Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine, Spring 1981

MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE Spring 1981

$1.-00

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MAINE FISH AND \VILDLIFE Vol. 23, No. 1

Spring 1981

Governor Joseph E. Brennan

Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Glenn H. Manuel J. William Peppard Kenneth H. Ander on David 0. Locke Russell E. Dyer Lyndon H. Bond Peter C. Brazier Robert W. Boettger William C. Mincher W. Thomas Shoener Clayton G. Grant Lorenzo J. Gaudreau Alfred L. Meister

Commissioner Deputy Commissioner Director, Planning and Co-ordination Superintendent of Hatcheries Chief Warden Chief, Fishery Division Busines Manager Chief, Wildlife Division Director, Regulations Director, Public Information Chief, Engineering Division Director, Recreational Safety and Registration Chief Biologist, Atlantic almon Commission

Advisory Council Rodney W . Ro s, Chairman Brownville, Maine Ralph L. Noel Robert E. Moore

Auburn

Casco

George E. Prentiss

Dennis L. Smith

Rumford

Offer Creek

Nathan Cohen

Alva S. Appleby

Eastport

Skowhegan Francis D. Dunn

Patten

Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine W . Thomas Shoener, Editor Thomas J. Chamberlain, Managing Editor Thomas L. Carbone, Photographer Patricia J. Hogan , Editorial Assistant

INSIDE Fish Season Review

2

Banding The Downy Ducklings

4

Philip A. Bo~enhard

New Record Atlantic Salmon

6

W. Thomas Shoener

Maine Woods Hospitality

8

Guy G. Smith

What We've Learned From Moose Week

10

Karen I. Morris

Wildlife Management: Some New Ideas

14

Philip A. Bo~enhard

KID-BITS

16

Poor Cousins

18

John Madson Michael McIntosh

Fly Tying: The First Few Steps

21

Peter G. Walker

From The Fly Tying Bench: THE LIGHT CAHILL

24

Peter G. Walker

Hypothermia: This Article Could Save Your Life

25

Garth S. Anderson Robert Pratt Andrew Longley, D. 0.

Get The Lead Out!

28

David W. Walker

Fish and Wildlife Briefs

30

The Great Wilderness Clean-Up of 1981

32

THE COVERS Front: The osprey, a familiar sight to Mainers, particularly along the coat.

Although the o prey ha been in danger in ome tates along the eastern seaboard, and has even been listed on some endangered species ro ters, Maine's population seems to have remained stable. Photo by Bill Cros Inside Front: Opening of fi hing, 1981-and Alfred Plourde of Lewiston was glad to be on Sebago Lake, where he took this even-plus pounds of lake trout April 11. Warden Ralph Sarty was on hand to check the togue, and photographer Paul Fournier grabbed the trophy hot!

Inside Back: Compare thi picture with the one on the facing page-one i admittedly altered, but this one is real! Scene like this occur far too often in the Maine woods, and indicate a real lack of conservation concern on the part of some people. Let's join up and support The Great Wilderness Clean-Up of 1981-and every year. Photo by Tom Carbone Back: This day-old wood duck chick seems to be taking hi s web-tagging experience in stride, held gently but firmly by a Department biologist working on the project. For Biologi t Phil Bozenhard's story on web-tagging of chicks, turn to page 4. Photo by Bill Cro s MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE (ISSN 0360-005X) is published quarterly by the Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife , 284 State St., Station 41, Augusta, ME 04333 , under Appropriation 4550. Sub cript ion rates to U.S. zip code addresses: $3.50 for one year; $6.50 for two years; $9.50 for three years . No stamp , please. Second class postage paid at Augusta, ME 04330. Š Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 1981.

Permission to reprint text material is granted, provided proper credit is given to the author and to MAINE FISH AND WILDLIFE . Clearance mu t be obtained from artist and photographers to reproduce credited illustrations.

POSTMASTER: If undeliverable, do not return. When changing address, ubscriber should send magazine mailing label, or all information from it, and new mailing address, to: Circulation Section, Maine Fish and Wildlife Dept. , 284 State St., Sta. #41, Augusta, ME 04333. Use change form in this issue, or POD Form #3578 available at your local post office. Allow eight week for change to take effect. Sorry, but we cannot replace i 11P<. lmt thrn11Ph failnrP to Pi P Hdemiate notice of address charn?e.

MAINE FISHING. YONE TRYING to locate the exact geographical center of the very best largemouth bass fishing in Maine could do worse than to begin in Bill Hutchings' backyard. With Cobbosseecontee Lake and Pleasant Pond a few miles in either direction from his West Gardiner home, and Horseshoe Pond and Cobbosseecontee Stream literally in his backyard, Hutchings, it would seem, is in bass fisherman's paradise.

Hutchings does all of his fishing in waters he reaches from home by boat.

Usually accompanied by his wife, the retired postal employee tries his luck at least every other day, usually for just an hour or two.

Big largemouths are what his home waters are famous for, and although Hutchings has caught his share in the five-pound-plus category, he isn't driven to pursuing them like some fishermen are. He just likes to fish and enjoys catching fish of any size,

~so

usually releasing them.

For someone who makes no pretenses to being a big bass specialist, Bill Hutchings sure outdid himself last August when he took a 10-pound 8-ounce largemouth in Cobbosseecontee Stream. The 24 Y4-inch fish, which he caught on a Rat-L-Trap minnow, was one of the largest bass ever entered in Maine's famous The One That Didn't Get Away Club. It was the largest entered in the club since 1968 when the present Maine state record largemouth was taken, weighing 11 pounds 10 ounces.

Revealing a little something about Bill Hutchings The Fisherman is the fact that one week before he caught his big bass he had caught and released a nearly identical one nearby.

Not a bad record for someone who isn't particularly taken with catching big fish.

It wasn't just Bill Hutchings, nor largemouth bass fishermen, who had a lot to remember Maine's 1980 fish-

ing season by. Judging from all reports received, it was one of those exceptional years when fishing was right on just about everywhere. If there was one group of anglers who might have had a problem it was the brook fishermen, who saw many of the favored waters become low and warm unusually early last spring due to below-normal rain and snowfall amounts.

W

HATEVER it is that makes good and bad years on the Atlantic salmon rivers certainly did a turnabout in 1980. The angling catch was one of the best ever in Maine last year. A total of 1,372 Atlantic salmon were reported caught -almost quadruple the 367 taken in 1979, an unusually poor year. Rod catch records fell on both the Penobscot and Dennys river in 1980.

On the Penobscot, 837 salmon were recorded, breaking the old record set in 1886. These 837 salmon are believed to represent approximately 80 percent of the actual catch.

On the Dennys River, 190 salmon were reported, topping the previous record rod catch of 136 fish.

The Atlantic Sea Run Salmon Commission trapped 2,490 salmon at their Veazie Dam trap Uu t upstream from the Bangor Pool) on the Penobscot River. Of these, 593 were kept for use as brood stock and the remainder were released upstream to spawn naturally.

The reported rod catch on other Atlantic salmon rivers was as follows: Narraguagus 119, Machias 80, East Machias 62, Sheepscot 30, Union 29, and Pleasant 5.

Another highlight of the 1980 season was the landing of a new state record Atlantic salmon. Although the angler, Howard Clifford of Portland, would not name the river where he caught the 28-pound 1-ounce fish, he satisfied eligibility rules for state record recognition with the fish. Details on this and other state record fish are on page 6 of this issue.

Bill Hutchings with his 10-pound 8-ounce largemouth bass from Cobbosseecontee Stream.

Maine Fish and Wildlife -

Spring 1981

A

Maine Sportsman, hono rs those who catch outstanding fres h-water fi sh in Maine. All game wardens and regional fi sheries biologists carry club registration cards. Each qualifying angler is awarded a jacket patch and a wallet

POPULARFEATUREof every spring iss ue is the listing of the top few fi sh of each species entered the previous year in The One That Didn 't Get Away Club. The club, sponsored by The

THE ONE THAT DIDN'T GET AWAY CLUB FOR 1980

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a..o The Fish John

Brook Trout (Qua lifymg "eight 4 lb, .J

TOP FISH IN EACH CATEGORY

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The Angler . Stolecki. Shirley, ME

Timothy Mclellan , Clinton, ME

card to signi fy the accomplishment.

Further information about the club can be obtained by wri ting to The Maine Sportsman , Box 507 , Yarmouth , Maine 04096.

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Where Caught

Lure li,c bait

6-10

22

1-20

Moo,ehcad Lake

6-8

24

1-13

Moo ehead Lake

David L. Mar, hall, Fairfield, ME

5-7

23

5-13

Moo ehead Lake

,melt

Everelt Higgin s, So. China, ME

5-4

2-1

Moo,ehead Lake

li, e bait

Mon ie Hobbs, Kittery. ME

5-4

22 24 ,,

5-2

1oo,ehead

ake

original pattern ,!reamer

11-4

26

8-30

Mike Legere, a nford, ME

8-14

28 ,

2-10

quare Lake

Brown Trout

Morton Chandler, So. Windham, ME

7- 15

27 V,

4-28

Highland Lake

(Quahlymg "eigh1 6 lb, .)

Thomas Peterso n, So. Windham. ME

6-13

25

2-23

Highland Lake

li,e bait

Robert W. Fountaine, Poland

6-7

24 "•

Raymond Pond

gray gho,1 streamer

Karl

orcross. Winthrop, ME

Rainbow Trout

Paul J . Kessler, Southwe

(Qua lily1 ng \\eigh1 5 lbs.)

Kcnneih E. Towne, York, ME

Lake Trout (Togue) (Q ua lif) ing " eight 15 lb,.)

Landlocked Salmon (Quah lying ,,eight 6 lbs. )

I

pring, ME

Harbor. ME

Ronald

adeau, Park man. ME

Delbert

. Engle, Midd lese,,

George

ewland, Jr ., Readfield. ME

J

Small mouth Bass (Quali fy mg "eight 5 lb,. )

6-6

26',

2-23

El:ho Lake

shiner

5

23

6-6

Ell Pond

night cra"lcr

23-4

39

5-24

21

39 1 ,

(Qualifyi ng " eighl 7 lb, .)

