The Maine Sportsman September 2023 Digital Edition

Annual Moose Issue!

P. 13, 38, 40, 41, 54

Sportsman The Maine

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For Over 50 Years!

Bear Attacks P. 67 Katahdin from the Air P. 46 .44 Super Blackhawk P. 48 Bowhunting Season P. 15, 35

Sporting Camp Directories P. 3, 5 Boats, Dogs, & More For Sale P. 77

2 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————

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��������������������������������������������The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 3

Macannamac Camps

Tradition. It is a word associated with Maine sporting camps. When the first sporting camps were established nearly two centuries ago, traveling to and staying at such camps was considered an exotic experience undertaken by elite members of society from far-away places. Today, however, sporting camps have evolved into destinations for folks from all walks of life.

In the current modern-day culture, a quiet camp in the remote backcountry provides a place not only to hunt and fish, but to relax and live unconnected from the grasp of high-tech advances that surround.

When Macannamac Camps came into existence in 1983, it broke the mold of a traditional sporting camp. In addition

to a full-service lodge, its camps were set up individually and separately from one another, allowing for the rental of a camp independent from the lodge. It introduced a new option for vacationers, providing the space and privacy to enjoy one’s own camp, nestled on the lakeshore, front porch and all.

Macannamac Camps are centered in the grand landscape known as the north Maine woods. The profoundly unique expanse of privately owned woodlands is made available for public use through cooperative efforts of landowners and land management companies. The landscape continues to provide ample opportunity for hunting and fishing in a wide variety of ways. Beyond that, Macannamac’s location is ideal for such outings as exploring the locomotives on Big Eagle Lake, visiting Churchill Dam and museum, and hiking places such as Allagash Mountain, just to name a few.

But the best of it all can be found in the realm of being “in camp.” The front porch, the cribbage board, the loons’ calls, sunsets, moon rises, the clear and dark star-clustered sky, shared with family, friends, or with one’s own solitary company.

Those of us who live here in Maine do not need to travel to far-off places to find the wilds of woods and waters. We have it all, and are blessed with the opportunity provided to us, as respectful admirers who revere the natural world as well as pursuing the fish and game to consume in our role as hunters and gatherers.

The space and solace found in the out-of-doors is nutrition for the human condition. Take some time and come to camp. Call Macannamac Camps any time at (207) 307-2115 and follow us on Facebook. We’re also happy to have completely redesigned our website, www.macannamac.com.

¶

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4 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————

Editorial

Important to Keep DIFW Audit Report in Context The headline in the Portland paper certainly was eyecatching: “U.S. Auditor: State Misused Federal Grants to Shore Up Pension Fund.”

A little deeper dive, however, reveals that much of the issue relates to interpretation of guidelines for use of federal funds, rather than anything more nefarious.

The budget for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife is very, very complex. By our count, there are more the 55 “dedicated accounts”; i.e., accounts for which funds received from certain revenue sources are supposed to be spent only on related expenditures.

These include such diverse revenue as fees from dams (the state owns more than 70 dams), federal monies that must be spent on fish hatcheries, and revenue from federal duck stamps.

The department receives revenue from hunting and fishing licenses, and registrations from boats, snowmobiles and ATVs. If it receives funding above the costs to administer a specific program, unspent funds are put into what were formerly called “Carrying Accounts” (now, they are shown as a “credit” or IOU), where they are used to absorb future increases in costs, in order to keep license fees as stable as possible.

At issue in Maine’s audit case is the cost of employees’ retirement contributions – when the feds grant monies for a specific purpose, allowable expenses include employees’ salaries, but what about other costs – specifically, the share of the employees’ retirement contributions that are paid by the state?

As we understand it, this is a national issue, and one that deserves federal guidance to Maine and to all the other states that have been following similar procedures.

We are pleased that the federal auditors are jealous guardians of funding, whether the funds come through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, better known as the Pittman-Robertson Act, or the Federal Aid in Fish Restoration Act, also known as Dingell-Johnson. However, we also have a great deal of faith in the budget folks and administrators in DIF&W, and we are certain they – with support and cooperation from financial officials in other states that followed the same interpretation – will be able to respond fully and completely to the preliminary audit claims.

¶

— On the Cover — Moose Season Starts This Month: The first week of Bull-Only hunting season runs September 25 – 30 for permit-holders in Zones 1 – 15, 17 – 19, 27 and 28. The second Bull-Only season runs October 9 – 14 in Zones 1 – 15, 17 – 19, 27 and 28. Anterless-Only season in Zones 1 – 6 and 8 runs October 23 – 28. Various “Adaptive Unit” hunts run in WMD 4A, starting in mid-October and running through mid-November. Hunters who are issued a moose permit for the Adaptive Unit/WMD 4A moose hunt who do not harvest a moose during the first week listed on their permit may hunt in their respective zone 11/6/2023-11/11/2023. Bag limit: 1 moose, by either permittee or subpermittee. A person may harvest only one moose, regardless of how many permits they may be listed on. www.MaineSportsman.com

New England’s Largest Outdoor Publication

Sportsman The Maine

ISSN 0199-036 — Issue No. 610 • www.mainesportsman.com PUBLISHER: Jon Lund MANAGING EDITOR: Will Lund will@mainesportsman.com OFFICE MANAGER: Carol Lund carol@mainesportsman.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Kristina Roderick kristina@mainesportsman.com ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Nancy Carpenter nancy@mainesportsman.com DISTRIBUTION DIRECTOR: Karen Bartlett distribution@mainesportsman.com Second class postage paid at Scarborough, ME 04074 and additional entry offices.

All editorial inquiries should be emailed to will@mainesportsman.com Phone: 207-622-4242 Postmaster: Send address changes to: The Maine Sportsman, 183 State Street, Suite 101,­ Augusta, ME 04330 12-Month Subscription: $30 • 24-Month Subscription: $49

TABLE OF CONTENTS Almanac by Will Lund.................................................... 14 Aroostook - “The County” by Bill Graves..................... 42 Big Woods World by Mark Scheeren & Hal Blood...... 27 Editorial.............................................................................. 4 Freshwater Fly Fishing by William Clunie...................... 52 Get Out There by Staci Warren.................................... 41 Jackman Region by William Sheldon.......................... 54 Jottings by Jon Lund........................................................ 9 Katahdin Country by William Sheldon......................... 46 Letters to the Editor.......................................................... 6 Maine Wildlife by Tom Seymour................................... 18 Midcoast by Tom Seymour........................................... 63 Moosehead Region by Tom Seymour......................... 61 New Hampshire by Ethan Emerson.............................. 73 Nolan’s Outdoor World by Nolan Raymond............... 64 Off-Road Traveler by William Clunie............................ 44 Outdoors & Other Mistakes by Al Diamon.................. 76 Quotable Sportsman by Will Lund................................ 60 Rangeley Region by William Clunie............................. 70 Ranger on the Allagash by Tim Caverly...................... 56 Riding Shotgun by Robert Summers............................. 75 Saltwater Fishing by Bob Humphrey............................ 33 Sebago to Auburn Region by Tom Roth..................... 66 Self-Propelled Sportsman by Jim Andrews.................. 59 Shooter’s Bench by Col. J.C. Allard............................. 48 Smilin’ Sportsman by Will Lund...................................... 75 Snapshots in Time by Bill Pierce.................................... 13 Southern Maine by Val Marquez................................. 67 Sporting Environment by David Van Wie.................... 58 Sportsman’s Journal by King Montgomery................. 11 Tales from the Warden Service by Ret. Lt. Doug Tibbetts 65 Tidewater Tales by Randy Randall............................... 57 Trapping The Silent Places by David Miller.................. 68 Trading Post (Classifieds)............................................... 77 Trout Fishing by Tom Seymour....................................... 51 Western Maine Mountains by William Clunie.............. 72

GUEST COLUMNS & SPECIAL SECTIONS ATVing in Maine by Staci Warren................................. 19 Bear Hunting in Maine.......................................................

When Our Ethic Costs Us by Joe Saltalamachia... 22 Bear Hunting by Matt Breton................................... 25 Boating by Will Lund...................................................... 29 Bowhunting in Maine by Bob Elliot............................... 35 Turkey Hunting in Maine by Blaine Cardilli.................. 36 Moose Hunting in Maine by Will Lund.......................... 38

��������������������������������������������The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 5

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6 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————

Letters To The Editor

Important to Have Input into Wildlife Refuge Decision

To the Editor: Thank you for The Sportsman’s editorial regarding the potential Wildlife Refuge in the High Peaks region (see “Let’s Hear Them Out,” page 4, August issue).

Land users, including hunters, anglers, hikers, bikers and wildlife observers, all have good reason to be attentive and participate in the process as US Fish and Wildlife works toward a draft proposal.

In my area, an entire trail system for ATVs, snowmobiles, and other traditional uses has been closed at the landowner’s request. Because they own the property, it’s within their absolute right to do so.

Year-to-year agreements and handshakes don’t help ensure long term access, nor do they incentivize investments such as trail maintenance.

The refuge proposal might help ensure long term access, if our wishes are

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conveyed and acted upon. Or the proposal may not. We just don’t know yet.

USFWS is asking for input now so they can try to incorporate our feedback in the draft proposal, and there will be further opportunity for input after the draft is released.

I agree with The Maine Sportsman – let’s have a dialog with USFWS, and see what the draft plan says.

Tim Flight, Carrabassett Valley, ME —

Get Questions Answered on Western Peak Proposal To the Editor: Thank you for the well-reasoned and thoughtful editorial about the proposed High Peaks national wildlife refuge.

I am currently working with the USFWS on stakeholder outreach on this proposal. My role is not to promote the proposal, but rather to engage with stakeholders on the issues of interest or concern to them, and ensure that their voices are heard and included in the planning process.

Having lived in Madrid Township (within the refuge study area) for over 45 years and having worked in conservation for almost 30 years, I am familiar with the landscape and with the people.

I think your advice to engage in the process, get answers to questions, and ponder the current state of access to the land for traditional uses, is the right approach to evaluating this opportunity. Your suggestion that people should “[h]ear Grilling the feds out on this one” is all that we are asking at this point

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in the process.

Thank you again for the clear-headed analysis. It was a breath of fresh air.

Nancy Perlson, Madrid Township, ME —

Watching Deer Grow To the Editor: I have long enjoyed The Maine Sportsman, especially the “Self-Propelled Sportsman” columns written by James Andrews.

I am writing to share an interesting deer behavioral event happening here at our home in West Paris.

We have a quiet property, with a large lawn that slopes away from the house. We frequently see deer on the lawn and at the edge of the woods.

In June of 2022, we watched a whitetail doe walk out to the lawn roughly 100 feet from the living room, lay down, and give birth to a fawn. Within twenty minutes, the fawn was up and able to follow the doe into the woods.

The doe and fawn stayed together until they left for the winter. We enjoyed watching that little one grow, lose its spots, and turn into a fall lamb.

This spring, 2023, the two of them were back, and as inseparable as ever.

We suspected the doe was pregnant, and wondered what would happen to last year’s young when the “event” drew close.

As we suspected she would, the doe chased away last year’s fawn and then moved a hundred yards away herself to have this year’s fawn.

On June 7th, we saw the doe and her 2023 fawn, and we saw them every few (Continued on next page)

��������������������������������������������The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 7 (Continued from page 6)

days for a while. Meanwhile, the yearling was also hanging around, and we were surprised to see him sprouting antlers.

Last year’s fawn is this year’s yearling buck, growing antlers and helping to supervise this year’s fawn. Alvin Yates photo

In early July we were surprised to see the doe, the yearling and this year’s fawn – all together. Now the three of them are inseparable.

Both the adult doe and the yearling buck supervise the young fawn.

The doe and the yearling buck are on my lawn as I type this, patiently tolerating us watching them. I am thankful.

Alvin Yates, West Paris, ME —

Be Careful with Trout in Hot Weather To the Editor: Kudos to William Clunie for his recent column advising anglers not to drag trout out of spring holes in hot weather (see “Pond Fishing for Brookies During August Heat,” Rangeley Region, August issue).

Personally, I don’t like sink line fishing on a pond. It’s not because I’m a snob. Rather, it’s the top-water strike that to my mind is fly fishing.

I’d rather hook a 12” trout on light gear on top, than stripping sinking line in 30 feet of water to hook a bigger one.

Like I said, I’m not a purist – I’ll strip streamers on sink or sink tip all day on a river. But let our little friends have a break during the heat of summer.

Craig Poulin, Eustis, ME —

Worth Reading Entire Issue, Just to Get to Al Diamon To the Editor: I thought your August issue was great, and then I got to Al Diamon’s discussion of World Naked Hiking Day, and it got even better.

(Continued on next page)

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8 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman —————————————————————————————————————————————

Letters (Continued from page 7)

And the “come hither” look that the model gives us readers: simply stunning.

Bob Mittel, Portland, ME —

A Fan of the Goober Fly To the Editor: Please express my thanks to Bobby

McLaughlin of Smithfield for his excellent guest column on how to tie his favorite fly (see “The Goober Bug,” page 51, June 2023 issue).

It proved to be a very effective fly for me at a local pond. I told my wife I would be up at the pond for a couple of hours, but I was back in ONE HOUR, after having a dozen largemouth bass to hand.

I can hardly wait for the moving wa-

ters to slow down so that I can get it in front of some smallies.

Rod McGarry, Portland, ME —

Replacement Patch Needed To the Editor: I have a Biggest Bucks in Maine patch, and it is getting worn out. How do I purchase a new one for a buck I harvested years ago, to go on my new hunting coat?

John W. Carroll, Superintendent Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward, Alaska The Office Manager responds: Hi, John: Thank you for your note. We are happy to provide a replacement patch.

Please send the following information, with a $10 replacement fee: Year of hunt, description of buck (so we can look it up in our files), and reason for replacing existing patch (lost, stolen, or just plain worn out).

If you have an existing patch, we need to know that the old jacket is no longer being worn, as only one patch per buck is allowed.

We also offer decals (stickers) the size and shape of a patch. Most hunters put them on their vehicle’s window.

Again, one per buck, at a $10 charge.

Payments can be made with a card by calling our office during business hours, Monday - Friday 9-4 East Coast time.

Carol Lund, Office Manager www.MaineSportsman.com

¶

��������������������������������������������The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 9

The Challenge of Encouraging Switch to Lead-Free Deer Ammo A bit over two years ago in this column, I wrote about the risks of eating venison that has been shot with modern lead-core ammunition. Historically, hunters and others butchering deer believed that if they discarded the meat around the “wound channel,” they were safe saving the rest of the venison for consumption.

However, more recent studies using X-rays have shown that belief to be a serious mistake. A significant portion of the lead core disintegrates and is left behind in the flesh adjacent to the wound channel, as far as 16 inches away from the wound channel. And that finding is confirmed by studies showing that the recovered bullet weighs a lot less than it did before it was fired – as much as one-third less.

Of course, people inclined to adopt conspiracy theories have responded by saying all the hoopla about the dangers of lead in your meat is part of a liberal plot to give hunters reasons to give up their hunting and their rifles.

Well, maybe, but I don’t think so. At least, the doubters have not shown any studies showing that the spreading of lead particles beyond the wound channel is bogus, or that lead is re-

According to Travis Pike of Sandboxx military news, the Enhanced Performance Round (EPR), aka the Green bullet (designated the M885A1) utilizes a 5.56 caliber 62-grain non-lead copper and steel projectile. Unlike copper-jacketed rounds, the steel slug is exposed, and sits in atop a copper plug.

ally a wholesome part of a balanced diet.

Military Steps Up Historically the U.S. military has a mixed record when it comes to responding to equipment modernization.

In fact, the Army was often so slow to modernize – or even maintain what they had – that it gave rise to an historic bit of humor from Ft. Riley, Kansas, which served as Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer’s headquarters. As he rode out of the fort and toward what was to prove his “last stand,” Custer supposedly gave the standing order: “Don’t fix a thing until I come back.”

In 1876, when the Custer’s cavalry was vainly defending itself in the ambush by Native Americans at Little Big Horn, the issue weapon was the single-shot trapdoor 4570, while at least some of the attackers were shooting later-model repeating rifles obtained from trading posts.

Defense Department Forms Working Group The Joint Working Group for Non-Toxic Ammunition was formed in 1995. “Green

ammunition” was the nickname given to the Defense Department program to eliminate hazardous material from the production and use of ammuni-

tion. Members of the task force understood the magnitude of the problem – lead production for ammunition in the USA is the second-largest use in terms of volume, trailing only the amount of lead incorporated into batteries.

The materials were seen as causing problems through the entire life cycle of the ammunition – from emissions at manufacture and contamination at shooting ranges to demilitarization.

Recovery and disposal (Continued on next page)

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10 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Jottings

its act, but how about hunters?

(Continued from page 9)

Field Research To do a neighborhood check, I called our three local sources of ammunition, asking if they carried leadfree ammo.

The clerk at Dick’s Sporting Goods responded like I had asked if they carried a left-handed monkey wrench. A fairly long pause and “No, I don’t believe so.”

The person at the gun counter at Audette’s in Winthrop re-

Enhanced Performance Round Some 20 potential bullet designs were evaluated before moving forward with the so-called Enhanced Performance Round (EPR).

The bullet being of lighter material than lead, it needed to be lengthened to main-

tain stability.

Final design included a three-piece reverse-jacket bullet, with a hardened steel penetrator and leadfree slug.

The result? A leadfree cartridge that will reduce the environmental impact by 20,000 metric tons of lead per year that would otherwise end up in the environment.

It sounds like the military is cleaning up

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plied that they did carry lead-free ammunition, but that lead-free was more expensive, and not many customers ask for it.

Gary Hamilton at Neilson’s in Farmingdale said he sells leadfree ammunition by several different manufacturers, but that demand was light. It’s hard to change people’s minds, he said, and it is more expensive. People are slow to recognize the problems of lead contamination.

Money Talks?

My conclusion is that if we really want to make a serious attempt at persuading hunters to buy leadfree ammunition for deer hunting, we need to: 1) mount a real campaign, and/or 2) eliminate the extra cost element of buying lead-free ammo, with a money-back coupon or voucher.

Otherwise, we are just banging our gums.

¶

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Lakewood Camps & Rapid River – Part 2 Bob Corsetti and Kevin McEneaney, two of the new owners of Lakewood Camps on Lower Lake Richardson, were ready to go fishing. We’d just had a superb, leisurely breakfast. Camp manager John Holt joined us, and head guide coordinator Scott Oehrlein would lead us for the morning. Bob also is a registered Maine guide, John is working on his guide certification, and Scott is authorized to guide fishing, hunting, recreation, and shore fishing along coastal waters. We just about had everything covered, except that a torn rotator cuff on my casting arm precluded any actual fishing from me – much to my chagrin.

It was in late May, and everything was coming alive, thanks to the tonic of springtime providing the engine. Birds were nested or about to, the loon ladies were on their eggs, and the deer and moose had little ones running (sort of, as spindly legs permit)

id River and Forest Lodge to its terminus in Lake Umbegog National Wildlife Refuge.

Lakewood is located on Lower Lake Richardson. In 1832, George Richardson bought 24,480 acres encompassing part of Mooselookmeguntic Lake and all of Richardson Lake for $2,956.00 -- about 12 cents an acre. All photos by King Mongomery

around. The suckers just had begun their spawning time, and landlocked salmon along with brook trout were scooping up as much of the egg sacks as the situation would allow. Once fully underway, the sucker spawn frenzy would accelerate.

There are a number of fishing options available to guests at Lakewood Camps, including trolling for salmon on Lower Lake Richardson. I much prefer fly casting for salmon and brookies, but occasionally avail myself of a boat with appropriate angling

Head guide coordinator Scott Oehrlein is registered to guide fishing, hunting, recreation, and shore fishing along coastal waters. The guide staff is superb and includes my old fishing buddy Bob Duport.

gear trailing over the transom. A good guide on these fairly unexciting trips can relate the history of the area, and expound upon the natural beauty that is all around, including plenty of birds and other animals.

Before we head to some fishing spots, let’s do a little map and computer map reconnaissance. I do this before I head to a location so I can get at least a rough lay of the land, and see what the angling possibilities might be. Start with a DeLorme (Garmin) The Maine Atlas and Gazetteer on page 18,

coordinates A2, B1 and B2. Find Upper Dam coming out of Mooselookmeguntic Lake and forming the Richardson Lakes. Lakewood Camps is just slightly left and up from the words “Middle Dam.” For a better view, go to the app Google Earth, click on “Search,” and put in “Middle Dam, Andover, Maine,” and you can follow the same map traces as on the Gazetteer. Here you just about can read the water from below Middle Dam down the narrow path of the river into Pond in the River, and then along Rap-

From left: John Holt shows his Euronymphing leader setup to Bob Corsetti and Kevin McEneaney at the small boat dock on Pond in the River near the terminus of the waters flowing through the narrows below Middle Dam.

Middle Dam and The Narrows The Brookfield-owned dam is undergoing some minor construction updates, but it remains angler friendly. You can fish off of designated parts of it, below it, and you can cross to the other side and follow trails along the east side of the river as it winds toward Pond in the River. Along its course, the river has a number of trout and salmon-loving currents where a well-placed fly can do its thing. (It is fly fishing only, with barbless hooks, on Rapid River. All brook trout must be released alive; and anglers may keep three landlocked salmon over 12 inches.)

In late May, when we were on the water, the suckers were beginning to spawn, and everyone underwater eats sucker egg sacks as they tumble (Continued on next page)

Bob Corsetti works the currents moving into Pond in the River, but things were pretty slow, so we moved down to Rapid River near the old Lower Dam location. www.MaineSportsman.com

12 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Sportsman’s Journal (Continued from page 11) along in the current.

You can use nymphs of various types, too, but try keeping them on or very near the bottom.

Blue-winged Olives were lightly hatching and we saw other mayflies, but no rises on top.

This illustration shows a Euronymphing leader and terminal rig. Euro-style incorporates very long leaders that actually lob weighted flies without use of the fly line.

Rapid River brook trout are the prettiest fish I’ve seen anywhere in the USA. This fish fell to John Holt and his Euronymphing rig. He’s glad to show sports the basics when they’re at Lakewood Camps.

Lakewood Camps manager John Holt works his long Euronymphing rod to fish good-looking water not far from Forest Lodge.

This is the way a day begins at Lakewood Camps on Lower Lake Richardson. And it only gets better. www.MaineSportsman.com

Pond in the River This vast expanse of water, formed by the outflow of Middle Dam, is pretty much frog water, unless you find and fish the moving water that is on the way to the next stretch of Rapid River. It’s a beautiful expanse of water, and one of the best places to learn about it is in Louise Dickinson Rich’s fine 1930s journal, We Took to the Woods.

Rapid River This iconic river flows for almost eight miles from Middle Dam to Lake Umbegog and drops almost 1,000 feet over its beautiful course through the colorful mixed conifers lining its sides.

It is aptly-named and can have treacherous currents, particularly when the water is high. It can be dangerous for wading, so caution should be used. “Wade first, then fish,” is good advice, or you’re going to get wet – and cold.

There are over a dozen named pools on Rapid, and they can hold trophy brook trout up to four, maybe near five pounds.

While the brookies prefer slowly-moving water, the salmon prefer the more brawling currents. Sometimes with just a foot or two difference on a cast, you can catch a brook trout followed by a salmon. The same flies work for both.

Some of the best fishing on Rapid River is in late May through June, and the classic Maine streamers such as Black Ghost, Grey Ghost, and others work very well as they simulate the smelt that make it over Middle Dam into the river.

On the bottom of rocks that Scott plucked from the stream bottom, we saw a number of mayfly nymphs, caddis pupa (particularly green), and a hellgrammite that scurried from the rock into the water. “Match the hatch,” both under and on top of the water, and you’ll probably score some fish.

Euro-Nymphing Technique John Holt has Euro-nymphing down pretty good, and he demonstrated that by catching several very nice brook trout on Rapid River. This method is a variation on the centuries-old, high-sticking means of presenting nymphs and/or wet flies, along or near the bottom, but while high-sticking relies on 9- to 12foot leaders and the fly line is used to cast or lob the terminal tackle to the target, Euro-style incorporates very long leaders that actually lob weighted flies without use of the fly line. (Some say it’s not really fly fishing at all.)

The rods are usually in the 2- to 3-weight range and are 10 to 12 or feet long. The leaders are monofilament and/or fluorocarbon, and very sensitive to the feel of the bottom (and fish). Most major fly rod manufacturers offer Euro-nymphing style rods.

Go to YouTube for some great tutorials on how to Euro-nymph, and specifically I recommend anything by George Daniel. An Orvis video has George teaching Tom Rosenbauer about this interesting and effective way to catch fish.

From what I saw this past May, Lakewood Camps under new ownership and mostly new staff has a fine future ahead of it. Improvements will continue to be made, more hunting opportunities will happen, and boats with outboards will be available to sports for use on the lake by next season.

Lakewood Camps is a very happy place to be. **** Contact Lakewood Camps at reservations@lakewoodcamps.com, or call (207) 305-0011. The camp is open from mid-May to the end of October. Check the excellent website for more information, and call or email if you have questions. See www.lakewoodcamps. com.

Two outstanding books on the history of angling in the Rangeley Lakes Region are by my friend, the late Graydon Hilyard, and his son Leslie: Carrie G. Stevens: Maker of Rangeley Favorite Trout and Salmon Flies; and Herbert L. Welch: Black Ghosts and Art in a Maine Guide’s Wilderness, both from Stackpole Books.

(Author’s Note: I erred in “Lakewood Camps, Part 1” by inadvertently spelling Carrie Stevens’s name incorrectly, adding “son” to the end of her surname.)

¶

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 13

“Snapshots in Time”

Historical Glimpses from Maine’s Sporting Past Compiled by Bill Pierce, Former Executive Director, Outdoor Heritage Museum

Most experienced and woods-wise folks know that when you encounter a moose, you should give the animal a wide berth. Use caution while you’re enjoying the gift of observing this “Monarch of Maine’s Forest.” Most know that an autumn bull in the rut can be an ornery fellow that deserves a level of respect equaling his colossal size. In the springtime, pity the fool who gets between a cow and her calf, or who dares approach the calf too closely.

The odds of startling a moose in one’s immediate proximity are long; however, if it does happen and the animal chooses “fight” rather than “flight”... the outcome won’t be good.

Now, I don’t wear little bells to warn wildlife just to avoid such scenarios while tramping up the trail, as

some do while hiking in Yellowstone.

