VGOM March 2013 by Vermont's Great Outdoors Magazine

Vermont’s

March 2013 Volume 1 Number 3

Magazine

GREAT OUTDOORS

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New: Outdoor Spotlight Sacred Hunter Fundraiser Monster Buck Nearly Escaped Youth Ice Fishing Clinic

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New: Fly-Fishing Column Vermont Outdoors Women Cold Winter, Warm Birds Out of Bounds Skiing Fines?

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

Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine www.VtGreatOutdoorsMag.com March 2013 • Volume 1 • Number 3

Features 28 Outdoor

Spotlight

Gray Stevens heads two of Vermont’s best known outdoor organizations.

36 Sacred

Hunter

Bradley Carleton details the path he’s traveled to found mentoring program.

Publisher & Editor Darren Marcy News/Marketing Assistants Maya Marcy & Camilla Marcy Contributors Jeremy Baker, Bradley Carleton, Bob Shannon, Erin Talmage, Tom Best, Steve Costello, Eric LaMontagne, Megh Rounds Article & Photo Submissions editor@VtGreatOutdoorsMag.com

42 ‘Sunday’ Jeremy Baker tells the story how he almost came up one bullet short of a Vt. trophy.

Press Releases, Letters, Calendar news@VtGreatOutdoorsMag.com Advertising ads@VtGreatOutdoorsMag.com

50 Trout

Preparation

Vermont’s trout season is almost upon us and opening day preparations begin now.

More Inside 5. Editor’s Note 5. Photo of the Month 7. Reader Feedback 8. Calendar 9. Outdoor News 72. Out & About

22. Conservation 58. LCI 66. The Outside Story 68. Birds of Vermont 70. Mountain Biking

Phone (802) 331-0130 All articles and photos need to be submitted electronically.

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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 • March 2013

Photo of the Month:

Justin Boyer landed this monster sunfish through the ice.

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

Editor’s Note:

Spring Growth You have no idea how excited I am to be sending this issue to the digital publisher and to your computer or tablet screen. I don’t want to hurt my shoulder patting myself on the back too hard, but this issue is yet another step up in providing you with a top-shelf outdoor publication. Don’t worry about my shoulder, though. The credit goes to those who have written the articles, submitted the photos and given of themselves. My pride comes from the fact this publication continues to grow. This month, we’ve added a new writer (Bob Shannon), a new feature (Outdoor Spotlight), and there’s at least three photo packages in this month’s issue. There are many good stories this month as well. First is a the Outdoor Spotlight, which features an interview with Gray Stevens, who leads the Vermont Outdoor Guide Association and Vermont Outdoors Women. Then, Bradley Carleton tells the story about the path he has taken to form his outdoor ethic and led him to launch the Sacred Hunter.org. Carleton is also announcing a fundraising banquet. Please consider attending or making a donation. Then read as Jeremy Baker continues his tale of a weekend hunting trip in which a huge Vermont deer nearly walked away. Another new feature follows as Bob Shannon of the Fly Rod Shop debuts his fly-fishing column and writes about getting your gear ready for the trout season opener. Out-of-bounds skiers have been in the news and have a story about a legislative effort that failed in Montpelier along with a letter submitted by one of three co-owners of a Vermont company that makes backcountry skis. This issue is just loaded with great photography. After you’ve read your favorite article, or even before you start reading, just flip through these pages and appreciate the talented photographers who have submitted photos for this issue. I’m really impressed. In fact, I’m really pleased with this issue in many ways. I hope you are as well.

On the Cover

Worth the Effort Skier Evan Waldman comes through the trees on a snowfilled backcountry run. Waldman was photographed by Dalton Harben, one of three co-owners of Worth Skis, a Vermont company based out of Middlebury that focuses on making specialordered backcountry skis that will also work well in tamer conditions. “We build adventurous skis designed for Eastern skiers, by Eastern skiers,” according to the company’s Facebook page. Worth Skis are a “buildyour-own adventure,” offering hand-built products in the USA. You can find them online at: www.worthskis.com or on Facebook.com/WorthSkisVt ––– Have a great photo you want to share? Please send it in. You might find it on the cover of the next Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine.

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

Feedback:

VGOM Reader Feedback News@VtGreatOutdoorsMag.com

A Boy and a Dog I absolutely loved your February 2013 cover photo! Not only is it a timeless reminder of the link between a boy and dog and the joy of the outdoors, but the chocolate lab, Carlos, happens to be the litter mate of my own lab, Brady! Thank you for having Carlos on there. We're very proud of him!

Write VGOM Letters are encouraged on topics of interest to Vermont outdoor enthusiasts. This space is your opportunity to have your voice heard. Letters will be edited for grammar, libel, clarity, decency and, when necessary, space. If your letter can’t be edited without changing its meaning, you’ll be given a chance to rewrite it, or the letter will be rejected. Send letters to:

news@vtgreatoutdoorsmag.com

Send story pitches, photos, news releases, calendar items, letters to the editor, and other submissions to: Thanks for writing, Neil, and sharing a photo of your dog, Brady. We all have strong attachments to our pets, but outdoors enthusiasts sometimes have a special bond. Must be something about all those bad bird outings, fishless trips and cold and muddy hikes with our buddies that make us feel a strong attachment. – Darren Marcy, editor

Send correspondence about advertising to: Send criticism, kudos and specific questions and comments about articles to:

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

Outdoor Calendar:

Calendar of Events ● Owl Hoot Hike, March 1, Niquette Bay State Park ● NWTF Banquet, March 15, Holiday Inn in Rutland, in Colchester, fun-filled, naturalist-led, evening Valleys of Vermont hosts a National Wild Turkey hike in the woods as we learn about owls, 5:30 p.m. Federation fundraising banquet. Raffles, drawings, to 7 p.m. Information: vtstateparks.blogspot.com. auctions and more raise money for conservation ● NWTF Banquet, March 8, Catamount Country programs. Information, Steve Roy at 775-4465 or Club in Williston, Lake Champlain Longbeards sroy@fs.fed.us. host a National Wild Turkey Federation fundraising ● Snowshoe Devil’s Dishpan, March 16, GMC banquet. Raffles, drawings, auctions and more raise showshoe, difficult, noon, call for meeting details: money for conservation programs. Information, Steve Lightholder at steve.lightholder@yahoo.com. Ronald Lafreniere at 434-4274 or ● Muskrat Hunting Season begins, March 20 ronlafreniere@outdrs.net ● Fish & Wildlife Board Meeting, March 20, 5 p.m. ● Family Snowshoe at White Rocks, March 9, St. Leo’s Hall in Waterbury. GMC’s Young Adventurers Club event, moderate ● Boats, Blinds, and Buddies: The Waterfowl to difficult, noon, call for meeting details: Mike Experience, March 22, 6-8 p.m. at Kehoe Wetherell 223-8493 or Lexi Shear 229-9810. Conservation Education Center in Castleton, free ● Hare/Rabbit season ends, March 10. waterfowl information sessions, learn about ● Spring Snow Goose Season, begins March 11, regulations, license requirements, safety, waterfowl conservation order sets spring snow goose season identification, more. intended to limit snow geese numbers. Licenses and ● Muskrat and Beaver trapping season ends, March stamps required. 31. ● Walleye Season ends, March 15. To have your organization’s meeting or activity listed ● Trout, Salmon and Bass ice fishing season ends, in the outdoor calendar; or for additions, deletions or March 15. corrections, email news@vtgreatoutdoorsmag.com.

Advertising Rates Business Card...........(3½ x 2)...............$20 Strip..........................(7½ x 2)...............$30 Quarter Page.............(3¾ x 5)...............$35 Half Page..................(7½ x 5)...............$60 Full Page..................(7½ x 10)..............$100 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.

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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!

Contributing Writers and Photographers 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: ● Understand our budget 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. ● 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. ● 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. Page 9 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • March 2013

Outdoor News:

Vermont

New York rider killed in snowmobile crash PERU – A New York man riding a snowmobile on a trail near Griffith Lake in Peru died after his sled hit ledge and he was thrown into some trees. Vermont State Police said Verouzhan Bagramian, 45, of Cropseyville, N.Y., died Feb. 24 when he was thrown from his 2011 Skidoo sled. Police said Bagramian was wearing a helmet and the chin strap was found secure but the helmet came off during the crash and the helmet showed damage on the right side of the face shield. Riders traveling with the man immediately started CPR and called for the help, but Bagramian was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.

Man fined after losing control and crashing snowmobile A Vermont man escaped with minor injuries after a snowmobile crash police say was due to riding too fast. Jerry Desotell, 41, of St. Albans was riding his 2008 sled south in Westfield near the intersection of Balance Rock Road and Verge Road when he failed to make a left-hand turn, according to a Vermont State Police news release. Desotell fell off his sled after losing control. Police determined Desotell was traveling between 40 mph and 50 mph in a posted 35 mph zone at the time. Desotell was wearing a helmet and suffered minor injuries. He was transported to North Country Hospital in Newport. Desotell was cited for operation of a snowmobile in an unreasonable manner.

supported by the ice. This year's date is March 31, but ice conditions could require an earlier removal. The same Vermont law requires the name and address of the owner to be on the ice shanty. “This is a good year to have a portable ice shanty, rather than a structure you leave on the ice overnight,” said Vermont’s Chief Game Warden David LeCours. “The last Sunday in March is the 31st, and with the fluctuating weather we’ve been having, that could be too late to be out on the ice. In order to comply with the law, you must remove your shanty before then if ice conditions look like they will deteriorate.” The fine for leaving your ice fishing shanty on the ice can be up to $1,000, and shanties may not be left at state fishing access areas.

Guided tours offered to benefit Bolton backcountry The Friends of Bolton Nordic and Backcountry will lead a free guided tour of the Bolton backcountry at 1 p.m. March 8. Tours are available for intermediate and advanced backcountry and Nordic skiers or snowshoers. All tours will begin and end at the Nordic Center. The tours is free of charge. For more information email milena@vlt.org or call 262-1241.