Sebec Lake

li,e bait

Schoodic Lake

minnow

19-4

36

7- 1

Echo Lake

Moosclook Wobbler

37 1 ',

2-7

Wes1 Grand Lake

white jig

Gail Theriault, Enfield, ME

18-7

36

5-10

old tream Pond

,melt

Michael Simpson, Ell worth, ME

9-0 1/,

28 1 ',

6-3

Craig Pond

Moo,clook Wobbler

Robert Abbott. We tbrook, ME

6-4

25

4-17

Sebago Lake

Senator Mu,kie ,treamer

Harold Thompson. Fryeburg, ME

6-4

25

5-31

Sebago Lake

,ewcd ,melt

Bob Mcnnealy, Greene, ME

6-4

25

5-22

Sebago Lake

Moo,clook Wobbler (copper)

6-4

25

4- 13

Sebago Lake

Kennebago mcll (ny)

10-9

(undisclmed)

nymph

38

6-1

tephen Gram. Cherryfield. ME Fred

. Callahan, Auburn.ME

28-1 I -14

arraguagu, Ri, er

18-5

36

6-7

Penob,col Rher

Bear Hair n y

Harold Lothrop. Gouldsboro. ME

I -2

36

7-2

Ma,hia, Ri,er

Red But! Bear Hair

Dana T . Hagerth y, Baih, ME

17-10

35

6-21

Leremy Stin,on. Oakland. ME

5-7

21

4-20

McGrath Pond

Heddon Tiny Tad

5-4

22

6-29

Grand Falb no"agc

night crawler

5-2

20

3-5

Damari,colla Lake

,hiner

2-20

Moose Pond

,hiner

arl Romanelli, Princeion. ME Wayne Lillie. Waldoboro. ME

21

Ear le Honey, Hart land, M

Largemouth Bass

-I

18-12

Ho\\ard Clifford, Portland, ME

(Qu ahlymg " eight 15 lb,.)

.:rawler

Hovey Gou ld. Princeton, M

1ephen P. Wil son, Bath, ME

Atlantic Salmon

- 17

Maranacool. Lake

v,

William Hutching,. Liichfield. ME

10-

24 1,,

Lawrence Hamen, Windham. ME

9-2

24

Wayne Gile, Alfred, ME Kimberly He chine.

-5

ndover, MA

John A. Bamford , Bo\\doinham. ME

7-12

-25 1-24

heep'l.:Ol Ri, er

Blue

harm

Cobbossecconiee !ream

Rat - -Trap

Lillie ebago

, hiner

23 1, ,

4-28

Bunganut Pond

Red Devil spinner

25

6-29

Sokoki Lake

Creams Purple Worm

22 v,

5-3

obo ,eecontee

Mann s Jell yworm

Willi, Grenier, Waterville, ME

5

3-22

Great Pond

live bail

Paul Gamache, Brum"ick, ME

4-14

2-12

Grea1 Pond

!Ommy cod minnO\\

Pickerel

he,ter Coulombe. Rumford, ME

4-13

26 1 ,

1-6

Kezar Lake

(Qualifying "eigh1 4 lb, .)

Da,id G . Savage. West Bu,ton, ME

4-9

25

2-9

Bonney Eagle Lake

minno"

Gerard M. Gardner,

4-

2-29

Sebago Lake

live ,melt

Eas1 Pond

Rapala 1113 (gold)

o. Sebago, ME

White Perch (Qu ahfy mg weight 2 lb, .)

Wilfred R. Rafu se . Oakland. ME

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

2-3

15 1, ,

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3

Banding The Downy Ducklings

By Philip A. Bozenhard Wildlife Biologist The perfect habitat for wood ducks-marshy ponds with hefty shags protruding from the water. If you have property like this, wood duck boxes installed in a similar fashion to the one above would surely see some use.

Photo by th e author

I

N AN EFFORT to increase the wood duck population in Maine, duck nesting boxes have been erected in many parts of the state. Boxes supplement the lack of natural nesting cavities, and over the years thousands of ducklings have been successfully hatched. Wood ducks, hooded mergansers, and golden eyes readily make use of the nest boxes.

In southern Maine, approximately 130 nest boxes have been erected on the Brownfield Wildlife Management Area since the 1960s. Approximately 75 percent of the boxes are used each year and about 800 ducklings are hatched. For many years, female ducks captured in the nest boxes have Removing the wood ducklings from their one-day home is not always the easiest job-but the downy little fellows make the effort worth it!

been leg-banded to help record their movements and determine the number returning to the Brownfield area to nest again.

As nest boxes are checked in early summer, newly hatched ducklings are occasionally found in the boxes; efforts have been made to tag these day-old ducklings. Unlike many birds, young duckling remain in the ne t box for only 24 hours.

After hatching, the ducklings usually spend one day drying off and resting from the strenuous work of hatching. Shortly after sunrise the following day, the female calls her brood from the box. The day-old ducklings are able to climb up to the entrance, a distance of eight to ten inche . At the entrance they pause momentarily before jumping out to

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

the water or ground below. Often the jump is in excess of fifteen feet; the ducklings, however, land unhurt.

Since the ducklings only remain in their nest box a very short time, any effort to tag them has to be closely timed to the day they hatch. As the ducklings are hatching, or shortly after they have emerged from the eggs, the boxes are checked and the ducklings removed. A small metal tag is then attached to the web between toes on the duckling's foot. After the ducklings are tagged, they are returned to the nest box to wait for the female to call them out.

O

VER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, 817 ducklings

have been web-tagged on the Brownfield Wildlife Management Area.

This includes 505 hooded mergansers, 191 wood ducks, and 108 goldeneyes.

Tag returns have been low primarily due to their low visibility and the fact The banding-with the barely-dry duckling held gently but firmly, the tag is attached to the web between the toes. After marking is complete, the little woodies are returned to their box to wait for the call-out from the mother.

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The biologist's-eye view of the newborn inhabitants of a wood duck nesting box. This clutch of eggs has not even finished the hatching process yet-so the cover will be replaced and the ducklings allowed to wait awhile longer for the banding.

that many hunters are not aware that web-tags are being used in Maine.

As of this writing, 21 tags have been reported either from captured or shot birds. The majority of returns have come from birds shot on the Brownfield Wildlife Management Area during the fall waterfowl season. Six tagged fem ales have returned in following years to nest on the area.

One hooded merganser was recaptured in eastern Massachusetts, while a goldeneye was shot in Quebec, indicating that some birds are moving considerable distances.

Although many individuals hear about the program and express an interest in putting up duck nesting boxes, few are willing to continue the work of cleaning the boxes, replacing the shavings, and maintaining the boxes in future years. It should be noted that unless these boxes are made safe from predators and the weather, they are of little or no benefit to the ducks. â&#x20AC;˘

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Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

5

Controversial, but it's a ...

New Record Atlantic Salmon MINOR CONTROVERSY

brewed last October when an Atlantic salmon caught by a Portland angler was declared a new state record.

Although his 28-pound I-ounce fish was two pounds heavier than the existing record Atlantic salmoncaught in 1959 on the Narraguagus River by Harry Smith of Cherryfield-Howard Clifford refused to divulge anything more about where he caught it than "on a Maine river."

Commence the controversy.

Should a fish be recognized as a new state record when the person who caught it won't tell where? Some

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By W. Thomas Shoener thought it shouldn't be. Others disagreed.

The author, who maintains the state record fish list, listened to opinions from both sides, talked at length with Clifford, and re-checked the rules for state record recognition before deciding in favor of listing the fish as a new Maine record.

The rules simply state that the fish must have been taken from Maine waters by rod and reel or handline.

Ice fishing catches are eligible. The fish must have been caught in accordance with state fishing laws. Fish

taken in hatcheries or from private pools or ponds are not eligible. The weight of the fish must be certified, preferably by an inland warden or fishery biologist.

Clifford's Atlantic salmon satisfied all record fish rules beyond any reasonable doubt, an opinion shared by Alfred Meister, chief biologist of the Maine Altantic Sea Run Salmon Commission. No rule specifically requires disclosure of the exact location of the catch, only that it be made in Maine. Had such disclosure been required, Clifford stated that he would have opted not to have the record rather than risk "big hordes of anglers descending on the river and ruining it."

So, while we would like to know where he caught the fish and are disappointed that Maine's record fish list will not be complete to that extent, we are listing it as a new state record.

Clifford, a 30-year-old self-employed artist, averages three or four days of fishing every week, mostly in pursuit of trout, and, more recently, Atlantic salmon. He is a member of the Sebago Chapter of Trout Unlimited.

His record salmon, a female, was 43 Yi inches long. He battled it for about two hours, with the fish taking the 350 feet of line to the limit six times, before he landed the prize. He caught it on a self-tied nymph.

Salmon Commission biologist Ed Baum reported that Clifford's salmon was ten years old and had previously spawned twice-information he was able to determine through scale readings. Baum noted that it is very uncommon for an Atlantic salmon to have survived to spawn for a third time. The fish is being mounted and will be on display for several years at L.L. Bean's in Freeport.

ANOTHER NEW CHANGE

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on the state record fish list involves a cusk caught on May 12, 1979, by a Waterville angler. Kurt

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Clifford with Maine's new record salmon.

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Maine Fish and Wildlife -

Spring 1981

cusk, 17 Yi and 10 pounds. Just minutes later, Savasuk had on another heavy fish, but this one turned out to be a togue-the intended quarry that day-and a good one at that: 14 pounds 4 ounces. By now the pattern for the day had been pretty well established.

The three fishermen were doing the right thing at the right time in the right spot, and it would seem they could do no wrong. They ended the day's fishing with three togue-2 Yi , 6 Vi , and 14 V4 pounds-and 12 cusk ranging from 1 Yi to 17 Yi pounds, the latter a new state record. May 12, 1979, was a day on Maine's largest

Savasuk, a 32-year-old welder, was fishing for lake trout (togue) near Sugar I land on Moosehead Lake and began a rather memorable day in a rather spectacular way by hauling in a 17 Yi -pound cusk, which he later learned was almost two pounds heavier than the existing state record.

Savasuk was using a 9 Yi -foot fly rod to twitch a frozen smelt off the bottom in 52 feet of water when the big cusk hit. He had no sooner hooked his fish, at first believed to be a togue, when one of his two companions tied into a good one, too.

After a 45 minute fight, they had their two big fish in the boat-two

lake not soon to be forgotten by Kurt Savasuk and his two fishing companions.

M

AINE'S OFFICIAL LIST of record fresh-water fish has been maintained by the Fish and Wildlife Department for more than a decade. The list has grown and has changed several times, and to make it as thorough and accurate as possible we still accept verifiable entries-whether the fish was caught in 1902 or 1981 . Verified records are also sought for any fresh-water species not listed, such as rainbow trout, yellow perch, bullhead (hornpout).

Maine's Record Fresh-water Fish Angler

Weight

Where Caught

Lure

Year

James Foster, Howland

8 lbs. 8 oz.

BROOK TROUT Chase Pond (T.14, R.9)

Rangeley spinner & worms

1979

Norman Stacy, Fitchburg, MA.

191b. 7oz.

BROWN TROUT Sebago Lake

Flat fish

1958

live bait

1958

Mooselook Wobbler

1973

Hollis Grindle, Ellsworth

LAKE TROUT (TOGUE) 31 lbs. 8 oz.

Beech Hill Pond (Otis)

Merton Wyman, Belgrade

BLUEBACK TROUT 4 lbs. 4 oz.

Basin Pond (Fayette)

Edward Blakeley, Darien, CT.

LANDLOCKED SALMON 22 lbs. 8 oz.

Sebago Lake

live bait

1907

Howard Clifford, Portland

ATLANTIC SALMON 28 lbs. 1 oz.