The National Park Service actually recommends this in their mandatory backwoods training video, to avoid surprising a grizzly bear. After viewing the film and speaking with a ranger, I decided not to make that investment for my hike into the legendary Slough Creek to fly fish for Cut Throat the next day. When I asked him if I should make the long drive back to West Yellowstone to purchase these bells, he smiled and said, “Just look for fresh grizzly scat as a warning to be on the lookout.” He then shared that I “could tell the difference between black bear and grizzly scat, because grizzly droppings have little bells in them.”

God knows how many newbies before me had fallen victim to this joke,

but I thought it was great.

What follows was written by P.H. Dunn for the April 27,1897, edition of the RANGELEY LAKES newspaper.

It shares a surprise encounter between an old trapper and a bull moose that took place on the iconic Silas Hill Road (north of Kokadjo). I have bounced along this road many times in the past, and I can almost picture what it must have been like back when it was just a trail through the woods. I am told that it’s pretty much reverting back to that condition now, after decades as an important trucking route. Perhaps that’s how it should be?

Enjoy what follows, and be sure to get outside and make some outdoor history of your own!

Treed by a Moose

Bill Sutherland, who has been lumbering on Bear Brook, five miles from the Grant farm, came home Thursday, bringing a thrilling story from the wilderness, of Alex Brown, the famous dry-land navigator, and a moose.

Everybody who has visited Moosehead or Ragged Lakes within the past thirty years knows Alex Brown – the trapper, guide and general bushwhacker. Brown has made a special business for some twelve years of trapping sable and otter, and once in a while, a bear.

Every spring when the crews leave camp, the bears fall heir to all the food stuffs left behind. Brown has made those deserted camps headquarters for some of his traps. Last year, he caught three bears in one camp, and seven bears all told.

This spring, he intended going into the business strong, and last Wednesday he left the Grant farm bound for Greenville to procure two dozen traps. He had in mind making a large circuit of two dozen camps around Black Brook, Bear Brook and Ragged Lake.

However, he did not reach Greenville as he expected, and was brought back to the Grant farm on a cot to regain his lost strength.

It seems Alex was tired when

“He was close enough to feel the breath of the monster.” Credit: David Devoe/Northern World and Wildlife

he reached Silas’ Hill, and stopped to drink at the little mineral spring under the rock just where the road makes a short turn. Everything was still as could be, he said, and he was just throwing his little bag over his shoulder and shifting his tobacco quid to the other side of his mouth preparatory to resuming his journey, when it seemed to him that an avalanche was coming down over the hill.

Before his mind had fully come to its usual bend, he was confronted by

a moose that had stopped short in the trail as swift as a railroad train and puffing like a steam engine.

Alex felt his hair stand on end, and a cool, clammy and shivery feeling go up his back. He was close enough to feel the breath of the monster.

The moose at first was either surprised or astonished at making so sudden an acquaintance, but when Alex’s fear caused him to drop his grip on the new axe handle and the bag fell to the ground, Mr. Moose made one great spring, and Alex said he “dove right twixt the moose’s legs.”

“Before he got time to turn ’round,” said Alex, “I fetched a leap and got into a maple saplin’, and that’ s where I was when Ed Farrar, the toter and Steve McKennan, who keeps the Grant farm, came along with their dog, and Mr. Moose went away.

Alex said he was up in the tree eight hours, and the moose hung close by. When he was rescued, the old hunter’s nerves were so shattered that he had to be taken to the Grant farm on a crudely constructed cot.

It is rare that moose will tree a man at this season of the year, but when Alex is fully recovered, he will have one more thrilling story in his repertoire of memorable hunting tales. www.MaineSportsman.com

Almanac

14 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Three Minutes with a Maine Guide

by Lisa Dehart

Eat Like a King on a Canoe Trip Food plays a big part in wilderness canoe tripping. In my opinion, it’s what makes canoeing the ultimate form of wilderness travel – you eat like a king, drink like a fish, and sleep like a dead man.

You never have to ration water, and weight is managed but it’s never a major concern. Many foods do great on a canoe trip with no cooler in sight.

Potatoes, onions, apples, cheese, eggs, carrots, celery and peppers can all be kept for as long as 10 days on a river, if you know how. The key is that with some foods you want the air to move around, while with other foods you want to close moisture in.

Let’s start with the foods that will last longer if you keep them in a plastic bag. These include carrots, celery, broc-

Compiled and Edited by — Will Lund —

coli, and green beans.

Foods you want air to move around are potatoes, peppers, grapes, apples, onions, and cheese. For example, cheese will mold in a Ziplock bag, but if simply wrapped in cheesecloth it will last much longer, and it will slowly dry out rather than mold.

Eggs are warehoused 4-6 weeks before they ever make it to the grocery store. They will last fine in the cardboard carton, and will only spoil if they get wet.

Here are the foods that become glorious in a hot, dusty canoe barrel – cantelope, pineapple, honeydew melons, avocados, bananas and peaches.

Here is an old-school pro tip – if you float the veggies and fruits in a sink of cold water with the tiniest bit of bleach (if you can smell bleach in the water, you’ve used too much) and then thoroughly dry them before packing, it kills the bacteria that makes them spoil.

Here’s to fair winds and a full belly.

—

New Snowmobile Law to Take Effect Before Winter

Fred Tripper photo

MAINE CAMPING GUIDE —

LD 732: “An Act to Prohibit Off-trail Operation of a Snowmobile in an Area Closed to Off-trail Operation,” has been signed into law by the Governor.

The new law prohibits operating a snowmobile off-trail in an area that is posted as being closed to off-trail snowmobile operation.

Explore All that Maine Has to Offer!

—

WEBB’S RV CENTER

New Campers Arriving Daily!

1206 Hammond Street, Bangor • 207-942-2900 Open Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-5, Sun Closed

www.webbsrv.com www.MaineSportsman.com

(Continued on next page)

Nestled in Maine’s Western Mountain Richardson Lake Region Fly Fish Rapid River, Fish for Salmon or Trout on Richardson Lake, Hike the A/T, RV or Tent Sites including Remote Wilderness Lakeside Sites, Boat & Kayak Rentals, 40-Slip Marina

62 Kennett Drive, Andover, ME 207-364-5155 For Reservations Email

camp@southarm.com

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 15

Event Scheduled in VT to Honor Memory, Legacy of Larry Benoit

(Continued from page 14)

It provides for a civil fine of not less than $100 and not more than $500.

According to the Revisor’s office, the general effective date for non-emergency laws passed in the First Special Session of the 131st Legislature is Wednesday, October 25, 2023. In other words, this new snowmobile law will apply to the 2023 - 2024 snowmobile season.

— Guide Talk

by John LaMarca

Expanded Archery – Time to Refill the Freezer Summer weather is drawing to an end, and we look back longingly on all the steaks, burgers, chilis, dips, ribs and all manner of other amazing barbeque The author has set up near a game trail, fare we cooked for friends and family usand is prepared to draw. J. LaMarca photo ing our wild game meats this year. ular wool hunting gear in September, I However, I’m sure many of you feel would be so hot and would sweat so bad the same way I do – as we look in our I would have to wring it out at the end of freezers, the mound of freshly-packed the hunt! Lightweight hunting gear is a meat that used to look like it would nevhuge benefit for this. er run out after the fall hunting seasons As always, make sure to spray down has dwindled, leaving only a few packs your gear with Permethrin spray. With remaining. the cold weather still a ways away, the It’s time to start thinking about reticks are out in great numbers. Hunting filling the stock! No better time than to in areas with high deer population numget involved with expanded archery deer bers is great; however, with high numhunting season. bers of deer come high numbers of ticks.

Expanded archery is reserved for With all the preparation done, it’s populated south-central and coastal time to get back out doing what we areas of the state, which are a better dream about all summer – heading match for archery than they would be into the woods and chasing affor firearms. The expanded zones also ter that big buck! Now get out tend to boast very high deer densities, there, shoot straight, and get which can improve your success. ready to stock up the freezer for This is a chance to hit the woods with another year! your bow and not only fill your freezer but get a head start before the October — general archery season or the November-December firearms seasons.

Make sure to check the weather before you go. September can still hold hot days, and you need to be prepared to take proper care of the meat and cool it down post-harvest to prevent spoiling.

I suggest having a plan to quarter the deer and place it in www.sun-mar.com a large cooler with ice. Also have a lighter-weight set of huntCome Visit Us at Our New Location Just 2 Doors Up! Now owned and operated by Gary Coleman, who has been doing ing gear that will allow service work for General Appliance for 35 years – nothing has changed!

Still Here Serving Up First-Class Customer Service! comfort while hunting.

103 Center Street, Brewer, ME • (207) 989-3714 I know if I wore my reg-

Long-time Maine Sportsman reader Ron Boucher has organized an event in Rutland, VT to honor the spirit of famed deer tracker and author Larry Benoit.

The gathering will be held on Sunday, September 24 at the Rutland Recreation Center, from 12 noon to 5 p.m.

Benoit died a decade ago. September 24, 2024 would have been his 99th birthday.

Boucher says he’s hoping hundreds of people – perhaps even 1,000 – will show up, including folks who hunted with Benoit, and also those who purchased Benoit’s books, handmade knives, and instructional videos.

The former editor of Vermont Sportsman is scheduled to speak, as are family members. It will be a fitting event honoring the spirit of the man The New York Times called “the Babe Ruth of Deer Hunting.”

For more information, or to purchase tickets, go to www.rutlandrec.com.

(Continued on next page)

OPEN MON–FRI 9AM–4PM

www.MaineSportsman.com

16 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Almanac

(Continued from page 15)

Tickets may also be purchased by mail.

Make checks payable to Benoit Sportsman Classic, and mail to Ron Bushey, P.O. Box 373, Wallingford, VT 05773.

—

Tom Berube Mentors Maine Trappers Trapping furbearers is one of our region’s oldest outdoor activities. In fact, according to the scholarly paper “History of North American Trapping” (McAllister & Merrill, 1990, USM Library), some of the largest cities in the Northeast, including New York, Quebec and Montreal, were established on the sites of trading posts where trappers (including Indigenous Peoples) and Europeans met to exchange furs for other goods.

It’s that heritage The Maine Sportsman celebrates with its Maine Trappers Club, a patch club established last year with the help and encouragement of guide John LaMarca.

And trappers such as Tom Berube of Poland, Maine and Blanchard Township, Maine, have responded in a way that makes clear the Trappers Club is a fitting way to recognize the importance and history of trapping in this state, and of passing on the skills to others.

“My neighbor Johnna had never fired a weapon,” Berube told us. “Then I began working with her, and she has become an accomplished hunter. She

Johnna Ferland

checked traps with me and enjoyed it.

With an apprentice license, she caught her first fur: a 57.2-lb. beaver, for which she earned her Maine Trappers Club patch.

“After passing a trapping course, she has also caught muskrats, opossum, fisher, raccoon and red fox.”

Berube is also introducing young people – very young people – to trapping. Above and right are Luc Moreau and Jack Moreau of Poland, Maine. Luc is eight years old, and Jack is Comfortable. Functional. ten, With Tom Berube superPOWERFUL. vising, Jack earned his Maine Trappers Club patch for a beaver, while Luc received his patch for this raccoon.

“A beaver had plugged a culvert, flooding a farmer’s road,” Berube reported to The Sportsman. “I gave each boy an MB750, and helped them depress the springs.

“They each made their own castor mound set. Jack Purchase a qualifying KIOTI Tractor and receive financing terms as low as caught the beaver in his set, — AND — CASH $ * and it took both boys to carry INCENTIVES UP TO the 41-lb. beaver.

“I gave the boys traps of their own, which they set for raccoons. After 10 days of checking, Luc caught his raccoon.

“The pelts were sent to 257 Waterville Road, Skowhegan, ME Moyle Mink & Tannery in Ida(207) 474-2591 ho, which did a beautiful job.” www.whittemoreandsons.com Congratulations to John*Offer available July 1, 2023 – September 30, 2023. Rebate and/or financing based on the purchase of eligible equipment defined in promotional program. Pricing and rebates in US dollars. Additional fees including, but na, Jack and Luc for your acnot limited to, taxes, freight, setup and delivery charges may apply. Financing is subject to credit approval.

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www.MaineSportsman.com

Luc (left) and Jack Moreau

participation in the Trappers Club. And thank you, Tom, for doing what you can to pass on the skills, history and tradition of trapping in Maine.

—

Ten Best Places to Camp in US Includes “Quintessentially Maine” Cathedral Pines in Eustis We don’t usually pay much attention to national “Best Places” lists, be(Continued on next page)

2,000!

The red pine grove that marks Cathedral Pines Campground is easily visible from Route 27 as drivers head N/NW from Stratton toward Eustis. Photo: The Dyrt

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 17 (Continued from page 16)

cause they rarely include locations in Maine.

However, when “The Dyrt” online camping resource, a comprehensive website that features “eight million user-generated reviews, photos and tips for every RV site, cabin, glamping and tent camping location,” recently compiled a “ten best places to camp in the US” list, there, next to Denali National Park Wonder Lake Campground in Alaska, and Many Glacier Campground in Montana, was Maine’s own Cathedral Pines Campground, which is located along the Arnold Trail Highway (aka Route 27) in Eustis.

Underneath the stunningly-tall red pines, according to a recent Dyrt press release, campers can enjoy numerous hiking trails, as well as “fishing in nearby Flagstaff Lake, or simply relaxing in a quintessentially Maine setting.”

Other recreational opportunities include “canoeing and kayaking, taking a dip in the campground’s swimming pond, or playing volleyball or horseshoes.”

Congratulations to Cathedral Pines Campground on this national recognition.

— Wilderness First Aid

by Stacey Wheeler, RN

Tree Stand Safety As fall approaches, Maine hunters prepare for the archery, crossbow and firearms seasons.

In Maine, tree stand accidents are the most common cause of injury to hunters. By some estimates, one in three hunters who use a tree stand will injure themselves as a result of those stands at some point during their hunting careers.

Following a few rules can safeguard your hunt, and potentially save your life.

Six Basic Rules of Tree Stand Safety 1) Inspect your stand Check for rotten wood, sheared bolts, loose or frayed ropes, broken steps or railings. Complete a thorough inspection of the stand, and also look carefully at the tree to which it’s attached.

2) Wear a safety harness Two-thirds of hunter’s own harnesses, but less than one-third wear them. A harness that isn’t worn DOESN’T work. Be sure to attach

September 2023 Sunrise/Sunset Bangor, ME DATE RISE 1 Fri 5:55 2 Sat 5:57 3 Sun 5:58 4 Mon 5:59 5 Tue 6:00 6 Wed 6:01 7 Thu 6:02 8 Fri 6:04 9 Sat 6:05 10 Sun 6:06 11 Mon 6:07 12 Tue 6:08 13 Wed 6:10 14 Thu 6:11 15 Fri 6:12

¶

DATE RISE 16 Sat 6:13 17 Sun 6:14 18 Mon 6:15 19 Tue 6:17 20 Wed 6:18 21 Thu 6:19 22 Fri 6:20 23 Sat 6:21 24 Sun 6:23 25 Mon 6:24 26 Tue 6:25 27 Wed 6:26 28 Thu 6:27 29 Fri 6:29 30 Sat 6:30

SET 6:46 6:44 6:42 6:40 6:38 6:36 6:34 6:33 6:31 6:29 6:27 6:25 6:23 6:21 6:19

September 2023 Tides

Following basic rules will keep you safe in your tree stand.

your safety strap to the tree before you start your climb.

3) Follow the 3-point rule Always have three points of contact between your body and stand when ascending or descending.

4) Hunt with a plan Make sure someone knows where you are and when you plan to return. Better yet, hunt with a friend, to keep an eye on each other.

5) Use a Haul Line Pull all hunting equipment up on a haul line. Do not try to climb one-handed while carrying a bow or rifle.

6) Always carry emergency devices Carry a flashlight, cellphone or whistle, and a knife on your person, to call for help or cut yourself free.

If you fall in your harness, remain calm and try to quickly return to the stand. If you’re unable to return, bounce against the tree by pushing off with your legs, to keep blood flow circulating while you’re waiting for help to arrive.

None of the hunters who landed in Maine’s emergency rooms thought they would fall from their tree stand. The simple procedures outlined above will help keep you out of harm’s way.

SET 7:14 7:12 7:10 7:08 7:06 7:05 7:03 7:01 6:59 6:57 6:55 6:53 6:51 6:50 6:48

Portland, ME DATE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

HIGH AM PM 12:08 12:40 1:01 1:29 1:53 2:18 2:46 3:09 3:43 4:03 4:42 5:00 5:44 6:00 6:48 7:03 7:53 8:06 8:51 9:03 9:42 9:52 10:27 10:36 11:06 11:15 11:42 11:52 — 12:16 12:28 12:47 1:02 1:17 1:36 1:48 2:12 2:22 2:52 3:02 3:38 3:49 4:31 4:43 5:31 5:45 6:37 6:53 7:45 8:02 8:49 9:06 9:45 10:04 10:37 10:58 11:27 11:51 — 12:15

LOW AM PM 6:26 6:44 7:14 7:38 8:02 8:31 8:52 9:27 9:44 10:26 10:40 11:28 11:39 — 12:32 12:42 1:38 1:48 2:40 2:48 3:33 3:39 4:18 4:23 4:57 5:03 5:32 5:40 6:04 6:15 6:35 6:50 7:05 7:24 7:37 8:01 8:12 8:41 8:52 9:26 9:37 10:18 10:28 11:16 11:27 — 12:19 12:32 1:27 1:40 2:32 2:47 3:30 3:47 4:23 4:42 5:13 5:36 6:01 6:27

www.MaineSportsman.com

18 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Maine Wildlife:

White Perch

by Tom Seymour

White perch, Morone americana, stand as a contradiction in terms, since they’re neither white (they come in various shades of silver, depending upon the water where they live) nor perch (the fish are close relatives of striped bass).

What’s more, white perch remain the holder of the title as Maine’s favorite freshwater panfish.

White perch are fish of brackish water. They made their way into our freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers, via the “bucket brigade” way back in the 19th century. There, they took hold, and now, large schools prowl the waters in most of the state.

Some places host large perch – fish up to 2 pounds – while other populations have become stunted, perhaps because of their being under-fished. Most places, though, contain white perch that run between 10 and 12 inches long.

While many people fishing for warmwater species ignore white perch in favor of smallmouth and largemouth bass, I can testify that a 12-inch white perch can pull a 15-inch bass backwards, no matter largemouth or smallmouth. Besides that, white perch fight more like landlocked salmon rather than any kind of warmwater fish. Well, they don’t jump, but their antics when hooked include lots of shaking, twisting and spirited runs. White perch never really give up – they just become a little tired.

School Mentality I never cared much for school, preferring to spend my days fishing and hunting. But white perch love school, or schools. Of course, their schools are simply groups of similar-sized individuals – mostly fish from the same year class.

It is interesting to note that schools of white perch rarely contain mixedsized individuals. So if you begin fishing and catch a few small fish, don’t expect to take larger ones any time soon. Instead, move on and find another school, hopefully comprised of older, larger fish.

www.MaineSportsman.com

How to Catch White Perch I use artificial lures – specifically, panfish jigs – when white-perch fishing. I also carry two rods, both rigged up and ready to fish. This is for a reason. Perch are attracted to the actions of other perch fighting against a rod.

Companions often follow the hooked fish right up to the boatside. If you can keep a fish fighting at all times, this will keep the school in place.

Artificial lures make this easier, since there is no need to re-bait between fish. And if one lure becomes hooked on bottom or somehow breaks off, instead of tying on another jig – a time-consuming process – I’ll simply grab my other rod and continue fishing. These two things allow me to milk a school of perch for all it is worth.

Too many people lump white perch into the general “trash fish” category.

I’d argue that white perch are not only game fish, but they rank among the hardest-fighting warmwater game fish around. Old-time Mainers hold white perch in high esteem, and many, including me, prefer white perch above all others, at least in the spiny-rayed category.

Perch Coexist While many spiny-rayed species – bass, for instance – can spell doom for coldwater fisheries, white perch appear to coexist just fine with salmonids. One of my favorite brown trout waters also holds a large population of white perch, and the perch do not appear to affect the trout much at all. Many prime salmon waters also hold schools of white perch, and the perch were never accused of harming the salmon fishery, at least to

my knowledge.

I’m not saying white perch do not feed on smelt, the preferred forage fish for trout and salmon, but the effect of their predation appears quite limited. It’s clear that perch and coldwater game fish can live and thrive in the same water.

Moosehead Lake might serve as a case study in how white perch can live among coldwater fishes and not disrupt the status quo. I’ve heard anecdotal stories of white perch in Moosehead Lake for many years. Only recently has it come to the forefront. An illegal introduction appears to have resulted in perch showing up around the lake. As you might imagine – it is Moosehead Lake, after all – these white perch are lunkers.

While white perch have existed here at least long enough to attain mature sizes, the large schools that characterize fish in other lakes don’t appear to be present in Moosehead in any large number. Instead, perch show up on a one-here, one-there basis. And some years, they seem quite scarce. Also, despite perch presence, salmonids I have taken from Moosehead this year were packed full of smelts, with many individuals regurgitating smelt at the net.

Untapped Resource Here’s something that makes little sense – in white perch, we have a plentiful fish, found throughout most of the state, better-tasting and of higher quality than most fish found in the seafood section of supermarkets, easily caught, yet largely neglected. Why not utilize them?

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 19

The Importance of ATV Maintenance

by Staci Warren, staci@mymainelygirladventures.com We own ATVs – three, to be exact – and each of them is at least 20 years old.

Performing regular maintenance on our four-wheelers has been a huge part of why they’re still running and being used now as they were when they were new.

However, whether your machine is new, slightly used or very used, simple maintenance will keep it running, and safe on the trails and in the woods.

Your Workhorse 4-Wheeler We use our ATVs

for utility purposes around the house, as well as for hunting tasks such as hauling game and tree stands, checking and hanging cameras, and of course, bear baiting, so they receive a lot of use.

It’s easy to get busy and forget regular maintenance. The machines get used three seasons out of the year, and when the time comes in the winter that you can’t get through the snow, it’s tempting to just park them and then focus on winter activities.

Then, in the spring, you put in some new

fuel, jump the battery, and then guess what?

– they don’t start, or they fail to run smoothly once they fire up.

Try a Different Approach If this has ever happened to you, then this year, as winter arrives and the snow accumulates, consider a different approach.

Since you won’t be running your ATV in the deep snow, now is the time to get it into the shop if you’re not a do-it-yourself mechanic. You’ll avoid the spring rush, and your machine will be ready (Continued on next page)

The author astride her 4-wheeler, transporting a black bear and heading for the cooler. Photos by the author

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20 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

ATVing in Maine (Continued from page 19)

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in the springtime when you are.

If you are a do-it-yourself mechanic, here are a few steps you can take to perform regular care and maintenance.

A Careful Look-Over Unlike other vehicles, ATVs are not required to pass inspection in order to be registered, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make certain your ATV is both reliable and safe to drive. The last thing you want is to experience a breakdown while you’re on an adventure.

Take the time to inspect your machine. Make a list of anything you see that’s broken.

Then do a closer inspection, and perform a test drive, as if it’s a used machine someone you don’t entirely trust is trying to sell to you. Does it make any noises that it shouldn’t? You may need brake pads, or perhaps you just need to adjust the brakes. Does the muffler need to be replaced or tightened? If you have carrying racks, check to see if they need to be tightened.

How does it drive? Are the tires worn unevenly? If so, you may need tie rods, which are important for steering and to keep you driving safely. Is the tread on the tires still good, or are the tires weather-cracked? Are you constantly having to add air to your tires? Consider getting new tires, tubes, and even rims if necessary.

Broken Pieces Is there broken plastic? You can either buy new plastic, which can be impossible to find for older-model machines or costly, or you can simply repair it. Zip-ties in the right color – basic black – do wonders to prolong the life of plastic and prevent further breakage. Drill small holes in pairs at the break, and then, using zip ties, stitch each pair of holes together, making sure to have zipper underneath. Trim excess.

If the plastic is merely loose, tighten screws that hold each piece in place, using washers if necessary.

If your seat is ripped, a seat cover can prevent further tearing, while also covering the damaged seat.

Electrical System and Air Intake Do all the headlights work? Order any needed headlamps, taillights or lenses.

Check the air filter for squirrel and mice cache.

Stuff the cavity where the air filter is located with either steel wool or dryer sheets, to keep critters out.

Starter Issues If your machine doesn’t start well, figure out why. If the starter does not engage, you can always get out the hammer to knock on it, but that gets old quick.

Start by inspecting the starter cover for leaks.

Two of our three machines have had to have a “stator” (the electrical part of the starter hub) and the regulator – which is located under the starter cover – replaced due to rust.

(Continued on next page)

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 21

REV UP YOUR SUMMER SALES EVENT

The family’s ATVs are workhorses — these two machines were used to transport bait to the bear hunting sites during the pre-season.

(Continued from page 21)

If you replace the stator, then also replace the gasket on the starter cover, to ensure a tight seal.

Remember that at any time, you can decide the DIY route isn’t for you and take it to the repair shop.

Fluids – Antifreeze, Oil and Fuel Every late fall or early winter, before you put your ATV in storage, change the oil and filter, and check the antifreeze. It will cost about $30. I recommend buying your filter – and oil, if it’s a specialty type – from a dealership.

If you have access to ethanol-free fuel, fill the tank and fuel lines. If not, then be certain to add stabilizer to absorb moisture and prevent fuel separation.

Battery, and Protection from the Elements Pull the battery and keep it on a battery tender (trickle-charger) so the battery won’t be overor under-charged, thereby prolonging its charge and life.

Lastly, store your machine under cover out of the elements, if possible, to reduce rubber and plastic deterioration.

Of course, I fully understand that eventually we’ll be trading in our 4-wheelers for new – or at least newer – models. But for now, we’ll keep maintaining the machines we have, getting the most out of our investments, and keeping the adventures coming.

¶

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22 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

When Our Ethic Costs Us

by Joe Saltalamachia My guide had dropped me off nearly two hours earlier. I was relaxed, listening to the birds, squirrels and other sounds of the forest around me.

My gun rested on the shooting stick. The sounds of my ThermaCell and Ozonics machine were only audible in the blind.

I never expected to see a bear so early in my sit, but there it was!

The author never expected to see a big bear so early in his sit, but there it was. It grabbed a chunk of bait, and ran. The author’s ethics have changed over the years, so even when the bear returned briefly to the bait, in the author’s opinion it did not present an ethical shot.

The big boar sauntered into view, facing me the entire time. I quickly took aim and prepared for the shot, my crosshairs centered on the bear’s chest. This was a nice bear. Its back was

nearly as tall as the bait barrel. I guessed it weighed 280-350 pounds. Unfortunately, the bruin quickly grabbed a large chunk of bait, and ran out of sight.