Lost snowboarders make their way out of woods

A pair of snowboarders from Virginia were able to find their way out of the woods after getting lost when they went out of bounds while riding at Bolton Valley Resort in Bolton. Vermont State Police said Maxwell Hoffman, 22 of Springfield, Va., and Josh Murray, 21, of Woodbridge, Va., were reported missing when their vehicle was found in the parking lot of the ski area Feb. 28. A search was launched by the Bolton Valley Ski Patrol, Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team Ice shanties must and troopers from the Williston Barracks. be off ice soon Plans were being formulated and notifications to Vermont law requires that all ice fishing shanties local search and rescue squads and a Vermont National must be removed from the ice by the last Sunday in Guard helicopter was contacted when the two came out March or before the shanties can no longer be on their own the next day. Page 10 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • March 2013

Outdoor News: According to statements taken by Rutland County They said they became lost after riding off the back Sheriff's deputy James Bennick, Jones was hunting side of Bolton toward Waterbury. rabbits near the power station Dec. 23 when he met They were able to start a fire and make a shelter. Both snowboarders suffered from hypothermia and Jake Duprey, 28, and his 10-year-old son. After a short conversation, Jones decided to leave frostbite but refused transport to the hospital. and let Duprey and his son continue to hunt. But soon, Jones returned and, according to Duprey, began Man injures leg swearing at him, called him a liar and said he was there in snowmobile crash first. Vermont State Police responded to a snowmobile Duprey asked him to calm down because his son was there but the argument continued and became heated. crash about 3 p.m. Jan. 26 on VAST Trail 102A in the Duprey said Jones swung his loaded shotgun at him town of Lewis. Police said Chad Moore, 40, of Reading, Mass., and the pair began to wrestle over the loaded gun. Each man claimed their overpowered the other for possession crashed his SkiDoo XPS 800. The police said Moore failed to negotiate a corner of the gun. Duprey told the deputy he didn't know if Jones was on the trail and his sled left the trail and hit a ditch. Moore was ejected, injuring his leg and he suffered trying to shoot him or just hit him with it. Jones said he hit Duprey with the gun. other non-life threatening injuries. Jones told the deputy he felt he had to defend himself His sled sustained extensive damage, police said. against a man half his age and said if he had to do it Police said the investigation was continuing but that again, he would. speed appeared to be a factor in the crash.

Two men get in altercation while hunting rabbits A Proctor man is facing charges of reckless endangerment after he allegedly swung his loaded shotgun at another man after the two got into a heated argument over a West Rutland rabbit hunting spot in front of one of the men's young son. According to a police report, John S. Jones, 57, of Proctor was charged with the misdemeanor. He was released on conditions after pleading not guilty in Rutland criminal court.

Snowmobile stolen From lawn in Irasburg Vermont State Police are investigating the theft of a snowmobile. Trooper Callie R. Field of the Derby Barracks said a report was taken from Drew Stone, 18, of Irasburg that his Polaris 600 sled was taken sometime between 9:30 p.m. Feb. 4 and 12:30 a.m. Feb. 5 from the front lawn. The snowmobile is red with red and yellow skis. Anyone with any information about the theft should call the Vermont State Police at 334-8881.

Page 11 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • March 2013

Outdoor News:

Toyota truck goes through ice at Lake Seymour Ben Farrow, 18, of Holland told police his Toyota pickup when through the ice on Lake Seymour in Morgan in the early morning hours of Feb. 2. Farrow and a passenger were able to get out of the truck before it sank between Roustour's Point and Wolf's Point. The spot was marked and people were warned to stay away. Vermont State Police, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and the owner are working to have it removed in the spring.

Region Teenager survives two nights in Maine woods

A 17-year-old boy who got lost while skiing at Sugarloaf Mountain survived two nights in the woods before walking out on his own. Nicholas Joy of Medford, Mass., got lost while skiing with his father and they split up at the top to take different routes down. When the boy didn't show up his father called for help. In all, 85 people were involved in the search on skis, snowmobiles and snowshoes. Ford goes through the ice The teenager was able to build a snow shelter using tree branches at night and walked toward the sound of on Memphremogog snowmobiles during the day. Vermont State Police said a Ford F-350 pickup went Two days after getting lost, he was found by a through the ice Feb. 2 on Lake Memphremagog near snowmobiler while walking along an access road. Eastman Road in Newport Center. Police said Paul Lavalette, 48, of Newport Center was driving on the ice near the west shore when he drove over a pressure crack and the vehicle broke through thin ice. Lavalette was able to get out of the vehicle to safety before it sunk. It is submerged in about 25 feet of water. The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources will be responsible for coordinating recovery efforts.

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Outdoor News:

Vermont state game wardens (left to right) Matt Thiel, Dustin Snyder, Robert Currier and David Taddei participated in cold water rescue training Feb. 22 with the coast guard in Burlington.

Have a business card advertising your business? This space is just $20 per month. Reach a focused, dedicated and engaged group of outdoor enthusiasts. Page 13 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • March 2013

Outdoor News:

Waterfowl Seminar

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department will host a waterfowl information session titled “Boats, Blinds, and Buddies: The Waterfowl Experience.” The session will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 22, at Kehoe Conservation Education Center in Castleton. The event is free and open to the public, and no registration is required to attend. Game warden Rob Sterling will explain how waterfowl regulations

are determined and why yearly changes can occur. He will also go over license requirements and safety issues. Fish & Wildlife biologist David Sausville will offer a presentation on waterfowl, including identification of puddle ducks, divers and geese based on color, flight pattern and size. The session will close with a presentation on duck blinds and on safely using canoes, kayaks and motorboats while duck hunting. “Waterfowl hunters of all

backgrounds will get something out of this event, but it is especially geared towards people who may be new to waterfowl hunting, or towards kids who are interested in getting into the sport,” Sausville said. The Kehoe Conservation Education Center 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 http://www.anr.state.vt.us/fwd/Keh oeEducationCenter.aspx.

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

Outdoor News:

The sun rises over Chittenden Reservoir revealing a morning made for ice fishing.

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Outdoor News:

Growing Up Wild

Cutline.

Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s Ali Thomas trains environmental educators about birds in a recent Flying WILD program.

Children have become increasingly disconnected with nature. According to the Children in Nature Network, most children can easily identify hundreds of corporate logos but cannot identify more than a handful of the plants and animals in their own backyard. The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is giving a new type of workshop that aims to combat this

trend and reconnect Vermont’s young children with nature. The program, titled “Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature with Young Children,” teaches early childhood educators how to incorporate nature and wildlife into their daily lesson plans. This project is modeled on three similar programs offered by the Fish & Wildlife Department, Project WILD, Flying WILD, and Aquatic

WILD. “We’re building on the success of our other WILD training workshops” said Ali Thomas, education coordinator for the Fish & Wildlife Department. “Those projects were designed for teachers and environmental educators teaching K12 students, while the new Growing Up WILD program is geared towards curriculum for younger children.” Growing Up WILD was developed

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

Outdoor News:

State Seeks Deer Hunters Fish & Wildlife forming regional working groups The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is encouraging deer hunters to apply for one of three regional working groups currently being formed throughout the state. The goal of the working groups is to bring together hunters to discuss deer management strategies and regulations as part of the d e p a r t m e n t ' s comprehensive deer management review process. Hunters selected for these regional working groups will evaluate public input relating to deer management and will interpret the results of hunter surveys. They will also evaluate data relating to current harvest regulations and season structures and provide feedback to the department. "Hunters frequently express to us an interest in becoming more

directly involved in deer management decisions," said Adam Murkowski, Fish & Wildlife's deer project leader. "This is a great opportunity for deer hunters across Vermont to make their voice and the voices of their fellow hunters heard. The results of the comprehensive review process will impact future deer hunting regulations in Vermont so it is important that hunters are actively engaged throughout this process."

The regional working groups are designed to represent areas with similar deer densities and land uses. Vermont's valleys and foothills on the eastern and western portions of the state are each represented by one working group, while the central mountains and Northeast Kingdom are joined to make up the third working group. Working group members will meet four times between the end of March and September. Once hunters have been selected for each working group the dates and times of each meeting will be determined. Hunters interested in learning more about Vermont's comprehensive deer management review process and the regional working groups should visit the department's website at www.vtfishandwildlife.com.

with the vision of expanding the culture of early childhood education to embrace learning in the outdoors. According to the program’s website, Growing Up WILD “builds on children’s sense of wonder about nature and invites them to explore wildlife and the world around them.” “The program’s activities are fun and easy,” Thomas said. “They creatively address concepts in science,

physical education, and literature though activities such as outdoor explorations and art projects. Whether you’re a school teacher or an educator at a nature center, this guide is an effective teaching resource in any setting.” Growing Up WILD was developed by a national nonprofit organization, the Council for Environmental Education.

Funds to create the program came from a grant awarded to CEE by the Environmental Protection Agency with the goal of strengthening a national effort to connect young children to nature, particularly with diverse audiences. For more information, visit www and to schedule a workshop, contact Ali Thomas at 371-9975 or alison.thomas@state.vt.us.