(Undisclosed)

self-tied nymph

1980

George Dyer, Augusta

8 lbs.

live minnow

1970

Pflueger shiner

1968

Robert Kamp, Denmark

SMALLMOUTH BASS Thompson Lake (Oxford)

LARGEMOUTH BASS 11 lbs. 10 oz.

Moose Pond (Denmark) WHITE PERCH Messalonskee Lake

Mrs. Earl Small, Waterville

4 lbs. 10 oz.

Reggie Arsenault

CHAIN PICKEREL 6 lbs. 11 oz.

Androscoggin Lake

Neil Sullivan, Worcester, MA Kurt Savasuk, Waterville

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

7 lbs. 8 oz.

17lbs.8oz.

1949 live sucker

1976

WHITEFISH Sebago Lake

Mooselook Wobbler

1958

CUSK Moosehead Lake

frozen smelt

1979

7

I Recall-

MAINE WOODS HOSPITALITY

By Guy G. Smith '

'

L

T'S TAKE OUR VACATION the same week,"

I said to my friend, Eddie Towsey, in Portland one day. This was in 1932 when we both worked for Central Maine Power Company. "We could go camping."

"Where would we go?"

"Up around Rangeley Lakes," I replied. "I worked as a timekeeper in a lumber camp there in the Cupsuptic region. It's real woods, and I've got everything we'll need, except food.''

Eddie and I arrived by train at Oquossoc on a fine summer day.

"We'll walk up to Grant's Store," I told Eddie. "It's a little way into the woods. Mr. Grant knows the country around here like the back of his hand."

At Grant's-a famous general store emporium and supplier to "sports"-! told Mr. Grant we had come to camp in the area, and where would he suggest. He inquired 8

about our plan and experience in the wood . I told him about my stint as timekeeper for American Realty Co. (wood arm of International Paper Co.) at Cupsuptic Camp 5, fifteen miles in the wood from Kennebago-the end of track beyond Oquossoc.

Talking with Mr. Grant took some time, because I wanted all the first-hand information I could get. It had been 12 years since I had been at Cupsuptic at age 20, for a fall and winter. I don't recall if Mr. Grant left us to phone, but we were still talking when in walked the game warden.

He greeted us in a friendly way, asked where we were from, what we were planning to do, and where.

"We're going camping somewhere above Kennebago," I said confidently.

The warden appeared to reflect a moment, then said: "You can camp, but you can't build a fire. It's against the law."

This was a blockbu ter: we could camp but couldn't build a fire! Eddie and I looked at each other. What could we eat, cornflakes and cold canned beans-which we didn't have? I had planned on a beanhole for Eddie's edification. Mr. Grant and the warden waited.

It was our move. In the dilemma, my mind fla hed away back to an incident on a farm in Caribou the summer I worked there in Maine's potato country, during high school. A state inspector testing cattle brought in from "the province" (New Brunswick) said at one point: "That heifer third from the end doesn't seem to react."

"That so," my farmer employer said immediately. "If there's any question, we'll just take her out and shoot her." The inspector said no, he'd test her ome more and she might turn out all right. She did.

That night, the farmer said to me: "If I hadn't aid I'd get rid of her, I'd sure a hell have had to do it anyway."

Now I won't vouch for the validity of this contention or a sumption. However, if there was some psychology in it, I thought I might apply it to our present situation at Grant's. I turned to Towsey and said, firmly: "Well, Eddie, if we can't camp we'll just have to take the next train back to Portland." I knew there was one going down in the afternoon.

"Now, wait a minute." The warden held out a hand.

"Let's not be hasty. Maybe we can find a way for you to enjoy your vacation, even if you can't build a fire. Wait here a little while until I get back. I won't be gone long."

The warden returned much sooner than we expected.

"Would you fellows pay a dollar a day for a cabin, all equipped?" were the warden's first words to us.

"Sure!" we chorused. "Yes sir!" I added.

"Well, the foreman at the pulp yard-you passed it on the train-is going on vacation. He'll let you have his cabin for a week. He lives there year-round."

T

HE CABIN WAS NEAR the pulp yard-a

miniature mountain of four-foot logs-facing water. We moved right in, snug as bugs in a rug. I did

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

Upon our return to Portland, we told of hiking in the woods and canoeing, but didn't feel we had to go into details.

I had long since forgotten the name of our kindly warden. But from correspondence with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, I learned there were two wardens in the Oquossoc area in 1932: Mr. Sidney Harden, Badge 95, and Mr. W. J. Fraser, Badge 96.

I don't want to do an injustice, but as the computer in my memory goes back in time 47 years, it seems to click on the name Harden.

At any rate, it must be said that lending one's canoe and outboard to strange youths from the city is certainly topping the milk of human kindness with cream! â&#x20AC;˘

the cooking on a small gasoline stove and Towsey did the dishes, the extent of our camp chores. Afternoons, we relaxed on the porch and waved to the engine crew of the Portland-bound Maine Central train. The second afternoon, the warden showed up to ask how we were getting along. "Fine!" we said.

"Either of you ever handled a canoe?" the warden asked.

"Yes, I have," I answered. I had rented a canoe a couple of time at Riverton Park in Portland for a paddle up and down the sluggish Presumpscot River. At any rate, I knew one doesn't "stand up or jump around" in a canoe. ''I'll let you have my canoe and outboard so you can do some cruising," the warden said to our great surprise. '' 1ust be careful not to run over rocks that would damage the outboard."

"We'll be careful," we promised. And so, after a briefing on the vagaries of an outboard, we did some "canoeing" every morning.

We stuck close to the shore of a sheltered thoroughfare and inlets-not to tempt fate. We did do some hiking, but more time by far was spent on the water, enjoying the stillness and idyllic scenery.

Editor's Note: Guy G. mith, from who e forthcoming book this article is taken, i a former employee of International Paper Company, working in the Allaga h and Cup uptic region of the Maine woods as a timekeeper for the company's woods operation. mith, who now resides in Welle ley, Ma s., ha written everal articles remini cent of his Maine year .

ecologogriphs .....................................................................test your outdoor knowledge ACROSS

1.

4.

8.

11.

13.

15.

17.

18.

20.

21.

23.

25.

26.

27.

29.

34.

35.

37.

38.

40.

42.

43.

44.

46.

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49.

51.

A cereal grain.

A flightless New Zealand rail.

A northern constellation east of Cancer.

Smal I islands.

Powerful, short-winged hawk.

A thinly wooded space in the midst of a forest.

A five-gaited horse.

Hunting dogs.

A group of northeastern states (abbrev.).

Male honey bee.

The center of a hurricane.

Initials of common names for: Cetacea; Bos primigenius.

Abbreviation for lake.

A soft plug in a shotshell.

The outer covering of a seed.

Railroad (abbrev.).

The claw of an eagle.

Compass point.

Great artery of the heart.

A web-spinning arachnid.

To hook a fish (Scot.).

Two thousand pounds.

A plant of the lily family.

Rhenium (chem. sym.).

Neither male nor female.

A short, bulb-like, underground, upright stem.

A channel of a river.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

52.

53.

56.

57.

58.

Direction (abbrev.).

Gorilla, chimpanzee, or orangutan.

Gill net (abbrev.).

Radon (chem. sym.).

The back of a fish next to the head.

DOWN

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9.

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11.

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28.

30.

31.

32.

The fish hawk.

To the sheltered side.

A portable shelter.

A moth whose larvae feed on foliage of trees.

Knock out (lnit.).

The quaking poplar tree.

Resinous substance secreted by a scale insect (pl.).

Female sheep.

A tall annual of the mallow family.

Large, American moth with eyelike spots on wings.

Male title.

The snowshoe.

A nest for the eggs of insects.

A small mouselike rodent.

The home of a bird.

A harmless, viviparous American snake.

Ling, burbot, or cusk.

The male goose.

A hunting dog.

Country of the alpaca llama.

Mammal that lives mainly in trees; active at night.

33.

36.

39.

41.

45.

47.

48.

50.

54.

55.

A grinding tooth.

To the rear of a vessel.

Real estate (abbrev.).

The nest of a bird of prey.

Measurement of most trail bikes' engine size.

A horse.

A sea eagle.

A chart.

Petroleum Engineer (abbrev.).

Compass point.

ANSWER ON PAGE 31

9

By Karen I. Morris Moose Research Leader

What We've Learned From Moose Week

M

AINE MOOSE WEEK 1980 is history. And some of us in the department have turned historian, examining data collected during the moose season to (a) see just exactly what the characteristics were of the animals taken during the hunt, and (b) determine the characteristics of the hunters involved in Maine's first open season on moose since 1935.

The law authorizing this season required that 50 percent of the revenue derived (to a maximum of $85,000) be set aside for moose research and management. The law further provided for mandatory registration of the animals at

10 Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

predetermined stations, and required that hunter involved in the season, successful or not, fill out a questionnaire provided by this department. It is from these two sources that we obtained the data summarized in this article.

If it is true that history repeats itself, and if Maine does have another season on moose, we just may be able to make some predictions regarding future hunts, and therefore plan them accordingly. Let's take a look at what we learned from the 1980 season.

THE ANIMALS HE 636 MOOSE TAKEN during the 1980 season were generally in very good condition.

The data collected at the check stations, and the reports completed by the permittees and subpermittees, have proven very valuable to us in determining the size, health and reproductive potential of Maine's moose. But more importantly, this information provides us with a baseline, a reference point with which to compare future findings to help determine how the moose herd in Maine is faring.

T

Table 1. Body Size of Maine Moose Harvested During the 1980 Season by Sex and Age.

Age

Calf

1112 2112 31/2 4112 5112 +

Mean Dress Weight (Lbs.} Males Females

254 450 597 730 798 874

238 454 532 555 582 597

Mean Shoulder Height (ems) Males Females

126 159 172 179 183 183

Mean Body Length (ems} Males Females

137 157 163 171 171 175

182 225 249 264 274 274

184 230 240 243 244 257

Table 2. Antler Characteristics of Maine Moose Harvested during the 1980 Season by Age.

Beam Diameter Age (ems) 1

Spread (ems) Mean

Range

1112

3.15

49.0

37.0-65.0

2 112

4.19

73.1

49.0-116.0

3 112

4.59

88.3

4 112

5.12

5 112

5.37

6 V2

Points Mean Range

Greatest Palm Height (ems) Mean

Range

21 .83 16-34

7.55

2-6 2-23

35 .27

16-62

70.0-128.0 10.03

2-17

43.68

20-71

103.2

50.0-139.0 11 .96

4-19

54.28

25-91

108.8

90.0-134.0 13.63

3-23

61 .09

30-94

5.96

123.1

113.5-160.0 15.77

6-23

72.34

43-96

30.0-162.5 17.61 38.0-159.0 16.04

5-26 2-30

73.27

10-102

77.45

48-95

90.6-155.0 16.73

9-31

65.17

47-95

105.0-153.0 16.00 11-20

71.88

45-100 58-78

7 112

6.06

8 112

5.88

124.5 122.1

3.14

9 V2

5.82

123.4

10112

6.10

125.9

11 112

5.98

108.3

13.4-141.0 12.17

2-18

71.00

12 112

5.53

114.1

66.07

55-73

13 112

4.88

113.0

78.0-135.0 13.86 10-17 84.0-130.0 14.33 4-24

73 .00

68-78

14 112

5.89

121.0

60 .10

53-76

17 112

5.00

116.0-128 .0

9.46

----

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

8-13

Physical Attributes of the Harvest The average height, weight and length of the animals are shown in Table 1. All reported weights are dressed weights.