I assumed the bear

would hang out at the bait and offer me multiple opportunities at a broadside shot. You know what they say about assuming?

When the big bear appeared again, it was downhill, and behind

the bait. Again, it was walking toward me, offering only a frontal shot. As it approached the bait, sniffing the air, I could tell it was nervous. It knew I was there, but searched around the bait for another snack.

The bait was just 73 yards away. My rock-solid rest allowed the crosshairs to center on the bear’s skull as its nose was on the ground.

(Continued on next page)

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������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 23 (Continued from page 22)

My ethics wouldn’t allow me to pull the trigger. The bear lifted its head and looked directly toward my blind. With the crosshairs centered on the bear’s chest, I passed the shot, waiting for the animal to turn.

Instead, the big bear dropped its head, grabbed another piece of bait, and ran away quickly. It never returned.

Some Hunters Change with Experience If I were still a young hunter, it’s likely I’d have taken the head shot or the frontal shot as the big bear faced me. My rest was solid, and I have excellent faith in my .280 Remington in terms of accuracy. As an older, more experienced hunter, I know things can go wrong.

On the head shot, I’d be trying to hit a baseball-sized target.

A hit left, right or low, could wound the animal. On the frontal shot, anything left or right, might only get one lung, and that means we’d be chas-

ing a wounded animal.

Not good for any animal, especially a big bear. A broadside shot at both lungs leaves plenty of room for error, and it’s deadly on any animal.

I went back to camp feeling good about my pass, but wondering if I’d have another opportunity at the big bear – or any bear, for that matter. Had my new ethics cost me a freezer full of bear sausage? I felt uneasy about not shooting, but I was happy I didn’t wound a bear.

Waiting for Another Opportunity The next sit at that bait did produce a brief bear sighting, but no shot. Given an opportunity to hunt a second bait with another, larger bear visiting regularly, I moved. Two sits, however, produced no bear sightings, I thought my hunt was over.

On the way back to camp, my guide, Derek, asked if I wanted to sit Saturday morning while he baited his other sites. The sit would be no longer

The author with his spring, 2023 black bear, taken on a hunt with Halfway Inn Outfitters of New Brunswick. The author passed a marginal shot at a larger bear, and then didn’t have a shot the rest of the week. This bear came during a two-hour extension offered by his guide. The shot came with less than 30 minutes to go in the hunt.

than two hours, and it would be in the morning. We’d been sitting baits from 3:00 p.m. to dark, all week.

After breakfast the next morning, I changed and hopped

into the side-by-side with Derek. Before he dropped me off at 8:15 am, we agreed that he’d pick me up at 10:30 a.m.

I climbed into the stand as he baited

the site, and then I watched him drive off.

My sit was unproductive until 9:58 a.m.

I was shocked when the young bear popped out of the woods, just (Continued on next page)

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24 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

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Bear Hunting Ethic (Continued from page 23)

25 yards away. By the time I got the gun up and trained on the bear, he was facing away from me. As the bear reached the bait, he turned broadside.

I took aim, my safety already off. I placed

the crosshairs over his lungs, but because of the steady rain, I raised them a bit higher to his shoulder blade. I didn’t want to track in the rain.

At the shot, my bear dropped. The ex-

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tra hunt had paid off!

There would be bear sausage and hams in my freezer after all!

Ethics are what you do when nobody else is looking. I believe our ethics change as we grow and experience new things in life.

Unfortunately, I’ve wounded many big game animals. The feelings I was left with after each time it happened, changed me as a hunter.

Doing our best to make a clean, quick, kill shot should always be the goal. In this case, an opportunity was lost at a larger bear.

The reward was a younger, 125-pound bear that has been eating better than most I’ve killed.

No bears were wounded in the making of this article. That makes me happy.

¶

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������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 25

— Bear Hunting Special Section — Vermont Bear Hunting

by Matt Breton

Bear hunting in Vermont is a bit different than in Maine. However, the state has the second-largest bear population of any New England state, and those numbers are increasing. Here are the rules, and the hunting options.

I was 10 years old.

We’d had a dry opening day of deer season.

It was evening, and we were in our small hunting camp, when we were interrupted by the arrival of a vehicle. A distant relative popped in and invited all of us outside to see what he had bagged that day.

I don’t recall exactly who had shot it or the story, but I vividly recall the black hulk on the roof of the car at the top of our camp driveway. What a sight to behold. I remember being intimidated and intrigued by a critter that I knew was in the woods, but hadn’t ever seen in the flesh until that moment.

Bear populations continue to grow in

Vermont. The state is home to a dense, growing population of black bears – an estimated 5,500 bears, the equivalent of one bear for every three square miles, trailing only Maine in total population among New England states.

Hunters harvested 840 black bears in Vermont during the combined 2022 seasons, with 783 bears harvested during the early bear hunting season, and 57 during

the late season that overlaps with our regular November rifle deer season. Of the total, 119 bears were taken by folks using hounds to hunt.

The heaviest fielddressed bear in 2022 weighed 436 pounds. It was taken in the town of Belvidere, in WMU C. The heaviest bear on record was harvested from Mendon in 2021, and weighed 527 pounds.

(Continued on next page)

Vermont Bear Harvest Report by town. Source: VT F&W.

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GRIGNON’S ARTISTIC TAXIDERMY ~ The finest museum taxidermy in New England ~ First Place Winner in the “World Taxidermy Championship” Palmyra, ME • 207-487-2754 • Mon-Fri 9-4 www.grignonstaxidermy.com

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26 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Vermont Bear Hunting (Continued from page 25)

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VT Bear Season Vermont’s bear hunting season underwent some changes a few years ago.

We now have an early season that starts on September 1 and runs through the day before the 16-day November Regular Deer Season, and a late season that corresponds with the first nine days of the 16-day November Reg-

ular Deer Season.

The late season tag comes as part of the regular hunting license purchase, while a separate Early Bear Season tag is required to hunt during the Early Bear Season.

The early season bear tag costs residents $5, and $15 for non-residents. The limit is one bear per calendar year.

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Different than our neighbors to the east, baiting is prohibited.

There is also no bear trapping. Hounds are allowed, provided the person in charge of the dogs has a bear-dog permit, no more than six dogs are used, and no commercial guiding occurs.

Nonresident hunters using hounds may begin hunting September 15.

According to the regulations, a person needs to tag their bear immediately, and report it within 48 hours, which includes exhibiting the carcass to the nearest game warden, official Fish & Wildlife Department Reporting Station, or to a person designated by the commissioner to receive the reports.

It is mandatory that the hunter provide a pre-molar tooth from the bear. Tooth envelopes for bear are white in color, and are available at all check (Vermont Bear Hunting continued on page 28)

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������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 27 (Continued from page 27)

Preparing for the Hunt – the .22 Caliber Advantage

by Mark Scheeren & Hal Blood September is here, and it’s time to send some lead downrange in preparation for the upcoming fall deer season.

But first, a story: When I was 9 years old, I was watching my brother-in-law shoot his Winchester 30-30 Model 94 at my father’s gravel pit. I was a really small, skinny young lad at the time, and I kept begging to shoot it, even just once.

I was itching to get my hands on that thing and pull the trigger.

After much pleading, “Frenchy,” as we called him, handed me the rifle, gave me a quick tutorial, and let me run a round downrange.

When I slapped the trigger, the kick punched me in the shoulder and sent me stumbling off balance and onto my butt. I was really embarrassed and a bit frightened, because it had caught me so off guard.

That single pull of the trigger did more damage to the next few years of learning to shoot accurately than any other bad habit I would eventually work through. Other than an ill-fitting gun or a rifle that has serious mechanical issues, fear of recoil and the subsequent flinch you develop is the number one cause of inaccuracy.

Whatever rifle you intend to use this fall, says the author, get a comparable version in .22 caliber, and practice with it. There’s no better way to build muscle memory, prevent flinching, and develop your sight picture.

If you hunt deer with a lever action, get a .22 caliber rifle in the same configuration, and practice with it. Photo: Big Woods Bucks

Redemption My story isn’t all that uncommon. In the 1970s, there wasn’t much in the way of helpful tutorials on becoming a rifleman in many of the backwoods gravel pits; you just figured it out. And from what I’ve witnessed at some gun clubs, not much has improved.

With that said, Frenchy did something smart after he picked me up and dusted me off. He said, “I think you need to stick to the .22.”

During the next four years, I shot brick after brick of ammo out of that old bolt-action Mossberg. Eventually, I could shoot anything the size of a dime out to

30 yards; if I could see it, I could hit it. The memory of that 94’s recoil was overwritten in my memory bank with the fun and confidence I was building.

These are Good Days Today, we are living in one of the best

eras for the great .22 caliber rifle. Ammo remains somewhat affordable.

Nearly every manufacturer seems to make a .22 caliber rifle, and in every imaginable configuration. Henry has their pumps and lever guns, Winchester offers a new semi-auto that’s reliable and exceedingly affordable, and of course there are hundreds of accurate bolt actions and single-shots to choose from.

Personally, my favorite remains the Henry lever action with a regular 2x7 centerfire scope. It’s a great combo for practicing muscle memory for my scoped Marlins, come the fall. Which brings me to my last point.

Whatever rifle you (Continued on next page)

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28 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Big Woods World (Continued from page 27)

intend to use this fall, get a comparable version in .22 caliber, and practice with it. For example, if you use a pump rifle, find a nice used Remington pump Fieldmaster that has the same action style and cross-bolt safety and feel. If your centerfire wears a scope, get a twin and put it on the .22. And then get practicing! Nothing will build muscle memory, zero flinching, and perfected sight picture better or more efficiently. And in the end, the

price of that .22 rig will buy you the peace of mind you’ll need as you center the crosshairs on that running buck, in the Big Woods.

Hal’s Thoughts Like Mark, I was introduced to what would be my first deer rifle – a Model 94 Winchester 30-30 – when I was ten years old. My formal instruction came when my father stuck a beer can on a pine tree at about 40 yards. He handed me the 30-30 and told me to shoot the can.

Trophy Gallery

Although I didn’t get knocked down, I was surprised at the recoil and how the muzzle jumped up.

Needless to say, I didn’t hit the can, but evidently my father thought I was “close enough” to hunt with it.

I did have a BB gun at six years old and a .22 at eight, so my father knew that I could shoot well enough.

That deer season, my father took me out, sat me down on a log, and told me to stay there. He walked off to hunt on his own. Obviously, my father didn’t care that the law said that until you were six-

teen, you had to be with an adult. I was just excited to be out deer hunting and didn’t care if I was left alone.

I don’t know how long I had been sitting there, but all of a sudden, I spotted a doe walking toward me.

She stopped broadside at about 30 yards.

I brought the gun up and aimed right at her shoulder, but didn’t pull the trigger. My mind started whirling about missing the beer can. Since the recoil had rocked the barrel high in the air when I shot, I assumed that happened before the bullet hit. It was the only ex-

Vermont Bear Hunting (Continued from page 26)

stations. Green buckets are available for the envelopes that contain teeth.

No bear carcass can be transported out of state without first being reported. A hunter must take a warden to the kill site of a bear if requested to do so by the warden.

Bears must be field dressed prior to reporting.

Interestingly, it is also legal to skin the bear and cut it up in order to carry it out of the woods.

I believe this rapid skinning, especially in early season, is essential for quality bear meat. Although the bear must be reported within 48 hours, reporting should be done quickly to cool the meat.

Big Bear Hayden Varney of Portage used a .300 Winchester Mag to drop this 385-lb. (dressed weight) male black bear on September 20, 2022 in his hometown. The hunt was witnessed

by Earle Varney. The big animal’s weight was certified by Matt Boutot at Coffin’s General Store on Aroostook Road in Portage. www.MaineSportsman.com

Challenges Like in Maine, bear hunting has been under fire in our state.

The hound hunting regulations have gotten tighter in response to some well publicized dust-ups and controversies. While bear/human conflicts are on the rise, so are human-human conflicts around bear hunting.

So now, in addition to having a general license and a bear tag, the person hunting, pursuing, harvesting, or in any manner in-

planation I could come up with. I decided that I should aim low under the doe, but wasn’t sure how low.

The next thing I knew, I had aimed all over her. Finally, not wanting to wound her, I brought the gun back down and she ran off.

When my father came back and I told him what had happened, he pretty much made it known that I was an idiot.

I took it in stride, as back then, we learned all our lessons the hard way.

¶

volved in the taking of a black bear with the use of dogs must hold a valid bear-dog permit or accompany a bear-dog permit holder. The license and permit are also required for training dogs to pursue bear. This permit requires the hunter to list their dogs, and has a $50 fee. Non-residents can’t take more than 10% of the resident bear hound permit number.

Hunters in VT can support bear hunting by participating in it as well as joining organizations like the VT Bear Hound Association (vermontbearhoundassociation.com).

While hound hunting is certainly fun, there are a number of other ways to take a bear. Sitting or still-hunting in and around mast crops like beech nuts and apples can be very effective. So can watching farmer’s corn fields as the corn matures.

The season in VT starts September 1. I know a ridge line that should have good beech nuts this year. I’ll plan to stalk along the ridge, in order to get an early start on filling my freezer.

Bear meat is delicious, if properly cared for. Quickly cooled and processed, the meat makes great steaks and burgers. I’ve also enjoyed smoked bear ham, which is outstanding.

¶

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 29

What Does it Take to Run a Saltwater Boat-Towing Service?

by Will Lund Capt.

Darren Shute of Stockton Springs recently took over TowBoatUS operations in Castine and the surrounding area. He knows what it takes to operate a tow boat service, what boaters can do to reduce the chances they’ll need to call in for a tow, and how to prepare to receive a tow boat if you’ve been required to request their help.

As a lobsterman for 25 years (including offshore), Shute is comfortable in saltwater boats. A graduate of Eastern Tech, he also worked as an electrician and supervisor at the paper mill in Bucksport.

He has a small but experienced support staff, including his wife, Penni (his “business manager and HR manager,” he explained), and Capt.

Dick Horan, who has served as the company’s “port captain” for many years and who has a lifetime of boating and cruising experience.

In addition to towing, the company provides what they call

Capt. Shute’s 26-foot C-Hawk towboat, equipped with two Suzuki 200-hp outboards, can bring sailboats up to 50 feet long safely back to port.

“ungrounding,” as well as prop disentanglement, battery jumps and fuel drop-off services, as far as 25 miles offshore.

Membership is $165 per year, and provides a form of unlimited 24-hour “insurance,” so recreational boaters and anglers can get safely back to port, similar in concept to what AAA roadside service offers to its motor vehicle

owner-members.

His Rig Capts. Shute and Horan currently operate a 26-foot C-Hawk fiberglass tow boat, with twin 200-hp Suzuki outboards and fitted with an aluminum towing post. With that boat, he can safely tow power- and sailboats up to 50 feet long, The tow line consists of 125 feet of 1.25-

inch nylon stranded rope, specifically manufactured for towing.

The best towing configuration for larger boats is a “bridle” fitted through both the port and starboard bow chocks and fastened to the bow cleats of the disabled boat.

For smaller, trailer-launched boats, the two line is attached to the D-ring or shackle at the bow.

Locating a Disabled Vessel So how does the towboat locate a disabled vessel? “Our national company provides its members with an app [software application] for their cellphones,” Shute said.

“When a member needs help and uses the app, their exact location and their cell phone number are transmitted to the dispatcher. From there, we can communicate directly with the member.”

For nonmembers, or for boaters who have a towing endorsement with their own insurance company, Shute stressed the importance of being able to determine your latitude and longitude from your boat’s GPS, or from your cellphone.

“Learn how to read a chart, and know the landmarks around you,” he added. “There is a great deal of valuable information on that one piece of paper.”

“A VHF radio is our back-up communication device,” he continued, “and it’s always dependable. If the sit(Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

30 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Boating (Continued from page 29)

uation warrants, we will use the VHF on

channel 16 to notify the Coast Guard, and

then switch to a channel given by the Coast Guard so they can monitor the situation until it’s resolved.”

Preparing to Receive a Tow If you are aboard a disabled vessel awaiting a tow, everyone should be wearing a life jacket, said Shute.

“If the water depth is appropriate, drop anchor. We stay in contact, so boaters will know our ETA. Boaters should notify us of any special circumstances that would require our attention.”

For boats that are fetched up on a ledge, “our first concern is for everyone’s safety,” said Shute. “We determine if any individuals should be taken off the boat prior to making an attempt to free the boat.

“Next, we work to minimize damage to the grounded boat. For deep-keel sailboats, we usually wait for high tide, attach the main halyard from the top

of the mast to our tow boat, and then slowly proceed at a right angle to the boat. This pulls the mast closer to the water, raising the keel and freeing the boat.

“For power boats, we attach inflatable buoyancy bags securely to the hull. Once we fill them with air, the boat’s draft is reduced enough to float the hull free.”

What Happened?

The two most common causes for service calls are engine failure (about 40%) and fouled propellers (also 40%).

To reduce engine problems, Shute recommended following the annual maintenance schedule for your mechanical systems. And as for fouled props, Maine boaters frequently get tangled up in lobster (Continued on next page)

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*This warranty is limited to Honda Outboard Motors and related original equipment distributed by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Power Equipment Division, 4900 Marconi Drive, Alpharetta, Georgia 30005-8847. The Honda Outboard Motor must be purchased from American Honda or a dealer authorized by American Honda to sell Honda Outboard Motors in the United States, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. This limited warranty applies to the first retail purchaser and each subsequent owner during the applicable warranty time period. See dealer for details. Always wear a personal flotation device while boating and read your owner’s manual.

(Boating continued on page 32)

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������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 31 (Continued from page 31)

Suzuki Marine Now Offers a

5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY

on new Suzuki outboards!* This pleasure trawler is being towed using speciallydesigned nylon line that’s attached to the towboat’s aluminum stern post.

pot warp. “Often, it is a distraction or lack of full attention that gets boaters in trouble,” said Shute. “You’ve got to be mindful of lobster buoys and their corresponding toggle buoys.”

Avoid lobster gear by having a second person keep an eye on the water, and don’t let that responsibility fall solely on the skipper, he recommended.

“Another set of eyes is always helpful, especially in fog and low visibility, or at night.”

Other causes for service calls include 1) a boater’s failure to account for strong current when navigating a narrow passage, and

2) getting an anchor fouled on an object on the sea bottom.

Salvage Laws Salvage laws can be complicated, said Shute, so the best way to avoid problems for folks who are not members of a recognized towing service is to be certain – before getting a tow – there is an agreement on the cost of the service.

With tows costing as much as $700, and with the complex maritime law relating to salvage rights, “the transaction should not be treated as a ‘We can deal with this later’ issue,” he said.

¶

*Contact Your Local Suzuki Marine Dealer for Details!

BAR HARBOR Lake & Sea Boatworks 204 Knox Road (207) 288-8961 www.lakeandsea.com

PORTLAND Portland Yacht Services 100 W. Commercial Street (207) 774-1067 www.portlandyacht.com

STANDISH Richardson’s Boat Yard 633 Whites Bridge Road (207) 892-4913 www.richardsonsby.com

Purchase a new eligible 50-115 HP Yamaha outboard and add 3 Years Y.E.S. Coverage to 3 Years Yamaha Limited Warranty for a total

6 YEARS OF WARRANTY PROTECTION – PLUS – $250 IN DEALER CREDIT!* BAR HARBOR Bowden Marine Service 713 Norway Drive (207) 288-5247 www.BowdenMarine.com

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THOMASTON Jeff’s Marine 2 Brooklyn Heights Road (207) 354-8777 www.JeffsMarine.com

BELFAST Hamlin’s Marine 7 Front Street (207) 930-3780 www.HamlinsMarine.com

HAMPDEN Hamlin’s Marine 581 Main Road North 207-907-4385 www.HamlinsMarine.com

WATERVILLE Hamlin’s Marine 290 West River Road 207-872-5660 www.HamlinsMarine.com

LINCOLN Lincoln Powersports 265 W Broadway (207) 794-8100 www.lincolnpowersportsme.net

TowBoatUS Castine owner Capt. Darren Shute, and wife and business manager, Penni Shute.

*PROGRAM TERMS AND CONDITIONS: Consumer benefit for purchasing a new (unused, not previously warranty registered) eligible Yamaha 50hp to 115hp four-stroke outboard is a 36-month Yamaha Extended Service contract (choice offered in Florida is a 36-month Yamaha Limited Warranty) and $250 in dealer credit towards purchase of rigging parts and/or services. Consumer benefit for purchasing a new (unused, not previously warranty registered) eligible Yamaha 150hp to 300hp four-stroke outboard and purchasing, installing, and activating a Siren Marine Pro 3 unit is a 36-month Yamaha Extended Service contract (choice offered in Florida is a 36-month Yamaha Limited Warranty) along with $1,000 in dealer credit towards purchase of rigging parts and/or services; consumers who also purchase a set of Bennett Marine Trim Tabs will receive an additional $1,000 in dealer credit towards purchase of rigging parts and/or services. Consumer benefit for purchasing a new (unused, not previously warranty registered) eligible Yamaha 425hp four-stroke outboard and purchasing, installing, and activating a Siren Marine Pro 3 unit is a 24-month Yamaha Extended Service contract (choice offered in Florida is a 24-month Yamaha Limited Warranty) along with $1,000 in dealer credit towards purchase of rigging parts and/or services; consumers who also purchase a set of Bennett Marine Trim Tabs will receive an additional $1,000 in dealer credit towards purchase of rigging parts and/or services. NO BENEFIT SUBSTITUTIONS. To be eligible, outboards must have been manufactured since January 2016. Promotion is only applicable from authorized participating Yamaha Outboard dealers in the U.S.A. sold to purchasing consumers residing in the U.S.A. Promotion is limited to available stock in dealer inventory that is sold, PDI completed, delivered and warranty registered on YMBS by the dealer in accordance with Yamaha’s promotion and warranty registration requirements during applicable dates. No model substitutions, benefit substitutions, extensions or rain checks will be allowed. Outboards sold or provided for commercial, camp, resort, guide, promotional/demo, government agency, competition, tournament or sponsorship, as well as outboards introduced after 1/1/2023, are not eligible. Purchase of Siren 3 Pro is only the base unit and does not include any sensors. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other Yamaha offer. Some exceptions may apply. See authorized participating Yamaha dealer for complete details. Yamaha reserves the right to change or cancel this promotion at any time. Other restrictions and conditions apply. REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear. © 2023 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

www.MaineSportsman.com

32 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

— THE MAINE SPORTSMAN —

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������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 33

How to Get Ahead on a Headboat

Who If you’re new to the game, choosing a charter might seem intimidating, but it need not be. First, understand the difference between a charter and a headboat. For a charter, you hire the captain for a private trip, typically for a flat rate.

On a headboat, the vessel charges individual passengers “by the head” (hence the name).

You can simply show up at the dock, but there are ways to have a more effective and enjoyable offshore groundfishing trip on a charter or headboat.

When groundfishing, you want to “tend” the bottom. Ensure that your jig or sinking is bouncing, but not sitting on the bottom, where it can snag. Bob Humphrey photos

Charters are more often for smaller groups of 2 to 6, while headboats may take several dozen anglers.

A headboat is less expensive, but a charter gives you a more customized experience. As for which boats to pick, it’s a good idea to ask around for references, and to check the listings found in The Maine Sportsman, but

the bottom line is often availability, especially with charters.

BYO All reputable char-

ter and headboats will supply tackle, some for a nominal fee.

That makes sense for the casual angler who

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may only go once or twice a year, or who is completely new to the sport. It’s usually serviceable gear, but it may not be the best. If you’re serious, consider bringing your own outfit.

It starts with a rod.

Traditional groundfishing rods tend to be stout. Even before hooking a fish, there may be a lot of weight attached to your line, and you want something strong enough to handle it. However, better rods have a thick, stiff butt, but taper to a thinner, more flexible tip. This allows you to add more action to your bait and to feel any subtle bites.

Look for something in (Continued on next page)

INC.

Groundfishing on a charter or headboat is a late summer tradition in Maine. Locals and tourists alike will be heading outside the islands to fill their coolers with haddock, pollock and cusk.

If you have an inkling for some offshore angling, there are plenty of reputable captains to choose from. With most, you can simply show up.

However, there are steps you can take to increase your enjoyment and catch more fish.

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34 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Saltwater Fishing

less likely to snag bottom.

(Continued from page 33)

Safety and Comfort Before leaving port, be sure to advise the captain of any medical conditions, and be certain to bring any necessary medication.

In most cases, you’re responsible for your own food and drink, so bring plenty. As for the latter, water or sports drinks are a good option to keep you hydrated, and always ask first about adult beverages.

Expect temperatures to be 5-10 degrees cooler on the water, but also be prepared with sunscreen and protective clothing.

If you have a tendency toward seasickness or are at all worried, take medication before heading out.

Once you get sick, it’s too late.

Don’t ask to be taken in.

If you feel a little queasiness coming on, stay up on deck and watch the horizon. The worst thing you can do is to go inside or below.

the 25-40 pound class.

Next comes the reel.

Most anglers use a conventional reel, and the less expensive ones ($100 - $150) have a low gear ratio of around 3:1, meaning for every turn of the handle, the spool makes 3 revolutions.

That’s adequate, but on long days, when fishing deep water or catching big fish, you’ll wear yourself out a lot quicker. Then you’ll appreciate the extra cost ($200-plus) of a better reel with something more in the 6:1 or 7:1 range. They also feature better, smoother and more reliable drag systems.

I recommend a minimum of 40-pound test line, and with braid you can even go up to 80 without sacrificing much spool room. You never know what you might catch out there, and it would be a shame to lose a big pollock or even a halibut because you scrimped on line.

Basic groundfishing tackle consists of a jig, a Hi-Lo rig with a sinker, or some combination thereof. A bare hook with bait will catch fish. A hook with rubber tubing and bait

might catch more. A fly with bait will catch even more. Replace your sinker with a similar weight jig, and you add one more hook.

Conventional diamond or Norwegian jigs work fine, but flutter and slow-pitch jigs may produce more fish.

Boats that provide bait usually supply clams or sometimes worms, which work great. However, while commercial rod and reel fishing for groundfish, I learned that squid work even better. They probably smell and taste just as good to the fish, but they hold up a lot longer. We could catch 1,000 pounds of haddock on six squid, and still have some left over.

Weights are an often-overlooked option.

Most boats that supply them will give you an oversized bank sinker.