Page 17 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • March 2013

Outdoor News:

Moose Permit Numbers Set

Fish & Wildlife Board approves 355 permits for 2013 A total of 355 permits will be issued for Vermont’s 21st annual October moose season under a proposal the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board gave preliminary approval to Feb. 20. The board voted unanimously on a proposal presented by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department that allocates permits in 17 of the state’s 26 Wildlife Management Units. The 355 permits proposed by the department represent a slight decrease from the 385 permits issued last year. Under the proposal, hunters are expected to harvest close to 200 animals during the Oct. 19-24 season. “We recommended a slight reduction in permits this year based on the biological data we have collected on Vermont’s moose and our calculated population estimates indicating moose densities are

below management goals in some northern areas,” said biologist Cedric Alexander, Vermont’s moose project leader. “It’s the intent of this proposal to allow slow population growth in some regions while continuing to stabilize moose numbers elsewhere.” Alexander estimates Vermont has 2,500 to 3,000 moose statewide with the greatest concentration in the Northeast Kingdom. “We also want to take a conservative approach given recent regional and national trends of moose populations and health,” Alexander said. “Moose biologists from the southern tier of moose range across the country are increasingly concerned about the effects of warming temperature on moose health. Weather patterns have created more days where the thermoregulatory threshold for moose is exceeded causing them to feed less, and the warmer climate leads to higher winter tick loads.” Vermont also holds a special

“archery-only” moose season and 50 permits will be awarded for the Oct. 1-7 archery moose season. Moose hunting permit lottery applications – $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents – will be available on Vermont Fish & Wildlife’s website at www.vtfishandwildlife.com in early May. Printed applications are scheduled to be available at license agents in early June. Two lotteries will be held, one for the regular hunting season and one for the archery season. Winners of either lottery must purchase resident hunting permits for $100 or nonresident hunting permits for $350. Hunters also will have the option to bid on five moose hunting permits in an auction to be announced later. As part of the Fish and Wildlife Board’s rule process, the moose permit proposal must be voted on at two more upcoming board meetings.

Page 18 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • March 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 Page 19 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • March 2013

Outdoor News:

Cheaper in New York? In a move that is the opposite of what most states are doing, New York is proposing to drop hunting and fishing license fees while streamlining the number of licenses offered. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced “NY Open for Fishing and Hunting,” a plan to streamline hunting and fishing licenses and reduce license fees to support tourism opportunities and benefit sportsmen and sportswomen throughout the state. The proposal is part of the 30-day amendments to the 2013-14 Executive Budget and would reduce fees paid by hundreds of thousands of hunters, anglers and trappers while maintaining support for the state’s fish and wildlife programs. That includes out-of-state hunters like Vermonters who hunt or fish in New York. The proposal simplifies the current license structure to foster recruitment and retention of resident and nonresident hunters, anglers and trappers, according to a press release. The State would greatly reduce the number of licenses offered and lower many fees for both resident and nonresidents under the proposal. “I know the recreational and economic value hunting and fishing bring to New York State,” Governor Cuomo said in the release. “The sporting community bolsters tourism across the state. According to a national survey, more than $8.1

Proposed N.Y. Out of State License Fees License Fees Current Annual Fishing License $70 Annual Hunting License $140 Annual Bow Hunting Privilege $140 Annual Muzzleloading $140 One-day Turkey $50 One-day Fishing $15 billion of economic activity is created as a result of sporting activity in New York. Under my proposal, it will be easier for more New Yorkers and visitors from across the country to take advantage of New York’s rich sporting tradition.” According to the release, the changes would eliminate confusion due to the number, type and potential combinations of hunting and fishing licenses and reduce fees that are higher in New York than in many neighboring and comparable states. The proposal would: ● Reduce by 11 the number of licenses available while maintaining all current hunting and fishing privileges and opportunities ● Reduce the price of a hunting license by 24 percent from $29 to $22 ● Reduce the price of a fishing license by nearly 14 percent from $29 to $25 ● Make fishing licenses valid for one year from the date of

Proposed $50 $100 $40 $30 $20 $10

purchase ● Create a non-resident license structure which is the same as the resident license structure ● Fold trapping privileges into the hunting license for no additional fee for certified trappers ● Maintain Junior Trapper and Trapper Mentor opportunities ● Reduce fees for non-resident hunting and fishing licenses to attract more out-of-state participants ● Retain discounted licenses for youth, seniors, military disabled and Native Americans. Other changes include changing the time-frame of a license, consolidates some licenses and offers nonresidents a license structure that is similar to residents. Previously, a fishing license was only valid from the date of purchase through the end of the season, and anglers who bought a license in mid-season did not get a full year’s worth of use. Under the new plan, anglers will get a full year of fishing no matter

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

Outdoor News: when they purchase the license. Also, the proposal consolidates both small-game and big-game license privileges into a single hunting license. “Hunters and anglers are the foundation of the state’s conservation community, concerned about caring for the state’s habitats, forestland and waterways,” said Department of Environment Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens. “Gov. Cuomo’s proposal will make it simpler for people to purchase licenses, help attract newcomers to hunt and fish in New York and ensure that the programs that the hunting and fishing communities enjoy continue to be funded.” In addition, DEC has made substantial progress in both the rehabilitation of existing boat launch facilities and construction of new facilities.

By the start of the 2013 boating season, five new boat launching facilities will be open: Chaumont Bay and Point Peninsula Isthmus on Lake Ontario, Upper Hudson River in Fort Edward, Lake Champlain in the City of Plattsburgh, and Cuba Lake Boat Launch in Allegany County. Work is underway for a boat launch on Round Lake in Saratoga County. Governor Cuomo’s proposal aims to improve New York’s position as a destination for both resident and out-of-state hunters. According to a 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Related Recreation, more than 90 million U.S. residents 16 years and older participated in some form of wildlife-related recreation in 2011 and spent about $145 billion on their ventures. Moreover, New York State remains near the top in hunter and

angler licenses, an estimated 1.88 million anglers and 823,000 hunters, indicating a mostly stable group of participants. The same study found in 2011 New York was second in the nation in total angler spending on fishing-related items and sixth in nonresident angler spending. This spending generated an estimated $108 million in state and local taxes. “The Board welcomes the simplification of the existing license structure and the reduction of the fees for most of the sporting public,” said Lance Robson, chairman of the New York State Fish & Wildlife Management Board. “This plan will make participating in hunting, fishing and trapping more affordable while continuing to provide the funds, now and going forward, to continue or even expand our current fish, wildlife and habitat management programs.”

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ads@vtgreatoutdoorsmag.com Page 21 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • March 2013

Conservation:

Checkoff Conservation

A mother loon and her baby.

Whether it’s the sight of a soaring osprey, the laugh of a common loon, or the thrilling beauty of a peregrine falcon, Vermont leads the nation in wildlife watching for good reason: we have wonderful wildlife all around us. Through the generosity of thousands of citizens at tax time and the efforts of Vermont Fish &

Wildlife Department staff and partners, these extraordinary species have rebounded from their former threatened or endangered status in Vermont. And, although still listed as a state endangered species, the bald eagle is also showing signs of a dramatic comeback in Vermont, with 15 nests documented in Vermont in 2012 and 23 eaglets fledged or leaving the

nest to be on their own. Your support makes it possible. By checking the Nongame Wildlife Fund box and making a donation right on your Vermont state income tax form, you can be part of this conservation success story. “Vermonters care about protecting nongame species and their habitats just as much today as when the voluntary income tax

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Conservation: check-off started in 1986,” said Wildlife Biologist Steve Parren. “Each year they graciously donate nearly $100,000. These funds keep this program successful and allow future Vermonters to experience the wild populations we enjoy today.” The Nongame Wildlife Fund was created to support work done by Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department biologists and its partners to manage and enhance wildlife species that are not hunted or fished. Vermonters are clearly enthusiastic about this work. According to a recent report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Vermont is first in the nation in per-capita wildlife watching with 53 percent of us actively engaging in observing wildlife. But more work remains to be done. “In addition to bald eagles, there are many new challenges for wildlife conservation in Vermont,” Parren said. “Including fighting the white-nose syndrome devastating our bat populations. Fortunately, we can all be wildlife conservationists at tax time, thanks to Vermont’s Nongame Wildlife Fund. Look for the loon logo on your Vermont tax form, and join with us to protect An osprey eyes the photographer as it dines on freshly caught fish. Vermont’s nongame wildlife.”

Nongame Wildlife Successes in 2012: ●Peregrine falcons: 39 nests produced 60 young falcons. ●Loons: 49 nesting pairs produced 87 chicks. ●Eagles: 15 Vermont nests successfully fledged 23 eaglets. Page 23 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • March 2013

Legislation:

Out of Bounds Fine Killed

The issue popped up like a Vermont winter storm, blowing through the outdoor community like a nor'easter before fading away like a January thaw. An effort to curb reckless out-ofbounds skiers who continue to get lost and require rescue prompted proposed legislation in Montpelier.

The bill called for a $500 fine for people who left the boundaries of a ski area and ended up requiring rescue. The measure was killed in committee after a swift response from recreationalists and law enforcement who opposed the idea. The measure is a result of a surge in the number of such rescues – many of them at Killington Resort

as skiers and snowboarders head off the backside of the mountain in search of untouched powder. The bill's lead sponsor, Sen. Kevin Mullin, R-Rutland, said he had heard from officials at Killington who were frustrated. Combined with the cost of the rescue operations, he wrote the legislation. But when the bill made its way to

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Legislation: the Senate Judiciary Committee, opponents loaded up. Backcountry enthusiasts said the bill would unfairly lump them in with resort skiers who chose to duck under the ropes and got in over their head. The majority of rescues – about 50 people – at Killington happen during the holiday season when a large number of tourists are skiing. David Goodman, author of the Appalachian Mountain Club's “Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast,” told the committee that backcountry skiing is “a jewel in the crown of Vermont.” He said skiers with the right gear and a sense of direction will have a spectacular day in the woods. Vermont State Police Capt. Robert Evans, whose work includes overseeing State Police rescue operations, warned of the consequences of the bill. He said that the threat of a fine or paying rescue costs could cause a person to not call for help until it gets dark, bring colder conditions and making the rescue more dangerous for everyone involved. “If there's anything that keeps them from doing that it's problematic for us,” he said.

This is a letter from Jason Duquette-Hoffman, co-owner of Worth Skis, a Vermont backcountry ski producer. The letter was sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee as it took testimony on Senate Bill 111. It is reprinted here by permission.

