au Roche State Park are heating up. On the Vermont side the “Gut” is now holding fish too. By the time Algonquin Bay is frozen on the New York side most of the lake north of Malletts Bay has closed on the Vermont side as well. Areas to the south like the narrows at Ti, Bulwagga Bay, Port Henry, and Whalons Bay also begin to freeze at about the same time. An angler sits watch over several tip-ups while jigging. Page 48 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Fishing: Converse and Arnold Bays are now worth checking on the Vermont side. Many of the spots mentioned thus far are good perch or pike locations. As the deeper water freezes, the smelt fishing heats up. Port Henry, Westport and Willsboro Bay are all good smelt fishing locations. Shanties are available for rent out of Port Henry and Westport and at Port Henry a taxi operates to usher the fishermen on and off the ice or from one to another of the numerous shanty towns that cluster over the hot spots. If cold weather persists, the lake on occasion will close over at its deepest and widest spot, between Burlington and Port Kent. When this happens everybody's favorite perch spot is open for business: Plattsburgh Bay. Areas around Valcour Island, accessed from Peru Dock, can also be

productive. The sand bottom south of the lower mouth of the Au Sable River is a good area to fish for salmon and big perch. Willsboro Bay is also a good location for these species. On the Vermont side, Shelburne and Malletts Bay are great spots to pursue big perch and salmon. This article was provided courtesy of Lake Champlain International.

This month’s “You Think You Know Champlain” column was written by guest writer U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Mickey Maynard of Lake Champlain Angler Fishing Charters. Maynard has more than 40 years of experience fishing and guiding on Lake Champlain. His charter service, Lake Champlain Angler Fishing Charters, caters to New York and Vermont anglers alike with numerous points of rendezvous across the wide expanse of this 120 mile-long world class fishery and features a fleet of specialized vessels to tackle a long list of cold-water or warmwater species that inhabit Lake Champlain. For more information and to book trips, contact Captain Mick at (518) 578-9273 or www.lakechamplainangler.com.

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ads@vtgreatoutdoorsmag.com January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 49

Snowshoeing:

A Snowshoe in the Park

Snowshoeing is a longtime winter tradition. And so far this winter we are off to a great snowy start. There is no better way to begin snowshoeing than just going and doing it. It has been around for thousands of years, so why not try it now? From the early wood frame to the modern aluminum frame models, snowshoeing has garnered quite a following throughout the world. Snowshoeing is made up of casual snowshoers who hike trails for pleasure, the snowshoeing enthusiasts who trek through the backcountry, and competitors who race. The sport is easy to learn, virtually inexpensive (compared to other winter sports), and is a great way to exert energy during the cold winter months.

Vermont is filled with many recreational areas, and some of the best places to go are in the Vermont State Parks. Mount Ascutney, Gifford Woods, Branbury, Niquette Bay, Underhill, Woodford, Little River, Seyon Lodge and Elmore State Parks are all prime locations to go out and explore. If you are afraid to commit to going out to a state park, try a pair out in your neighborhood or yard until you feel more comfortable with them and then go out on an adventure in the parks. Winter is a great time to enjoy the peaceful calmness of nature and snowshoeing allows taking walks in the winter. So take a risk, rent or buy a pair of snowshoes, dress for the elements and enjoy. See you out there.

Page 50 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Ecology:

Birds of a Feather “That’s a downy. No wait, it’s a hairy – definitely a hairy. Well, hang on...maybe it is a downy.” I admit it: I’ve had this happen to me more than once. With the onset of winter, downy and hairy woodpeckers become more apparent– knocking away in our woods and stopping by our birdfeeders. With strikingly similar feather patterns, the two can be hard to distinguish if one only catches a glimpse. Both have black wings with white markings; white bellies, sides, and backs; and distinctively white- and black-striped heads. Males of both species have red patches on the backs of their heads, which females lack. While seasoned birders can tell the difference between the two birds’ calls and the shade of white on the tail feathers, the most reliable visual differences are that hairies are larger (by about 1.5 inches and 2 ounces) and have more solid, longer bills than downies. Because of such striking similarities, one might assume that downies and hairies are very closely related, even that they’re probably each other’s closest relatives (“sister species” in evolutionary biology lingo) – just like our white tailed deer and the west’s mule deer are. Evolutionary biologists had reached exactly the same conclusion