The largest were two 1,070-pound bulls. The largest cow weighed 730 pounds. The smallest bull and cow of more than five years of age weighed 595 and 440 pounds, respectively.

The most impressive racks were generally produced by bulls between six and 10 years of age (see Table 2). The largest spread, from a 7 Yi -year old bull, was 162.5 ems. (about 64 inches). The second largest, produced by a 6 Yi -year old animal, was 160 ems. The bull with the most points (31) was 9 Yi years old. The greatest palm height (see sketch) was 102 ems. (about 40 inches) and was on a 7 V2 -year old animal.

PALM HEIGHT Antlers without palms were observed in virtually all age classes, but were most common among young and old bulls. About half of the bulls carrying antlers without palms were yearlings, and another quarter were two-yearolds. Nine percent of the bulls over 10 years old did not produce palmate antlers, and five percent of the bulls between six and 10 years had antlers without palms. Almost all (94 percent) of the yearlings were without palms.

Sex and Age Composition The average age of moose shot during the season was 4.8 years. Bulls averaged a bit older (five years) than did cows (4.3 years). The oldest animals taken were a bull and a cow from Piscataquis County; each was 17 Yi years old. Six percent of the animals were over 11 years old and at an age when a decline in antler growth means a decline in condition.

The average size of the moose registered in Maine is somewhat higher than average weights of several other moose populations following a similar period without hunting. Apparently, the availability of moose encouraged hunters to wait for the larger animals. Generally, there are few calves in a sample of hunter-killed moose because many hunters choose not to shoot them; this pattern held during Maine's season, with only 37 calves reported in the harvest.

In most places, yearlings are the most numerous age class in the harvest, because they are more numerous and less wary than older animals-but this was not the case here. Nineteen percent of the hunters reporting a preference indicated that they were hunting for a large, adult, or 11

reports of the moose sighted during the hunt do, however, indicate some differences throughout the hunting district (Table 3). The regions considered were Piscataquis County, Penobscot County, Somerset County, the portion of Aroostook County in Wildlife Management Unit 1 (east), and the portion of Aroostook County in Wildlife Management Unit 2 (west).

Table 3. Moose Observations Reported by Hunters During the 1980 Moose Hunting Season by County.

County

Number of Moose

Moose Observations/Hour

Penobscot Piscataquis Somerset Aroostook (East) Aroostook (West)

192 1,681 470 150 433

.198 .200 .217 .079 .163

53.0 39.6 27.7 46.3 23.0

130 129 106 212 125

All Regions 1

3,546

.174

38.7

133

Calves/ Bulls/ 100 Cows 2 100 Cows

C

g C

i: 0

5

I

1

Includes observations by hunters who hunted in several districts or in Washington County.

2 lncludes yearling cows

C

<II

<>. .0 0

0

.r:.

a..

Department biologists Gary Donovan and Barry Burgason affix the hoist in preparation for weighing in one of the moose taken during Maine Moose Week. Weight was only one of a number of statistics recorded at the several checking stations in operation during the hunt.

trophy bull, while only five percent indicated that they were hunting for a young or yearling bull.

Bulls were almost three times as numerous as cows among the registrations. The high ratio of males to females in the harvest should not be considered an indication of a shortage of cows in the population. Hunters reported seeing a total of 3,546 moose while hunting, and in this group, bulls were only about 1.3 times as abundant as cows.

There are two reasons for the high proportion of bulls in the harvest. First, the hunt took place during the rut, when bulls are more likely to be seen than are cows. Second, many hunters preferred to shoot a bull. Almost half (48.5 percent) of the hunters indicated that they were hunting for a specific type of moose. Of these, 94 percent said they were hunting for a bull, while less than two percent indicated a preference for a cow or calf. Because of the time of year, the actual sex ratio is expected to be closer to 1: 1 than is indicated by either the kill or the observation figures.

Hunter Observations Because so few moose were shot outside of Piscataquis County, it is not possible to draw any conclusions about differences in the moose populations in various regions of northern Maine based on this biological data. Hunters' 12

The number of moose sighted per hour of hunting time can give some idea of the relative abundance of moose between regions. Penobscot, Somerset, and Piscataquis counties were very similar, but hunters in Aroostook County saw fewer moose per hour, especially in the eastern portion (Wildlife Management Unit 1).

In most areas, slightly more bulls than cows were seen.

In the eastern portion of Aroostook County, more than twice as many bulls as cows were sighted; the sex ratio of moose in that region was significantly different than that of the other regions.

Based on hunter observations, the calf: cow ratio varies considerably between regions. This ratio could vary due to fertility, calf survival rate, and/ or the numbers of cows too young or too old to breed. Somerset County and the western part of Aroostook County have significantly lower calf:cow ratios than the other areas. The small number of cows in the biological sample makes it impossible to deter- . mine if the percentage of young and old animals varies between regions.

Other Information Fourteen two-year old cows and 66 adult cows were checked to see if they were lactating. Five (36 percent) of the two-year olds and 48 (73 percent) of the adult cows were lactating, indicating that they had produced a calf last spring and had reared it through the summer. A cow will generally have her first calf when she is two or three years old. Reproduction by two-year-olds indicates healthy animals on good range. While the number of two-year-olds that could be checked was small, it was sufficient to indicate that two-year-olds commonly do have calves here in Maine.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

Cysts of two tapeworms (Taenia hydatigena and T. krabbei) were found in many of the moose. These are common parasites of moose and, except for making the appearance of the liver or flesh somewhat unappetizing, have little if any effect on the moose and no effect on people who eat the meat. No meningeal worms were found in the 55 brains donated for examination.

The work on the samples that were collected is not yet complete. The hair, kidney, liver and bone samples have been sent to Virginia Tech where they will be analyzed for content of heavy metals as part of the school's study on environmental contaminants. The lab work has been completed on the blood samples and results are being analyzed.

Work on the reproductive tracts will begin shortly.

THE HUNTERS

A

COMPARISON of the occupations of moose hunters and all hunters (Lobdell et. al., 1969, see Table 4 footnote) is presented in Table 4. Many of the differences, especially in the number of people who reported being retired, unemployed, or a homemaker, probably reflect changing social and economic conditions during the past decade, rather than a real difference between groups.

Table 4. Occupations of Maine Hunters and Maine Moose Hunters From Two Questionnaires.

Characteristic Average Age Percent Male Occupation (percent) 2 White collar workers Professional, technical, management (25.6) Clerical & sales (7.6) Blue collar workers Forestry, farming, fishing, etc.

Miscellaneous No occupation listed Retired Student Homemaker Other

Moose Hunters

All Hunters 1

41 92

40 93

33.2

41.0

47.8

(28.6) (12.4) 39.5

13.5 5.5

9.8 9.8

9.9 5.4 3.4 1.6

7.6 10.3 3.9 .7

1

Lobdell, C.H.; Meyer, R.W.; Coulter, M.W. and Corcoran, T.J., 1969. The Maine Sportsman, Characteristics of Hunters and Fishermen. Miscellaneous Report No. 124.

Maine Agriculture Experiment Station, University of Maine.

2

Moose hunters listing occupations represent approximately 80 percent of total moose hunters.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

While Gary Donovan and Barry Burgason are occupied with measuring this specimen 's antler spread and palm height, Department biology assistant Sally Rooney checks the beam diameter. Such statistics are summarized in Table 2 accompanying this article.

It has been suggested that many people who wished to hunt moose would have had their wives or children (who were non-hunters) apply, naming them as their subpermittees. A comparison of the sex and age of permittees and subpermittees strongly suggests that this did occur, but that is was not especially common. Eight percent of the moose hunters (compared with seven percent of all hunters) were female. The percentage of females among permittees was nine-among subpermittees, five. The percentage of permittees (7.4 percent) in the 10- to 19-year-old age groups was higher than the percentage of subpermittees (4.4 percent) in the same groups. This difference likely reflects the fact that all hunters under 16 years are required to hunt with an adult, and would therefore be likely to name an adult as their subpermittee. Only six percent of the moose hunters, compared to 11 percent of hunters in a Maine agricultural experiment station report, were under 20 years of age.

Almost half (48.2 percent) of the hunters said they would prefer to shoot a specific sex and/ or age class of moose. These categories are as follows: bull, 70.5 percent; big adult or trophy bull, 18.4 percent; young or yearling bull, 5 .1 percent; cow, .4 percent; young or yearling cow, .2 percent; calf, . 7 percent; and a combination of two or more of the above, 4. 7 percent.

Twenty-six moose were reported crippled in l, 133 questionnaires; ten hunters did not answer this question. Some

(continued on page 29) 13

Wildlife Management:

Some New Ideas

By Philip A. Bozenhard

ft;

UISITION of land, es-

pecially wildlife habitat, has been a function of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife since the 1950s. But acquiring the land is not the end of our responsibilities; in fact, it is really only the beginning. Equally as important is the development, or management, of the land so that it can be of greatest value to wildlife.

On some of the lands the Department has acquired, management can be carried out through commercial lumbering operations, which are used to make changes in the forest habitat favorable to wildlife. However, much of the land purchased in southern Maine has little merchantable timber on it. Much of the land purchased in the 1950s and 1960s had burned during the 1947 forest fires. The timber on this land is mainly poplar, gray birch, and scrub oak-33 years old and of very little value. Management on this land has been costly, except on a very small scale.

However, changes in the usage of wood fiber, primarily by the S.D. Warren Co., have added a new dimension to timber management and wildlife management in southern Maine. With the creation of a market for wood chips to be used as fuel, small and undesirable trees can now 14

Thinning of trees at Steep Falls Wildlife Management Area resulted in excellent browse and improved deer cover.

be removed from a woodlot and sold for a profit to the landowner.

Under an agreement between the Fish and Wildlife Department and Percival Logging Co., a wood chipping operation was set up in 1979 on approximately 25 acres of the Steep Falls Wildlife Management Area. The

Regional Biologist

area was a mixed softwood-hardwood stand and was treated in the same manner as a timber stand improvement cut; in other words, the small and poor quality trees were selected for removal.

The major objectives of this operation were to release the high quality

A beneficial result of thinning out the poor quality trees is rapid sprouting action, as shown in the left photo. Sprouts grow to this height very quickly, and the close-up photo at right shows that deer have indeed browsed on these sprouts.

.

'

Used in the harvesting operation was this Bobcat Feller Buncher. The machine is capable of cutting and piling one or several trees at a time.

pines for better growth and future timber production as well as maintaining winter cover for deer. Thi was done while simultaneously producing a larger quantity of deer browse from the hardwood prouts.