Dear Senators Sears, Ashe, Benning, Nitka and White, I would first like to thank you for your hard work on behalf of citizens of our state. I deeply appreciate your work and commitment to the well being of Vermonters. As a lifelong

Vermonter, I have been the beneficiary of the advantages of the accessibility and community spirit of our citizen legislators. It is, in part, because of this that I write to you today to express my concerns regarding S.111. I am a skier. Since I was three

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Legislation:

years of age, I have been skiing in Vermont's resorts, public trails and public and private backcountry terrain. For 34 years I have, along with countless others, enjoyed the beauty and wonder that Vermont has to offer those fortunate enough to be willing and able to explore our fields, forests and mountains in what I believe is Vermont's best season: the winter. I believe that Vermont truly cradles the soul of winter sports. Together with my partner, I am raising my three young children to respect, appreciate and enjoy the beauty, majesty and challenge of the natural environment around us. I am fortunate to live close to some of the most beautiful wilderness in the region, the Breadloaf Wilderness of the Green Mountain National Forest. This area, characterized by open hardwoods glades, favorable snow conditions and easy accessibility from the Long Trail and the National Forest road and trail system, is a treasure and a haven for me, my family and my friends in the winter. I have

attached some photos of us enjoying this resource to illustrate my point. This area is also accessible from the trails of the Middlebury College Snow Bowl, which is located on private land owned by the College and operated as a ski area. The Long Trail (and the terrain it accesses), runs through this and a number of Vermont's ski areas. Inspired by my love for skiing in Vermont, and by this area, I recently started an alpine ski company, along with two friends. We design and market our own semi-custom ski designs focused on backcountry skiing, and contract with an outside production facility to build our products. We are in conversations with another small Vermont winter sports equipment manufacturer to bring our production home to Vermont, and are pleased with the response and the growth we have seen so far. We have marketed ourselves in no small part as connected with the tradition of backcountry and adventure skiing that has

characterized the sport in Vermont since it first arrived here. We are thrilled at the connections we have found with the many other enthusiasts who share our love for the sport, and for the backcountry terrain Vermont can offer. Through our efforts, we have introduced many from around the region and beyond to the spectacular experiences available here in our state. Backcountry skiing is not a crime. It is the soul of winter sports in our state, with a long, rich, proud and storied tradition. Accessing our backcountry in the winter, from a resort or otherwise, is a thrill, a challenge and a pilgrimage that many in our state have spent years or more developing. Some of us have built businesses, lives and family traditions around this centerpiece of our Vermont culture. The vast majority of backcountry enthusiasts and users in our state are knowlegable, responsible and respectful of the challenge that winter travel in the backcountry can bring. Criminalizing their behavior is not only counter to a venerable and honorable Vermont tradition, it is counterproductive. This measure will not go any further toward preventing the kind of irresponsible behavior we are seeing from a few, largely out-ofstate folks with limited experience and understanding of the rigors of backcountry travel. This is not a criminal issue, it is an educational issue. Do we really think that it should be a crime for trained,

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Legislation:

knowledgeable and well-equipped people who encounter an unexpected circumstance (such as an aggressive moose, failure of a defective piece of equipment or other similar unforeseeable happenstance) to access the services of our public safety system as any others would? I would suggest that I, and those with whom I travel in the backcountry, are generally more prepared for emergencies than many who use our state snowmobile trail system. I always carry gear appropriate to survive several days and nights in the woods, to find my way home, to stabilize injuries and to repair broken equipment. I understand that I must operate in the wilderness under my own recognizance. I am trained as a Wilderness First Responder. My companions have similar training and experience and yet, should the

worst occur, we could face criminal charges under this proposed legislation. This, despite the fact that a wholly unprepared, untrained snowmobile operator (far more likely to require such services, if you review the numbers of snowmobile accidents to which the state police have responded in the past week) could access these same services with impunity? Please do not place my 6 year old daughter, already a backcountry enthusiast, in criminal jeopardy should she or I become unexpectedly in need of assistance during legitimate use of our public lands and despite our best precautions and preparations. How would you explain to her that the jewel of our state, its winter wilderness, is inaccessible to her under penalty of law? I understand the pressures that irresponsible use of Vermont's natural landscape can place on our

busy and dedicated public safety personnel. There exist now, under current law the tools to recover the costs associated with these limited incidents. Other states have faced these concerns, and have found that a reasonable balance between public safety and resource preservation can be struck. I urge the Committee to consider other mechanisms for achieving these educational goals that do not criminalize legitimate use and enjoyment of our state treasure. I am happy to discuss my thoughts, experiences and perspectives further with the Committee in person, via e-mail or by phone. Please feel free to contact me at this e-mail address or by phone. Thank you once again for the thoughtful, vital and critical work that you do. Jason M. Duquette-Hoffman, Co-Owner, Worth Skis

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Outdoor Spotlight:

The Man With the Plan Gray Stevens leads two of the most visible organizations in Vt.

raydon (Gray) B. Stevens is living a classic Vermont existence. He was born and raised in Barton, and later left the state for a while before returning to his beloved Green Mountains. After a wide-ranging series of jobs, he's forged a niche that has allowed him to be an integral part of the

outdoors he loves. Growing up on a farm gave Stevens plenty of opportunities for hunting, fishing and observing nature. Later, he worked as an unofficial fishing guide and helped to run and maintain the family's summer rental cabin business on Lake Salem in Derby.

Paying the bills has required that he work in diverse fields as cook at high-end resorts, construction, summer camp councilor, running a nightclub, ground line foreman, and managed a ski dorm near the Canadian border. He started and ran a chimney sweep business from 1978 to 2000.

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Outdoor Spotlight: But it was in 1994 when he began what would become his work today when he established Adventure Guides of Vermont. Two years later he founded the nonprofit Vermont Outdoor Guide Association, the culmination of a lifetime of working on outdoor projects. He continues to work as the executive director of VOGA, helping guide services and tour operators in all aspects of business including access to public and private lands, risk management, legislative issues, marketing and more. He maintains the organizations’ website with an average of 800 visitors per day and has provided grant writing services. Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department gave VOGA the opportunity to own and operate the inactive Vermont Outdoors Woman in 2000, which the state had established as an extension of their Becoming an Outdoors Woman program. VOW provides year round outdoor programming for women of all ages and abilities. His duties include coordinating volunteers, marketing, instructors and sponsors. In 2001, Stevens was on the founding committee for Vermont Traditions Coalition, an advocacy group encouraging responsible legislation relating to traditional land use in Vermont. He has also served on nearly 20 recreation and tourism related advisory and planning

This month, we launch a new feature, Outdoor Spotlight, in which we talk to interesting personalities in the world of outdoor recreation in Vermont. Do you know someone you think we should feature in the Outdoor Spotlight. Send us email at news@vtgreatoutdoorsmag.com or a message on Facebook committees and boards for nonprofits and state agencies under three Vermont administrations. On a personal note, Stevens enjoys photography and multiple outdoor activities. He maintains his collection of stringed instruments and has performed as a singer/songwriter

since the late 1960s. He lives with a red wolf hybrid on his property in central Vermont.

VOGA is a 501 C6 nonprofit organization "Dedicated to the support and promotion of professional outdoor leadership, education, and stewardship." We believe that all recreation activities

are valid and should be supported and promoted, along with safety and ethical practices that are pertinent. Our members range from mom and pop operations to large resorts, all providing outdoor programs and services. The support segment of our mission means that we help provide business related information such as accessing private and public lands, certifications, insurance, risk management and more. To help promote our members as well as Vermont, we created our popular on line Vermont Recreation Directory at www.voga.org, which includes informative pages on specific activities. Facebook, Twitter and other webbased services and practices were recently added to increase traffic. Our website also offers three recreationbased event calendars, one for general recreation, one for outdoor training & certifications and one for women's outdoor events It is no exaggeration to say that we help to bring millions of tourism dollars to Vermont annually. We started out just including guides, tour operators and outfitters but soon learned that the public wanted to also rent or purchase gear, to find natural resources for self guided recreation and even find a place to stay. Now we include that information and it has grown our traffic significantly.

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Outdoor Spotlight:

division of VOGA, dedicated to getting women of all ages involved in outdoor activities. With the help of an incredible group of volunteers, sponsors and instructors, VOW offers year-round outdoor programs in more than 60 activities. Our volunteer staff created winter, summer and fall weekend retreats, "Doe Camp," to address the many needs for women's programming. Doe Camp provides educational and skill building programs in virtually all outdoor activities, including: archery, firearms safety, hunting VOW is a membership driven skills, fishing, horseback riding,

It may be a bit confusing for an inn, manufacturer or retail outlet to join a guide association but I believe that it is the best advertising investment that a business can make. We also monitor and contribute to industry related issues on the state and federal levels. I have sat on nearly 20 boards, planning committees and advisory groups over the past 15 years. We also have two lobbyists in the statehouse who watch out for our industry's interests.

orienteering, GPS, canoeing, kayaking, snowshoeing, search & rescue, wildlife photography, snowmobiling, ATV safety, rock climbing, winter camping, wilderness first aid, self defense, mountain biking, wild medicinal & edible plants, forestry, survival and many more.

VOGA was first imagined in 1994 when seven guide services met at a restaurant in Addison County. Our goal was to find a way to better promote recreation services throughout the State. I was running

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Outdoor Spotlight: Adventure Guides of Vermont as an S-Corporation at the time. With the help of many advisers and volunteers, we founded the nonprofit Vermont Outdoor Guide Association in 1996.

In 2000, Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department gave VOGA the opportunity to own and operate Vermont Outdoors Woman, which had been established by the Department as an extension of their Becoming an Outdoors Woman program. Our volunteer organizing committee ran with it. The committee came up with the name "Doe Camp" for our women's weekend retreats and ran the first a paid full time director. During the retreat in June of 2002 at Hawk Inn recent recession, combined with two and Mountain Resort in Plymouth. floods and a bad winter last year, VOGA and our members took a hit. It exposed some of our vulnerabilities as an organization and The women's division was as an industry. I think that we need something that we just chanced upon to go back to the basics of and the demand was obvious. It communications, promotion and seemed like the right thing to do at support of the many types of services the right time. VOGA was created because of the that are available in Vermont. When lack of support of recreation services the economic and weather conditions both in state policy making and in are favorable, we need to maximize business. With traffic to our website marketing. averaging 800 visitors a day in 2012, I'd like to break 1,000 a day in 2013. We also need to pay more attention to retaining our current members as we welcome new companies to the This is an on going process. Every day we see things that can association. be done to better promote Vermont as a year round recreation vacation Running Vermont Outdoors destination and to improve services Woman is a lot like standing on a to our members and to the public. whale, fishing for minnows. The potential is tremendous but first we We need to be self supporting with need to take care of all of the little

details. I am currently rewriting the business plan in an effort to simplify and detail operations. VOW needs to be run by a committee or board of volunteers. We are currently working towards that end. After several organizational meetings last year, we have more than 120 volunteers and now need a part time coordinator to put them to work. We'd like to be more consistent with our three seasonal weekend retreats and there is a need for us to develop and offer single day activities featuring one or two activities. Soon, we hope to have a part time coordinator to pull all of this together.