Heavier weights reduce fouling, which is an important consideration, whether you have 6 or 60 anglers aboard. If you’re an experienced angler, you can usually go lighter and still stay out of your neighbor’s way, while having to haul less weight. Pro tip: Round sinkers are

A Few More Tips • Listen to, and follow instructions from, the captain and crew. They will tell you what to use, and how deep to fish.

• If there’s space, fish on the upwind or

Be careful when handling dogfish. They have sharp, venomous spines on the front of each dorsal fin.

down-current side, to prevent your line from drifting under the boat.

• Tend the bottom. In most cases, you’ll want your bait or lure just above the bottom. If you let your sinker or jig lie on the bottom, you will snag. If it’s up too high, you won’t catch fish.

• Bring a knife and fishing pliers. Rather than waiting in line to have a deckhand remove a deep hook or tie on a new rig, do it yourself.

• Bleed your fish by slicing the gills, and keep it on ice to improve quality.

• Keep only what you can use. Liberal limits may tempt anglers to

take more than they need.

• Always wear eye protection.

Remember: You’re in a crowd of people with hooks, lines and sinkers flying around.

• Don’t be that guy, or gal. Follow the instructions of your captain and deckhand, and NEVER ask to move to a different location.

• Speaking of tips, standard practice is to tip the mate or mates 20% of the charter cost.

Filleting may be extra.

Don’t be cheap. These folks work hard for you, but they can’t guarantee fish.

¶

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������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 35

Suggestions for New Archers

by Bob Elliot

Start with good gear, properly fitted to you.

Then get to the practice range.

Bob Elliot

Bowhunting has become very popular, in part due to advances in technology, increased availability of quality equipment, and the expanded opportunities to spend more time in the field pursuing game animals.

Most archers start out their hunting pursuits with firearms, and then “graduate” to the challenge of hunting at closer ranges using more primitive gear. For many, the idea of hunting with a stick and string seems daunting, but it really doesn’t need to be. If you are thinking about getting into hunting with archery equipment, here are five tips to make the process a little easier.

1. Go to a store that specializes in archery. It is important to take advantage of the advice and help provided by folks

who are bowhunters themselves and are knowledgeable about archery equipment.

We are all built differently, and the bow you buy needs to fit you.

While many of the “big box stores” and online outfits offer some limited bows and other archery gear, they often have a limited selection, and seldom have staff available who can set you up properly.

When you go to buy your first bow, plan to spend some time (at least two hours) at the pro shop. The folks there will need to fit the bow to you by adjusting the draw length and poundage of pull. They can help you determine which arrows best match your set-up and intended use. They will help you choose and install sights, rests, quivers and release loops. In short, they will set your rig up so that you can start shooting.

Most archery pro shops also have a shooting area inside the store, where you can try bows and var-

ious release aids before you buy. Shooting the bow at the store is important, as this is where necessary fine adjustments in your setup will be made.

2. Make sure the bow fits you. Just like buying your clothing, one size does not fit all when it comes to archery equipment.

It’s very important that the bow you shoot is adjusted to fit your length of pull.

Your ability to consistently anchor the bow in the same spot each time you draw is critical to hitting your mark every time.

I have found a draw length that is just a little too short or long, makes a huge difference in your ability to execute good shots on target.

Most new archers tend to pull the bow too long, and this can ruin shooting form.

The peep sight, which is used similarly to a rear sight on a rifle, needs to be fit to your eye when you are at full draw; this also can be easily established and adjusted by the

archery shop technician.

3. Don’t “over-bow” yourself.

Today’s bows and arrows incorporate huge advances in technology and engineering. In the old days, the only way to gain speed and impart kinetic energy into an arrow was to pull a heavy draw weight.

When I started many years ago, my bow was set at 70 pounds and I shot heavy aluminum arrows. Even with that set-up, arrows didn’t always pass completely through a deer.

Today I shoot a 50-pound bow and lighter, smaller diameter carbon arrows that greatly outperform the old set-up.

During the process of drawing, anchoring, and executing the

shot, you will be using muscles that may not normally be called upon. The more you shoot, the easier it will become, but pulling too much weight, especially when you are just starting out, is a common mistake and is simply not necessary.

4. Start out close to the target, and limit your shooting sessions. Now that you have your new archery equipment, you’re ready to start flinging arrows. My advice here is to get some good instruction or advice from someone who has been at it for a while. This could be an instructor at a pro shop, an archery club, or a friend who has been shooting for a while. Most people who shoot archery are very willing to help (Suggestions for New Archers continued on page 38)

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36 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

The Quest for a Fall Gobbler

by Blaine Cardilli Our first fall season opened in limited districts here in central Maine back in 2002, but I didn’t actually start chasing fall birds until 2004.

Back then, it was archery only, and I remember how hard it was to get on them.

I started out doing spot-and-stalk with no success, then switched to sitting near travel routes, just hoping to ambush something, which did work on rare occasions.

I killed a number of hens and immatures in those days, just to put some fresh meat on the table, but I soon became obsessed with the male flocks, so I focused on sitting and calling.

The only problem with that was the fact that the birds very seldom gobbled, and didn’t seem too interested in my usual “spring” tactics. Still, once in a while I’d knock down a jake or two, but I was really after the big boys.

mentor me on just how to call mature gobblers in during the fall.

When I applied his methods, I experienced success immediately.

Seven Toms Come A’Runnin’ The first time out was a random hunt at 9:30 a.m. I set out a few decoys and began to call, using gobbler yelps, gobbles, and some aggressive fighting purrs.

Within 40 minutes, I had seven big toms come running in, gobbling their heads off!

I took the “boss” with my bow at eight steps from behind a tree, no blind.

That hunt appeared on television.

The author with a 20.6-lb fall bird. All photos by the author

Author Seeks Professional Help In the fall of 2010, while I was still on prostaff with Hunter’s

Specialties, I reached out to legendary turkey hunter Ray Eye, who was (and still is) considered the pioneer

of fall turkey hunting.

Over the course of several weeks, we exchanged dozens of emails, as he sought to

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A Two-Part Philosophy Since that particular hunt 13 years ago, my method hasn’t changed – I scout, I locate birds, I sit myself down ... and I call.

I think my success rate speaks for itself.

If you wish to consistently bag big gobblers in the fall, the key is learning both their behavior patterns this time of year, and their vocalizations. I call it my “two-part philosophy”: you need to “talk the talk” and “walk the walk.”

1) Talk the Talk.

With no breeding going (Continued on next page)

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 37

Standing jake decoy and resting hen decoy (the two decoys are labeled in yellow). The author’s calls brought in nine birds – seven mature toms, and two jakes.

(Continued from page 36)

on in the fall, the males won’t easily be drawn in using your “typical” hen calls. They are constantly establishing and re-establishing the pecking order within their individual flocks, daily, so that’s where you need to start – in other words, you need to “talk the talk.”

In order to grab the attention of the males, there are four calls you need to master: the gobbler yelp, the gobbler cluck, the gobble, and the fighting purrs, because any of these calls will pique their curiosity and get them to seek out this “newcomer” who may be a threat to their established dominance.

That’s because in their world, dominance is the key.

2) Walk the Walk.

Next, you’ll need to establish a visual picture for the incoming birds by using decoys, and the most effective are a single standing jake and/or a strutter decoy... and be prepared to see a good fight once they see your set-up.

This is the part I call “walking the walk.” ***** This time of year, the main focus of the males (other than food and survival) is the ongoing “battle of the ranks,” so if you’re up for the challenge, practice these calls and watch the male flocks in your area.

Pay close attention to their interactions, and you just might be putting a fat old gobbler (or two) on your table this fall season.

¶

Suggestions for New Archers (Continued from page 35)

newcomers.

It is important to start out at close range, and move back farther only once you have built some confidence in your ability to hit your mark with some consistency.

Also, don’t shoot too many arrows!

You will get fatigued quickly at first,

Blaine with a 20-lb fall gobbler.

Maine’s 2023 Fall Turkey Season • Hunters can use bow and arrow, crossbow or shotgun.

• During the fall season, hunters can harvest both toms and hens.

• Youth Fall Wild Turkey Day is September 16.

• Youth hunters can take up to 2 turkeys on Youth Fall Wild Turkey Day, without exceeding a WMD bag limit that has a 1-bird limit.

• Regular Season: September 18 – November 7 • If the WMD allows more than two turkeys in total, a hunter can’t harvest more than two in a single day.

Bag limits: • Districts 15-17, 20-25: 5 turkeys • District 26: 3 turkeys • District 28: 2 turkeys • Districts 6-8, 10-14, 18, 19, 27, and 29: 1 turkey • Districts 1 – 5 & 9: Closed to the taking of wild turkeys

and once that happens, it is almost impossible to make quality shots. Shoot a dozen or so arrows every day, and gradually increase the number of shots each practice session as you feel your strength and stamina increase.

5. Practice, Practice, Practice. Most rifle hunters I know hit the range to sight in once or twice before the season opens, and then put the gun back into the safe until next season.

Shooting a bow isn’t that simple.

We owe it to the animals we pursue to make ethical shots, and the only way to do that is to build confidence in your shooting abilities. With practice and lots of time spent flinging arrows in the backyard, your confidence will be there when the moment of truth arrives.

Bob Elliot of Mount Vernon has been bowhunting deer, bears and wild turkeys for 40 years in Maine as well as across the U.S. and Canada.

¶

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38 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Moose Hunting Takes You to New Places

by Will Lund Moose hunting permits are awarded by lottery. Some large groups of hunters coordinate their applications, such that if one of them wins a permit – or exchanges a permit through the state’s program – they are generally able to hunt in the same area of the state, season after season.

However, if individual hunters receive more than one permit over the years, the as-

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Maine is a big state, and for those fortunate enough to receive a moose permit, each hunt is an opportunity to see – and learn about – a new region. signed locations are often distant from the previously-awarded zones. This allows the hunter and subpermittee to experience a different part of Maine for each hunt.

Over the years, we have participated in several different hunts, each in a different zone. While all in-

volved big moose, the strongest memories are about the different regions we visited, and the variety of hunting tactics employed.

Greenville Area One early hunt took place south of Greenville, in an area dominated by timber harvesting. This was a

self-guided trip, during which we stayed at our deer camp.

We called moose using large coffee cans with a dampened rawhide strip pulled through a hole in the bottom – a surprisingly effective device that produces a low moaning sound.

In the first two

days, we were unable to fill our bull tag, seeing only a cow and a calf. We began to wonder whether our decision to forgo a guide was the correct one.

The third day, however, proved more eventful. A member of our hunting party was working his coffee-can call, and was startled when a bull moose walked quietly through the woods directly behind him, and then bellowed loudly.

(Continued on next page)

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 39 (Continued from page 38)

Western Maine For a subsequent trip to the Coos Canyon region in the Western Mountains, we used an excellent guide who had scouted and prepared the area.

This is a stunning region of Maine, with picturesque waterways and deep woods.

Cars and trucks were not permitted on the roads in the hunting area, so we drove ATVs. While some rode in a side-by-side, others of us used conventional ATVs. The hunt was held during an unusually cold snap, and we learned the importance of warm clothing and gloves. Our predawn starts included frosty windshields and cold-numbed hands.

Accustomed to dressing relatively lightly and still-hunting the woods all day, we were reminded during our daily 30-minute rides that 25 miles per hour forward speed provides the equivalent wind-chill factor of standing in a stiff, 25mph wind.

Our guide’s skill and preparation paid off, as he’d put us in the middle of moose country. The hunt was also punctuated with the appearance of a huge black bear, which loped at an easy pace across a clearing in front of us, pushed by distant hounds. The bear had a good head start on the dogs, and it was running toward a tangled swamp, so we expect it was able to make good its escape.

Washington County A third hunt for our group took place in Washington County, where a colorful guide’s moose-calling technique included

hanging an old-school battery-powered boom box in a tree, and playing a loud recording of two moose mating in a swamp. Hunting was slow the first few days, allowing us to become so familiar with the endless-loop recording that we could predict each splash and moan.

That hunt was memorable for another reason, as well – as the week went on without a bull moose down, our guide called on his fellow woodsmen, and soon we began to receive tips from scouts all over the region.

The guide and his crew used wooden canoe paddles to rake bushes, mimicking the sound of a bull thrashing its antlers.

In the end, the combination of paddles raking the bushes and recorded sounds of moose ecstasy proved effective, as a young bull moose trotted up the logging road within range of our rifles.

St. John River Canoe Trip Our most interesting trip in terms of geography and technique was a recent St. John River canoe hunt. The river originates in Baker Lake in the North Woods, and meanders north toward the town of Allagash.

We drove along a discontinued logging road to a gravel landing, got into a canoe, and then were towed south (upstream) to an empty ranger’s cabin.

The hunts consisted of three people to a canoe – the guide in the stern, an unarmed passenger in the middle, and a rifleman in the bow. Before each sunrise, we slid the canoe into the water, and all hands combined to paddle upriver. Then we’d pause, catch our

One development in moose hunting is the use of lifesize, “photorealistic” decoys. Lightweight and foldable, they are easily transported, set up and taken down. Here, the guide returns to his canoe after placing the decoy along the shore of the upper St. John River. Photo by the author

breaths, and start a slow, quiet, controlled drift, flowing downriver with the current.

Excitement grew as we approached each bend in the river, trying to spot a bull standing by the shoreline or looking out from the thick bushes that grew along the steep bankings.

A life-size cow decoy served as a primary attraction, along with electronic calls triggered by a remote control, in which the different buttons were labeled “Cow in Heat,” “Not Interested Cow,” “Agitated Cow,” and other provocative designations.

This was also where we learned about quartering a moose – a necessary approach for hunters in remote locations who do not have the option to carry an entire carcass, but rather use breathable cloth game bags to keep the quarters clean, cool and transportable in a canoe.

Breadth of Experience We sometimes take for granted the immense wealth of natural resources – including moose – that our state offers. In our hunts, we found the huge animals hundreds of miles apart – in the Central

Cassidy Marie Rood of Benton was accompanied by her father, Eric, when she dropped this 700-lb. bull moose in Soldiertown Township.

A successful hunt is always better when family is involved. Brexton Erickson (left), accompanied by his father Brett, bagged this 810-lb. bull moose in the town of Roxbury, in Oxford County.

Highlands, the Western Mountains, the Downeast Lowlands and the North Maine Woods – and our experiences were enriched by the diverse geog-

raphy we discovered, and the skills of the different guides and hunters who worked and lived there.

¶

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40 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Moose Patch Club — The Maine Sportsman —

2022 MOOSE PATCH CLUB The Maine Sportsman’s Moose Patch Club – “An Association of Hunters Who Have Taken a Moose in Maine.”

Maeryn Mercier of Grand Lake Stream bagged this 755-lb. (dressed weight) bull moose with a 47” antler spread on September 29, 2022 in T6. A youth hunter, Maeryn was accompanied by Peter Mercier.

LAST NAME Abbott Barnett Bodemer Candage Castonguay Coan Coulombe Denis Dumont Feeney *** Fenderson *** Fitton Gardiner Gillis Hilton Hunter, Jr Jandreau *** Jandreau Jones Kalloch Klaiber

FIRST NAME Meagan Jeffrey Logan Dennis Roland James Garrett Keven Michael Gracie Boden Jason Wayne Joshua Kevin Thomas Eli Stephen Matthew Lacey Kelly

HOME TOWN Chelsea Litchfield Rockwood Oxford Jay Pittston Lewiston Limington Berwick Rangeley Cornish Portland Searsport Sanford Barrington Waterville Mapleton Winn Skowhegan Harrington Topsham

STATE ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME NH ME ME ME ME ME ME

WEIGHT 785 548 800 1020 706 964 776 735 835 675 850 525 675 626 721 404 845 772 672 453 785

Jeffrey Barnett of Litchfield traveled to T8 R17 24 AN to harvest this 548-lb. (dressed weight) cow moose on the last day of the 2022 season, November 5. Carrie Barnett photo www.MaineSportsman.com

*** Indicates hunter was 18 or younger

DATE 10/24/22 11/5/22 9/26/22 9/7/22 9/27/22 9/26/22 10/13/22 9/28/22 10/12/22 10/13/22 9/30/22 10/13/22 9/27/22 10/11/22 10/26/22 10/13/22 9/26/22 10/11/22 9/29/22 10-26-22 10/14/22

WHERE Cyr Plt T8R17 Z4AN T13 R13 WELS Connor Twp T29 Drew Plantation Burlington Cross Lake Grand Lake Stream Russell Pond Twp Allagash T12 R9 WELS T14 R15 WELS Big Lake Twp Saint John Plt. Sinclair North Maine Woods Wytopitlock T5 R19 T 16 R9 Days Academy Twp

LAST NAME Lentz Martin Matthews *** McLellan Mercier *** Moseley *** Ouellette Parks Peat Reinhard Rodgerson Simmons Soukup Souviney Staples Strout Sylvester III Varney Waithe Watson Whitten

FIRST NAME Richard Russell Cullen Michael Maeryn Tanner Wesley Michael Whitney Sadie Kenneth Michael Nancy Cody Josh Richard Thomas Hayden William Jacob Hunter

Meagan Abbott of Chelsea shot what may have been the largest cow moose taken in Maine in all of 2022, when she harvested this 785-lb. (field dressed) trophy on October 24 in Cyr Plantation with her .270.

Michael Simmons of Fort Eustis, VA earned his 2022 patch with this 750-lb bull moose, taken in Chase Stream Township on October 13, 2022. In the photo, left to right, are Alan Samples (subpermittee), Hayden Stratton (guide), and the patch winner, Michael Simmons.

HOME TOWN Birdsboro Corinth Newport Casco Grand Lake Stream Morfreesboro Kennebunk West Gardiner Greenville Naples Lily Bay Twp. Ft Eustis SW Harbor Winslow West Gardiner Gray The Forks Plt Portage Jackman Scarborough Milo

STATE PA ME ME ME ME TN ME ME ME ME ME VA ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME

WEIGHT Not Listed 417 657 500 755 709 657 833 614 882 700 750 590 650 723 732 670 652 469 844 718

DATE 10/10/22 10/12/22 9/30/22 10/29/22 9/29/22 9/29/22 9/9/22 10/11/22 10/15/22 10/11/22 10/10/22 10/13/22 10/27/22 10/24/22 10/13/22 10/15/22 10/1/22 10/14/22 10/10/22 10/10/22 10/10/22

WHERE T11 R11 T7-R6 Stockholm T7 R11 WELS T6 Webster Van Buren Stockholm T2R13 WELS Misery Twp Spencer Bay Twp. Chase Stream Twp Zone 3 Square Lake T14 R12 T9 R18 WELS T13 R9 WELS Aroostook T9 R15 T14 R11 Bald Mtn. Twp Tim Pond KI

Garrett Coulombe of Lewiston earned his 2022 Moose Hunters Club patch on October 13 with this 776-lb. (dressed weight) bull moose. Garrett (on the right) is shown here with subpermittee Matt Morin.

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 41

Moose Meat Challenges If you have ever been on a moose hunt or have one coming up, then you know full well how much preparation it requires. Having a successful hunt is icing on the cake.

Last year, my husband and I successfully harvested a nice bull moose in northern Maine. As part of the moose data program, we opted to participate in the sample collection that is conducted by the Maine biologists. We gathered samples of the liver, lungs, feces and blood.

Despite being squeezed for time as the sun was setting and with a moose on the ground, we completed sample collection process, knowing it would benefit the future of Maine moose and moose hunting. What I didn’t realize was how important that would be when we began processing our moose.

As many hunters do, we process all our own game. Imagine bringing your moose home to process and finding tiny white pearl-like balls (cysts) throughout the meat and heart. That’s exactly what happened to us when we processed our moose, and it was a first for us. After sheer panic and fear we’d have to discard our harvest, I did some research.

I was relieved, I think, to find there are several types of parasites and tapeworms commonly found in moose meat.

According to the Moose Hunting Guide put out by Maine Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, “moose parasites (Taenia krabbei ), also called muscle worms, do not cause any recognizable disease …. [T]he presence of parasites might be unsightly, but most parasites cannot be transmitted to humans, nor do they make the meat inedible.”

While I did read a 2017 Canadian article advising not to eat the heart, the other 99% advised simply to cook the meat correctly.

This parasite is common in 40% to 70% of all moose and caribou harvested in Alaska.

Another type of parasite is Sarcocystis, which presents as tiny white streaks in the muscles and heart, but is also non-transmittable and safe to eat.

Life Cycles of Parasites Here’s what happens – a carnivore, usually a bear, eats carrion with the tapeworm. Bear scat is dropped into vegetation where moose eat. The grass

It’s fairly common to find parasites in moose meat.

In most cases, proper cooking will render the impurities harmless. It’s important to read the information contained in Maine DIF&W’s “Moose Hunting Guide,” so you do not under-react or overreact to the discovery of unexpected meat conditions.

The author’s husband, John Warren, always wears gloves when handling or field-dressing a moose. Staci Warren photo

gets eaten, and moose ingest the tapeworm, where the eggs develop into the larvae we see in the meat.

To complete the full cycle, another carnivore would have to eat the meat, and so on.

If you find the cysts revolting, you can also remove them. Referring to them as cysts is more unappealing than seeing them.

Freezing also kills parasites, but not Trichinella found in bear meat. Jerky is also not recommended, since smoking meat only prevents rotting and does

not kill parasites unless it reaches 165 degrees. By cooking the meat to 165 degrees, only then is the parasite killed.

In 2022, Newsweek reported that two New Hampshire moose hunters became infected with the hydatid tapeworm, Echinococcus Granulosus, also known as the dog tapeworm, after butchering a moose. According to the Newsweek article, this typically happens when a dog has eaten raw meat or organs of an infected animal.

The tapeworm, which is found in the lungs, spends its adult phase laying eggs in the intestines of dogs and other canids. Humans can become infected by either handling dog feces, or by being licked by infected dogs.

If you harvest a moose with golf ballsized cysts on its lungs, take extra precaution when handling your moose. Experts recommend always wearing latex/ nitrile gloves when field dressing and processing game.

Never allow your dog to eat raw game meat, offal (the entrails and internal organs), or bones.

Kidneys, Livers There are also parasites in the liver and kidneys of moose. Many hunters from other states utilize all parts of the animal and consume the liver and kidney.

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, moose liver can have a larval tapeworm called a “bladder worm,” because it has sacks filled with fluid that bursts into the mouth of a carnivore that’s eating raw liver.

However, according to the Moose Hunting Guide, the MDIF&W and the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that the liver and kidneys not be eaten, due to possible contamination with the heavy metal cadmium. While cadmium may accumulate in the liver and kidneys of moose, there is no known health risk from eating moose meat.

I’m very thankful that our moose didn’t go to waste, and I have Maine’s biologists to thank for that. If you haven’t read the Moose Hunting Guide, I strongly recommend it. I read it for my first moose hunt in 2011, but hadn’t done so since then.

¶

www.MaineSportsman.com

42 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Early Season Goose and Moose Hunting, and Late Fishing I spend a lot of time this month hosting a handful of family and close friends at my quartet of two-man bear hunting stands.

There are plenty of early evenings for me to sit solitary overwatch with camera or handgun as well.

Baiting and maintaining the sites does occupy a lot of time earlier in the day, but I’m able to fit in an occasional early season goose hunt and enjoy some sunrise shooting.

September native goose season has been a boon for early autumn outdoor options

The author tells you how and where to get your bear, your goose, your moose, and your colorful spawning brookie. in Aroostook County, but gunning is often frustratingly sporadic compared to second-season action. Far fewer geese, smaller family flocks, and hundreds of feed field options, all add up to luck and lots of scouting for success. As an added hurdle, the generous six-bird daily limit, massive acres of unposted land, and thousands of lakes, ponds and puddles, all

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draw guides and gunners by the truckload from southern Maine and out of state.

On more than one occasion, I’ve seen and heard from reliable sources about hunters parking in a field at dusk and sleeping all night in their truck.

This assures claim to the spot, and blinds and decoys are being set out over an hour before first light! Other locations have two

or three vehicles arrive at different spots in the same huge field about the same time, and their owners squabble over who’s going to stay. Kind of takes the sport out of sportsmanship.

Flight Patterns My suggestion to locals and visitors is to scout well and have options. I like areas that boast at least five roost waters nearby; rivers, ponds, swamps,

Aroostook County

bogans and marshes – many not shown on maps and located by local info and backroad travel.

The geese will leave roost ponds in small groups just after dawn, and again a couple of hours before sunset. Track them to favored fields using binoculars from your truck to decide on a prime spot for the next day.

Have at least two likely locations as fallbacks, in case someone beats you to a field, and be prepared and patient – the birds (Continued on next page)

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Bear hunting this month isn’t all about shooting a bear for writer Bill Graves; rather, he enjoys sitting in a tree stand or ground blind with a camera to record family feeding time.

(Continued from page 42)

may change locations on a whim.

Usually a few groups will wander within calling range.

As the morning progresses, hunters shooting in other fields will send honkers looking for another spot to eat.

Since many flocks this month will be small, consisting of one or two family units, a dozen decoys will coax them to visit. Little calling will be necessary, and waving a goose flag attracts distant birds to investigate.

Despite being fullsize, many of the geese are this year’s hatchlings, and they’re much easier to fool and coax into shotgun range than are wise, experienced old ganders.

Check Delorme’s Atlas and Gazetteer, Map 59, grids D-3 & E-3 between Monticello and Littleton for gravel roads and twotracks among hundreds of grain fields.

Over a dozen named lakes and ponds, roostor-rest waterways, polka-dot the area. The same is true of sectors B-3 in Blaine; Map 65, B-3 & 4 near Fort Fairfield; and Map 53, A & B-2 near Linneus and New Limerick.

There are hundreds of bogans, bogs and farm ponds not listed on any Aroostook map. Scout a few, and then follow the geese to nearby feeding fields, to enjoy early season success the next day.

Daily scouting is a must, and as always, patience is a blessing for native goose season.

Moose Mating Month If ever a song applied to hunting, it would be “Talk to the Animals,” and September moose season in Aroostook County is prime time for chat-

ting up a big bull. Zone 6 has always been my first choice – I feel I have a “home-court advantage,” and the last week of September is my preferred time to hunt. Despite the possibility of warmer days, the moose have yet to be hunted, so they’re less skittish, and they seem to be more receptive to calling as the rut ramps up.

For an up-close moose hunting experience, nothing beats calling in a big bull. Allie Sullivan from Perth Andover tries to imitate a lonely cow call on this foggy September morning.