– that is until DNA sequencing allowed them to bypass comparing traits like weight, size, and color and go right to the source when determining evolutionary relationship. What the genes show is that downies and hairies aren’t evolutionary sisters. The two species are related: they are both in the genus Picoides. But, the genus is separated into two branches. In one group is the downy woodpecker, with its closest relatives: the Nuttall’s, the ladderbacked, and the lesser spotted woodpeckers. The other branch contains the hairy woodpecker and its closest relatives: the Arizona, white-headed, and red-cockaded woodpeckers. But how can two species look almost identical without being immediate relatives? One theory is

convergent evolution. Think of bats and birds, which both have wings, but aren’t close relatives, or crocodiles and hippopotamuses, which both have eyes on the tops of their heads, but also aren’t close relatives. When species evolve from different backgrounds toward a similar state, it’s called convergent evolution. So, if this is the cause of the woodpecker similarity, then the ancestors of these two species looked different, but slowly evolved to look similar to each other over time. Support for this idea comes from the observation that hairy woodpeckers living well outside the range of downies (in Central America) have begun to morph in color: they have brownish underparts, as opposed to the white found on birds in the northeast. It’s

Page 52 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Ecology: The Outside Story, provided by Northern Woodlands magazine, is a series of weekly ecology articles that has been appearing in newspapers across New Hampshire and Vermont since 2002. The series is underwritten by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Upper Valley Region and edited by Dave Mance at Northern Woodlands.

know is that even some of our most familiar birds hold riddles that we have yet to decipher. Doug Morin is an ecologist living in Burlington, Vermont. The illustration for this column was drawn by Adelaide Tyrol. The Outside Story is assigned and edited by Northern Woodlands magazine and sponsored by the Wellborn Ecology Fund of New Hampshire Charitable Foundation: wellborn@nhcf.org.

almost as if they are free to change appearance when downy woodpeckers are not present, but when the two live together, they are constrained to look the same by some force of evolution. What could that force be? Convergent evolution occurs for a variety of reasons. For instance, our harmless eastern milk snake evolved to look like the venomous northern copperhead snake. This similarity benefits milk snakes, which predators may confuse for venomous copperheads and avoid, losing out on an easy meal. In the case of our woodpeckers, however, we have no evidence that either species is venomous. Instead, some scientists suspect that the similarity between downies and hairies could be related to territoriality. Both woodpeckers compete for limited resources: food and trees that provide nesting cavities. Converging on a similar look may be a way for birds with brains the size of a pea, to identify competitors more easily: all they have to do is shoo away any bird that looks like them. The territoriality hypothesis hasn’t been tested yet, though, so we don’t know the full story. What we do

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 53

Bird Watching:

Christmas Bird Count

A barred owl sits on a branch. The number of barred owls counted during the Christmas Bird Count went up this year.

Jan. 5 marked the final day of the 113th Christmas Bird Count. Many avid Vermont birders participate in this longest running citizen science project joining thousands of birders across the continent. This year counts were conducted

from Dec. 14 through Jan. 5. Each count is done in a circle 15 miles in diameter. Counts are completed in north, central and south Vermont, with a variety of birders both experienced and beginners joining in the fun. Some birders journey throughout their count area by car or on foot,

while others watch feeders from the comfort of their living room window. All data are reported to the compiler, usually an expert birder, who then sends the information to the National Audubon society. The data is then compiled so valuable information can be gleaned.