Better funding for Tourism is No. 1. Our Department of Tourism does a good job in stretching every dollar

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Outdoor Spotlight: that they get but regional states are investing much more money into tourism than Vermont. With proven returns on each dollar, increased funding of tourism is a must. The Department of Tourism needs to continue to promote all aspects of tourism as well as ALL recreation activities. Outdoor recreation is the largest segment of tourism and it has a positive financial affect on Vermont's most remote communities as well as our tourist centers. One thing about marketing is that once you get customers interested, you need to be able to assist them in answering their questions. Identifying statewide organizations that have the answers on specific activities and are prepared to assist the public, can save the state money and provide more accurate information for visitors. Tourism information provided by 1-800-VERMONT operators and by the Vermont Ambassador Program should include these organizations. Creating an information network that filters down to these organizations helps the public and strengthens businesses and trade organizations. Many in the guiding industry believe that it is time for Vermont to license guides. New York, New Hampshire and Maine have licensing programs for guides. Our Fish & Wildlife Department should consider doing the same. I'm not saying that we should copy any one state but rather create as practical, affordable and professional process as possible. Maybe this is too much to ask of the state but I believe that we should at least have the conversation.

Projects and Committees

Founder and Executive

Director, 1996 to present includes Doe Camp –Executive Director, 2000 to present Sole Proprietor/Founder 1994 to present – Recreation Vacation Packages – Founding Committee 2001 to present Board of Directors – 2002 - 2012 – Governor Appointee 2002- 2012 , 2007 – 2009 , Planning Contributor – 2007 2008 Secretary of ANR appointee, 2006 – 2007 2006 , Contributor, 2006 – 2004 Board of Directors – 2002 - 2006 2002 - 2005 Board of Directors – 1999 - 2004 America’s largest and oldest fishing derby , 1996 - 1997 Contributor Contributor Contributor – Contributor – Planning Contributor – Planning Committee – Planning Contributor – Webmaster – Editor

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Vermont Outdoor Women:

Scenes from past Vermont Outdoors Woman events. Page 33 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • March 2013

Vermont Outdoor Women:

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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 Page 35 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • March 2013

Sacred Hunter:

A Sacred Connection

ollowing is an abbreviated version of how I found my calling in life and how Sacred Hunter was born and an announcement about one of the most elaborate wild game dinners you may ever attend. About nine years ago, the Shelburne Community school asked me if I would consider mentoring a young man who was challenged to adhere to

some basic social tenets of the institution. I accepted the challenge and began meeting Brad once a week. Soon we discovered that we shared a common passion, the outdoors. We would talk at length about things that 14-year-olds experience and soon formed a bond. In the hour we would spend together, he taught me

Page 36 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • March 2013

Sacred Hunter:

one of the most valuable lessons of my life: that my actions could have a significant impact on someone younger. What I said, what I thought about, how I handled my own life and my deep passion for hunting and fishing, became the central driver of our

connection. Soon, I was introduced to his caretakers and our relationship took on a new form, that of ice fishing partners. I would work Brad into my weekly rituals, jigging for panfish, sitting on a pickle bucket out in Shelburne Bay. Sometimes we caught some

beautiful yellow perch, sometimes the nearly translucent rainbow smelt, but in every expedition we undertook, I learned more about my purpose in life. My strongest desire is to share the world of the hunter, fisher and gatherer with those who might not otherwise consider it.

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Sacred Hunter:

I mentored six more young men over the following eight years and started writing about my outdoor exploits. Soon, I was offered a monthly column in a regional publication, then another. Before long, my passion was bringing me greater rewards than I could ever have imagined. I had been running a waterfowl guide service that took adults on duck and goose hunting forays, yet, despite being paid for doing something I enjoyed, my greatest feelings of achievement were coming from the mentoring. In 2008, I decided to formalize the

process and created Traditions Outdoor Mentoring, with a full-on curriculum of traditional hunting and fishing rituals. I watched these boys develop from at-risk adolescents to compassionate responsible outdoorsmen whose ethics and sense of respect for their world represented the values of conservationists like Aldo Leopold, Teddy Roosevelt and Jim Posewitz, the founder of Orion The Hunter's Institute. In my own little community I was being characterized as “the hunting and fishing guy” to go to for people who were curious about the sport.

A few short years later I recognized that my efforts to communicate about the beauty, serenity and peace that I found were forming an entire belief system. My sport, which I had begun 30 years ago, had evolved into a quest for deeper meaning. It became a form of worship. One day the term “worshipping nature” flowed from my lips and I realized that I was practicing something sacred. I was practicing rituals like fasting and mindfulness while walking or sitting in the woods. I signed up for a weekend course at Shelburne Farms called “The Sacred

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Sacred Hunter:

Hunt,” which featured Jon Young and Randall Eaton as speakers. Throughout the weekend about 30 participants would break into small teams and practice tracking, foraging, and learning about the spiritual connection to nature that we all possess. I came away from the weekend knowing what I had to do. I immersed myself in the study of “nature deficit disorder,” the concepts of fair chase hunting and began seeking the meaning of why some men (and women) are driven to hunt. Over the past three years, I formed a nonprofit, called “Sacred

Hunter.org” with Eaton's blessing. Its purpose is to educate the public about the spiritual nature of hunting, fishing and foraging and to raise money for the Traditions Outdoor Mentoring program. This month, on Saturday, March 23, we will hold our first fundraiser, a wild game dinner, at The Lodge at Shelburne Bay, 185 Pine Haven Shores (off of Shelburne Road next to the bowling alley.) We are offering some epicurean delights like smoked peppered goose breast, smoked brook trout and garlic spread and genuine goose liver foie’ gras with truffle oil as appetizers. For

entrees we will serve pan seared and roasted partridge breast, partridge confit leg and sun dried cherry rillette, roasted pheasant with Vermont corn spoon bread, wilted spinach and caramelized shallots in a crispy pancetta and madera pan reduction and a block cut, seared Lake Champlain Salmon with fennel, leek and celeriac ragout and preserved lemon beurre blanc. Other entrees will be added as we create them. There will be a cash wine and beer bar, with local wines being paired to the dishes, featuring Traminettes and Cabernet Francs from East Shore

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Sacred Hunter:

Wild-Game Fundraising Dinner Saturday, March 23 The Lodge at Shelburne Bay 185 Pine Haven Shores Reservations (802) 238-6176 or sacredhunter.org@gmail.com

Vineyard in Grand Isle and a delicious IPA beer from the Shelburne brewery, Fiddlehead. There will be a silent auction for wildlife artwork and guided hunts. Happy Hour will launch at 5:30 p.m. and run until 7 p.m., at which time, we will stroll downstairs to the dining room and be served entrees, salads and a tiramisu dessert. Our space is limited to reservations only. The meal is $75 per person and all revenues will go toward Sacred Hunter.org. We hope to raise enough money to file our final documentation with the

IRS, in hopes of being granted a Determination Letter of tax-deductible status. All remaining revenue will be allocated toward new equipment and operating costs of mentoring our young men in the Traditions Outdoor Mentoring program. If you’ve ever wanted to support a program that mentors at-risk youth, and provides the public with a better understanding of the spiritual connection to the hunt, this is your dinner. Please consider joining us March 23 for an evening of fun, laughter, fine food and wine.

For reservations, please call (802) 238-6176 or send an email to sacredhunter.org@gmail.com. If you’d like to learn more about our programs, please visit our websites, www.sacredhunter.org, and www.traditionsoutdoormentoring.org, and “like” us on Facebook. Bradley Carleton is executive director of Sacred Hunter.org, a nonprofit that seeks 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.

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Hunting:

‘Sunday’

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Hunting:

or the first time in my life, a buck is hanging from the meat pole at Uncle Tom’s cabin when I awake. Brother Chris has accomplished something no other hunter in camp (with the exception of Uncle Tom) can claim; he has killed a buck in Searsburg on Betit property during the two week Vermont Rifle season. The temperature outside is twice as warm as yesterday morning … a balmy 14 degrees. After finishing a cup of hot coffee I decide to wake my 7-year-old son. Harry approaches me and generously offers to keep an eye on the boy here at camp while I pursue whitetails. I would prefer Tommy accompany me but need to consider his age, the temperature and physical toll yesterday’s adventure may have taken on his small frame.

I return to our sleeping quarters and gently shake him. “Hey buddy, its morning ...” I whisper. He groans and rolls onto his side facing me. “How cold is it?” he asks. His question answers what I am about to ask.