In addition, hemlock tree were left to provide additional cover for deer, and the majority of oak trees were left for mast production.

Havesting was done during May and June using a Bobcat Feller Buncher which is capable of cutting and piling one or several trees at a time. Trees down to two inches in diameter were cut. Skidder hauled the piles of cut trees to a chipper, and the chips were blown into tractor trailer trucks and hauled off to be weighed.

Harvest figures for this area were 48 tons of green fiber per acre. All sprout growth on gray birch, red maple, cherry, and oak was over 30 inches high within two months and some was over 50 inches. All these

sprouts were of sufficient height to provide food for wildlife, particularly deer, during the winter months.

and, initially, 25 percent were clearcut. An additional 25 percent of the blocks are scheduled to be cut in six to eight years, with the goal of eventually having a 40-year rotation where 25 percent of the blocks are cut every 10 years.

This area had been burned in 1947 and the trees now consist of poplar, gray birch, and red maple. Cutting methods used were the same as at Steep Falls, except for the clear cutting. Harvest figures for this area were 31 green tons per acre.

Cutting has been scheduled to maintain four age classes of trees, spread over the total area. The young classes, 0 to 10, are used by grouse for brood cover, while trees in the 10 to 20 age class are used for drumming sites. The older age classes, 20 to 40 years, are used for feeding and nesting cover. In addition, the large quantity of shoots produced are readily eaten by deer, moose, and snowshoe hare.

As

DEVELOPMENT continues to take its toll of wildlife habitat throughout the State of Maine, particularly in the southern half, efforts are needed to manage and produce more wildlife on fewer acres. New methods such as chipping undesirable tree species may be a step in the right direction. â&#x20AC;˘

~

A

SECOND AREA, on the Brownfield Wildlife Management Area, was set up using a block clearcut system which is intended primarily for grouse management. A tract of approximately 200 acres was divided into 2-acre blocks

The aftermath of the Bobcat operation-neat piles of timber ready for chipping .

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

15 ,

TRY ANGLING! Have you ever tried fishing? It is an interesting sport that can be done with little or no experience. All you need is a fishing rod with reel and line, a few lures and lots of patience. The fishing season opens April 1 and you may fish for free, if you 're a Maine resident under 16 years of age or a nonresident under 12 years of age. If you are successful in catching some fish, there are many delicious recipes that can be prepared, using fish as the main ingredients. So on the first nice day of the season, why not gather up your gear and try your hand at fishing?

Basic Principles of Casting Spin-casting is achieved by keeping the line tight on the reel until the lure is brought back and then whipped forward by the rod tip. As the tackle begins its forward motion, let go of the thumb release on the reel and the line will be pulled off, moving towards your target.

SPINY DOR SAL FIN

+

Gill COVER FINS

Basic Principles of Fly Fishing··

Answer on page 30 Letters should be sent to: Patricia Hogan, KID-BITS Editor Maine Fish and Wildlife Magazine 284 State Street, Sta. #41 Augusta, ME 04333 16

Although fly fishing takes a lot of practice, a well-executed cast can fool a fish into thinking that your fly is the real thing. The first step is to lift the rod tip sharply so that the line will loop up and over your shoulder. As the line straightens behind you, bring the rod sharply forward and the line will follow. This will pull the leader and gently place it and the fly on the water. Pull the line from the reel with your other hand, before or during casting, to obtain the length ·of line that you desire.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

HAVE FUN AND GOOD LUCK!

l ..

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

17

For many years, game birds, animals, and fish have received the majority of the attention in terms of management and expenditures, due to the organization of funding efforts on their behalf. But this emphasis must change, and funding methods must be adopted to benefit the non-game species-for they are truly . ..

The Poor Cousins

By John Madson

I

N THE FAMILY of Amer-

ican wildlife, the game animal is the rich uncle.

It is studied, managed, and greatly valued by professional conservationists and sportsmen. Millions are spent each year on the management and hunting of deer, waterfowl, pheasants, quail, rabbits, and other game species.

Now consider their poor relatives: the nongame wildlife species.

They are no less beautiful or unique than the game species, nor less worthy of our concern . But because they are not hunted, they are not the

8

ubjects of intense, hunter- ponsored conservation programs. As Dr. Joe Linduska once wrote: "It is said that the bluebird is declining in numbers and is in trouble.

That is a sad state of affairs, but it would probably not be o if the bluebird weighed three pounds and held well to a pointing dog ... " If that bluebird, or any other nongame wildlife, is in trouble, it's not for lack of protection. Nearly all songbirds are protected by state and federal law. But while a bird may be protected from shooting, it's not shielded from our technology. And to

many wildlife species, the bulldozer, dragline and intensive farming are deadlier than bullets.

Protection is needed, of course.

Even heavily hunted wildlife is protected-by closed seasons, bag limits, shooting hours, prescribed methods of take, and refuge area . But protection alone won't do the job. By itself, it is generally a hands-off, do-nothing approach. The best protection for any wildlife species is positive management.

This ha been proven with our major game species. We have learned a great deal about their biology, what

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

makes them fail or flourish, and how to manage them as well as possible.

There are gifted wildlife biologists who spend their entire career studying a single game species and its environment.

Compared to pheasants and quail, we know practically nothing about orioles and bluebird . And we debase our elves and our world by saying: "So what? Bluebirds and orioles have no economic value ... " To anyone who loves nature in it completeness, it would be a dreary , world with no wildlife but game pecies-no eagles, o preys or hawks; no gulls or pelicans; no bobolinks, warblers, prairie dogs, kit foxe , coyote , grebes, bitterns or flying quirrels, to say nothing of uch desperately rare creatures as the lordly whooping crane, California crane, and peregrine falcon. And today, with man's heavy hand felt through alt nature, it's time that we gave such creatures some of the priority attention that has been largely reserved for game animals and bird . We must broaden wildlife conservation to include all species of wildlife-not ju t the favored few.

Most Americans will never hunt, nor vi it our great game ranges and ee our most spectacular wildlife species. But that doesn't mean that they must be denied a chance to share America's wildlife splendor. The chance to enjoy quality wildlife in quality natural surroundings. is an American birthright and a considerable part of the American dream.

Conservation of nongame wildlife ha special meaning because it is everyday wildlife. It includes species that are adaptable to cities and suburbs if given half a chance: many ongbird , small hawk and owls, and uch small game specie as quail, cottontail rabbits and tree squirrels. All are animals that can be enjoyed in the backyard, at the bird feeder, or in local parks and public gardens.

Another thing: if there's one lesson learned from a half-century of game management, it's that quality wildlife is the truest indicator of quality natural environment. You won't see an

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

oriole or an indigo bunting in the lums of the inner city; such habitat is occupied by house parrows, rats and starlings. Orioles and buntings are fussy about environment. They are originals, and they demand something of original quality where they live. And as they are biological indicators of quality in their world, so they also indicate quality in ours. If there are fewer songbirds in our suburbs today, it's because the environment for birds has been degraded there-as well as the environment for children.

If we need more "practical" reasons than those for conserving nongame wildlife, there are some: There was a time when all our domestic animals and plants were wild tock. Certain wild grasses became corn, rice and sugar cane. Bison were bred to become cattle; junglefowl to be leghorn hens; wolves into man's best friend. All of man's domestic foods and animals had wild beginnings and were once parts of original environment.

No man can say that today's "unused" wildlife may not have incalculable value in times ahead. Not long ago, it wa found that something in the blood of abalones is tremendously effective against certain staphylococcus bacteria of the types that are building immunity to our best antibiotics. Recently, a rare desert plant in the Southwest was found to contain a strange wax with an extremely high melting point, useful in hardening certain lubes for heavy machinery. Until 1929, Penicillium mold was simply crud that formed on spoiled bread-and it has since become one of man's supreme blessings. The guinea pig has been a crucial ally in our war against disease, and the fruit fly Drosophila has taught us things about genetics that echo through our daily lives.

Every living thing on earth is unique. Once gone, it can never be replaced. It is part of what scientists call our ''genetic pool'' -the great reservoir of life on earth. Evolution, and unknown combinations and mutations of genes within that reservoir

will certainly produce forms of life in ages to come that we cannot know about today. As passengers on this spaceship Earth, we'd be foolish to wipe out any of our shipmates. They will at least make our voyage less lonely as we drift through the endless, lifeless reaches of space-and they probably will make us wiser and better, as well. Many years ago, a naturalist named William Beebe wrote: "The beauty and genius of a work of art may be reconceived, harmony may yet again inspire the composer, but when the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more, another heaven and another earth must pass before such a one can be again.''

Millions of Americans know this, and long to be part of a movement to prevent it. But they have always lacked ways and means to do so.

They do not wish to buy hunting and fishing licenses that they will never use, and why should they? Besides, their main interest may be in nongame wildlife, not game species. Yet, there js no way for the average, nonhunting citizen to engage in general wildlife con ervation programs .

Snowy owl.

19

Murre.

This has concerned game managers and biologists for a long time-and that concern has begun to jell into workable practical program for expanding a state's game management efforts into nongame wildlife conservation.

The adoption of such programs could have repercussions all through the citizen environment-not only giving the average man a real piece of the conservation action, but providing a launching pad for a whole new system of environmental involvement.

N

O ONE METHOD of funding this nongame wildlife and endangered species effort will fit all states. However, it is widely agreed that funding must come from sources other than fish and game funds. Historically, this concept was part of the American Game Policy of 1930, a landmark in American conservation that recognized the nonshooting protectionist and the scientist "as sharing with the sportsman and landowner the responsibility for wildlife conservation, with public funds from general taxation to better

20

wildlife as a whole and the sportsman paying for all betterment erving game alone.''

In what ways can those ''public fund '' be provided? Among the possibilities: 1. The state legislature to allocate, from the general fund, an appropriation related to a set percentage of the annual collection of fish and game funds.

Such an allocation would emphasize the need for cooperation in wildlife conservation and help unite the hunting and nonhunting publics in a common venture.

2 . An annual appropriation for the general fund provided by a small per capita tax based on the number of residents within the state.

Such an appropriation would escalate with the population increase and provide more monies as fish and game resources face the mounting pressures of a rising population. As such population rises, so does the need for intensive management of all wildlife species . This appropriation would not be measured as a percentage of fishing and hunting license revenue-which may be expected to decrease with large increases in population.

3. Earmarked Taxes Although uch taxes are anathema to many legislators, such a system has been in effect for many years and has provided fish and wildlife with hundreds of millions of dollars through special excise taxes on fishing tackle and sporting arms and ammunition.

A similar system of excise taxes on cameras, film, binoculars, camping equipment, etc. has been proposed for the support of nongame wildlife programs.

Missouri, always in the vanguard of conservation progres , recently approved a tate constitutional amendment that would earmark a fraction of the state' retail sales tax for conservation. It is expected to provide an additional $21 million annually, much of which will finance new effort in nongame management.

4,. Grants, gifts and bequests from private sources.

This type of funding should be encouraged, and ways and means found to make it tax deductible.