Coaxing a bull to come nearer the shooter, especially for bow hunters and handgunners, is far preferable to spot-and-stalk

ventures. Calling not only yields a better, closer shot, often from a rest, but with proper (The County continued on page 45)

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44 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Building an Emergency Off-Road Traveler Campfire Talk to any Maine game warden, and you’ll hear plenty of stories about people getting lost in the woods, including deer hunters getting turned around while chasing a big buck, and hikers who veered off the marked trail.

You would think that if a person was driving around in a well-maintained vehicle, they could simply drive their way out of a situation and get safely to civilization.

But what if the vehicle gets stuck, or runs out of gas?

www.MaineSportsman.com

To build an emergency fire, the author carries a Bic lighter, and a film cannister full of cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly. He puts the kindling on top of the tinder, places one of the petroleumsoaked cotton balls under the tinder, then lights the cotton ball.

In one lost hunter situation, it was reported that two deer hunters got turned around while driving their truck in the North Woods of Maine.

It was snowing hard, and the duo ran out of gas. One hunter stayed with the vehicle, while the other tried to walk out for help. Both

hunters froze to death that night, and their bodies were found the next morning.

I wonder why the fellas didn’t remain with the vehicle and get a fire going to stay warm? And how did the guy who tried walking out figure he could find his way on foot, if he already proven that he

couldn’t find his way out with his vehicle?

Anywhere in Maine, a person should be able to gather enough wood to burn to stay warm and survive at least one night in the woods … if that person can get a fire started. Starting the fire can be the biggest hurdle to overcome.

Initial Ignition Without going into the details of why I use this method for starting emergency fires, just know that I’ve tried and failed plenty of other methods that have led me to this one that works for me.

Although I carry waterproof matches, I have never had to use them. I carry two Bic lighters and they have never failed. But let me tell you, starting a fire successfully has hardly anything to do with matches or lighters … it’s all about tin(Continued on next page)

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 45 (Continued from page 44)

der and kindling.

Before the first spark, be sure to gather a good pile of kindling – a pile of dry twigs and small sticks as high as your knees. Tinder is some kind of highly flammable material like birch bark, dried moss, spruce pitch or bark. Gather enough to fill a gallon-sized plastic baggie. If there are dried leaves available, just make sure to have a pile of them as big as the kindling.

I always carry, along with my lighters and matches, a film canister full of cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly. I put the kindling on top of the tinder, and place one of the cotton balls under the tinder, then light the petroleum-soaked cotton ball to get things started.

Before all of this, make sure to pick a secure area for maintaining a fire, and have a good amount of dried wood piled nearby … more than seems necessary to make it through the night.

Gathering these materials for a fire will certainly get your blood going and initially warm you. Your efforts to collect an adequate supply of kindling and wood chunks will pay off in the middle of the night when the fire drops off or goes out and needs to be restarted. Most of the time, you can simply put more kindling on the dwindling embers, and get things going again.

Relax Most fatalities in a “lost-person-scenario” happen when the lost person panics. Rational thought goes out the window, and the

The County (Continued from page 43)

set-up, a lot of work can be avoided by dropping the huge animal in an open area.

West of Mars Hill toward Young’s Brook on the Miller Road and out back of E Plantation are several productive areas to call moose. DeLorme’s Gazetteer, Map 59, A-2 will get you started.

Permit holders in Zone 3 should pre-season scout around Blackstone and Westmanland off Route 161 near New Sweden. Hunters who prefer a

poor individual starts to ask, “What if?” too much. Just realize that if you have left word with family or friends about your general location and time of return, then someone will surely show up in the morning to find you.

More than likely, they will be out there looking for you that night, and your blazing campfire will certainly lead them to your location. Sit back, try to relax, and wait it out.

If you have a fire going during the daylight hours, get it going hot and then slowly and gently toss in some evergreen boughs to send an easily spotted plume of smoke into the sky.

If it’s raining, string a tarp high overhead as a cover from the rain.

Try to build a backstop of firewood to reflect some heat toward your body and form a wind-

In the Maine wilderness, you can always find enough wood to build a fire and stay warm overnight. However, once you gather your wood, tinder and kindling, you’ve got to have a way to light the fire, such as with a butane lighter or waterproof matches.

break.

Above all, do not change locations once a good fire is going.

This only confuses the search party. Too many lost folks delay the search by thinking they can find their own way out of the situation by walking. At some point during your lost episode, you must deter-

heavier wooded region rather than open farmland should investigate the myriad roads beyond Madawaska and Square Lakes. Drive and spot, or set up and call – both work in this area with plenty of moose wandering about. See DeLorme’s Map 68, E 2 & 3.

Fall Fishing While my mind is always excited for spring trolling after a long winter, my heart longs for autumn outings. All of my senses – sight, sound and smell – are elevated each autumn, as trout and leaves become more colorful, and the aromas and melodies of harvest season encompass The County.

Only certain waterways are still open, limits have changed, and only artificial lures are legal, but fishing can be fabulous.

Among my top trio of favorite fall fishing spots are the Fish River Lake thoroughfares; some require a boat, others are wade-able, and spawning, aggressive trout and salmon are plentiful. Cross/Mud TF on RT 161 by St. Peters store is simple to reach and easy to wade below the bridge. Parking spots abound nearby.

Another breathtakingly beautiful set of pools stretch along the Square/

mine that you are truly lost, and no amount of walking will get you out. Find your comfy place in the woods, and plan to stay there the whole night. If you have properly prepared for this unlikely event, you will easily make it out safely the next morning.

¶

Eagle TF, and sunrise or sunset from the seat of a canoe during fall foliage only accentuates the fishing. Pique the spawning fishes’ attack mode with size 4 or 6, 3X singles in vivid colors; Parmachene Belle, Red Gray Ghost, Ouananiche Sunset, Blue Devil and an Allie’s Favorite will work.

Pressure is almost nonexistent late in the season; many have stowed their rods in favor of long guns and bows, and still more are working long hours during harvest, so try to fit in one last fall fling.

¶

This hefty September brookie put up a great fight on a 3-weight rod, and went right back into the water after a quick photo. www.MaineSportsman.com

46 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Sky-High Adventures in the North Country My last trip to the top of Mount Katahdin took a fair amount of effort. Because we were through-hiking, I had 38 pounds of gear strapped to my back.

Add in that the wind gusts were so extreme, the ranger at Chimney Pond would not let us traverse the Knife Edge.

As a result, we headed up the safer Saddle Trail. I’ll always remember watching my hiking partner, Steve Carter, take his 42-pound pack off at the top of the Saddle Trail and set it down on a flat

rock. The wind blew it off.

Not all hikes rate as a walk in the park.

With that said, the view was worth the effort. These days. hiking is still doable for me, but climbing mountains sits squarely in the rear view mirror.

Katahdin Air However, there’s more than one way to visit these peaks without experiencing sore knees. While in the area for a Friends of Katahdin banquet last summer, I decided to wander along the

Golden Road and visit the folks at Katahdin Air. First of all, full disclosure – I’ve always had a fascination with small aircraft.

My son Matt had a pilot’s license before he had a driver’s license.

My son Willie works for the Air National Guard, keeping C-130s flying in times of peace and war. I have multiple friends with pilot’s licenses.

While sitting behind the controls was never in my wheelhouse, flying into remote locations to do some fishing earned

Air travel is one of the best, most efficient methods of accessing some of the more remote waters in the North Country. Photo courtesy Katahdin Air

my respect for those who do fly the friendly skies.

My late fishing buddy Bob Fuller and I did multiple trips to

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some of Canada’s most remote lakes. Fuller loved chasing big pike, and eating sweet-tasting walleye.

Birdseye View So when I saw those beautiful float planes docked up on Ambajejus Lake, I couldn’t resist exploring the options. Office manager Jean Boddy effortlessly walked me through a host of opportunities that Katahdin Air offered.

(Continued on next page)

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First of all, my desire to see the top of Mount Katahdin would only take a simple half an hour. I can tell you it took me a lot longer to climb it! They offer scenic flights daily.

An assortment of packages allows passengers to pick and choose from various tours, or to combine them. As the leaves start to burst into fall colors, September and October rate as the perfect months for shutterbugs looking to record some breathtaking scenery.

And of course, everyone wants to see a moose. The number one question I get all the time is, “How many moose did you see?”

Don’t worry – these pilots have thousands of air miles logged, and they have a pretty good idea where to

look.

Here’s where it gets interesting. Flying in to a remote pond or lake with a fly rod smacks of adventure.

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cluded with the flight.

Travel light, with only a cooler and a rod.

My Canadian trips were set up very much the same. We would fly in, and get dropped off at a cabin that had a boat and motor for us to use. We brought just our fishing gear,

appropriate clothing, and our choice of food and drink.

Northwoods Taxi I always enjoyed take-offs and landings utilizing the water as the runway. The pilots I’ve had were smoother than silk. On two

occasions, I had the good fortune of sitting in the copilot’s seat.

It doesn’t get any better than having that steering yoke within arm’s reach.

It’s impressive to watch the pilot work (Katahdin Country continued on page 50)

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Memories of Grandad’s ‘Big .44’ Be it a rifle, a pistol or a shotgun, firearms that include a history – a story – are far more interesting than those that languish on some store shelf. As the antique dealers on television say, “Provenance is everything.”

This story comes from a reader living in the Rangeley region, and it involves some joy, some family tragedy, and one of Bill Ruger’s early production Super Blackhawks.

Along with the Smith & Wesson Model 29, also chambered in .44 Remington Magnum, the Sturm, Ruger Super Blackhawk made possible modern handgun hunting for

A grandson is on a worthy quest – to recapture family lore and legend, as well as a fine handgun.

North America’s large game. A single-action revolver reminiscent of the Old West single-actions made famous in the second half of the 19th century, the Super Blackhawk employed the most powerful pistol cartridge available at the time.

In production from 1959 to 1972, Super Blackhawks offered shooters a potent sidearm with frontier flavor that the double-action Smith & Wesson could not match.

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inder and its square back “Dragoon-style” trigger guard, the Super Blackhawk resembles other six-shooters, but with a flare all its own.

Most Super Blackhawks arrive with walnut grips and a sevenand-a-half-inch barrel.

A rare few, however, came with the barrel reduced to six and a half inches. Both versions mounted adjustable rear sights. The Super Blackhawk replaced an earlier Flattop Blackhawk, also in .44 Magnum, that was made between 1956 and 1963.

Deeper in the 1960s, many serious hunters gave up on the Wild West look,

and chose to install telescopic sights to facilitate the reputed accuracy of the .44 magnum cartridge. Others, such as in this story, kept their Blackhawk mostly unaltered.

Fan Base Like many living in the 1950s and ’60s, Art DiDonna was a devoted fan of western movies, television, and cowboy music. He especially enjoyed the gunfighter ballads of Marty Robbins, with their frequent references to .44 caliber pistols. Art helped to ensure Ruger’s success by an early purchase of the then brand-new Super Blackhawk.

The son of Italian immigrants, Art grew

up in New York State, and though he reportedly never owned another gun, he hunted deer across upstate New York with the .44 that Marty Robbins would have called a “Big Iron.” Once he relocated to Maine, he hunted occasionally, and spent a lot of recreational time shooting at his local range.

Art settled the family in Lisbon Falls and worked as a machinist for Bath Iron Works, helping to build the best destroyers and guided missile frigates in the world.

All the while, he kept the Blackhawk in a display case at home, with the pistol’s faux ivory grips gleaming.

When he took to the field, he would often change the ivory grips to recoil-absorbing grips by Herrett.

Art did a lot of shooting with family and friends, but none more than his daughter Nina. She was a more-than-willing participant, and handled the big, powerful Ruger with skill and confidence.

Looking ahead, Art determined that someday his beloved shooting partner should inherit his much-loved Big Iron.

However, Nina developed a serious and ultimately terminal illness. She passed away years before her father. As so often (Continued on page 50)

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 49

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50 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Shooter’s Bench (Continued from page 48)

happens, when Nina passed away, disposition of Art’s Blackhawk fell into question, and may even have generated a rift in the family.

The late Arthur DiDonna shows off his passion for the Wild West by wearing his Ruger Super Blackhawk that he also used for hunting whitetail deer.

Source: DiDonna family archives

The Super Blackhawk with faux ivory grips features the square “Dragoon” trigger guard, non-fluted cylinder, and adjustable rear sight. Source: Ruger Blackhawk

Katahdin Country (Continued from page 47)

the throttles, set the flaps and adjust the rudder all at the same time. When done well, it’s poetry in motion.

Katahdin Air also works as a taxi cab or uber for the north woods. They fly sports in and out of sporting camps. With an assortment of fly-in cabins, it’s possible to spend some extended time getting back to nature.

What really caught my attention is just how much ground an airplane can cover, compared to driving Maine’s minimum-maintenance

Final Resolution Arthur DiDonna himself passed away at age 88 in September of 2021, never having devised a satisfactory solution to who should inherit his Super Blackhawk. Before he died, he gave the pistol to his granddaughter’s husband, a serving deputy sher-

highways. Think about the scouting opportunities for planning future excursions.

Passengers can get a real-time Google Earth type perspective on thousands of acres in a relatively short time. Why not get a good look at a canoe trip route from above the tree tops, as opposed to the limited view under the canopy?

Folks section-hiking the Appalachian trail have also incorporated fly-in services, so they can spend more time hiking and less time bouncing around on the road system.

The next time I look down from Mount Katahdin, it’ll be as a spy in the sky.

¶

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iff in Maine, with instructions to sell the pistol. The well-loved piece went to a Lewiston-Auburn area pawn shop, and on to a new owner outside the family.

Today, Art’s grandson hopes to locate the current owner, and perhaps buy back the pistol. He checks area gun shops and gun shows. He has talked with the pawn shop owner about possible sales records. And he has placed an ad in Uncle Henry’s, asking for information. So far, no luck.

The effort remains worthy—a quest to be sure, but one that offers to recapture family lore and legend, as well as a fine handgun.

The shooting icon Elmer Keith assisted Remington with developing the .44 Magnum cartridge. Gun-making icon Bill Ruger had the good sense to put it into some fine pistols.

A grandson’s search brings the circle toward closure.

Since Maine is one of the places where a good gun story resonates, and having a soft spot for the .44 Remington Magnum, we are more than happy to share this one, hoping to complete the circle. If any readers know of an early “three screw” Super Blackhawk with a four-digit serial number, a wooden display case, faux ivory grips, and possibly Herrett grips to boot, get in touch, and we will pass the information along.

¶

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 51

September Brings Changes in Fish Behavior Some changes in fish behavior come gradually, while others are precipitated by abrupt changes in conditions such as heat waves, cold snaps and torrential rain. Come September, even if temperatures don’t change much from August, shortening periods of daylight cause subtle changes in trout behavior.

Salmonids, with the exception of rainbow trout, spawn in late fall, and by September, a physical change – particularly in brook trout – becomes apparent. Males develop a hooked jaw, and colors become vivid. Also, trout now become attuned to the slightest change in dissolved oxygen in the water.

One stream that I regularly fish begins below a dam.

September rains and planned water releases send a signal to trout far downstream, and brook trout begin

a rocky bottom. In fact, it is full of stones.

The water there averages between 10 and 15 feet, and in the morning, before sunlight warms the water, rainbow trout frequent the cove.

I’ve always wondered if this was due wholly to the nature of the bottom – such places being havens for all kinds of foodstuffs such as minnows, hellgrammites and even crayfish – or whether a spring or springs was the true cause. I have not been able to locate any springs, so it must be the bottom.

By the way, it’s easy to locate underwater springs if you have an aluminum boat or canoe. While slowly cruising, keep your bare feet on the bottom of the boat.

Aluminum responds quickly to temperature changes, and if you pass over a spring, you’ll feel the tempera-

Ant hatches usually occur on ponds and lakes in September. So do you need to match the hatch, using an ant imitation? The author says no, since when this hatch is on, trout lose their collective caution and go on wild feeding sprees, biting anything that moves. swimming upstream to the source of the increased flow and its higher oxygen content.

The area below the dam, as is common with similar locations, lacks spawning habitat. Nevertheless, trout remain in the headwater area well into winter.

Brown Trout In September, brown trout in streams act in a similar manner as do brook trout.

Fish from downstream sense a change in the water, and head upstream. Areas that saw little action during summer’s heat become hotspots in September.

Brown trout in lakes and ponds will change their behavior, or not, according

to the size and depth of the lake or pond.

Smaller waters react to air temperature change more quickly than larger waters.

It’s like the difference between a bathtub full of cold water and a coffee mug. Lower the air temperature, and the water in the coffee mug quickly drops, but water in the bathtub takes far longer to respond.

Thus in September, brown trout in small ponds congregate in mid-depths – places where they stayed in mid- to latespring. And if air temperatures really drop, as in a marked cold snap, brown trout will fall to a streamer fly or wobbling lure fished 10 feet beneath the

A pair of September brook trout decked out in their fall colors.

Tom Seymour photos

surface, using a fly rod and sinking line, the same as in early spring.

In larger lakes, though, despite falling nighttime air temperatures, brown trout will continue to haunt the deep holes, making it necessary to use deep-trolling gear to catch them. By month’s end, brown trout gradually ascend higher in the water column. An extremely cold September will accelerate this process, and a very warm month will slow it.

Rainbow Trout Rainbow trout make a fine quarry in September, because they often frequent relatively shallow areas. One lake I fish has a small cove with

(Trout Fishing continued on page 53)

Rainbow trout come alive in September. www.MaineSportsman.com

52 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Best Fall Fly Fishing Explodes with September Rain Although the author considers himself a traditionalist, he prefers the strength, light weight, and general handiness of a quality graphite rod over bamboo or fiberglass.

Maine’s best fall fishing begins when September rain cools lakes, ponds, streams, and brooks, rekindling the breeding urge in trout and salmon. Patient anglers wait for the fish to stack up at the mouths of tributaries before they make the upstream run.

As soon as the first cold rain in September starts, I switch my fishing focus to streams, rivers, and brooks. I still hit the ponds occasionally, but generally focus on moving water, to try to

intercept the salmonid before they hit their breeding territory.

Unless I see a hatch that produces plenty of feeding, I’ll be primarily swinging streamers. I’ve been tying more streamers than anything lately, so I can’t wait to get on the water and see what they’ll do.

I want to make it clear right here – I won’t take fish off their breeding beds (redds), but I don’t think it hurts to catch and release them on their way to their

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beds. Also, certain areas can handle more fishing pressure, and some areas need to be completely left alone … follow the guidelines and laws in the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIFW) rulebook to keep it ethical and legal.

New Recruits Throughout this past summer, and last summer, a group of wonderful volunteers has been helping veterans, active-duty military, LEOs, and First Responders learn about fly fishing through a non-profit organization run by Dan and Nicole Waite called “Operation ReBoot Outdoors” (operationrebootoutdoors. org). I approached the Waite family team with the possibility of starting a fly-fishing

The author uses a “Headwaters” bamboo fly rod and sink-tip line for swinging heavier flies. William Clunie photo

program within their non-profit organization, and they said, “Go for it.” I am proud to report how easy it was to get a dedicated team of highly experienced fly rod anglers together to help launch the program.

As soon as the word was out, all sorts of kind-hearted and experienced fly rod anglers showed up to help. They came early and stayed late to get these deserving folks on the water, catching fish. This highly successful program helps these heroes deal with the emotional and physical scars from trauma they have suffered in service on our behalf.

Gene Bahr MASTER FISH CARVER & WILDLIFE ARTIST

5 lb. Moosehead Brook Trout

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www.genebahr.com www.MaineSportsman.com

We tied flies throughout the winter, and hit the water in the spring/summer.

So, if you see any veteran’s license plates at your favorite fishing hole, give them wide berth or give them some solid instruction … these new anglers are doing awesome.

Our team of instructors has done a great job teaching them how to cast, mend line, read the water and tie their own flies, along with a large dose of ethics on the water.

I guess I shouldn’t be so surprised … these new anglers caught on quickly, and are learning fast – and they picked right up on the ethical fishing instruction like champs.

They truly understand that it’s not all about catching fish … building solid relationships with trusted friends outweighs the largest fish at the end of your line.

Fly Rod Selection I’m not sure about what everyone’s choice in fly rods might be, but I do know that the current production of modern graphite rods (Continued on next page)

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 53 (Continued from page 52)

probably ranks as the number one selection.

I know I prefer the strength, light weight, and general handiness of a quality graphite rod over bamboo, fiberglass, or any other material. In my opinion, in most applications, the graphite rod outperforms rods made of other materials.

For me, bamboo rods always felt way too slow, with fiber-

glass almost slower in the action than any other rod material. I learned to cast with a rod that had a medium action, and then gravitated toward the faster-action rods.

Over time, I went back to both a bamboo and a fiberglass rod to do a little experimenting – mostly because I am a lover of traditional ways. What I found was that each of the rods has a place for its own particular appli-

Trout Fishing (Continued from page 51)

ture difference on the bottom of your feet.

Even if you can’t find a rocky bottom, rainbow trout often hover over sandy bottoms. Here, too, you needn’t go deep, especially during morning and evening hours. Also, typical springtime trolling areas come back to life in September. Regular hotspots such as points and drop-offs again prove fruitful in September. And the best part of all this is that you can use medium-weight

cation.

I took my fiberglass rod, a sweet little three-weight Fenwick, out on a brookie pond where the biggest fish might get up to fifteen inches. I loved the gentle way it gracefully floated my dry flies to the surface, but when it came time to set the hook, it didn’t have enough backbone to do the job. I stopped counting missed strikes at ten, and packed the rod

up. I might get it out again for small brooks with thick cover that require tight casting … this is where I believe the little rod will shine.

My bamboo rod, a modern rod built

by Headwaters Fly Rod Company (headwatersbamboo.com), gave me the same feel … such a slow action that I had trouble and struggled. Dropping a dry fly gently on the water’s surface with

tackle. Fly rods and sinking lines work fine now. I have a particularly sensitive trolling rod filled with modern, thin, lead-core line and that works fine. I just don’t let much line out – perhaps a color-and-a-half. This allows the trout to fight to the maximum, with no diminution of fun on the angler’s part.

Finally, at least in Midcoast and Central Maine, an ant hatch usually comes off on ponds and lakes in September. But need you carry a fly rod and floating line, tipped with an ant imitation? By no means. When this hatch is on, trout lose their collective

limited distance is where this rod excels, but in every other application I really had trouble.

I am going to give the Headwaters bamboo five-weight a whirl at casting big bugs with a sink-tip line – I think the slow action will actually help launch the big bugs and heavy line. I’ll report my findings here next month.

¶

caution and go on wild feeding sprees, biting anything that moves. If you cast a flashy spinner or lure close to where you see a rise, the fish will probably respond, simply out of reflex action. Even trolling near the surface during one of these frenzied feeding times becomes an effective method. Rainbow trout are nothing if not cooperative.

Togue Time In September, togue usually remain in deep water, as in summer, although they may come up to the 40-foot range.

¶

Resident of France Brings Fishing Tactics to Maine Marcel Bastide lives in France, but spends his summers in Orrington at his summer home. While he’s here, he fishes the Orland River for trout. Tactics that work in his home country are also effective here; specifically, employing an unusual 21-foot fishing rod, with the line, bobber and hook attached at the end of the rod. Jim Lemieux photos

www.MaineSportsman.com

54 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Colton Black’s North Maine Woods Adventure – Part One My buddy Lenny Potvin rolled into my office last June with some great news.

“Guess what?” he started with a grin on his face. Before I could focus in on an answer, he went right to the point.

“Aaron (Lenny’s son-in-law) got a moose permit for Zone 4. He’s bringing Colton (Lenny’s grandson), and his dad (Rick) along, and he invited me, too.”

“Perfect,” I replied, “while I’m in the Teton Mountains that week,

The plan was to help Aaron fill his Zone 4 moose tag. In addition, I would bring my bird dog, Baxter, along to sniff out some grouse, and to see if we could get Colton, age 13, some bird-hunting experience. you’ll be showing your grandson how to call in a moose.”

By way of a little background, Potvin has pulled moose permits in both Maine and New Hampshire.

He has spent considerable time and effort learning the nuances of speaking moose.

I might add, he was damn good at it.

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BOTH Grandfathers Then he tells me he might not go. So I jumped into a spiel about this once-in-alifetime chance to go moose hunting with his 13-year-old grandson, Colton.

“You’re not going to let your grandson’s chance to hunt moose with his dad and BOTH his grandfathers slip by, are you?”

I pressured. “ L e n , we’re getting older, and these chances don’t pop up every day.

Call Aaron, and tell him you’re going.”

It took him about a week to make up his mind, but he came around to my way of thinking, and signed on.

That same week, my fly-fishing trip to

the Teton Mountains got cancelled because some pesky doctors told me to avoid high elevations with my new defibrillator.

Against All Odds When Lenny and Aaron found out my trip West was out, they invited me to go along on the moose hunt, too. With no serious elevations along the Canadian border, I wasted no time in reading the doctors’ fine print.

The medical professionals said “No high elevations.”

They didn’t say “No hunting.” I accepted the offer immediately. Against very long odds, Lenny Potvin and I would be going on our third moose

hunt together. Sadly, neither of us knew it would be our last hunt together.

The plan revolved around helping Aaron fill his moose tag.

To fill out any voids in time, I would bring my bird dog, Baxter, along to sniff out some grouse, and to see if we could get Colton some bird-hunting experience.

PB Guide Service We loaded up and headed to Paul Beauregard’s camps (PB Guide Service), located along the St. John River in Zone 4. With our ace moose caller on board, Aaron opted for a cabin-and-meals plan, and figured we would self-guide.

The accommodations were perfect for four men and a boy in the great north woods.

Eating took place at a central dining hall, with a very capable (Continued on next page)

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kitchen staff.

In fact, they worked effortlessly with Potvin to accommodate his gluten-free diet. The food was great, and they readied meals-to-go, for hunters hitting the road early.

At night, the dinner hall would fill up with hunters and guides. This proved a valuable time to swap stories, compare moose sightings, and plot the next day’s strategy.

Beauregard employs many capable guides, and they freely shared helpful information with us self-guided types. It was clear from Paul on down that they wanted everyone in that camp to tag their moose.

Calling All Moose The first two days, we logged some miles while learning the lay of the land. We got

granddad Lenny to do some calling in various cuttings, while Colton stuck by Aaron’s side.

Rick and I offered eyes and ears, carefully scanning every woodlot in detail.

Colton is an energetic young man, with hunting and fishing deep in his DNA. It’s great to see the next generation engaged in our outdoor sporting world. It was even better to see him experience it with his dad and both grandfathers. I was blessed to be a witness to this family hunt.

Finally, on Day 3, the plan came together. Aaron spotted a nice bull at quite a distance. With his young son looking on, he took the slack out of the trigger and sent the bull moose crashing to the ground.