“It’s 14 degrees, not as cold as yesterday but still cold. You can stay here with Harry while I hunt, or come with me, it’s up to you buddy.” Knowing that I will be on my own this morning, I start to devise a plan very different than the one that included my son accompanying me. Dress lighter, cover more ground, sit in one hour increments, take only the basics: gun, five shells (because one is too many), license, knife, compass and flashlight ... that should do it. I offer my thanks to Harry and tell him I may be back to camp early especially since Brother Chris has most likely killed the only buck within miles. As I drive along reservoir road, I decide to climb heart attack hill well beyond where Tommy and I sat

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Hunting: get my blood flowing in order to feel my toes again. As I think about my next move I ask myself, “If you were a deer, where would you be?” It’s not like I am half deer/half human or anything, but these thoughts often wander through a deer hunters mind. Sun, that is where I should be, somewhere in the sun. With a sky absent of clouds, I should position myself overlooking a southwest facing slope. Referring to the topography of the land engrained in my mind, I start walking, south. I had been to this spot before and saw the one buck I was fortunate enough to see while hunting Betit property (before chasing Brother Chris' buck yesterday). I stumbled upon him a few years back at the top of a ridge while he slept in his bed, in the sun. We startled each other and as he ran off I continued to shoot, aimlessly. Moments after I reach my destination and begin to appreciate the warmth of the rising sun, I am joined by a deer. She is a ways out in front of me with her tail yesterday and make my way to tucked between her back legs, the eastern property line, This story is Part II of Jeremy Baker’s ambling down the ridge like a spending the first hour of slalom skier on the trails of two-part series. If you missed the daylight among the open nearby Mt. Snow. beginning, see “Saturday” in the hardwoods where my view will “Huh … I don’t think she is January issue of VGOM. be unobstructed. running from me. I wonder ...” Uncle Tom had decided to and there he is. hunt behind camp leaving all 600 As the sun struggles to climb over The most magnificent buck any plus acres to Jeff and I. the mountains that surround me, hunter who walks the spine of the After climbing heart attack hill trees pop and snap reinforcing what Green Mountains could hope to see. my feet remain surprisingly cold. I my body is telling me. Time slows down, my heartbeat make my way to the property line It’s cold. accelerates and the buck has no idea and clear snow and leaves from the I manage to sit for about 45 bone he’s being watched. base of a tree in preparation of what chilling minutes. I decide it’s time “Let him come, don’t rush the I know will be a brief stay. to take my gun for a walk. I need to shot, this is a sure thing, I can’t Page 44 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • March 2013

Hunting:

believe this, nobody will, look at those antlers ...” He walks slowly, following his nose and finally reaches me through the open hardwoods. Beech whips and frozen air are all that separate us.

As my .270 barks, he stands before me, motionless. I didn’t kill him, I didn’t even draw blood. All I did was momentarily interrupt his pursuit of that doe along with the beat of my heart.

I missed. As I jack another round into the chamber, he waves goodbye making endless bounds down the mountain. Four shots later I have no idea what happened. Pushing rewind is not an option so I gather what sanity

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Hunting: I have left and decide to carefully head in the direction he ran. Not far into this decision I see him well below me, standing motionless 75 to 100 yards away, hunched up with his neck extended and tail tucked. What I would do for one more bullet. Yeah, that’s right, I am empty. I sit down in the snow on the hillside and admire him hopelessly through my scope. He takes a few cautious steps and beds down in the open hardwoods. I am convinced that he is hit. “One, two, three, six, eight … ten.” I count 10 points on his rack. I can’t sit here forever while we both lick our wounds. I retreat back up and over the ridge and once I am certain he can’t see me, I start to pick up the pace. I have about a mile to go before I reach my truck followed by a 5-mile drive to Uncle Tom’s cabin. A hunter. I can’t believe this, another hunter. I need to find out what he knows without telling him what I am up to. “Any luck?” I ask. “No, you?” he replies. I lie to him like any honest hunter would. “Nope, I haven’t seen anything and I am headed back to camp, it’s too damn cold to be out here today especially since there aren’t any deer around. Aren’t you cold?” He thinks about my question before replying and I may have convinced him that he is or at least should be cold. One last question and then I have to get going. “Did you hear all that shooting a while ago?”

His answer is exactly what I was hoping for. “Yeah but those shots were a long ways off.” A final attempt to complete this diversion by convincing him it’s too cold to hunt and I gotta go. “Yeah, I thought so too, good luck to you and stay warm, it’s awfully cold out here.” When I return to camp everyone but Uncle Tom is enjoying the wood stove. I tell my unbelievable tale and as expected, they are dumbfounded. What fool would take only enough ammunition to load his gun and how the hell could anyone miss a buck like that … five times? I radio Uncle Tom and encourage him to get back to camp ASAP. I need his help if I am going to bag

this bruiser. I grab a bite to eat, shed a layer of sweaty clothes, and gather enough ammunition to kill not one but 10 deer, climb the walls inside camp and wait for Uncle Tom. Brother Chris will drive a vehicle out to Route 9 so we can communicate with him via radio. Uncle Tom and I must climb heart attack hill ... again. I have the whole thing figured out and unveil my plan to Uncle Tom during our 5-mile drive and 1 mile walk back to the top of the ridge where we will begin our stalk. I have been defending myself from thoughts of never seeing this deer again since the barrage of five desperate bullets exited the barrel of my gun.

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Hunting:

Once we reach the top of the ridge it will be slow going. If the buck is where I left him he should be facing away from us allowing for a slow methodical ambush. We reach the spot I sat earlier in the day admiring this giant with an empty gun and broken heart. Now we have two guns full of ammo but the buck is nowhere to be seen. We push on and find his bed. It appears at least one shot found it’s mark. There is blood in the bed but far back and away from the vitals. Now I have serious doubts that today will have the same happy ending as yesterday.

I stay on the track with Uncle Tom by my side, his head up and gun ready, scanning the horizon. We follow tracks and read sign that indicate this deer is clearly uncomfortable. The buck lies down, gets up, and walks briefly, bedding several more times, depositing blood at each stop. We slow down expecting to see him at any moment. Sure enough he was bedded watching his back track as we closed in. Neither of us sees him until he is at least two bounds into his escape. We each fire once but neither shot

finds its mark. I motion to Uncle Tom, we each shake our heads and shrug our shoulders then huddle, revising our plan. “Boy, he’s a BIG deer Jer.” Uncle Tom’s comment confirms two of many thoughts running through my mind: Yes, he is big, and more importantly, I may never have an opportunity like this again, at least not in these woods. I decide we should wait about 10 minutes or so giving him time to bed. Assuming the wounded buck won’t climb the steep ridge to our left, I instruct Uncle Tom to put about 40 yards between us to my

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Hunting: right. I motion to start up again and we are off. Not five steps later I look out ahead as far as I can possibly see and something catches my eye. Something simply looks out of place. Among the vertical trees and snowy landscape something appears laterally in the distance. I raise my gun and am amazed at what fills my scope. The buck is bedded and looking back at me maybe 75-100 yards away through the Beech whips and hardwoods. This bullet is going to need eyes if it has any chance of finding its target. I crank my scope to 9 and place the cross hairs at the base of his neck. After squeezing the trigger, all I see are his legs and hooves flailing in the air. He doesn’t make it out of his bed ... it’s over. The buck is dead. Uncle Tom, not expecting such a quick shot, has no idea what is going on, so I holler over, “I got him!” Somewhat confused he begins his interrogation, “What? How? Where is he … are you sure?” I don’t blame him for doubting me. This moment seems surreal. I missed the easy shot and made the toughest. I motion to Uncle Tom, positioning him between me and the deer and ask him to continue walking ahead. As Uncle Tom makes his way down the ridge towards the lifeless buck he continuously turns to look back at me wondering how he can possibly be headed in the right direction. I motion to him again and he suspiciously continues on until he sees the buck. “How the hell did you see him all

the way down here?” I can’t answer that question, I’m just thankful I did. Brother Chris, having heard the shots, is starving for information and eager to help so I get on the radio and share the good news. I let him know it’s going to be a while before we get this deer out to the road so he parks Uncle Tom’s Chevy on the Somerset Reservoir road and anxiously awaits further instruction. Uncle Tom and I are speechless as we stand over this impressive animal. We have a lot of work ahead of us but I am a firm believer that any drag, regardless of the difficulty, is worth the opportunity to tag a buck like this. In order to capture the moment

forever, we begin snapping photographs from every angle. Uncle Tom and I were together for my first kill, 25 years ago. On this day, we are together again, for my best ... our best. I can’t wait to get back to camp and show my son this buck. I wish he would have been with us but there will be plenty of time and opportunity for that. I imagine my grandfather’s arm firmly around my shoulder. “Nice job Jerry, nice job, he’s a good one ...” Jeremy Baker chases whitetails passionately with friends and family throughout the Green Mountains and Adirondacks of New York State. Feel free to send him an email: jeremyrbaker@comcast.net

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Hunting:

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Fishing:

Prepping for Trout Season

s the cold, dark days of winter quickly transition during the month of March, anglers should prepare for the opening of trout season. After the long winter, the anticipation of Vermont’s first National Holiday of the year approaches. of October last season as many of It’s time to get the gear ready that us headed into the woods for was put away in haste on the last day Vermont’s white-tailed deer season.

After 27 years of guiding I can tell you that a little preparation can go a long way in getting you started for a safe and comfortable opening day. It’s time to pick up that pile of gear in the dark musty corner of your basement and get ready for trout season to open April 13. Those leaky waders from last season should be repaired, replaced

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Fishing: or if nothing else, cleaned. Fly lines completed and the inside of the wear and for those who have not should be cleaned and checked for waders have been washed (oh yea, invested in a relatively inexpensive excessive wear. Spinning reels by the way you’re supposed to wash package of boot cleats, now’s the should be spooled with new your waders) they can be turned time to add a pair of carbide screws monofilament, hooks checked for right side out and cleaned on the or star cleats to the bottom of your rust, and leader and tippet material outside. This is easily done with a shoes and add another season of replaced. It might even be time to sponge and a solution of water and traction to those soles wearing out from last year. purchase a new rod. detergent, and then rinsed. Next would be reel and line So let’s take these one at a time. Once air-dried, you can go one Here are a few helpful hints to get step further in making those maintenance. For those spin fisherman you ready for spring’s out there, re-spooling your opening day It will make you a better caster before you spinning reel with new For those who exited the hook your first tree of the year. monofilament is a must. river in the dark Oct. 31, Many a humongous the last day of Vermont’s brown or rainbow trout trout season, you may have to begin by pulling the damp, musty breathable waders almost brand new have been lost on opening day due socks balled up in the bottom of by spraying them with a bottle of to old brittle line from the previous Revive-X and drying them with a summer. Monofilament deteriorates your boots from last year. It may be time to upgrade to a pair hair dryer. This will make the fabric very quickly due to exposure to UV of breathable waders or you can bead water just like they did the first light and temperature making it check those from last year for minor day out of the package. For more brittle. Simply replacing your line at the leaks and punctures, and be prepped information on this process you can in advance for a more comfortable visit the Fly Rod Shop website and beginning of the season can assure watch the video demonstrating the you of having to use a different and DRY opening day. excuse for why the big one got away. In prepping your waders for this cleaning process I just described. For fly fisherman, using Scientific I can tell you based on years of season, you can begin by turning your breathable waders inside out retail experience that most people Angler’s line cleaning pad and line and spraying them with a solution don’t take the time to perform these dressing to revive your PVC fly line. It will make you a better caster of water and alcohol to find all minor maintenance practices. Next, check your wading boots before you hook your first tree of minor pinhole leaks that can be easily repaired with a small tube of (don’t forget Vermont’s felt sole the year. Fly lines cleaned and treated ban) requiring us to use rubber Aqua Seal. Once these repairs have been bottom boots. Check the soles for throughout the season also adds a