O

NCE PASSED, new acts for nongame wildlife can quickly be put into gear. The basic, highly refined techniques of game management can be effectively applied to the problems of nongame wildlife conservation. Manning the program with premium talent is n.o problem: there is a corps of trained wildlife managers and biologists available-young, concerned, and desperately eager to help put such programs into action.

So all the elements for effective action exist: a critical public need, the techniques, knowledge, and trained men and women to meet that need, and equitable ways to provide the necessary funding.

From the book OUT HOME, copyright by John Madson & Michael McIntosh Published by: Winchester Press P. 0. Box 1260 Tulsa, OK. 74101

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

Fly Tying

@'e Fif3t FeW8tep~

By Peter G. Walker

LY FISHING was brought to Maine in the late nineteenth century by sportsmen from industrialized areas to the south. Their own waters degraded by the "progress" of civilization, these wealthy gentlemen brought split bamboo fly rods and ornate wet flies imported from England in hopes of taking the fabled giant speckled trout of Maine's Rangeley wilderness.

And take giant trout they did! By 1890, the native brook trout and landlocked salmon had become a powerful economic force in many areas of Maine.

The social changes that took place in America after the First World War had their effect on the Maine angling scene . The increased affluence and leisure of the working man resulted in the adoption of fly fishing by the masses. No longer was it an elite

F

sport. On any given weekend, thousands of Maine fishermen packed their fly rods, tackle boxes, and new outboard motors into the family automobile and set off for the hundreds of lakes, ponds, and streams now accessible in a few minutes' or hours' time.

The Maine angler's love affair with fly fishing has hardly diminished since. In fact, if anything, there is a greater percentage of fly fishermen amongst the angling public than ever before. Recognizing this, we are em-

barking on a new and very different project for Maine Fish & Wildlife. In this and subsequent issues, we will bring you step-by-step, phot6~illustrated instructions on how to tie a wide variety of fly patterns which are effective in the State of Maine.

It is very difficult to describe in print just how a fly should be tied.

We will adhere, therefore, to the old axiom: ''a picture is worth a thousand words." Thi column will hopefully be long on pictures and short on word.

Dry flies.

Wet flies (top group) and nymphs.

Streamers and bucktails.

Special flies (left to right): Grasshopper, Muddler & Hornberg.

tiers offer both group and private lessons. The folks at your local tackle shop should be able to recommend an instructor.

EQUIPMENT

Tools and accessories-1) Scissors, 2) Single-edged razor blade, 3) Dubbing needle, 4) Vise, 5) Tying threads, 6) Beeswax, 7 & 8) Lacquers, 9) Hackle pliers, 10) Bobbin.

WHERE TO LEARN

A wide variety of literature on all levels of fly tying is available in most book stores and tackle shops . It is certainly very handy to have a basic "how-to" book or two available when one first takes up fly tying. Even so, there is no substitute for the personal instruction of an experienced flytier.

Evening fly tying classes are available in many Maine high schools.

In addition, some professional fly-

Fly tying hooks (actual size)-top group of five: standard dry fly hooks, sizes 10, 12, 14, 16 & 20; next group of four: standard wet fly hooks, sizes 6, 8, 10 & 12; next group of three: grasshopper and nymph hooks (3X long), sizes 8, 10 & 12; special trolling streamer hook (8X long), size 2; next group of four: streamer hooks (6X long), sizes 6, 8, 10 & 12; next group of two: special Atlantic salmon fly hooks (japanned finish), sizes 2/0 & 2; salt water fly hook (stainless steel), size 2/0.

22

Many beginners start out with a fly tying kit. Such kits usually contain the bare essentials and enough materials to tie a few basic flies. This is a relatively inexpensive way to find out if you are cut out for fly tying. If not, you're only out a few bucks.

As often as not, the fly tying kit merely whets one's appetite for more.

Then it is time to get outfitted with more durable tools and a wider variety of materials.

Fly tying, like many other outdoor sports, fosters gimmickry.

There is always an array of gizmos for sale which are claimed to in some way simplify fly tying. Some work just fine; others are actually more ¡ â&#x20AC;˘ complicated than the techniques they are supposed to simplify. Following is a list of the basic tools generally considered necessary for the trade: I. Flytier's vise 2. Fine scissors 3. Bobbin 4. Hackle pliers 5. Dubbing needle In addition, a bottle of clear lacquer or cement is necessary to properly finish most flies, and a small amount of beeswax is sometimes handy to make untreated thread sticky.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

1) Tinsel, 2) Mylar piping, 3) Angora yarn, 4) Synthetic dubbing, 5) Floss, 6) Furs, 7) Peacock "eye" feather, 8) Chenille, 9) Lead wire, 10) Moose mane

MATERIALS WHERE TO BUY Fly tying is so popular that nearly ¡ every tackle shop of any size carries at least a few materials and implements.

Most stores carry small packets of selected materials at a fairly high price. A few of the larger Maine outlets carry bulk quantities, which offer more savings.

Still another way to purchase fly tying supplies is through a catalog.

Many outdoor magazines carry ads for fly tying catalogs. Through these mail order houses, it is sometimes possible to get a better buy or find a wider selection than you can obtain locally.

Feathers-top row (left to right): golden pheasant head and cape, marabou feathers, gamecock necks; bottom: strung saddle hackles (rooster).

Plumage and wing quills-left group (clockwise from upper left): guinea hen body plumage, silver pheasant body plumage, wood duck flank, mallard flank; right group: matched pairs of (from top to bottom) goose quills, duck quills, and speckled turkey secondaries.

A complete discussion of fly tying materials would take far more space than is available here. In fact, entire books have been written on the subject. It suffices to say that a flytier quickly becomes somewhat of an expert on the plumage of exotic birds and other rather peculiar subjects.

We have included photographs of a sampling of the many intriguing feathers, furs, and substances employed in the art.

COMING ATTRACTIONS In future issues of Maine Fish and Wildlife, we will be bringing you stepby-step instructions for tying the following patterns: Quill Gordon (dry) Grasshopper Fanwing Royal Coachman (dry) Hornberg Devil Bug March Brown Nympth

Muddler Gray Ghost (streamer) White Wulff (dry) Co eboom (Atlantic salmon) Liggett Special (tandem bucktail) Ratface MacDougal

and many, many more!

â&#x20AC;˘

Editors's Note: The following page contains the first in our "How-To" series on fly tying. Each article will be labeled as to fly variety (wet fly, dry fly, nymph, etc.), and will be marked for removal from the magazine and for punching to fit into a three-ring binder. If you try fly tying and like it, we hope you will save these articles as guides to tying your flies.

23

the Fly Tying Bench

0

By Peter G. Walker

ABOUT THE FLY

The first in our series is a very basic version of a popular American trout fly. Dan Cahill, a New York fly fisherman, originated the first Cahill fly in the 1880s. The Light Cahill pattern effectively imitates several pale-colored mayfly species. This wet fly version represents either a foundering adult mayfly or one just emerging from the nymph case.

1

WET FLY#1

THE LIGHT CAHILL THE PATTERN

Hooks: standard wet fly, sizes 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 Thread: beige, cream or white Tail: a few fibers from a barred wood duck flank feather Body: pale tan or cream fur dubbing (beginners may substitute beige wool yarn) Hackle: light ginger Wings: barred wood duck flank feather

Begin by taking a few wraps with the tying thread around the hook shank near the top of the bend. Trim off the loose end.

Make a throat by securing the base of a small bunch of hackle fibers as pictured. Trim exposed ends.

2

0

5

Secure the tail fibers with a few wraps of thread. The tail should be approximately as long as the shank of the hook. Trim off any excess tail material ahead of the wrapping.

ty-6

Your flies will be more durable if half hitches are taken in the ing thread , and a thin coat of lacquer is applied to the windings, between steps.

3

Secure an end of the body material near the base of the tail, then wrap the tying thread forward towards the eye of the hook.

A simple flank feather wing is made by bunching the fibers together and securing as shown. The wing should extend about halfway to the end of the tail.

4

0

Wrap the body material along the shank in consecutive winds. Secure this material with tying thread , leaving enough room for the hackle, wings and head .

Trim off remaining body material .

After trimming off the base of the flank feather, make the head with windings of thread , tie off, and add a final coat of lacquer.

24

7

8 Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

By Gareth S. Anderson, Robert Pratt, and Andrew Longley, D.O. YPOTHERMIA is the number one cause of outdoor sports-related deaths. Outdoor enthusiasts are afflicted by the thousands each year, and approximately one thousand of these succumb.

Dry or wet cold will bring on this state, but in Maine, wet cold is more often the cause. Many recreational boaters are victims, but everyone should have a working understanding of the causes, symptoms, and treatment of hypothermia.

WHAT IT IS Hypothermia is a temperature of the vital organs (heart, kidney, lungs, brain) below the accepted norm of 97°-99°F. Emergency medical technicians establish this condition by use of a rectal thermometer. Lay people in survival rescue situations would have neither the thermometer nor the reason to use it. If the question of hypothermia should arise, the victim should obviously be treated for hypothermia. We will discuss treatment in this article.

It is important to remember that both wet and dry cold can create a hypothermic situation. This can be

H

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

Rhonda Prosser models (and displays) a selection of garments which, when worn in combination, would adequately perform as the "layered" system, trapping warm air between successive garments to greatly increase the wearer's resistance to cold.

influenced by the physical condition of the victim and by other factors, such as whether they are rested, have eaten recently, are in good health, and are wearing suitable clothing.

Having a working knowledge of hypothermia and how it affects the body will help you avoid it.

HOW TO PREVENT IT Prevention of any unpleasant situation is possible-just be prepared for any conceivable turn of events. The basic principles of dressing warmly and staying warm should be observed if one is to prevent hypothermia.

Wool is warm even when wet, but why get wet? By wearing wool clothing with your foul weather gear, you create the layer system of clothing, a dead air principle which has long been known about and used. This layer system may consist of a light body garment and successive layers of clothing suited to the season. The layers have dead air spaces between them, forming nature's own excellent insulation.

By removing a layer or two, one

can prevent overheating, which causes perspiration moisture buildup.

This moisture will defeat the insulation effect if allowed to accumulate.

Putting on more clothing as the cold increases helps trap warmth. A windproof, waterproof outer garment will further improve this cold barrier.

This layer system is less bulky and more easily adapted to the regular wearing of personal flotation devices (PFDs) than is a system involving normal clothing with a heavy single outer garment.

In addition to dressing properly, it is essential to get regular and adequate rest, hot meals, and plenty of liquids. Hardly anyone reading this article cannot recall working or playing long hard hours-often to the point of exhaustion. Chills, fumbling hands and fingers, slurred speech, and poor reaction time often result.