We were starting to wonder when old wide-horns would

make a slip. Now we knew. Of course, an uncle of mine once gave me a little bit of advice that has rung true many times over the years.

Work Begins “Once you pull the trigger, the fun is over and the work begins,” said Uncle Harold Sheldon.

The moose had toppled a few hundred yards into the forest.

Aaron, an experienced linemen, had just the ticket to get this 790-pound ungulate into our waiting trailer. He had a gas-powered winch, and what seemed like a mile of rope and a gaggle of pulleys.

And, to make the recovery easier, some fellow moose hunters stopped by and gave a hand. Before long, we were back at the PB Guide Service’s walkin cooler.

Colton Black (center) got the once-in-a-lifetime chance to go along on a Maine moose hunt with his dad, Aaron (front left), and two grandfathers, Rick Black and Lenny Potvin. Not only did this happy group spend some quality time together, they also filled the family freezer. Colton celebrated his 13th birthday during the week-long adventure. Bill Sheldon photo

Next month, I’ll detail the rest of Colton Black’s North Woods Adventure.

Sadly, this past April, we unexpectedly lost my dear friend,

Lenny Potvin. Against long odds, we had one last moose hunt together. Rest in Peace, my friend.

¶

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56 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Patrol by Boat and “Pied” I sometimes feel it was my destiny to become involved with the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. During my dad’s early days of being employed by the Maine Forest Service, he was offered a patrolman’s position in the deep woods.

Irvin was told that his coverage area contained few roads, and the only means of patrol were by boat, or the use of a pied along a short rail line. [The word “pied” probably had its origin as “pede,” as in “Velocipede” – a small cart designed to run on railroad tracks – see photo below.]

But at the time, my elderly Grandfather lived with us. Therefore, Dad turned down the offer of remote employment.

“Pied,” or Velocipede.

T. Caverly Collection

It wasn’t until I spent the winter of 1973 and 1974 surveying along the Allagash that I learned about the 1950s and 1960s Eagle Lake Tramway and Forestry station in T7R14 – an assignment where Forest Rangers patrolled with boats, and by a pied along a still-usable rail line.

While marking the boundary line along the state’s 500-foot ownership strip parallel to the shore of Eagle Lake, I understood the Tramway District was the Forestry position that had been offered to my dad.

Can You Hear Me Now? In 1972, I was promoted to be Manager of Aroostook State Park in Presque Isle. One of my responsibilities was to serve as the Allagash Wilderness Waterway radio operator for those backwoods rangers – their only link to the outside world. I loved hearing and participatwww.MaineSportsman.com

ing in the daily radio traffic, including reports of water levels, search and rescue efforts, and (during winter months) my recordings of snow depths at Churchill Dam that allowed others to predict spring runoff.

For its day, the Allagash had a sophisticated communication network with a repeater and antenna, located in the fire tower on top of 1,855 foot high Clear Lake Mountain in T10R11. Since this was long before invention of solar panels, heavy steel bottles of propane were hand-carried up the mountain to fuel the repeater that served as an automatic relay radio station.

On my end, the Aroostook State Park’s telephone had a small phonepatch toggle that allowed calls to be communicated through to a two-way radio system.

First Waterway Supervisor, Leigh Hoar.

T. Caverly Collection

For example, if State Park Director Larry Stuart wanted to speak with the Allagash Supervisor Leigh Hoar, Stuart would call me. When the director was ready, I would turn a small dial on my rotary set, allowing him to speak directly to Mr. Hoar, who was using a portable Motorola radio.

Maine hired Leigh from the National Park Service to establish the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. He was assigned the task to build the administrative tools and laws “in order to develop [the area’s] maximum character,” as had been approved by Maine citizens.

Leigh, living miles from the State Park office in Augusta, had a lot to talk about. According to Mrs. Hoar, the communication system that Leigh built was a huge improvement over the 80-plus mile trip to the town he had to drive to

in order to use a telephone.

That essential complex radio system was so powerful that when I transferred to Cobscook Bay Park in Washington County, the Cobscook two-way radio would announce the signal of daily wireless traffic from the Allagash.

In 1981, when I reported to work at Umsaskis Lake, Allagash rangers were furnished with 40-pound Motorola PT 400 radios, powered by an array of flashlight (D cell) batteries. While dependable with a 20-inch antenna, the wireless units were too cumbersome to be easily carried. Therefore, whenever rangers were on foot patrol, the receivers were left behind in boats, canoes, or pickups.

By the early 1980s, smaller and lighter hand-held walkie-talkies were available. However, they did not have the capacity to transmit through the Clear Lake tower.

So, with the new and improved radios, I worked with the technicians of the state’s radio division to move the repeater from Clear Lake to the watchman’s tower of 1,886-foot-high Priestly Mt. in T10R13. Priestly was not only a taller mountain, but one that better aligned with the north-south river corridor.

Along with the portable radios came solar panels, so that 100-pound cylinders no longer needed to be carried up steep hills. But the Department’s radio division still needed to maintain the repeaters and solar panels. However, it was a three-mile hike from Umsaskis Lake to the top of Priestly.

The most efficient way to transport technicians was by helicopter, which meant a helipad needed to be cleared from the mountain’s peak, by removing trees and underbrush. To ensure a safe landing zone, rangers used chainsaws and trimmers to clear and level a touchdown pad measuring over 30 feet by 30 feet, for a safety circle that measured 110 feet in diameter. Once a year, the grass and small brush were removed from the pad. This is a system which still serves Allagash rangers well today.

Tim Caverly has authored twelve volumes about Maine’s northern forest.

¶

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 57

Porcupines, Woodchucks, Raccoons and Skunks Each spring, all the bothersome little animals show up. Like tourists returning to the state, they suddenly appear in the backyard, the hay field, the garden and the mountain trails.

I’ve matched wits with them all, and each adventure had its own twists and turns.

Porcupine My wife and I were newly married and were hiking the Norumbega Loop Trail on a sunny summer afternoon. Our springer spaniel, Tory, roamed ahead of us as we made our way up the mountain and topped out amongst the large boulders.

We were going to hike the crest of the mountain, except we heard a scuffle, and, in a few seconds, Tory came prancing toward us, showing off a muzzle full of porcupine quills! What a mess.

Here we were, on a Saturday on top of a mountain, and our dog had a tussle with a “porky pine.”

We knew it was important to extract the quills quickly before his body heat caused them to swell. We wrapped him up in my jacket, and used a red bandana to grab the end of the quills and gave a quick snap to jerk them out of the dog’s skin.

We got most of them. Tory didn’t seem to mind at all.

We saw the vet on Monday, and he said the broken quill tips would work their way through to the inside of Tory’s mouth. We were instructed to check for them, and when we saw each protruding tip, to grab it with tweezers and continue to pull it through.

He was an awfully good dog to let us fold back his lips and cheeks and search for those barbs.

The Polecat The skunk was a different situation.

I was trapping woodchucks that were molesting our garden. I had put out two live catch traps and, in the morning, Jean looked out and said, “Randy, you’ve caught the woodchuck,” but when I checked the trap, the woodchuck had a white stripe down its back. I’d caught a skunk.

I remembered grandfather telling me if I ever caught a skunk, I was to

Who won the battle between the family of raccoons and the Rockand-Roll Blimp? Read this true story, and other epic tales of man versus beast.

The woodchuck caught in the the livetrap was a ten-pound bruiser, says the author. Randy Randall photo

grab its hind legs, and that would keep it from spraying. However, no matter what Gramps had said, I wasn’t going to risk being bitten by a possibly rabid skunk.

Instead, I fetched a wool blanket, and very carefully approached the skunk – doing nothing to startle it – and gently folded the blanket over the cage. Big sigh. Safe, so far.

Then I lifted the blanket-trap-skunk into the bed of the pickup, and gave the animal a quick ride out into the countryside.

Letting it go was equally sketchy. I gently lifted the blanket, pried open the trap door, and ran like hell.

The skunk was undeterred. It stayed inside the trap. Then, after a while, it made up its mind to leave, and waddled nonchalantly out into the sunshine.

Woodchuck The woodchuck was furious I’d caught him. Woodchucks are devilishly hard to trap, so I was lucky to catch this one. He was a bruiser, and he was angry.

I was surprised he stunk so bad.

He snarled at me and rattled the trap. I subdued him with my wool blanket, only I was neither gentle nor very careful. I threw the blanket over the trap, and lifted the ’chuck up onto the tailgate.

He was heavy. I’ll bet he weighed eight or ten pounds.

All the time he was in that cage, he growled and fussed and raised havoc.

However, just like the skunk, when I opened the trap door it did not run out.

I had to pick up the end of the trap and shake the ungrateful rodent out of the enclosure.

Raccoons We tangled with racoons at the cottage on Little Sebago. We were opening up for the summer, when Jean heard a noise in the chimney.

I shined a flashlight, reached up under the mantle, pushed open the damper plate, and saw four or five pairs of eyes glaring down at me.

The raccoons snarled, and I dropped the damper closed. “’Coons,” I said.

“We’ve got a mother with kits making a nest in the chimney.”

Outside, we found the path the raccoon used to climb the walls to reach the chimney. The logs were smeared with black soot spread by the racoon’s tail.

Someone said to start a fire and smoke them out, but we voted that down.

We had heard that racoons do not like loud sounds, so we got the portable radio, set it on a stool in the fireplace, and tuned in WBLM. We wound up the volume and let good old rock ’n’ roll blare throughout the camp.

It didn’t take long. We watched from outside, and pretty soon the mother raccoon poked out of the chimney with a kit held in her jaws. She was moving out.

We kept the racket up until she had transferred all of her family.

So, there you go – porcupines, skunks, woodchucks and raccoons.

I know we’re living in the animals’ backyards, so to speak, and we have to learn how to get along, but like the poet Robert Frost said, “Good fences make good neighbors,” as well as a few good traps.

¶

www.MaineSportsman.com

58 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Ready for Some Time Travel?

Let’s Go Have you ever wanted to travel back in time? Yes, indeed, that is possible! And it’s pretty simple. Let me explain how.

Classic Stories in Different Times I’ve always been a fan of classic outdoor writers from back in the day, before television, when people read more books and magazines for entertainment. Stories about hunting, fishing and adventuring in monthly magazines like Field and Stream, Outdoor Life, Colliers and Saturday Evening Post were very popular ways for people to “experience” adventures in far-away places.

Reading these classic stories will transport you in time, every time.

The language is slightly different, especially the slang. Sporting equipment surely was different: bamboo fly rods, greased fly lines, gut leaders, carbines and side-by-side shotguns, wool jackets and canvas tents.

And people traveled on steamers and trains. They drove Ford Model As, big Packards or old jalopies. Folks wrote letters or sent telegrams to get information about where they wanted to go. Long-distance phone calls were expensive and often involved nosey operators on party lines. www.MaineSportsman.com

To get the true flavor of how the outdoors in Maine and elsewhere used to be, obtain and read copies of classic old books or collections of stories. You’ll be transported back in time.

Books from the author’s personal collection.

How To Do It All you need to do is find copies of old books or collections of stories. Some of the best writers are regularly republished, and their books are still in print. You can go back to a particular time simply by going to your local library or a used bookstore.

Many older stories and books are out of print, but some of the oldest can be found online, if the copyright was not renewed.

What is believed to be the first American fly-fishing story is called “The Angler,” written by Washington Irving, a humorous tale of “piscatory tactics” in the Highland of the Hudson and later conversations with an ancient angler in England in the early 19th century. The story was published in 1819 in The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent, along with “Rip Van

Winkle” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

You can find the free e-book on the Project Gutenberg website Gutenberg.org.

Famous Writers Henry David Thoreau climbed Mt. Katahdin in the 1840s and later traversed Moosehead and Chesuncook Lakes and both Penobscot Rivers.

Want to travel with him and his Penobscot Indian guides, paddling in birchbark canoes and portaging across Northeast Carry? Stewing tree-cranberries, hunting moose, and eating chivin (fallfish)?

You can do it!

Just pick up a copy of Thoreau’s The Maine Woods, and off you go.

Papa, Norman, Corey and Robert In 1919, Ernest Hemingway fished with friends on the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and turned

his true adventure into his classic Nick Adams story, called “Big Two-Hearted River.” Recently home from World War I, Nick gets off the train at the depot in Seney and walks through a burned village and forest to camp and fish the river. If you haven’t read the story, it’s worth finding a copy.

One of the greatest outdoor stories ever.

How about traveling to the 1930s in Montana? We’ve all seen the movie A River Runs Through It, but Norman Maclean’s novella will pick you up and plunk you right in the river, or in a smoky watering hole.

No movie can match the experience.

Some good sources for used, out of print books on-line are Abe Books, Thrift Books, or Alibris. Or browse through your favorite used bookstore.

One of my favorite

writers is Corey Ford, who wrote a monthly feature for Field and Stream in the 1950s and 60s about the fictional Lower Forty Shooting, Angling and Inside Straight Club, based loosely on his own group of friends who enjoyed hunting and fishing together.

The slapstick humor and personalities are just what you would expect for the post-war years, including – as you might also expect – plenty of gender stereotypes and insensitive references. But, if you could actually travel through time, that is what you’d get.

Ford’s stories are published in various collections. See if you can find a used copy of Minutes of the Lower Forty or Uncle Perk’s Jug, pour yourself a blast of Old Stump Blower, and put on your laughing pants.

Another favorite is Robert Traver, who spun yarns in Trout Madness and Trout Magic from the 1930s into the 1960s, also on Michigan’s U.P. Maine Writers Plenty of classic outdoor writers featured stories set in Maine. Louise Dickinson Rich’s We Took to the Woods will transport you to the Rapid River in the 1930s.

Edmund Ware Smith’s collection Up(Sporting Environment continued on page 60)

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 59

Roads, Gates, Signs and Bikes We all know how it feels.

You’re driving around, exploring a network of woods roads in some remote corner of the state. Window down, dog-eared Delorme Atlas open on the dashboard, GPS up and running, truck moving slowly as you rubberneck the passing terrain. Maybe you’re scouting for the upcoming moose season, or your eyes are searching the soft gravel shoulder for deer tracks.

Suddenly, you drive around a corner, and there in front of you is a huge, industrial-size, stay-the-hell-out kind of gate.

Often the welded-steel cross members are painted yellow or some other high visibility color – and are firmly secured with a monster padlock. Insurmountable evidence that your truck is not welcome to travel any farther on this road.

Time to turn around.

Except, you had the forethought to toss your mountain bike in the bed of your truck before entering the woods.

Now what?

Complicated Questions Because ownership, management, and recreational easements on private timberland in Maine are so complicated, this is not an easy question to answer.

Maine has thousands of miles of open logging roads that crisscross the remote sections of the state. In the absence of posting, the roads and the private land they cross are generally open to hunters.

When recreational users are blocked by an unanticipated gate, they must determine what that means for non-motorized access before proceeding by bike or on foot.

When in doubt, the safest option is always to turn our vehicle around and seek explicit permission from the landowner or manager before proceeding into the area.

But private landowners gate their property for any number of reasons.

Typically, gates are erected to protect expensive investments in harvest roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, from damage by recreational motorists.

Because non-motorized bicycles and foot traffic are capable of very little damage to these assets, many landowners and managers permit self-propelled travel on their roads – even behind these

If you encounter a gate, can you continue down the road on your mountain bike? Well, it depends.

Some signs provide clear guidance, re: access. Photos by the author

locked gates.

So, the elemental question: What does this gate mean?

“Signs, Signs, Everywhere A Sign ….”

In remote areas, the only guidance immediately available to potential self-propelled users are the signs posted on or near the gate. The best signs specifically spell out the type of access allowed.

AUTHORIZED VEHICLES ONLY BEYOND THIS GATE EVEN WHEN THE GATE IS OPEN WALKERS AND NON-MOTORIZED BICYCLES ARE WELCOME. Simple, straightforward, and descriptive, the signs posted on the gate at mile four of the Gander Brook Road, west of Jackman, have always been a model of clarity. The gate protects a massive harvest-road system that accesses all of Attean Township. This gate also ensures that motorized recreational traffic is prohibited within a half-mile of several state-designated remote trout ponds that lie in this area.

The T-Word On the other end of the spectrum, are equally clear, but less-welcoming signs, that prohibit both motorized and

non-motorized travel beyond the gate. If the signs at the gate contain the word “Trespassing,” any further progress puts us at risk of criminal prosecution.

It doesn’t matter that we think our bike tires will never harm the logging road.

It doesn’t matter if the big buck we are tracking ducks under the gate and crosses on to this property.

These types of gates are often intended to protect privately owned or leased hunting and fishing areas. Regardless of how we might personally feel about that kind of exclusivity, it’s time to turn around.

The Muddle in the Middle But most signs at gates don’t provide this kind of clear guidance. Often gates will have no signs whatsoever. Or if signs are present, they can be confusing. In fact, two signs at the same gate can sometimes directly contradict each other.

A very common problem is signs that specifically prohibit motorized access, or signs that prohibit “vehicles”– but are silent on non-motorized bikes and foot travel. On these occasions, the self-propelled traveler needs to gauge how comfortable he or she is in assuming that – in the absence of a direct prohibition – non-motorized access is granted.

I have biked past gates under these circumstances on many occasions and never been confronted about my decision. However, I have also looked over my shoulder more than once with concern that my interpretation might not match up with that of an irate camp owner.

Maine North Woods Special Rule Mountain bikes are not welcome inside the Maine North Woods. The regulations specifically prohibit bicycles from any roads or trails inside the system – gated or otherwise. The organization cites concerns about “logging road safety”, and the danger of remote forest fires that are difficult to access, to justify the regulation.

This may be an example of where a blanket prohibition is simply easier to enforce than permitting use on closed, gated, ditched or otherwise impassable (Continued on next page) www.MaineSportsman.com

60 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Self-Propelled Sportsman (Continued from page 59) Where motorized vehicles are specifically prohibited, self-propelled devices are often allowed.

Some signs make clear that bikes are not only allowed, but encouraged.

Sporting Environment (Continued from page 58)

river and Down takes you fishing in the 1950s with Jake’s Rangers, as they guide Justice William O. Douglas in

Quotable

Sportsman

by Will Lund

“Stay close to shore, and limit splashing.”

One of the tips offered to “minimize the chances of interacting with a shark,” according to Maine’s Department of Marine Resources (DMR), in a July 24, 2023 press release titled “DMR issues shark safety advisory after sightings in New York, New England.” The release was accompanied by the photo shown here, and it was only by reading carefully that it became clear the photo was taken four years ago, in Massachusetts.

A “No Trespassing” sign is an unequivocal prohibition against proceeding further by any means.

roads for motor vehicles.

Whatever the reason, a wise camper will leave their mountain bike in the garage when visiting MNW. Standard Rules of Respect for Landowners It should go without saying that motor vehicles should never be parked in such

“Buzz, the older, was a ranger and director of Baxter State Park. His brother Tim was a ranger in the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.

They are now both retired. Their www.MaineSportsman.com

¶

Baxter Park.

And let’s not forget Arthur MacDougall’s remarkable Dud Dean stories, which will set you down on the Kennebec River with fictional Maine guide, Dud Dean, and his friend Mak during the 1920s and 30s.

So much time travel; so little time.

Finding copies of these great stories is well worth the effort.

The columnist is the author of the book Storied Waters, available at www. watchyourbackcast.com.

combined ranger experience totals nearly 80 years, and they’ve got the stories to prove it.”

Excerpt of a book review of “Conversations – Ranger Tales from Maine,” by Tim and Buzz Caverly; reviewed by Bill Bushnell, and printed in the Kennebec Journal and the Waterville Sentinel, July 14, 2023 —

New York Times, in a July 7, 2023 article titled “How Mistaken Identity and One Bullet Revealed a Star Predator Far From Home.” The sub-headline stated, “A hunter’s kill in upstate New York brought new hope, and trepidation, that wolves could slowly be making their way back to the Northeast.” On the question whether wolves are actually back, the article quotes one expert as saying, “It’s a hot mess” since “a lot of genetics are being shared among all these canines (wolves, coyotes and dogs), and that creates a lot of confusion for the public and challenges for management.”

—

“Whenever you go camping, be sure to take along some Schmidt’s – one beautiful beer.”

From a 1966 Camping Guide, sponsored and printed by Schmidt’s of Philadelphia.

— —

a way that they block the gate itself.

If you know you will encounter a gate, and who the landowner or manager is, you should contact them directly in advance for the rules on access.

Carry out any items you carry inside the gate – including trash.

“Genetic analysis and other testing revealed that the 85-pound animal killed in December 2021 near Cooperstown, NY was actually a gray wolf. By all indications, it was not an escaped captive.”

¶

“Because Nyheim Hines suffered a non-football injury, his salary of $2.56 million gets wiped away. However, things get even stickier on the question of whether – and to what extent – Hines owes money back to the Buffalo Bills.”

Yahoo Sports, in an article titled “Nyheim Hines, Bills at odds over financial consequences of non-football injury.”

Hines was injured in a jet ski accident, although he was reportedly stationary on his machine at a dock when he was struck by another rider. “At issue,” continues the article, “is a $500,000 bonus Hines is owed from last season, as well as a $1.5 million signing bonus allocation for 2023 from Hines’s prior contract with the Colts.”

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 61

September is for Salmon Why does the author fish Moosehead more than any other lake? “Because,” he explains, “I consider Moosehead Lake to be the center of the universe.”

Salmon lakes in the Moosehead Region share one thing in common in September. That is, fishing is great, and the chances of taking large fish are, on average, better.

Looking back over the years of salmon caught, salmon lost, and salmon seen in other people’s boats, the picture becomes clear. September is for salmon – good salmon.

I fish Moosehead Lake more than any other place, for several reasons. I always catch fish, sometimes big fish; the lake is never crowded with other boats, something that continues to puzzle me, considering the great fishing; and last, I consider Moosehead Lake the center of the universe.

For me, Moosehead Lake is like home. It’s comfortable.

The only surprises are that sometimes the good fishing becomes even better. Put me on Moosehead Lake, and I’m content. Do it in September, and I’m ecstatic.

Wobbler Benefits My friend Bob Lawrence, who has a pontoon-boat rental business in Rockwood, has spent the better part of a lifetime fishing and guiding on Moosehead Lake. One of Bob’s favorite maxims is that while you

may take bigger fish on bait, you’ll catch many more fish on artificials. That doesn’t mean that bigger fish won’t hit artificials, either, because they certainly do.

People accustomed to fishing smaller waters in the age-old tradition of trolling spoons – Les Davis lake trolls, for instance, with a live, preserved or frozen smelt trailing behind – may be well advised to leave such gear home.

Moosehead Lake is a huge lake, an inland sea, and it offers a lot of ground to cover. Given that trolling with bait necessitates slow trolling, such methods necessarily limit the fish that see your offerings.

Artificials, specifically wobbling spoons, remain effective even when trolled relatively fast. Doing this allows the angler to present the spoon to as many fish as possible. This concept is viable all season long.

If you catch more fish, the law of aver-

ages dictates that in doing so, you’ll also take a requisite number of larger fish. Besides all that, trolling with wobbling spoons saves reeling in to check the bait after a fish hits but fails to get hooked. Also, there is no re-baiting after taking a fish. Just drop the lure back in, and you’re good to go.

Lure Choices Of course, it’s not as simple as just randomly picking a spoon from the tackle box and taking fish with it. There are different brands to choose from, as well as different colors and color combinations, and different sizes. So how do you know what to use?

Word-of-mouth stands as the best way to gather firsthand knowledge. If you know someone who regularly fishes the lake, or who just completed a successful trip, by all means ask them what they used. They’ll likely be pleased to give details

A young client shows the big Moosehead salmon he took while fishing with Maine guide Eric Holbrook. E. Holbrook photo

(Continued on next page)

Holbrooks Guide Service Fishing • Moose Watching • Bird Hunting Eric Holbrook, Master Maine Guide

Moosehead Region (207) 349-0366 • www.HolbrooksGuideService.com www.MaineSportsman.com

62 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Moosehead Region (Continued from page 61)

on how they scored.

It’s like asking somebody how their grandchildren are doing

– they’ll fall all over themselves giving you all the minute details.

It’s the same with fish-

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One of the first things I do upon entering Greenville is to stop in to the Indian Hill Trading Post and ask my friend Jamie what lure fish are currently hitting. If Jamie isn’t there, any of the other people there are always glad to help. They want you to catch fish. That way, they’ll sell more lures.

Besides that, they are all just nice folks.

So, equipped with a few proven fish-killers, you can head out on the lake, full of confidence that you are using the best possible lures.

Please email letter of interest, resume/work history, and two references to ads@mainesportsman.com.

Tiny Works Here’s something

worth discussing. It has to do with smelt size and lure size.

I learned this trick from a man who guided salmon fishermen on New Hampshire’s Lake Winnipesaukee. Distilled down to its basics, it is this – match your lure to the size of the smelt in the lake where you are fishing.

The rationale for this makes all kinds of sense. Young-ofthe-year smelt, born in spring, make up the bulk of smelt in the lake in September.

The little guys far outnumber mature fish.

Sometimes when trolling, you’ll see an odd sight on your fish locator screen – a solid, irregular mass. Most of

these smelt measure 2 inches or less.

Given that, doesn’t it make sense to use trolling lures that duplicate the size of the fish that salmon and other coldwater game fish are feeding upon?

Of course it does. It’s like matching the hatch, in fly-fishing parlance.

Fortunately, Breck, manufacturer of Mooselook Wobblers, offers their famous spoons, Mooselook Midgets, in just the size we need for September. The slightly larger Mooselook Juniors, kind of an in-between size, also account for fish.

Hit the water now.

Action is hot!

¶

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������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 63

The New September Rather than bemoan this longer warm season, the author instead makes the most of it. Much of the so-called “fall season,” he says, is really only an extension of the summer season.

Back in my day, September signaled the end of the fishing season. Streams and rivers closed on the 15th, my birthday. I would always go trout fishing that day, and usually caught several good-sized brown trout. Fishing in lakes and ponds lasted until month’s end, and white perch bit well.

But when the month ended, so did the fishing season.

Today, September signals the beginning, not the end, of the new fall fishing season. Many stocked streams and rivers remain open yearround, and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (DIF&W) stocks fall yearling trout, along with a smattering of retired broodstock fish. Imagine catching an 8-pound brown trout in your local river.

Saltwater fishing remains hot, with some anglers continuing to take striped bass, and others finding large schools of mackerel holding in near-shore locations.

And as always, panfish continue to bite like mad through September. Still evenings see people taking white perch and black crappies along

the shorelines. What with the crowds of summer having returned to their regular routines, lakes and ponds are now pretty much open to anglers.