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Fishing: significant improvement to your lines cast-ability through the guides of your fly rod. All fly fisherman should consider replacing their leader and tippet spools from the previous year, especially if you’re like me and hang your tippet spools on the outside of your fishing vest. Again, the exposure to UV light from the previous season can significantly compromise their breaking strength. Also, a small $5 investment in a tub of reel lube can dramatically improve the performance of the reel. Now it’s time to pull out the tackle box or fly box from last year’s years damp fall day. For the spin fisherman, check all hooks for rust and replace those that look marginal at best. A hook file and a few minutes of hook sharpening can go a long way to increasing the performance in setting the hook on that giant trophy this season. For the fly fisherman that left their hooks in their foam fly boxes, it’s really important to remove them and check them for hook rust. An easy solution to this problem would have been to have removed them from the foam box last fall and put them in a Plano compartment box for the winter months, but that would have been too easy. If the hooks have rusted, replacing those flies is a must. I can tell you that there have been occasions when large fish slammed a rusty hooked fly only to have it break at the bend or barb due to rust and corrosion from the previous year.

And last but not least is the anticipation of that new gear for the upcoming season. We’ve spent all winter looking online and through catalogs at the latest and greatest equipment for 2013. Now may be the time to try casting that new fly rod, switching from your old fishing vest to a chest pack or fanny pack for lighter travel, replacing those leaky hip boots with a pair of breathable waders, or just simply replacing your stinky, bug-dope saturated, favorite fishing hat with a new one. There’s no guaranty that you’ll catch more fish this season with that new gear but its sure going to be fun using it! Bob Shannon is the owner and head guide at The Fly Rod Shop in Stowe. He has more than 25 years of experience teaching fly fishing and is a member of the St. Croix Pro Staff as well as an ambassador for Simms Fishing Products. He currently serves on the board for Lake Champlain International and is on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife board.

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Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine:

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Fishing:

Ice Anglers Host Kid’s Fishing Event

n a Sunday in late February, the ice in Mallets Bay in Colchester was covered with children, parents and ice fishermen. The parents had brought their kids to the frozen bay in Lake Champlain to learn about ice fishing. The ice anglers, including some of the top frozen water pros in the north country were giving up a day they could be chasing slab crappie or pike as long as their leg to make sure those youngster did just that. Organized by James Vladyka and Scott Blair, owners of Vermont Sportsman, and hosts of the Vermont Sportsman Hardwater Tournament Series, the kids ice fishing clinic was started to help educate youth about the outdoors

and give kids an opportunity to experience fishing. Of course getting top-rate instruction by some of the best pro ice fisherman in the "ice belt" wasn't a bad perk. "All of us at the Vermont Sportman family, the volunteers and our great sponsors feel that it is important that every youth have the opportunity to experience ice fishing and the outdoors at no cost to them or their parents," Vladyka said. "Theres nothing like seeing that smile or expresion they get on their face when catching their first fish or even just baiting a hook for the first time. We want the kids to experience the outdoors and learn to enjoy and respect it like we've learned over the years."

And while there were plenty of smiles on the faces of kids on the ice that day, there were an equal number of smiles on the faces of adults – both parents and ice fishing instructors. "What a blast we had teaching the kids how to fish," Vladyka said. Special thanks to the sponsors that made the event possible: Shearer Chevrolet, Bond Auto, Yaktrax, Mr. Heater, Makiplastic, Clam, Sullivan tip downs, and HT. Thanks also to Larry and Shirley Vladyka for all they do to raise money for the kids. And special thanks to Big Daddy's Pizza for feeding a frozen bay full of hungry ice anglers. For more information: www.VtSportsman.com

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Fishing:

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Fishing:

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Fishing:

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Fishing:

Making Homemade Lures

ven if you’re one of those “fishing is always in season” types, there will inevitably be times when you just can’t make it out. You’re stuck at home, twiddling your thumbs, the kids are bugging you for something to do. These dreaded in-between times can be an angler’s worst nightmare. If you find yourself in one these situations, why not use the time to make some new lure and jigs for your next outing? It keeps those of us who are antsy to go fishing preoccupied, plus you'll have some neat (and probably very inexpensive) lures to use when the fishing is good again! Making homemade lures will keep kids interested in fishing and excited to get back out on the water casting a line. For both kids and adults, I bet you'll find it much more rewarding to catch a fish on your homemade lure than it is on a lure you buy from a store.

You can get creative, and plenty of directions can be found online by searching Google with key words such as "how to make a fishing lure" or something similar. Here are some tips and ideas to get you started. Remember, fish like flashy. Anything that will catch the light is a good bet. Bottle caps, can tabs, and old spoons work well and are likely to be hanging around the house. If you want to be more official, blank spinners and flashers can be purchased online. Add some color! Beads, nail

polish, or feathers will brighten a lure up. Craft store and tackle shops often sell colorful, reflective tape that can be cut in various shapes. Be sure to use a strong wire. One that will remain stiff should be used as the main shank to which the spinners, beads, hook, etc. are attached. Jewelry wire or strong thread can be used to hold on feathers and other add-ons. Put the hook on last! The last thing you want to do is explain to your spouse how her son ended up with a fishhook through his finger. The most important thing is to have fun and be creative! It’s a great feeling to catch a fish on your own lure. Remember, you never know what a fish will strike. The original fishing spoon was discovered when a utensil that had dropped over the side of a boat was attacked by a fish as it fluttered to the bottom. Who knows, maybe you’ll make famous lure.

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.

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Fishing:

Why do outdoor enthusiasts get up in the dark and venture out in the cold? Because you won’t see anything like this sunrise on Lake Bomoseen while still in bed – unless of course you’re dreaming.

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Fishing:

Big fish through the ice.

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Fishing:

Tools of the trade. First you have to get to the fish (above), then, you have to have something to offer them (below).

Buckets of Fish.

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Fishing:

Marshall Maynard checks the ice thickness as he moves across the ice after a warm spell.

Bob Gearwar and Oliver Huntley (above, left) with the 10.5-pound landlocked salmon Oliver caught Feb. 23 on Lake Dunmore. At right, Marshall Maynard with a great perch from Lake Champlain.

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Fishing:

At left, an angler’s take includes a mess of perch. At right, Tom Best shows off a nice perch.

Tim Domina shows off his 14-pound, 39-inch northern pike caught on Lake Carmi in February.

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Fishing:

Laurel Baker holds a pair of nice perch.

Anglers show off a mess of perch. At right, Marshall Maynard shows off a walleye.

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Fishing:

These brothers showed off their fishing skills and caught age-appropriately sized fish. At left, Ty Aust is 5 years old and caught this 5.02-pound largemouth bass. Not to be outdone, Rudy Aust, 13, landed this 13.4-pound pike. Both fish came from Lake Bomoseen.

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Ecology:

The Winter Life of the Skunk

In summer, you always know when a striped skunk has been around. But in winter, these animals make themselves scarce, hunkering down to wait out the onslaught of ice and snow. Unlike most rodents and birds, which hoard food for the cold months, the striped skunk will have spent the fall eating as much as possible so it can stay warm during mid-winter dormancy. This binge eating creates thick layers of fat underneath the skin – a winter jacket, of sorts. The skunk metabolizes this fat during its dormant rests, though at a much slower rate than in summer.

Striped skunks use different den sites at different times of year, so their winter burrow will usually not be the same place where they raised their young. While capable of digging their own winter burrows, skunks are more inclined to seek residency in spaces that belong to someone else. For example, they find comfort underneath human-built porches or decks, a fact that some of us (and our noses) may be all-too-familiar with. Those skunks that live away from residential areas will often commandeer burrows dug and deserted by other outdoor dwellers, such as woodchucks or foxes. Once colder temperatures set in,

a skunk will prepare its den by blocking off the entrance to its burrow with leaves and grass to keep the cold air out. It isn’t uncommon for striped skunks to burrow with each other for extra warmth – these cohabitating skunks have the advantage of social thermoregulation, where they use each other to stay warm. Males sometimes den communally during winter, but are not tolerant of each other during other seasons. Winter denning season in Vermont and New Hampshire typically runs from November through March, but this isn’t to say that skunks aren’t active during winter.

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Ecology: Settled into its winter home, the striped skunk becomes dormant, but does not enter a full state of hibernation. Instead, skunks enter a state of torpor – a sort of deep sleep from which they awake from time to time. During torpor, which is influenced by the temperature and food availability, their body temperatures can drop 20 degrees and their metabolism slows. As the season changes from winter to spring, skunks will emerge and seek a mate. Striped skunks are a polygamous species and a male will take multiple mates over the course of late February through April; a female will only mate once. After breeding, both males and females seek to rebuild fat reserves, having lost, on average, about 30 percent of their body weight during winter. Females will establish maternity dens, sometimes communally. Males spend the warm months alone. The arrival of spring brings not only warmer weather, but new food sources. The omnivorous skunk goes from a lean winter diet of carrion, fruit, and seeds to a summer diet rich in insects, small mammals, and sometimes our trash. As bee keepers are well aware, skunks have a

fondness for bees and will consume honey, larvae, and adults. The scientific name for the striped skunk is Mephitis mephitis, meaning “bad odor.” The word “skunk” itself is one of the few Algonquin Indian words to enter the English language. Megh Rounds is an Environmental Educator from Maine. The illustration for this column was drawn by Adelaide Tyrol.