Page 54 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Bird Watching: The first Christmas Bird Count in 1900 was inspired by ornithologist Frank Chapman in response to an even older tradition of a Christmas day hunt where participants competed to collect the largest pile of dead mammals and birds. Just 27 birders in 25 count circles gathered the first Christmas Bird count results. Today more than 60,000 observers gather data in more than 2,200 count circles, collecting an annual snapshot of birds. These snapshots can be compared and populations can be studied as food crops change, habitat is depleted and renewed, avian diseases spike and subside, and weather patterns shift. Number of species observed and number of individual birds counted can range a great deal.

A count in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska usually results in one species (Northern Raven) while a count circle in Veragua Rainforest in Costa Rica yielded 417 species during that Christmas Bird Count in December 2012. Count results in Vermont vary based on location, with Ferrisburg, Burlington and Middlebury counts usually having the greatest number of species each year. The difference between having open and frozen water on Lake Champlain can increase or decrease the number of species. Middlebury’s total this year was 77 species. In addition to species counts, high and low counts of individuals are noted. Burlington’s counters found more red-breasted mergansers, more Carolina wrens, more red-

bellied woodpeckers, and more barred owls than any other years, and they have been doing their count since 1958! Most of the data for this year’s count are still being compiled but will be available soon at http://birds.audubon.org/dataresearch. After most counts, birders gather for a potluck (an important tradition for many count circles). It seems this after-birding dinner where participants share highlights, swap stories, and eat good food seems to be almost as important as the birding itself! Erin Talmage is executive director of the Birds of Vermont Museum in Huntington. Contact her at (802) 434-2167 or visit www.birdsofvermont.org for more information.

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January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 55

Hunting:

Readers’ Photos

Walter Goodwin III killed this 190.5-pound, 9-pointer with a drop tine. Goodwin killed the buck in Berlin Nov. 12.

Submit your photos for inclusion in Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine’s Readers’ Photos by email at:

Timothy Lawton shot this 6-point, 151-pound buck in Plymouth on Nov. 11 about 12:45 p.m.

Page 56 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • January 2013

Hunting:

Charlie Woods Jr., right, poses with his 7-point buck that weighed 187 pounds. The deer was shot in North Clarendon. Woods is posing with his father.

Dennis Thomson shot this 222-pound, 7-point buck on the first day of Vermont rifle season.

Chris “Fingers” Doncaster shows off the 205-pound, 8-point buck he rattled in on Thanksgiving. He said he rattled in a bigger buck just five minutes prior but he never offered a shot. “Then this guy comes running out of the cedars looking a little angry. He was a fighter, his neck was all scarred up and he had a busted tine. Also made me late for dinner.”

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 57

Out & About:

A New Year It’s a rule that as you begin a new year by making plans on how to make that year better than the last. In fact, I believe it’s the law. But it’s no fun to make resolution that require you to do things. It’s much more fun to make them for other people or other groups. Here are a few I’ve managed to issued, where numbers need to be grown or thinned out, and whether to come up with this year. continue a management plan like the antler restrictions or, as some have Coming off a deer season in which called for, shooting more spikehorns. But the No. 1 goal the Fish & there seemed to be an increase — at least a small increase although it’s Wildlife Department needs to put out yet to be determined officially — in front is what is best for the deer. I the annual deer kill, the Fish & think everybody agrees this winter is Wildlife folks are already defending going to be worse than last year. The themselves against a barrage of folks storm at the end of December puts who say the antler restrictions aren’t the current winter ahead of all of last working and there are no deer in the year already. Deer have had it easy the last woods. Yet, photos and buck pools seem couple, but this year that may not be to show otherwise as there are more the case. I hope the Fish & Wildlife 200-pound whitetails and deer with large racks showing up. It’s all biologists and leaders will choose the manage the herd in the woods, not relative, however. If you kill a 200-pound, 10-pointer, the herd of naysayers at the winter the season was a pretty good one. But deer meetings. if you went out and didn’t see any or many deer, the deer herd has crashed and Fish & Wildlife is to blame. By all accounts, the Bolton My New Year’s resolution for Fish backcountry is a big chunk of what & Wildlife is to manage and state’s makes Vermont great. deer herd based on biology. The land is subject of a fundraising I fully understand that social issues drive to try to conserve it and prevent play a big role in what state deer it from being sold. managers consider when they Who knows what could happen to determine how many permits will be more than 1,000 acres of pristine