The reason for this is a constant depletion of the body's natural energy stores. To compensate, the body draws slowly but steadily on adrenalin to fire the nervous system. The

25

end result is the failure to react quickly and properly in a crisis.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE IT

In any situation where a person is exposed to dry or wet cold without adequate rest or food, hypothermia should be expected. This condition can also develop where it is relatively warm-the process is just a bit slower. Most cases occur at approximately 50°F. In mild forms of hypothermia, the victim will feel cold, and will shiver noticeably. This shivering is the normal way for the body to warm itself. The person, at this stage, is still

H.ELP

capable of taking steps to warm himself. He may get closer to artificial heat, take some hot food, or add more clothes. The vital organs have not yet been appreciably affected by temperature drop. This is, however, the beginning of hypothermia, and these early symptoms may be the only ones which can be self-recognized.

From this point on, unless preventive steps are taken, the victim will need someone else to help him, since it is likely that his mental processes will be impaired.

A more dangerous level of hypothermia is reached when shivering stops. The mental processes start to deteriorate, and self-warming efforts will probably not be attempted, or will cease. The vital organ functions

26

will slow down in gradual increments, and body core temperature will drop.

Then circulation in the periphery, extremities, and skin will cease as the body attempts to maintain the dropping core temperature.

Severe or profound hypothermia will reduce the organ functions to danger levels-life may not even be apparent-and the core temperature will continue to drop even lower. This stage of hypothermia is accompanied by a reduction in heartbeat rate to often imperceptible levels. Breathing may not be observable, and the skin may be blue and the body stiff, as in rigor mortis. A professional medical team probably couldn't detect brain waves at this stage. The subject is now a complete victim of hypothermia, reduced quickly from a shivering but functional human being to a body that appears lifeless.

It is unwise to estimate life expectancy at various levels of hypothermia as we have outlined, since each person has different body composition. A well-padded person will obviously hold heat longer than a very thin individual, and we have already mentioned that rest, diet, and other factors such as age, will to live, and resistance to panic can influence survival chances.

These same factors also make it impossible to describe the levels of hypothermia in precise degree ranges.

And that is why all recent teachings stress (and experts agree) that no deaths be pronounced until the bodies have been warmed to near-normal temperatures.

HOW TO TREAT IT IN THE FIELD If the quesion of hypothermia arises, treatment should begin immediately. Remove the victim from the cold environment, strip off wet clothing, and towel dry if possible.

Wrap the victim in blankets, sleeping bags, or dry clothes, and add artificial warmth. Such warmth may be hot water bottles wrapped in cloths, or any safe external heat source. Body-to-body contact is excellent-bodies should be nakedtwo people front to back is the best way. Warm liquids may be given

slowly if the person is conscious and coherent. Under no circumstances should alcoholic beverages be given to a hypothermic person.

At this point, someone should be working diligently to arrange for prompt delivery of the victim to professional medical help. Such victims should always be handled very gently , both during the field aid period and

while transporting to medical help.

Rough handling can cause cardiac arrest and/ or numerous other serious consequences.

SUMMARY: You have come in contact with a person who is obviously not functioning normally. Based on the information at hand, he has probably been exposed to cold and/ or wet for too long. What you have done for him may have saved his life, and nothing you have done can hurt.

PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL TREATMENT

Dangerous and profound hypothermia causes the body to go into a metabolic "icebox." The body can Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

.

Co-author Robert Pratt models a survival suit while holding various other pieces of survival equipment, all described in the text below.

stay in this state for long periods of time with no adverse effects. The medical problems actually develop as rewarming occurs. This is the reason why medical monitoring is so important. Brain damage does not occur from hypothermia, but rather from complications related to rewarming.

For this reason, active rewarming of an unconscious hypothermic victim should not be attempted in the field, although further heat lo~s should be prevented by shifting the victim to a warmer, drier environment.

SEEK EXPERT MEDICAL HELP WITHOUT DELAY! If this is not available, however,

something must be done, and immersing the body in a tub of warm water is likely the oldest method in terms of common use. Care must be taken to keep the extremities out of the water to avoid the situation known as "after-drop." This is the sudden further lowering of core temperature due to circulated cold blood from the periphery.

BODY FUNCTIONS IN HYPOTHERMIA

Heat loss may be accomplished through several physical functions: conduction, convection, radiation, evaporation, and respiration. The last is actually a combined function of all the others, save possibly radiation.

Body heat in water is conducted away at a rate 25 to 32 times greater than it is in air. Hence comes the absolute necessity of going into the water fully clothed and protected as much as possible. The precautions, once taken, can be nullified, however, if you swim or fail to use the huddle or H.E.L.P. position. Swimming entails spreading out in the water, allowing induced currents and continuous exposure of groin, armpits, trunk, and face to greatly increase heat losses.

The H.E.L.P. position (Heat Escape Lessening Posture) involves bringing the knees up to the chest and clasping them tightly with the arms Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

(see illustration). This gives good protection to those parts of the body most vulnerable to heat loss-the groin, armpits, and body trunk. Radiation and evaporation heat losses are not as pronounced in cold water.

The huddle position is used when two or more persons are in the water (see illustration). By forming a circle and clasping each other tightly, warmth can be conserved and shared using the same principles as the H.E.L.P. procedure. The huddle enables the group to stay together and aid each other, while making a larger target for searchers.

It should be expected that hypothermia is always possible. Accordingly, equipment such as PFDs, survival suits, rafts, and/ or lifeboats should be present, in good condition, and United States Coast Guard approved. These items should be supplemented by strobe lights, smoke devices, and Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs), which will attract rescuers to your location. While in the water, stay near your boat, use these signalling and safety devices, and assume either huddle or H.E.L.P. positions to conserve body heat.

MAMMALIAN DIVING REFLEX

When the face and forehead are suddenly covered by cold water, there

occurs an automatic physiological effect known as the mammalian diving reflex. Every mammal, including man, has this reflex. The effect is a slowing of breathing, pulse, and other body functions to imperceptible levels. The trigger center appears to be in the nasal area, and the effect is nearly instantaneous. This reflex explains the fantastic recoveries, with no brain damage, of people who have been immersed in cold water for long periods of time. This reflex seems to be more profound in the very young; middle-aged people, however, have been resuscitated after long periods of immersion. This and other information make it clear that every attempt at resuscitation should be made until a doctor makes a final decision.

It must be stressed that reading an article here, or a pamphlet somewhere else, is NO substitute for good solid training. Many first aid courses include such training; among these courses are American Red Cross and OSHA, as well as many boating courses. Most are offered free of charge, although some do charge a nominal fee.

If you're an outdoors-type person, why not enroll in such a course? You will, if you encounter hypothermia in yourself or in another, be very glad you did! â&#x20AC;˘

27

The dredging rig worked for Del Engle of Middlesex, NJ , who took this 21-pound togue from the bottom of Schoodic Lake in August of last year. Photo courtesy The Piscataquis Observer

I

N A PREVIOUS ARTICLE I explained how to sew a bait for trolling (see ''How to Sew a Bait," Maine Fish and Wildlife, Summer, 1980). In this article I will explain how to troll that bait for togue.

EQUIPMENT You will need a hefty trolling rod made to withstand heavy dragging loads. The reel should have at least 100 yards of 30- to 40-pound test lead core line, backed by either braided or additional lead core line. The backing must be of a strength equal to or stronger than the primary line. I prefer line that is color-coded every 10 yards so that I can easily tell how deep I am fishing.

To the lead line I attach a large swivel so that changing rigs can be accomplished readily. Attached to the swivel is r-

LARGE

a four-ounce lead keel. This will give you the extra weight needed to get your rig down where the togue are generally found. Lighter keels can be used if you are fishing in less than 40 to 50 feet of water.

Behind the keel, attach a stainless steel leader approximately 8 to 10 inches long. This acts as a spacer so that the keel doesn't dampen the action of the spinners.

Now connect the spinners to the stainless steel leader.

Depending on preference, one can use a single large spinner or a set of several smaller ones, such as the popular Dave Davis spoons. I prefer a single spinner since I can interpret the action more easily.

Behind the spinners, attach a ball bearing swivel. I have found that this is crucial since a regular swivel allows the bait to wind up, which creates a mess without your being aware of it.

Finally, attach the sewed bait and leader to the ball bearing swivel . This completes the rigging of your equipment-before you toss it over the side, however, be sure that all the snaps are closed. More than one person has lost a nice set of spinners because he forgot to connect the rig to the line!

TECHNIQUE Your boat must be brought to a very slow troll. Remember, you have a very large spinner, or several small ones.

The faster the boat goes, the more drag is placed on your line and rod, and the greater your chances are of breaking them.

This bait performs better at a slower speed. The idea is to make the bait roll over slowly, not spin. A fast spin looks unnatural and causes the line to wind up. A slow roll looks like a sick fish and is more attractive to gamefish.

Test your bait over the side of the boat before sending it into the depths. If the action is not right, you could harrow several miles without getting a strike. Be patient and make it right before letting it down.

Let your line out slowly at a rate of one-half color at a time, pausing between. The pause is necessary to keep the spinner and bait from tangling. Continue letting the line out until the rig reaches the bottom. The action of the spinners causes the rod tip to bob rhythmically. If the bobbing stops and the tension slacks, you are hitting bottom. The drag actually lessens because the spinners cannot swing.

Reel in just enough to start the rod tip bobbing again.

Then stay on the bottom-that's where the togue are!

Although this method can be tedious and the weight of the tackle takes away some of the battle of the fish, I think you will find it quite pleasing since you can usually catch fish on those days when the majority of fishermen come home empty-handed. Remember-to be a successful togue fisherman, you must get the lead out! â&#x20AC;˘

SWIVEL

STEEL LEADER 4 Ol .

28

BALL BEARING '.>WIVEL

KEEL

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

(continued from page 13)

hunters may have reported moose that were crippled by their hunting partner. Two hunters reported crippling two moose each.

Thirty-three percent of the hunters reported using a 30.06. The next most popular calibers were: .308, 26 percent; 30.30, 9 percent; .300, 6 percent; .270, 3 percent; and .35, 2 percent. Of the 63 other weapons reported, none were used by more than two percent of the hunters. Six hunters reported using shotguns and three used black powder weapons. ._ Because the sample size for the weapons is so small, it is not possible to determine whether any type of gun is more likely than another to cripple moose.

More than half (57 percent) of the hunters reported that they had scouted the area before hunting.

Ten permittees and 25 subpermittees who responded did not hunt moose in 1980. Of those giving a reason for not hunting, none said it was because they opposed a moose hunt.

Driving roads was the most common hunting method and accounted for more than half the harvest (Table 5).

A quarter of the moose reportedly were shot in or near water (10 percent were in water, 9.1 percent were in bogs, and 5.9 percent were in areas along ponds and streams).

One-third were shot in forested areas (11.1 percent in softwood, 2.7 percent in hardwood, and 19.3 percent in mixed wood). Another one-third (33.6 percent) were shot in some type of forest opening; clearcuts were the ones most commonly mentioned. The remainder were shot in other types of habitat.

The amount of time spent hunting varied from less than half an hour to more than 60 hours, averaging 18 hours.

Nearly two-thirds of the hunters (61 percent) hunted 20 hours or less. Thirty-three percent of the respondents hunted on one day, 23 percent on two days, 18 percent on three days, 13 percent on four days, five percent on five days, and five percent on six days.