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.

Send story pitches, photos, news releases, calendar items, letters to the editor, and other submissions to: Send advertising correspondence to: Send criticism, kudos and questions and comments about articles to:

Page 67 • Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine • March 2013

Bird Watching:

Cold Winter, Warm Birds

A blue jay is well suited for dealing with Vermont’s winter weather.

ho hasn’t looked out the kitchen window this month and felt surprise at the sight of plump black-capped chickadees and tufted titmice on low, nearby branches? We may wonder why these birds look so fat in winter’s wind and cold. While many of their feathered neighbors head south for the months of fall and winter in response to the

lack of available food such as worms, flying insects, and nectarrich flowers, birds that live in Vermont year-round are well adapted to dealing with the cold and snow. Birds are equipped to take advantage of certain elements in their habitat that may provide shelter. In addition, birds have the capacity to lower their activity levels and rate of metabolism to regulate body temperature and save

energy. We all know that feathers are important, unique, avian structures. Not only are feathers critical to the achievement of flight, but their colorful patterning functions as a form of communication for birds of the same and other species. Just as important, feathers perform a lifesaving function in frigid temperatures. Special muscles attached to a bird’s feathers allow the bird to raise a network of

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Bird Watching: feathers in creating protective air pockets that keep heat close to the body and cold blocked out. Remember that plumped up bird sitting on the clothesline in February? She is keeping warm by keeping insulated. We often spy a bird standing on one leg with the other pulled up under its body or the bird head tucked under one shoulder wing. These postures are behavioral adaptations for keeping vulnerable parts of the body warm. Some birds reduce heat loss from their legs and feet by reducing blood flow to the lower legs and feet (regional hypothermia). Tendons comprise much of a bird’s foot with minimal nerve and vascular tissue so blood flow is directed to a bird’s core when it is trying to conserve heat. Arterial blood vessels pumping warm core blood mesh with veins carrying cool blood from cold extremities (countercurrent exchange), thus circulating warmer blood around vital organs. Shivering is a phenomenon we all know from personal experience. Humans are not the only animals capable of shivering. Birds employ rapid muscle contractions to generate heat, especially during nighttime sleep. During cold nights, many birds such as the black-capped chickadee and golden-crowned kinglet are able to enter into a state of torpor wherein they can lower their body temperature (normally about 104 degrees Fahrenheit down to about 86 degrees) to a point where they will conserve energy and stretch their fat reserves from the daily food

intake (10 percent above normal body weight) to support them through the night. Favorable overnight shelters must be sufficiently compact and secure to protect a bird from harsh wind and frigid temperatures. From tree cavities to low conifer canopies or tangled vines, many birds find space to survive the night, some even huddling with kin from the same species. Winter roosting boxes constructed by local bird fans show a distinct feature regarding the entrance hole. The roost box orients the opening at a lower front corner (as opposed to an entrance at the front top used in spring nesting boxes). With heat retention the primary goal for a roosting bird, simple physics and logic agree that warmer air given off by a sleeping bird will rise to the top of the box, the same

area in which the bird is resting against the back wall’s wire grid. One would hope birds have been able to locate natural shelters with the same layout. Ruffed grouse are locally common, ground-nesting, game birds. With autumn transitioning to cooler days, the feet of ruffed grouse undergo modifications for winter. Horny, comb-like scales develop along the edges of the grouse’s toes enlarging the surface area of the bottom of the feet. This adaptation enables the bird to walk along the top of the snow and so, conserve energy. In extreme weather, ruffed grouse will dive into snow cover that is at least 10 inches in depth, to survive the night in their sheltering tunnel. Observant and enterprising humans have taken a page from bird adaptations to the cold. Carving out snow caves for camp shelters,

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Mountain Biking:

Mountain Biking Membership The Vermont Mountain Bike Association is thrilled to announce membership for the first time in association history. Membership includes stellar member benefits for riders and helps support trails, fantastic events, and the best riding scene in the east. “We’re very excited about our new membership opportunity for riders,” said Tom Stuessy, the association’s executive director. “They’re going to love the list of benefits, and the support of riders quickly translates into more trails.” VMBA has partnered with more than 30 Vermont retail outlets and nonprofit organizations and compiled a coupon book for members. Riders will enjoy discounts at multiple bike shops, ski resorts, free passes to “day rate” trail

networks, and much more. Not a mountain biker? Not a problem. VMBA has appeal for all Vermonters interested in healthy family-friendly outdoor recreation and to those passionate about protecting our beautiful landscape. VMBA works closely with the state of Vermont to sustainably construct high-quality and low maintenance trail resources through

Advertising Rates Business Card.............(3½ x 2)............$20 Strip............................(7½ x 2)............$30 Quarter Page...............(3¾ x 5)............$35 Half Page....................(7½ x 5)............$60 Full Page....................(7½ x 10)...........$100

partnerships with numerous private landowners and state agencies. Mark your calendars for the annual Vermont Mountain Bike Association Festival hosted by the Sport Trails of the Ascutney Basin at Ascutney Mountain Resort in Brownsville, July 13-14. The event is sponsored by Long Trail Brewery, Vermont Peanut Butter Company, and the VT50. For more information on membership and the Festival please visit vmba.org. Tom Stuessy is the executive director of VMBA. Contact him through the website, at 342-7568 or by email tom@vmba.org.

We welcome the Vermont Mountain Biking Association to the pages of VGOM.

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Out & About:

A Legend’s Last Cast

ermont is lucky to have a rich literary tradition and the outdoor recreational opportunities in this little state are known far and wide. It makes sense then that some of the top outdoor writers anywhere call Vermont home. There are bylines living here that fill the pages of some of the country’s most prestigious outdoor publications. These are people who guys like me look up to in much the same way a kid looks up to Big Papi or Tom Brady. Sadly, one of those luminaries died recently, and the realms of fishing and literature are a little smaller today as a result. John Merwin, a four-plus-decade resident of Vermont and one of this country’s foremost fishing writers, died in late February. I did not know John. I wasn’t that lucky. This account of his life is drawn from those who did know him — people who fished with him, worked alongside him, or were lucky enough to share a cocktail with Merwin on the porch after a day on the water. The longtime fishing editor of Field & Stream magazine, managing editor of Fly Fisherman magazine and founder of Rod & Reel magazine, which is now Fly Rod & Reel, and the author or editor of 15 books, died Feb. 20 at Dartmouth

American Museum of Fly Fishing in Manchester in the ’80s. He had written for Field & Stream since 1994 and was named the magazine’s Fishing Editor from 2003 to 2010. Until his death, he was still blogging alongside Joe Cermele as part of “The Honest Angler” for Field & Stream. Hitchcock Medical Center. “In his lifetime, he had the He lived in Dorset, near the opportunity to fish with legends Battenkill, one of this country’s most of us have only read about, most famed trout waters. such as Lee Wulff and A.J. He moved to Vermont in 1970 McClane,” Cermele wrote in a where worked as a journalist, photographer, carpenter and farmer blog post announcing Merwin’s all while constantly chasing fish in death. “I think it’s fair to say that John’s name will now be spoken Vermont’s waters. with the same reverence as those He was also a regular storied fishermen, as he’s attained contributor to Fly Fisherman magazine, but was disappointed in that same legendary rank.” Cermele said Merwin’s its quality, so they made him the knowledge was vast and he would managing editor. Still, he wanted share with those wanting to learn. to write about fishing from “a “John was also a great teacher higher level of intelligence.” both on the water and at the editing So from his basement of his desk, but he could be a tough Dorset home, Merwin launched Rod & Reel magazine, which later critic, never afraid to tell you where there was room for became Fly Rod & Reel. He also improvement,” Cermele wrote. started Fly Tackle Dealer, a trade “John’s passion for fishing was publication. unrivaled and his knowledge about Merwin wrote or edited 15 the sport was second to none.” books in his career. None were Praise flowed for Merwin as more important than “The New word spread through the fishing American Trout Fishing” and community following his death. “Trailside Guide to Fly Fishing.” “He spun tales reminiscent of Both are worthy additions to any Robert Traver, Roderick Haigfishing-laden bookshelf. Brown, and Thomas McGuane, In addition to writing, Merwin served as executive director of the while explaining the sport’s finer

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Out & About: points with supreme clarity,” said Kirk Deeter, editor of Trout magazine. “(‘The New American Trout Fishing’) is the best modern book on trout fishing, period.” Anthony Licata, editor of Field & Stream, said, “John was, quite simply, one of the most knowledgeable and experienced all-around anglers in the world — a genuine expert, but more: He was the standard-bearer of integrity in fishing journalism.” Slaton White, editor of SHOT business and a former Field & Stream editor said Merwin could be blunt. “That was just his New England way of saving time,” White said. “In truth, he only played the curmudgeon; he was a patient, gentle teacher.” The ability to teach and coach — both writers and anglers — was a popular refrain. “John had the ability to be friend, mentor and father all in one afternoon of fishing,” said Garden & Gun editor David DiBenedetto. “His influence on a generation of writers and editors, including myself, will be felt for many years.” But for those who met him on a river, they were usually impressed by his abilities with a fly rod. Cermele told one story. “I once met a guide on the upper Delaware River who had fished with John almost 12 years earlier,” Cermele wrote. “‘It was a long time ago, but I’ll never forget him,’” the guide told Cermele. “Man, could that guy cast a fly rod.” And the praise spanned oceans. In Ireland, his guide once conceded, “You are an elegant fly caster ... for an American.” His ashes have been sprinkled along the Battenkill. Darren Marcy is the editor and publisher of Vermont’s Great Outdoors Magazine.

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