What could be better?

Longer Summer Summers have gotten longer over the last few years. The first frost of the season used to strike in late August or early September. Now, it seems frost isn’t a concern until some time in October. This isn’t always the case, but on average, frosts come later, as summer’s warmth lingers.

Rather than bemoan this longer warm season, I instead make the most of it. Pleasant days on the water now seem the norm for September, and given a later harvest of homegrown vegetables, we can stretch out our gardening year. Much of the so-called “fall season” is really only an extension of the summer season.

September has become my favorite month for mackerel fishing. The pressure is off, and floats, public landings and breakwaters that swarmed with people a few months ago now offer plenty of elbow room. The macker-

el haven’t gone anywhere, either. Schools continue to hug the shore along breakwaters and to swarm in secluded coves and to forage around floats and wharves.

One item to note is that the fall harbor pollock fishing season comes later and later, if at all. But as long as mackerel continue to bite (last year, I took some mackerel in early December), that’s fine with me.

Pickerel Time Overshadowed by bass and pike, our native member of the Esox tribe comes alive in September. Try fishing in smaller waters such as mill ponds and small impoundments, especially the shallower type where DIF&W has planted wild rice for waterfowl. Pickerel thrive in such places.

While pickerel bite year-round, the best times are early spring, before aquatic weeds begin to grow, and in September. As with so many other fish, pickerel become ravenous beginning in September, and the bite continues later on into the fall.

One thing that always amazed me about pickerel fishing in small ponds in September was

Togue bite well through September, as demonstrated here by the author. Photo provided by Tom Seymour

the size of the fish. I have caught some of my largest pickerel at this time. I’ve also lost some monsters.

Once, while reeling in a 16-inch pickerel, my fish suddenly became heavier. A larger pickerel, perhaps 7 or 8 pounds, grabbed my fish and wouldn’t let go. I fought the Leviathan to a standstill, and when it was almost ready for me to pick it up, it opened its mouth, out popped the smaller pickerel, and my monster slowly sank back and glided off to deeper water.

Another time, again in the local mill pond, I was casting a Cleo lure, and a lunker pickerel bit. This was only lip-hooked, and it jumped like a salmon, shook its head, and threw the small but heavy lure back at me.

The fish was so close when it leapt that water droplets landed on my leg. Needless to say, the incident left me shaken.

School’s In As mentioned earlier, white perch schools (Midcoast Reporrt ccontinued on next page)

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64 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Fishing with the Author – Boom or Bust In my personal experience, fishing trips go one of two ways – either 1) the fishing will be red-hot, resulting in pandemonium, leading to lost and broken gear amidst the chaos; or 2) we’ll be completely skunked, which may also result in lost and broken gear as we take out our frustration and grief.

It’s really no surprise that my friends don’t usually make the mistake of going fishing with me a second time.

One particular trolling outing proved my point exactly.

This Summer on Sebago Early this summer, I found that trolling on Sebago was a little different than usual. I’m not really sure what the reason was, but I found that salmon and togue were up extremely shallow.

In June, for example, I was catching salmon on the surface, and togue 20 30 feet down. I was marking fish on the fishfinder deeper on bottom, but they didn’t typically have much interest in my presentation.

I took some friends from work on a little evening trolling trip, and I think I surprised even myself with the results.

After work and supper, we launched in Casco and set course to a spot I was interested in trying. Upon hitting our desired depth, I began putting gear out.

Starting with the downrigger, I set a heavy spoon not far behind the weight.

I kept the weight just above the bottom, allowing the spoon to scuff through the silt.

Next up, my favorite trolling tool: lead-core rods. I set two, one off each side of the boat. Having a friend set the second line, I advised him to set it deep – I wanted the dodger and lure to have some action on bottom. I set the other one about five colors out. I usually calculate a depth of about eight feet per color

Mid-Coast Report (Continued from page 63)

remain intact in September. In fact, I believe the schools even grow larger now. While fish will bite throughout the day, the best times (so what’s new?) are early mornings and evenings. Some of my fondest memories center around www.MaineSportsman.com

“Rods were tripping, people were yelling, fish were being caught, and valuable gear was being lost.”

The author’s hectic evening on the water included landing this 28-inch togue.

set out at a 1.5 mph trolling speed.

Lastly, we had two surface lines.

One was placed on a planer board, to get it out away from the boat, and the other straight back, over the top of the deep lines.

First togue ever for one of the author’s friends.

launching my boat on still, September mornings, and watching, anxiously as hundreds of silvery white perch leaped and cavorted on the glassy surface.

The secret to taking fish from surface-feeding schools is to not scare them. If using a boat and motor, approach the school ever-so-slowly, turn off the motor when within 100 feet or

Then we waited … and waited. And then we waited some more. What we did after that? Waited. Not much happened besides some fuel burn, frustration, and despair. At one point, I was sure mutiny was going to break out on the boat.

Finally – Action And that’s when the unthinkable happened – we hooked into something.

Handing the rod off to one of my cronies, I prepared the net. We landed a nice fish – a togue, around 18 inches.

I don’t quite remember what happened next – just bits and pieces through the utter tumult and turmoil, and commotion and kerfuffle, that broke out.

Rods were tripping, people were yelling, fish were being caught, and released, and lost.

This was all right at dusk – just getting dark enough that it’s difficult to see.

We played a few fish, broke a few lines, lost (too much) rigging, and had plenty of excitement.

Gear Recovery By the time it got too dark to see, we had wrapped a line in the prop, and lost a downrigger ball. This is where most would cut their losses and head home.

Me? I got in the water to save my blessed rigging. You really think I can afford more lead core or spinners? Think again.

After I completed my quick swim under the boat and (shut off) motor, we were on our way. We ended the trip with a creel of three fish – an 18-inch togue, a 20-inch salmon (which was a big surprise), and a lunker of a togue – 28 inches.

This trip taught me a lesson: I was about ready to pack it in, and give up on the trip. Because I waited just a little longer, we got on a lot of fish, and had an absolute blast with some friends.

¶

so, and silently drift in until within casting distance. Usually, you’ll hook a fish on the first cast.

Such action doesn’t last long, and the school will dive when morning breezes stir the water. But while it lasts, it is sight-fishing at its best.

¶

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 65

Not Yet It’s early Saturday evening, just a little after dark on November 1st, 1997, and very warm for the first day of hunting season. I am hunkered down in some hardwoods with wardens Kevin Adam and Dan Scott in the Town of Levant.

We are watching three men who are standing around in a dooryard talking quietly; they are accompanied by a rather large dog.

As we watched, a light shone out the window toward the back field and the apple trees. It swept the area, then went out.

Fifteen minutes later, the light shone again.

Why Are We There?

It started about two weeks prior.

I was in my office at the Bangor headquarters when our secretary popped her head in and said, “There’s a man out in my office who’s asking to see you about people shooting deer at night.”

I hustled out, introduced myself, and inquired as how I could help him.

He quickly replied, “You can help me by catching those guys next to my house.”

I replied, “Let’s go out back to my office, and we can talk.”

The Low-Down My visitor explained that a man from Massachusetts owned a farmhouse along with an adjacent barn next to his residence. He stated that the place is vacant most of the time, but people always come for the first week of deer season.

His issue with them was that they shoot deer at night out of a rear window of the barn, and he was sick of it. He went on to describe how they mow an area behind the barn that is dotted with apple trees, to help draw in the deer at night. He also mentioned that they were always there for the first days (and nights) of hunting season.

I thanked him, and promised to do our best to address his concerns.

Reconnoitering and Making a Plan The next afternoon I made a trip to the area in question, and after driving by the premises, I determined it was not occupied. I stashed my truck and made a short trip through the woods to get the lay of the land out in back of the barn.

The area was just as had been described to me, including a window located high up on the second level of the barn. I could tell the open area behind the barn and around the apple trees had recently been mowed, utilizing a farm tractor and rotary type mower.

The Massachusetts owners of the Maine farm had mowed the field in back of the barn around the apple trees, apparently to attract deer at night.

Later that day I contacted Warden Scott and suggested we make this situation a priority, so we agreed to set aside the appropriate amount of time on opening day to give this our undivided attention.

Opening Day As usual, the first day of firearms season was quite busy and had us running here, there and everywhere, but as the sun sank in the west, Warden Scott and I met up with Warden Adam in Exeter to focus on our mission for that evening. I had driven past the residence in question earlier that day and verified by observing vehicles in the driveway that the Massachusetts people were at the property.

Shortly after dark, we took two vehicles to the same place I had previously concealed mine, and cautiously made our way through the woods to the residence. As we got close, we could hear

people talking. By a dim light in the dooryard, we saw that three men were standing between the house and barn.

They appeared to be talking, and partaking in some libation.

To our great apprehension, we realized there was also a dog in the yard, and it started to make a fuss. Clearly, it had sensed something concerning our presence, and it could upset the hole applecart.

Luckily for us, a man in the yard said, “You better put the dog in the house, before it scares everything away.” I took that as a clue that they weren’t talking about humans, and also as an encouraging sign of their pending intentions. Not long after, they put the dog in, and they also all went inside.

The Wait All was silent for about an hour, until two men emerged from the house and entered the barn. We could tell they were carrying a long gun and some other items, but weren’t sure what else.

After another ten minutes, we observed a spotlight being shone from high up in the back of the barn into the open field and apple trees. The light swept the area and then went out. We continued to wait, and about fifteen minutes later, the light shone again.

We decided it was now time to make our move, so we got up to move. However, we had to wait a little, as one of Warden Adam’s legs had gone to sleep while he was sitting motionless.

In stealth mode, we made our way in the darkness to the front of the barn, and through a set of large doors that were slid open up just enough to walk through.

It was dark inside. We stepped in through the doors, and as we did, I sensed something blocking my path. I reached out to touch it, and realized it was a hanging deer, and that the boys had already had some luck, probably the night before.

Looking up, I spoke to whomever was in the barn in a soft whispering tone, and asked, “See any deer?”

I got a whispered reply from high up in the back of the barn, “Not yet.”

¶

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66 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Cool Nights and Hot Fishing This Month Guides can learn from each other. After spending a day on the water this summer with fellow guides CJ Harmon of Burnt Meadow Guide Service and Dan Hillier of Songo River Guide Service, the author experimented with his downrigger settings, and those adjustments paid dividends.

September in any lakes region is bittersweet, and the Sebago Lake Region is no exception.

Summer kids (which I was) must abandon family camps and head back to school. Favorite seasonal restaurants close. Summer romances go dormant until next year. But the fishing is heating up, so do not despair!

As the lake turns and cooler waters take over, salmon and lake trout become more active on Sebago Lake (DeLorme Atlas, Map 5, C-1). After a great salmon year this spring and summer, I long for those cool days and crisp nights of September, when you can usually count on another uptick in fish action. While the

camps and many businesses go to sleep, the lake awakens for diligent anglers. It is local season on the water!

September Techniques I try to run trolling fly rods all season long. There is something about a salmon or lake trout caught on a whippy fly rod that provides both a challenge and a thrill. Using specialized trolling fly line, I can get baited lines down 25 to 28 feet at my preferred bait speed of 1.2 mph.

Lures on the fly line will run about 20 to 25 feet deep at my favorite 2.5 mph. This is a great depth in September, as cooler, oxygenated water presents at those depths. What is also nice is you can never tell if you have

a laker or a salmon at first strike.

Lake trout anglers can still find fish on bottom, too. My theory is that they hang there after eating. My old angler buddy was talking to a fisheries biologist, and my friend asked the biologist if lakers were territorial.

The biologist told him that if you catch a big laker out of a specific spot, something drew that fish there.

Maybe it was a good vantage point; maybe it provided some cover. The biologist said if you take that fish away, another similar-sized fish will take the spot over. That is something to think about!

Serious lake trout anglers use downriggers to get their bait on

Tom Roth shows off a healthy September Sebago Lake togue. Photo provided by the author

bottom. After spending a day on the water this summer with fellow guides CJ Harmon of Burnt Meadow Guide Service and Dan Hillier of Songo River Guide Service, I experimented a bit with my downrigger settings.

We all generally fish using the same methods, but our fine-tuned techniques vary.

After watching how they set up, I tried a few new approaches myself. One thing I did was run my bait or lure close to the downrigger ball.

This eliminated many bottom snags with a

Now Carrying:

longer presentation. I also tried running one downrigger on bottom, and one set ten feet up.

This higher rig caught more fish this spring and summer, so I am hooked, pun intended.

CJ liked to really load up his rod in the holder, meaning tightening the line up so tight that the rod doubles over. I noticed after trying this I could see nibbles and got solid hook sets. Again, I am hooked!

Dan had great success using Gulp imitation smelt bait. On the days I ran out of bait (guides love those days!), I switched to Gulp, and continued to catch fish.

The moral of the story is to be open-minded and listen to the experts – we can always learn more about fishing.

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(Sebago to Auburn continued on page 69)

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 67

Porter Woman Fights Bear in Her Backyard The Maine Warden Service is investigating a bear attack that happened in Porter on June 30 at around 11 a.m.

Sixty-four-year-old Lynn Kelly, from Porter, was working in her backyard when her dog started barking and ran into the woods behind her home. Her dog continued to bark and yelp. Kelly went to investigate.

Her dog came running from the woods, being chased by a bear.

Kelly confronted the bear, the bear stood up, and Kelly punched the bear in the nose.

The bear fought back, biting Kelly on her right hand.

Luckily for Kelly, the bear released her hand and ran back into the woods.

Kelly was transported by ambulance to Memorial Hospital in North Conway, where she was treated for puncture wounds to her wrist. Her dog was unharmed.

Bear encounters are on the increase all over the state – not only in more northern areas, but here in Southern Maine; and even in coastal locations.

My Encounter I was bear hunting with Mike Bemis in Andover, Maine. Local farmers there were experiencing crop damage from pillaging bear, so we started at a corn field.

Soon, Mike’s

When the author read about a woman in Porter who was injured by a bear, he could relate – from his own personal experience.

Compare weapons. Who would win in a fight between a bear and a kid on a swing-set, or a bear and a person working in their garden? The people would not stand a chance. The author has experience with hand-to-hand combat with a bear, and he believes Maine needs to become more proactive, reducing bear populations, to prevent bear encounters. Is it time to return to a spring bear season? Marquez photo

hounds were released on a fresh bear track.

The chase lasted all morning and into the mid-afternoon, and it covered miles in the rugged mountains. The bear treed, and I moved in with a 70-pound longbow I had made just for this hunt.

As I neared the tree, the bear jumped and ran off.

Mike released the Plott hounds, and the chase was on once again. This happened three more times, and then things turned bad, quickly.

That bear was done running. It started fighting with Mike’s

hounds. I couldn’t release an arrow, because the bear and dogs were entangled in a raging fight.

To protect his dogs, Mike ran into the fight and started hitting the bear on the head with a dog chain; I stood there with a nocked arrow, hoping to get a shot at the bear’s vitals if and when the bear moved away from the dogs and Mike.

Mike was knocked down and landed on his back. His dogs stopped fighting and all of us just stared at each other. Time stood still. The extremely mad bear locked his eyes on me – after

all, I was the only one standing with a weapon.

This was one of those “Oh, crap!” moments for me.

Killed a Hound The bear ran toward me. Instinctively, I poked it in the face with the tip of the longbow as I fell backwards.

Mike’s dogs jumped the bear again and were fighting on my legs, as I tried to kick them off me.

The enraged bear gripped Mike’s best Plott hound by the neck and whipped it around like a wet rag, killing it.

That dog was the oldest dog and leader of the pack. The other dogs, seeing their leader lying lifeless on the ground, whimpered and backed away from the fight.

The bear stared at me, and then ran off up the mountain. All was quiet, except the whimpering dogs.

Mike was devastated. It was a long, silent hike from the mountain – no words were spoken.

Author Discovers Injury At the truck, I removed my rubber boots. One was full of water. We had crossed a few brooks, I thought to myself, I didn’t remember them being deep enough to go over my boots.

But it wasn’t water; it was blood. I had a deep cut on my left leg, and blood was streaming down into my boot. The scar is still there.

We traveled nonstop back to Shapleigh. It was around 2 a.m. when I reached home.

Doris had used the dead bolt to lock the door, so I had to knock to wake her. As she opened the door, I was standing there, covered with blood, sweat, dog hair, bear hair, and mud. She asked, “What happened?”

I replied, “I need a shower.”

(Southern Maine continued on page 69) www.MaineSportsman.com

68 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Fur Handling – Boards (Stretchers), and Beams Thinking about gearing up for the upcoming trapping season makes August and September good times to inventory your equipment. Trapping will start in a month or two, and the different gatherings of trappers at upcoming rendezvous are the times to buy your supplies, if you don’t have a local dealer.

After you inventory what you have, there are some items that you can make yourself to save money instead of buying.

Among these are the fur stretchers that the pelts of different furbearers are dried on.

Stretchers Most stretchers that are commercially available are made of wood or heavy-gauge wire. Fur buyers will generally tell you that a pelt from a proper wood board stretcher is more desirable than those put up on wire

Proper handling and drying of prime furs will help a trapper maximize his or her profit realized from trapping. stretchers.

Some furbearer species’ boards come in two sizes. These are sized for the sex of the furbearer due to the size differences, such as those for female and male fisher (male fishers are about 20% bigger).

If you want to make your own stretchers, there are several things to consider, including selection of the type of wood to be used. Commonly-used woods are basswood, cedar, and white pine.

Hardwood is not used, because of the difficulty of fastening the pelt to the board.

There are a few regional variations in the size of furbearers, so some trappers may buy one stretcher from a local trapping supplier as a sample. This

is an easy way to adjust to variations from the “standard size” measurements for furbearers in your region.

There are several sources where one can get the standard dimensions of the various boards. One publication that is a source for dimensions is the National Trappers Association’s “Trappers Handbook – A guide for better trapping.”

This handbook is a part of the package you receive when you take the required trapper’s course to get your license.

Constructing Stretchers Remember that proper fur handling is one of the two most important things you can do to maximize the profit realized from trapping. The other

factor is ensuring your pelts are prime.

When making your own stretchers, remember the type of wood used is important. Today, small furbearer pelts such as muskrat, mink and marten are usually boarded by the use of push pins, while larger ones such as otter, beaver and coyote are attached to the stretcher with small nails.

To make stretchers, start with a board of proper length and width. The thickness varies with the size of the board to be made.

My mink and marten boards are 3/16ths” to ¼” thick, while my fox, fisher and bobcat boards are ½ inch thick.

The sides of stretchers need to be beveled (but not to a sharp edge) to enhance the shape of the pelt and to ease its removal from the board once dried.

Belly Boards, and Finishing the Wood In use, each stretcher requires a wedge-shaped belly board. The belly boards are needed to hold the pelt up on the stretchers a small amount while drying. If you don’t use a belly board, you will not be able to remove

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the pelt, because the pelt shrinks slightly as it dries. Each size stretcher should have its own belly board.

A few trappers apply a coat of polyurethane, varnish or shellac to make stretchers last longer, although most feel this is not necessary. I have and use mink and marten boards that my grandfather gave me when I was a kid. I have no idea how old they are, but they are still doing their job.

While using these vintage stretchers, I have received several “Top Lot” awards for furs sent into the old North American Fur Auction. The Top Lot award was for the best-of-the-best handled prime furs sent to auction. They were set aside for special bidding, and brought the highest prices at the auctions. When they are well cared-for, a stretcher will outlast the trapper.

Every time a stretcher has a pelt removed, it should be wiped down with a cloth to remove any grease, blood or other debris left over from the pelt. Also, when done at the end of fur handling, they should be stored properly to prevent warping or other damage.

Storage Small stretchers such as mink or muskrat should be neatly (Continued on next page)

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 69 (Continued from page 68)

stacked in a position that prevents damage, while larger sized stretchers such as those used for coyote, fox or otter, may be hung like when used for pelting or neatly stacked to prevent damage while in storage.

Fleshing Beams Another piece of equipment requiring the same type of care given stretchers is the fleshing beam. A fleshing beam gets a lot of hard use while fur handling.

Most all pelts are fleshed on a beam, the exception being a few small furbearers such as muskrat, marten, mink and weasel. Trappers either flesh on the stretcher, or they make a spe-

cial small version of a beam, which is usually mounted on a workbench to handle these easily-fleshed pelts.

Small fleshing beams are normally used in conjunction with a single-handled fleshing tool or even a large spoon.

Larger furbearers, such as beaver, otter and coyote, require a lot of work and time on a beam with a two-handled fleshing knife to remove tough flesh and in some cases large amounts of fat and gristle.

Construction of a Beam There are several ways for a fleshing beam to be constructed and rigged for use.

Most beams are made of wood, although a few are made of fiberglass. The fiber-

Sebago to Auburn

(Continued from page 66)

and women who are passionate about fishing our lake.

One of our most popular functions is awarding lifetime fishing licenses to area youth. Another popular event is the annual lake trout derby. This year, the derby will be held on September 9 and 10.

The fisheries biologists want the lakers thinned, to assist the salmon population and provide for more larger lakers. This derby supports that goal.

Southern Maine (Continued from page 67)

A Matter of Time It’s not a matter of whether a bear will maul or kill someone here in Maine; it’s a matter of when it happens, because for sure it will happen.

Humans and pets are mauled by bear, and deaths occur, each year in this country, as well as around the world.

Concerned homeowners here in Maine should go onto the DIF&W website for information and methods to

A mink stretcher and belly board. Photo and illustrations by the author

Dimensions for a stretcher to fit a fox or male fisher pelt.

glass ones are simply wiped or washed down after use.

Wood fleshing beams require the same care as wooden

stretchers. The only real difference is that most all beams are made of a very hard wood to prevent damage to the surface of

There are prizes for everything from the biggest to the smallest fish. Most area fishing shops have registration details, and you can also find information on the Angler Association’s Facebook page. Good luck to all!

Other Locales September angling heats up on other lakes, as well. Lake Auburn (Map 11, E-4) is a top laker lake, and has a healthy population of salmon. Double-digits are caught every season, and this month is a good one to catch them higher in the water column. Trolling along the buoys or around Salmon Point are good starting points for lakers and salmon. reduce the chances of encounters with bear. Taking steps such as removing bird feeders, and keeping garbage inside the garage rather than outside, will help reduce encounters.

But what about kids playing in their back yards or someone working in their garden? Removing bird feeders will not help them. Maine needs to take a proactive approach, and not passive measures. Is it time to bring back a spring bear season?

Consider that bear have acute memories – they remember every food

Measurements for a stretcher for a muskrat.

the beam or a pelt while utilizing a two handled fleshing knife to work hard-to-flesh pelts.

¶

Nearby Thompson Lake in Poland (Map 11, E-2) is another top salmon and lake trout destination. Salmon have been good on Thompson Lake in the past several years. I tested Gulp bait one season against smelt. I caught as many salmon as my buddy with Gulp, while he used the same line and rod with live smelt. I would say that’s scientific enough for me to bring Gulp along when visiting Thompson Lake.

September is traditionally a month to prepare for fall, but anglers in the know see September as one last hoorah. Get out there and enjoy the bounty this month has to offer.

¶

source in their ranges (males have up to a 100-square mile range, females average 6 to 9 miles). Offroad trail networks provide safety – bear are seldom hit by autos. When bear lose their fear of humans, that’s when they become a danger.

A spring bear hunting season would instill fear and keep bear from populated areas. Just the scent of humans and dogs would cause bear to avoid homes and populated areas—a proactive approach that may save someone’s life.

¶

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70 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Preseason Preparations for Partridge Patrol Among your other preparations for bird season, start to assemble a bag containing the gear you’ll need for your hunting dog. And here’s a helpful hint – get a BIG bag.

September is like Christmas Eve for this upland game hunter. All this month I’ll be routinely checking into the “Man Cave” to make sure everything is in order for the opening of grouse and woodcock hunting season at the end of the month.

The best bird hunters know that sharpening the upland game

knife, as well as sharpening your bird dog’s skills, become very necessary this month.

Getting out and training the bird dog will also limber up the hunter’s legs and exercise the cardiovascular system.

Just a simple walk in the woods with the dogs will do it for me.

I like to throw in some basic commands for

the dogs, make sure they aren’t ranging too far, and try to get them on some wild birds in the field. I fire a small caliber pistol when I see they’re focused on the woods and running out from me at a distance, to get them used to gunfire in the field.

These walks are kind of like a shake(Continued on next page)

Here’s a couple of hunters prepared for the upcoming bird season – fish-carving legend Gene Bahr, and his GSP Tilley.

William Clunie photo

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down cruise for a new ship … a trial-and-error period to work out the bugs before the new season begins. No sense in waiting until the opener to find out if something isn’t working correctly, and then have to waste precious hunting time fixing things.

More Prep Get your bird hunting boots broken in properly, then oil them up for Opening Day. Do the same for your shotgun shooting skills … sharpen that shooting eye as keen as you do the knife.

Of course, most hunters know that shooting clay pigeons is great bird hunting practice, but don’t overlook a simple dryfire session either.

I like to “load” the shotgun with dummy rounds (snap caps) made for this purpose, and run through a few exercises to keep in shooting shape.

After checking several times to make sure the gun is definitely empty of live rounds, I go to a separate room in the house and practice mounting the shotgun while

keeping my eyes on the line formed where the wall and the ceiling come together. As the shotgun comes up, I make sure to feel the stock tight on my cheek.

I point the shotgun at that line, and pretend it is the path of the bird. When the shotgun gets up to the line, I make the shotgun follow that path, and fire when it gets to the corner. Do not forget to follow through, to complete the practice properly.

It’s surprising how much this little dry-fire practice helps. Most misses are caused by a poor mount, so practicing your mount is essential to becoming a great shot in the bird-hunting woods.

Dog Details This month is also a great time to put together a bag for carrying all your bird dog equipment. Get a big bag for this purpose, because you surely will collect more gear than you think you’ll need for a season of hunting.

I carry electronic collars and handheld GPS devices in the bag, along with extra

collars, charging cables, leashes, collar bells, extra water and food, dishes, dog vests, towels, and a large first aid kit. When you are way back in the woods, you must be prepared for anything

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72 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

New Puppy Lessons for an Old Dog Lover – Part 2 of 2 Our new puppy Andro has been with us for almost four months now, and we couldn’t be happier.

At the same time, my wife and I are just about done in. This little guy wears us out, but it is getting easier each day – he’s learning fast, and is really coming along. I tell myself this to keep me forging ahead.

At four months of age, his bladder has

ards could be anything they might manage to swallow and get caught in their throat.