The distance the moose had to be moved before it could be loaded varied from nearly nothing to five or more miles.

Hunters reported being able to drive to 18.7 percent of the downed moose; while many of these were legally shot in unpaved woods roads, it was not uncommon for hunters to drive off the road to pick up a moose. Another 9.4 percent were able to drive within 10 yards of their moose; 17 .8 percent were between 10 and 50 yards; 15.2 percent were between 50 and 100 yards; 24.3 percent were between 100 yards and one-quarter mile; seven percent were between one-quarter and one-half mile; and 6.6 percent were over one-half mile. Seventy-seven percent of the animals were brought out whole! Three percent were halved, and the remainder were brought out in four or more pieces.

Fifty-four percent of the hunters reported that they used some type of mechanical equipment to remove the moose from the woods or load it into their vehicles. Equipment used included winches, block and tackle, chainfalls, and come-alongs. Vehicles used to drag or load moose included trucks, skidders, pulp loaders, front-end loaders, all-terrain vehicles, various types of tractors and crawlers, and a game carrier. Many of the moose that were moved more than a mile before being loaded into vehicles were transported by boat or canoe.

Although the hunters were generally satisfied with the 1980 moose season, several did suggest ways that it could have been improved-the most frequent suggestion was that a season later in the year, when the weather is cooler, could make handling the meat without spoilage a much â&#x20AC;˘ easier task.

Table 5. Percentage of Hunters Using Seven Hunting Methods, by Percentage of Hunting Time and Percentage of Moose Taken by Each Hunting Method.

% of Hunting Time

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - METHODS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Calling Hunting Searching Stalking Walking Driving Other Still From Boat From Air In Woods Roads Roads

0.4

0.3

0.1

0.1 2.2 0.8 3.7 4.8 88.0

0.6 0.3 3.0 1.5 2.1 2.2 89.5

39.9

12.0

10.5

2.0

100 91-99 76-90 51-75 26-50 10-25 5- 9 1- 4 0

2.4 0.1 1.4 1.6 15.0 7.5 6.5 5.6 60.1

% of Hunters Using Method % of Moose Taken by Method

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

0.1 0.3 0.6 0.8 1.2 96.9

2.7 0.2 1.4 1.9 16.7 8.6 10.1 4.6 53.6

2.1 0.1 0.6 1.0 17.6 9.3 11.2 4.8 53.1

18.9 3.5 18.7 8.3 22.6 3.6 3.9 2.1 18.3

0.3

0.4 0.2 0.1 0.2 98.8

10.5

3.1

46.4

46.9

81.7

1.2

2.9

0.9

11.7

9.5

61.5

0.7

29

\

FISH AND WILDLIFE BRIEFS MOOSE HUNTS AUTHORIZED

ANOTHER EASY WINTER

By wide margins in both the senate and the house of representatives, the 110th Maine Legislature has approved limited, annual moose hunting seasons in northern Maine beginning in 1982.

Although not himself a hunter, Governor Joseph E. Brennan signed the measure into law, recognizing the broad public support he felt it must have to be passed by a senate vote of 24 to 9 and by a 2 to 1 margin in the house.

The new law authorizes the commissioner of inland fisheries and wildlife to set an annual moose season, up to 6 days, in the area north of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. The open area-less than half of the state and containing a conservative estimate of 20,000 moose-is the same area that was open in 1980 when 700 parties of hunters took 636 moose.

The law authorizes up to 1,000 moose permits, 10 percent to nonresident hunters. Permittees will be chosen at a public drawing.

Drawing application fees are $5 for residents and $10 for nonresidents.

Permits will be $25 and $200, respectively.

''The second exceptionally easy winter in a row should mean another good year for Maine's deer herd," according to Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Glenn H. Manuel. "If wildlife biologists' spring deer herd assessments prove that optimistic, late winter outlook true, hunters can look forward to another excellent season this fall," he added.

Summing up the deer situation in early spring, Gerald R. Lavigne, assistant big game research leader, noted that "at this point the herd seems to be in good physical condition, as judged by high bone marrow fat levels among the few dead deer that have been found."

Lavigne is in charge of the Wildlife Division's winter severity index program which has biologists, wardens, and other cooperators taking weekly measurements of air temperatures, snow depth, snow profile characteristics and deer sinking depths at 46 deer wintering areas statewide.

"Results of this work suggest that February 1981 was the mildest February for deer yet recorded since monitoring of this type began in 1972," said Lavigne.

Following a severe cold period in December and January, when monthly temperature means hovered near zero degrees, mean temperatures in February ranged from about 23 to nearly 32 degrees in various areas of the state-about 9 to 15 degrees above the previous 8-year averages for the month.

According to Lavigne, the warming trend which began in late January continued and intensified during February, resulting in deer wintering conditions more representative of April than of mid-winter. Several periods of warm, heavy rain accompanied this unusual wave of sultry winter weather, decreasing the depth of, or completely washing away, what little

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snow there had been throughout much of the state.

The trend continued through March, and by mid-April the old saying that "an early spring is always followed by a late winter" was yet to come true.

PERSONNEL NEWS

Recent personnel changes within the Fish and Wildlife Department include the following: In the Fishery Division, Michael R. Smith was promoted and named as regional biologist in the Penobscot Fishery Region, filling a vacancy created when Steven A. Timpano left that position to become the department's environmental coordinator.

Smith had been Timpano's assistant.

Replacing Smith as assistant regional fishery biologist was John J. Boland,

1981 LICENSE FEES * RESIDENT Hunting (16 and older) Fishing (16 and older) Combination Hunting and Fishing (16 and older) Junior Hunting (10 to IS years inclusive) Combination Fishing and Archer) Hunting (16 and older) Serviceman (resident) Combination Hunting and Fishing Archer)' Hunting ( 16 and older) Trapping ( 16 nd older) Junior Trapping ( 10 to IS year inclusive) Guide (18 and older)

s

9.00 9.00 16.00 1.00 16.00 5.00 9.00 25.00 5.00 34.00

NONRESIDENT CITIZEN Big Game Hunting ( 10 years and older) Season Fishing ( 16 and older) Junior Season Fishing (12 to IS incl.)

IS-day Fishing 7-day Fishing 3-day Fishing Combination Hunting and Fishing ( 16 and older) mall Game Hunting (16 and older) Junior Small Game Hunting (10 to IS years inclusive) Archery Hunting (16 and older) Guide (18 and older) Trapping (any age)

65.00 30.00 3.50 20.00 17.00 9.00 87.00 35.00 15.00 35.00 130.00 300.00

NONRESIDENT ALIEN Big Game Hunting ( 10 and older) Season Fishing Combination Hunting and Fishing ( 10 and older) Small Game Hunting (10 and older) Archery Hunting (16 and older) Guide (18 and older) â&#x20AC;˘

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105.00 50.00 140.00 50.00 50.00 155.00

including issuing agent f ee of $/ .

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

'

(Personnel cont.)

Jr., formerly employed as a fish hatchery worker at Dry Mills.

In the Realty Division, Richard B. Parks, chief of the division, retired after a career of more than 30 years with the Fish and Wildlife Department. Parks began his work with the department as a game biologist but for most of his career was in charge of the land acquisition project.

In the Warden Service, Russell E. Dyer was promoted to the rank of x:olonel and named chief warden, a post he had held in an acting capacity since the retirement of Alanson B. Noble last year. Col. Dyer began work for the department in 1961 as a game warden in a wilderness district on the Canadian border; he later h~ld game warden inspector (sergeant) and supervisor (lieutenant) positions, and in 1979 he became the deputy chief warden (major). Also in the Warden Service, three new game wardens have been hired and assigned districts: John T. Whalen of Hallowell (Ft. Kent), Timothy C. Liscomb of Augusta (Whiting), and Neal C. Wykes of Poland Spring (Columbia Falls).

In the Wildlife Division, two wildlife technicians-Norman D. Forbes and Perley I. Eastman, Jr .-were promoted to biology aide.

In the Hatchery Division, James S. Lucas was hired as a fish hatchery worker and assigned to the Casco Hatchery.

1980 Warden of the Year Named recently as Maine's Game Warden of the Year for 1980 was Lloyd A. Perkins, Jr., of Hallowell.

Perkins, 37, has been a member of the Maine Warden Service since 1971. He was chosen for the service's top honor by a committee of senior warden officers.

Acting Major John F. Marsh, Per kins' supervisor for the past several years, cited his "very commendable job in an historically busy district." Marsh said Perkins handles upwards of 200 complaints annually in the politically sensitive Augusta area and has a high percentage of prosecutions.

Perkins was commended for his excellent relationship with other law enforcement agencies, as exemplified in an inter-agency investigation last summer which resulted in the recovery of over $30,000 worth of stolen property. Perkins also recently was involved in the arrests of several importers of live bait fish.

Another of his supervisors, Lt. Norman Trask, stated: "Lloyd Perkins is as dedicated as any warden I have ever worked with or supervised. He often sacrifices scheduled time off in the interest of fish and wildlife conservation.''

Per kins' first assignment was a wilderness district at Seboomook, north of Moosehead Lake, following which he was assigned to the Augusta district, where he has been since 1972.

He was born in Gardiner and is a graduate of Hallowell High School. He is a veteran of the United States Navy.

Perkins and his wife, the former Jean Parker of Scotland, reside on Collins Road in Hallowell. They have two children, Kevin and Kimberly.

DUNN ON ADVISORY COUNCIL

Francis D. Dunn, a retired wildlife biologist and moose project leader, was appointed by Governor Joseph E. Brennan last year to serve on the Fish and Wildlife Department's citizens advisory council. Through an oversight, mention of that appointment was never made on these pages.

Dunn, who was based at Patten during his 28-year career with the department, represents the residents of Wildlife Management Unit 1 on the council. Unit 1 consists of eastern Aroostook County and several towns in Penobscot County.

Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

NEW NONRESIDENT LICENSE

A combination hunting and fishing license, such as has been available to Maine residents for many years, can now be bought by nonresident sportsmen.

The new combination license, authorized last year by the Maine legislature, costs nonresident U.S. citizens $87 .00, nonresident aliens $140both representing a few dollars saving from the cost of big game hunting and season fishing licenses purchased separately. \

ANSWER TO PUZZLE ON PAGE 9

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TMGreat Wilderness Clelln-llp of1981 We altered the photo above to make a point: many favorite fishing and hunting spots, hiking trails and campsites in Maine have been spoiled by litter which has accumulated over several years.

To help solve the problem, the Keep Maine Scenic Committee invites you to join in the Great Wilderness Clean-up of 1981. This spring and summer Maine Forest Service rangers and others will distribute special litter bags to those entering the Maine woods. We hope you will join in to clean up by returning these bags filled with litter, to the distribution points. Watch for details of the Clean-Up.

The Keep Maine Scenic Committee MAINE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION

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Maine Fish and Wildlife - Spring 1981

u POSTMASTER: If undeliverable, do not return.

Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife

284 State St.,

Sta. #41

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Augusta, Maine 04333