backcountry land if it’s turned over to a developer. While a good portion of the money has been raised, the deadline is March 31 and every dollar counts. The land in question is home to some of the states most popular cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trails, but it’s much more than just an area for skiing and ’shoeing. If the funds are raised the land will be added to the Mount Mansfield State Forest. Hunters and anglers, wildlife lovers, bird watchers, hikers and backpackers, anyone who loves large tracts of public land should be on board with this acquisition. So check out www.vlt.org to see what you can do to help. The best way is by opening your wallet, but if you can’t do that, help spread the word, encourage others to learn about the conservation effort and do what you can to make sure this land remains public.

Resolutions are easy to come by. Changing the minds of people set in their ways isn’t quite as easy. But let’s hope this resolution finds a way to daylight. After losing at every step, people trying to prevent anglers, kayakers and others from using Berlin Pond still won’t give up. After losing a Vermont Supreme

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Out & About: Court challenge, and after the state refused to ban recreation on the pond, and after an overwhelming vote during the November election supporting recreation on the pond, those in charge of allowing access have refused to do so. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has said they’ll put in a small parking and boat launch area for people to put their canoes and kayaks in the water, but so far the town board has remained silent. It makes one wonder who has the ear of the town board, the majority of residents who supported access, or the handful of local residents and others who want to keep the pond for their own specific method of recreating since hiking and biking around the pond and bird watching won’t be curtailed. There’s also the troubling aspect of the pond being used as a private oasis. Photos on Facebook show a path from a local home to a dock and mini-cabin on the shore of the pond, and several people who live nearby say they just want things left the way they have been for a century or more. My resolution is that the board will accept the state’s offer to build a couple of parking spaces and launch for nonmotorized water craft. Public spaces should not be held hostage for the privileged few.

crew have a gem on their hands in Pine Hill Park and the community hiking, biking and skiing trail system just keeps getting better. They continue to maintain and improve this little trail system, built almost exclusively with volunteers and donated money, and Pine Hill continues to grow in stature. It’s not often you hear of a community trail system, available for free access, that costs the town very little, mentioned in the same breath with some of the more famous commercial offerings in the area. Many folks are coming to the area with the intentions of riding or hiking some of the area’s great trails, but have already penciled in Pine Hill Park for a morning or afternoon as well. That’s a great feather in the Rutland cap. My resolution is for Rutland leaders and the good people at Rutland Recreation and Parks to keep the pedal to the floor and continue to support and enhance one of the nicest trail systems any town can boast. And if other towns are looking for a longterm project, come visit the folks in Rutland to see how it can be done.

Vermont’s greatest lake is one of this state’s best assets. Despite that, we continue to abuse Let’s also give credit where credit Champlain by dumping chemicals, is due. The Rutland parks and rec phosphorus, pharmaceuticals and

other things in it that puts its health at risk. Green-blue algae blooms, fish that don’t reach their potential, closed beaches, and drinking water nobody wants to drink are all results of our lack of consideration for Champlain. Fortunately, we have a group working on behalf of the lake. Lake Champlain International has led the charge toward cleaning up the big lake and working to continue to improve the health of the Champlain and the fish and critters that depend on it. But it takes money to clean up problems that have built up over time. Nobody wants to talk about the T word or allow that perhaps doing the right thing might cost a little more. But communities need to do what they can to help prevent phosphorus runoff while citizens of those communities take their own efforts to prevent putting things down their drains that will end up in the lake as well. So, go visit LCI at www.mychamplain.net and read up on what has been done and what more needs to be completed. And find ways to support LCI. Fortunately, the organization makes some of its money by holding fishing tournaments and other events that are fun to be part of. Darren Marcy is editor and publisher of Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine.

January 2013 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • Page 59

Happy New Year from