The author is trying a new method to acclimate his puppy to the crate, and he reports that he’s “not sure it’s working as well as the previous method.”

The new method consists of gradually training the puppy to enjoy hopping into his crate. grown enough to allow him to “hold it” for extended periods of time. We will take full advantage of this by teaching him to stay in his crate, gradually increasing the time, so we can get him used

to staying in a crate, when necessary, for longer periods of time.

He may sleep in our bed, but he needs to be able to stay in a crate and be comfortable with that … I would hate to have to do

something like leave him with the veterinary clinic for a medical procedure and have him not be okay with being crated for long periods.

Crate training also allows the owners a little freedom. If I am home alone with him, I can crate him and then take a shower or work on a project that might take my attention away from watching him. Right now, he will stay in a crate with a chewy treat made of collagen for brief periods of time.

We have been slowly increasing his time in the crate, as well as playing crate games that make his crate a fun place to hang out.

One word of caution – never leave a dog in a crate, unattended, with a choke hazard. Choking haz-

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I tried a new method with Andro, and I’m not sure it’s working as well as the previous method mentioned above. With this new method, we gradually got the puppy to actually enjoy hopping into his crate … it goes something like this: Get the pup used to coming to you by running him outside on a long leash, calling him with a “COME” command, pulling him in with the leash if needed, and giving

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������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 73

The Dos and Don’ts of Introducing Others to Hunting Most hunters, at some point in their life, will be called to introduce someone else to the sport. But there are some things to keep in mind when introducing newcomers to wildlife pursuits.

I’ve learned many of these lessons the hard way, from failed attempts to get my wife and others to enjoy the hunting experience.

Preparation Nothing can ruin the hunting experience more dramatically than a “whoopsie.” Whoopsies can be defined in different

In preparation for hunting out West, the author printed out a photo of a pronghorn antelope and taped it to the lower front panel of the dishwasher, then had his wife crawl with the rifle in the living room and practice dry firing at the picture from the prone position. ways, but in my mind, I’m not talking about snapping a stick and scaring a critter away.

I’m talking about a bullet that you can’t bring back.

Some whoopsies are circumstantial and it is hard to cast blame, let alone claim incompetence or malice (see my February 2023 Maine

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Before you even step foot into the woods with a newbie, you need to make absolutely certain they understand the laws, ethics, basic biology

of the animals you are pursuing, and most importantly, gun safety. Do not rely on the person having taken Hunter Education to satisfy this. (Note: In NH, a youth can hunt without having taken the course.) Confirm the other person’s knowledge for yourself—for both of your

sakes.

I took a young hunter out for youth turkey for the first time this year. The deal I made with his parents was that I had to take him to practice shoot before the season. On the drive to and from the sandpit, I quizzed him on terminology (e.g., hen, tom, jake, strutting, yelp).

I needed to know that we could communicate on terms he understood.

After shooting, I wrote him a list of the key “most important” (Continued on next page)

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74 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

New Hampshire (Continued from page 73)

things to remember (like “Don’t shoot if there are two turkeys close together” and “Make sure the turkey you are aiming at has a beard”). I had his parents go through the list with him before bed, and again the morning of opening day before I picked him up.

When preparing for our antelope hunt last year, I sat with my wife and scrolled through antelope pictures on Google. I had her identify the best point of aim for each pose and position. And we delineated different holds for different yardages and crosswinds (this was excessive, since she ended up shooting her goat at under 100 yards on a calm blue sky day— but you can never be too prepared!).

I also printed out a pronghorn picture and

taped it to the lower front panel on the dishwasher, then had her crawl with the rifle in the living room and practice dry firing at it from the prone position. This seemed to work, as she made a great shot from the prone position after doing a crawling stalk.

Difficulty Remember when I said I’ve learned some lessons the hard way?

I enjoy a challenge—especially in the woods. I like to hike farther, stay longer, and pursue the most wily and wary creatures. Most newcomers don’t. And completely exhausting them on an allday hike in miserable weather without much chance of seeing anything, will turn most novices away from the sport – my wife included.

At the same time,

though, I don’t believe that a person’s first experience hunting should be like shooting fish in a barrel. It sets them up for unreasonable expectations. And in the future, when they don’t have immediate gratification, they will also be turned off from the sport.

For that reason, I’m not a fan of introducing people to hunting via a very active bear bait or coyote night hunting bait—or deer hunting a Texas ranch for that matter.

Starting them out like that may make them reliant on that crutch, and they may never leave the baiting world or the high fences.

On the contrary, the excitement of spring turkey hunting is a great gateway for new hunters. As is deer and bear hunting some good farm country or apple orchards. Upland hunting over dogs is also a great option. So is

Good weather, good attitudes, manageable terrain, and an expectation of seeing game are important factors to introducing people to hunting.

The opening day of the Wyoming antelope season 2022 had all of these. Ethan Emerson photo

puddle-jumping waterfowl. All offer the chance for success, but will still require some work, patience, skill, and luck.

Perfect Timing Perhaps the best and hardest lesson I’ve learned is that you need to pick the right time to introduce someone to hunting.

Even if it means foregoing some opportunities with them. At this delicate point in their career, the quality of the hunt is much

Western Maine (Continued from page 72)

him a treat when he does come to you.

Have the pad from the crate on an elevated surface (I use a plastic exercise platform), and have the pup come and sit directly on the elevated pad before you give him the praise and the treat.

Once you have the puppy coming to the pad at your “COME” command, without the leash, then you’re ready for this crate training trick.

The trick is a process of teaching the pup that it’s fun to get in the crate and get a treat. Train yourself to make your voice sound like it’s fun, and call the pup to you. Let him or her see you drop the treat into the crate and give the command, “Crate.” Tell them “GOOD DOG” when they get in the crate to get the treat. Recall them to your side with the “COME” command. Then toss another treat in the crate, and repeat three or four times throughout the day.

After a few days of this, your pup should be ready for some advanced crate training. Slowly increase the diswww.MaineSportsman.com

The author’s new puppy, Andro, is learning quickly. William Clunie photo

tance from the crate as you give the “CRATE” command. Your pup should be going in the crate without the treat

more important than the quantity of hours spent afield.

My advice? Wait for the season and day that the stars align – the new hunter is eager to go, the weather and conditions are comfortable and conducive, you have a good-producing location, you have a plan that includes a little work and skill, and there is a realistic chance at harvesting the game you are pursuing.

¶

toss by now. Move to the pup when it gets in the crate, and give him a treat and plenty of praise.

Remember to close the gate when you give the treat to the pup, and let him sit there for a bit. As you open the gate, don’t let him push it open and rush out. You always control the release from the crate at all times with the command, “OKAY.” If he tries to push open the gate, shove it back lightly into his face, and make him wait until YOU decide it’s time for him to come out.

Increase the time the puppy is made to stay in the crate, and over time the pup should look forward to getting into the crate. Start putting long-lasting chew treats into the crate, and observe the pup to make sure they don’t choke on the treat during this extended time in the crate. This increases the length of time they are comfortable in the crate.

I’m working on this with my pup right now, and I’ll report back with his progress in future columns.

¶

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 75

Smilin’ Sportsman

Question: What do you get when you cross a bunny rabbit and a Rottweiler?

Answer: Just the Rottweiler.

— Cute gal to store clerk: Do you have Valentine’s Day cards that say something like “You’re my only one”?

Clerk: Yes, they’re right here.

Cute gal: Great! I’ll take eight of those, please.

— During a church service: “Hey, do you know the WiFi password?”

“Have some respect!”

“Thanks. No spaces?”

— “Hey, this is wonderful – your couch has a massage function, and it’s so nice and warm!”

“You’re sitting on our cat.”

— Last week, my dog ate a box of scrabble tiles.

For days afterwards, he left me little messages all around the house.

— Dentist: “You need a crown.”

Patient: “Finally – someone who understands me!”

www.MaineSportsman.com

76 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

Fire Pits are the Pits In prehistoric times, people gathered around outdoor fires for several reasons: • Warmth.

Kept away the cold.

• Safety. Kept away the sabertooth tigers.

• S’mores.

Kept away the munchies.

In modern times, these needs no longer exist. We now have central heat and thermal underwear. We haven’t had sabertooth tigers in eons, and if we did, pepper spray would be a more effective defense. And you can make better s’mores in a microwave.

In short, whatever reasons once existed to subject yourself to the indignities caused by hunkering down next to an outdoor blaze went extinct thousands of years ago when some clever person invented the indoors (probably a guy named Joe Indoors), and then someone else came up with the chimney (most historians think it was Mary Chimney).

And yet, fire pits continue to pop up across the landscape like pimples on teenage faces just before prom night.

At this time of year, scarcely a week goes by when I’m not invited by friends and neighbors to join them for an allegedly pleasant evening of cocktails sitting around their fire pits. Some www.MaineSportsman.com

Our columnist thinks this smoky activity needs to be torched.

of them have pits they made themselves, just like our primitive ancestors would have constructed if they had been able to purchase pre-formed concrete blocks at Home Depot.

Others rely on metal buckets with decorative bits and pieces, also foraged from Home Depot.

But regardless of the style of my pseudo-caveman friends’ fire pits, they all have one nasty thing in common … … no matter where you sit around them, you will get smoke in your face.

Bad Side Effects According to a report from the U.S. Surgeon General (or possibly just somebody dressed up like the U.S. Surgeon General for Halloween), spending an hour near a fire pit is the equivalent of smoking two packs of unfiltered, discount cigarettes that were smuggled into this country from someplace that’s not all

that persnickety about whether products they export contain poisonous chemicals.

Fire pit smoke also makes you smell like badly barbecued road kill. Which may be an improvement over your usual odor, but also may be a real turnoff if you were planning on checking out the scene later that night at the local vegan singles bar.

There’s also the little matter of bugs.

Owners of fire pits always claim the smoke keeps mosquitos and no-see-ums away, but that’s nonsense. Light attracts insects of all sorts, including the aforementioned pests, as well as the vampire moth, an assortment of blood-sucking beetles, flesh-eating worms and refugees from some Real Housewives spin off.

At Least You Can Talk ….

But what do these relatively minor inconveniences matter, if gathering around the

blazing circle allows you to interact with other humans, creating a shared sense of community so often missing in modern culture?

You: “How have you (cough) been?”

Neighbor: “Never (cough) better. We (cough) have a new grandchild (cough).

Would you (cough) like to see a photo?”

You: “I’d (cough) love to, but (cough) my eyes are watering so much (cough), I doubt I’d be able to tell the kid from Elon Musk (cough).”

Neighbor: “Arrrgh (cough), vampire moth on my (cough) neck.”

Pit attendant: “Place your own oxygen mask on first, before trying to help others with their masks. Also, please remember this is a no-smoking fire pit.”

Al Chooses the Inside Heat Let me be clear.

I’m not opposed to sitting around a fire, so long as it’s located in a proper container.

There’s nothing more pleasant than taking the chill off the first cold fall evening by firing up the wood stove.

If your preference is a fireplace, its ambience often overcomes its inefficiency.

I’ve even got nothing against putting some chairs in a circle around the toaster oven.

I do draw the line at trying to warm my hands over those fake candles that have become prevalent on restaurant tables.

(Regular candles are fine, even those scented ones that people keep giving me for Christmas, possibly because my house smells like wet dogs and spilled beer.)

All these semi-flammable activities are a significant step up from the primitive urge to gather around outdoor flames in the vain hope somebody will show up with a bunch of squirrels they just shot and intend to roast.

Pit attendant: “All uneaten squirrels must be stowed under your seat or in the overhead compartment. Except there is no overhead compartment because you have unwisely chosen to seat yourself around a fire pit in the outdoors. Please locate the exit nearest your seat, and take it.”

¶

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 77

— TRADING POST — • Subscribers may place one free 20-word • The regular rates are $15 for up to 20 line classified ad per month (2-month limit) words and 50¢ for each additional word • Items for sale must include a price • Check, money order, MasterCard or VISA (Credit or Debit) are accepted • Real estate ads must include an address or location

• You may submit your ads by: Phone: 207-357-2702 E-mail: classifieds@mainesportsman.com Mail: 183 State Street, Suite 101

Augusta ME 04330

SUBMIT AD AND PAYMENT BY THE 30TH OF EACH MONTH AND YOUR AD WILL APPEAR IN THE NEXT ISSUE.

BOATS FOR SALE TWENTY FOOT JACKSON CANOE Motor mount, 8-HP Johnson with spare parts. One Ton capacity; draws 2 inches.

Hull reconditioned. $1,200. Call: 9-mile Mike 518-573-2058.

—

CAMPS FOR RENT OFF-GRID CAMPS For hunting, fishing, families, sledding, ATV...Ashland,

Medford, Argyle, Lagrange...ample parking...Off grid $400/ week, Modern $700/ week. 207.745.1725.

SOLON, ME Camp rental in Solon, ME. Deer and Bow hunts. Small game hunting. Fishing. Camp sleeps 4-6.

Full amenities, wifi. $1000.00, plus tax, for 7 days- Sunday to Saturday. Call 207399-1317. www.Bucks PointSportingLodge. com.

—

DOGS ENGLISH SETTER FOR SALE Tri-color male, whelped 6/3/20. Started. Three months professional training.

Please call or email for specifics. $1800.

207-642-3052. bburnell001@outlook.com.

Ed’s Sheds & Cabins CABINS • SHEDS • GARAGES • HORSE BARNS

WHY RENT When You Can Lease-to-Own One of Ed’s Sheds?

Handcrafted in Maine

—

LAND FOR SALE 50 ACRES CORNVILLE, ME Abundant Wildlife, Moose, Bear, etc. Land (Continued on next page)

Bangor / Millinocket (207) 738-5315 Dexter (207) 270-2312 edwardl@edssheds-cabins.com

www.EdsSheds-Cabins.com

• Remote Waterfront Cabins • Spednic Lake – Vanceboro, ME – MLS #1564070 3.25 acre lot with 687 feet of frontage on Spednic Lake featuring 4 cabins.

Unwind and re-connect with your own piece of Maine’s remote wilderness.

Beth A. Johnson

Todd Bassett

Sales Associate

c: 207-214-4696 o: 207-942-8261 tandb.realtyteam@gmail.com www.bhhsnere.com

Associate Broker

160 Broadway, Bangor, ME 04401

c: 207-214-3411 o: 207-942-8261 tgbassett@yahoo.com www.bhhsnere.com www.MaineSportsman.com

78 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ———————————————————————————————————————————— (Continued from page 77)

THE MAINE SPORTSMAN DIGITAL EDITION Discover The Maine Sportsman on-the-go and never miss another issue!

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Discover the versatility and convenience of Northeastern’s Camp and Cabin kits.

Perfect for vacation homes or retirement retreats, these log cabin kits are easy to build and very affordable. They feature simple, open designs and come complete with pre-cut Eastern White Pine Logs, insulated doors, windows, rafters, roof sheathing and subflooring, plus step-by-step instructions.

Just imagine relaxing in your very own Northeastern log retreat!

abuts Paper Company land. ATV Trail Access, Snowmobile Trail to ITS 84. 12 1/2 miles from Showhegan. Power Available. Owner finance option. $200K. Call 207-612-6294 —

MISC. FOR SALE WALL MOUNT 10PT. MULE DEER Neck Mount For Sale $350 (Pictures on request). Call Fred 978430-3167

WANTED MOOSE GUIDES WANTED For sporting camps in Zone 4 North Maine Woods. September & October. Meals and lodging provided. Call 207-474-2644 SKI DOO, ELAN OR TUNDRA Any Condition. Have Cash. Will Travel. Call Or Text 207-522-6940

¶ EUSTIS Beautiful lake and mountain views. ATV and snowmobile trails are across the road from the camp. Just 20 minutes to Sugarloaf. All the best that Maine has to offer! $244,900

More Camps and Land Available. Call Joy Dyer at

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Great Business Opportunity in the North Maine Woods

MOSCOW – Rare opportunity to own 6.12 private, surveyed acres of land on the Deadwater Rd. This property is a sportsman’s paradise. Enjoy nearby access to snowmobile and ATV trails. This property is also the gateway to the north woods. From this location you can access thousands of acres of land for hunting, fishing, hiking, riding, or cross country skiing. Only a short drive to the Kennebec River, Wyman Lake, Austin Pond, Austin Stream, Moxie Pond, and Bald Mountain Pond. This is the vacation property you’ve been looking for. Call today for more info or your private showing. MLS #1531892 – $29,500 SKOWHEGAN/CANAAN – The possibilities are endless for this piece of property that has been in the family for generations. Have you been looking for a large parcel of land located in Central Maine? There is a plan to make this into multiple house lots, or keep it whole for your family for generations to come. This property offers frontage on Route 2. 89 acres are in Skowhegan, 2 acres are in Canaan. The 89 acres is in tree growth. Build camps that overlook Oak Pond. Access directly across to Lake George state park. This property is a stones throw of two Lakes in Central Maine. MLS #1545240 – $274,999 SOLON – 2.5 surveyed and soil tested acres of land on the River Road in Solon. There are covenants in place. Power is available at the road. MLS #1545454 – $27,900

Say hello to the ultimate work from home experience! Sally Mountain Cabins is situated on the shores of Big Wood Lake in Jackman, Maine, with approximately 355 feet of water frontage, and consists of a private 3-bedroom owner’s residence and office, 11 cabins, a 3-unit apartment building, a separate large garage and a bait shop. The current owner has operated the business since 1991, has repeat customers every year and is fully booked for the year ahead. This is a completely turn-key business opportunity equipped for every need. All cabins are fully furnished, nicely appointed, winterized, have covered porches and their signature red metal roofs. In the winter months you’ll earn extra income from Sally Mountain Cabins’ famous ice shack rentals and bait sales – the only bait shop in the area. The entire property is well-maintained and is on Jackman town water and sewer. Jackman is a popular 4-season sporting area with miles of world-class snowmobile and ATV trails stretching to Canada and across Maine.

There are endless opportunities for every outdoor enthusiast. This business is everything you’ve dreamed of and more with the opportunity to get away from it all while making a great living doing something you love. $2,400,000

Lauren Kane McDermott, REALTOR

RE/MAX Shoreline | 875 Greenland Road, Suite B9, Portsmouth, NH Cell: 603-498-0630 | Office: 603-431-1111 laurenkane@remax.net | https://laurenkane.remax.com

www.MaineSportsman.com

WELLINGTON – If you are looking for seclusion, privacy, and plenty of wildlife, this is the property for you. 88 acres of prime woodland located in Wellington. Property has not been cut in decades. This is the perfect spot for your off-grid cabin where you can enjoy the best in deer, moose, and upland hunting. Also enjoy easy access to ATV and snowmobile trails. MLS #1545544 – $99,000 RIPLEY – Well wooded 30 acres in the heart of the Maine countryside! Property would make a great spot to build a year round home or camp. Power is available at the street. Currently in tree growth for tax purposes. MLS #1555092 – $60,000 WILTON – 115 acres of prime woodland in Wilton. This location has wildlife galore. The majority of the land is on a high bluff with some nice potential views. Snowmobile access directly from the property. This is a prime piece of Maine hunting land. Access is believed to be via a deeded right of way. Call today for more information. MLS #1557553 – $100,000 EMBDEN – 5+ acres of surveyed land in the Embden countryside. This is a perfect lot in the country for your dream home or camp. Recreation opportunities are endless here. This parcel is walking distance to the public boat launch on Fahi Pond. Also enjoy close access to Sandy Pond and Embden Pond. This parcel also enjoys direct access to snowmobile trails. Whether you like to hunt, fish, hike, kayak, canoe, or ride your toys, this property offers something for everyone. Power is at the road.

Taxes have not yet been determined. This is part of a large parcel. See Fahi Pond Subdivision for more information. MLS #1557805 – $49,000 BINGHAM – Great opportunity to own this 0.12 acre parcel of property in a nice location. Water and sewer are on site and power is at the street. Build your home here and enjoy all the recreation this area offers! MLS #1560136 – $18,000 09/23

������������������������������������������� The Maine Sportsman • September 2023 • 79 Jackson – *REDUCED PRICE, MOTIVATED SELLER!* Unique duplex property on 3.76 acres. Multiple investment possibilities being zoned both residential and commercial. Ample space with over 3,200 sq. ft., 3-4 rooms and 1 bathroom on one side and 2-3 rooms, 1 bathroom on the other. Large front and back yards, radiant heat, full attic space, and a new septic system installed in 2021. Conveniently located.

MLS#1566168 & MLS #1555181 – $279,000 Belgrade – Well-loved 2-3 bedroom, 1 bath gambrel home on 8.7 wooded acres with 1000’ private frontage on Great Pond. Screened porch great for relaxing, plus an extended dock to launch a boat. First floor boasts additional living space prepped for an in-law apartment.

Newly built 28x56 garage with room above awaiting finishing touches.

Several outbuildings to house recreational toys and stand-by generator, plus your very own sauna room! MLS#1566446 – $759,000 Belgrade – Unique 5 bedroom, 3 bath home with private 200’ sandy beach waterfront on Great Pond. Fully furnished, heated walkway, granite and oak flooring, exposed post and beam, stone fireplace, spiral staircase, hot tub. Top floor bedrooms all have sliding glass doors to balcony. Massive 3-4 car garage with storage above, plus 1-car garage perfect for recreational toys. Sellers allowing up to $300,000 allowance for upgrades and/or finishing. MLS #1564585 – $4,500,000

Lindsey Brann Associate Broker, REALTOR®

Integrity Homes Real Estate Group 4 Beach Road, Monmouth, ME cell 207-441-9317 | office 207-933-8042 lindsey@integrityhomesregroup.com www.integrityhomesrealestategroup.com

“The County to The Coast” (207) 532-4500 www.FirstChoiceRealEstate.com

Caryn Dreyfuss, Broker • (207) 233-8275 caryndreyfuss@morton-furbish.com www.realestateinrangeley.com

RANGELEY PLT – Spectacular vintage sporting camps on 3.41 private acres right on Mooselookmeguntic Lake! Compound includes 5 sleeping cabins (3 are fully winterized), bathhouse with laundry room, covered pole shed, 2 RV hookups w/power and water. 2 wonderful sandy beaches with a total of 550 feet of frontage! This property has been run commercially, but could be a private compound. MLS #1567879 – $2,000,0000 RANGELEY – Great views from this 34 acre parcel at the top of Rangeley West. Build your dream home in a private setting surrounded by nature or create a subdivision with panoramic Rangeley Lake and mountain vistas. Super location handy to Mooselookmeguntic/Rangeley Lake public boat ramps, vibrant Oquossoc Village restaurants and shops, plus direct access to snowmobile trails from your door. MLS #1567046 – $599,000 RANGELEY – Scenic 5 acre parcel with 300’ private frontage on the quiet and calm waters of Hunter Cove. Beautiful pastoral setting overlooking open fields and evergreen forest, abutting Sanctuary Farms. Build high and take in the views or low, near the water’s edge. Enjoy 4-season recreation from your door, and loaded with wildlife. **Property is not part of Sanctuary Farm Subdivision.** MLS #1567749 – $349,000

Lakeville – Large, private waterfront property on Lombard Lake & Stream, with cheap taxes. Cabin needs some love, but appears solid and square.

Post and beam construction, on a full concrete foundation, offers plenty of potential. $229,000

Danforth – Lot offers relaxing sunset’s views, has electricity available at the road and is level and well wooded right on Lower Hot Brook Lake. This is a beautiful, quiet part of northern Maineready for you. $99,000

Winn – This cute cabin is insulated with a knotty interior. The lot is heavily wooded and gorgeous. Situated on North Road; a paved, year round, secondary road.

With a little fire pit sitting just off the cabin’s screen porch. $49,900

Macwahoc PLT – Comfortable sized lot offering privacy and recreational opportunities on Old US Route 2. Near the Molonkus Stream and cheap taxes. Driveway is in place. Bring a camper or build a little getaway cabin. $24,900 Lee – Year round road with electric available on Thomas Hill Road. Well wooded. Near ATV and snowsled trails, with dozens of lakes all within an hour’s drive and being a wonderful place for your getaway cabin, home or the RV. $24,900 Prentiss TWP – This piece of land is on a year round road with power, has a drilled well and a septic system (we think). Most of the site work is done and is priced fairly right on Park St. Rural, near many lakes and other outdoor recreational possibilities. $24,900 Lincoln – Nice lot on year round Half Township Road. Great lot for that year round home or cottage. This lot is located in a rural area close to ATV trails. Explore the Maine woods from this lot. Enjoy a look today. $29,500

207-794-2460 • 1-800-675-2460 cwa@cwalakestreet.com R E A L

E S T A T E

5 Lake Street, P.O. Box 66 LINCOLN, ME

— Call any of our brokers to work for you! — “Tate” Aylward 207-794-2460 Peter Phinney (207) 794-5466 • Kirk Ritchie (207) 290-1554

Visit www.cwalakestreet.com for more listings!

Become a Member of The Maine Sportsman

PATCH CLUBS You’ve been successful at the hunt, now wear your pride by entering one of The Maine Sportsman’s exclusive patch clubs!

Maine Sportsman Patch Clubs Include: Biggest Bucks in Maine, Maine Youth Deer Hunter, Maine Big Game Grand Slam, Maine Black Bear, Maine Bowhunters, Maine Moose Hunters, Maine Wild Turkey, The One That Didn’t Get Away, Catch-and-Release, Maine Saltwater Anglers, and Maine Trappers.

To enter, go to

www.mainesportsman.com/patch-clubs Print and mail your application with fee to: The Maine Sportsman 183 State Street, Suite 101, Augusta, ME 04330 Don’t have a computer or printer? No problem!

Give us a call at (207) 622-4242 and we’ll mail you an application.

This Could Be Your

Sportsman’s Paradise!

Silver Ridge Township, Aroostook County, ME This remote lodge sits on nearly 5 acres. Interior is beautifully finished in 6” pine, top to bottom. Loft, cathedral ceiling, 3 bedrooms and bath. All electric, all modern appliances, including dishwasher, drilled well, and approved septic. Wildlife galore!

Great deer hunting on property and abutting land. Could be a hunting camp with memberships for full-year hunting, lodging, and fishing. Many great deer camp memories have been made here and many trophy deer harvested over the years.

It is a 45 minute drive to Lincoln, ME (Lincoln Lakes area) known for great fishing for trout, salmon and smallmouth bass! This beautiful turnkey property (ready at day one) is being offered to carry on the heritage and tradition of Silver Ridge Lodge.

Reasonably priced. For info, call 931-698-6714 or email buckreiley@icloud.com. www.MaineSportsman.com

80 • September 2023 • The Maine Sportsman ————————————————————————————————————————————

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